Shloka 21
दूषणवधः
The Slaying of Dūṣaṇa and the Rout of Khara’s Host
महाकपालस्य शिरश्चिच्छेद परमेषुभिः।।3.26.20।।असङ्ख्येयैस्तु बाणौघैः प्रममाथ प्रमाथिनम्।स पपात हतो भूमौ विटपीव महाद्रुमः।।3.26.21।।
asaṅkhyēyais tu bāṇaughaiḥ pramamātha pramāthinam |
sa papāta hato bhūmau viṭapīva mahādrumaḥ ||3.26.21||
Kemudian, dengan gelombang panah yang tak terhitung, ia menghantam Pramāthin hingga tumbang. Pramāthin yang tewas jatuh ke tanah bagaikan pohon besar yang bercabang banyak.
Mahakapala's head was cut to pieces with sharp arrows and Pramathi was killed with a countless series of arrows. Pramathi's body, like a huge tree with many branches collapsed on the ground.
FAQs
The verse portrays the decisive removal of violent aggressors; such restraint and protection of the innocent is treated as a righteous duty (dharma) of a kṣatriya when faced with adharma.
Satya appears as faithful narration of consequence: hostile wrongdoing meets its due end, reinforcing the Ramayana’s truthful moral order that actions bear results.