Shloka 6.27.14

वानर-ऋक्ष-सेना-प्रशंसा (Cataloguing the Vanara and Bear Forces)

Devanagari script

आरुह्यपर्वताग्रेभ्योमहाभ्रविपुला: शिलाः ।मुञ्चन्तिविपुलाकारानमृत्योरुद्विजन्तिच ।।6.27.13।।राक्षसानांचसदृशाःपिशाचानांचरोमशाः ।एतस्यसैन्याबहवोविचरन्त्यग्नितेजसः ।।6.27.14।।

Transliteration

rākṣasānāṁ ca sadṛśāḥ piśācānāṁ ca romaśāḥ |

etasya sainyā bahavo vicaranty agnitejasaḥ ||6.27.14||

Translation

Many troops of his roam about—hairy-bodied and blazing like fire—resembling the Rākṣasas and the Piśācas.

Context

Appearing with hairybody glowing like fire like the Rakshasas and demons, many of them in huge form are climbing mountain peaks without caring for death and go about throwing rocks.

Characters & Entities

• राक्षस (Rākṣasa)
• पिशाच (Piśāca)

FAQs

What is the ethical (dharma) significance of describing the enemy as Rākṣasa- and Piśāca-like?

The comparison frames the opposing force as aligned with adharma—violence and moral disorder—so that resisting them is portrayed as a dharmic necessity to protect rightful order.

How does this verse relate to satya (truthfulness) in the Ramayana’s narrative style?

It uses vivid but conventional epic descriptors to convey a truthful assessment of threat and character: the narration communicates the perceived nature of the forces (fearsome, destructive), supporting a clear moral contrast without disguising the danger.