Shloka 6

आरण्यकाण्डे चतुस्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Śūrpaṇakhā Reports to Rāvaṇa; Rāma’s Might and Sītā’s Description

Devanagari script

शक्रचापनिभं चापं विकृष्य कनकाङ्गदम्।दीप्तान् क्षिपति नाराचान्सर्पानिव महाविषान्।।।।

Transliteration

śakracāpanibhaṃ cāpaṃ vikṛṣya kanakāṅgadaḥ | dīptān kṣipati nārācān sarpān iva mahāviṣān ||

Translation

黄金の腕輪を帯び、帝釈天の弓にも似た弓を引き絞り、燃え立つナーラーチャの矢を放つ――それは猛毒の大蛇のごとし。

Word by Word

• शक्र-चाप-निभम्: like Indra's bow
• शक्र-चाप-निभम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + चाप (प्रातिपदिक) + निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ('like Indra's bow')

• चापम्: bow
• चापम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विकृष्य: having drawn (back)
• विकृष्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√कृष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• कनक-अङ्गदम्: golden armlet
• कनक-अङ्गदम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनक (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः

• दीप्तान्: blazing/glittering
• दीप्तान्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √दीप् (धातु) → दीप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP)

• क्षिपति: throws/launches
• क्षिपति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नाराचान्: iron arrows
• नाराचान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाराच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• सर्पान्: snakes
• सर्पान्: उपमान (Upamāna/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• इव: like
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• महा-विषान्: highly venomous
• महा-विषान्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + विष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः

Context

His bow resembles Indra's, He is adorned with gold bands. Drawing the bow, he releases glittering arrows like highly poisonous snakes.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Indra (Śakra)
• Bow (cāpa)
• Nārāca arrows

FAQs

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

It points to kṣatriya-dharma: power and weapons are meant for protection and decisive action against wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā emphasizes Rāma’s formidable archery to dissuade or caution Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Valor and competence—Rāma’s mastery of arms used with decisive effectiveness.