Shloka 8

खररामयुद्धम् — The Battle of Khara and Rama

Aranya Kanda, Sarga 28

Devanagari script

तद्बभूव शितैर्बाणैः खररामविसर्जितैः।पर्याकाशमनाकाशं सर्वतश्शरसङ्कुलम्।।।।

Transliteration

tad babhūva śitair bāṇaiḥ khara-rāma-visarjitaiḥ |

paryākāśam anākāśaṃ sarvataḥ śara-saṅkulam ||

Translation

ततः खररामविसृष्टैः शितैर्बाणैः पर्याकाशं सर्वतः शरसङ्कुलं जातम्, आकाशमिवानाकाशं बभूव।

Word by Word

• शरजालावृतः: covered by a net of arrows
• शरजालावृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śara-jāla-āvṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: शर (arrow) + जाल (net) + आवृत (आ+वृ धातोः क्त); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying सूर्यः

• सूर्यः: the sun
• सूर्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb of time

• स्म: indeed/then (past marker)
• स्म: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle used with past narration/emphasis

• प्रकाशते: was visible/shone
• प्रकाशते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√kāś (प्र+काश् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada; ‘shines/is visible’

• अन्योन्यवधसंरम्भात्: from the mutual killing-fury
• अन्योन्यवधसंरम्भात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anyonya-vadha-saṅrambha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: अन्योन्य (mutual) + वध (killing) + संरम्भ (fury/impetuosity); Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; cause

• उभयोः: of both (of them)
• उभयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ubhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• संप्रयुध्यतोः: of the two fighting
• संप्रयुध्यतोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃpra√yudh (सम्+प्र+युध् धातु; शतृ/शानच् कृदन्त)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ/शानच्), Genitive, Dual; qualifying उभयोः; ‘of the two who were fighting’

Context

He rained sparkling arrows which were irresistible. He filled the sky with arrows just as the rain-god fills it with rain without leaving any space.

Characters & Entities

• Khara
• Rama
• arrows
• sky

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the gravity of armed conflict: when adharma escalates into war, consequences engulf all—hence the Ramayana’s broader insistence on restraint and righteous causes.

What is the narrative situation?

Both warriors exchange such a volume of arrows that the sky itself seems to vanish behind them.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance and unwavering engagement in duty under extreme conditions—especially on Rama’s side as a protector.