कुम्भकर्णविबोधनम्
The Awakening of Kumbhakarna
नदैत्यदानवेभ्योवाभयमस्तिहितादृशम् ।यादृशंमानुषंराजन् भयमस्मानुपस्थितम् ।।।।
na daityadānavebhyo vā bhayam asti hi tādṛśam |
yādṛśaṃ mānuṣaṃ rājan bhayam asmān upasthitam ||
«O König, niemals standen wir einer solchen Furcht gegenüber: weder vor den Daityas noch vor den Dānavas, wie der Angst, die uns jetzt durch einen bloßen Menschen nahegetreten ist.»
"O King! This kind of fear from humans has not arisen for us either from Daityas or Danavas."
Dharma here emphasizes truthful assessment over pride: recognizing a real threat (even if it comes from a human) is wiser and more righteous than dismissing it due to prejudice or arrogance.
Within Laṅkā’s war-council atmosphere, a rākṣasa voice warns Rāvaṇa that the danger posed by the human Rāma is unprecedented—even compared to legendary divine-adversary races.
Pragmatic truthfulness (satya-buddhi): the willingness to speak an uncomfortable truth to a king for the sake of correct action.