Shloka 23
निकुम्भवधः — The Slaying of Nikumbha
Hanuman’s Duel
अथनिनदतिसादितेनिकुम्भेपवनसुतेनरणेबभूवयुद्धम् ।दशरथसुतराक्षसेन्द्रसून्वोर्भृशतरमागतरोषयोस्सुभीमम् ।।।।
atha ninadati sā dite nikumbhe pavanasutena raṇe babhūva yuddham | daśarathasuta-rākṣasendra-sūnvor bhṛśataram āgata-roṣayoḥ subhīmam ||
Maka tatkala, ketika Nikumbha yang masih meraung itu ditewaskan di medan laga oleh putera Dewa Angin (Pavanaputra), bangkitlah pertempuran yang amat dahsyat dan menggerunkan antara putera Daśaratha dan putera raja rākṣasa, kedua-duanya menyala oleh amarah yang sangat hebat.
And thereafter as Nikumbha killed by windgod's son was crying aloud in the battlefield, a violent and fierce war took place between the highly disturbed son of Dasharatha and Rakshasa Makara.
FAQs
Dharma in conflict includes vigilance over anger: the verse notes furious wrath driving combat, implicitly contrasting raw rage with Rāma’s ideal of controlled righteous action.
After Nikumbha’s fall, the larger war intensifies, shifting focus to a fierce duel involving Rāma and a rākṣasa prince.
Rāma’s steadfast leadership under provocation—facing escalating violence while continuing the righteous campaign.