Shloka 14
कुम्भकर्णप्रस्थानम्
Kumbhakarna’s Departure for Battle
समालोक्यतुतेरूपंविद्रविष्यन्तिवानराः ।रामलक्ष्मणयोश्चापिहृदयेप्रस्फुटिष्यतः ।।।।
samālokya tu te rūpaṃ vidraviṣyanti vānarāḥ |
rāmalakṣmaṇayoś cāpi hṛdaye prasphuṭiṣyataḥ ||
നിന്റെ ഭയാനക രൂപം കണ്ടാൽ വാനരസൈന്യം ഓടിപ്പിരിയും; രാമലക്ഷ്മണരുടെ ഹൃദയങ്ങളും പിളർന്നുതകരും.
"Seeing your form, the Vanaras will run away, Rama and Lakshmana's heart will break."
FAQs
The verse highlights how adharma often relies on intimidation and fear rather than righteous conduct; it implicitly contrasts coercion with Dharma, which stands on inner steadiness and truth rather than terror.
Rāvaṇa is urging Kumbhakarṇa to go forth to battle, boasting that Kumbhakarṇa’s appearance will panic the Vānaras and break the resolve of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.
Not virtue but a tactic is emphasized—fear-inducement as a weapon; by contrast the epic’s ethical frame invites admiration for steadfast courage (a Dharmic virtue) in those who resist such fear.