HomeRamayanaAranya KandaSarga 26Shloka 3.26.21
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Shloka 3.26.21

दूषणवधः (The Slaying of Dūṣaṇa and the Rout of Khara’s Host)

महाकपालस्य शिरश्चिच्छेद परमेषुभिः।।3.26.20।।असङ्ख्येयैस्तु बाणौघैः प्रममाथ प्रमाथिनम्।स पपात हतो भूमौ विटपीव महाद्रुमः।।3.26.21।।

asaṅkhyēyais tu bāṇaughaiḥ pramamātha pramāthinam |

sa papāta hato bhūmau viṭapīva mahādrumaḥ ||3.26.21||

Then, with an innumerable torrent of arrows, he struck down Pramāthin. Slain, Pramāthin fell upon the ground like a great tree with many branches.

Mahakapala's head was cut to pieces with sharp arrows and Pramathi was killed with a countless series of arrows. Pramathi's body, like a huge tree with many branches collapsed on the ground.

P
Pramāthin

The verse portrays the decisive removal of violent aggressors; such restraint and protection of the innocent is treated as a righteous duty (dharma) of a kṣatriya when faced with adharma.

Satya appears as faithful narration of consequence: hostile wrongdoing meets its due end, reinforcing the Ramayana’s truthful moral order that actions bear results.