Shloka 6.53.17
युद्धकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः — धूम्राक्षवधश्रवणं, वज्रदंष्ट्रप्रेषणं, अङ्गद-राक्षसयुद्धम् (Ravana Dispatches Vajradamshtra; Portents and Angada’s Assault)
तांस्तुनिष्क्रमतोदृष्टवावानराजितकाशिनः ।प्रणेदुस्सुमहानादान्पूरयांश्चदिशोदश ।।।।
tataḥ pravṛttaṃ tumulaṃ harīṇāṃ rākṣasaiḥ saha |
ghorāṇāṃ bhīmarūpāṇām anyonyavathakāṅkṣiṇām ||
Then a tumultuous battle began between the Vānara hosts and the Rākṣasas—dreadful, of terrifying form—each side intent on the other’s destruction.
Vanaras who assumed victory, seeing the Rakshasas coming out stretching filled all the ten directions with loud noise.
The verse underscores the gravity of violence: Dharma frames war as a grave necessity, demanding right cause and restraint, not mere lust for slaughter.
The main clash resumes, with Vānaras and Rākṣasas engaging in fierce, chaotic combat.
Courage and steadfastness are central, alongside the implied dharmic need for controlled force rather than indiscriminate brutality.