Shloka 3
त्रिशिरोवधः (The Slaying of Triśiras)
Araṇyakāṇḍa, Sarga 27
प्रतिजानामि ते सत्यमायुधं चाहमालभे। यथा रामं वधिष्यामि वधार्हं सर्वरक्षसाम्।।3.27.3।।
pratijānāmi te satyam āyudhaṁ cāham ālabhe | yathā rāmaṁ vadhiṣyāmi vadhārhaṁ sarvarakṣasām || 3.27.3 ||
“ഞാൻ നിനക്കു സത്യമായി പ്രതിജ്ഞ ചെയ്യുന്നു—ആയുധം സ്പർശിച്ചു സാക്ഷ്യമായി—സകല രാക്ഷസർക്കും വധാർഹനായ രാമനെ ഞാൻ തീർച്ചയായും വധിക്കും.”
Rama then hit the demon with arrows on his chest while he was running away from the broken chariot. The demon became numb.
FAQs
Satya (truthfulness) is invoked through an oath; the Ramayana repeatedly treats vows as morally binding—though here the vow is misdirected toward adharma.
The rākṣasa commander makes a solemn pledge to Khara, ritually affirming it by touching his weapon, promising to kill Rāma.
Resolve and commitment to one’s word (vow-keeping) is foregrounded, even as the narrative context implies the vow serves an unrighteous cause.