Shloka 21
खरसेनासङ्ग्रामः
The Battle with Khara’s Host at the Hermitage
तैर्धनूंषि ध्वजाग्राणि वर्माणि च शिरांसि च।बाहून्सहस्ताभरणानूरून्करिकरोपमान्।।।।चिच्छेद रामस्समरे शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः।
tair dhanūṃṣi dhvajāgrāṇi varmāṇi ca śirāṃsi ca |
bāhūn sahastābharaṇān ūrūn karikaropamān ||
ciccheda rāmaḥ samare śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ |
Dengan anak-anak panah itu, di tengah pertempuran, Rama menebas—beratus-ratus bahkan beribu-ribu—busur, hujung panji, baju zirah dan kepala; juga memutuskan lengan yang masih bersarung perhiasan serta paha yang besar laksana belalai gajah.
In war Rama cut asunder the bows, flag tops, armour and heads of demons, their shoulders and thighs that were like the trunks of elephants, in their hundreds and thousands.
FAQs
The verse presents the dharmic ideal of decisive restraint: ending violence swiftly through superior skill, preventing further harm to the innocent.
Rama’s arrows dismantle the enemy’s weapons, insignia, defenses, and fighters in massive numbers.
Strategic competence—Rama neutralizes the opposing force systematically, not randomly.