Shloka 6.73.23
इन्द्रजितः ब्रह्मास्त्र-यागः तथा वानरसेनाविध्वंसः (Indrajit’s Brahmastra Rite and the Crushing of the Vanara Host)
शस्त्राणिशरपत्राणिसमिधोऽथविभीतकाः ।।।।लोहितानि च वासांसिस्रुवंकार्ष्णायसंतथा ।
śastrāṇi śarapatrāṇi samidho ’tha vibhītakāḥ | lohitāni ca vāsāṃsi sruvaṃ kārṣṇāyasaṃ tathā ||
In that rite, weapons served as the ‘leaves’ of the offering, vibhītaka-wood as the fuel-sticks; red cloths were used, and the ladle too was made of black iron.
In that fire sacrifice, weapons were leaves, bibika sticks were fuel, red pieces of cloth were used, and in the same way the ladle for sacrifice was made of iron.
It suggests how violence can be ritualized; the dharmic lesson is to be wary when sacred language and symbols are used to legitimize harm.
The verse lists the unusual, martial materials used in Indrajit’s fire-rite.
Single-mindedness and ritual innovation—though ethically ambiguous within the epic’s dharma framework.