Shloka 6.73.74
इन्द्रजितः ब्रह्मास्त्र-यागः तथा वानरसेनाविध्वंसः (Indrajit’s Brahmastra Rite and the Crushing of the Vanara Host)
सतत्तदावानरसैन्यमेवंरामं च सङ्ख्येसहलक्ष्मणेन ।विषादयित्वासहसाविवेशपुरींदशग्रीवभुजाभिगुप्ताम् ।।।।सन्स्तूयमानस्सतुयातुधानैः ।पत्रे च सर्वंहृषितोऽभ्युवाच ।।।।
sa tat tadā vānarasainyam evaṃ rāmaṃ ca saṅkhye saha-lakṣmaṇena |
viṣādayitvā sahasā viveśa purīṃ daśagrīva-bhujābhiguptām ||
san stūyamānas tu yātudhānaiḥ pitre ca sarvaṃ hṛṣito 'bhyuvāca ||
Thus, having cast the Vanara host—together with Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa in the thick of battle—into despair, he swiftly entered the city guarded by Daśagrīva’s arms (Laṅkā). Praised by the rākṣasas, he joyfully reported everything to his father.
Thereafter Vanara army withdrew from the battle along with Rama and Lakshmana. Indrajith for his part moved to the abode protected by Ravana's arms, while being praised. He at once entered the city happily and related everything to the father.।। ityārṣēvālmīkīyēśrīmadrāmāyaṇēādikāvyēyuddhakāṇḍētrisaptatitamassargaḥ ।।This is the Seventy third sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by Sage Valmiki.
It shows how adharma can be socially rewarded (praise from rākṣasas), yet dharma evaluates actions by righteousness, not by applause or immediate results.
Indrajit withdraws from the battlefield into Laṅkā and reports his apparent success to Rāvaṇa while being celebrated.
As a narrative contrast, it underscores the danger of pride and the fragility of victory-glory when it is not grounded in dharma.