Shloka 6.54.6
वज्रदंष्ट्रवधः — The Slaying of Vajradaṃṣṭra (Angada’s Duel)
वानराश्चापिरक्षस्सुगिरवृक्षान्महाशिलाः ।प्रवीराःपातयामासुर्मत्तमातङ्गसन्निभाः ।।6.54.6।।
vajradaṃṣṭraṃ hataṃ dṛṣṭvā rākṣasā bhaya-mohitāḥ |
trastā hy abhyadravan laṅkāṃ vadhyamānāḥ plavaṅgamaiḥ |
viṣaṇṇa-vadanā dīnā hriyā kiñcid avāṅmukhāḥ ||6.54.36-37||
Seeing Vajradaṃṣṭra slain, the rākṣasas—bewildered by fear—fled in terror toward Laṅkā, beaten back by the monkeys; downcast and miserable, their faces sank and their heads bent in shame.
Heroic Vanaras who resembled elephants in rut showered mountains and trees and huge rocks at Rakshasas.
Adharma erodes courage and clarity: fear and shame overtake those fighting an unrighteous cause, while dharma-backed forces gain moral momentum.
After Vajradaṃṣṭra’s fall, the rākṣasas lose heart and retreat toward Laṅkā under pressure from the vānara troops.
Moral confidence (dharma-bala) by implication—those aligned with righteousness stand firm, while the unrighteous falter.