Shloka 12

खररामयुद्धम् — The Battle of Khara and Rama

Aranya Kanda, Sarga 28

Devanagari script

हन्तारं सर्वसैन्यस्य पौरुषे पर्यवस्थितम्।परिश्रान्तं महासत्वं मेने रामं खरस्तदा।।।।

Transliteration

hantāraṃ sarvasainyasya pauruṣe paryavasthitam | pariśrāntaṃ mahāsattvaṃ mene rāmaṃ kharas tadā ||3.28.12||

Translation

于是迦罗以为：罗摩心志雄伟、勇武坚定，且已歼灭其全军，如今必已疲惫。

Word by Word

• hantāram: slayer
• hantāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक (तृन्-प्रत्यय: हन्तृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'slayer/destroyer'

• sarva-sainyasya: of the entire army
• sarva-sainyasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + sainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'of the whole army'

• pauruṣe: in valour
• pauruṣe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pauruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; 'in valour/manliness'

• pary-avasthitam: steadfast
• pary-avasthitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava√sthā (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: परि-; 'standing firm/steadfast'

• pari-śrāntam: exhausted
• pari-śrāntam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari√śram (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'exhausted'

• mahā-sattvam: great hero
• mahā-sattvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'great/strong being (hero)'

• mene: thought/considered
• mene: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'thought/considered'

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kharaḥ: Khara
• kharaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक adverb): 'then/at that time'

Context

Khara thought valiant Rama who had destroyed his whole army might be exhausted by now.

Characters & Entities

• Khara
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma includes clear judgment (viveka): the verse shows how ego and desperation lead to misreading a righteous opponent’s steadiness.

What is the narrative situation?

Khara, after losses, convinces himself that Rāma’s exertions have weakened him, encouraging Khara to press the attack.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadfast valor (pauruṣa) and great inner strength (mahāsattva), implied even through the enemy’s assessment.