Shloka 34

खरवधः — The Slaying of Khara

Janasthana Battle Climax

Devanagari script

अर्धाधिकमुहूर्तेन रामेण निशितैश्शरैः।।।।चतुर्दशसहस्राणि रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम्।खरदूषणमुख्यानां निहतानि महाहवे।।।।

Transliteration

ardhādhika-muhūrtena rāmeṇa niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | caturdaśa-sahasrāṇi rakṣasāṃ bhīmakarmaṇām | khara-dūṣaṇa-mukhyānāṃ nihatāni mahāhave ||

Translation

അരമുഹൂർത്തത്തേക്കാൾ അല്പം കൂടുതലുള്ള സമയത്തിനുള്ളിൽ, രാമൻ മൂർച്ചയുള്ള അമ്പുകളാൽ മഹായുദ്ധത്തിൽ ഖര-ദൂഷണാദി നേതാക്കളായ ഭീകരകർമ്മരായ പതിനാലായിരം രാക്ഷസന്മാരെ സംഹരിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• ardha-adhika-muhūrtena: within a little more than half a muhūrta
• ardha-adhika-muhūrtena: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ardha (प्रातिपदिक) + adhika (प्रातिपदिक) + muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (time-measure): ‘by a muhūrta a little more than half’

• rāmeṇa: by Rama
• rāmeṇa: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• niśitaiḥ: sharp
• niśitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of śaraiḥ

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• caturdaśa-sahasrāṇi: fourteen thousand
• caturdaśa-sahasrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturdaśa (संख्या) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास ‘fourteen thousand’

• rakṣasām: of demons
• rakṣasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• bhīma-karmaṇām: of terrible deeds
• bhīma-karmaṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘those whose deeds are terrible’ (qualifying rakṣasām)

• khara-dūṣaṇa-mukhyānām: led by Khara and Dūṣaṇa
• khara-dūṣaṇa-mukhyānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक) + dūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘having Khara and Dūṣaṇa as chiefs’ (qualifying rakṣasām)

• nihatāni: were slain
• nihatāni: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni + han (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; predicate of caturdaśa-sahasrāṇi: ‘slain’

• mahāhave: in the great battle
• mahāhave: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + ahava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘in the great battle’

Context

'In a little more than half a moment of this great war Rama had accomplished the terrific task of killing with sharp darts fourteen thousand demons, led by Khara and Dusana.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• rākṣasas
• Khara
• Dūṣaṇa
• arrows

FAQs

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

Dharma sometimes requires swift, decisive intervention to end mass harm. The emphasis is on removing a systemic threat so peaceful righteous life can continue.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator summarizes the battle’s scale and speed: Rāma defeats the large rākṣasa host led by Khara and Dūṣaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śaurya (heroic courage) and दक्षता (martial skill) in service of dharma: extraordinary capability is portrayed as protective, not exploitative.