कुम्भकर्णवधः
The Slaying of Kumbhakarna
प्रगृहीतायुधस्येहमृत्योरिवमहामृधे ।तिष्ठन्नप्रग्रतःपूज्यःकिमुयुद्धप्रदायकः ।।।।
pragṛhītāyudhasyeha mṛtyor iva mahāmṛdhe |
tiṣṭhann agrataḥ pūjyaḥ kimu yuddhapradāyakaḥ ||
‘ఈ మహాసమరంలో మరణంలా ఆయుధం పట్టుకొని నా ఎదుట నిలిచినవాడే పూజ్యుడు; మరి ధైర్యంగా యుద్ధాన్ని సమర్పించేవాడు ఎంతగానో గౌరవనీయుడు!’
"He who is ready to face me, a rival of Lord of Death in conflict, with weapons in hand in great battle is worthy of honour to me."
Even amid adharma, a trace of kṣātra-code appears: courage deserves acknowledgment. Dharma refines this into truthful honor without intimidation or self-deification.
Kumbhakarṇa continues his taunt, paradoxically praising the bravery of anyone who dares face him.
Courage worthy of respect—the battlefield ideal that fearlessness is honorable (when aligned with righteous ends).