Shloka 6.75.60

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः (The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle)

Devanagari script

जवेनाफ्लुत्य च पुनस्तद्बलंरक्षसांमहत् ।।।।अभ्ययात्प्रत्यरिबलंपतङ्गाइवपावकम् ।

Transliteration

javenāplutya ca punastadbalaṃ rakṣasāṃ mahat | abhyayātpratyaribalaṃ pataṅgā iva pāvakam ||

Translation

Leaping forward with great speed, that vast army of Rākṣasas rushed again toward the hostile forces, like moths rushing into a fire.

Context

The great army of Rakshasas rushed towards the hostile army just as moths flew up towards flame.

Characters & Entities

• Rakshasas
• Enemy Army

FAQs

What simile is used in this verse to describe the Rakshasa army?

The Rakshasa army is compared to 'pataṅgā' (moths) rushing towards 'pāvakam' (fire), symbolizing their blind aggression leading to inevitable self-destruction.

What does the comparison to moths signify regarding Dharma?

It signifies that the forces of Adharma (the Rakshasas), despite their speed and numbers, are rushing towards their own destruction against the fire of Dharma represented by the opposing army.