Valmiki Ramayana 3.18.24 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 24

शूर्पणखाविरूपणम्

The Disfigurement of Śūrpaṇakhā

Devanagari script

सा विक्षरन्ती रुधिरं बहुधा घोरदर्शना।प्रगृह्य बाहू गर्जन्ती प्रविवेश महावनम्।।।।

Transliteration

sā vikṣarantī rudhiraṃ bahudhā ghoradarśanā |

pragṛhya bāhū garjantī praviveśa mahāvanam ||

Translation

घोरदर्शना ती, अनेक धारांनी रक्त गळत असताना, बाहू उचलून गर्जना करीत महावनात शिरली।

Word by Word

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• vikṣarantī: dripping
• vikṣarantī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣar (क्षर् धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ present active participle, Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; with upasarga vi-; 'dripping'

• rudhiram: blood
• rudhiram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudhira (रुधिर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana

• bahudhā: in many ways/abundantly
• bahudhā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahudhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (बहुधा = in many ways/abundantly)

• ghoradarśanā: frightful-looking
• ghoradarśanā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghoradarśanā (प्रातिपदिक) = ghora + darśana
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'of dreadful appearance'

• pragṛhya: having raised/held
• pragṛhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (ग्रह् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), with upasarga pra-; 'having seized/held up'

• bāhū: (her) two arms
• bāhū: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (बाहु प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Dvivacana (dual)

• garjantī: roaring
• garjantī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: garj (गर्ज् धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ present active participle, Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'roaring'

• praviveśa: entered
• praviveśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: viś (विश् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (Perfect), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; with upasarga pra-

• mahāvanam: the great forest
• mahāvanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahāvana (महावन प्रातिपदिक) = mahā + vana
• Form: Napुṃsaka, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana; 'great forest'

Context

Dripping blood profusely, the frightful demoness lifted her arms and entered the great forest-roaring.

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Great forest (mahāvana)

FAQs

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

The narrative reinforces that violent intent yields painful consequence, and that protecting the righteous restores safety to the immediate community.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā retreats deeper into the forest, wounded and roaring.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicitly, the guardians’ effectiveness—by stopping the threat, they compel the aggressor to withdraw.