Shloka 5

खररामयुद्धम् — The Battle of Khara and Rama

Aranya Kanda, Sarga 28

Devanagari script

ज्यां विधून्वंसुबहुशश्शिक्षयास्त्राणि दर्शयन्।चचार समरे मार्गाञ्छरै रथगतः खरः।।।।

Transliteration

jyāṃ vidhūnvan subahuśaḥ śikṣayā astrāṇi darśayan |

cacāra samare mārgāñ charai rathagataḥ kharaḥ ||

Translation

Duduk di atas keretanya, Khara berulang kali memetik tali busur; memperlihatkan kemahiran senjata yang terlatih, dia mengembara di medan perang, menyebarkan anak panah ke segala laluan.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; qualifying दिशः

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• दिशः: directions
• दिशः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• प्रदिशः: intermediate directions
• प्रदिशः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradiś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• महारथः: great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: महā + रथ; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; epithet of सः

• पूरयामास: filled
• पूरयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pṝ (पूर्/पॄ धातु; णिच् causative)
• Form: Periphrastic perfect (लिट्) of causative, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada; ‘filled’

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; object of दृष्ट्वा (him)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle ‘also/even’

• सुमहत्: very great
• सुमहत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: सु (very) + महत्; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifying धनुः (as object understood)

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (object understood with पूरयामास)

Context

Khara drew his strong bow-string in anger and released the blood-hungry arrows, which appeared like venomous snakes.

Characters & Entities

• Khara
• chariot
• bowstring (jyā)
• arrows

FAQs

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

Skill (śikṣā) in arms is morally neutral; Dharma depends on the purpose and restraint with which power is used—training must serve protection, not oppression.

What is the narrative situation?

Khara, still on his chariot, demonstrates rapid, practiced archery, saturating the battlefield with arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Technical prowess and confidence in warfare are highlighted—though in Khara’s case, they are shown in the service of hostile intent.