Shloka 21

अरण्यकाण्डे द्वात्रिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

रावणं सर्वभूतानां सर्वलोकभयावहम्।राक्षसी भ्रातरं शूरं सा ददर्श महाबलम्।।।।

Transliteration

rāvaṇaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ sarvalokabhayāvaham |

rākṣasī bhrātaraṃ śūraṃ sā dadarśa mahābalam ||

Translation

นางยักษิณีได้เห็นพี่ชายของตน คือราวณะ—ผู้กล้าหาญและมีกำลังมหาศาล—ผู้ยังความหวาดกลัวแก่สรรพสัตว์และทุกโลกทั้งปวง

Word by Word

• रावणम्: Rāvaṇa
• रावणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• सर्वभूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्वभूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; genitive plural (of all beings)

• सर्व-लोक-भय-आवहम्: bringing fear to all worlds
• सर्व-लोक-भय-आवहम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + लोक + भय + आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective to 'रावणम्' (bringing fear to all worlds)

• राक्षसी: the demoness
• राक्षसी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• भ्रातरम्: brother
• भ्रातरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• शूरम्: valiant
• शूरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective to 'भ्रातरम्/रावणम्'

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परिपूर्ण), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; perfect 3rd singular (saw)

• महाबलम्: very strong
• महाबलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective to 'रावणम्/भ्रातरम्'

Context

That demoness , Surpanakha saw her very strong,valiant brother Ravana who made all beings cry and created fear in all worlds;

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Rule by fear is a sign of adharma; true kingship (rājadharma) is measured by protection and welfare, not terror. The verse frames Rāvaṇa as a cosmic source of fear, contrasting with Dharmic leadership.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā arrives in Laṅkā (implied) and beholds Rāvaṇa, setting up her complaint and the plot that leads toward Sītā’s abduction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śūrpaṇakhā’s familial dependence is shown, but the verse chiefly emphasizes Rāvaṇa’s intimidating dominance rather than a virtue.