Shloka 3.71.1
दनु-शापकथा तथा सीताहरण-प्रश्नः (Danu’s Curse Narrative and Rama’s Inquiry about Sita)
पुरा राम महाबाहो महाबलपराक्रम।रूपमासीन्ममा चिन्त्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्।।3.71.1।।यथा सोमस्य शक्रस्य सूर्यस्य च यथा वपुः।
purā rāma mahābāho mahābalaparākrama |
rūpam āsīn mama acintyaṃ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam || 3.71.1 ||
yathā somasya śakrasya sūryasya ca yathā vapuḥ |
O Rāma, long-armed and mighty in strength and valor—formerly my beauty was famed through the three worlds, beyond imagining, like the splendor of the Moon, of Śakra (Indra), and of the Sun.
O long-armed, mighty and powerful Rama! in the past I was handsome like the Moon or Indra or the Sun inconceivable to all the three worlds.
The verse implicitly warns against pride in external beauty and status: worldly splendor is impermanent, and Dharma calls one to value inner restraint and right conduct over fame.
Kabandha begins recounting his former state to Rāma, introducing the backstory that explains how he fell into his current monstrous condition.
Rāma’s steadiness and attentive compassion are implied—he listens to an afflicted being’s history, a mark of kṣānti (forbearance) and dhārmic leadership.