Shloka 8

खरस्य क्रोधः — शूर्पणखावृत्तान्तकथनम्

Khara’s Wrath and Śūrpaṇakhā’s Report

Devanagari script

अद्याहं मार्गणैः प्राणानादास्ये जीवितान्तकैः।सलिले क्षीरमासक्तं निष्पिबन्निव सारसः।।।।

Transliteration

adyāhaṃ mārgaṇaiḥ prāṇān ādāsye jīvitāntakaiḥ | salile kṣīram āsaktaṃ niṣpibann iva sārasaḥ ||

Translation

ในวันนี้ ข้าจะพรากชีวิตของมันด้วยลูกศรปลิดชีพ เปรียบเสมือนหงส์ที่แยกดื่มแต่น้ำนมจากน้ำที่เจือปนอยู่

Word by Word

• अद्य: today, now
• अद्य: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मार्गणैः: with arrows
• मार्गणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• प्राणान्: life-breaths, lives
• प्राणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• आदास्ये: I will take away
• आदास्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+√दा (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: आ

• जीवित-अन्तकैः: life-ending
• जीवित-अन्तकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: जीवितस्य अन्तकाः (ending life); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of arrows)

• सलिले: in water
• सलिले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• क्षीरम्: milk
• क्षीरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आसक्तम्: mixed/attached (to water)
• आसक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आसक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; आ+√सञ्ज् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of milk)

• निष्पिबन्: drinking out
• निष्पिबन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निस्+√पा (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: निस्; उपमानक्रियापद

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय (comparative particle)

• सारसः: a swan/crane (sārasa)
• सारसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पक्षिवाचक

Context

Just as the swan drinks only milk from water (mixed with milk), my arrows will (unerringly) drain the life from the enemy's body right now.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (implicit as speaker)
• sārasa (swan/crane as simile)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is decisive protection: when faced with adharma, a righteous guardian acts swiftly and precisely to neutralize harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma announces immediate, unerring action—his arrows will directly reach the opponent’s life-force, expressed through a well-known simile of discernment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Precision joined with resolve—controlled strength rather than uncontrolled violence.