Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 14
विभीषणोपदेशः
Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana
खरोयद्यतिवृत्तस्तुरामेणनिहतोरणे ।अवश्यंप्राणिनांप्राणारक्षितव्यायथाबलम् ।।।।
kharo yady ativṛttas tu rāmeṇa nihato raṇe | avaśyaṃ prāṇināṃ prāṇā rakṣitavyā yathābalam ||
Kung si Khara, na lumampas sa nararapat, ay napatay ni Rāma sa labanan, iyon ay nararapat lamang—sapagkat ang buhay ng bawat nilalang ay dapat ipagtanggol, ayon sa sariling lakas.
"(It is true) Khara was killed by Rama in war as he acted beyond his limit. Certainly, living beings will have to protect their life with their own strength."
FAQs
Defensive force against an aggressor who has crossed moral limits is consistent with dharma; wrongdoing naturally invites consequences.
The speaker reframes prior events (Khara’s death) as a justified outcome of Khara’s aggression, not a gratuitous offense by Rāma.
Rāma’s adherence to justified action in battle—measured violence aligned with duty.