Shloka 6.75.55
लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः (The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle)
पताकाध्वजसंसक्तमुत्तमासिपरश्वधम् ।भीमाश्वरथमातङ्गंनानापततिसमाकुलम् ।।।।दीप्तशूलगदाखडगप्रासतोमरकार्मुकम् ।तद्राक्षसबलंघोरभीमंविक्रमपौरुषम् ।।।।ददृशेज्वलितप्रासंकिङ्किणीशतनादितम् ।हेमजालाचितभुजंव्यावेष्टितपरश्वथम् ।।।।व्याघूर्णितमहाशस्त्रंबाणसंसक्तकार्मुकम् ।गन्धमाल्यमधूत्सेकसम्मोदितमहानिलम् ।।।।
patākādhvajasaṃsaktam uttamāsiparaśvadhām |
bhīmāśvarathamātaṅgaṃ nānāpatatisamākulam ||
dīptaśūlagadākhaḍgaprāsatomarakārmukam |
tad rākṣasabalaṃ ghoraṃ bhīmaṃ vikramapauruṣam ||
dadṛśe jvalitaprāsaṃ kiṅkiṇīśatanāditam |
hemajālācitabhujaṃ vyāveṣṭitaparaśvadhām ||
vyāghūrṇitamahāśastraṃ bāṇasaṃsaktakārmukam |
gandhamālyamadhūtsekasammoditam ahānilam ||
Then the host of the Rākṣasas came into view—terrifying and mighty—thick with banners and standards; bearing excellent swords and axes; filled with dreadful chariots, horses, and elephants, and crowded with many kinds of foot-soldiers. It blazed with tridents, maces, swords, spears, lances, and bows; its warriors were fearsome in valor and strength. Shining missiles were seen, and the clamor of hundreds of bells resounded; arms adorned with gold brandished axes, great weapons whirled, and bows were set with arrows—while a strong wind carried the fragrance of garlands and perfumes.
Then the Rakshasa army appeared terrific, fixed with flags and poles, equipped with best of axes, horses yoked to formidable chariots and elephants different kinds of foot soldiers, distinguished by wielding shining tridents, maces, swords spears and lances warriors of frightening valour and prowess holding shining barbed missiles hundreds of tiny bells tied to the chariots and elephants making noise warriors endowed with arms decorated with gold, with axes and weapons to pierce arrows fixed to the bows, with an abundance of fragrance.
Dharma is contrasted with intimidation: the army’s terrifying display shows how power can be used to overwhelm. The Ramayana repeatedly implies that true righteousness is not mere might, but restrained and principled use of strength.
The narrator presents a detailed visual catalogue of the Rākṣasa forces—standards, troops, weapons, noise, and splendor—at the height of the night confrontation.
On the surface, martial prowess; ethically, the scene sets up the need for the opposing side’s steadiness and self-control—courage that does not collapse before spectacle.