Shloka 23
उत्पातदर्शनं खरसैन्यसमागमश्च
Omens of calamity and the approach of Khara’s army
एवमुक्त्वा पुनः प्रोचुरालोक्य च परस्परम्।।3.24.22।।चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम्।एकश्च रामो धर्मात्मा कथं युद्धं भविष्यति।।3.24.23।।
evam uktvā punaḥ procur ālokya ca parasparam || (3.24.22) ||
caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasāṃ bhīmakarmaṇām |
ekaś ca rāmo dharmātmā kathaṃ yuddhaṃ bhaviṣyati || (3.24.23) ||
Sesudah berkata demikian, mereka saling berpandangan lalu berkata lagi: “Empat belas ribu rākṣasa yang berbuat ngeri—sedangkan Rāma yang berjiwa dharma hanya seorang diri. Bagaimanakah peperangan ini akan terjadi?”
Rajarsis, siddhas, great brahmins with their clan and gods on the celestial chariots waited to see the war whetted with curiosity.
FAQs
The repetition underscores dharma’s paradox: moral strength can stand solitary against massed wrongdoing.
A repeated/echoed line in this recension emphasizes the spectators’ amazement at the imbalance of forces.
Rāma’s unwavering resolve grounded in righteousness (dharmātmā).