Shloka 3.21.22

खर-शूर्पणखा-संवादः | Khara and Surpanakha: Lament, Reproach, and the Janasthana Crisis

Devanagari script

एवं विलप्य बहुशो राक्षसी विततोदरी।कराभ्यामुदरं हत्वा रुरोद भृशदुःखिता।।।।

Transliteration

evaṁ vilapya bahuśo rākṣasī vitatodarī | karābhyām udaraṁ hatvā rurōda bhṛśa-duḥkhitā ||

Translation

Thus lamenting again and again, the rākṣasī with the distended belly, overwhelmed by grievous sorrow, struck her breast with both hands and wept bitterly.

Context

Overcome by sorrow, the big-bellied demoness cried in several ways and being very sad started beating her chest with both hands.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē ēkaviṅśassargaḥ.Thus ends the twentyfirst sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā (implied as the rākṣasī)
• Rākṣasī

FAQs

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

It illustrates the aftermath of unrighteous desire and anger: suffering follows actions that violate dharma. The epic often uses such scenes to show moral causality without explicit preaching.

What is the narrative situation?

After her harsh speech and agitation, Śūrpaṇakhā collapses into repeated lamentation, beating her chest and crying, concluding the episode’s emotional arc.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes the need for self-mastery by showing its absence; uncontrolled passion culminates in grief and humiliation.