Shloka 1.28.20
अस्त्रग्रहणं संहारोपदेशश्च — Receiving the Astras and Instruction on Withdrawal
सम्प्राप्ता यत्र ते पापा ब्रह्मघ्ना दुष्टचारिण:।।1.28.20।।तव यज्ञस्य विघ्नाय दुरात्मानो महामुने।भगवन् तस्य को देशस्सा यत्र तव याज्ञिकी।।1.28.21।।रक्षितव्या क्रिया ब्रह्मन्मया वध्याश्च राक्षसा:।एतत्सर्वं मुनिश्रेष्ठ श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं प्रभो।।1.28.22।।
samprāptā yatra te pāpā brahmaghnā duṣṭacāriṇaḥ ||
tava yajñasya vighnāya durātmāno mahāmune |
bhagavan tasya ko deśaḥ sa yatra tava yājñikī ||
rakṣitavyā kriyā brahman mayā vadhyāś ca rākṣasāḥ |
etat sarvaṃ muniśreṣṭha śrotum icchāmy ahaṃ prabho ||
O great sage, from where do those sinful ones—slayers of brāhmaṇas and doers of wicked deeds—come to obstruct your sacrifice? O venerable one, what is the place where your sacrificial rite is to be performed? Tell me: which rite must be protected by me, and which rākṣasas are to be slain. O best of sages, lord, I wish to hear all of this.
O great ascetic, O venerable brahmana, from where do those slayers of brahmanas, doers of cruel acts, wicked-minded and sinful persons come from and cause obstacles to your sacrifice? Where is that sacrificial place required to be protected by me? Where are these rakshasas required to be slain? O best of ascetics, I would like to hear from you".ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē aṣṭāviṅśassarga:৷৷Thus ends the twentyeighth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epiccomposed by sage Valmiki.
Dharma requires informed, purposeful action: Rāma seeks clarity about the threat and the duty—protecting sacred rites and stopping brahmin-killing violence—before employing force.
After receiving divine weapons, Rāma asks Viśvāmitra where the sacrifice is, how it is threatened, and which rākṣasas must be confronted.
Responsible courage: Rāma’s valor is paired with deliberation and respect for the sage’s guidance, showing disciplined adherence to kṣātra-dharma.