Shloka 18
धूम्राक्षवधः
The Slaying of Dhumrākṣa
सैन्यंतुविद्रुतंदृष्टवाधूम्राक्षोराक्षसर्षभः ।रोषेणकदनंचक्रेवानराणांयुयुत्सताम् ।।6.52.18।।
sainyaṃ tu vidrutaṃ dṛṣṭvā dhūmrākṣo rākṣasarṣabhaḥ | roṣeṇa kadanaṃ cakre vānarāṇāṃ yuyutsatām ||6.52.18||
Voyant l'armée en fuite, Dhūmrākṣa, taureau parmi les Rākṣasas, brûlant de rage, sema la destruction parmi les Vānaras qui pressaient le combat.
Few Vanaras mutilated by barbed darts, some struck with mallets, blood oozing dropped down.
FAQs
The verse contrasts motives in war: anger-driven violence (roṣa) is shown as a destructive impulse, while the Vanaras’ readiness to fight is tied to duty in service of justice.
Dhūmrākṣa rallies and counterattacks when he notices disorder in the forces, turning the tide locally by inflicting heavy damage.
For Dhūmrākṣa, martial ferocity and command presence; implicitly, the Vanaras’ persistence in continuing to engage despite pressure.