खर-शूर्पणखा-संवादः | Khara and Surpanakha: Lament, Reproach, and the Janasthana Crisis
अरण्यकाण्ड
Sarga 21 presents a tightly dialogic sequence in Janasthāna after Śūrpaṇakhā’s humiliation and the rapid defeat of rākṣasa detachments. Khara first observes her fallen state and speaks with controlled clarity, questioning why she laments despite his protection and reminding her of the loyalty and presumed invulnerability of his commissioned warriors. Śūrpaṇakhā, disfigured (ears and nose cut) and blood-soaked, reports that fourteen rākṣasas sent to kill Rāma (with Lakṣmaṇa) were slain swiftly by sharp arrows, producing fear and strategic alarm. Her speech intensifies into a plea for refuge, employing oceanic metaphors of sorrow and terror, and then shifts to provocation: she demands Khara kill the ‘rākṣasa-thorn’ dwelling in Daṇḍakāraṇya, threatening self-destruction if he refuses. The chapter also contains harsh counter-judgments that frame Khara as lacking true valor if he cannot kill two humans, and it ends with Śūrpaṇakhā’s repeated lamentation and physical expression of grief (beating her chest). Thematically, the sarga maps how wounded pride and factional loyalty convert personal injury into collective militarization.
Verse 3.21.1
स पुनः पतितां दृष्ट्वा क्रोधाच्छूर्पणखां खरः।उवाच व्यक्तया वाचा तामनर्थार्थमागताम्।।।।
Seeing Śūrpaṇakhā fallen again, Khara, angered, spoke to her in clear words, for she had come bringing calamity upon herself.
Verse 3.21.2
मया त्विदानीं शूरास्ते राक्षसा रुधिराशनाः।त्वत्प्रियार्थं विनिर्दिष्टाः किमर्थं रुद्यते पुनः।।।।
Just now, for your pleasure, I commanded those heroic Rakshasas who feed on blood. Why then do you weep again?
Verse 3.21.3
भक्ताश्चैवानुरक्ताश्च हिताश्च मम नित्यशः।हन्यमाना न हन्यन्ते न न कुर्युर्वचो मम।।।।
They are devoted to me, attached to me, and ever my well-wishers. Even when struck, they are not slain, and they never fail to carry out my command.
Verse 3.21.4
किमेतच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि कारणं यत्कृते पुनः।हा नाथेति विनर्दन्ती सर्पवल्लुठसि क्षितौ।।।।
I wish to hear the reason for this: why, again and again, crying “Ah, my lord!”, do you wail and writhe upon the ground like a serpent?
Verse 3.21.5
अनाथवद्विलपसि नाथे तु मयि संस्थिते।उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ माभैषीर्वैक्लव्यं त्यज्यतामिह।।।।
Why do you weep like one without support, when I stand here as your protector? Rise, rise—do not fear; cast off this helplessness now.
Verse 3.21.6
इत्येवमुक्ता दुर्धर्षा खरेण परिसान्त्विता।विमृज्य नयने सास्रे खरं भ्रातरमब्रवीत्।।।।
Thus addressed and comforted by Khara, the fierce and unassailable, Śūrpaṇakhā wiped her tear-filled eyes and spoke to her brother Khara.
Verse 3.21.7
अस्मीदानीमहं प्राप्ता हृतश्रवणनासिका।शोणितौघपरिक्लिन्ना त्वया च परिसान्त्विता।।।।
Now I have arrived, my ears and nose severed, drenched in a flood of blood, yet I was comforted by you.
Verse 3.21.8
प्रेषिताश्च त्वया वीर राक्षसास्ते चतुर्दश।निहन्तुं राघवं क्रोधान्मत्प्रियार्थं सलक्षणम्।।।।
O Hero, in your anger you sent those fourteen Rakshasas to slay Raghava and Lakshmana for my sake.
Verse 3.21.9
ते तु रामेण सामर्षाः शूलपट्टसपाणयः।समरे निहतास्सर्वे सायकैर्मर्मभेदिभिः।।।।
But all those furious ones, wielding spears and axes, were slain in battle by Rama with arrows that pierced their vital organs.
Verse 3.21.10
तान्दृष्ट्वा पतितान्भूमौ क्षणेनैव महाबलान्।रामस्य च महत्कर्म महांस्त्रासोऽभवन्मम।।।।
When I saw those mighty ones fallen to the ground in a mere moment through Rama’s formidable deed, great fear seized me.
Verse 3.21.11
अहमस्मि समुद्विग्ना विषण्णा च निशाचर।शरणं त्वां पुनः प्राप्ता सर्वतोभयदर्शिनी।।।।
O night-ranger, I am shaken and despondent; seeing fear on every side, I have come again to you for refuge.
Verse 3.21.12
विषादनक्राध्युषिते परित्रासोर्मिमालिनि।किं मां न त्रायसे मग्नां विपुले शोकसागरे।।।।
I am sunk in a vast ocean of sorrow, haunted by the crocodiles of despair and garlanded with waves of terror; why do you not save me?
Verse 3.21.13
एते च निहता भूमौ रामेण निशितैः शरैः।येऽपि मे पदवीं प्राप्ता राक्षसाः पिशिताशनाः।।।।
Those flesh-eating demons too—who came along my path—have been slain by Rama with sharp arrows and lie on the ground.
Verse 3.21.14
मयि ते यद्यनुक्रोशो यदि रक्षस्सु तेषु च।रामेण यदि ते शक्तिस्तेजो वास्ति निशाचर।।।दण्डकारण्यनिलयं जहि राक्षसकण्टकम्।
O night-ranger, if you have compassion for me—or for those demons—and if you possess power and splendor equal to Rama’s, then kill that thorn to the rakshasas, who dwells in the Dandaka forest.
Verse 3.21.15
यदि रामं ममामित्रं न त्वमद्यवधिष्यसि।।।।तवैव चाग्रतः प्राणांस्त्यक्षामि निरपत्रप।
If you do not kill Rama—my enemy—today, then, shameless one, I will give up my life right before you.
Verse 3.21.16
बुद्ध्याहमनुपश्यामि न त्वं रामस्य संयुगे।।।।स्थातुं प्रतिमुखे शक्तस्सबलश्च महात्मनः।
By my own discernment I foresee this: even with your forces, you do not have the strength to stand face to face with the great-souled Rama in battle.
Verse 3.21.17
शूरमानी न शूरस्त्वं मिथ्यारोपितविक्रमः।।।।मानुषौ यो न शक्नोषि हन्तुं तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।
You boast of being a hero, yet you are no hero—your ‘valor’ is only falsely claimed—since you cannot even kill those two humans, Rama and Lakshmana.
Verse 3.21.18
रामेण यदि ते शक्तिस्तेजो वास्ति निशाचर।।।।दण्डकारण्यनिलयं जहि तं कुलपांसन।
O night-roamer, disgrace to your lineage, if you possess strength or splendor against Rama, then slay him who dwells in the Dandaka forest.
Verse 3.21.19
निस्सत्वस्याल्प वीर्यस्य वासस्ते कीदृशस्त्विह।।।।अपयाहि जनस्थानातत्वरितस्सहबान्धवः।
What place is there for you here, devoid of essence and lacking valor? Depart from Janasthana at once, along with your kinsmen.
Verse 3.21.20
रामतेजोभिभूतो हि त्वं क्षिप्रं विनशिष्यसि।।।स हि तेजस्समायुक्तो रामो दशरथात्मजः।भ्राता चास्य महावीर्यो येन चास्मि विरूपिता।।।।
Overwhelmed by Rama's splendor, you shall quickly perish. For Rama, son of Dasharatha, is endowed with radiance, and his brother is of great valor—he by whom I was disfigured.
Verse 3.21.21
रामतेजोभिभूतो हि त्वं क्षिप्रं विनशिष्यसि।3.21.20।।स हि तेजस्समायुक्तो रामो दशरथात्मजः।भ्राता चास्य महावीर्यो येन चास्मि विरूपिता।।3.21.21।।
Overpowered by Rama's splendor, you will be destroyed in an instant. Rama, the son of Dasharatha, is filled with radiance, and his brother is a mighty warrior, the one who disfigured me.
Verse 3.21.22
एवं विलप्य बहुशो राक्षसी विततोदरी।कराभ्यामुदरं हत्वा रुरोद भृशदुःखिता।।।।
Thus lamenting again and again, the rākṣasī with the distended belly, overwhelmed by grievous sorrow, struck her breast with both hands and wept bitterly.