Shloka 14

खररामयुद्धम् — The Battle of Khara and Rama

Aranya Kanda, Sarga 28

Devanagari script

ततः सूर्यनिकाशेन रथेन महता खरः।आससाद रणे रामं पतङ्ग इव पावकम्।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ sūryanikāśena rathena mahatā kharaḥ | āsasāda raṇe rāmaṃ pataṅga iva pāvakam ||3.28.14||

Translation

ତାପରେ ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟସଦୃଶ ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ ମହାରଥରେ ଥିବା ଖର ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ରାମଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଧାଇଲା—ଯେପରି ପତଙ୍ଗ ଅଗ୍ନିକୁ ଧାଏ।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): 'then'

• sūrya-nikāśena: sun-bright
• sūrya-nikāśena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + nikāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'sun-like/with sun-like radiance' (qualifying rathena)

• rathena: by/with a chariot
• rathena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• mahatā: great
• mahatā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'great' (qualifying rathena)

• kharaḥ: Khara
• kharaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• āsasāda: approached/assailed
• āsasāda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√sad (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'approached/attacked'

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; 'in battle'

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pataṅgaḥ: a moth/insect
• pataṅgaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pataṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान (moth/insect)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (simile particle)

• pāvakam: fire
• pāvakam: Upameya/Upamāna (उपमेय/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'fire'

Context

Then Khara mounting a great chariot which was glowing like the Sun, advanced towards Rama just as an insect hurtles towards fire.

Characters & Entities

• Khara
• Rāma
• Chariot
• Sun (simile)
• Fire (simile)

FAQs

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

Adharma driven by pride and rage tends toward self-destruction; the moth-to-flame image teaches that unwise aggression against righteousness consumes the aggressor.

What is the narrative situation?

Khara personally charges Rāma directly, despite the ominous signs and prior losses.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, Rāma’s steadfastness is implied; Khara’s rashness and hubris are foregrounded through the fatal simile.