युद्धकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः — धूम्राक्षवधश्रवणं, वज्रदंष्ट्रप्रेषणं, अङ्गद-राक्षसयुद्धम्
Ravana Dispatches Vajradamshtra; Portents and Angada’s Assault
हारकेयूरवस्स्रैश्चशत्रैश्चसमलङ्कृता ।भूमिर्भातिरणेतत्रशारदीवयथानिशा ।।।।
hāra-keyūra-vastraiś ca śastraiś ca samalaṅkṛtā |
bhūmir bhāti raṇe tatra śāradīva yathā niśā ||
Di medan perang itu, bumi—seakan “dihiasi” dengan kalung, kelang lengan, pakaian dan senjata—bersinar laksana malam musim luruh yang jernih.
The king of Rakshasas, being a deceit, having spoken in that way, many generals of the army went accompanied by elephants, horses, camels, and donkeys with chariots decorated with banners and pennons, and diadems collected together.
The poetic “adornment” is ironic: it suggests that worldly splendor (jewels, fine cloth) becomes meaningless in adharma-driven conflict, reinforcing dharma’s teaching that inner righteousness outweighs outward display.
The narrator paints a vivid scene of the battlefield strewn with ornaments and weapons, using an autumn-night simile.
Aesthetic discernment in narration rather than a character virtue; the epic’s poetic vision conveys moral reflection through imagery.