Shloka 1

विंशः सर्गः (Sarga 20): शूर्पणखाप्रेरितराक्षसवधः

The Slaying of the Fourteen Demons Sent by Śūrpaṇakhā

Devanagari script

ततश्शूर्पणखा घोरा राघवाश्रममागता।राक्षसानाचचक्षे तौ भ्रातरौ सह सीतया।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ śūrpaṇakhā ghorā rāghavāśramam āgatā | rākṣasān ācacakṣe tau bhrātarau saha sītayā ||

Translation

ภายหลังจากนั้น นางศูรปณขาผู้ดุร้ายได้มายังอาศรมของพระราม และชี้ให้เหล่ารากษสเห็นสองพี่น้องพร้อมทั้งนางสีดา

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

• śūrpaṇakhā: Śūrpaṇakhā
• śūrpaṇakhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūrpaṇakhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• ghorā: terrible
• ghorā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘śūrpaṇakhā’ विशेषण

• rāghava-āśramam: Rāghava's hermitage
• rāghava-āśramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava + āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (राघवस्य आश्रमः)

• āgatā: came
• āgatā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-gam (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘came’

• rākṣasān: the demons
• rākṣasān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• ācacakṣe: reported/pointed out
• ācacakṣe: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-cakṣ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘told/pointed out’

• tau: those two
• tau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• bhrātarau: brothers
• bhrātarau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• saha: with
• saha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक-उपपद

• sītayā: with Sītā
• sītayā: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Context

The frightful Surpanakha came to the hermitage of Rama and showed both the brothers and Sita to the demons.

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

It warns against betrayal and incitement: revealing others to hostile forces violates satya in spirit and dharma of non-harm, turning knowledge into a weapon.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā arrives at Rāma’s hermitage and informs/points out Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and Sītā to other rākṣasas, setting up later attacks.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, the verse highlights the need for vigilance and protective prudence in righteous living, especially in vulnerable settings like the forest āśrama.