Shloka 19
राक्षसपरिषद्वाक्यम्
Counsel of the Rakshasa Court to Ravana
तेषांवीर्यगुणोत्साहैर्नसमोराघवोरणे ।प्रसह्यतेत्वयाराजन्हताःसमरदुर्जयाः ।।।।
teṣāṃ vīrya-guṇotsāhair na samo rāghavo raṇe | prasahya te tvayā rājan hatāḥ samara-durjayāḥ ||
Dalam keberanian, keunggulan, dan semangat, bahkan Rāghava pun di medan laga tidak sebanding dengan mereka; namun, wahai Raja, engkau menundukkan dengan paksa dan menewaskan mereka yang sukar dikalahkan dalam perang.
"Raghava is not equal to them in valour, excellence and energy. Those warriors who were difficult to overcome by battle were overpowered and killed by you."
FAQs
It illustrates adharma-supporting flattery: minimizing the righteous opponent (Rāma) and exaggerating one’s own side undermines satya (truth), which the Ramayana treats as foundational to dharma.
A Laṅkā court speaker attempts to boost Rāvaṇa’s confidence by belittling Rāma’s prowess.
Aggressive dominance in battle is praised, though the epic ultimately esteems dharmic strength over boastful might.