Shloka 29

खरसेनासङ्ग्रामः

The Battle with Khara’s Host at the Hermitage

Devanagari script

अवशिष्टाश्च ये तत्र विषण्णाश्च निशाचराः।खरमेवाभ्यधावन्त शरणार्थं शरार्दिताः।।।।

Transliteration

avaśiṣṭāś ca ye tatra viṣaṇṇāś ca niśācarāḥ | kharam evābhyadhāvanta śaraṇārthaṃ śarārditāḥ ||

Translation

เหล่ารากษสที่เหลือรอดอยู่ที่นั่น ต่างบาดเจ็บจากลูกศรและสิ้นหวัง วิ่งตรงไปยังพญาขรเพื่อขอความคุ้มครอง

Word by Word

• अवशिष्टाः: remaining
• अवशिष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवशिष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (PPP) अव-√शिष् (to remain)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (locative adverb: there)

• विषण्णाः: dejected
• विषण्णाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषण्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (PPP) वि-√सद्/√षद् (to sink; dejected)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• निशाचराः: demons
• निशाचराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशाचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः ‘निशायां चरन्ति’

• खरम्: Khara
• खरम्: Gati/Karma (कर्म/गन्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; गन्तव्य-रूपेण

• एव: only
• एव: Sambandha (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक-निपातः (restrictive particle: only)

• अभ्यधावन्त: ran towards
• अभ्यधावन्त: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• शरणार्थम्: for refuge
• शरणार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शरण + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक); शरणार्थ (समस्तपद)
• Form: अव्ययीभावः; द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् — ‘शरणं प्राप्तुम्’ (for refuge)

• शरार्दिताः: wounded by arrows
• शरार्दिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शर + अर्दित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक); शरार्दित (समस्तपद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (PPP) √अर्द्; तत्पुरुषः ‘शरैः अर्दिताः’ (afflicted by arrows)

Context

The rest of the demons hit by the arrows ran desperate towards Khara for refuge.

Characters & Entities

• Khara
• niśācarāḥ (rākṣasas)
• Rāma (implied as archer)
• śara (arrows)

FAQs

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

It contrasts true refuge (dharma) with false refuge (adharma): the defeated seek protection in their commander rather than turning from wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Survivors, wounded and shaken, retreat toward Khara to regroup under his protection.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadfastness indirectly—his pressure breaks the enemy’s morale and cohesion.