Shloka 21

शूर्पणखाविरूपणम्

The Disfigurement of Śūrpaṇakhā

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तो लक्ष्मणस्तस्याः क्रुद्धो रामस्य पार्श्वतः।उद्धृत्य खङ्गं चिच्छेद कर्णनासं महाबलः।।।।

Transliteration

ity ukto lakṣmaṇas tasyāḥ kruddho rāmasya pārśvataḥ |

uddhṛtya khaṅgaṃ ciccheda karṇanāsaṃ mahābalaḥ ||

Translation

असे सांगितल्यावर, रामाच्या बाजूला उभा असलेला महाबली लक्ष्मण क्रुद्ध झाला; त्याने खड्ग उपसून तिचे कान व नाक छेदिले।

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle, indeclinable

• uktaḥ: having been instructed
• uktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'having been told/addressed'

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (लक्ष्मण प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana

• kruddhaḥ: angry
• kruddhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kruddha (क्रुद्ध प्रातिपदिक) < krudh (क्रुध् धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective

• rāmasya: of Rāma
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (राम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen/6th), Ekavacana

• pārśvataḥ: at the side
• pārśvataḥ: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pārśvataḥ (अव्यय) < pārśva (पार्श्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb/postposition meaning 'from/by the side of'

• uddhṛtya: having drawn (up)
• uddhṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (हृ धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), with upasarga ud-; 'having lifted/drawn'

• khaṅgam: sword
• khaṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaṅga (खङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana

• ciccheda: cut off
• ciccheda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: chid (छिद् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (Perfect), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; reduplicated perfect form

• karṇanāsam: ears and nose
• karṇanāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karṇanāsa (कर्णनास प्रातिपदिक) = karṇa + nāsā
• Form: Puṃliṅga (collective)/Napुṃsaka usage; Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana; dvandva meaning 'ears and nose' (dual set treated as one)

• mahābalaḥ: the mighty one
• mahābalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahābala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; epithet of Lakṣmaṇa

Context

Thus instructed (by Rama), powerful Lakshmana took position by the side of Rama, angrily lifted the sword and cut off her nose and ears.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Sword (khaṅga)

FAQs

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

Obedience to rightful command in defense of the vulnerable: Lakṣmaṇa executes protective punishment as directed by Rāma.

What is the narrative situation?

Following Rāma’s order, Lakṣmaṇa uses his sword to disfigure Śūrpaṇakhā by cutting off her nose and ears.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s loyalty and readiness to act decisively for Sītā’s safety under Rāma’s leadership.