Shloka 19
खर
शूर्पणखा-संवादः | Khara and Surpanakha: Lament, Reproach, and the Janasthana Crisis
निस्सत्वस्याल्प वीर्यस्य वासस्ते कीदृशस्त्विह।।।।अपयाहि जनस्थानातत्वरितस्सहबान्धवः।
nissatvasyālpa-vīryasya vāsas te kīdṛśas tv iha | apayāhi janasthānāt tvaritaḥ saha-bāndhavaḥ ||
ശക്തിയില്ലാത്തവനേ, അല്പവീര്യനേ, ഇവിടെ നിനക്കു എന്തു താമസം? ജനസ്ഥാനത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ബന്ധുക്കളോടുകൂടെ ഉടൻ മാറിപ്പോവുക.
You have little strength and less heroism. You with your relations should immediately leave Janasthana. What kind of position do you have here?
FAQs
It reflects how fear and wounded pride can distort speech into contempt. Dharma would counsel measured action and responsibility rather than shaming and rash retreat or aggression.
Śūrpaṇakhā derides Khara’s capability and orders him to abandon Janasthāna with his relatives, implying he is unfit to rule or remain.
By contrast, the virtue implied is steadiness and rightful leadership; the verse depicts instability—oscillating between urging violence and urging flight.