Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 88, Shloka 2
इन्द्रजित्–लक्ष्मण संवादः तथा युद्धप्रवृत्तिः
Indrajit and Lakshmana: War-Boasts, Rebuke, and the Clash
उद्यतायुधनिस्त्रिंशोरथेसुसमलङ्कृते ।कालाश्वयुक्तेमहतिस्थितःकालान्तकोपमः ।।।।महाप्रमाणमुद्यम्यविपुलंवेगवद्धृढम् ।धनुर्बीमंपरामृश्यशरांश्चामित्रनाशनान् ।।।।
udyatāyudha-nistriṁśo rathe su-samalaṅkṛte |
kālāśva-yukte mahati sthitaḥ kālāntakopamaḥ ||
mahā-pramāṇam udyamya vipulaṁ vegavad dṛḍham |
dhanur bhīmaṁ parāmṛśya śarāṁś cāmitra-nāśanān ||
उद्यतायुधनिस्त्रिंशो रथे सुसमलङ्कृते। कालाश्वयुक्ते महति स्थितः कालान्तकोपमः॥ महाप्रमाणं विपुलं वेगवद्धृढमुद्यम्य। धनुर्भीमं परामृश्य शरांश्चामित्रनाशनान्॥
After Lakshmana had spoken that way, Indrajith, endowed with mighty prowess, and victorious in combat seized a terrific bow and released pointed arrows.
FAQs
The verse frames adharma through intimidation: power and terror are displayed as instruments of harm. In the Ramayana’s ethical horizon, true dharma is not mere might but restraint and righteous purpose.
Indrajit prepares for a decisive attack in the battle, mounting a splendid chariot and readying bow and arrows.
Not a virtue but a martial quality—formidable prowess—presented in a way that foreshadows misuse when ungoverned by dharma.