Shloka 3.28.15
खररामयुद्धम् — The Battle of Khara and Rama (Aranya Kanda, Sarga 28)
ततोऽस्य सशरं चापं मुष्टिदेशे महात्मनः।खरश्चिच्छेद रामस्य दर्शयन्पाणिलाघवम्।।।।
sa dṛṣṭvā rākṣasaṃ sainyam aviṣahyaṃ mahābalaḥ |
hatam ekena rāmeṇa triśiro-dūṣaṇāv api ||
tad balaṃ hata-bhūyiṣṭhaṃ vimanāḥ prekṣya rākṣasaḥ |
āsasāda kharo rāmaṃ namucir vāsavaṃ yathā ||
Seeing his vast, irresistible rākṣasa host cut down by Rāma alone—and even Triśiras and Dūṣaṇa slain—Khara, shaken at the sight of his forces largely destroyed, advanced upon Rāma, as Namuci once advanced against Indra.
Exhibiting his agility of the hand, Khara shattered the bow and the arrow in the grip of Rama ,the great soul.
The verse frames righteous resistance to adharma: Rama’s solitary defense against violent aggressors upholds protective duty (kṣatriya-dharma), showing that power is legitimate when used to restrain wrongdoing.
After Rama has killed many rākṣasas, including Triśiras and Dūṣaṇa, Khara—disturbed by the collapse of his forces—personally advances to confront Rama.
Rama’s steadfast valor and resolve: he stands unmoved as the aggressor’s commander comes forward, underscoring courage aligned with righteous purpose.