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

Dalam sedikit lebih daripada setengah muhūrta, Śrī Rāma dengan anak panah yang tajam telah menewaskan empat belas ribu rākṣasa yang mengerikan perbuatannya, dipimpin Khara dan Dūṣaṇa, dalam peperangan besar itu.

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.