Shloka 14

खरस्य क्रोधः — शूर्पणखावृत्तान्तकथनम्

Khara’s Wrath and Śūrpaṇakhā’s Report

Devanagari script

तरुणौ रूपसम्पन्नौ सुकुमारौ महाबलौ।पुण्डरीकविशालाक्षौ चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरौ।।।।फलमूलाशनौ दान्तौ तापसौ धर्मचारिणौ।पुत्रौ दशरथस्यास्तां भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।।।।

Transliteration

taruṇau rūpasampannau sukumārau mahābalau | puṇḍarīka-viśālākṣau cīra-kṛṣṇājināmbarau || phala-mūlāśanau dāntau tāpasau dharmacāriṇau | putrau daśarathasyāstāṁ bhrātarau rāma-lakṣmaṇau ||

Translation

Il est deux jeunes hommes—beaux, délicats et pourtant d’une grande force—aux yeux vastes comme des lotus blancs, vêtus d’écorce et de peau noire d’antilope. Se nourrissant de fruits et de racines, maîtres d’eux-mêmes, ascètes marchant selon le dharma : ce sont les deux frères Rāma et Lakṣmaṇa, fils de Daśaratha.

Word by Word

• taruṇau: two young (men)
• taruṇau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: taruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Dvivacana (dual); predicate adjective

• rūpa-sampannau: endowed with beauty
• rūpa-sampannau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + sampanna (प्रातिपदिक; sam√pad + kta)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (rūpeṇa sampannau / rūpasampannau), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• sukumārau: delicate/tender
• sukumārau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• mahābalau: very strong
• mahābalau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (mahac ca balaṃ ca yasya), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• puṇḍarīka-viśāla-akṣau: having large lotus-like eyes
• puṇḍarīka-viśāla-akṣau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇḍarīka (प्रातिपदिक) + viśāla (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (upamā/viśeṣaṇa: puṇḍarīka-sadṛśa-viśāla-akṣi), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• cīra-kṛṣṇa-ajina-ambarau: wearing bark garments and black deer-skin
• cīra-kṛṣṇa-ajina-ambarau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cīra (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ajina (प्रातिपदिक) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva-like enumerative compound (garments: bark-cloth and black deer-skin as clothing), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

Context

Here are two young sons of Dasaratha, Rama and Lakshmana, who are gentle, handsome, strong, with eyes like white lotus, wearing deer-skin and bark robes, living on fruits and roots, self-restrained like ascetics and following the righteous path.

Characters & Entities

• Shurpanakha
• Khara
• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Dasharatha
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as disciplined living: restraint, austerity, and righteous conduct even amid hardship (forest life).

What is the narrative situation?

Shurpanakha identifies the two brothers who confronted her, describing their appearance and ascetic mode of life.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama and Lakshmana are characterized by self-control (dānta) and dharma-practice (dharmacārin).