Shloka 3.25.2
खरसेनासङ्ग्रामः — The Battle with Khara’s Host at the Hermitage
तं दृष्ट्वा सशरं चापमुद्यम्य खरनिस्स्वनम्।रामस्याभिमुखं सूतं चोद्यतामित्यचोदयत्।।।।
taṃ dṛṣṭvā saśaraṃ cāpam udyamya kharanissvanam |
rāmasyābhimukhaṃ sūtaṃ codyatām ity acodayat ||
Seeing him, Khara lifted his bow with arrow, its twang terrifying; facing Rama, he ordered his charioteer, “Drive straight at him.”
On seeing Rama, Khara held his terribly twanging bow and arrow, stood facing him, and ordered the charioteer to drive towards him.
The verse contrasts adharma’s aggressive intent with the dharmic necessity of resisting it; unrighteous power initiates violence, compelling righteous defense.
Khara sights Rama and commands his charioteer to charge, signaling the direct commencement of battle.
Implicitly, Rama’s steadiness is set against Khara’s belligerence; the scene frames the moral conflict before the clash.