Shloka 10

शूर्पणखाविरूपणम्

The Disfigurement of Śūrpaṇakhā

Devanagari script

समृद्धार्थस्य सिद्धार्था मुदितामलवर्णिनी।आर्यस्य त्वं विशालाक्षि भार्या भव यवीयसी।।।।

Transliteration

samṛddhārthasya siddhārthā muditāmalavarṇinī | āryasya tvaṃ viśālākṣi bhāryā bhava yavīyasī ||

Translation

ಹೇ ವಿಶಾಲಾಕ್ಷಿಯೇ, ನಿರ್ಮಲ ವರ್ಣಿನಿಯೇ! ಸಮೃದ್ಧಾರ್ಥನೂ ಸಿದ್ಧಾರ್ಥನೂ ಆದ ನನ್ನ ಆರ್ಯಸ್ವಾಮಿಯ ಕಿರಿಯ ಪತ್ನಿಯಾಗು; ಸಂತೋಷದಿಂದ ಪರಿಪೂರ್ಣಳಾಗಿ ಬಾಳು.

Word by Word

• समृद्धार्थस्य: of the wealthy one
• समृद्धार्थस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samṛddha + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भाव: समृद्धः अर्थः यस्य (one whose wealth is abundant)

• सिद्धार्था: fulfilled/successful
• सिद्धार्था: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate adjective to ‘tvam’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: siddha + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: सिद्धः अर्थः यस्याः (fulfilled in purpose)

• मुदिता: joyful
• मुदिता: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘tvam’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muditā (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √mud मुद्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अमलवर्णिनी: clear-complexioned woman
• अमलवर्णिनी: कर्ता-विशेषण (Appositional epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amala + varṇinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: अमलः वर्णः यस्याः

• आर्यस्य: of the noble one (Rāma)
• आर्यस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• विशालाक्षि: O large-eyed one
• विशालाक्षि: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśāla + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: विशालानि अक्षीणि यस्याः सा

• भार्या: wife
• भार्या: कर्ता-समानााधिकरण (Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate noun)

• भव: become/be
• भव: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• यवीयसी: younger
• यवीयसी: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘tvam’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yavīyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative): ‘younger’

Context

O large-eyed one, you have a clear complexion. You may become the younger wife of my master who is lord of great wealth. And live a happy, fulfilled life.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The episode highlights how desire can invite manipulation and mockery; dharma here is the need for discernment (viveka) and truthful, responsible speech—both of which are being tested in the scene.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa speaks in a joking, misleading way to redirect Śūrpaṇakhā, suggesting she become a ‘younger wife’ to Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Primarily a contrast: Śūrpaṇakhā’s lack of discernment is exposed; Lakṣmaṇa’s sharp wit is foregrounded (though ethically ambiguous as mockery).