Shloka 6.95.5

युद्धकाण्डे पञ्चनवतितमः सर्गः (Sarga 95: Lamentation in Laṅkā and the Causal Chain of Enmity)

Devanagari script

दृष्टवाश्रुत्वा च सम्भ्रान्ताहतशेषानिशाचराः ।राक्षसीश्चसमागम्यदीनाश्चिन्तापरिप्लुताः ।।6.95.4।।विधवाहतपुत्राश्चक्रोशन्त्योहतबान्दवाः ।राक्षस्यःसहसङ्गम्यदुःखार्ताःपर्यदेवयन् ।।6.95.5।।

Transliteration

kathaṃ śūrpaṇakhā vṛddhā karālā nirnatodarī | āsasāda vane rāmaṃ kandarpam iva rūpiṇam ||

Translation

How did the aged Śūrpaṇakhā—dreadful and hideous—approach Rāma in the forest, he whose beauty was like Kāma himself?

Context

"On seeing and hearing of the others left over, the night rangers felt bewildered and piteous with agony coming together, moving in groups, those who lost husband, son, kin and protectors along with associates crying, stricken with grief."

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Rāma
• Forest (vana)
• Kandarpa/Kāma

FAQs

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

Unchecked kāma (desire) and impropriety can ignite chain reactions of harm. Dharma includes self-restraint and respect for boundaries, especially regarding others’ relationships and consent.

What is the narrative situation?

The rākṣasī women retrospectively question how Śūrpaṇakhā initiated events by approaching Rāma in the forest—an origin point for later hostilities.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s attractiveness is noted poetically, but the ethical focus is on restraint: the disaster stems from violating dharmic conduct under the impulse of desire.