Shloka 60
लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः
The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle
जवेनाफ्लुत्य च पुनस्तद्बलंरक्षसांमहत् ।।।।अभ्ययात्प्रत्यरिबलंपतङ्गाइवपावकम् ।
javenāphlutya ca punas tad balaṃ rakṣasāṃ mahat | abhyayāt pratyaribalaṃ pataṅgā iva pāvakam ||
Kemudian bala Rākṣasa yang besar itu, melompat maju dengan pantas, menerjang pasukan lawan—bagaikan rama-rama malam terbang masuk ke dalam nyala api.
Then the Rakshasa army appeared terrific, fixed with flags and poles, equipped with best of axes, horses yoked to formidable chariots and elephants different kinds of foot soldiers, distinguished by wielding shining tridents, maces, swords spears and lances warriors of frightening valour and prowess holding shining barbed missiles hundreds of tiny bells tied to the chariots and elephants making noise warriors endowed with arms decorated with gold, with axes and weapons to pierce arrows fixed to the bows, with an abundance of fragrance.
FAQs
The simile suggests the self-destructive pull of adharma: reckless aggression, driven by delusion, rushes into ruin like moths into fire—implying dharma requires discernment and restraint.
The Rākṣasas charge swiftly into the opposing ranks; the narrator characterizes their assault with a vivid image of insects drawn to flame.
By contrast, the implied virtue is viveka (discernment): the verse warns against impulsive force and praises the wisdom to avoid fatal attraction to destruction.