Shloka 18

शूर्पणखाया आगमनम्

Surpanakha Approaches Rama

Devanagari script

नियोगात् तु नरेन्द्रस्य पितुर्मातुश्च यन्त्रितः।।।।धर्मार्थं धर्मकाङ्क्षी च वनं वस्तुमिहागतः।

Transliteration

niyogāt tu narendrasya pitur mātuś ca yantritaḥ | dharmārthaṃ dharmakāṅkṣī ca vanaṃ vastum ihāgataḥ ||

Translation

राजा—मेरे पिता—और माता की आज्ञा से बँधकर, धर्म की स्थापना की कामना से, धर्मार्थ ही मैं वन में निवास करने यहाँ आया हूँ॥

Word by Word

• niyogāt: from the command
• niyogāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचनम्; अर्थः—"from/owing to the order"

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय (particle: "but/indeed")

• narendrasya: of the king
• narendrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narendra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्

• pituḥ: of (my) father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्

• mātuḥ: of (my) mother
• mātuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• yantritaḥ: impelled
• yantritaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yam (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; अर्थः—"impelled/controlled"

• dharmārtham: for dharma's sake
• dharmārtham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (dharmāya arthaḥ) = "for the sake of dharma"

• dharmakāṅkṣī: desirous of dharma
• dharmakāṅkṣī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + kāṅkṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (dharmam kāṅkṣati)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• vanam: forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• vastum: to live (to dwell)
• vastum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु) + tumun (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), अर्थः—"to dwell"

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb of place)

• āgataḥ: (I) have come
• āgataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + gam (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP) प्रयुक्तः—"has come"; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

Context

I wish to know who you are. Tell me who your kins are. With lovely limbs you do not appear to be a demoness.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• narendra (Daśaratha implied as king/father)
• mother (Kaikeyī implied by exile context)
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma as fidelity to rightful command and familial obligation—Rāma accepts forest-life to honor parental/royal injunction and uphold righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma explains to Śūrpaṇakhā why he is living in the forest: it is due to the king’s and his mother’s directive, embraced as dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s integrity (satya-niṣṭhā) and commitment to duty over personal comfort.