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Shloka 8

दूषणवधः

The Slaying of Dūṣaṇa and the Rout of Khara’s Host

हत्वा चाश्वान्शरैस्तीक्ष्णैरर्धचन्द्रेण सारथेः।।।।शिरो जहार तद्रक्षस्त्रिभिर्विव्याध वक्षसि।

hatvā cāśvān śarais tīkṣṇair ardhacandreṇa sārathēḥ | śiro jahāra tad rakṣas tribhir vivyādha vakṣasi ||

เมื่อทรงสังหารม้าด้วยศรอันแหลมคมแล้ว พระองค์ทรงใช้ศรเสี้ยวจันทร์ตัดศีรษะสารถี และทรงยิงรากษสนั้น (ทูษณะ) ที่อกด้วยศรสามดอก

hatvāhaving killed
hatvā:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
TypeVerb
Roothan (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), धातु: हन् (2P), अर्थ: having killed
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)
aśvānhorses
aśvān:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootaśva (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Accusative plural)
śaraiḥwith arrows
śaraiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootśara (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)
tīkṣṇaiḥsharp
tīkṣṇaiḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
TypeAdjective
Roottīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् ‘śaraiḥ’ (Instrumental plural adjective)
ardhacandreṇawith a crescent(-shaped arrow)
ardhacandreṇa:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootardhacandra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental singular); समास: अर्ध + चन्द्र (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः; ‘half-moon’)
sāratheḥof the charioteer
sāratheḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootsārathi (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive singular)
śiraḥhead
śiraḥ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśiras (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)
jahāracut off / carried away
jahāra:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Roothṛ (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; धातु: हृ (to take away/carry off)
tatthat
tat:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र विशेषणरूपेण ‘rakṣaḥ’ (that)
rakṣaḥthe demon (Dūṣaṇa)
rakṣaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootrakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)
tribhiḥwith three
tribhiḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
TypeAdjective
Roottri (प्रातिपदिक)
Formत्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् ‘śaraiḥ’ (with three)
vivyādhapierced
vivyādha:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvyadh (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; धातु: व्यध् (to pierce)
vakṣasiin the chest
vakṣasi:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootvakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular)

After killing the horses with sharp arrows Rama severed the charioteer's head with an arrow of the shape of the crescent moon and pierced Dusana's chest with a set of three arrows.

R
Rāma
D
Dūṣaṇa
C
Charioteer (sārathi)

FAQs

Dharma in warfare is portrayed as decisive elimination of imminent threat. The narrative emphasizes that violence, when unavoidable, must be effective and directed toward ending harm.

Rāma completes the disabling of Dūṣaṇa’s chariot force—horses and charioteer—then wounds Dūṣaṇa directly with three arrows.

Rāma’s resolve and precision (lakṣya-vedha): swift, accurate actions under combat pressure.