खररामयुद्धम् — The Battle of Khara and Rama (Aranya Kanda, Sarga 28)
अरण्यकाण्ड
This sarga stages the climactic duel between Khara and Rāma after Khara witnesses the destruction of his forces and the fall of commanders Dūṣaṇa and Triśiras (3.28.1–3). Khara advances in fear and rage, unleashing dense arrow-showers that fill the sky so completely that the sun is obscured (3.28.4–9), and he strikes Rāma with specialized darts (nālīka, vikarṇi), appearing to beings like Yama with a noose (3.28.10–11). Misreading Rāma as fatigued (3.28.12), Khara presses the attack, even severing Rāma’s bow at the grip and battering his armour until it falls (3.28.15–19). Rāma responds by stringing a new, great bow and advancing with the superior Vaiṣṇava bow associated with Agastya’s gift-tradition (3.28.20–21). In a tactical reversal, Rāma breaks Khara’s chariot-flag, then systematically disables the chariot system—yoke, horses, charioteer, pole, axle—and splinters Khara’s bow, finally piercing Khara with a decisive thirteenth arrow (3.28.22–31). Khara, dismounted and weapon-shifted to a mace, stands on the ground (3.28.32), while gods and great sages, arriving in aerial chariots, offer reverential praise for Rāma’s martial deed (3.28.33). The chapter’s thematic lesson emphasizes disciplined valour, strategic clarity under projectile saturation, and the epic’s recurrent motif of divine witness to dharmic force.
Verse 3.28.1
निहतं दूषणं दृष्ट्वा रणे त्रिशिरसा सह।खरस्याप्यभवत्त्रासो दृष्ट्वा रामस्य विक्रमम्।।।।
Seeing Dūṣaṇa slain in battle along with Triśiras, even Khara was seized by fear when he beheld Rāma’s prowess.
Verse 3.28.2
स दृष्ट्वा राक्षसं सैन्यमविसह्यं महाबलः।हतमेकेन रामेण त्रिशिरोदूषणावपि।।।।तद्बलं हतभूयिष्ठं विमनाः प्रेक्ष्य राक्षसः।आससाद खरो रामं नमुचिर्वासवं यथा।।।।
Wounded in every limb by arrows, the Rāghava grew wrathful; in battle Rama shone like a smokeless fire, blazing.
Verse 3.28.3
स दृष्ट्वा राक्षसं सैन्यमविसह्यं महाबलः।हतमेकेन रामेण त्रिशिरोदूषणावपि।।3.28.2।।तद्बलं हतभूयिष्ठं विमनाः प्रेक्ष्य राक्षसः।आससाद खरो रामं नमुचिर्वासवं यथा।।3.28.3।।
Then Khara—his bow broken, his chariot lost, his horses slain, and his charioteer killed—leapt down and stood upon the ground, mace in hand.
Verse 3.28.4
विकृष्य बलवच्चापं नाराचान्रक्तभोजनान्।खरश्चिक्षेप रामाय क्रुद्धानाशीविषानिव।।।।
Seated in his chariot, Khara repeatedly twanged his bowstring and, displaying his trained weapon-skill, sent his arrows ranging through the battle-lines in every direction.
Verse 3.28.5
ज्यां विधून्वंसुबहुशश्शिक्षयास्त्राणि दर्शयन्।चचार समरे मार्गाञ्छरै रथगतः खरः।।।।
Seeing him, Rama too—mighty-armed and a great charioteer—began to fill all directions and the intermediate quarters with his arrows.
Verse 3.28.6
स सर्वाश्च दिशो बाणैः प्रदिशश्च महारथः।पूरयामास तं दृष्ट्वा रामोऽपि सुमहद्धनुः।।।।
With irresistible arrows, sparkling like firebrands, he made the sky without a gap—like a rain-cloud that, when it pours, leaves no space unfilled.
Verse 3.28.7
स सायकैर्दुर्विसहैस्सस्फुलिङ्गैरिवाग्निभिः।नभश्चकाराविवरं पर्जन्य इव वृष्टिभिः।।।।
Then, with sharp arrows loosed by both Khara and Rama, the surrounding sky became as though skyless—everywhere crowded with shafts.
Verse 3.28.8
तद्बभूव शितैर्बाणैः खररामविसर्जितैः।पर्याकाशमनाकाशं सर्वतश्शरसङ्कुलम्।।।।
With the sun veiled by a net of arrows, it did not shine forth then—so fierce was the mutual death-intent of the two as they fought.
Verse 3.28.9
शरजालावृतस्सूर्यो न तदा स्म प्रकाशते।अन्योन्यवधसंरम्भादुभयोस्संप्रयुध्यतोः।।।।
But Rama—radiant in power—seeing Khara standing chariotless with mace in hand, addressed him: first gently, and then with stern words.
Verse 3.28.10
ततो नालीकनाराचैस्तीक्ष्णाग्रैश्च विकर्णिभिः।आजघान खरो रामं तोत्रैरिव महाद्विपम्।।।।
Then Khara struck at Rāma with nālīka-darts and sharp-pointed missiles called vikarṇi, like goads driving a mighty elephant.
Verse 3.28.11
तं रथस्थं धनुष्पाणिं राक्षसं पर्यवस्थितम्।ददृशुस्सर्वभूतानि पाशहस्तमिवान्तकम्।।।।
All beings beheld that rākṣasa, stationed upon his chariot with bow in hand, like Death himself holding a noose.
Verse 3.28.12
हन्तारं सर्वसैन्यस्य पौरुषे पर्यवस्थितम्।परिश्रान्तं महासत्वं मेने रामं खरस्तदा।।।।
Then Khara supposed that Rāma—mighty in spirit, steadfast in valor, the destroyer of his entire army—must by now be exhausted.
Verse 3.28.13
तं सिंहमिव विक्रान्तं सिंहविक्रान्तगामिनम्।दृष्ट्वा नोद्विजते रामः सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगं यथा।।।।
Seeing him advance fiercely like a lion, with a lion’s stride, Rāma was not disturbed—like a lion untroubled by a petty beast.
Verse 3.28.14
ततः सूर्यनिकाशेन रथेन महता खरः।आससाद रणे रामं पतङ्ग इव पावकम्।।।।
Then Khara, upon a great chariot radiant like the sun, closed in on Rāma in battle—like a moth rushing into fire.
Verse 3.28.15
ततोऽस्य सशरं चापं मुष्टिदेशे महात्मनः।खरश्चिच्छेद रामस्य दर्शयन्पाणिलाघवम्।।।।
Seeing his vast, irresistible rākṣasa host cut down by Rāma alone—and even Triśiras and Dūṣaṇa slain—Khara, shaken at the sight of his forces largely destroyed, advanced upon Rāma, as Namuci once advanced against Indra.
Verse 3.28.16
स पुनस्त्वपरान्सप्त शरानादाय वर्मणि।निजघान खरः क्रुद्धश्शक्राशनिसमप्रभान्।।।।
Then, displaying swift dexterity of hand, Khara shattered Rāma’s bow—arrow still set—right at the grip, though Rāma was a great-souled warrior.
Verse 3.28.17
ततस्तत्प्रहतं बाणैः खरमुक्तैस्सुपर्वभिः।पपात कवचं भूमौ रामस्यादित्यवर्चसः।।।।
Again, the enraged Khara took up seven other arrows, blazing like Indra’s thunderbolt, and struck Rāma’s armour.
Verse 3.28.18
ततश्शरसहस्रेण राममप्रतिमौजसम्।अर्दयित्वा महानादं ननाद समरे खरः।।।।
Then, struck by well-jointed arrows loosed by Khara, Rama’s armour—radiant like the sun—fell upon the earth.
Verse 3.28.19
स शरैरर्दितः क्रुद्धस्सर्वगात्रेषु राघवः।रराज समरे रामो विधूमोऽग्निरिव ज्वलन्।।।।
Then Khara, assailing Rama of incomparable might with a thousand arrows, roared aloud upon the battlefield.
Verse 3.28.20
ततो गम्भीरनिर्ह्रादं रामश्शत्रुनिबर्हणः।चकारान्ताय स रिपोस्सज्यमन्यन्महद्धनुः।।।।
Then Rama, destroyer of foes, strung another mighty bow that rang with a deep, resounding note, intent on bringing the enemy to his end.
Verse 3.28.21
सुमहद्वैष्णवं यत्तदतिसृष्टं महर्षिणा।वरं तद्धनुरुद्यम्य खरं समभिधावत।।।।
Lifting that supremely excellent Vaiṣṇava bow, bestowed by a great sage, Rama rushed straight at Khara.
Verse 3.28.22
ततः कनकपुङ्खैस्तु शरैस्सन्नतपर्वभिः।बिभेद रामस्सङ्क्रुद्धः खरस्य समरे ध्वजम्।।।।
Then Rama, inflamed with wrath, shattered Khara’s battle-standard in the fight with smooth, well-jointed arrows tipped with golden feathers.
Verse 3.28.23
स दर्शनीयो बहुधा विकीर्णः काञ्चनध्वजः।जगाम धरणीं सूर्यो देवतानामिवाज्ञया।।।।
That splendid golden standard, shattered into many pieces, fell to the earth—like the sun itself descending to the ground at the command of the gods.
Verse 3.28.24
तं चतुर्भिः खरः क्रुद्धो रामं गात्रेषु मार्गणैः।विव्याध युधि मर्मज्ञो मातङ्गमिव तोमरैः।।।।
Enraged, Khara—skilled in striking vulnerable points—wounded Rama in battle with four arrows in his limbs, as though an elephant were jabbed with javelins.
Verse 3.28.25
स रामो बहुभिर्बाणैः खरकार्मुकनिस्सृतैः।विद्धो रुधिरसिक्ताङ्गो बभूव रुषितो भृशम्।।।।
Rama, struck by many arrows released from Khara’s bow, his limbs drenched in blood, became intensely enraged.
Verse 3.28.26
स धनुर्धन्विनां श्रेष्ठः प्रगृह्य परमाहवे।मुमोच परमेष्वासष्षट्छरानभिलक्षितान्।।।।
Then he—the finest among archers, the supreme wielder of the bow—raised his bow in that great combat, took aim, and released six well-targeted arrows.
Verse 3.28.27
शिरस्येकेन बाणेन द्वाभ्यां बह्वोरथार्दयत्।त्रिभिश्चन्द्रार्धवक्त्रैश्च वक्षस्यभिजघान ह।।।।
With one arrow he struck the head; with two he battered the shoulders; and with three crescent-faced arrows he smote the chest.
Verse 3.28.28
ततः पश्चान्महातेजा नाराचान्भास्करोपमान्।जिघांसू राक्षसङ्कृद्धस्त्रयोदश समाददे।।।।
After that, the radiant Rama—angered and intent on slaying the rākṣasa—took up thirteen nārāca arrows, blazing like the sun.
Verse 3.28.29
ततोऽस्य युगमेकेन चतुर्भिश्चतुरो हयान्।षष्ठेन तु शिरस्सङ्ख्ये खरस्य रथसारथेः।।।।त्रिभिस्त्रिवेणुं बलवान्द्वाभ्यामक्षं महाबलः।द्वादशेन तु बाणेन खरस्य सशरं धनुः।।।।छित्वा वज्रनिकाशेन राघवः प्रहसन्निव।त्रयोदशेनेन्द्रसमो बिभेद समरे खरम्।।।।
Then Rāghava, mighty like Indra, shattered the yoke of Khara’s chariot with one arrow; with four he slew the four horses; with the sixth he struck off the charioteer’s head in battle. With three he broke the chariot’s pole, with two the axle, and with the twelfth he splintered Khara’s bow together with its arrow. As though laughing, he then pierced Khara in the fight with the thirteenth, diamond-like shaft.
Verse 3.28.30
ततोऽस्य युगमेकेन चतुर्भिश्चतुरो हयान्।षष्ठेन तु शिरस्सङ्ख्ये खरस्य रथसारथेः।।3.28.29।।त्रिभिस्त्रिवेणुं बलवान्द्वाभ्यामक्षं महाबलः।द्वादशेन तु बाणेन खरस्य सशरं धनुः।।3.28.30।।छित्वा वज्रनिकाशेन राघवः प्रहसन्निव।त्रयोदशेनेन्द्रसमो बिभेद समरे खरम्।।3.28.31।।
Seeing his irrepressible rākṣasa host cut down—and even Triśiras and Dūṣaṇa slain by Rama alone—Khara, shaken at the sight of his force largely destroyed, advanced upon Rama for battle, like Namuci approaching Vāsava (Indra).
Verse 3.28.31
ततोऽस्य युगमेकेन चतुर्भिश्चतुरो हयान्।षष्ठेन तु शिरस्सङ्ख्ये खरस्य रथसारथेः।।3.28.29।।त्रिभिस्त्रिवेणुं बलवान्द्वाभ्यामक्षं महाबलः।द्वादशेन तु बाणेन खरस्य सशरं धनुः।।3.28.30।।छित्वा वज्रनिकाशेन राघवः प्रहसन्निव।त्रयोदशेनेन्द्रसमो बिभेद समरे खरम्।।3.28.31।।
Having shattered his weapons and chariot-parts with a thunderbolt-like arrow, Rāghava—almost as if smiling—then, like Indra himself, pierced Khara in the midst of battle with the thirteenth arrow.
Verse 3.28.32
प्रभग्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः।गदापाणिरवप्लुत्य तस्थौ भूमौ खरस्तदा।।।।
Then Khara, his bow broken, bereft of chariot, his horses slain and his charioteer killed, leaped down with a mace in hand and stood upon the ground.
Verse 3.28.33
तत्कर्म रामस्य महारथस्य समेत्य देवाश्च महर्षयश्च।अपूजयन्प्राञ्जलयः प्रहृष्टाः तदा विमानाग्रगतास्समेताः।।।।
Drawing his powerful bow to the full, Khara, in fury, hurled at Rama barbed arrows—blood-seeking like enraged venomous serpents.