Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 58
अतिकायवधः
The Slaying of Atikāya
न वाक्यमात्रेणभवान् प्रधानो न कत्थनात्सत्पुरुषाभवन्ति ।मयिस्थितेधन्विनिबाणपाणौनिदर्शयस्वात्मबलंदुरात्मन् ।।।।
na vākyamātreṇa bhavān pradhāno na katthanāt satpuruṣā bhavanti | mayi sthite dhanvini bāṇapāṇau nidarśayasvātma-balaṃ durātman ||
Nicht durch bloße Worte bist du der Vornehmste, und nicht durch Prahlerei werden Menschen zu Edlen. Hier stehe ich, der Bogenschütze, mit Bogen und Pfeilen in der Hand: zeige deine eigene Kraft, du Verderbter!
"You are evil minded. By mere statement you people can't become good chiefs. I stand armed with a bow and arrow. Prove your strength."
FAQs
True worth is proven by conduct and capability, not by speech or self-praise; Dharma rejects empty boasting and demands integrity.
On the battlefield, Lakṣmaṇa confronts Atikāya and challenges him to prove his claimed prowess in combat rather than through words.
Lakṣmaṇa’s truthfulness and warrior-discipline (kṣātra-dharma): he demands proof through action and stands ready without fear.