Shloka 1

खररामयुद्धम् — The Battle of Khara and Rama

Aranya Kanda, Sarga 28

Devanagari script

निहतं दूषणं दृष्ट्वा रणे त्रिशिरसा सह।खरस्याप्यभवत्त्रासो दृष्ट्वा रामस्य विक्रमम्।।।।

Transliteration

nihataṃ dūṣaṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā raṇe triśirasā saha | kharasyāpy abhavat trāso dṛṣṭvā rāmasya vikramam ||3.28.1||

Translation

ครั้นเห็นทูษณะถูกสังหารในสนามรบ พร้อมทั้งตรีศิรัสด้วย เมื่อประจักษ์พระเดชานุภาพของพระรามแล้ว แม้คระก็ยังบังเกิดความหวาดหวั่น

Word by Word

• निहतम्: slain
• निहतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nihata (नि+हन् धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying दूषणम्

• दूषणम्: Dushana
• दूषणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having seen’

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• त्रिशिरसा: with Trishiras
• त्रिशिरसा: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: triśiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; preposition-like particle ‘with’ (सह-योगे)

• खरस्य: of Khara / to Khara
• खरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात) ‘also/even’

• अभवत्: arose/occurred
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada

• त्रासः: fear
• त्रासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having seen’

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• विक्रमम्: prowess/valor
• विक्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Context

Khara was overtaken by fear at the prowess of Rama, when he saw Dusana and Trisira killed.

Characters & Entities

• Dūṣaṇa
• Triśiras
• Khara
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Adharma breeds instability: when violence is pursued unjustly, its agents are shaken by the rightful resistance they provoke; fear follows wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāma has killed Dūṣaṇa and Triśiras, Khara realizes the magnitude of Rāma’s strength.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s heroic efficacy in upholding protection (rakṣaṇa) is emphasized through the enemy’s reaction.