Shloka 22
खर
शूर्पणखा-संवादः | Khara and Surpanakha: Lament, Reproach, and the Janasthana Crisis
एवं विलप्य बहुशो राक्षसी विततोदरी।कराभ्यामुदरं हत्वा रुरोद भृशदुःखिता।।।।
evaṁ vilapya bahuśo rākṣasī vitatodarī | karābhyām udaraṁ hatvā rurōda bhṛśa-duḥkhitā ||
ഇങ്ങനെ പലവട്ടം വിലപിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരുന്ന വീർപ്പുള്ള വയറുള്ള രാക്ഷസി, അത്യന്തം ദുഃഖത്തിൽ മുങ്ങി, ഇരുകൈകളാലും ഉദരത്തിൽ അടിച്ചു, കഠിനശോകത്തോടെ കരഞ്ഞു.
Overcome by sorrow, the big-bellied demoness cried in several ways and being very sad started beating her chest with both hands.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē ēkaviṅśassargaḥ.Thus ends the twentyfirst sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
FAQs
It illustrates the aftermath of unrighteous desire and anger: suffering follows actions that violate dharma. The epic often uses such scenes to show moral causality without explicit preaching.
After her harsh speech and agitation, Śūrpaṇakhā collapses into repeated lamentation, beating her chest and crying, concluding the episode’s emotional arc.
The verse emphasizes the need for self-mastery by showing its absence; uncontrolled passion culminates in grief and humiliation.