Shloka 11

खर

शूर्पणखा-संवादः | Khara and Surpanakha: Lament, Reproach, and the Janasthana Crisis

Devanagari script

अहमस्मि समुद्विग्ना विषण्णा च निशाचर।शरणं त्वां पुनः प्राप्ता सर्वतोभयदर्शिनी।।।।

Transliteration

aham asmi samudvignā viṣaṇṇā ca niśācara | śaraṇaṃ tvāṃ punaḥ prāptā sarvato bhayadarśinī ||

Translation

โอ้ผู้ท่องราตรี ข้าพเจ้าสั่นสะท้านและเศร้าหมอง เห็นภัยอยู่รอบด้าน จึงกลับมาหาท่านอีกครั้งเพื่อขอที่พึ่ง

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 1st person pronoun, Nominative singular

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; 1st sg: am

• समुद्विग्ना: agitated/terrified
• समुद्विग्ना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुद्विग्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; उद्+विज्/विज् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; PPP used adjectivally

• विषण्णा: dejected
• विषण्णा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषण्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सद्/षद् धातु with vi-)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; PPP used adjectivally

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• निशाचर: O night-roamer (demon)
• निशाचर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशाचर (प्रातिपदिक: निशा + चर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular (address)

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (as goal)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 2nd person pronoun, Accusative singular

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• प्राप्ता: have come/obtained
• प्राप्ता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्राप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; प्र+आप् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; used predicatively: having obtained/come

• सर्वतोभयदर्शिनी: seeing danger everywhere
• सर्वतोभयदर्शिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वतोभयदर्शिनी (प्रातिपदिक: सर्वतः + भय + दर्शिनी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; bahir-arthena: 'seeing fear from all sides'

Context

O demon ! I am scared and sad. To me everything looks frightening. I, therefore, seek refuge in you.

Characters & Entities

• Shurpanakha (Śūrpaṇakhā)
• Khara

FAQs

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

The verse reflects the human (and rakshasa) impulse to seek shelter when consequences arrive; dharma teaching emerges by contrast—true refuge is found in right conduct, not merely in power.

What is the narrative situation?

Shurpanakha, frightened after Rama’s response, returns to Khara and begs protection.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not virtue but dependence: fear drives her to seek external protection rather than inner correction.