वज्रदंष्ट्रवधः — The Slaying of Vajradaṃṣṭra
Angada’s Duel
वज्रदंष्ट्रंहतंदृष्टवाराक्षसाभयमोहिताः ।।6.54.36।।त्रस्ताह्यभ्यद्रवन् लङ्कांवध्यमानाःप्लवङ्गमैः ।विषण्णवदना: दीनाह्रियाकिञ्चिदवाङ्मुखाः ।।6.54.37।।
vajradaṃṣṭraṃ hataṃ dṛṣṭvā rākṣasā bhaya-mohitāḥ |
trastā hy abhyadravan laṅkāṃ vadhyamānāḥ plavaṅgamaiḥ |
viṣaṇṇa-vadanā dīnā hriyā kiñcid avāṅmukhāḥ ||6.54.36-37||
Melihat Vajradaṃṣṭra terbunuh, para rākṣasa menjadi bingung kerana takut. Dipukul mundur oleh para wanara, mereka lari cemas menuju Laṅkā; wajah muram, hina dan lemah, serta menunduk sedikit kerana malu.
Heroic Vanaras who resembled elephants in rut showered mountains and trees and huge rocks at Rakshasas.
Adharma erodes courage and clarity: fear and shame overtake those fighting an unrighteous cause, while dharma-backed forces gain moral momentum.
After Vajradaṃṣṭra’s fall, the rākṣasas lose heart and retreat toward Laṅkā under pressure from the vānara troops.
Moral confidence (dharma-bala) by implication—those aligned with righteousness stand firm, while the unrighteous falter.