Shloka 16

महोत्पात-लक्षणानि

Omens before Khara’s Assault

Devanagari script

खरस्य च रथस्थस्य नर्दमानस्य धीमतः।।।।प्राकम्पत भुजस्सव्यस्स्वरश्चास्यावसज्जत।

Transliteration

kharasya ca rathasthasya nardamānasya dhīmataḥ |

prākampata bhujaḥ savyaḥ svaraś cāsyāvasajjata || 3.23.16 ||

Translation

Còn Khara—đứng trên chiến xa, gầm rống đầy mưu trí—cánh tay trái của hắn run dữ dội, và tiếng nói nghẹn lại nơi cổ họng.

Word by Word

• खरस्य: of Khara
• खरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• रथस्थस्य: who was on the chariot
• रथस्थस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथस्थ (प्रातिपदिक: रथ + स्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण to 'खरस्य'

• नर्दमानस्य: of (him) roaring/shouting
• नर्दमानस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नर्दमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (present middle participle/शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण to 'खरस्य'

• धीमतः: of the intelligent one
• धीमतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण to 'खरस्य'

• प्राकम्पत: shook violently
• प्राकम्पत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कम्प् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भुजः: arm; shoulder
• भुजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सव्यः: left
• सव्यः: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण to 'भुजः'

• स्वरः: voice; throat
• स्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: also
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• अस्य: his
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अवसज्जत: became stuck; failed; was choked
• अवसज्जत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + सज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

While the intelligent and courageous Khara was seated on the chariot and shouting,his left shoulder shook violently and throat throttled.

Characters & Entities

• Khara
• chariot

FAQs

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

Dharma teaches inner truthfulness: even when the mind boasts, the body can reveal fear and foreknowledge—an invitation to desist from wrongdoing before disaster.

What is the narrative situation?

As Khara advances loudly toward battle, bodily omens strike him—trembling and a failing voice—signaling imminent defeat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and self-correction: the moment calls for acknowledging warning signs and abandoning an unrighteous course.