Shloka 1

खर

शूर्पणखा-संवादः | Khara and Surpanakha: Lament, Reproach, and the Janasthana Crisis

Devanagari script

स पुनः पतितां दृष्ट्वा क्रोधाच्छूर्पणखां खरः।उवाच व्यक्तया वाचा तामनर्थार्थमागताम्।।।।

Transliteration

sa punaḥ patitāṃ dṛṣṭvā krodhāc chūrpaṇakhāṃ kharaḥ | uvāca vyaktayā vācā tām anarthārtham āgatām ||

Translation

വീണ്ടും നിലത്ത് വീണുകിടക്കുന്ന ശൂർപണഖയെ കണ്ടപ്പോൾ, ക്രോധം നിറഞ്ഞ ഖരൻ വ്യക്തമായ വാക്കുകളിൽ അവളോട് പറഞ്ഞു—അവൾ തന്നേ അനർത്ഥം വരുത്തിക്കൊണ്ട് വന്നതിനാൽ.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc.), Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• patitām: fallen
• patitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: patita (कृदन्त; √पत् धातु)
• Form: Strīliṅga (fem.), Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana; Kta-ppp (क्त) qualifying śūrpaṇakhām

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (त्वा)

• krodhāt: from anger / angrily
• krodhāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc.), Pañcamī vibhakti (ablative), Ekavacana

• śūrpaṇakhām: Śūrpaṇakhā
• śūrpaṇakhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūrpaṇakhā (प्रातिपदिक; proper noun)
• Form: Strīliṅga (fem.), Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• kharaḥ: Khara
• kharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक; proper noun)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc.), Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (perfect), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• vyaktayā: with clear
• vyaktayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (fem.), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (instrumental), Ekavacana; qualifying vācā

• vācā: speech / words
• vācā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (fem.), Tṛtīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (fem.), Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• anartha-artham: for a harmful purpose / to misfortune
• anartha-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anartha + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (neut.), Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa: anarthaḥ arthaḥ yasya/tadartham = 'for a harmful purpose'

• āgatām: who had come
• āgatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āgata (कृदन्त; √गम् धातु)
• Form: Strīliṅga (fem.), Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana; Kta-ppp qualifying tām

Context

Seeing Surpanakha collapse, Khara said in clear terms about the unfortunate situation she had created:

Characters & Entities

• Khara
• Shurpanakha (Śūrpaṇakhā)

FAQs

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

Adharma leads to self-made ruin: reckless desire and wrongdoing invite consequences that spread beyond oneself.

What is the narrative situation?

After Shurpanakha is disgraced and falls, Khara reacts angrily and addresses her about the trouble she has caused.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse highlights not virtue but a warning: anger and impulsive conduct cloud judgment and escalate conflict.