Valmiki Ramayana 3.18.13 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 13

शूर्पणखाविरूपणम्

The Disfigurement of Śūrpaṇakhā

Devanagari script

इति सा लक्ष्मणेनोक्ता कराला निर्णतोदरी।मन्यते तद्वचस्तथ्यं परिहासाविचक्षणा।।।।

Transliteration

iti sā lakṣmaṇenoktā karālā nirṇatodarī | manyate tad vacas tathyaṃ parihāsāvicakṣaṇā ||

Translation

Demikianlah dia ditegur oleh Lakṣmaṇa; wanita yang menggerunkan, berperut kendur itu—tidak pandai menilai gurauan—menyangka kata-kata itu benar.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-प्रकारेण (quotative particle: thus)

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लक्ष्मणेन: by Lakṣmaṇa
• लक्ष्मणेन: करण/हेतु (Agent/instrument in passive construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• उक्ता: addressed/spoken to
• उक्ता: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √vac वच्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कराला: fierce/terrible
• कराला: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निर्णतोदरी: drooping-bellied
• निर्णतोदरी: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirṇata + udarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय

• मन्यते: thinks/considers
• मन्यते: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (मन् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of vacaḥ)

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथ्यम्: true
• तथ्यम्: कर्म-समानााधिकरण (Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tathya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective to ‘tad vacaḥ’)

• परिहासाविचक्षणा: not discerning the joke
• परिहासाविचक्षणा: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parihāsa + avicakṣaṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: परिहासे अविचक्षणा (not discerning in jest / unable to detect mockery)

Context

While Lakshmana was thus making fun of the dreadful, drooping-bellied Surpanakha, she presumed his words to be true.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Śūrpaṇakhā

FAQs

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

It underscores the dharmic need for viveka (discernment): taking deceptive speech as truth leads to harmful choices and conflict.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā misunderstands Lakṣmaṇa’s mockery as sincere advice, prompting her to approach Rāma again with hostility toward Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment is emphasized by its absence; the verse marks a turning point where delusion hardens into intent.