Shloka 3.49.18
सीताहरणम् — Ravana reveals his true form and abducts Sita
तं दृष्ट्वा मृत्युसङ्काशं तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रं महाभुजम्।।3.49.18।।प्राद्रवन्गिरिसङ्काशं भयार्ता वनदेवताः।
taṃ dṛṣṭvā mṛtyusaṅkāśaṃ tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭraṃ mahābhujam | prādravan girisaṅkāśaṃ bhayārtā vanadevatāḥ ||
Seeing him—deathlike in appearance, sharp-fanged, mighty-armed, and mountainlike—the deities of the forest fled in terror.
The sylvan deities fled out of fear on seeing the dreadful appearance of Ravana who had sharp teeth and mighty arms. He looked like a mountain, a veritable god of death.
Adharma generates भय (fear) in the world: when a powerful being acts unrighteously, even protective presences withdraw, showing how moral disorder destabilizes the environment.
As Rāvaṇa’s terrifying form becomes evident, the forest’s divine presences retreat in alarm.
The verse indirectly emphasizes the virtue of dharmic protection: when it is absent (as with Rāvaṇa), the world responds with fear and flight.