Shloka 32

महोत्पात-लक्षणानि

Omens before Khara’s Assault

Devanagari script

श्येनगामी पृथुग्रीवो यज्ञशत्रुर्विहङ्गमः।दुर्जयः करवीराक्षः परुषः कालकार्मुकः।।।।मेघमाली महामाली सर्वास्यो रुधिराशनः।द्वादशैते महावीर्याः प्रतस्थुरभितः खरम्।।।।

Transliteration

śyena-gāmī pṛthu-grīvo yajña-śatrur vihaṅgamaḥ |

durjayaḥ karavīrākṣaḥ paruṣaḥ kāla-kārmukaḥ ||

megha-mālī mahā-mālī sarvāsyo rudhirāśanaḥ |

dvādaśaite mahā-vīryāḥ pratasthur abhitaḥ kharam ||

Translation

ശ്യേനഗാമി, പൃഥുഗ്രീവ, യജ്ഞശത്രു, വിഹംഗമ, ദുര്ജയ, കരവീരാക്ഷ, പരുഷ, കാലകാർമുക, മേഘമാലി, മഹാമാലി, സർവാസ്യ, രുധിരാശനൻ—ഇവരെന്ന പന്ത്രണ്ടു മഹാവീര്യശാലികൾ ഖരനെ ചുറ്റിനിന്ന് മുന്നേറി.

Word by Word

• śyenagāmī: Śyenagāmī (one who moves like a hawk)
• śyenagāmī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śyena + gāmin (प्रातिपदिक; गम्-धातुज कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (śyena-iva gāmī)

• pṛthugrīvaḥ: Pṛthugrīva (broad-necked)
• pṛthugrīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthu + grīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (pṛthū grīvā yasya/‘broad-necked’)

• yajñaśatruḥ: Yajñaśatru (enemy of sacrifices)
• yajñaśatruḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña + śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (yajñānāṃ śatruḥ)

• vihaṅgamaḥ: Vihaṅgama (sky-goer)
• vihaṅgamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vihaṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• durjayaḥ: Durjaya (invincible)
• durjayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dur + jaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘hard to conquer’)

• karavīrākṣaḥ: Karavīrākṣa (oleander-eyed)
• karavīrākṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karavīra + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (karavīra-sadṛśe akṣī yasya)

• paruṣaḥ: harsh
• paruṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• kālakārmukaḥ: Kālakārmuka (death-bowed)
• kālakārmukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla + kārmuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (kālasya kārmukaḥ / ‘death-bow’)

• meghamālī: Meghamālī (garlanded with clouds)
• meghamālī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: megha + mālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (megha-mālā yasya)

• mahāmālī: Mahāmālī (great-garlanded)
• mahāmālī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + mālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘great-garlanded’)

• sarvāsyaḥ: Sarvāsya (many-mouthed)
• sarvāsyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (sarvam āsyaṃ yasya / ‘all-faced, many-mouthed’)

• rudhirāśanaḥ: Rudhirāśana (blood-eater)
• rudhirāśanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudhira + āśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (rudhiraṃ āśanaṃ yasya / ‘blood-eater’)

• dvādaśa: twelve
• dvādaśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśan (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनार्थे (indeclinable-like numeral usage); संख्याविशेषणम्—‘twelve’ (agreeing with ete/mahāvīryāḥ)

• ete: these (all)
• ete: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• mahāvīryāḥ: mighty, of great prowess
• mahāvīryāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः; विशेषण (ete)

• pratasthuḥ: set out, marched forth
• pratasthuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• abhitaḥ: around, on all sides (towards)
• abhitaḥ: Adhikaraṇa/Deśa (अधिकरण/स्थान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhitas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश/अव्ययीभावार्थक अव्यय—‘around, on all sides, towards’

• kharam: Khara
• kharam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मपद (towards/around Khara)

Context

Seeing Khara, their chief on the chariot driving fast, the army of demons too marched forward.

FAQs

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

Dharma is highlighted by contrast: adharma often gathers strength through numbers and intimidation, yet moral rightness is not determined by force or entourage.

What is the narrative situation?

Khara advances to battle accompanied closely by twelve powerful rākṣasa champions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s implied virtue is fearless duty (kartavya-niṣṭhā): he stands for dharma even when opposed by many formidable enemies.