Shloka 3.39.24

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः (Aranyakanda 39): राक्षसस्य रामत्रासवर्णनम् / The Demon’s Account of Rama-Fear

Devanagari script

यदि शूर्पणखाहेतोर्जनस्थानगतः खरः।।3.39.23।।अतिवृत्तो हतः पूर्वं रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा।अत्र ब्रूहि यथातत्त्वं को रामस्य व्यतिक्रमः।।3.39.24।।

Transliteration

yadi śūrpaṇakhāhetoḥ janasthānagataḥ kharaḥ || (3.39.23)

ativṛtto hataḥ pūrvaṃ rāmeṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā |

atra brūhi yathātattvaṃ ko rāmasya vyatikramaḥ || (3.39.24)

Translation

If Khara of Jana-sthāna, for Śūrpaṇakhā’s sake, exceeded all bounds and was previously slain by Rāma of effortless action—then tell me truthfully: what fault did Rāma commit here?

Context

For the sake of Surpanakha, Khara of Janasthana committed excesses and got killed by Rama who can accomplish things with ease.Tell me truly if Rama did violate anything here.

Characters & Entities

• Marīca
• Rāvaṇa
• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Khara
• Janasthāna
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The ethical claim remains: righteous response to aggression is not a Dharma-violation; the true breach lies with the one who ‘exceeded limits’ (ativṛtta).

What is the narrative situation?

A duplicated/reiterated challenge to Rāvaṇa’s premise, preserved in the supplied Southern Recension formatting.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Insistence on truthful attribution of blame (Satya-yukta nyāya): identifying the original transgressor before seeking retaliation.