Shloka 6.45.23
इन्द्रजितः अन्तर्धानयुद्धं — Indrajit’s Concealed Assault and the Fall of Rama and Lakshmana
रुक्मपुङ्खैःप्रसन्नाग्रैरधोगतिभिराशुगैः ।नाराचैरर्धनाराचैर्भल्लैरञ्जलिकैरपि ।।6.45.23।।विव्याधवत्सदन्तैश्चसिंहदंष्ट्रैःक्षुरैस्तथा ।
rukmapuṅkhaiḥ prasannāgrair adhogatibhir āśugaiḥ |
nārācair ardhanārācair bhallair añjalikair api ||6.45.23||
vivyādha vatsadantaiś ca siṃhadaṃṣṭraiḥ kṣuraiḥ tathā |
He pierced him with arrows whose shafts were gold-feathered and whose tips shone bright—swift and plunging straight—using nārācas, half-nārācas, bhallas, añjalikas, and also those shaped like a calf’s teeth, a lion’s fangs, and razor-edged blades.
Indrajith pierced Rama with arrows coated with gold and gold tipped arrows, which had even and circular heads, with half-moon arrows, with axe like heads, heads like joined palms, heads resembling teeth of calf and lion teeth arrows as well as razor sharp arrows which descended quickly unobstructed like dust.
Implicitly, the verse invites reflection on yuddha-dharma: power and technique in war must be governed by righteousness; sheer armament, when driven by anger and deception, becomes a sign of adharma.
The narrator details the many specialized arrow-types used in Indrajit’s overwhelming assault.
By contrast, it highlights the need for restraint and ethical intent; martial skill is morally meaningful only when subordinated to dharma and satya.