Shloka 7

अरण्यकाण्डे द्वात्रिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

देवासुरविमर्देषु वज्राशनिकृतव्रणम्।ऐरावतविषाणग्रैरुद्घृष्टकिणवक्षसम्।।।।

Transliteration

devāsuravimardeṣu vajrāśanikṛtavraṇam | airāvataviṣāṇagrair udghṛṣṭakiṇavakṣasam ||

Translation

دیوتاؤں اور اسوروں کی گھمسان جنگوں میں اس کے بدن پر وجر اور اشنی کے زخم لگے تھے؛ اور اس کے سینے پر ایراوت کے دانتوں کی نوکوں سے کھدی ہوئی گھاؤں کی نشانیاں چمکتی تھیں۔

Word by Word

• deva-asura-vimardeṣu: in the battles of gods and demons
• deva-asura-vimardeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक) + vimarda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; तत्पुरुषः: 'in the clashes (vimarda) of gods and asuras'

• vajra-aśani-kṛta-vraṇam: wounded by thunderbolt and lightning
• vajra-aśani-kṛta-vraṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + aśani (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ) + vraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः: 'having wounds (vraṇa) made (kṛta) by thunderbolt and lightning' qualifying rāvaṇam

• airāvata-viṣāṇa-agraiḥ: by the tips of Airāvata's tusks
• airāvata-viṣāṇa-agraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: airāvata (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; तत्पुरुषः: 'by the tips (agra) of the tusks (viṣāṇa) of Airāvata'

• udghṛṣṭa-kiṇa-vakṣasam: with scarred chest (from abrasion)
• udghṛṣṭa-kiṇa-vakṣasam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udghṛṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; ud+√ghṛṣ धातु) + kiṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः: 'whose chest (vakṣas) has scars/calluses (kiṇa) rubbed/abraded (udghṛṣṭa)' qualifying rāvaṇam

Context

Invincible to gods, gandharvas, all living beings, great sages and seers, he was like Yama, lord of death with wide open jaws.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Devas
• Asuras
• Vajra (thunderbolt)
• Airāvata

FAQs

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

Past victories and battle-marks do not sanctify a person’s present choices. Dharma evaluates one by current conduct and restraint, not by reputation or war-record.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator continues detailing Rāvaṇa’s formidable history and body marked by cosmic battles.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance and battle-hardiness are shown, but the epic’s ethical lens implies that such traits must be governed by dharma to be truly admirable.