Shloka 13

शूर्पणखाया रावणं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Surpanakha’s Political Admonition to Ravana

Devanagari script

ऋषीणामभयं दत्तं कृतक्षेमाश्च दण्डकाः।धर्षितं च जनस्थानं रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा।।।।

Transliteration

ṛṣīṇām abhayaṃ dattaṃ kṛtakṣemāś ca daṇḍakāḥ | dharṣitaṃ ca janasthānaṃ rāmeṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā ||

Translation

โดยพระราม—ผู้ประกอบกิจโดยไม่หวั่นไหว—ได้ประทานความปลอดภัยแก่เหล่าฤๅษี; แดนทัณฑกะถูกทำให้ร่มเย็นมั่นคง และชนะสถานถูกทำลายจนราบคาบ

Word by Word

• ऋषीणाम: of the sages
• ऋषीणाम: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• अभयम्: fearlessness, safety
• अभयम्: कर्म (कर्म/Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: कर्मणि प्रयोगे कर्मसंबन्ध (Ppp predicative to object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with अभयम्

• कृतक्षेमाः: having secured peace/safety
• कृतक्षेमाः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत-क्षेम (प्रातिपदिक; कृत from कृ धातु + क्षेम)
• Form: समास: कृतं क्षेमं येषाम् (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः; ‘peace made/secured’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• दण्डकाः: the Dandakas (people/region of Daṇḍaka)
• दण्डकाः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्डक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• धर्षितम्: assailed, attacked
• धर्षितम्: कर्म (कर्म/Karma)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here predicative with जनस्थानम्

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• जनस्थानम्: Janasthāna (the place called Janasthāna)
• जनस्थानम्: कर्म (कर्म/Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनस्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: जनानां स्थानम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• रामेण: by Rama
• रामेण: करण (करण/Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• अक्लिष्टकर्मणा: (by) one whose deeds are unwearied/effortless
• अक्लिष्टकर्मणा: विशेषण (Adjectival to करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्लिष्ट-कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: अक्लिष्टं कर्म यस्य सः (बहुव्रीहि); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular, रामेण इति विशेषण

Context

O Ravana, you are not aware of what has happened to your own kingdom. You are avaricious, intoxicated, and under others' control. A great fear has been generated in your own kingdom.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Ṛṣis (sages)
• Daṇḍaka
• Janasthāna

FAQs

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

A righteous protector establishes safety for the innocent (sages) and restores order; dharma is measured by protection given to the vulnerable.

What is the narrative situation?

The aftermath of Rāma’s campaign in Daṇḍaka is summarized: sages are secured, and the rākṣasa stronghold at Janasthāna is devastated.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast efficacy (akliṣṭa-karmatā): the capacity to accomplish difficult duties without moral confusion or hesitation.