Ramayana — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 18

शूर्पणखाविरूपणम्

The Disfigurement of Śūrpaṇakhā

Devanagari script

तां मृत्युपाशप्रतिमामापतन्तीं महाबलः।निगृह्य रामः कुपित स्ततो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

tāṃ mṛtyupāśapratimām āpatantīṃ mahābalaḥ |

nigṛhya rāmaḥ kupitas tato lakṣmaṇam abravīt ||

Translation

فأمسكها راما العظيمُ البأس، وهو غضبان، إذ اندفعت كأنها حبلُ الموت نفسه، ثم خاطب لكشمانا.

Word by Word

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana; pronoun

• mṛtyupāśapratimām: like death’s noose
• mṛtyupāśapratimām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛtyupāśapratimā (प्रातिपदिक) = mṛtyu + pāśa + pratimā
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana; adjective to tām: 'like the noose of death'

• āpatantīm: rushing/falling upon
• āpatantīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āpat (आपत् धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya present active participle (वर्तमानकाले शतृ), Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; 'falling/charging towards'

• mahābalaḥ: the mighty one
• mahābalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahābala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom/1st), Ekavacana; used substantively for Rāma; karmadhāraya: 'mahān balaṃ yasya' (as adjective)

• nigṛhya: having restrained
• nigṛhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (ग्रह् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-arthī), with upasarga ni-; 'having restrained/seized'

• rāmaḥ: Rāma
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (राम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom/1st), Ekavacana

• kupitaḥ: enraged
• kupitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kupita (कुपित प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective to rāmaḥ

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of sequence (ततः = thereafter)

• lakṣmaṇam: to Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇam: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (लक्ष्मण प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra (Imperfect), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; 'said'

Context

Mighty Rama in a rage restrained her who was falling upon Sita like the noose of death, and said to Lakshmana:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Sītā (implied by context)

FAQs

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

Protection of the innocent is a primary duty: Rāma restrains imminent violence and acts first to prevent harm, showing that force is subordinate to righteous protection.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā lunges toward Sītā in a murderous rage; Rāma stops her and turns to instruct Lakṣmaṇa on what to do next.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s guardianship and moral control: even while angry, he prioritizes immediate protection and then gives measured direction.