Shloka 3.26.1
दूषणवधः (The Slaying of Dūṣaṇa and the Rout of Khara’s Host)
दूषणस्तु स्वकं सैन्यं हन्यमानं निरीक्ष्य सः।सन्दिदेश महाबाहुर्भीमवेगान्दुरासदान्।।।।राक्षसान्पञ्चसहस्रान्समरेष्वनिवर्तिनः।
sa cchinnadhanvā viratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ |
jagrāha giriśṛṅgābhaṃ parighaṃ romaharṣaṇam |
veṣṭitaṃ kāñcanaiḥ paṭṭair devasainyapramardanam ||
āyasaiḥ śaṅkubhis tīkṣṇaiḥ kīrṇaṃ paravasokṣitam |
vajrāśanisamasparśaṃ paragopuradāraṇam ||
With his bow cut, his chariot disabled, and his horses and charioteer slain, he seized a terrifying iron club (parigha) like a mountain-peak—bound with golden bands, studded with sharp iron spikes, smeared with the foe’s gore; it felt like a thunderbolt’s touch and could shatter an enemy’s gateway.
Mighty-armed Dusana saw the army getting killed in war. He led the forces of five thousand demons, dreadfuly quick at fighting, dangeous to face and who will not beat a retreat.
The verse underscores how adharma relies on terror and brute force; Dharma stands not on frightening instruments but on rightful cause and self-mastery.
After suffering losses (bow, chariot, horses, charioteer), Dūṣaṇa arms himself with a massive spiked parigha to continue the fight.
Perseverance is shown (though in an unrighteous cause); by contrast, the episode sets up Rāma’s righteous courage to meet escalating violence without losing moral clarity.