Shloka 1
दूषणवधः
The Slaying of Dūṣaṇa and the Rout of Khara’s Host
दूषणस्तु स्वकं सैन्यं हन्यमानं निरीक्ष्य सः।सन्दिदेश महाबाहुर्भीमवेगान्दुरासदान्।।।।राक्षसान्पञ्चसहस्रान्समरेष्वनिवर्तिनः।
dūṣaṇas tu svakaṃ sainyaṃ hanyamānaṃ nirīkṣya saḥ |
sandidēśa mahābāhur bhīmavegān durāsadān ||
rākṣasān pañcasahasrān samareṣv anivartinaḥ |
Doch Dūṣaṇa, als er sah, wie sein eigenes Heer niedergemacht wurde, befahl er – der Großarmige –, fünftausend Rākṣasas in die Schlacht zu entsenden: von furchtbarem Ansturm, schwer zu bezwingen und im Kampf nicht zum Rückzug bereit.
Very powerful demons like huge clouds roared, eager to kill Rama in war. They ran forward on chariots, horses and tall elephants, looking like mountain tops.
FAQs
The verse shows adharma’s persistence: when wrongdoing is challenged, it often doubles down. Dharma requires continued resolve even when opposition escalates.
As Dūṣaṇa’s forces are being slain, he responds by bringing in a large reinforcement contingent of rākṣasas.
Rāma’s steadfast duty is implied: the more adharma surges, the more unwavering the protector must be.