कुम्भकर्णवधः
The Slaying of Kumbhakarna
ऐरावतंबलेनसमारूढोवृतःसर्वामरैःप्रभुः ।नैवशक्रोऽपिसमरेस्थितपूर्वःकदाचन ।।।।
airāvataṃ balena samārūḍho vṛtaḥ sarvāmaraiḥ prabhuḥ |
naiva śakro 'pi samare sthitapūrvaḥ kadācana ||
Kahit si Śakra (Indra) man—panginoon ng mga deva—na nakasakay sa makapangyarihang Airāvata at napalilibutan ng lahat ng mga walang-kamatayan, kailanma’y hindi pa tumindig sa digmaan upang harapin ako, ni minsan.
"Indra mounted on the elephant, Airavata surrounded by all Devatas, indeed never stood before me in conflict."
Dharma warns against pride that inflates the self above cosmic order. Invoking gods to magnify oneself is a misuse of speech and a drift from satya.
Kumbhakarṇa escalates his intimidation by claiming even Indra has never confronted him.
Implicitly, the virtue demanded of Lakṣmaṇa is steadfast truth-centered courage—remaining unmoved by grandiose threats.