Shloka 21

खरवधः — The Slaying of Khara

Janasthana Battle Climax

Devanagari script

तस्य बाणान्तराद्रक्तं बहु सुस्राव फेनिलम्।गिरेः प्रस्रवणस्येव तोयधारापरिस्रवः।।।।

Transliteration

tasya bāṇāntarād raktaṃ bahu susrāva phenilam | gireḥ prasravaṇasyeva toyadhārāparisravaḥ ||

Translation

Aus den von den Pfeilen gerissenen Öffnungen strömte reichlich schäumendes Blut hervor, wie Wasserläufe, die vom Berge Prasravana herabstürzen.

Word by Word

• tasya: of him (Khara)
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• bāṇāntarāt: from the arrow-wounds/through the gaps made by arrows
• bāṇāntarāt: Apādāna (अपादान; source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: bāṇānām antaraṃ (bāṇa-antara = interstice/piercing by arrows); Ablative (5th), Singular; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग)

• raktam: blood
• raktam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular

• bahu: much, abundant
• bahu: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; qualifying 'raktam'

• susrāva: flowed out
• susrāva: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: su-√sru (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• phenilam: foamy
• phenilam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: phenila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; qualifying 'raktam'

• gireḥ: of a mountain
• gireḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• prasravaṇasya: of Prasravaṇa
• prasravaṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular (proper name: Prasravaṇa)

• iva: like, as if
• iva: Upamā-marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle of comparison (उपमा-वाचक)

• toyadhārāparisravaḥ: the outflow of streams of water (waterfalls)
• toyadhārāparisravaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: toya + dhārā + parisrava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound (multi-member tatpuruṣa): toyasya dhārāṇāṃ parisravaḥ; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; used as upamāna (standard of comparison)

Context

With his body pierced with arrows his blood started flowing like the waterfalls flow from mount Prasravana.

Characters & Entities

• Khara
• Rama (implied agent)
• arrows (bāṇāḥ)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores consequence (karma-phala) within a dharmic narrative: violent aggression returns as suffering in battle, described through a vivid natural simile.

What is the narrative situation?

Khara is badly wounded by Rama’s arrows; blood flows profusely.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s effectiveness in protecting dharma through decisive action (implied by the result).