Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 22
अतिकायवधः
The Slaying of Atikāya
रक्तगण्ठगुणोधीरोमहापर्वतसन्निभः ।कालःकालमहावक्त्रोमेघस्थइवभास्करः ।।।।
rakta-gaṇṭha-guṇo dhīraḥ mahā-parvata-sannibhaḥ | kālaḥ kāla-mahā-vaktro meghastha iva bhāskaraḥ ||
Mit einer roten Girlande am Hals, standhaft und von Gestalt einer mächtigen Bergwand gleich—schrecklich wie der Tod, dunkel und mit gewaltigem Rachen—erschien er wie die Sonne, von Wolken verhüllt.
"Wearing red garland s round the neck, brave, like a mountain in form, dark with large mouth, like death, like sun veiled by clouds he seems."
FAQs
The verse highlights how adharma manifests as terror and oppressive grandeur; Dharma is understood by contrast—righteous power does not rely on dread alone.
A fearsome figure is being described through powerful similes (Death; sun behind clouds) to convey battlefield dread.
Not virtue but formidable presence: the steadiness (dhairya) of the warrior is noted, though it serves a destructive cause in context.