Shloka 6.36.21
माल्यवानुपदेशः—रावणक्रोधः तथा लङ्काद्वाररक्षा-व्यवस्था (Malyavan’s Counsel, Ravana’s Anger, and the Fortification of Lanka)
एवंविधानंलङ्कायांकृत्वाराक्षसपुङ्गवः ।कृतकृत्यमिवात्मानंमन्यतेकालचोदितः ।।।।
mānuṣaṃ kṛpaṇaṃ rāmam ekaṃ śākhāmṛgāśrayam | samarthaṃ manyase kena tyaktaṃ pitrā vanālayam || 6.36.4 ||
“On what grounds do you deem Rāma—only a wretched human, standing alone, dependent on the forest-dwelling monkeys—capable, when he was cast out by his father and made the forest his abode?”
The best of Rakshasas under the sway of destiny, having been ordered in that way in Lanka, Ravana felt as though he had accomplished the task.
Dharma teaches that true strength is not merely social status or birth; righteousness and resolve can empower even one who appears externally disadvantaged.
Rāvaṇa dismisses Rāma as a mere human aided by vānaras, questioning why anyone would consider him a real threat.
Rāma’s steadfastness (dhairya) and commitment to dharma are implicitly contrasted with Rāvaṇa’s arrogance.