Shloka 6.7.10
राक्षसपरिषद्वाक्यम् — Counsel of the Rakshasa Court to Ravana
दानवेन्द्रोमधुर्नामवीर्योत्सिक्तोदुरासदः ।विगृह्यवशमानीतःकुम्भीनस्याःसुखावहः ।।।।
dānavendro madhur nāma vīryotsikto durāsadaḥ |
vigṛhya vaśam ānītaḥ kumbhīnasyāḥ sukhāvahaḥ ||
“Madhu by name—the lord of the Dānavas, proud of his prowess and hard to assail—who brought joy to Kumbhīnasī as her husband, was challenged and brought under your sway.”
"Madhu, another ruler of Danavas who was proud of his valour and difficult to approach, the husband of Kumbhinasi was subjugated by you by your offering to fight with him."
The verse highlights a common ethical tension: political power celebrates conquest, but Ramayana repeatedly distinguishes mere dominance from dharmic legitimacy.
Rākṣasas praise Rāvaṇa by recounting how he subdued formidable beings such as the Dānava king Madhu.
Rāvaṇa’s martial capability is praised; the epic later critiques capability without restraint or righteousness.