Shloka 6.70.60
त्रिशिरा–देवान्तक–महोदर–मत्त (महापार्श्व) वधः | Slaying of Trisira, Devantaka, Mahodara, and Matta (Mahaparsva)
स कृत्तमूलस्सहसेववृक्षःक्षितौपपातक्षतजोक्षिताङ्गः ।तांचास्यघोरांयमदण्डकल्पांगदांप्रगृह्याशुतदाननाद ।।।।
sa kṛttamūlaḥ sahaseva vṛkṣaḥ kṣitau papāta kṣatajokṣitāṅgaḥ |
tāṃ cāsya ghorāṃ yamadaṇḍakalpāṃ gadāṃ pragṛhyāśu tadā nanāda ||6.70.60||
Like a tree whose roots have been cut, he fell to the earth, his limbs drenched in blood; then, quickly seizing his dreadful mace—like Yama’s rod—he roared aloud.
Like a tree whose roots have been severed, the Rakshasa fell on the ground. Then seizing forcibly, the dreadful mace that resembled the rod of Lord of death he roared.
The verse shows how combatants can persist even when wounded; ethically, it frames war as a realm where fear and death (Yama imagery) loom—dharma demands that such force be employed only for a just cause and with restraint.
After being struck, the rākṣasa collapses but immediately recovers enough to grasp his mace again and roar, signaling renewed aggression.
Tenacity and refusal to yield are emphasized—though here they appear as grim persistence in violence rather than a clearly dharmic virtue.