Shloka 39

खरसेनासङ्ग्रामः

The Battle with Khara’s Host at the Hermitage

Devanagari script

शरान्धकारमाकाशमावृणोत्सदिवाकरम्।बभूवावस्थितो रामः प्रवमन्निव ताञ्छरान्।।।।

Transliteration

śarāndhakāram ākāśam āvṛṇot sa-divākaram | babhūvāvasthito rāmaḥ pravamann iva tāñ charān ||

Translation

ശരങ്ങളുടെ അന്ധകാരം സൂര്യനോടുകൂടി ആകാശത്തെ മൂടി; അചഞ്ചലമായി നിന്ന രാമൻ ആ അമ്പുകളെ വായിൽ നിന്നു പുറന്തള്ളുന്നതുപോലെ തോന്നി.

Word by Word

• śarāndhakāram: arrow-darkness
• śarāndhakāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara + andhakāra (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'darkness of arrows' (darkness caused by arrows)

• ākāśam: the sky
• ākāśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• āvṛṇot: covered
• āvṛṇot: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√vṛ (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• sa: it/that
• sa: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun referring to śarāndhakāraḥ (understood)

• divākaram: the sun
• divākaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divā + kara (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); 'maker of day' = sun

• babhūva: became/appeared
• babhūva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• avasthitaḥ: stationed
• avasthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-√sthā (धातु) + kta (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying rāmaḥ

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• pravamān: vomiting/firing forth
• pravamān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vam (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकाले परस्मैपदी शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with rāmaḥ

• iva: as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle (उपमा-अव्यय): 'as if'

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śarān: arrows
• śarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

Rama then let out from his bow, stretched round, thousands of arrows that covered all the ten quarters.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Sun (Divākara)
• Sky

FAQs

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

Dharma is unwavering resolve in a just cause—Rama remains ‘avasthita’ (firmly stationed) even as the battlefield turns overwhelming.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama’s arrow-volley becomes so dense it darkens the sky and obscures even the sun.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadiness (dhṛti)—holding position and purpose amid extreme chaos.