Shloka 9

शूर्पणखाविरूपणम्

The Disfigurement of Śūrpaṇakhā

Devanagari script

कथं दासस्य मे दासी भार्या भवितुमिच्छसि।सोऽहमार्येण परवान्भ्रात्रा कमलवर्णिनि।।।।

Transliteration

kathaṃ dāsasya me dāsī bhāryā bhavitum icchasi | so 'ham āryeṇa paravān bhrātrā kamalavarṇini ||

Translation

「蓮華の色を帯びたお方よ、どうして私の妻になろうとなさるのです。私は召使い、しかも召使いの召使い。私はすべて高貴なる兄上に従う身なのです。」

Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Interrogative adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative adverb: how)

• दासस्य: of a servant
• दासस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• मे: of me/my
• मे: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular) — enclitic form

• दासी: a maidservant
• दासी: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāsī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• भार्या: wife
• भार्या: कर्ता-समानााधिकरण (Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• भवितुम्: to become
• भवितुम्: प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य (Purpose/infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• इच्छसि: you wish/desire
• इच्छसि: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (इष् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• सः: that (one)
• सः: सम्बन्ध (Deictic/pronominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• आर्येण: by/with the noble one
• आर्येण: सह-सम्बन्ध/निमित्त (Instrumental relation: ‘with/under’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• परवान्: dependent/subordinate
• परवान्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paravān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• भ्रात्रा: by (my) brother
• भ्रात्रा: सम्बन्ध/निमित्त (Instrumental: ‘as/being a brother; by my brother’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कमलवर्णिनि: O lotus-complexioned lady
• कमलवर्णिनि: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamala + varṇinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: कमल इव वर्णः यस्याः

Context

O lotus-complexioned woman , how can you act as a maid to a slave ? Why do you intend to be so? I am already dependent on my revered brother.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• Śūrpaṇakhā

FAQs

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

Lakṣmaṇa affirms dharma as loyal service and rightful dependence on the elder brother (and leader). Personal desire is subordinated to duty and ordained relationship.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa answers Śūrpaṇakhā’s proposal by presenting himself as a dependent servant of Rāma, discouraging her advances.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s steadfast loyalty (sevā-bhāva) and commitment to maryādā—he defines himself through duty rather than self-indulgence.