Shloka 32

दूषणवधः

The Slaying of Dūṣaṇa and the Rout of Khara’s Host

Devanagari script

तैर्भिन्नवर्माभरणाश्छिन्नभिन्नशरासनाः।निपेतुश्शोणितादिग्धा धरण्यां रजनीचराः।।।।

Transliteration

tair bhinnavarmābharaṇāś chinnabhinnaśarāsanāḥ | nipetuḥ śoṇitādigdhā dharaṇyāṁ rajanīcarāḥ ||

Translation

ಆ ಬಾಣಗಳಿಂದ ಭೇದಿತರಾಗಿ, ರಾತ್ರಿಚರರು ಭೂಮಿಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಕುಸಿದರು—ಕವಚವೂ ಆಭರಣಗಳೂ ಚೂರುಚೂರಾಗಿ, ಧನುಸ್ಸುಗಳು ಮುರಿದು, ದೇಹಗಳು ರಕ್ತದಿಂದ ಲೇಪಿತವಾದವು.

Word by Word

taiḥby them (by those arrows)

bhinna-varma-ābharaṇāḥwith armor and ornaments broken

chinna-bhinna-śarāsanāḥwhose bows were cut and shattered

nipetuḥfell down

śoṇita-ādigdhāḥsmeared with blood

dharaṇyāmon the ground

rajanī-carāḥnight-roamers (demons)

Context

With the slaughtered bodies of demons lying on the ground, the forest in a moment looked very dreadful like hell with the mud of soil soaked with flesh and blood.

Characters & Entities

Rakshasas (rajanīcarāḥ)

Arrows

Battlefield

FAQs

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

Adharma meets consequence: violence and terror brought upon others return upon the perpetrators when confronted by righteous defense.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama’s arrow-strikes break the demons’ weapons and protection; they collapse across the battlefield.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s disciplined effectiveness—decisive action that disables the enemy’s capacity to harm.