Shloka 12

खरवधः — The Slaying of Khara

Janasthana Battle Climax

Devanagari script

नृशंस नीच क्षुद्रात्मन्नित्यं ब्राह्मणकण्टक।यत्कृते शङ्कितैरग्नौ मुनिभिः पात्यते हविः।।।।

Transliteration

nṛśaṃsa nīca kṣudrātman nityaṃ brāhmaṇakaṇṭaka | yatkṛte śaṅkitair agnau munibhiḥ pātyate haviḥ || 3.30.12 ||

Translation

ഹേ ക്രൂരൻ, നീചൻ, ക്ഷുദ്രാത്മാവ്—ബ്രാഹ്മണർക്കുള്ള കണ്ഠകം! നിന്റെ കാരണത്താൽ മുനിമാർ സംശയത്തോടെ, ഭീതിയോടെ, അഗ്നിയിൽ ഹവിസ്സ് അർപ്പിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• नृशंस: O cruel one
• नृशंस: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृशंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नीच: O vile one
• नीच: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्षुद्रात्मन्: O petty-souled one
• क्षुद्रात्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (क्षुद्रः आत्मा यस्य)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यम् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/नित्यत्व-अव्यय (always)

• ब्राह्मण-कण्टक: thorn to the brahmins
• ब्राह्मण-कण्टक: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्राह्मणानां कण्टकः)

• यत्-कृते: because of whom
• यत्-कृते: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कृते (कृदन्त: कृत, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययार्थे (because of whom/for whose sake)

• शङ्कितैः: by the fearful/hesitant
• शङ्कितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्कित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; शङ्क्/शङ्कय् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (मुनिभिः)

• अग्नौ: in the fire
• अग्नौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• पात्यते: is offered/caused to fall
• पात्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

• हविः: oblation
• हविः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative; passive subject), एकवचन

Context

O cruel, mean, vile fellow, you had been always opposing the brahmins who pour oblations in fire under fear.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Khara
• Brāhmaṇas
• Munis (sages)
• Agni
• Havis (oblations)

FAQs

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

Protecting sacred practice and the vulnerable is central to dharma: tormenting sages and disrupting yajña is portrayed as a grave moral violation demanding correction.

What is the narrative situation?

In the battle context, Rāma indicts Khara for persecuting brāhmaṇas and sages, forcing them to perform rites under fear.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Guardianship of dharma: Rāma acts as protector of ascetics and ritual order against predatory power.