Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 18
प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्
Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host
मेशीघ्रंराक्षसानांमहाद्बलम् ।।।।मद्भाणाब्दावेगेनहतानांशनिचरणाजिरे ।अद्यहृष्यन्तुमांसादाःपक्षिणःकाननौकसां ।।।।
me śīghraṃ rākṣasānāṃ mahad-balam |
mad-bhāṇābda-vegena hatānāṃ raṇājire |
adya hṛṣyantu māṃsādāḥ pakṣiṇaḥ kānanaukasām ||
“Quickly assemble the great Rākṣasa host with me and bring it to the battlefield. Today, the flesh-eating birds of the forest will rejoice over those slain by the storm-speed of my arrows,” (said Prahastha).
"Get the great Rakshasa army together with me to the battlefield speedily. By my arrows all the carnivorous birds will be killed and satisfied with the flesh (of Vanaras) today", said Prahastha.
FAQs
By contrast, the verse illustrates adharma: delighting in slaughter and speaking with cruelty. The Ramayana repeatedly frames such relish for violence as morally corrosive and ultimately self-defeating.
Prahastha issues an aggressive call to mobilize the Rākṣasa army and expresses confidence that his arrows will cause massive casualties on the battlefield.
Not a virtue but a vice: arrogance and brutality—confidence rooted in harm rather than righteousness.