Shloka 13

खरसेनासङ्ग्रामः

The Battle with Khara’s Host at the Hermitage

Devanagari script

स तैः प्रहरणैर्घोरैर्भिन्नगात्रो न विव्यथे।रामः प्रदीप्तैर्बहुभिर्वज्रैरिव महाचलः।।।।

Transliteration

sa taiḥ praharaṇair ghorair bhinna-gātro na vivyathe |

rāmaḥ pradīptair bahubhir vajrair iva mahācalaḥ ||

Translation

ആ ഭയങ്കരായ ആയുധങ്ങൾ കൊണ്ട് അവയവങ്ങൾ ഭേദിക്കപ്പെട്ടിട്ടും രാമൻ കിഞ്ചിതും വിറയലില്ലാതെ നിന്നു; അനേകം ജ്വലിക്കുന്ന വജ്രങ്ങൾ പതിച്ചാലും അചലമായ മഹാപർവ്വതംപോലെ.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (sarvanāma)

• तैः: by those
• तैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental, Plural (sarvanāma)

• प्रहरणैः: with weapons
• प्रहरणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• घोरैः: dreadful
• घोरैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental, Plural; qualifying ‘praharaṇaiḥ’

• भिन्न-गात्रः: with wounded limbs
• भिन्न-गात्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhinna (कृदन्त from bhid धातु) + gātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; Bahuvrīhi: ‘one whose limbs are pierced/broken’

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

• विव्यथे: was not shaken/hurt
• विव्यथे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + vyath (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, Imperfect), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd Person, Singular

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

• प्रदीप्तैः: glowing
• प्रदीप्तैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pradīpta (कृदन्त from dīp धातु)
• Form: Kta PPP; Instrumental, Plural; qualifying ‘vajraiḥ’

• बहुभिः: many
• बहुभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental, Plural; qualifying ‘vajraiḥ’

• वज्रैः: with thunderbolts
• वज्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya

• महाचलः: a great mountain
• महाचलः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + acala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; Karmadhāraya: ‘great mountain’

Context

Rama remained unhurt like a great mountain struck by many glowing thunderbolts. He felt no pain even though his limbs were hit by the dreadful weapons.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• weapons (praharaṇa)
• thunderbolt (vajra)

FAQs

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

Dharma is steadfast endurance: the righteous do not abandon their protective duty when injured or pressured.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite being hit by multiple weapons, Rama remains firm and unshaken in the midst of battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣānti and dhṛti (forbearance and fortitude)—Rama’s unwavering composure under attack.