Shloka 18

शूर्पणखाया आगमनम्

Surpanakha Approaches Rama

Devanagari script

नियोगात् तु नरेन्द्रस्य पितुर्मातुश्च यन्त्रितः।।।।धर्मार्थं धर्मकाङ्क्षी च वनं वस्तुमिहागतः।

Transliteration

niyogāt tu narendrasya pitur mātuś ca yantritaḥ | dharmārthaṃ dharmakāṅkṣī ca vanaṃ vastum ihāgataḥ ||

Translation

نریندر—میرے پتا بادشاہ—اور میری ماں کے حکم سے مجبور ہو کر، اور دھرم کی آرزو رکھتے ہوئے، دھرم کی خاطر میں یہاں جنگل میں بسنے آیا ہوں۔

Word by Word

• niyogāt: from the command
• niyogāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचनम्; अर्थः—"from/owing to the order"

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय (particle: "but/indeed")

• narendrasya: of the king
• narendrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narendra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्

• pituḥ: of (my) father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्

• mātuḥ: of (my) mother
• mātuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• yantritaḥ: impelled
• yantritaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yam (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; अर्थः—"impelled/controlled"

• dharmārtham: for dharma's sake
• dharmārtham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (dharmāya arthaḥ) = "for the sake of dharma"

• dharmakāṅkṣī: desirous of dharma
• dharmakāṅkṣī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + kāṅkṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (dharmam kāṅkṣati)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• vanam: forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• vastum: to live (to dwell)
• vastum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु) + tumun (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), अर्थः—"to dwell"

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb of place)

• āgataḥ: (I) have come
• āgataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + gam (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP) प्रयुक्तः—"has come"; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

Context

I wish to know who you are. Tell me who your kins are. With lovely limbs you do not appear to be a demoness.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• narendra (Daśaratha implied as king/father)
• mother (Kaikeyī implied by exile context)
• forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Dharma as fidelity to rightful command and familial obligation—Rāma accepts forest-life to honor parental/royal injunction and uphold righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma explains to Śūrpaṇakhā why he is living in the forest: it is due to the king’s and his mother’s directive, embraced as dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s integrity (satya-niṣṭhā) and commitment to duty over personal comfort.