Shloka 23

शूर्पणखाया आगमनम्

Surpanakha Approaches Rama

Devanagari script

रावणो नाम मे भ्राता बलीयान्राक्षसेश्वरः।वीरो विश्रवसः पुत्रो यदि ते श्रोत्रमागतः।।।।

Transliteration

rāvaṇo nāma me bhrātā balīyān rākṣaseśvaraḥ | vīro viśravasaḥ putro yadi te śrotram āgataḥ ||

Translation

माझा भाऊ रावण नावाचा—अतिबलवान, राक्षसांचा अधिपती; वीर, विश्रवसाचा पुत्र—जर त्याचे नाव तुझ्या कानावर आले असेल तर.

Word by Word

• pravṛddhanidraḥ: of deep sleep
• pravṛddhanidraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pravṛddha + nidra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः—"whose sleep is excessive"

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb: "always")

• kumbhakarṇaḥ: Kumbhakarna
• kumbhakarṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumbhakarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• mahābalaḥ: very strong
• mahābalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः—"whose strength is great"

• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana
• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेष (particle: "but")

• dharmātmā: righteous-souled
• dharmātmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः—"whose nature/soul is dharma"

• na: not
• na: Niṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• tu: however
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेष

• rākṣasaceṣṭitaḥ: of demonic behavior
• rākṣasaceṣṭitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rākṣasa + ceṣṭita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) "acted"; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—"having demon-like conduct"

• prakhyātavīryau: renowned in valor (both)
• prakhyātavīryau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prakhyāta + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः—"whose valor is renowned"

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्

• bhrātarau: two brothers
• bhrātarau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनम्

• kharadūṣaṇau: Khara and Dushana
• kharadūṣaṇau: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara + dūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनम्; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (Khara and Dūṣaṇa)

Context

My brother is Ravana, son of Visrava, and lord of all demons. You have heard his name I suppose.

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Rāvaṇa
• Viśravas

FAQs

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

A warning about power used as social leverage: lineage and might are invoked to intimidate, contrasting with dharma grounded in right conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā introduces her family connection to Rāvaṇa to establish status and threat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

None positively; the emphasis is on intimidation through association with a powerful ruler.