Shloka 18

खरसेनासङ्ग्रामः

The Battle with Khara’s Host at the Hermitage

Devanagari script

ते शराश्शत्रुसैन्येषु मुक्ता रामेण लीलया।अददू रक्षसां प्राणान्पाशाः कालकृता इव।।।।

Transliteration

te śarāḥ śatrusainyeṣu muktā rāmeṇa līlayā |

ādaduḥ rakṣasāṃ prāṇān pāśāḥ kālakṛtā iva ||

Translation

ศรเหล่านั้นซึ่งพระรามทรงปล่อยเข้าสู่กองทัพศัตรูด้วยความง่ายดายดุจเล่น กลับพรากลมหายใจของเหล่ายักษ์ ราวบ่วงที่พญายมสร้างไว้

Word by Word

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural (sarvanāma)

• शराः: arrows
• शराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शत्रु-सैन्येषु: in the enemy forces
• शत्रु-सैन्येषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक) + sainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Plural; Tatpuruṣa: ‘in enemy-armies’

• मुक्ताः: released
• मुक्ताः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muc (धातु)
• Form: Kta PPP; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifying ‘śarāḥ’

• रामेण: by Rama
• रामेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• लीलया: easily/playfully
• लीलया: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular; adverbial

• आददुः: took away
• आददुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + dā (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Plural

• रक्षसाम्: of the demons
• रक्षसाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th), Plural

• प्राणान्: lives/breaths
• प्राणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• पाशाः: nooses
• पाशाः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; apposition to ‘śarāḥ’

• काल-कृताः: made by Death
• काल-कृताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त from kṛ धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; Tatpuruṣa: ‘made by Kāla (Death)’

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya

Context

The arrows like the noose of the god of death released by Rama on the enemy army easily destroyed the lives of the demons.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rakṣasas

FAQs

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

Adharma brings self-destruction: the verse frames Rama’s action as the instrument by which inevitable moral consequence (Kāla) reaches wrongdoers.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama’s volleys strike the demon host effectively, causing widespread death in the enemy ranks.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective justice—Rama’s force is directed to end predatory violence.