Shloka 22

खरस्य क्रोधः — शूर्पणखावृत्तान्तकथनम्

Khara’s Wrath and Śūrpaṇakhā’s Report

Devanagari script

मानुषौ शस्त्रसम्पन्नौ चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरौ।प्रविष्टौ दण्डकारण्यं घोरं प्रमदया सह।।।।

Transliteration

mānuṣau śastrasampannau cīra-kṛṣṇājināmbarau | praviṣṭau daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ ghoraṃ pramadayā saha ||

Translation

രണ്ട് മനുഷ്യ യോദ്ധാക്കൾ, ആയുധസമ്പന്നർ, വൽക്കലവസ്ത്രവും കൃഷ്ണാജിനവും ധരിച്ചു, ഒരു സ്ത്രീയോടൊപ്പം ഭയങ്കരമായ ദണ്ഡകാരണ്യത്തിൽ പ്രവേശിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

mānuṣautwo men/humans

śastra-sampannauequipped with weapons

cīra-kṛṣṇājina-ambarauwearing bark-cloth and black-deerskin garments

praviṣṭauhaving entered

daṇḍakāraṇyamthe Dandaka forest

ghoramdreadful

pramadayāwith a woman

sahatogether with

Context

The night-rangers were unable to crush him(Rama) despite their sharp, glowing weapons just as wild elephants cannot face all at once the rising flame of the forest fire.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē ēkōnaviṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the nineteenth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

Khara

Rāma (implied as one of the two humans)

Lakṣmaṇa (implied as the other human)

Sītā (implied by 'pramadā')

Daṇḍakāraṇya (Dandaka forest)

Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

The verse sets up a dharmic contrast: ascetic attire and disciplined life in the forest versus violent intent toward them—highlighting the protection owed to the innocent.

What is the narrative situation?

Khara identifies the targets for his rākṣasa soldiers: two armed humans in ascetic dress, accompanied by a woman, residing in Daṇḍaka.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa’s austerity and duty-bound endurance are implied through their forest attire and presence in a fearful wilderness.