Shloka 14

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्तु राक्षस्या शूर्पणख्या परन्तपः।।।।ऋजुबुद्धितया सर्वमाख्यातुमुपचक्रमे।

Transliteration

evam uktas tu rākṣasyā śūrpaṇakhyā parantapaḥ | ṛjubuddhitayā sarvam ākhyātum upacakrame ||

Translation

રાક્ષસી શૂર્પણખાએ આમ પૂછતાં, પરંતપ શ્રીરામે—મનના સરળપણાથી પ્રેરિત થઈ—બધી વાત કહેવા આરંભ કર્યો.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in that way
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — indeclinable adverb

• उक्तः: addressed/asked (having been spoken to)
• उक्तः: कर्मणि-प्रयोगे कर्तृसम्बन्धी विशेषण (Predicate participle qualifying the subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत्) — पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; past passive participle ‘said/addressed’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/समुच्चय-भेदक) — particle indicating contrast/emphasis

• राक्षस्या: by the demoness
• राक्षस्या: करण (Instrument/agent in passive sense: ‘by’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — instrumental singular

• शूर्पणख्या: by Śūrpaṇakhā
• शूर्पणख्या: करण (Instrument/agent in passive sense: ‘by’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर्पणखा (प्रातिपदिक, संज्ञा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — instrumental singular (proper noun)

• परन्तपः: the scorcher of foes
• परन्तपः: कर्ता (Subject/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परन्तप (प्रातिपदिक; परान् + तप् ‘to scorch’ इति व्युत्पत्तिः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — nominative singular (epithet)

• ऋजुबुद्धितया: due to straightforward/simple-mindedness
• ऋजुबुद्धितया: हेतु/निमित्त (Cause/Reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋजु + बुद्धि + ता (प्रातिपदिक; तद्धित -तल्/ता भाववाचक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — instrumental singular; समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ऋजु-बुद्धिः यस्य/या सा → ऋजुबुद्धिः; तस्याः भावः ऋजुबुद्धिता)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — accusative singular

• आख्यातुम्: to tell, to relate
• आख्यातुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose infinitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + ख्या (धातु) → आख्यातुम् (तुमुन्-प्रत्यय, infinitive)
• Form: कृदन्त (तुमुन्-अव्ययभाव/infinitive) — ‘to tell/declare’

• उपचक्रमे: began, undertook
• उपचक्रमे: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + क्रम् (धातु) → उपचक्रमे
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परस्मैपद-रूपेण आत्मनेपदवत्; प्राचीन-परिपाटी), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन — perfect/preterite sense: ‘began/undertook’

Context

Rama's face was lovely, Surpanakha's was hideous. Rama had a slender waist, she had a huge belly. His eyes were large, hers were deformed. His hair was black and beautiful, hers was coppercoloured. He was lovely in appearance, she was ugly. His voice was sweet, hers was shrill. He was young, she was dreadfully old. He was positive, she was perverted. Rama was wellbehaved, she was wicked. Rama was just and loving while she was overcome by lust. (This) demoness said to Rama :

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Śūrpaṇakhā

FAQs

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

Straightforward truth-telling (ṛjubhāva leading to satya in speech) is presented as Rāma’s natural response, even when questioned by a hostile being.

What is the narrative situation?

After Śūrpaṇakhā’s probing questions, Rāma prepares to explain his identity and circumstances.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s ṛjubuddhi—transparent, uncomplicated honesty—paired with his heroic epithet parantapa.