Shloka 4

विंशः सर्गः (Sarga 20): शूर्पणखाप्रेरितराक्षसवधः

The Slaying of the Fourteen Demons Sent by Śūrpaṇakhā

Devanagari script

मुहूर्तं भव सौमित्रे सीतायाः प्रत्यनन्तरः।इमानस्या वधिष्यामि पदवीमागतानिह।।।।

Transliteration

muhūrtaṃ bhava saumitre sītāyāḥ pratyanantaraḥ |

imān asyā vadhiṣyāmi padavīm āgatān iha ||

Translation

„O Saumitra, bleib einen Augenblick dicht bei Sītā, ohne von ihr zu weichen; ich werde diese töten, die hierher auf ihrer Spur gekommen sind.“

Word by Word

• muhūrtam: for a moment
• muhūrtam: Kāla-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कालपरिमाण

• bhava: be
• bhava: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• saumitre: O Saumitra (Lakṣmaṇa)
• saumitre: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• sītāyāḥ: of Sītā
• sītāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• pratyanantaraḥ: close at hand (as her guard)
• pratyanantaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prati-anantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष; ‘standing close behind/next to’ (sītāyāḥ उपपदसम्बन्ध)

• imān: these
• imān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• asyāḥ: of her
• asyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• vadhiṣyāmi: I will kill
• vadhiṣyāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vadh (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• padavīm: path/track
• padavīm: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/goal-path)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āgatān: who have come
• āgatān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-gam (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘imān’ विशेषण

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (here)

Context

Seeing the demons fallen on the ground, the demoness wild with anger and fear roared.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitra)
• Sītā
• rākṣasāḥ (implied: 'these')

FAQs

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

Protecting the vulnerable is primary dharma: Rāma assigns Lakṣmaṇa the immediate duty of guarding Sītā, while he confronts the threat—an ordered, non-chaotic response to violence.

What is the narrative situation?

Facing an imminent attack, Rāma divides responsibilities: Lakṣmaṇa must stay with Sītā; Rāma will engage the assailants.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s strategic responsibility and restraint; Lakṣmaṇa’s obedience and protective vigilance.