Shloka 3.20.24

विंशः सर्गः (Sarga 20): शूर्पणखाप्रेरितराक्षसवधः — The Slaying of the Fourteen Demons Sent by Śūrpaṇakhā

Devanagari script

भ्रातुस्समीपे शोकार्ता ससर्ज निनदं मुहुः।।।।सस्वरं मुमुचे बाष्पं विषण्णवदना तदा।

Transliteration

tān dṛṣṭvā patitān bhūmau rākṣasī krodhamūrchitā |

paritrastā punas tatra vyasṛjad bhairavasvanān ||

Translation

Seeing them fallen on the ground, the demoness—overcome by rage and shaken with fear—let out terrifying cries there again.

Context

Then desperately screaming and shedding tears with a sad face beside her brother, she roared again and again.

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• rākṣasāḥ (slain demons)
• bhūmi (ground)

FAQs

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

Unchecked passions (anger, fear) lead to further escalation; dharma requires mastery over impulses, which the rākṣasī lacks here.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā sees her party defeated and responds with a mix of rage and panic, crying out loudly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrastive portrayal, the virtue implied is self-control (dama) and steadiness—qualities absent in the demoness’s reaction.