Shloka 6.73.24
इन्द्रजितः ब्रह्मास्त्र-यागः तथा वानरसेनाविध्वंसः (Indrajit’s Brahmastra Rite and the Crushing of the Vanara Host)
सतत्राग्निंसमास्तीर्यशरपत्रैस्सतोमरैः ।।।।छागस्यकृष्णवर्णस्यगळंजग्राहजीवतः ।
sa tatrāgniṃ samāstīrya śarapatraiḥ satomaraiḥ | chāgasya kṛṣṇavarṇasya gaḷaṃ jagrāha jīvataḥ ||
There he laid out the sacred fire, strewing it with arrow-like leaves and lances, and seized by the neck a living goat of dark hue for the offering.
There he strewed into the fire, lances as leaves, dark coloured live go at clasped by its neck and consigned.
The verse foregrounds ritual action involving harm; the dharmic reflection is that sacred acts must be measured by compassion and truth, not only by efficacy.
Indrajit proceeds with the rite’s intense, martial symbolism and prepares the animal offering.
Resolve and fearlessness, expressed through uncompromising performance of a formidable ritual.