Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 22
युद्धकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः — रावणस्य परिषद्-सम्बोधनं कुम्भकर्णस्य नीत्युपदेशश्च
Ravana’s Council Address and Kumbhakarna’s Counsel
मानुष्यान्नोभयंनास्तितथापितुविमृश्यताम् ।।6.12.22।।तदादेवासुरेयुद्धेयुष्माभिस्सहितोऽजयम् ।तेमेभवन्तश्चतथासुग्रीवप्रमुखान्हरीन् ।।6.12.23।।परेपारेसमुद्रस्यपुरस्कृत्यनृपात्मजौ ।सीतायाःपदवींप्राप्यसम्प्राप्तौवरुणालयाम् ।।6.12.24।।
mānuṣyān no bhayaṃ nāsti tathāpi tu vimṛśyatām ||6.12.22||
tadā devāsure yuddhe yuṣmābhiḥ sahito 'jayam |
te me bhavantaś ca tathā sugrīvapramukhān harīn ||6.12.23||
pare pāre samudrasya puraskṛtya nṛpātmajau |
sītāyāḥ padavīṃ prāpya samprāptau varuṇālayām ||6.12.24||
I have no fear of mere humans—yet still, let this be carefully considered. In the war of gods and asuras, together with you I won victory; so you too must now stand firm. For Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, placing Sugrīva and the Vānara leaders at the forefront, have reached the farther shore of the ocean—Varuṇa’s abode—having found the path that leads to Sītā.
"Even so, a huge destruction was done to us, by a single monkey. The consequences of their acts are unpredictable. Tell me what is there in your mind, according to your own understanding."
FAQs
It contrasts pride with prudent deliberation: even when one feels powerful, dharma demands sober assessment. It also affirms that a righteous objective (recovering Sītā) mobilizes allies and enables extraordinary progress.
Rāvaṇa addresses his council, claiming fearlessness toward humans while urging deliberation, and reports that Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa with Sugrīva’s Vānaras have reached the ocean’s far side in their effort to reclaim Sītā.
On the dharmic side (implied): steadfastness and purposeful leadership. On the speaker’s side: confidence shading into hubris, tempered briefly by the need for counsel.
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