Shloka 6.58.60
प्रहस्तवधः (The Slaying of Prahasta)
हतेतस्मिंश्चमूमुख्येराक्षसास्तेनिरुद्यमाः ।रक्षःपतिगृहंगत्वाध्यानमूकत्वमास्थिताः ।।।।प्राप्ताश्शोकार्णवंतीव्रंनिस्सज्ञौइवतेऽभवन् ।
hate tasmiṃś camūmukhye rākṣasās te nirudyamāḥ | rakṣaḥpati-gṛhaṃ gatvā dhyāna-mūkatvam āsthitāḥ | prāptāḥ śokārṇavaṃ tīvraṃ nissaṃjñā iva te 'bhavan ||
When that foremost leader of the host was slain, those Rakshasas, their resolve broken, went to the dwelling of their lord. Struck by a fierce ocean of grief, they fell into mute stillness, as though bereft of sense.
Commander-in-Chief killed, those Rakshasas reduced to speechlessness went to the abode of their Lord and remained without consciousness.
Unchecked adharma culminates in collective suffering; grief and paralysis follow when violence is pursued without righteous grounding.
After their commander falls, Rakshasa soldiers retreat to Rāvaṇa’s residence and sit in shocked silence, overwhelmed by sorrow.
The verse highlights the absence of dhairya (fortitude) in a demoralized force, contrasting with the steadiness expected in dharmic struggle.