Shloka 12

खर

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

Devanagari script

विषादनक्राध्युषिते परित्रासोर्मिमालिनि।किं मां न त्रायसे मग्नां विपुले शोकसागरे।।।।

Transliteration

viṣādanakrādhyuṣite paritrāsormimālini | kiṃ māṃ na trāyase magnāṃ vipule śokasāgare ||

Translation

Estoy hundida en un vasto océano de dolor, acechada por los cocodrilos de la desesperanza y coronada por olas de terror; ¿por qué no me salvas?

Word by Word

• विषादनक्राध्युषिते: O (sea) inhabited by crocodiles of despair
• विषादनक्राध्युषिते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषाद-नक्र-अध्युषित (प्रातिपदिक: विषाद + नक्र + अधि+उषित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular; addressed to शोकसागर (metaphor)

• परित्रासोर्मिमालिनि: O (sea) garlanded with waves of terror
• परित्रासोर्मिमालिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परित्रास-ऊर्मि-मालिनी (प्रातिपदिक: परित्रास + ऊर्मि + मालिनी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• किम्: why?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative particle)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• त्रायसे: do you save
• त्रायसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; 2nd sg: you protect/save

• मग्नाम्: drowned/sunk
• मग्नाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मग्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; मज्ज् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; PPP used adjectivally qualifying माम्

• विपुले: vast
• विपुले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective to शोकसागरे

• शोकसागरे: in the sea of sorrow
• शोकसागरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोकसागर (प्रातिपदिक: शोक + सागर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular

Context

I am drowned in a vast sea of sorrow where crocodiles in the form of distress reside. It is full of rows of waves of fright. Why do you not save me?

Characters & Entities

• Shurpanakha (Śūrpaṇakhā)
• Khara

FAQs

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

Sorrow intensifies when one seeks rescue without repentance; dharma implies accountability—relief comes with turning away from harmful intent.

What is the narrative situation?

Shurpanakha uses vivid metaphors to persuade Khara to protect her after her humiliation and the killing of accompanying demons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse foregrounds rhetorical intensity and desperation rather than virtue; it highlights how fear can manipulate appeals for protection.