Shloka 6.73.34
इन्द्रजितः ब्रह्मास्त्र-यागः तथा वानरसेनाविध्वंसः (Indrajit’s Brahmastra Rite and the Crushing of the Vanara Host)
स तुनालीकनाराचैर्गदाभिर्मुसलैरपि ।रक्षोभिस्सम्वृतस्सङ्ख्येवानरान् विचकर्त ह ।।।।
sa tu nālīkanārācair gadābhir musalair api | rakṣobhiḥ saṃvṛtaḥ saṅkhye vānarān vicakarta ha ||
But he—screened by rākṣasas in the thick of battle—tore through the vānaras with nālīka-arrows, maces, and even clubs.
Indrajith, remaining concealed and surrounded by Rakshasas, destroyed the Vanaras with nalikas, steel arrows and maces.
The narrative invites ethical scrutiny of concealed, asymmetric violence: the Ramayana often treats open, accountable combat as closer to dharma than hidden attack, even when tactically effective.
Indrajit, protected by surrounding rākṣasas, devastates the vānaras using multiple weapons.
Tactical effectiveness and ferocity—presented with an undertone of moral ambiguity due to concealment and overwhelming force.