Shloka 3
खर
शूर्पणखा-संवादः | Khara and Surpanakha: Lament, Reproach, and the Janasthana Crisis
भक्ताश्चैवानुरक्ताश्च हिताश्च मम नित्यशः।हन्यमाना न हन्यन्ते न न कुर्युर्वचो मम।।।।
bhaktāś caivānuraktāś ca hitāś ca mama nityaśaḥ | hanyamānā na hanyante na na kuryur vaco mama ||
Sila’y mga deboto at tapat sa akin, laging may paglingap sa aking kapakanan. Kahit hampasin, hindi sila napapatay, at kailanma’y hindi sumusuway sa aking utos.
They are loyal and faithful to me. They are always my well-wishers. Even when attacked, they cannot be killed. They never fail to carry out my orders.
FAQs
It warns against moha (delusion) and arrogance: believing one’s power to be absolute leads to adharma and downfall. Dharma requires humility and truth-based appraisal of strength.
Khara asserts confidence in his followers—claiming their loyalty and near-invincibility—while the conflict with Rama is being set in motion.
The verse foregrounds loyalty and obedience, but as a cautionary example: loyalty becomes ethically dangerous when used to execute unrighteous orders.