Shloka 17

शूर्पणखाविरूपणम्

The Disfigurement of Śūrpaṇakhā

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा मृगशाबाक्षीमलातसदृशेक्षणा।अभ्यधावत्सुसङ्कृद्धा महोल्कां रोहिणीमिव।।।।

Transliteration

ity uktvā mṛgaśābākṣīm alātasadṛśekṣaṇā | abhyadhāvat susaṅkruddhā maholkāṃ rohiṇīm iva ||

Translation

Pagkasabi nito, ang galit na galit—ang mga mata’y tila nagliliyab na baga—ay sumugod sa matang-usa na si Sītā, na wari’y isang dambuhalang bulalakaw na dumadagundong patungo kay Rohiṇī.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta/quotative particle (निपातः), indeclinable

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), having said; from √vac

• mṛgaśābākṣīm: the fawn-eyed woman (Sītā)
• mṛgaśābākṣīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛgaśābākṣī (प्रातिपदिक) = mṛgaśāba + akṣī
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (sg.); tatpuruṣa: 'mṛgaśābasya akṣī iva yasyāḥ' (fawn-eyed) used as substantive

• alātasadṛśekṣaṇā: she whose eyes were like a burning brand
• alātasadṛśekṣaṇā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alātasadṛśekṣaṇā (प्रातिपदिक) = alāta + sadṛśa + ikṣaṇa
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (sg.); adjective qualifying implied subject (Śūrpaṇakhā): 'having eyes like a burning brand'

• abhyadhāvat: rushed towards
• abhyadhāvat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhāv (धाव् धातु)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra (Imperfect/past), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana (sg.); with upasarga abhi-

• susaṅkṛddhā: very enraged
• susaṅkṛddhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṅkṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom/1st), Ekavacana; with intensifier su- (very)

• mahāulkām: a great meteor
• mahāulkām: Upamāna (उपमानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahāulkā (प्रातिपदिक) = mahā + ulkā
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: 'mahā ca sā ulkā'

• rohiṇīm: Rohiṇī (constellation)
• rohiṇīm: Upameya-sambandha (उपमेयसम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rohiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana; constellation Rohiṇī

• iva: like/as if
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-vācaka avyaya (simile particle)

Context

While speaking this, Surpanakha, with eyes like flaming amber ran to the fawn-eyed Sita in great anger like a giant meteor hurtling towards the constellation of Rohini :

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Sītā
• Rohiṇī

FAQs

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

When desire becomes wrath, it culminates in हिंसा; dharma requires protecting the vulnerable and preventing harm before it occurs.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā, furious, physically charges toward Sītā, triggering the decisive intervention that follows in the story.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s innocence is underscored (fawn-eyed), and the scene prepares for the protective duty of Rāma/Lakṣmaṇa as guardians.