Shloka 4

खररामयुद्धम् — The Battle of Khara and Rama

Aranya Kanda, Sarga 28

Devanagari script

विकृष्य बलवच्चापं नाराचान्रक्तभोजनान्।खरश्चिक्षेप रामाय क्रुद्धानाशीविषानिव।।।।

Transliteration

vikṛṣya balavac cāpaṃ nārācān raktabhojanān |

kharaś cikṣepa rāmāya kruddhān āśīviṣān iva ||

Translation

คระชักคันศรอันทรงพลังจนสุด แล้วด้วยความพิโรธก็ยิงศรแหลมคมใส่พระราม—กระหายโลหิต ดุจอสรพิษที่เดือดดาล

Word by Word

• ज्याम्: bowstring
• ज्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• विधून्वन्: shaking/twang-ing
• विधून्वन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√dhū (वि+धू धातु; शतृ-कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying खरः

• सुबहुशः: in many ways
• सुबहुशः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: subahuśas (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb; ‘in many ways/very much’

• शिक्षया: with skill/training
• शिक्षया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• अस्त्राणि: weapons
• अस्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• दर्शयन्: displaying
• दर्शयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश् धातु; णिच् causative + शतृ)
• Form: Causative present active participle (णिच् + शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying खरः

• चचार: moved/roamed
• चचार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (चर् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

• मार्गान्: paths/directions
• मार्गान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• रथगतः: mounted on the chariot
• रथगतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratha-gata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: रथ (chariot) + गत (gone/being in); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying खरः

• खरः: Khara
• खरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Context

Then the gods, along with great sages came down in aerial chariots and assembled there. Delighted, they adored Rama, the great warrior, with folded hands for the work done.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkiya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē aṣṭāviṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the twentyeigth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Khara
• Rama
• bow
• nārāca arrows

FAQs

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

The verse frames adharma as aggressive, uncontrolled violence driven by anger; it implicitly contrasts with the disciplined, duty-bound combat expected of a righteous warrior.

What is the narrative situation?

In the Aranya battle, Khara initiates a fierce arrow-assault on Rama, drawing his bow fully and launching deadly missiles.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (implicitly), Rama’s steadiness and readiness to meet violence with measured martial competence—kṣātra-tejas under restraint.