Shloka 11

खररामयुद्धम् — The Battle of Khara and Rama

Aranya Kanda, Sarga 28

Devanagari script

तं रथस्थं धनुष्पाणिं राक्षसं पर्यवस्थितम्।ददृशुस्सर्वभूतानि पाशहस्तमिवान्तकम्।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ rathasthaṃ dhanuṣpāṇiṃ rākṣasaṃ paryavasthitam | dadṛśuḥ sarvabhūtāni pāśahastam ivāntakam ||3.28.11||

Translation

Todos os seres viram aquele rākṣasa, postado em seu carro com o arco na mão, como a própria Morte empunhando um laço.

Word by Word

• tam: that (one)/him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ratha-stham: standing on the chariot
• ratha-stham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √sthā)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: 'on the chariot' (ratha + stha 'standing/being')

• dhanuṣ-pāṇim: bow-in-hand
• dhanuṣ-pāṇim: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhanuṣ (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (or उपपद-तत्पुरुष): 'having a bow in hand'

• rākṣasam: the demon
• rākṣasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pary-avasthitam: standing ready/posted
• pary-avasthitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava√sthā (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/क्तवत्-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: परि-; 'stationed/standing ready'

• dadṛśuḥ: saw
• dadṛśuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; 'saw'

• sarva-bhūtāni: all beings
• sarva-bhūtāni: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: 'all beings'

• pāśa-hastam: noose-in-hand
• pāśa-hastam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'having a noose in hand' (qualifying antakam)

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

• antakam: Death (Yama)
• antakam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'Antaka' = Yama/death

Context

Demon Khara positioned on the chariot, bow in hand, appeared to all beings like Yama, god of death holding the noose.

Characters & Entities

• Khara
• Rākṣasa
• Chariot
• Bow
• Antaka (Death/Yama)
• Pāśa (noose)

FAQs

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

Power that terrifies the world is not automatically righteous; Dharma evaluates authority by justice and protection, not by fearsome appearance.

What is the narrative situation?

Khara’s formidable battlefield posture is described with a cosmic comparison to Death bearing the noose.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a virtue but awe-inspiring martial presence—an external might that can be misread as ultimate authority.