Shloka 5

अरण्यकाण्डे द्वात्रिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

आसीनं सूर्यसङ्काशे काञ्चने परमासने।रुक्मवेदिगतं प्राज्यं ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम्।।।।

Transliteration

āsīnaṃ sūryasaṅkāśe kāñcane paramāsane | rukmavedigataṃ prājyaṃ jvalantam iva pāvakam ||

Translation

เขาประทับนั่งบนบัลลังก์ทองอันประเสริฐยิ่ง สว่างดุจดวงอาทิตย์—ประหนึ่งกองไฟใหญ่ที่ลุกโชติช่วงบนแท่นบูชาทองคำ

Word by Word

• āsīnam: seated
• āsīnam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āsīna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ās धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; present/past participial adjective 'sitting' qualifying rāvaṇam (from previous verse context)

• sūrya-saṅkāśe: in sun-like radiance
• sūrya-saṅkāśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुषः: 'like the sun' used as locative of quality: 'in sun-like (splendour)'

• kāñcane: golden
• kāñcane: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāñcana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; qualifying paramāsane

• parama-āsane: on a magnificent seat
• parama-āsane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; कर्मधारयः: 'supreme seat'

• rukma-vedi-gatam: placed on the golden altar
• rukma-vedi-gatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rukma (प्रातिपदिक) + vedi (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √gam धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः: 'gone to/placed on the golden altar' qualifying (him/fire-like)

• prājyam: mighty / abundant
• prājyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; 'abundant/strong' qualifying jvalantam/pāvakam

• jvalantam: blazing
• jvalantam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jval (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; present participle (शतृ) used adjectivally: 'blazing'

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय

• pāvakam: fire
• pāvakam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; object of comparison

Context

Surpanakha saw Ravana shining brilliantly, seated like Indra along with ministers and Maruts on top of the aerial chariot.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Sun
• Fire (Pāvaka)

FAQs

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

Dharma teaching by contrast: brilliance and prosperity can accompany adharma; therefore, ethical judgment must be based on conduct (ācāra), not spectacle.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration continues describing Rāvaṇa’s imposing royal splendor as Śūrpaṇakhā beholds him in Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse foregrounds majesty and power rather than virtue—preparing the reader to see how unchecked power can oppose dharma.