Shloka 17

विंशः सर्गः (Sarga 20): शूर्पणखाप्रेरितराक्षसवधः

The Slaying of the Fourteen Demons Sent by Śūrpaṇakhā

Devanagari script

ततः पश्चान्महातेजा नाराचान्सूर्यसन्निभान्।जग्राह परमक्रुद्धश्चतुर्दश शिलाशितान्।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ paścān mahātejā nārācān sūryasannibhān | jagrāha paramakruddhaś caturdaśa śilāśitān ||

Translation

Daraufhin nahm der Strahlende von großer Glut, nun von heftigem Zorn erfasst, vierzehn Nārāca-Pfeile, steingeschärft und sonnenhell lodernd.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), indeclinable

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), indeclinable

• mahātejāḥ: the great-splendored one
• mahātejāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-tejas (प्रातिपदिक; components: mahā + tejas)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); adjective used substantively for Rama; karmadhāraya ‘great in splendor’

• nārācān: iron arrows
• nārācān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन)

• sūryasannibhān: like the sun
• sūryasannibhān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūrya-sannibha (प्रातिपदिक; components: sūrya + sannibha)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying nārācān; tatpuruṣa ‘sun-like’

• jagrāha: took up
• jagrāha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (ग्रह् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्; perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन)

• paramakruddhaḥ: extremely enraged
• paramakruddhaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama-kruddha (प्रातिपदिक; components: parama + kruddha)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying mahātejāḥ

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

• śilāśitān: stone-sharpened
• śilāśitān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śilā-āśita (प्रातिपदिक; components: śilā + āśita)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying nārācān; tatpuruṣa ‘whetted on stone’

Context

Then the effulgent Rama, mighty angry, took fourteen arrows sharpened by stones and glowing like the Sun.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• nārāca arrows

FAQs

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

The verse shows 'righteous anger' directed toward stopping harm; dharma permits strong action when it is aimed at protecting order and ending violent wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Following the interception of spears, Rama prepares a stronger counterattack by selecting fourteen powerful arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Determination and readiness: Rama’s controlled escalation matches the threat, indicating purposeful—not impulsive—force.