Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 176
कुम्भकर्णवधः
The Slaying of Kumbhakarna
ततस्तुतेतस्यवधेनभूरिणामनस्विनोनैरृतराजबान्धवाः ।विनेदुरुच्चैर्व्यथितारघूत्तमंहरिंसमीक्ष्यैवयथासुरार्धिताः ।।।।
tatas tu te tasya vadhena bhūriṇā manasvino nairṛta-rāja-bāndhavāḥ |
vinedur uccair vyathitā raghūttamaṃ hariṃ samīkṣyaiva yathā surārdhitāḥ ||
Thereupon the steadfast kinsmen of the lord of the Rākṣasas, deeply shaken by his death, cried out loudly in distress—fearing the best of the Raghus, just as elephants panic at the sight of Indra, the god worshipped by the Devas.
Thereupon, the courageous kinsfolk of Ravana, resolute in mind, pained by the death of Kumbhakarna, feared the foremost of Raghus, just as elephants feared seeing the Lord of Devatas, and emitted loud cries.
FAQs
Adharma brings inner instability: when a pillar of an unrighteous cause falls, even the strong-hearted lose confidence. The verse hints that moral imbalance produces fear and disorder among its supporters.
After Kumbhakarṇa’s death, Rāvaṇa’s relatives/allies are alarmed and lament loudly, recognizing Rāma as an overwhelming force.
Rāma’s awe-inspiring majesty (tejas) grounded in righteous purpose—his presence itself becomes a deterrent to further wrongdoing.