Shloka 2
Ravana’s Austerities, the Gods’ Refuge, and the Decree of Rama’s Incarnation
कुंभकर्णोऽपि कृतवांस्तपः परमदुश्चरम् । विभीषणस्तु धर्मात्मा चचार परमं तपः
kuṃbhakarṇo'pi kṛtavāṃstapaḥ paramaduścaram | vibhīṣaṇastu dharmātmā cacāra paramaṃ tapaḥ
కుంభకర్ణుడును అత్యంత దుష్కరమైన తపస్సు చేశాడు; ధర్మాత్ముడైన విభీషణుడు పరమ తపశ్చర్యను ఆచరించాడు।
Unspecified narrator (contextual Purāṇic narration)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुंभकर्णोऽपि = कुंभकर्णः + अपि; कृतवांस्तपः = कृतवान् + तपः (न् + त → न्त); विभीषणस्तु = विभीषणः + तु.
FAQs
It highlights that even powerful figures like Kumbhakarṇa undertook severe penance, while Vibhīṣaṇa—defined by righteousness—pursued the highest austerity, linking spiritual attainment with both effort (tapas) and moral character (dharma).
The epithet dharmātmā emphasizes that his austerity is grounded in ethical integrity and devotion to dharma, distinguishing the quality and intention of his tapas from mere ascetic power.
Purāṇas commonly present tapas as a potent spiritual discipline, but they also stress that its highest form is aligned with dharma; the verse juxtaposes intense effort with righteous disposition to convey that both matter in spiritual life.