Shloka 17

अरण्यकाण्डे एकोनत्रिंशः सर्गः

Sarga 29: Rama’s Admonition to Khara and the Shattering of the Mace

Devanagari script

विक्रान्ता बलवन्तो वा ये भवन्ति नरर्षभाः।कथयन्ति न ते किञ्चित्तेजसा स्वेन गर्विताः।।।।

Transliteration

vikrāntā balavanto vā ye bhavanti nararṣabhāḥ | kathayanti na te kiñcit tejasā svena garvitāḥ ||

Translation

凡真正英勇强健、为人中雄者，恃其自身威力而自持，不会为炫耀而多言片语。

Word by Word

• vikrāntāḥ: valiant, having advanced
• vikrāntāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of nararṣabhāḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikrānta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √kram धातु)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Bahuvacana (Plural); kta-participle used adjectivally

• balavantaḥ: strong
• balavantaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of nararṣabhāḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balavant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Bahuvacana; possessive adjective (मतुप्-प्रत्ययार्थ)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya (option/‘or’)

• ye: who, those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता) of bhavanti
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Bahuvacana; relative pronoun

• bhavanti: are, become
• bhavanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana (Plural), Parasmaipada

• nararṣabhāḥ: best of men
• nararṣabhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to ye)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Bahuvacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (‘of men’ + ‘bull’) meaning ‘best among men’

• kathayanti: speak, tell
• kathayanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana, Parasmaipada

• na: not
• na: Kriyā-niṣedha (क्रिया-निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (negation particle)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता) of kathayanti
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Bahuvacana; demonstrative pronoun

• kiñcit: anything, even a little
• kiñcit: Karma (कर्म) of kathayanti
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiñcit (सर्वनाम/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: Pramāṇa-avyaya used as indeclinable ‘anything/at all’; (from kim + cit)

• tejasā: by valor, by splendor
• tejasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napūṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental, 3rd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• svena: by their own
• svena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of tejasā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napūṃsakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3rd), Ekavacana; reflexive possessive adjective qualifying tejasā

• garvitāḥ: proud
• garvitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of te/nararṣabhāḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: garvita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √garv धातु)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Bahuvacana; kta-participle used adjectivally

Context

The valiant, strong and the best of men do not at all speak proudly of themselves and their valour.

Characters & Entities

• Khara
• Rama
• tejas (valor)

FAQs

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

Dharma values restraint in speech: genuine strength is shown through conduct, not self-advertisement.

What is the narrative situation?

Khara continues his verbal counterattack, claiming that real heroes do not boast.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Measured speech and modesty—presented as marks of true heroism.