Shloka 21

महोत्पात-लक्षणानि

Omens before Khara’s Assault

Devanagari script

राघवं तं बलोत्सिक्तं भ्रातरं चास्य लक्ष्मणम्।।।।अहत्वा सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैर्नोपावर्तितुमुत्सहे।

Transliteration

rāghavaṃ taṃ balōtsiktaṃ bhrātaraṃ cāsya lakṣmaṇam | ahatvā sāyakaistīkṣṇair nōpāvartitum utsahē ||

Translation

ബലത്തിൽ മദിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന ആ രാഘവനെയും അവന്റെ സഹോദരൻ ലക്ഷ്മണനെയും തീക്ഷ്ണബാണങ്ങളാൽ വധിക്കാതെ ഞാൻ മടങ്ങുവാൻ ഇച്ഛിക്കുന്നില്ല.

Word by Word

• राघवम्: Rāghava (Rāma)
• राघवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तम्: that (him)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• बलोत्सिक्तम्: intoxicated with strength; proud of strength
• बलोत्सिक्तम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल + उत्सिक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to 'राघवम्'

• भ्रातरम्: brother
• भ्रातरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• अस्य: his
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लक्ष्मणम्: Lakṣmaṇa
• लक्ष्मणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'भ्रातरम्' का विशेष्य (apposition)

• अहत्वा: without killing
• अहत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा/absolutive) with negating prefix अ- : 'without killing' (अ + हत्वा)

• सायकैः: with arrows
• सायकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• तीक्ष्णैः: sharp
• तीक्ष्णैः: Karana-viśeṣaṇa (करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण to 'सायकैः'

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• उपावर्तितुम्: to return; to turn back
• उपावर्तितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप + आ + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तुमुन्/infinitive), अव्यय; उद्देश्य (purpose)

• उत्सहे: I am able; I dare
• उत्सहे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्सह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

I do not wish to return, without killing with my sharp arrows that Rama who is proud of his strength and his brother Lakshmana.

Characters & Entities

• Khara
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma condemns violence driven by ego and vengeance; refusing retreat until killing the righteous is a hallmark of adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Khara declares his intention to fight Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa and refuses to withdraw without killing them.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness is distorted into obstinacy; the verse teaches that resolve without righteousness is not a virtue.