Shloka 16

अरण्यकाण्डे द्वात्रिंशः सर्गः

Śūrpaṇakhā’s Report to Rāvaṇa and the Panegyric of His Might

Devanagari script

चन्द्रसूर्यौ महाभागावुत्तिष्ठन्तौ परन्तपौ।निवारयति बाहुभ्यां यश्शैलशिखरोपमः।।।।

Transliteration

candrasūryau mahābhāgāv uttiṣṭhantau parantapau |

nivārayati bāhubhyāṃ yaḥ śailaśikharopamaḥ ||

Translation

ผู้มีสรีระดุจยอดเขา เป็นมหาวีรผู้เผาผลาญศัตรู ถึงกับสามารถใช้แขนของตนยับยั้งจันทร์และสุริยะเมื่อกำลังขึ้นได้

Word by Word

• candra-sūryau: the Moon and the Sun
• candra-sūryau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana (द्विवचन); dvandva: candraś ca sūryaś ca

• mahā-bhāgau: great/illustrious
• mahā-bhāgau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; karmadhāraya: mahābhāgau (very illustrious) qualifying candra-sūryau

• uttiṣṭhantau: rising
• uttiṣṭhantau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: present active participle (शतृ/śatṛ); Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; 'rising/standing up'

• paran-tapau: scorchers of enemies
• paran-tapau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + tapa (प्रातिपदिक; from √tap)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; tatpuruṣa: parān tāpayataḥ (scorchers of foes) qualifying candra-sūryau

• nivārayati: prevents/blocks
• nivārayati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vṛ (वृ धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, 3rd person, singular, parasmaipada

• bāhubhyām: with (his) two arms
• bāhubhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Dvivacana; instrumental

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun

• śaila-śikhara-upamaḥ: like a mountain peak
• śaila-śikhara-upamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaila (प्रातिपदिक) + śikhara (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: śailasya śikharasya upamaḥ (like a mountain-peak) qualifying yaḥ

Context

He was like the peak of a mountain. He could stop with his arms the great Moon and Sun from rising. He was a scorcher of enemies.

Characters & Entities

• Candra (Moon)
• Sūrya (Sun)
• Rāvaṇa (implied by context)

FAQs

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

Extraordinary power is not itself Dharma; when power becomes a cause for pride and intimidation, it tends toward adharma. The verse frames might as awe-inspiring, but the broader episode warns that power without restraint and righteousness becomes destructive.

What is the narrative situation?

In Araṇya-kāṇḍa, after Rāma destroys Khara, Dūṣaṇa, Triśiras, and their forces, the narrative turns to Śūrpaṇakhā’s approach to Rāvaṇa; these verses describe Rāvaṇa’s formidable nature.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not virtue but formidable prowess (bala/śaurya) is emphasized—presented as terrifying capability that, in the story’s moral arc, is misaligned with Dharma.