Shloka 24

विंशः सर्गः (Sarga 20): शूर्पणखाप्रेरितराक्षसवधः

The Slaying of the Fourteen Demons Sent by Śūrpaṇakhā

Devanagari script

भ्रातुस्समीपे शोकार्ता ससर्ज निनदं मुहुः।।।।सस्वरं मुमुचे बाष्पं विषण्णवदना तदा।

Transliteration

bhrātuḥ samīpe śokārtā sasarja ninadaṃ muhuḥ |

sasvaraṃ mumuce bāṣpaṃ viṣaṇṇavadanā tadā ||

Translation

സഹോദരന്റെ സമീപത്ത് ദുഃഖാർത്തയായി അവൾ വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും ഉച്ചത്തിൽ വിലപിച്ചു; അപ്പോൾ വിഷണ്ണമുഖയായി സസ്വരമായ കരച്ചിലോടെ കണ്ണുനീർ ഒഴുക്കി.

Word by Word

• bhrātuḥ: of (her) brother
• bhrātuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; of brother)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (भ्रातृ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular (एकवचन)

• samīpe: near
• samīpe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samīpa (समीप प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी) Singular (एकवचन)

• śokārtā: grief-stricken
• śokārtā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka-ārta (प्रातिपदिक; components: śoka + ārta)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying implied sā (rākṣasī); tatpuruṣa ‘afflicted by grief’

• sasarja: uttered/let out
• sasarja: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (सृज् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्; perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन)

• ninadam: a cry/sound
• ninadam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ninada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• muhuḥ: again and again
• muhuḥ: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: muhuḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), indeclinable; frequency

• sasvaram: aloud
• sasvaram: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa-svara (प्रातिपदिक; components: sa + svara)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially (अव्ययीभाव), accusative-form adverb: ‘with sound/aloud’

• mumuce: shed/let fall
• mumuce: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (मुच् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्; perfect), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन)

• bāṣpam: tears
• bāṣpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• viṣaṇṇavadanā: with a sad face
• viṣaṇṇavadanā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣaṇṇa-vadana (प्रातिपदिक; components: viṣaṇṇa + vadana)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying śokārtā (she); tatpuruṣa ‘with a dejected face’

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

Context

O Lakshmana ! stand by Sita for a while. I shall kill these demons who have come here.

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Khara

FAQs

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

Grief without moral reflection can become a pretext for further wrongdoing; dharma requires that suffering be met with discernment rather than vengeance.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā laments loudly before Khara, using tears and cries to provoke a response.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The scene highlights emotional manipulation and lack of composure—implicitly praising steadiness and truth-oriented judgment.