Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 54, Shloka 12
वज्रदंष्ट्रवधः — The Slaying of Vajradaṃṣṭra
Angada’s Duel
राक्षसान्भयवित्रस्तान्हन्यमानान् प्लवङ्गमैः ।।6.54.12।।दृष्टवासरोषताम्राक्षोवज्रदंष्ट्रःप्रतापवान् ।प्रविवेशधनुष्पाणिस्त्रासयन्हरिवाहिनीम् ।।6.54.13।।
rākṣasān bhayavitrastān hanyamānān plavaṅgamaiḥ ||6.54.12||
dṛṣṭvā sa roṣatāmrākṣo vajradaṃṣṭraḥ pratāpavān |
praviveśa dhanuṣpāṇis trāsayan harivāhinīm ||6.54.13||
Nang makita ang mga rākṣasa—na takot na takot at pinapatay ng mga unggoy—ang magiting na si Vajradaṃṣṭra, na ang mga mata ay namumula sa galit, ay pumasok sa hanay ng mga vānara na may hawak na pana, na tinatakot ang hukbo ng mga unggoy.
Thereafter Rakshasas were killed by Vanaras as Vajradamshtra kept looking at them and the Rakshasas ran from there.
FAQs
The verse contrasts duty with rage: a warrior’s intervention to protect his side is a form of kṣātra-dharma, yet being driven by uncontrolled anger is portrayed as a destabilizing force that spreads fear.
Rākṣasa troops are faltering under vānaras’ attacks; Vajradaṃṣṭra responds by charging into the vānaras with his bow to turn the tide.
Martial boldness and initiative (pratāpa) in Vajradaṃṣṭra, though colored by the flaw of krodha.