Shloka 4

अरण्यकाण्डे द्वात्रिंशः सर्गः

Śūrpaṇakhā’s Report to Rāvaṇa and the Panegyric of His Might

Devanagari script

सा ददर्श विमानाग्रे रावणं दीप्ततेजसम्।उपोपविष्टं सचिवैर्मरुद्भिरिव वासवम्।।।।

Transliteration

sā dadarśa vimānāgre rāvaṇaṃ dīptatejasam | upopaviṣṭaṃ sacivair marudbhir iva vāsavam ||

Translation

اس نے وِمان کے اگلے حصے پر راون کو دیکھا—چمکتے ہوئے جلال والا—جو اپنے وزیروں کے ساتھ بیٹھا تھا، گویا مرُتوں کے درمیان واسَوَ (اندرا) ہو۔

Word by Word

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Singular; parasmaipada

• vimāna-agre: on the top of the aerial chariot
• vimāna-agre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimāna (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुषः: 'at the top/front of the aerial car'

• rāvaṇam: Rāvaṇa
• rāvaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dīpta-tejasam: of blazing splendour
• dīpta-tejasam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīpta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √dīp धातु) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारयः: 'shining in splendour' qualifying rāvaṇam

• upopaviṣṭam: seated
• upopaviṣṭam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa + √viś (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; past participle (क्त) with prefix upa-; 'seated' qualifying rāvaṇam

• sacivaiḥ: with ministers
• sacivaiḥ: Saha (सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saciva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• marudbhiḥ: with the Maruts
• marudbhiḥ: Upamāna-sahacara (उपमान-सहचर)
• Type: Noun
• Root: marut (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (like/as)

• vāsavam: Indra
• vāsavam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of comparison (upamāna)

Context

Seeing the performance of Rama which is very difficult for others, Surpanakha got scared and went to Lanka, ruled by Ravana.

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Rāvaṇa
• Vimāna
• Indra (Vāsava)
• Maruts
• Ministers

FAQs

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

The verse cautions that outward splendor and royal-like majesty are not proof of dharma. Ethical discernment requires looking beyond power and display.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā arrives in Laṅkā and sees Rāvaṇa enthroned in brilliance, attended by his counselors.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

No virtue is praised directly; rather, the scene emphasizes political power and grandeur, setting the stage for how such power can be misused when ungoverned by dharma.