Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 55, Shloka 2
कामधेनुसैन्यप्रादुर्भावः
Kamadhenu’s Forces, Visvamitra’s Austerities, and Vasishta’s Wrath
तस्याहुम्भारवाज्जाता: काम्भोजा रविसन्निभा:।ऊधसस्त्वथ सञ्जाता: पप्लवाश्शस्त्रपाणय:।।1.55.2।।योनिदेशाच्च यवनाश्शकृद्देशाच्छका स्तथा।रोमकूपेषु च म्लेच्छा हारीतास्सकिरातका:।।1.55.3।।
tasyā humbhāravāj jātāḥ kāmbhojā ravisannibhāḥ |
ūdhasas tv atha sañjātāḥ paplavāḥ śastrapāṇayaḥ || 1.55.2 ||
yonideśāc ca yavanāḥ śakṛddeśāc chakā tathā |
romakūpeṣu ca mlecchā hārītāḥ sakirātakāḥ || 1.55.3 ||
From her cry of “humbhā,” the Kāmbojas—radiant like the sun—were born; from her udder arose the Paplavas, bearing weapons in their hands. From her womb came the Yavanas; from her anus, the Śakas; and from the pores of her skin arose the Mlecchas, together with the Hārītas and the Kirātas.
Rajarshi Viswamitra endowed with supreme power became very haughty. Having obtained the weapons, his insolence was greatly accentuated.
FAQs
The verse functions as an etiological (origin) account within the narrative, implicitly warning that uncontrolled power can generate widespread, weapon-bearing forces; Dharma requires restraint and right intention rather than mere capacity to produce or command force.
In the larger episode, extraordinary beings/peoples are described as arising in connection with a miraculous event, setting the stage for escalating conflict tied to the misuse of might.
By contrast (implicitly), the virtue emphasized is self-control (dama) and disciplined restraint—qualities that prevent power from devolving into chaotic, weapon-driven violence.