Shloka 6.75.57
लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः (The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle)
पताकाध्वजसंसक्तमुत्तमासिपरश्वधम् ।भीमाश्वरथमातङ्गंनानापततिसमाकुलम् ।।6.75.55।।दीप्तशूलगदाखडगप्रासतोमरकार्मुकम् ।तद्राक्षसबलंघोरभीमंविक्रमपौरुषम् ।।6.75.56।।ददृशेज्वलितप्रासंकिङ्किणीशतनादितम् ।हेमजालाचितभुजंव्यावेष्टितपरश्वथम् ।।6.75.57।।व्याघूर्णितमहाशस्त्रंबाणसंसक्तकार्मुकम् ।गन्धमाल्यमधूत्सेकसम्मोदितमहानिलम् ।।6.75.58।।
javenāphlutya ca punas tad balaṃ rakṣasāṃ mahat | abhyayāt pratyaribalaṃ pataṅgā iva pāvakam ||
Then that great Rākṣasa army, leaping forward with speed, rushed upon the opposing host—like moths flying into a flame.
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.
The simile suggests the self-destructive pull of adharma: reckless aggression, driven by delusion, rushes into ruin like moths into fire—implying dharma requires discernment and restraint.
The Rākṣasas charge swiftly into the opposing ranks; the narrator characterizes their assault with a vivid image of insects drawn to flame.
By contrast, the implied virtue is viveka (discernment): the verse warns against impulsive force and praises the wisdom to avoid fatal attraction to destruction.