Shloka 4

शूर्पणखाया आगमनम्

Surpanakha Approaches Rama

Devanagari script

स रामः पर्णशालायामासीनस्सह सीतया।विरराज महाबाहुश्चित्रया चन्द्रमाः इव।।।।

Transliteration

sa rāmaḥ parṇaśālāyām āsīnaḥ saha sītayā | virarāja mahābāhuś citrayā candramā iva ||

Translation

Rama yang berlengan perkasa, duduk bersama Sita di gubuk beratap daun, bersinar laksana bulan di sisi rasi Citra.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he/that
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• rāmaḥ: Rāma
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• parṇa-śālāyām: in the leaf-hut
• parṇa-śālāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + śālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• āsīnaḥ: seated
• āsīnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sad (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्तवत्/क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• saha: with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Preposition-like indeclinable (सह-योगे अव्यय) governing Instrumental

• sītayā: with Sītā
• sītayā: Sahakāraka (सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), 3rd case Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• virarāja: shone forth
• virarāja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√rāj (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• mahā-bāhuḥ: mighty-armed
• mahā-bāhuḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying rāmaḥ

• citrayā: with Citrā (star)
• citrayā: Sahakāraka/Instrument (सह/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), 3rd case Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); name of a nakṣatra

• candramāḥ: the Moon
• candramāḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candramas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle of comparison (उपमावाचक अव्यय)

Context

I will devour your brother along with this disfigured, unchaste and fearful lady with a flat belly.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the dignity of righteous domestic life even in austerity—marital companionship and self-restraint remain luminous in exile.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma is seated with Sītā in their forest dwelling, described with a celestial simile to mark his splendour despite exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s serene majesty and Sītā’s steadfast companionship—royal virtue expressed without dependence on royal comforts.