Shloka 9

विंशः सर्गः (Sarga 20): शूर्पणखाप्रेरितराक्षसवधः

The Slaying of the Fourteen Demons Sent by Śūrpaṇakhā

Devanagari script

युष्मान्पापात्मकान्हन्तुं विप्रकारान्महाहवे।ऋषीणां तु नियोगेन प्राप्तोऽहं सशरायुधः।।।।

Transliteration

yuṣmān pāpātmakān hantuṃ viprakārān mahāhave | ṛṣīṇāṃ tu niyogena prāpto 'haṃ saśarāyudhaḥ ||

Translation

ଋଷିମାନଙ୍କ ନିୟୋଗରେ ମୁଁ ଧନୁଷ, ବାଣ ଓ ଶସ୍ତ୍ରାସ୍ତ୍ର ସହ ସଜ୍ଜ ହୋଇ ଆସିଛି—ମହାସମରରେ ତୁମମାନଙ୍କ ପରି ପାପାତ୍ମା, ବିପ୍ରଦ୍ରୋହୀ ଦୁଷ୍ଟମାନଙ୍କୁ ସଂହାର କରିବାକୁ।

Word by Word

• yuṣmān: you (all)
• yuṣmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana; pronoun

• pāpātmakān: sinful (ones)
• pāpātmakān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi = 'pāpaḥ ātmā yasya'; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifies yuṣmān

• hantum: to kill
• hantum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (हन् धातु)
• Form: Tumun-pratyaya (तुमुन्), infinitive; purpose (प्रयोजन)

• viprakārān: wrongdoers/offenders
• viprakārān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viprakāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; apposition to yuṣmān

• mahāhave: in great battle
• mahāhave: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + āhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) = 'mahān āhavaḥ'; Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana

• ṛṣīṇām: of the sages
• ṛṣīṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Bahuvacana

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) with contrast/emphasis

• niyogena: by the command
• niyogena: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; instrumental of means/cause

• prāptaḥ: have come/arrived
• prāptaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) past participle; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicative with ahaṃ

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• sa-śara-āyudhaḥ: with arrows and weapons
• sa-śara-āyudhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + śara (प्रातिपदिक) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष; सह-समास) = 'śaraiḥ āyudhaiḥ saha'; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifies ahaṃ

Context

I came here equipped with bows, arrows and weapons, asked by ascetics to kill in the battle sinners like you who are offending them.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• rishis (Ṛṣis)
• rakshasas
• weapons (śara/āyudha)

FAQs

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

Legitimate force in service of dharma: Rama frames violence as duty-bound protection of sages against persistent offenders.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama declares his mandate—received from the rishis—to punish the demons who persecute them.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsibility and justice: power is exercised as a commissioned duty, not personal anger.