Shloka 6.55.1

अकम्पन-प्रेषणम् तथा कपि-राक्षस-रणवर्णनम् (Akampana Dispatched; The Vanara–Rakshasa Battle and Omens)

Devanagari script

वज्रदंष्ट्रंहतंश्रुत्वावालिपुत्रेणरावणः ।बलाध्यक्षमुवाचेदंकृताञ्जलिमुपस्थितम् ।।।।

Transliteration

vajradaṃṣṭraṃ hataṃ śrutvā vāli-putreṇa rāvaṇaḥ |

balādhyakṣam uvācedaṃ kṛtāñjalim upasthitam ||6.55.1||

Translation

Hearing that Vajradaṃṣṭra had been slain by Vāli’s son, Rāvaṇa addressed the army-commander who stood before him with joined palms.

Context

On hearing about Vajradamshtra being killed by Vali's son, Ravana spoke to the chief of the army who stood with folded hands.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vajradaṃṣṭra
• Vāli-putra (Vāli’s son; typically Aṅgada in the epic context)
• Balādhyakṣa (army commander)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse highlights accountability in leadership: news of a key warrior’s death immediately moves the king to command and reorganize—implying that rulers must respond to events with clarity rather than denial.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa receives battlefield intelligence that Vajradaṃṣṭra has been killed by Vāli’s son and turns to his army chief to issue instructions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic attentiveness (rāja-dharma in the sense of command responsibility), though in Rāvaṇa’s case it serves his adharma-aligned war effort.