Shloka 3.19.26
खरस्य क्रोधः — शूर्पणखावृत्तान्तकथनम् (Khara’s Wrath and Śūrpaṇakhā’s Report)
ततस्तु ते तं समुदग्रतेजसं तथापिऽतीक्ष्णप्रदरा निशाचराः।न शेकुरेनं सहसा प्रमर्दितुं वनद्विपा दीप्तमिवाग्निमुत्थितम्।।।।
mānuṣau śastrasampannau cīra-kṛṣṇājināmbarau | praviṣṭau daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ ghoraṃ pramadayā saha ||
Two human warriors, fully armed, clad in bark garments and black antelope-skin, have entered the dreadful Daṇḍaka forest together with a woman.
The night-rangers were unable to crush him(Rama) despite their sharp, glowing weapons just as wild elephants cannot face all at once the rising flame of the forest fire.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē ēkōnaviṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the nineteenth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
The verse sets up a dharmic contrast: ascetic attire and disciplined life in the forest versus violent intent toward them—highlighting the protection owed to the innocent.
Khara identifies the targets for his rākṣasa soldiers: two armed humans in ascetic dress, accompanied by a woman, residing in Daṇḍaka.
Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa’s austerity and duty-bound endurance are implied through their forest attire and presence in a fearful wilderness.