Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 22
राक्षसपरिषद्वाक्यम्
Counsel of the Rakshasa Court to Ravana
शक्तितोमरमीनंचविनिकीर्णान्त्रशैवलम् ।गजकछपसम्बाधमश्वमण्डूकसंकुलम् ।।6.7.22।।रुद्रादित्यमहाग्राहंमरुद्वसुमहोरगम् ।रथश्वगजतोयौघंपदातिपुलिनंमहत् ।।6.7.23।।अनेनहिसमासाद्यदेवानांबलसागरम् ।गृहीतोदैवतपतिर्लङ्कांचापिप्रवेशितः ।।6.7.24।।
śakti-tomara-mīnaṃ ca vinikīrṇāntra-śaivalam |
gaja-kachapa-sambādham aśva-maṇḍūka-saṅkulam ||6.7.22||
Xưa kia, Rāvaṇa đã gặp “biển của chư thiên” ấy—biển đầy cá như giáo mác và lao nhọn; rong rêu là những đoạn ruột vương vãi; chen chúc voi như rùa, và dày đặc ngựa như ếch.
FAQs
The verse itself is largely descriptive, but it serves an ethical warning by implication: pride in past victories can cloud righteous judgment; Dharma requires clear discernment rather than intoxication with power.
Rāvaṇa’s counselors attempt to embolden him by recalling his former conquest over the gods, using an extended metaphor of the gods’ army as an ocean.
Not a virtue but a failing is highlighted indirectly: overconfidence (mada) and self-deception, which oppose the Dharmic virtues of prudence and truthfulness.