Shloka 20

खररामयुद्धम् — The Battle of Khara and Rama

Aranya Kanda, Sarga 28

Devanagari script

ततो गम्भीरनिर्ह्रादं रामश्शत्रुनिबर्हणः।चकारान्ताय स रिपोस्सज्यमन्यन्महद्धनुः।।।।

Transliteration

tato gambhīra-nirhrādaṃ rāmaḥ śatru-nibarhaṇaḥ |

cakāra antāya sa ripos sajyam anyan mahad dhanuḥ ||

Translation

তখন শত্রুনাশক শ্রী রাম শত্রুর বিনাশের উদ্দেশ্যে গভীর গম্ভীর ধ্বনি-যুক্ত আরেক মহাধনু রজ্জুতে সংযোজিত করলেন।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• gambhīra-nirhrādam: a deep reverberating sound
• gambhīra-nirhrādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gambhīra (प्रातिपदिक) + nirhrāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa compound (तत्पुरुष)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• śatru-nibarhaṇaḥ: destroyer of foes
• śatru-nibarhaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक) + nibarhaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) used adjectivally (विशेषण) to rāmaḥ

• cakāra: made/produced
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, imperfect/past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• antāya: for the end (to finish)
• antāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī (4th/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana; dative of purpose (प्रयोजन-चतुर्थी)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• ripoḥ: of the enemy
• ripoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ripu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana

• sajyam: strung
• sajyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sajya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adjective to dhanuḥ (bow) meaning 'with string fitted'

• anyat: another
• anyat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adjective to dhanuḥ

• mahat: great
• mahat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adjective to dhanuḥ

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

Context

Then Rama, destroyer of foes, strung another great bow of fearful sound in order to put an end to the enemy.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• enemy (Khara, implied)
• great bow (mahad dhanuḥ)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Righteous action requires readiness and resolve: Rama re-equips himself calmly to end a threat, illustrating dharma as decisive protection against violence.

What is the narrative situation?

After his bow is broken and he is heavily attacked, Rama immediately strings a new powerful bow to continue the fight.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure under pressure: Rama responds to loss of equipment not with panic but with effective preparedness.