Shloka 17

खरसेनासङ्ग्रामः

The Battle with Khara’s Host at the Hermitage

Devanagari script

दुरावारान्दुर्विषहान्कालदण्डोपमान् रणे।मुमोच लीलया रामः कङ्कपत्रानजिह्मगान्।।।।

Transliteration

durāvārān durviṣahān kāladaṇḍopamān raṇe |

mumoca līlayā rāmaḥ kaṅkapatrān ajihmagān ||

Translation

Di medan laga, Rama seakan bermain saja melepaskan panah-panah berbulukan bulu bangau: tak tertahan, tak tertanggungkan, laksana gada Kematian, dan melesat lurus ke sasaran.

Word by Word

• दुरावारान्: hard to ward off
• दुरावारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur + āvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; qualifying ‘(bāṇān)’ understood

• दुर्विषहान्: hard to endure
• दुर्विषहान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur + viṣaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; qualifying arrows

• काल-दण्ड-उपमान्: like the staff of Death
• काल-दण्ड-उपमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; Tatpuruṣa: ‘comparable to Kāla’s staff’

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• मुमोच: released
• मुमोच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• लीलया: playfully/easily
• लीलया: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; adverbial use

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कङ्क-पत्रान्: with heron-feathers
• कङ्क-पत्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṅka (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; Tatpuruṣa: ‘having heron-feathers’

• अजिह्मगान्: straight-flying
• अजिह्मगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a (नञ्) + jihma (प्रातिपदिक) + ga (प्रातिपदिक/agent)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; Bahuvrīhi: ‘those whose going is not crooked’ = straight-flying

Context

As if sporting, Rama discharged the arrows attached with herons' feathers. The arrows were inescapable, unbearable like that of Yama's staff, that went straight without missing the target.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• arrows (śara/bāṇa)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes proportionate and effective action against violent wrongdoing; the imagery of Death’s rod signals the inevitability of consequences for adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama demonstrates effortless superiority in combat, sending arrows that cannot be resisted or diverted.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Skill (kauśala) joined to composure—Rama’s mastery is so complete it appears effortless.