Shloka 16

विंशः सर्गः (Sarga 20): शूर्पणखाप्रेरितराक्षसवधः

The Slaying of the Fourteen Demons Sent by Śūrpaṇakhā

Devanagari script

तानि शूलानि काकुत्स्थस्समस्तानि चतुर्दश।तावद्भिरेव चिच्छेद शरैः काञ्चनभूषणैः।।।।

Transliteration

tāni śūlāni kākutsthaḥ samastāni caturdaśa | tāvadbhir eva ciccheda śaraiḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ ||

Translation

Kākuṭstha zerschnitt all jene vierzehn Speere mit ebenso vielen Pfeilen, die mit Gold geschmückt waren.

Word by Word

• tāni: those
• tāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन)

• śūlāni: spears
• śūlāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन)

• kākutsthaḥ: Kākutstha (Rama)
• kākutsthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• samastāni: all (together)
• samastāni: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying śūlāni

• caturdaśa: fourteen
• caturdaśa: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturdaśan (चतुर्दशन् संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral used adjectivally; Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural sense; agrees with śūlāni

• tāvadbhiḥ: by an equal number (of them)
• tāvadbhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāvat (तावत् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया) Plural (बहुवचन); ‘by so many/as many’ (i.e., equal number)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• ciccheda: cut (to pieces)
• ciccheda: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: chid (छिद् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्; perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन)

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया) Plural (बहुवचन)

• kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ: adorned with gold
• kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāñcana-bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; components: kāñcana + bhūṣaṇa)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया) Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying śaraiḥ; tatpuruṣa ‘gold-ornamented’

Context

All the fourteen spears hurled turned into splinters by the same number of golden arrows released by Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Rama (Kākuṭstha)
• śūla (spears)
• śara (arrows)

FAQs

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

Dharma in action appears as proportionate defense: Rama neutralizes the incoming threat precisely, without uncontrolled excess.

What is the narrative situation?

The demons’ spears are met mid-attack; Rama counters by severing each spear with a corresponding arrow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mastery and restraint—Rama’s precision reflects disciplined power under moral control.