Shloka 28

शूर्पणखाया आगमनम्

Surpanakha Approaches Rama

Devanagari script

इमां विरूपामसतीं करालां निर्णतोदरीम्।।।।अनेन ते सह भ्रात्रा भक्षयिष्यामि मानुषीम्।

Transliteration

imāṃ virūpām asatīṃ karālāṃ nirṇatodarīm | anena te saha bhrātrā bhakṣayiṣyāmi mānuṣīm |

Translation

“ഈ വിരൂപയും അസതിയും ഭീകരയും കുടവയറുള്ള മനുഷ്യസ്ത്രീയെ—നിന്റെ നിമിത്തം—നിന്റെ സഹോദരനോടൊപ്പം ഞാൻ തിന്നുകളയും.”

Word by Word

• imām: this (woman)
• imām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• virūpām: ugly
• virūpām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: virūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (imām इत्यस्य)

• asatīm: wicked/unchaste
• asatīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• karālām: terrifying, grim
• karālām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• nirṇatodarīm: flat/sunken-bellied
• nirṇatodarīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirṇata + udarī (प्रातिपदिक); nirṇata (निर्-नत, कृदन्त) + udarī (उदरिन्/उदर-सम्बद्ध)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः: ‘निर्-नतं उदरं यस्याः सा’ (flat/sunken-bellied)

• anena: with this (one)
• anena: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/with this one)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ/association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अर्थक अव्यय (preposition-like: ‘with’)

• bhrātrā: (your) brother
• bhrātrā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/associate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• bhakṣayiṣyāmi: I will devour
• bhakṣayiṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhakṣ (भक्ष्-धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• mānuṣīm: the human woman
• mānuṣīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānuṣī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (imām इत्यस्य पुनर्विशेषण/अपपद)

Context

While Rama was thus seated, engrossed in conversation, there incidentally appeared a demoness.

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (as 'your brother')
• Sītā (as 'this human woman')

FAQs

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

Threatening violence to obtain desire is adharma; dharma rejects coercion and protects the innocent, especially within the sanctity of family.

What is the narrative situation?

After proposing herself, Śūrpaṇakhā escalates to threats, declaring she will eat Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is protective duty—Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa must uphold dharma by safeguarding Sītā against predatory aggression.