Shloka 27

खरवधः — The Slaying of Khara

Janasthana Battle Climax

Devanagari script

स पपात खरो भूमौ दह्यमानश्शरानग्निना।रुद्रेणेव विनिर्दग्धश्वेतारण्ये यथान्तकः।।।।

Transliteration

sa papāta kharo bhūmau dahyamānaś śarānagninā | rudreṇeva vinirdagdhaḥ śvetāraṇye yathāntakaḥ ||

Translation

คระล้มลงสู่พื้นดิน ถูกเผาไหม้ด้วยไฟแห่งศร—ดุจอันตกะ (ยม) ถูกรุทระแผดเผาในศเวตารัณยะฉะนั้น

Word by Word

• saḥ: he (Khara)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• papāta: fell
• papāta: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pat (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

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

• bhūmau: on the ground
• bhūmau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative, Singular

• dahyamānaḥ: being burned
• dahyamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dah (धातु) + śānac (शानच्)
• Form: Present passive participle (वर्तमान-कृदन्त, शानच्), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying 'kharaḥ'

• śarānagninā: by the arrow-fire
• śarānagninā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: śarāṇām agniḥ (fire of arrows); Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• rudreṇa: by Rudra
• rudreṇa: Upamāna-kartṛ (उपमान-कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• iva: as if, like
• iva: Upamā-marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle

• vinirdagdhaḥ: completely burnt
• vinirdagdhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-nir-√dah (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying 'kharaḥ'

• śvetāraṇye: in Śvetāraṇya
• śvetāraṇye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śveta + araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya/proper name: śvetaṃ araṇyam; Neuter, Locative, Singular

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Upamā-marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable of comparison (उपमा/प्रकार)

• antakaḥ: Antaka (Death/Yama)
• antakaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; (Yama/Death) as upamāna

Context

Just as Yama was burnt by Rudra's fire(from his eyes) in Swetaranya, Khara collapsed on the ground consumed by the fire of Rama's arrow.

Characters & Entities

• Khara
• Rudra
• Antaka (Yama)

FAQs

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

Adharma is self-destructive: cruelty and oppression culminate in downfall. The verse frames Khara’s end as a moral consequence, not mere violence.

What is the narrative situation?

After being struck by Rāma’s arrow, Khara falls, described as burning as though consumed by a divine fire.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dharma-rakṣaṇa (protection of righteousness): Rāma’s role as upholder of order is highlighted by the cosmic comparison.