Shloka 15

खररामयुद्धम् — The Battle of Khara and Rama

Aranya Kanda, Sarga 28

Devanagari script

ततोऽस्य सशरं चापं मुष्टिदेशे महात्मनः।खरश्चिच्छेद रामस्य दर्शयन्पाणिलाघवम्।।।।

Transliteration

tato 'sya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ muṣṭi-deśe mahātmanaḥ |

kharaś ciccheda rāmasya darśayan pāṇi-lāghavam ||

Translation

Alors Khara, faisant montre d’une dextérité fulgurante, brisa l’arc de Rāma —la flèche encore posée— à l’endroit même de la prise, bien que Rāma fût un héros à la grande âme.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): 'then'

• asya: of him
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; 'of him' (Rama)

• sa-śaram: with the arrow
• sa-śaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सह-तत्पुरुष (सह-समास): 'together with an arrow' (qualifying cāpam)

• cāpam: bow
• cāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• muṣṭi-deśe: at the grip
• muṣṭi-deśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: 'at the grip-place (handle region)'

• mahātmanaḥ: of the great-souled one
• mahātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'of the great-souled (one)'

• kharaḥ: Khara
• kharaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ciccheda: cut/broke
• ciccheda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: chid (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'cut/broke'

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• darśayan: showing
• darśayan: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'showing/exhibiting' (kartṛ-sāmānādhikaraṇya with kharaḥ)

• pāṇi-lāghavam: hand-agility
• pāṇi-lāghavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + lāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'lightness/agility of the hand'

Context

The influriated Khara this time took up seven arrows blazing like Indra's thunderbolt and hit his armour.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Khara
• bow (cāpa)
• arrow (śara)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is implicit in disciplined combat: skill and speed are shown within the rules of battle, emphasizing that prowess must be exercised with focus and responsibility, not mere cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

In the duel, Khara lands a decisive technical strike, breaking Rama’s bow at the grip while the arrow is still set.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial competence (śaurya with kauśala): Khara’s hand-speed is highlighted, setting the stage for Rama’s composed response.