Shloka 3.19.10

खरस्य क्रोधः — शूर्पणखावृत्तान्तकथनम् (Khara’s Wrath and Śūrpaṇakhā’s Report)

Devanagari script

कस्य पत्ररथाः कायान्मांसमुत्कृत्य सङ्गताः।प्रहृष्टा भक्षयिष्यन्ति निहतस्य मया रणे।।।।

Transliteration

kasya patrarathāḥ kāyān māṃsam utkṛtya saṅgatāḥ | prahṛṣṭā bhakṣayiṣyanti nihatasya mayā raṇe ||

Translation

Whose flesh will the vultures, gathered in flocks, tear from his body and eat with glee—when he is slain by me in battle?

Context

Whose flesh will be eaten by cheerful flocks of (vultures), biting and tearing his body when he is killed by me in the battle ?

Characters & Entities

• Khara
• Śūrpaṇakhā

FAQs

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

The verse warns by example: rage and vengeance produce violent speech and intent, which in the Ramayana’s moral universe leads toward ruin rather than righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Khara, enraged, issues a threat and anticipates killing the offender, imagining carrion birds feeding on the corpse.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not virtue but vice: Khara’s cruelty and arrogant confidence, opposed to dharmic restraint.