Shloka 16

आरण्यकाण्डे चतुस्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Śūrpaṇakhā Reports to Rāvaṇa; Rāma’s Might and Sītā’s Description

Devanagari script

तप्तकाञ्चनवर्णाभा रक्ततुङ्गनखी शुभा।सीता नाम वरारोहा वैदेही तनुमध्यमा।।।।

Transliteration

tapta-kāñcana-varṇābhā rakta-tuṅga-nakhī śubhā | sītā nāma varārohā vaidehī tanumadhyamā ||

Translation

นางเป็นมงคล มีรัศมีดุจทองคำที่ถูกเผาให้ร้อน มีเล็บแดงนูนงาม; นามของนางคือ สีตา—ไวเทหี—เอวบาง รูปทรงอ่อนช้อย

Word by Word

• tapta-kāñcana-varṇa-ābhā: shining with heated-gold color
• tapta-kāñcana-varṇa-ābhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapta (√tap, धातु; कृदन्त) + kāñcana (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ābhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘having the hue-luster of heated gold’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• rakta-tuṅga-nakhī: with red pointed nails
• rakta-tuṅga-nakhī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta (प्रातिपदिक) + tuṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + nakhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (‘having red, high/pointed nails’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śubhā: auspicious
• śubhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sītā: Sītā
• sītā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Naming marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: नाम-निर्देशक-अव्यय

• varārohā: graceful (excellent-hipped)
• varārohā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + ārohā (√ruh, धातु; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (‘excellent-hipped/with fine thighs/ascending’ as epithet); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vaidehī: Vaidehī
• vaidehī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidehī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (जनपद-सम्बन्धिनी: daughter of Videha)

• tanu-madhyamā: slender-waisted
• tanu-madhyamā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tanu (प्रातिपदिक) + madhyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (‘she whose middle/waist is slender’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

She is Sita, princess of Videha, a virtuous lady of golden complexion, a beautiful lady of slender waist and heavy hips.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Vaidehī (Videha)
• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds Sītā’s auspicious identity and rightful lineage; dharma demands honoring such sanctity rather than violating it through desire or coercion.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā identifies Sītā explicitly (name and origin), providing Rāvaṇa the personal details that will drive the next turning point of the epic.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s auspiciousness and dignified identity (as Vaidehī), signaling inner worth aligned with dharmic ideals.