Shloka 17
इन्द्रजितः ब्रह्मास्त्र-यागः तथा वानरसेनाविध्वंसः
Indrajit’s Brahmastra Rite and the Crushing of the Vanara Host
स तुदृष्टवाविनिर्यान्तंबलेनमहातावृतम् ।राक्षसाधिपतिश्रशीमान् रावणःपुत्रमब्रवीत् ।।।।
sa tu dṛṣṭvā viniryāntaṃ balena mahatā vṛtam | rākṣasādhipatiḥ śrīmān rāvaṇaḥ putram abravīt ||
Melihat puteranya berangkat, dikelilingi bala tentera yang besar, tuan para Rākṣasa yang mulia dan makmur—Rāvaṇa—pun menegur puteranya.
"Son! there is no adversary who can fight with you sitting in a chariot. Indra has been won by you. What to say about mortals like Rama who can be assailed by you."Rakshasa king having spoken that way, Indrajith accepted the blessings and departed.
FAQs
The verse sets up a moral contrast: worldly splendor and military might can surround a person, yet true dharma depends on the purpose for which power is used.
Indrajit departs for battle with a large force; Rāvaṇa notices and prepares to speak to him.
Martial readiness is foregrounded, though the epic later evaluates such prowess by its alignment (or misalignment) with dharma.