Shloka 8

अरण्यकाण्डे द्वात्रिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

विंशद्भुजं दशग्रीवं दर्शनीयपरिच्छदम्।विशालवक्षसं वीरं राजलक्षण शोभितम्।।।।

Transliteration

viṃśad-bhujaṃ daśa-grīvaṃ darśanīya-paricchadam | viśāla-vakṣasaṃ vīraṃ rāja-lakṣaṇa-śobhitam ||

Translation

เขาเป็นวีรบุรุษมีแขนยี่สิบและคอสิบ ประดับเครื่องแต่งกายงดงามน่าชม อกกว้างใหญ่ และรุ่งเรืองด้วยลักษณะแห่งราชา.

Word by Word

• viṃśat-bhujam: having twenty arms
• viṃśat-bhujam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṃśati (प्रातिपदिक) + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: viṃśati-saṅkhyāyuktaḥ bhujāḥ yasya (having twenty arms)

• daśa-grīvam: ten-necked (Rāvaṇa)
• daśa-grīvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + grīvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: daśa grīvāḥ yasya (ten-necked/ten-headed)

• darśanīya-paricchadam: with attractive attire
• darśanīya-paricchadam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: darśanīya (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + paricchada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: darśanīyaḥ paricchadaḥ yasya / darśanīya-paricchadaḥ (having attractive attire/ornaments)

• viśāla-vakṣasam: broad-chested
• viśāla-vakṣasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśāla (प्रातिपदिक) + vakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: viśālaṃ vakṣaḥ yasya (broad-chested)

• vīram: the hero/valiant one
• vīram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• rāja-lakṣaṇa-śobhitam: adorned with royal marks
• rāja-lakṣaṇa-śobhitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + śobhita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √śubh)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: rājñaḥ lakṣaṇaiḥ śobhitaḥ (adorned with royal marks)

Context

He had scars of wounds caused by the thunderbolt received in war between gods and demons, and marks of scars on his chest made by tips of the the tusks of elephant Airavata.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

External ‘royal marks’ and extraordinary form are ethically neutral; dharma depends on self-control and right action, not appearance or status.

What is the narrative situation?

A descriptive passage portraying Rāvaṇa’s extraordinary physique and kingly presence as seen by Śūrpaṇakhā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Valor and kingly presence are highlighted, but the Ramayana’s moral arc later tests whether such power serves dharma or violates it.