Shloka 6

विंशः सर्गः (Sarga 20): शूर्पणखाप्रेरितराक्षसवधः

The Slaying of the Fourteen Demons Sent by Śūrpaṇakhā

Devanagari script

राघवोऽपि महच्चापं चामीकरविभूषितम्।चकार सज्यं धर्मात्मा तानि रक्षांसि चाब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

rāghavo 'pi mahaccāpaṃ cāmīkaravibhūṣitam | cakāra sajyaṃ dharmātmā tāni rakṣāṃsi cābravīt ||

Translation

ラーマもまた、法にかなう心をもつ者として、黄金で飾られた大弓に弦を張り、あのラाक्षサたちに語りかけた。

Word by Word

• rāghavaḥ: Raghava (Rama)
• rāghavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• api: also
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) = 'also/too'

• mahat: great
• mahat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of cāpaṃ

• cāpaṃ: bow
• cāpaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• cāmīkara-vibhūṣitam: adorned with gold
• cāmīkara-vibhūṣitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cāmīkara (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhūṣita (कृदन्त, √bhūṣ/भूष्)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; past passive participle (क्त) 'vibhūṣita'; Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies cāpaṃ

• cakāra: made/did
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• sajyaṃ: strung (with string fitted)
• sajyaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sajya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; predicate/object-complement with cāpaṃ (made it strung)

• dharmātmā: the righteous-souled one
• dharmātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) = 'yasya ātmā dharmaḥ/ dharme sthitaḥ'; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; apposition to rāghavaḥ

• tāni: those
• tāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana; refers to rakṣāṃsi

• rakṣāṃsi: demons
• rakṣāṃsi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana

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

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Context

Righteous Rama too, lifted up his great bow decked with gold and fastened the string and then said to the demons:

Characters & Entities

• Rama (Raghava)
• bow (cāpa)
• rakshasas

FAQs

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

Dharma here is disciplined readiness to protect the innocent: Rama prepares his weapon not for aggression, but for righteous defense against adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

In the Dandaka region, Rama prepares to confront hostile rakshasas and begins addressing them after stringing his bow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast courage guided by righteousness (dharmātmā)—strength placed under moral restraint.