Shloka 4

आरण्यकाण्डे चतुस्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Śūrpaṇakhā Reports to Rāvaṇa; Rāma’s Might and Sītā’s Description

Devanagari script

इत्युक्ता राक्षसेन्द्रेण राक्षसी क्रोधमूर्छिता।ततो रामं यथातत्वमाख्यातुमुपचक्रमे।।।।

Transliteration

ity uktā rākṣasendreṇa rākṣasī krodhamūrchitā | tato rāmaṃ yathātattvam ākhyātum upacakrame ||

Translation

രാക്ഷസേന്ദ്രൻ ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ രാക്ഷസി ക്രോധമൂഢയായി; തുടർന്ന് രാമനെ യഥാർത്ഥസ്വരൂപത്തിൽ വിവരിക്കാൻ തുടങ്ങി.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: परामर्शक-अव्यय (quotative)

• उक्ता: addressed/spoken to
• उक्ता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP)

• राक्षस-इन्द्रेण: by the lord of demons
• राक्षस-इन्द्रेण: करण (Karaṇa/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः

• राक्षसी: the demoness
• राक्षसी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• क्रोध-मूर्छिता: overcome by anger
• क्रोध-मूर्छिता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्छित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < √मूर्छ् (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP)

• ततः: then
• ततः: सम्बन्ध (Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (sequence)

• रामम्: Rāma
• रामम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• यथा-तत्त्वम्: truthfully/as it really is
• यथा-तत्त्वम्: प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'according to truth')

• आख्यातुम्: to describe/tell
• आख्यातुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√ख्या (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• उपचक्रमे: began/undertook
• उपचक्रमे: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप√क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Context

Thus questioned by Ravana, the demoness, overcome by anger, began telling him about Rama faithfully:

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa (Rākṣasendra)
• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Even when driven by strong emotion, truthful reporting (yathātattvam) is presented as a standard; satya is a stabilizing value amid anger.

What is the narrative situation?

After being questioned by Rāvaṇa, Śūrpaṇakhā begins her account describing Rāma’s true prowess and appearance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness in testimony—stating facts as they are, even when personally agitated.