Shloka 5

शूर्पणखाया आगमनम्

Surpanakha Approaches Rama

Devanagari script

तदाऽऽसीनस्य रामस्य कथासंसक्तचेतसः।तं देशं राक्षसी काचिदाजगाम यदृच्छया।।।।

Transliteration

tadā āsīnasya rāmasya kathāsaṃsaktacetasaḥ | taṃ deśaṃ rākṣasī kācid ājagāma yadṛcchayā ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ഇരുന്നിരുന്ന രാമന്റെ മനസ്സ് സംഭാഷണത്തിൽ ലീനമായിരിക്കെ, യാദൃശ്ചികമായി ഒരു രാക്ഷസി ആ ദേശത്തേക്ക് എത്തി.

Word by Word

• tadā: then/at that time
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• āsīnasya: of (him) seated
• āsīnasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sad (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्तवत्/क्त) used adjectivally; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• rāmasya: of Rāma
• rāmasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kathā-saṃsakta-cetasaḥ: whose mind was engrossed in talk
• kathā-saṃsakta-cetasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kathā (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsakta (√sañj, धातु; क्त) + cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); compound meaning ‘whose mind is attached to conversation’

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), 2nd case Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying deśam

• deśam: place
• deśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), 2nd case Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• rākṣasī: a demoness
• rākṣasī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kācit: some
• kācit: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indefinite pronoun (अनिश्चितसर्वनाम), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying rākṣasī

• ājagāma: came
• ājagāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√gam (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• yadṛcchayā: by chance
• yadṛcchayā: Hetu/Instrument (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yadṛcchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), 3rd case Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial instrumental

Context

O darling, thereafter you can keep wandering with me in this Dandaka forest, enjoying the beauty of the mountain tops and forests.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rākṣasī

FAQs

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

Dharma is tested when unexpected encounters arise; the narrative sets the stage for how a righteous person responds to sudden moral challenges.

What is the narrative situation?

A demoness arrives unexpectedly at Rāma’s dwelling while he is calmly seated and conversing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadiness—he is not portrayed as restless or fearful, but composed before the disturbance enters.