वज्रदंष्ट्रवधः — The Slaying of Vajradaṃṣṭra
Angada’s Duel
राक्षसाश्चापिमुख्यास्तेरथेषुसमवस्थिताः ।नानाप्रहरणाश्शूराःप्रायुध्यन्तस्तदारणे ।।6.54.3।।
rākṣasāś cāpi mukhyās te ratheṣu samavasthitāḥ |
nānāpraharaṇāḥ śūrāḥ prāyudhyantas tadā raṇe |
Auch die führenden Rākṣasas, auf ihren Wagen aufgestellt—Helden mit mancherlei Waffen—kämpften damals unbeirrt in der Schlacht.
Seated firmly on the chariots the chiefs and heroes of Rakshasas also fought steadily with different weapons in the combat.
The verse presents satya of warfare’s scale and organization. Dharma is not sentimental here; it recognizes that adharma can also be disciplined—hence the need for righteous leadership to counter it.
A broad battlefield overview: rākṣasa leaders are deployed on chariots and fight with diverse weapons.
Collective resolve and martial preparedness (though morally neutral, it heightens the contrast with righteous purpose).