Shloka 14
खरवधः — The Slaying of Khara
Janasthana Battle Climax
दृढं खल्ववलिप्तोऽसि भयेष्वपि च निर्भयः।वाच्यावाच्यं ततो हि त्वं मृत्युवश्यो न बुध्यसे।।।।
dṛḍhaṃ khalv avalipto 'si bhayeṣv api ca nirbhayaḥ | vācyāvācyaṃ tato hi tvaṃ mṛtyuvaśyo na budhyase || 3.30.14 ||
En verdad eres terco en tu soberbia: no temes ni aun donde el temor es debido; por eso, ya bajo el dominio de la Muerte, no distingues lo que debe decirse de lo que debe callarse.
You are very haughty. When there is every cause of fear you pretend fearlessness. Being in the grip of death you do not know what to speak and what not to speak.
FAQs
Right speech and discernment (vācyāvācya-viveka) are ethical duties; arrogance blinds one to propriety, especially when one is near ruin.
Khara retorts to Rāma’s rebuke, accusing him of arrogance and lack of discernment in speech during the battle.
By contrast (through accusation), the virtue highlighted is discernment and humility—qualities Khara claims Rāma lacks, though the narrative typically assigns the blindness to Khara himself.