Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 2
षट्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः
Ravana Deploys Five Generals; Hanuman Destroys the Commanders and the Remaining Host
स विरूपाक्षयूपाक्षौ दुर्धरं चैव राक्षसम्।प्रघसं भासकर्णं च पञ्चसेनाग्रनायकान्।।।।सन्दिदेश दशग्रीवो वीरान्नयविशारदान्।हनुमद्ग्रहणव्यग्रान्वायुवेगसमान्युधि।।।।
sa virūpākṣayūpākṣau durdharaṃ caiva rākṣasam | praghasaṃ bhāsakarṇaṃ ca pañca-senāgra-nāyakān || sandideśa daśagrīvo vīrān naya-viśāradān | hanumad-grahaṇa-vyagrān vāyu-vega-samān yudhi ||
Maka Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa) pun memerintahkan lima panglima barisan hadapan—Vīrūpākṣa, Yūpākṣa, Durdhara, Praghāsa dan Bhāsakarṇa—para wira yang mahir siasat, bersungguh-sungguh hendak menangkap Hanumān, dan di medan perang sepantas hembusan angin.
The ten-headed Ravana, eager to capture Hanuman, commanded his five army Generals called Virupaksha, Yupaksha, Durdhara, Praghasa and Bhaskarna, who were great warrior-statesmen valiant and, equal to wind in speed.
FAQs
The verse highlights rājadharma in form (organized command) but adharma in aim: power and strategy, when directed toward an unrighteous cause (capturing the messenger of a just mission), become instruments of moral downfall.
Rāvaṇa responds to Hanumān’s presence and destruction in Laṅkā by dispatching five elite generals to capture him.
Strategic capacity and command are emphasized—yet as a cautionary example: competence without dharmic orientation can serve injustice.