Shloka 8

युद्धकाण्डे पञ्चनवतितमः सर्गः

Sarga 95: Lamentation in Laṅkā and the Causal Chain of Enmity

Devanagari script

कथंसर्वगुणैर्हीनागुणवन्तंमहौजसम् ।सुमुखंदुर्मुखीरामंकामयामासराक्षसी ।।।।

Transliteration

kathaṃ sarvaguṇair hīnā guṇavantaṃ mahaujasam | sumukhaṃ durmukhī rāmaṃ kāmayāmāsa rākṣasī ||

Translation

Wie wagte es jene Rākṣasī — aller Tugenden bar und von hässlichem Antlitz — Rāma zu begehren, der reich an Vorzügen, von strahlender Kraft und von schönem Gesicht war?

Word by Word

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: प्रकार (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय

• सर्वगुणैः: with all virtues
• सर्वगुणैः: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (all virtues)

• हीना: devoid (of)
• हीना: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of राक्षसी/दुर्मुखी)

• गुणवन्तम्: virtuous
• गुणवन्तम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुणवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (of रामम्)

• महौजसम्: of great vigor
• महौजसम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्/महा + ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (great in energy)

• सुमुखम्: handsome-faced
• सुमुखम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (handsome-faced); विशेषण

• दुर्मुखी: ugly-faced
• दुर्मुखी: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + मुखिन्/मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (evil-faced); विशेषण (of राक्षसी)

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कामयामास: desired, fell in love with
• कामयामास: क्रिया (मुख्य क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कम्/कामय् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; desiderative/causative stem kāmay- (to desire)

• राक्षसी: the demoness
• राक्षसी: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Context

"That woman of ugly appearance deserves to be killed. How is it that she was stung with love with that delicate Rama, a well wisher of all beings?"

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Śūrpaṇakhā (implied)
• Rākṣasī

FAQs

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

The verse frames desire as needing ethical governance. Dharma requires aligning attraction and action with virtue, propriety, and respect—otherwise it becomes a cause of ruin.

What is the narrative situation?

The women continue their retrospective critique, stressing the incongruity between Śūrpaṇakhā’s conduct and Rāma’s virtues.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s guṇa (virtue) and mahā-ojas (moral and heroic power), making him an emblem of dharmic excellence.