Shloka 17

खररामयुद्धम् — The Battle of Khara and Rama

Aranya Kanda, Sarga 28

Devanagari script

ततस्तत्प्रहतं बाणैः खरमुक्तैस्सुपर्वभिः।पपात कवचं भूमौ रामस्यादित्यवर्चसः।।।।

Transliteration

tatas tat prahataṃ bāṇaiḥ khara-muktaiḥ suparvabhiḥ |

papāta kavacaṃ bhūmau rāmasyāditya-varcasaḥ ||

Translation

ครั้นแล้ว เกราะของพระรามผู้รุ่งเรืองดุจพระอาทิตย์ ถูกศรที่ประกอบแน่นหนาซึ่งขระยิงมา กระทบจนหล่นลงสู่พื้นดิน

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): 'then/thereafter'

• tat: that (armour)
• tat: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here referring to 'that (armour)'

• prahatam: struck
• prahatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra√han (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'struck' (qualifying tat/kavacam)

• bāṇaiḥ: by arrows
• bāṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• khara-muktaiḥ: shot by Khara
• khara-muktaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक) + mukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √muc)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'released by Khara' (qualifying bāṇaiḥ)

• su-parvabhiḥ: well-jointed
• su-parvabhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + parvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: 'with good joints/knots' (well-jointed)

• papāta: fell
• papāta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pat (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'fell'

• kavacam: armour
• kavacam: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavaca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition to tat

• bhūmau: on the ground
• bhūmau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; 'on the ground'

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• āditya-varcasaḥ: sun-radiant
• āditya-varcasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āditya (प्रातिपदिक) + varcas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'of (one) having sun-like radiance' (qualifying rāmasya)

Context

Khara then attacked Rama of unequal strength in fight, with a thousand darts and roared loudly.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Khara
• armour (kavaca)
• Sun (Āditya)

FAQs

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

Dharma is tested under vulnerability: when protection falls away, the righteous must rely on inner steadiness and commitment to just action rather than fear.

What is the narrative situation?

Khara’s arrows dislodge/bring down Rama’s armour, increasing the danger to Rama in the duel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s luminous presence (tejas) even under attack—his dignity and spiritual-moral radiance are underscored by the sun comparison.