Shloka 20

त्रिशिरोवधः (The Slaying of Triśiras)

Araṇyakāṇḍa, Sarga 27

Devanagari script

तान्खरो द्रवतो दृष्ट्वा निवर्त्य रुषितस्स्वयम्।।3.27.20।।राममेवाभिदुद्राव राहुश्चन्द्रमसं यथा।

Transliteration

tān kharo dravato dṛṣṭvā nivartya ruṣitas svayam || 3.27.20 || rāmam evābhidudrāva rāhuś candramasaṁ yathā |

Translation

Al verlos huir, Khara, encendido de ira, los hizo volver por sí mismo y luego se lanzó directamente contra Rāma, como Rāhu arremete contra la luna.

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन) सर्वनाम

• खरः: Khara
• खरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• द्रवतः: (who were) fleeing/retreating
• द्रवतः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dravat (धाव्/द्रु धातोः शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying तान्

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having seen’

• निवर्त्य: having turned (them) back
• निवर्त्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni√vṛt (नि+वृत् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having turned back/caused to return’

• रुषितः: angry
• रुषितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ruṣita (रुष् धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying खरः

• स्वयम्: himself/personally
• स्वयम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; emphasis/reflexive adverb

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात) of restriction/emphasis

• अभिदुद्राव: charged at / ran towards
• अभिदुद्राव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi√dru (अभि+द्रु धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada; ‘ran towards/charged at’

• राहुः: Rahu
• राहुः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• चन्द्रमसम्: the moon
• चन्द्रमसम्: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candramas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: Upamā-vācaka (उपमावाचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; comparative particle ‘as/like’

Context

If Rama is killed be happy and go to Janasthana or else if I am killed you can fight.

Characters & Entities

• Khara
• Rama
• Rahu
• Moon (Candrama)

FAQs

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

It warns that anger-driven leadership can intensify conflict rather than restore order; dharma requires clarity, not rage, especially when commanding others.

What is the narrative situation?

Khara halts his troops’ retreat and personally rushes to confront Rāma, marking an escalation to the principal duel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

From Khara’s side, forceful leadership and boldness are shown, though colored by wrath—serving as a foil to Rāma’s disciplined valor.