Shloka 20

Kuntī–Sūrya-saṃvāda: Autonomy, Reputation, and the Promise of Karṇa

Devanagari script

सौमित्रिशरसंस्पर्शाद्‌ रावणि: क्रोधमूर्च्छित: । असृजल्लक्ष्मणायाष्टौ शरानाशीविषोपमान्‌,लक्ष्मणके बाणोंकी चोट खाकर रावणकुमार क्रोधसे मूर्च्छित हो उठा। उसने उनके ऊपर विषधर साँपोंके समान विषैले आठ बाण छोड़े

Transliteration

Saumitri-śara-saṁsparśād Rāvaṇiḥ krodha-mūrcchitaḥ | asṛjal Lakṣmaṇāyāṣṭau śarān āśīviṣopamān ||

Translation

सौमित्रिच्या बाणांच्या स्पर्शाने रावणि क्रोधाने मूर्च्छित झाला. त्याने लक्ष्मणावर विषधर सर्पांसारखे विषारी आठ बाण सोडले.

Word by Word

सौमित्रि-शर-संस्पर्शात्from the contact/impact of Saumitri’s arrows

रावणिःRāvaṇi (son of Rāvaṇa)

क्रोध-मूर्च्छितःfaint/overpowered with anger

असृजत्he released/shot

लक्ष्मणायto/against Lakṣmaṇa

अष्टौeight

शरान्arrows

आशीविष-उपमान्like venomous serpents

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitri)

Rāvaṇa’s son (Rāvaṇi)

arrows (śara)

venomous serpents (āśīviṣa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how krodha (anger) can overwhelm discernment: when a warrior becomes ‘krodha-mūrcchita’, actions tend toward harsher, more dangerous retaliation, illustrating the ethical need for self-mastery even amid conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being struck by Lakṣmaṇa’s arrows, Rāvaṇa’s son becomes enraged and, in response, shoots eight highly deadly arrows at Lakṣmaṇa, described as poisonous like venomous snakes.