Shloka 3.29.12

अरण्यकाण्डे एकोनत्रिंशः सर्गः (Sarga 29: Rama’s Admonition to Khara and the Shattering of the Mace)

Devanagari script

ये त्वया दण्डकारण्ये भक्षिता धर्मचारिणः।तानद्य निहतस्सङ्ख्ये ससैन्योऽनुगमिष्यसि।।।।

Transliteration

ye tvayā daṇḍakāraṇye bhakṣitā dharmacāriṇaḥ | tān adya nihataḥ saṅkhye sasainyaḥ anugamiṣyasi ||

Translation

Today, slain by me in battle, you will go after—along with your army—those righteous people whom you devoured in the Dandaka forest.

Context

Slain by me in the battle today, you and your army will follow the righteous men eaten by you in Dandaka forest.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Khara
• Daṇḍakāraṇya (Dandaka forest)
• dharmacāriṇaḥ (righteous ascetics/people)
• sainya (army)

FAQs

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

Protection of the righteous and punishment of violent wrongdoing: Rama frames Khara’s death as just consequence for harming dharma-practitioners.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama confronts Khara in battle in the Dandaka region and declares that Khara will be sent to the same fate as the ascetics he killed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s kṣātra-dharma (warrior responsibility): decisive defense of innocents and readiness to administer justice.