Shloka 26

शूर्पणखाया आगमनम्

Surpanakha Approaches Rama

Devanagari script

अहं प्रभावसम्पन्ना स्वच्छन्दबलगामिनी।।।।चिराय भव मे भर्ता सीतया किं करिष्यसि।

Transliteration

ahaṃ prabhāvasampannā svacchandabalagāminī | cirāya bhava me bhartā sītayā kiṃ kariṣyasi ||

Translation

Ako’y pinagkalooban ng kapangyarihan at nakalalakad saan man ko naisin; maging asawa kita sa mahabang panahon. Ano naman ang gagawin mo kay Sītā?

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative)

• प्रभाव-सम्पन्ना: endowed with power/influence
• प्रभाव-सम्पन्ना: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्पन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √पद्/पद्यते with सम्- उपसर्ग; past participle sense)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; विशेषण (adjective)

• स्वच्छन्द-बल-गामिनी: able to go with self-willed strength (move as she pleases)
• स्वच्छन्द-बल-गामिनी: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वच्छन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक) + गामिनी (प्रातिपदिक; from √गम्, agent noun)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; विशेषण (adjective)

• चिराय: for a long time
• चिराय: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial dative usage), कालवाचक (time-expression)

• भव: be (become)
• भव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, षष्ठी (Genitive)

• भर्ता: husband
• भर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• सीतया: with Sita
• सीतया: Sahakarana/Instrument (करण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (Instrumental)

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative); प्रश्न (interrogative)

• करिष्यसि: will you do
• करिष्यसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

I have influence over others, I have capacity to move wherever I want. Be my husband forever. What will you do with Sita?

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Rāma
• Sītā

FAQs

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

It underscores the dharmic ideal of marital fidelity by presenting its violation: Śūrpaṇakhā urges abandonment of Sītā, opposing righteous conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā attempts to entice Rāma by boasting of her power and directly demeaning/discounting Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicitly, Rāma’s expected virtue is steadfastness to Sītā and adherence to maryādā (right relationship and restraint).