सप्तनवतितमः सर्गः (Yuddha Kāṇḍa 97): Sugrīva’s Onslaught and the Fall of Virūpākṣa
तेऽर्दितानिशितैर्बाणैःक्रोशन्तोविप्रदुद्रुवुः ।पावकार्चिस्समाविष्टादह्यमानायथागजाः ।।।।
te 'rditā niśitair bāṇaiḥ krośanto vipradudruvuḥ | pāvakārcis-samāviṣṭā dahyamānā yathā gajāḥ ||
Bị những mũi tên sắc nhọn đâm đau, chúng kêu gào rồi hoảng hốt tháo chạy—như voi bị lưỡi lửa bao trùm, vừa cháy vừa lao đi.
Tormented by sharp arrows, the scorched Vanaras fled screaming like elephants enveloped in flames.
The verse underscores the human cost of war; dharma demands that force be used only for a just end, mindful of suffering it unleashes.
The Vānara troops are overwhelmed by arrow-fire and scatter in panic, compared to elephants burning in flames.
Implicitly, the need for dhṛti (steadfastness) and for leaders to restore courage and order amid chaos.