Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 44, Shloka 3
चतुश्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः (Sarga 44): निशायुद्धम्, धूलिरुधिरप्रवाहः, इन्द्रजितो मायायुद्धम्
राक्षसोऽसीतिहरयोहरिश्चाऽसीतिराक्षसाः ।अन्योन्यंसमरेजघ्नुस्तस्मिंस्तमसिदारुणे ।।।।
rākṣaso'sīti harayo hariścā'sīti rākṣasāḥ | anyonyaṃ samare jaghnus tasmiṃs tamasi dāruṇe ||
In jener schrecklichen Finsternis erschlugen die Vanaras einander, im Glauben: „Er ist ein Rākṣasa“, und die Rākṣasas töteten einander, im Glauben: „Er ist ein Affe“, denn Verwirrung hatte die Schlacht ergriffen.
In the fierce darkness that prevailed, monkeys hit monkeys thinking to be Rakshasas and Rakshasas hit Rakshasas thinking to be Vanaras (not knowing in darkness) hit each other.
FAQs
Dharma requires discernment (viveka): when clarity is lost, even allies can harm allies. The verse warns that ignorance and confusion breed adharma-like outcomes, even within a righteous cause.
A night battle becomes so dark and chaotic that both sides mistakenly attack their own, misidentifying friend as foe.
The implied virtue is vigilance and discrimination; the verse highlights the cost when these are absent.