Shloka 15

शूर्पणखाया आगमनम्

Surpanakha Approaches Rama

Devanagari script

अनृतं न हि रामस्य कदाचिदपि सम्मतम्।।।।विशेषेणाऽश्रमस्थस्य समीपे स्त्रीजनस्य च।

Transliteration

anṛtaṃ na hi rāmasya kadācid api sammatam | viśeṣeṇāśramasthasya samīpe strījanasya ca ||

Translation

Pues para Rāma la mentira jamás es aceptable, especialmente viviendo en un āśrama, y más aún en presencia de mujeres.

Word by Word

• अनृतम्: untruth, falsehood
• अनृतम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter nominative/accusative singular)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध/निषेध (negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम् (negative particle)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: सम्बन्ध (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः/अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (particle; indeed/for)

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (genitive relation/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (masculine genitive singular)

• कदाचित्: ever, at any time
• कदाचित्: अधिकरण (time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (temporal adverb: at any time)

• अपि: even, also (with कदाचित्: ever)
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle: even/also; here with कदाचित् = ever)

• सम्मतम्: approved, acceptable
• सम्मतम्: विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + √मन् (मन् धातु) → सम्मत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्तं कृदन्तम्; नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (past passive participle; neuter nominative singular)

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: सम्बन्ध (adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्त्यन्तं क्रियाविशेषणवत् (instrumental used adverbially: especially)

• आश्रमस्थस्य: of (one) staying in the hermitage
• आश्रमस्थस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (genitive relation: of one staying in the hermitage)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आश्रम + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक); आश्रम-स्थ
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आश्रमस्य स्थः); पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (masculine genitive singular)

• समीपे: in the presence/nearby
• समीपे: अधिकरण (location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter locative singular)

• स्त्रीजनस्य: of womenfolk
• स्त्रीजनस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री + जन (प्रातिपदिक); स्त्री-जन
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्त्रियाः जनः/स्त्रीणां जनः); पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (masculine genitive singular)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction: and)

Context

O Rama you are wearing matted hair like an ascetic, but living with your wife and holding bow and arrows. What brings you to this place haunted by demons ? You should tell me the truth ?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Āśrama (hermitage)

FAQs

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

Satya (truthfulness): untruth is categorically rejected, with heightened moral vigilance in sacred spaces (āśrama) and in socially protected contexts (in the presence of women).

What is the narrative situation?

As Rāma is about to answer Śūrpaṇakhā, the narrator explains why he speaks plainly: lying is against his nature and vows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s unwavering commitment to satya as part of maryādā—regulated, principled conduct.