Shloka 13

अयोमुखी-दर्शनम् तथा कबन्ध-प्रवेशः

Ayomukhi Encounter and the ظهور of Kabandha

Devanagari script

भयदामल्पसत्त्वानां बीभत्सां रौद्रदर्शनाम्।लम्बोदरीं तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रां करालीं परुषत्वचम्।।3.69.12।।भक्षयन्तीं मृगान्भीमान्विकटां मुक्तमूर्धजाम्।प्रैक्षेतां तौ ततस्तत्र भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।।3.69.13।।

Transliteration

bhayadām alpasattvānāṃ bībhatsāṃ raudradarśanām |

lambodarīṃ tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭrāṃ karālīṃ paruṣatvacam ||

bhakṣayantīṃ mṛgān bhīmān vikaṭāṃ muktamūrdhajām |

praikṣetāṃ tau tatas tatra bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau ||

Translation

แล้วสองพี่น้อง พระรามและพระลักษมณ์ ทอดพระเนตรเห็นนางรากษสีอันน่ากลัว—เป็นภัยแก่ผู้ใจอ่อน น่าขยะแขยงและดุดันน่าสะพรึงยิ่ง; ท้องพลุ้ย ผิวหยาบกร้าน เขี้ยวแหลมคม หน้าตาน่ากลัว ผมสยายรุงรัง กำลังกินสัตว์ป่าดุร้ายอันน่าหวาดหวั่น

Word by Word

• भक्षयन्तीम्: (a female) eating/devouring
• भक्षयन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी-कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• मृगान्: animals/deer
• मृगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• भीमान्: terrifying
• भीमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (मृगान् इति विशेष्यस्य)

• विकटाम्: hideous/monstrous
• विकटाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भक्षयन्तीम् इति विशेष्यस्य)

• मुक्तमूर्धजाम्: with loose/dishevelled hair
• मुक्तमूर्धजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्धज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुक्ताः मूर्धजाः यस्याः सा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• प्रैक्षेताम्: the two saw
• प्रैक्षेताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम् (temporal adverb)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (locative adverb)

• भ्रातरौ: the two brothers
• भ्रातरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; तौ इति समानाधिकरणम्

• रामलक्ष्मणौ: Rama and Lakshmana
• रामलक्ष्मणौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; भ्रातरौ इति समानाधिकरणम्

Context

Then the two brothers saw a fearful demoness who could strike terror in the mind of the timid, an uncouth figure with huge curved skins, with a big stomach, dishevelled hair, sharp and long teeth, devouring wild animals.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• rākṣasī (demoness)

FAQs

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

Dharma is discernment: the text contrasts civilized restraint with predatory violence, marking the rākṣasī’s adharma (harm to beings) as a moral and narrative warning.

What is the narrative situation?

While moving through the forest, the brothers encounter a terrifying demoness who is actively preying on animals.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and composure in the face of भय (fear): the brothers observe and assess a threat rather than panic.