Shloka 8

खर

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

Devanagari script

प्रेषिताश्च त्वया वीर राक्षसास्ते चतुर्दश।निहन्तुं राघवं क्रोधान्मत्प्रियार्थं सलक्षणम्।।।।

Transliteration

preṣitāś ca tvayā vīra rākṣasās te caturdaśa | nihantuṃ rāghavaṃ krodhān matpriyārthaṃ salakṣmaṇam ||

Translation

ഹേ വീരാ, എന്റെ പ്രിയാർത്ഥം നിറവേറ്റാൻ ക്രോധത്തോടെ നീ ലക്ഷ്മണനോടുകൂടിയ രാഘവനെ വധിക്കാനായി ആ പതിനാലു രാക്ഷസന്മാരെ അയച്ചിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• preṣitāḥ: were sent
• preṣitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: preṣita (कृदन्त; √प्रेष् धातु)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacana; Kta-ppp = 'sent'

• ca: and
• ca: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karaṇa/Agent-in-passive (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• vīra: O hero
• vīra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (vocative), Ekavacana

• rākṣasāḥ: demons
• rākṣasāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• te: those
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• caturdaśa: fourteen
• caturdaśa: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturdaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral used adjectivally; indeclinable-like in form here; qualifying rākṣasāḥ = 'fourteen'

• nihantum: to kill
• nihantum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √हन् (धातु; ni-√han)
• Form: Tumun infinitive (तुमुन्)

• rāghavam: Rāma (Rāghava)
• rāghavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक; proper noun)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• krodhāt: out of anger
• krodhāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī vibhakti, Ekavacana

• mat-priya-artham: for my pleasure
• mat-priya-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (asmad) + priya + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana; 'for my pleasure'

• sa-lakṣmaṇam: together with Lakṣmaṇa
• sa-lakṣmaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह) + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa (saha-artha): 'together with Lakṣmaṇa' qualifying rāghavam

Context

O warrior ! you had sent, out of anger, fourteen demons to put an end to Rama along with Lakshmana in order to please me.

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Khara
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

It warns against krodha (anger) and partiality: actions driven by rage and personal appeasement distort judgment and lead to adharmic escalation.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā reminds Khara that he dispatched fourteen rākṣasas to kill Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicitly, the need for restraint and discernment in leadership—avoiding impulsive violence.