Shloka 31

खरसेनासङ्ग्रामः

The Battle with Khara’s Host at the Hermitage

Devanagari script

निवृत्तास्तु पुनस्सर्वे दूषणाश्रयनिर्भयाः।राममेवाभ्यधावन्त सालतालशिलायुधाः।।।।

Transliteration

nivṛttās tu punas sarve dūṣaṇāśrayanirbhayāḥ | rāmam evābhyadhāvanta sālatālaśilāyudhāḥ ||

Translation

Da wandten sie sich alle wieder zurück; unter dem Schutz Dūṣaṇas wurden sie furchtlos und stürmten auf Rāma los, bewaffnet mit Stämmen von Sāla- und Tāla-Bäumen und mit Steinen.

Word by Word

• निवृत्ताः: returned
• निवृत्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle) ‘returned/turned back’; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-dyotaka (सम्बन्धद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘all (of them)’

• दूषणाश्रयनिर्भयाः: fearless under Dūṣaṇa’s protection
• दूषणाश्रयनिर्भयाः: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूषण (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष): दूषण-आश्रय-निर्भय = ‘दूषणस्य आश्रयः येषां ते’ (sense: protected by Dūṣaṇa, hence fearless); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• रामम्: Rāma
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic particle)

• अभ्यधावन्त: ran towards
• अभ्यधावन्त: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; ‘ran towards’

• सालतालशिलायुधाः: (they) whose weapons were sāla, tāla (palms), and stones
• सालतालशिलायुधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साल (प्रातिपदिक) + ताल (प्रातिपदिक) + शिला (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष): साल-ताल-शिला-आयुध = ‘सालतालेन शिलया च आयुधानि येषां ते’; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

Context

Under Dusana's protection, all of them felt relieved from fear and, carrying sal and palm trees and stones as weapons, advanced towards Rama again.

Characters & Entities

• Dūṣaṇa
• Rāma
• sāla (tree)
• tāla (palm tree)
• śilā (stones)

FAQs

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

False courage can arise from unjust backing; dharma distinguishes inner moral bravery from mere confidence borrowed from a powerful patron.

What is the narrative situation?

Encouraged by Dūṣaṇa, the rākṣasas re-engage and attack Rāma using uprooted trees and stones.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s unshaken composure is implied: the enemy needs external reassurance to face him again.