Shloka 4

अरण्यकाण्डे एकोनत्रिंशः सर्गः

Sarga 29: Rama’s Admonition to Khara and the Shattering of the Mace

Devanagari script

कर्म लोकविरुद्धं तु कुर्वाणं क्षणदाचर।तीक्ष्णं सर्वजनो हन्ति सर्पं दुष्टमिवागतम्।।।।

Transliteration

karma lokaviruddhaṃ tu kurvāṇaṃ kṣaṇadācara | tīkṣṇaṃ sarvajano hanti sarpaṃ duṣṭam ivāgatam ||

Translation

ഹേ ക്ഷണദാചരാ! ലോകധർമ്മത്തിന് വിരുദ്ധമായ കർമ്മം ചെയ്യുന്നവനെ സർവ്വജനവും കഠിനമായി സംഹരിക്കുന്നു—അടുത്തെത്തിയ ദുഷ്ട വിഷസർപ്പത്തെ വധിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ.

Word by Word

• कर्म: deed/action
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• लोकविरुद्धम्: contrary to the world/people
• लोकविरुद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + विरुद्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकस्य विरुद्धम्)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थे

• कुर्वाणम्: doing/committing
• कुर्वाणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘क्षणदाचर’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• क्षणदाचर: O night-ranger (rākṣasa)
• क्षणदाचर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षणद (प्रातिपदिक) + आचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्षणदानाम् आचरः)

• तीक्ष्णम्: fierce/terrible
• तीक्ष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘सर्पम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सर्वजनः: all people/everyone
• सर्वजनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वः जनः)

• हन्ति: kills/strikes down
• हन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सर्पम्: a serpent
• सर्पम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दुष्टम्: wicked/cruel
• दुष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘सर्पम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• इव: like/as
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (comparative particle)

• आगतम्: come/arrived
• आगतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘सर्पम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (आगतः = come/arrived)

Context

Just like lord Yama, holding a noose of death is alone enough to destroy the threeworlds, I am alone sufficient to take away your life in war, a mace in hand.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Khara

FAQs

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

Actions that violate dharma and harm the community invite collective resistance and inevitable punishment.

What is the narrative situation?

In the lead-up to battle, Rāma rebukes Khara for adharma, comparing such danger to a deadly serpent near at hand.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s protective kingship-ethic: he positions himself as upholding public safety and righteousness.