Shloka 8

विंशः सर्गः (Sarga 20): शूर्पणखाप्रेरितराक्षसवधः

The Slaying of the Fourteen Demons Sent by Śūrpaṇakhā

Devanagari script

फलमूलाशनौ दान्तौ तापसौ धर्मचारिणौ।वसन्तौ दण्डकारण्ये किमर्थमुपहिंसथ।।।।

Transliteration

phalamūlāśanau dāntau tāpasau dharmacāriṇau | vasantau daṇḍakāraṇye kim artham upahiṃsatha ||

Translation

พวกเราเป็นดาบสผู้สำรวมตน ดำเนินตามธรรม ยังชีพด้วยผลไม้และรากไม้ อาศัยอยู่ในป่าทัณฑการัญญะ—เหตุใดพวกเจ้าจึงมารังควานเบียดเบียนเรา?

Word by Word

• phala-mūla-aśanau: (you two) fruit-and-root eaters
• phala-mūla-aśanau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + aśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष; upapada-like) meaning 'phala-mūlaṃ aśnātīti'; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; qualifies (rāma-lakṣmaṇau)

• dāntau: self-restrained
• dāntau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dānta (कृदन्त, √dam/दम्)
• Form: Kta (क्त) participle used adjectivally; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• tāpasau: ascetics
• tāpasau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāpasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• dharma-cāriṇau: followers of dharma
• dharma-cāriṇau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + cārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) = 'dharmaṃ carataḥ'; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• vasantau: dwelling
• vasantau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (वस् धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya (शतृ), present active participle; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; 'dwelling'

• daṇḍakāraṇye: in the Dandaka forest
• daṇḍakāraṇye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍaka (प्रातिपदिक) + araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa = 'daṇḍakasya araṇyam'; Napumsaka, Saptamī vibhakti (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana

• kim: why?
• kim: Praśna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative particle used adverbially (प्रश्न-निपात)

• artham: for what purpose
• artham: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; with kim = kim artham

• upahiṃsatha: do you harm/torment
• upahiṃsatha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa + hiṃs (हिंस् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्, present), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada; upasarga: upa-

Context

Feeding on fruits and roots and following the righteous path, we are living in Dandaka forest like ascetics. Why are you torturing us?

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Dandaka forest (Daṇḍakāraṇya)

FAQs

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

Respect for non-violent, dharma-centered living: those who practice restraint and harmlessness should not be subjected to हिंसा (harm).

What is the narrative situation?

Rama questions the demons’ motive for attacking or troubling them while they live simply as forest-dwellers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-restraint (dama) and dharma-conduct (dharmacarya), combined with moral clarity in confronting wrongdoing.