Shloka 13

खररामयुद्धम् — The Battle of Khara and Rama

Aranya Kanda, Sarga 28

Devanagari script

तं सिंहमिव विक्रान्तं सिंहविक्रान्तगामिनम्।दृष्ट्वा नोद्विजते रामः सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगं यथा।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ siṃham iva vikrāntaṃ siṃhavikrāntagāminam | dṛṣṭvā nodvijate rāmaḥ siṃhaḥ kṣudramṛgaṃ yathā ||3.28.13||

Translation

സിംഹത്തെപ്പോലെ പരാക്രമശാലിയായി, സിംഹഗതിയോടെ മുന്നേറുന്ന അവനെ കണ്ടിട്ടും രാമൻ വിറച്ചില്ല—ക്ഷുദ്രമൃഗത്തെ കണ്ടിട്ടും സിംഹം കലങ്ങാത്തതുപോലെ.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• siṃham: a lion
• siṃham: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमान-रूपे (as object of comparison)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (simile particle)

• vikrāntam: valiant
• vikrāntam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi√kram (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'valiant/striding forth'

• siṃha-vikrānta-gāminam: moving with a lion-like gait
• siṃha-vikrānta-gāminam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + vikrānta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + gāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'moving with lion-like stride/advance'

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund): 'having seen'

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation particle)

• udvijate: is disturbed/fears
• udvijate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud√vij (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'is perturbed/fears'

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• siṃhaḥ: (as) a lion
• siṃhaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमेय-रूपे (Rama compared to lion)

• kṣudra-mṛgam: a small deer
• kṣudra-mṛgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣudra (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'a small deer'

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (upamā/adverb): 'just as'

Context

When Rama saw Khara aggressively advancing like a lion to attack him, he was not perturbed, for he knew he was a fawn before a lion (which Rama was).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Khara
• Lion (simile)

FAQs

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

Dharma is supported by fearlessness rooted in right conduct; one who stands in righteousness meets threats without inner collapse.

What is the narrative situation?

Khara advances menacingly, but Rāma remains calm and undaunted.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s courage and equanimity (steadiness under intimidation).