Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 66, Shloka 24
कुम्भकर्णप्रस्थानम् तथा अङ्गदप्रेरणा
Kumbhakarna’s sortie and Angada’s rallying of the Vanaras
भीरुप्रवादाश्श्रूयन्तेयस्तुजीवतिधिक्कृतः ।मार्गस्सत्पुरुषैर्जष्टःसेव्यतांत्यज्यतांभयम् ।।।।
bhīrupravādāḥ śrūyante yas tu jīvati dhikkṛtaḥ |
mārgaḥ satpuruṣair juṣṭaḥ sevyatāṃ tyajyatāṃ bhayam ||
Người đời sẽ truyền lời chê trách kẻ hèn nhát: sống mà mang nhục. Hãy theo con đường bậc thiện nhân hằng nương tựa; phụng hành đạo ấy—hãy dứt bỏ sợ hãi.
"He who is defeated lives, but people will say he is timid. Resorting to the path of good people and serving them gives up fear."
FAQs
Dharma is the ‘path of the good’ (satpuruṣa-mārga): one must reject fear and choose conduct that withstands moral scrutiny and social conscience.
Aṅgada warns that living after cowardice brings lasting reproach and exhorts them to adopt the noble path by returning to battle.
Moral courage—choosing the right course despite fear and potential loss.