Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 21
कुम्भकर्णवधः
The Slaying of Kumbhakarna
ततोविनेदुःसहसाप्रहृष्टारक्षोगणास्तंव्यथितंसमीक्ष्य ।प्लवङ्गमास्तुव्यथिताभयर्ताःप्रदुद्रुवुःसंयतिकुम्भकर्णात् ।।।।
tato vineduḥ sahasā prahṛṣṭā rakṣogaṇās taṃ vyathitaṃ samīkṣya |
plavaṅgamās tu vyathitā bhayārtāḥ pradudruvuḥ saṃyati kumbhakarṇāt ||
Then the rākṣasa troops, suddenly elated on seeing him in distress, raised cries of triumph. But the Vānara hosts—shaken and stricken with fear—ran away in the battle from Kumbhakarṇa.
Rakshasa's army collected together rejoiced to see Hanuman agonized. Vanaras were frightened and fled in fear of Kumbhakarna.
FAQs
The verse contrasts impulsive triumph and panic: Dharma in warfare (yuddha-nīti) demands steadiness and disciplined courage rather than being ruled by fear or cruelty at another’s suffering.
In the thick of battle, Kumbhakarṇa’s terror causes the Vānara forces to scatter, while the rākṣasas exult at the sight of the opposing side’s distress.
The implied virtue is dhairya (steadfastness). The scene sets up the need for leaders to restore morale and prevent adharma-driven collapse through fear.