Shloka 22

खरवधः — The Slaying of Khara

Janasthana Battle Climax

Devanagari script

विह्वलस्सकृतो बाणैः खरो रामेण संयुगे।मत्तो रुधिरगन्धेन तमेवाभ्यद्रवद्द्रुतम्।।।।

Transliteration

vihvalaḥ sakṛto bāṇaiḥ kharo rāmeṇa saṃyuge | matto rudhiragandhena tam evābhyadravad drutam ||

Translation

विह्वलः सकृतो बाणैः खरो रामेण संयुगे। मत्तो रुधिरगन्धेन तमेवाभ्यद्रवद्द्रुतम्॥

Word by Word

• vihvalaḥ: stunned, bewildered
• vihvalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vihvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying 'kharaḥ'

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

• kṛtaḥ: made, rendered
• kṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; with implied 'abhavat' = 'was made/became'

• bāṇaiḥ: by/with arrows
• bāṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• kharaḥ: Khara
• kharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• rāmeṇa: by Rama
• rāmeṇa: Kartṛ-karaṇa/Agent-instrument (कर्ता-करण; agent expressed in instr.)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• saṃyuge: in combat
• saṃyuge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃyuga (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• mattaḥ: maddened, intoxicated
• mattaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying 'kharaḥ/saḥ'

• rudhiragandhena: by the smell of blood
• rudhiragandhena: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudhira + gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: rudhirasya gandhaḥ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• tam: him (Rama)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• eva: indeed, only
• eva: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चय/अवधारण)

• abhyadravat: charged at, ran towards
• abhyadravat: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√dru (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• drutam: quickly
• drutam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: druta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया)

Context

Completely struck by Rama's arrows, Khara, intoxicated with the smell of blood, ran speedily charging towards Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Khara
• Rama
• arrows (bāṇāḥ)

FAQs

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

The verse depicts how adharma intensifies through obsession—Khara’s blood-lust overrides prudence. Ramayana ethics treats such intoxication with violence as a mark of moral and mental downfall.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite being wounded, Khara re-engages, charging directly at Rama.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s steadiness is implied as he faces repeated, reckless assaults.