Shloka 24

खरवधः — The Slaying of Khara

Janasthana Battle Climax

Devanagari script

ततः पावकसङ्काशं वधाय समरे शरम्।खरस्य रामो जग्राह ब्रह्मदण्डमिवापरम्।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ pāvakasaṅkāśaṃ vadhāya samarē śaram | kharasya rāmo jagrāha brahmadaṇḍam ivāparam ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ യുദ്ധത്തിൽ ഖരനെ വധിക്കുവാൻ രാമൻ അഗ്നിസദൃശമായി ദീപ്തമായ ഒരു ശരമെടുത്തു—ബ്രഹ്മദണ്ഡത്തിന്റെ മറ്റൊരു ദണ്ഡംപോലെ।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anubandha (काल/अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb

• pāvakasaṅkāśam: fire-like, blazing
• pāvakasaṅkāśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāvaka + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: pāvakasya saṅkāśaḥ (like fire); Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying 'śaram'

• vadhāya: for killing
• vadhāya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; purpose dative

• samare: in battle
• samare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• śaram: arrow
• śaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• kharasya: of/for Khara
• kharasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• jagrāha: took, seized
• jagrāha: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• brahmadaṇḍam: Brahma's staff (Brahmadaṇḍa)
• brahmadaṇḍam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: brahmaṇaḥ daṇḍaḥ; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; upamāna with 'iva'

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle

• aparam: another
• aparam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying 'śaram' (another, second)

Context

Rama took a dart glowing like fire which resembled another Brahmadanda to kill Khara in the war.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Khara
• Brahmadaṇḍa (rod of chastisement)
• arrow (śara)

FAQs

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

The Brahmadaṇḍa simile frames Rama’s act as punitive justice rather than personal vendetta—punishment aimed at restoring moral order when a tyrannical aggressor must be stopped.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama prepares a decisive weapon intended to kill Khara.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s sense of duty: decisive action aligned with protection and justice.