Shloka 6.14.5
विभीषणोपदेशः (Vibhīṣaṇa’s Counsel to Rāvaṇa and the Rākṣasa Court)
नकुम्भकर्णेन्द्रजितौचराजंस्तथामहापार्श्वमहोदरौवा ।निकुम्भकुम्भौचतथाऽतिकायःस्थातुंनशक्तायुधिराघवस्य ।।।।
niśamya vākyaṃ tu vibhīṣaṇasya tataḥ prahasto vacanaṃ babhāṣe | na no bhayaṃ vidma na daivatebhyo na dānavebhyo ’py athavā kutaścit ||
Having heard Vibhīṣaṇa’s words, Prahasta then spoke: “We know no fear—neither of the gods nor even of the dānavas, nor from anyone at all.”
"O King! It will not be possible for either Kumbhakarna or Indrajith so also for Mahaparsva not even Mahodara, so also for Nikumbha or Kumbha and Athikaya to face Rama in combat."
The verse illustrates the ethical danger of arrogance: rejecting prudent, truthful counsel leads rulers and armies toward adharma and destruction.
Prahasta dismisses Vibhīṣaṇa’s warning, boasting that the rākṣasas fear no cosmic opponents.
A negative exemplar: bravado without discernment—valor divorced from righteousness and realism.