Shloka 3.26.9
दूषणवधः (The Slaying of Dūṣaṇa and the Rout of Khara’s Host)
स च्छिन्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः।।।।जग्राह गिरिशृङ्गाभं परिघं रोमहर्षणम्।वेष्टितं काञ्चनैः पट्टैर्देवसैन्यप्रमर्दनम्।।।।आयसैश्शङ्कुभिस्तीक्ष्णैः कीर्णं परवसोक्षितम्।वज्राशनिसमस्पर्शं परगोपुरदारणम्।।।।
sa cchinna-dhanvā viratho hatāśvo hata-sārathiḥ | jagrāha giriśṛṅgābhaṃ parighaṃ romaharṣaṇam |
veṣṭitaṃ kāñcanaiḥ paṭṭair deva-sainya-pramardanam |
āyasaiḥ śaṅkubhis tīkṣṇaiḥ kīrṇaṃ paravaso-kṣitam |
vajrāśani-sama-sparśaṃ para-gopura-dāraṇam ||
With his bow cut down, his chariot made useless, and his horses and charioteer slain, Dūṣaṇa seized a terrifying iron club like a mountain peak—bound with golden bands, studded with sharp iron spikes, as though smeared with the enemy’s marrow; harsh to the touch like a thunderbolt, and able to shatter an enemy’s gate-towers.
With his bow and chariot broken, charioteer and horses killed, Dusana took up a spear in his hand that appeared like a huge mountain top. Bound by golden bands, covered the iron nails, wetted with the enemy's marrow it created a horripilation. It appeared as though it could crush the army of gods and render the enemy powerless. It carried the killing touch of the thunderbolt and could break open the enemy's fort.
The verse warns how adharma escalates: when checked, the aggressor intensifies brutality rather than repenting—contrasting with dharma’s ideal of restraint and accountability.
Disarmed and immobilized, Dūṣaṇa shifts tactics and arms himself with a massive spiked iron club to continue the fight at close quarters.
Rāma’s implied steadfast protection-role is the backdrop; Dūṣaṇa’s trait highlighted is obstinate aggression—persistence without righteousness.