Shloka 3.25.22
खरसेनासङ्ग्रामः — The Battle with Khara’s Host at the Hermitage
हयान्काञ्चनसन्नाहान्रथयुक्तान्ससारथीन्।।।।गजांश्च सगजारोहान्सहयान्सादिनस्तथा।पदातीन्समरे हत्वा ह्यनयद्यमसादनम्।।।।
hayān kāñcanasannāhān rathayuktān sasārathīn ||
gajāṃś ca sagajārōhān sahayān sādinās tathā |
padātīn samare hatvā hy anayad yamasādanam ||
In the battle he slew horses clad in golden trappings, chariot-teams with their charioteers; elephants with their riders; cavalry with their mounts; and foot-soldiers—sending them to Yama’s abode, the realm of Death.
He killed horses with golden armours yoked to the chariots along with charioteers, elephants along with riders, the cavalry along with their horses and infantry and sent them all to the abode of death.
Dharma recognizes the grim necessity of force in a just battle: when aggressors persist, the protector must end the threat, even at great cost.
Rama devastates the enemy’s full military formation—chariots, elephants, cavalry, and infantry.
Protective resolve—Rama does not waver until the hostile force is neutralized.