Shloka 6.40.28
सुवेलारोहणं रावण-सुग्रीव-नियुद्धम् (Ascent of Suvela and the Ravana–Sugriva Duel)
एतस्मिन्नन्तरेरक्षोमायाबलमथात्मनः ।आरब्धुमुपसंपेदेज्ञात्वातंवानराधिपः ।।6.40.27।।उत्पपाततदाकाशंजितकाशीजितक्लमः ।रावणःस्थितएवात्रहरिराजेववञ्चितः ।।6.40.28।।
tasyāṃ gopuraśṛṅgasthaṃ rākṣasendraṃ durāsadam |
śvetacāmaraparyantaṃ vijayacchatraśobhitam |
raktacandanasaṃliptaṃ ratnābharaṇabhūṣitam |
nīlajīmūtasaṅkāśaṃ hemasaṃchāditāmbaram |
airāvataviṣāṇāgrair utkṛṣṭakiṇavakṣasam |
śaśalohitarāgeṇa saṃvītaṃ raktavāsasā |
sandhyātapena saṃvītaṃ megharāśim ivāmbare ||
Rāma beheld the lord of the rākṣasas standing upon the summit of the palace-gateway—hard to approach—attended by white fly-whisks and shaded by a triumphal parasol. Smeared with red sandal and adorned with jeweled ornaments, clad in a garment embroidered with gold, he looked like a dark mass of cloud. His chest bore raised scars, as if scored by the tips of Airāvata’s tusks; wrapped in crimson cloth, he shone like a cloud-bank in the sky lit by the ruddy glow of sunset.
In the meantime, Ravana thought of exhibiting his superiority by jugglery and jumped to the sky. Knowing that Sugriva, the untiring Vanara king assumed the air of victor and rose up to the sky. Baffled Ravana stood thinking Sugriva would come there.
The verse frames power and splendor as morally neutral: outward majesty can accompany inner adharma. Dharma requires discernment—judging character and conduct, not being overawed by royal display.
In Laṅkā’s battlefield setting, Rāma sees Rāvaṇa displayed on the palace-gateway summit with ceremonial emblems, setting the stage for the vānara leaders’ reaction and challenge.
Rāma’s steadiness and discernment are implied: he observes an intimidating enemy without moral confusion, preparing for righteous action rather than reacting to spectacle.