Shloka 24

अरण्यकाण्डे द्वात्रिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

राक्षसेन्द्रं महाभागं पौलस्त्यकुलनन्दनम्। 3.32.23।।रावणं शत्रुहन्तारं मन्त्रिभिः परिवारितम्।अभिगम्याब्रवीद्वाक्यं राक्षसी भयविह्वला।।3.32.24।।

Transliteration

rāvaṇaṃ śatruhantāraṃ mantribhiḥ parivāritam |

abhigamyābravīd vākyaṃ rākṣasī bhayavihvalā ||3.32.24||

Translation

นางรากษสีผู้สั่นสะท้านด้วยความกลัว เข้าไปใกล้ทศกัณฐ์ผู้ปราบศัตรู ซึ่งรายล้อมด้วยเสนาบดี แล้วกล่าวถ้อยคำดังนี้

Word by Word

• तम्: to him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; imperfect 3rd singular

• दीप्त-विशाल-लोचनम्: (him) of shining wide eyes
• दीप्त-विशाल-लोचनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्त + विशाल + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective to 'तम्' (having shining large eyes)

• प्रदर्शयित्वा: having shown
• प्रदर्शयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-√दृश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा, absolutive); अव्यय; 'having shown'

• भय-मोह-मूर्छिता: overcome by fear and bewilderment
• भय-मोह-मूर्छिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय + मोह + मूर्छित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP: मूर्छित) used adjectivally; 'fainted/overcome by fear and delusion'

• सु-दारुणम्: very harsh
• सु-दारुणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective to 'वाक्यम्'

• वाक्यम्: words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• अभीत-चारिणी: formerly fearless-wandering (now distressed)
• अभीत-चारिणी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-भीत + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective to 'शूर्पणखा' (one who moves fearlessly)

• महात्मना: by the great-souled (Lakṣmaṇa)
• महात्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; instrumental singular (by the great-souled one)

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

• विरूपिता: disfigured
• विरूपिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-रूपित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP: विरूपित) 'disfigured'

Context

On reaching Ravana, the lord of demons, the delight of the Paulastya dynasty, and the destroyer of enemies surrounded by ministers, the terrified, Surpanakha said these words:

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Śūrpaṇakhā
• ministers (mantrins)

FAQs

What does this verse indicate about Śūrpaṇakhā’s state of mind, and why is it ethically significant?

The verse explicitly calls her bhaya-vihvalā—overwhelmed by fear—showing that her report to Rāvaṇa arises from panic and injury rather than calm discernment. Ethically, it foreshadows how fear and wounded pride can distort judgment and become a catalyst for adharma (unrighteous action).

How does the depiction of Rāvaṇa ‘surrounded by ministers’ relate to themes of dharma and satya?

Rāvaṇa is shown in a formal courtly setting with counsellors, implying that counsel and deliberation are available. In dharma, power should be guided by truthful information (satya) and wise advice; the narrative tension is that even with ministers present, a ruler may choose to act from passion and ego rather than truth-aligned, righteous restraint.