Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 25
धूम्राक्षप्रेषणम्
The Dispatch of Dhūmrākṣa
विविधायुधहस्ताश्चशूलमुद्गरपाणयः ।गदाभिःपट्टसैर्दण्डैरायसैर्मुसलैर्भृशम् ।।6.51.24।।परिघैर्भिण्डिवालैश्चभल्लैप्रासै: परश्वथै: ।निर्ययूराक्षसादिभ्योनर्धन्तोजलदायथा ।।6.51.25।।
rathaiḥ kavacinas tv anye dhvajaiś ca samalaṅkṛtaiḥ |
suvarṇa-jāla-vihitaiḥ kharaiś ca vividhānanaiḥ ||6.51.26||
hayaiḥ parama-śīghraiś ca gajaiś caiva madotkaṭaiḥ |
niryayur nairṛta-vyāghrā vyāghrā iva durāsadāḥ ||6.51.27||
Others—armored and bannered—rode out on chariots drawn by donkeys of strange faces and netted with gold; with very swift horses and rut-maddened elephants as well, those ‘tigers among rākṣasas’ advanced, hard to approach like real tigers.
The dreadful Rakshasas set out roaring like rain clouds armed with different kinds of weapons, like tridents, darts, maces, spears, iron bars, rods, even clubs, spears and slings, arrows in thousands.
FAQs
The verse depicts splendor and military might; dharma reflection: external grandeur (gold, banners, armies) is not a sign of righteousness—right conduct and truth (satya) are the true measures.
A large, well-equipped rākṣasa detachment rides out with chariots, horses, and elephants to confront the enemy.
Courage and aggressiveness in battle (valor as a capability), set within an adharma-aligned campaign.