Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 15, Shloka 21
पञ्चदशः सर्गः — देवकृत-प्रार्थना, रावणवधोपायः, विष्णोः मानुषावतारनियोजनम्
Sarga 15: The Devas’ Petition, the Means to Slay Ravana, and Vishnu’s Commission to Incarnate as Man
स हि देवांश्च गन्धर्वान्सिद्धांश्च मुनिसत्तमान्।राक्षसो रावणो मूर्खो वीर्योत्सेकेन बाधते।।1.15.21।।
sa hi devāṃś ca gandharvān siddhāṃś ca munisattamān |
rākṣaso rāvaṇo mūrkho vīryotsekena bādhate ||1.15.21||
Car ce rākṣasa insensé, Rāvaṇa, enflé d’orgueil de sa propre vaillance, tourmente les dieux, les gandharvas, les siddhas et les plus éminents des sages.
"That stupid rakshasa, Ravana, with his haughty prowess, is terrorising the gods, gandharvas, siddhas and great rishis.
FAQs
Power without discernment becomes adharma: pride in strength (vīrya-utsēka) leads to oppression and must be checked.
The petitioners detail Rāvaṇa’s widespread harassment of divine and sage communities to justify urgent intervention.
By contrast, the virtue highlighted is humility; Rāvaṇa’s lack of it marks him as ethically unfit to rule.