Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 24: Lord Rāma Prepares to Fight With Khara’s Army
Text 3.24.14
त्वं हि शूरश्च बलवान्हन्या ह्येतान्न संशयः।
स्वयं तु हन्तुमिच्छामि सर्वानेव निशाचरान्॥
tvaṁ hi śūraś ca balavān hanyā hy etān na saṁśayaḥ
svayaṁ tu hantum icchāmi sarvān eva niśācarān
tvam = You; hi = are certainly; śūraḥ = heroic; ca = and; balavān = strong; hanyāḥ = You can kill; hi = indeed; etān = these [rākṣasas]; na = no; saṁśayaḥ = doubt; svayam = personally; tu = but; hantum = to kill; icchāmi = I want; sarvān eva = all of these; niśācarān = night-rangers.
You are certainly heroic and strong. Indeed You can kill these [rākṣasas], no doubt. But I want to personally kill all of these night-rangers.
Śrī Rāma speaks this verse with the following intention: “I am not restraining You out of Your inability. But because of [My] promise to the sages, I am the one who should kill the [rākṣasas].”