Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 16: Daśaratha Benedicted
Text 1.16.6
अवज्ञाताः पुरा तेन वरदाने हि मानवाः॥
avajñātāḥ purā tena vara-dāne hi mānavāḥ
avajñātāḥ = despised; purā = then; tena = Rāvaṇa had; vara-dāne hi = while seeking a benediction from Lord Brahmā; mānavāḥ = human beings.
Rāvaṇa had then despised human beings while seeking a benediction from Lord Brahmā.1
1 This verse literally means, “Indeed, human beings were formerly despised by him while being granted that benediction.”
Why didn’t Lord Brahma grant that rākṣasa security from humans? This verse answers that.