Shloka 3.71.4

दनु-शापकथा तथा सीताहरण-प्रश्नः (Danu’s Curse Narrative and Rama’s Inquiry about Sita)

Devanagari script

तेनाहमुक्तः प्रेक्ष्यैवं घोरशापाभिधायिना।।3.71.4।।एतदेव नृशंसं ते रूपमस्तु विगर्हितम्।

Transliteration

tenāham uktaḥ prekṣyaivaṃ ghora-śāpābhidhāyinā | etad eva nṛśaṃsaṃ te rūpam astu vigarhitam ||

Translation

Seeing me thus, he who pronounced a dreadful curse said to me: ‘Let this very form of yours become cruel and contemptible.’

Context

Seeing me he pronounced a dreadful curse on me saying, 'You will get a cruel, despicable form.'

Characters & Entities

• Sthūlaśiras (implied as curser)
• curse (śāpa)
• Kabandha (implied)
• Rama (listener)

FAQs

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

A warning about adharma: harming the righteous rebounds as suffering; the curse symbolizes moral causality where wrongdoing reshapes one’s life and identity.

What is the narrative situation?

Kabandha narrates the sage’s reaction: the sage, after being wronged, pronounces a curse transforming Kabandha’s form.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for tapasvins and self-control—implied by the severe consequence when these are violated.