Shloka 6.54.18
वज्रदंष्ट्रवधः — The Slaying of Vajradaṃṣṭra (Angada’s Duel)
ततश्शतसहस्रेणहरिपुत्रंमहाबलः ।।6.54.18।।जघानमर्मदेशेषुमातङ्गमिवतोमरैः ।
vajradaṃṣṭro ’ṅgadaś cobhau saṅgatau hari-rākṣasau |
ceratuḥ paramakruddhau hari-matta-gajāvivā ||6.54.17||
Vajradaṁṣṭra and Aṅgada—rākṣasa and vānara—closed upon each other, both fiercely enraged, like a lion and a rut-maddened elephant.
Then Angada endowed with great strength, pierced Vajradamshtra in his private parts with clubs used for piercing elephants.
The verse frames a lawful battlefield encounter: opponents meet face-to-face in open combat, reflecting the ideal of directness in kṣātra conduct rather than hidden harm.
Aṅgada and Vajradaṃṣṭra engage in close combat, their clash compared to powerful animals in confrontation.
Valor and steadfastness under pressure—both combatants commit fully to the duel.