Shloka 3.64.72
गोदावरीतटे सीतान्वेषणम् — The Search for Sītā at the Godāvarī
इत्युक्त्वा रोषताम्राक्षो रामो निष्पीड्य कार्मुकम्।शरमादाय सन्दीप्तं घोरमाशीविषोपमम्।।।।सन्धाय धनुषि श्रीमान्रामः परपुरञ्जयः।युगान्ताग्निरिव क्रुद्ध इदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।।।
ity uktvā roṣa-tāmrākṣo rāmo niṣpīḍya kārmukam | śaram ādāya sandīptaṃ ghōram āśīviṣopamam || sandhāya dhanuṣi śrīmān rāmaḥ parapurañjayaḥ | yugāntāgnir iva kruddha idaṃ vacanam abravīt ||
Having spoken thus, Rāma—his eyes reddened with anger—gripped and bent his bow, took up a blazing, dreadful arrow like a venomous serpent, set it upon the bow; and that illustrious conqueror of enemy strongholds, wrathful like the fire at the end of time, spoke these words.
After speaking these words, handsome Rama, his eyes red with anger, pressed his bow, took out the glowing arrow that was dreadful like a poisonous serpent, fixed it to his bow and said these words in a rage like the fire at the time of dissolution of the world.
Dharma includes disciplined use of force. The imagery shows power poised to act; the ethical question is whether it will be guided by maryādā (right limits) or by krodha (anger).
After issuing terrifying vows, Rāma physically prepares to unleash a divine-level response—stringing an arrow and readying to speak or act further.
Heroic capability and readiness to confront evil, while highlighting the inner struggle to keep that capability aligned with righteousness.