Shloka 12

अरण्यकाण्डे द्वात्रिंशः सर्गः

Śūrpaṇakhā’s Report to Rāvaṇa and the Panegyric of His Might

Devanagari script

क्षेप्तारं पर्वतेन्द्राणां सुराणां च प्रमर्दनम्।उच्छेत्तारं च धर्माणां परदाराभिमर्शनम्।।।।

Transliteration

kṣeptāraṃ parvatendrāṇāṃ surāṇāṃ ca pramardanam | ucchettāraṃ ca dharmāṇāṃ paradārābhimarśanam || 3.32.12 ||

Translation

كان قادراً على قذف جبالٍ عظام، وعلى قهر الدِّيفات وإذلالهم؛ قاطعًا لجذور الدَّهَرما، منتهكًا لحرمة زوجات الآخرين.

Word by Word

• kṣeptāram: thrower
• kṣeptāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣeptṛ (प्रातिपदिक; from √kṣip)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agent noun: 'thrower'

• parvata-indrāṇām: of the mountain-lords (great mountains)
• parvata-indrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: parvatānām indrāḥ = parvatendrāḥ (lords of mountains)

• surāṇām: of the gods
• surāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta, conjunction

• pramardanam: crusher/tormentor
• pramardanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramardana (प्रातिपदिक; from √mṛd)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; action/agent noun: 'crusher/tormentor'

• ucchettāram: uprooter
• ucchettāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ucchettṛ (प्रातिपदिक; ud- + √chid)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agent noun: 'uprooter/destroyer'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta, conjunction

• dharmāṇām: of dharmas/laws
• dharmāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• para-dāra-abhimarśanam: violator of others' wives
• para-dāra-abhimarśanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + dāra (प्रातिपदिक) + abhimarśana (प्रातिपदिक; abhi-√mṛś)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: pareṣāṃ dārāṇām abhimarśanaṃ (molesting/violating others' wives)

Context

(He was) one who could lift and throw great mountains, torment even gods, violate dharma at the root, and cast an evil eye on the wives of others.

Characters & Entities

• Mountains (parvata)
• Suras (gods)
• Dharma
• Rāvaṇa (implied subject)

FAQs

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

It directly marks ‘paradāra’ (another’s spouse) as a boundary of dharma and portrays its violation as a hallmark of adharma, regardless of power or prowess.

What is the narrative situation?

The text characterizes Rāvaṇa’s nature and reputation, foreshadowing the ethical transgression of abducting Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A negative exemplar: the absence of restraint and respect for marital dharma, presented as moral failing rather than virtue.