Shloka 9

अरण्यकाण्डे द्वात्रिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

स्निग्धवैडूर्यसङ्काशं तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलम्।सुभुजं शुक्लदशनं महास्यं पर्वतोपमम्।।।।

Transliteration

snigdha-vaiḍūrya-saṅkāśaṃ tapta-kāñcana-kuṇḍalam | subhujaṃ śukla-daśanaṃ mahāsyaṃ parvatopamam ||

Translation

മിനുക്കിയ വൈഡൂര്യത്തെപ്പോലെ ദീപ്തമായ കാന്തിയുള്ളവൻ, തപ്തകാഞ്ചനകുണ്ഡലങ്ങൾ ധരിച്ചവൻ, ശക്തമായ ഭുജങ്ങളുള്ളവൻ, ശ്വേതദന്തങ്ങളുള്ളവൻ, വിശാലമുഖനായവൻ—പർവതസമമായ പ്രഭാവത്തോടെ തോന്നി.

Word by Word

• snigdha-vaiḍūrya-saṅkāśam: like shining vaidūrya
• snigdha-vaiḍūrya-saṅkāśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: snigdha (प्रातिपदिक) + vaiḍūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: snigdha-vaiḍūryasya saṅkāśaḥ (resembling glossy cat's-eye gem)

• tapta-kāñcana-kuṇḍalam: with burnished-gold earrings
• tapta-kāñcana-kuṇḍalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √tap) + kāñcana (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: tapta-kāñcanasya kuṇḍale yasya (wearing burnished-gold earrings)

• su-bhujam: strong-armed
• su-bhujam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: śobhanāḥ bhujāḥ yasya (strong/fine-armed)

• śukla-daśanam: white-toothed
• śukla-daśanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + daśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: śuklāni daśanāni yasya (white-toothed)

• mahā-āsyam: wide-mouthed
• mahā-āsyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: mahat āsyaṃ yasya (wide-mouthed)

• parvata-upamam: mountain-like
• parvata-upamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: parvatasya upamaḥ (like a mountain)

Context

Valiant Ravana had an attractive appearance with beautiful dresses twenty arms,ten heads, a broad chest and brilliant royal marks.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vaiḍūrya (gem)

FAQs

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

The verse supports a recurring Ramayana lesson: beauty, ornament, and impressiveness can mask adharma; discernment must rest on satya (truthfulness) and conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator continues the visual portrait of Rāvaṇa’s imposing, ornamented form.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Physical magnificence is emphasized rather than virtue—creating contrast with the Ramayana’s ideal of inner nobility grounded in dharma.