Shloka 3.28.24
खररामयुद्धम् — The Battle of Khara and Rama (Aranya Kanda, Sarga 28)
तं चतुर्भिः खरः क्रुद्धो रामं गात्रेषु मार्गणैः।विव्याध युधि मर्मज्ञो मातङ्गमिव तोमरैः।।।।
taṃ caturbhiḥ kharaḥ kruddho rāmaṃ gātreṣu mārgaṇaiḥ |
vivyādha yudhi marmajño mātaṅgam iva tomaraiḥ ||
Enraged, Khara—skilled in striking vulnerable points—wounded Rama in battle with four arrows in his limbs, as though an elephant were jabbed with javelins.
Quite enraged, Khara who knew how to hit the tender parts (of the body) in an encounter sent out four arrows on Rama. It was like poking an elephant's limbs with a javelin.
The verse frames warfare as governed by skill and intent; it highlights the gravity of violence and the responsibility of a warrior to act with disciplined purpose rather than mere rage.
Khara directly attacks Rama, wounding him with four arrows aimed at bodily vulnerable points.
Khara’s tactical knowledge is emphasized (marmājñatā), though driven by anger—serving as a contrast to Rama’s later controlled, dharmic response.