Shloka 34

दूषणवधः

The Slaying of Dūṣaṇa and the Rout of Khara’s Host

Devanagari script

क्षणेन तु महाघोरं वनं निहतराक्षसम्।बभूव निरयप्रख्यं मांसशोणितकर्दमम्।।।।

Transliteration

kṣaṇena tu mahāghoraṁ vanaṁ nihatarākṣasam | babhūva nirayaprakhyaṁ māṁsaśoṇitakardamam ||

Translation

ഒരു ക്ഷണത്തിൽ തന്നെ, കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ട രാക്ഷസന്മാർ നിറഞ്ഞ ആ മഹാഘോര വനഭൂമി നരകസദൃശമായി ഭയാനകമായി; അതിന്റെ നിലം മാംസവും രക്തവും കലർന്ന ചെളിയായി മാറി.

Word by Word

• kṣaṇena: in a moment
• kṣaṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन — काल-करणम् (time-instrument)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• mahā-ghoram: very dreadful
• mahā-ghoram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (पूर्वपद) + ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — वनम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• vanam: the forest
• vanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (subject)

• nihata-rākṣasam: with demons slain
• nihata-rākṣasam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nihata (कृदन्त) + rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारयभाव: निहताः राक्षसाः यस्मिन्/where demons are slain); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — वनम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• babhūva: became
• babhūva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: भू (to become)

• niraya-prakhyam: like hell
• niraya-prakhyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niraya (प्रातिपदिक) + prakhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (उपमान-निर्देशक: निरयसदृशम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — वनम् इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम्

• māṃsa-śoṇita-kardamam: muddy with flesh and blood
• māṃsa-śoṇita-kardamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + śoṇita (प्रातिपदिक) + kardama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (निर्देशक: मांसशोणितयोः कर्दमः/ mud of flesh and blood); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — वनम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Context

Of that entire army great warrior Khara,Trisira and Rama, destroyer of foes alone remained.

Characters & Entities

• Forest (vana)
• Rakshasas

FAQs

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

Even justified battle has horrific consequences; dharma includes acknowledging the suffering caused by adharma and the necessity of ending it decisively.

What is the narrative situation?

After mass slaughter in the forest fight, the landscape is described as hell-like due to bloodshed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implied is Rama’s capacity to end terror quickly; the verse mainly emphasizes the stark reality of war.