Shloka 6

अरण्यकाण्डे द्वात्रिंशः सर्गः

Śūrpaṇakhā’s Report to Rāvaṇa and the Panegyric of His Might

Devanagari script

देवगन्धर्वभूतानामृषीणां च महात्मनाम्।अजेयं समरे शूरं व्यात्ताननमिवान्तकम्।।।।

Transliteration

devagandharvabhūtānām ṛṣīṇāṃ ca mahātmanām | ajeyaṃ samare śūraṃ vyāttānanaṃ ivāntakam ||

Translation

ദേവന്മാർക്കും ഗന്ധർവന്മാർക്കും ഭൂതഗണങ്ങൾക്കും മഹാത്മ ഋഷിമാർക്കും പോലും യുദ്ധത്തിൽ അജേയനായ ആ ശൂരൻ, വായ് പിളർത്തി നിൽക്കുന്ന അന്തകനെയെന്നപോലെ (മൃത്യുവിനെപ്പോലെ) തോന്നി.

Word by Word

• deva-gandharva-bhūtānām: of gods, gandharvas, and beings
• deva-gandharva-bhūtānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + gandharva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; द्वन्द्वः (समाहार/इतरेतर): 'of gods, gandharvas, and beings'

• ṛṣīṇām: of seers
• ṛṣīṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठī), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• mahā-ātmanām: of great-souled (ones)
• mahā-ātmanām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; कर्मधारयः: 'great-souled' qualifying ṛṣīṇām

• ajeyam: invincible
• ajeyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ajeya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying śūram/rāvaṇam: 'invincible'

• samare: in battle
• samare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• śūram: hero / warrior
• śūram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object seen (continuing from dadarśa)

• vyātta-ānanam: with gaping mouth
• vyātta-ānanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyātta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; vi+ā+√tan/√tā? 'opened wide') + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; कर्मधारयः: 'wide-open-mouthed' qualifying antakam (upamāna)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय

• antakam: Death (Yama)
• antakam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; upamāna (Yama/death)

Context

Ravana, sitting on the magnificent golden seat on a golden altar looked radiant like the Sun or the blazing fire.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Devas
• Gandharvas
• Ṛṣis
• Antaka (Death/Yama)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores that might is not dharma. Even overwhelming strength, if aligned with adharma, becomes terrifying like death—power must be restrained by righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator heightens the portrait of Rāvaṇa’s fearsome power as Śūrpaṇakhā prepares to address him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not virtue but martial invincibility—serving as a warning that capability without dharma can become destructive.