Shloka 6.104.23
रावणशूलप्रक्षेपः — Ravana Hurls the Trident; Rama Counters with Indra’s Javelin
आपतन्तंशरौघेणवारयामासराघवः ।उत्पतन्तंयुगान्तानगिंजलौघैरिववासवः ।।।।
āpatantaṃ śaraughena vārayāmāsa rāghavaḥ | utpatantaṃ yugāntāgniṃ jalaughair iva vāsavaḥ ||
As it rushed on, Rāghava checked it with a torrent of arrows—like Vāsava quenching the upsurging fire of the world’s end with floods of water.
Raghava intercepted the trident, just as the fire was obstructed by the flow of water, at the time of universal dissolution, and obstructed.
Dharma is protective restraint: the righteous warrior’s role is to prevent destructive force from spreading, like water containing a consuming fire.
Rāma’s arrow-volley intercepts the approaching trident, halting its advance mid-flight.
Śaurya with responsibility—heroism expressed as safeguarding and containment of harm, not mere aggression.