Shloka 29
खरसेनासङ्ग्रामः
The Battle with Khara’s Host at the Hermitage
अवशिष्टाश्च ये तत्र विषण्णाश्च निशाचराः।खरमेवाभ्यधावन्त शरणार्थं शरार्दिताः।।।।
avaśiṣṭāś ca ye tatra viṣaṇṇāś ca niśācarāḥ | kharam evābhyadhāvanta śaraṇārthaṃ śarārditāḥ ||
Jene Nachtwandler, die dort übrig blieben – von Pfeilen getroffen und verzweifelt – rannten nur zu Khara und suchten Zuflucht.
The rest of the demons hit by the arrows ran desperate towards Khara for refuge.
FAQs
It contrasts true refuge (dharma) with false refuge (adharma): the defeated seek protection in their commander rather than turning from wrongdoing.
Survivors, wounded and shaken, retreat toward Khara to regroup under his protection.
Rāma’s steadfastness indirectly—his pressure breaks the enemy’s morale and cohesion.