Shloka 6.96.26

युद्धाय रावणस्य निर्याणं तथा उत्पातदर्शनम् (Ravana’s Mobilization for War and the ظهور of Fatal Portents)

Devanagari script

ततोमुहूर्तान्निष्पेतूराक्षसाभीमदर्शनाः ।नदन्तोभीमवदनानानाप्रहरणैर्भुजैः ।।6.96.24।।असिभिःपट्टसै: शूलैर्गदाभिर्मुसलैर्हलैः ।शक्तिभिस्तीक्ष्णधाराभिर्महद्भि: कूटमुद्गरैः ।।6.96.25।।यष्टिभिर्विमलैश्चक्रैर्निशितैश्चपरश्वथै: ।भिन्दिपालैःशतघ्नीभिरन्यैश्चापिवरायुधैः ।।6.96.26।।

Transliteration

yaṣṭibhir vimalaiś cakrair niśitaiś ca paraśvathaiḥ |

bhindipālaiḥ śataghnībhir anyaiś cāpi varāyudhaiḥ ||6.96.26||

Translation

They went forth bearing staffs, bright discus-weapons, and keen-edged axes—along with bhindipālas, śataghnīs, and other excellent arms.

Context

Then the Rakshasas of terrific looks, and frightening faces holding on shoulders roaring departed with swords, spears, tridents, maces, iron bars, halas, sharp pointed javelins, huge Kutamudgaras, staffs and several discusses, sharp Bhindipalas, Sataghnis and many kinds of excellent weapons.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas

FAQs

How does this verse relate to Dharma in the Ramayana?

By cataloguing the rākṣasas’ weapons, the verse frames the moral battlefield where Dharma is tested: power and armament alone are not presented as righteousness; the larger narrative contrasts such force with Rāma’s dharmic restraint and just cause.

Where is Satya (truth) reflected in a verse that only lists weapons?

Satya here is the narrator’s faithful, concrete reporting of events—an unembellished depiction of the opposing force—supporting the epic’s commitment to truthful narration before moral judgment unfolds through the actions that follow.