Shloka 6.26.5
वानरमुख्य-परिचयः (Catalogue of Principal Vānara Leaders)
कोहिनामसपत्नोमांसमरेजेतुमर्हति ।इत्युक्त्वापरुषंवाक्यंरावणोराक्षसाधिपः ।।6.26.4।।आरुरोहततश्रशीमान् प्रासादंहिमपाण्डुरम् ।बहुतालसमुत्सेधंरावणोऽथदिदृक्ष्या ।।6.26.5।।
ko hi nāma sapatno māṁ samare jetum arhati |
ity uktvā paruṣaṁ vākyaṁ rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ ||6.26.4||
āruroha tataḥ śrīmān prāsādaṁ hima-pāṇḍuram |
bahu-tāla-samutsedhaṁ rāvaṇo ’tha didṛkṣayā ||6.26.5||
“Who indeed is there as my rival who could defeat me in war?”—having spoken these harsh words, Rāvaṇa, lord of the Rākṣasas, then climbed his splendid palace, white as snow and towering like many palm-trees, wishing to look out upon the approaching host.
"What adversary can win me in war? You ought to know this", said Ravana. Then Ravana, the king of Rakshasas having spoken that way went up to the snow white palace which was of the height of many Palmira trees wishing to see (the Vanaras).
The passage warns against ahaṅkāra (arrogance): boasting of invincibility and speaking harshly signals a drift from dharma, where truth (satya) and humility restrain power.
Rāvaṇa, stirred by hostility and pride, ascends his palace to view the vast Vanara forces gathering near Laṅkā.
Not virtue but a moral contrast: Rāvaṇa’s overconfidence and harsh speech illustrate the vice of pride that precipitates downfall in the Ramayana’s ethical frame.