Shloka 12

शूर्पणखाया रावणं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Surpanakha’s Political Admonition to Ravana

Devanagari script

चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां क्रूरकर्मणाम्।हतान्येकेन रामेण खरश्च सहदूषणः।।।।

Transliteration

caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasāṃ krūrakarmaṇām | hatāny ekena rāmeṇa kharaś ca saha dūṣaṇaḥ ||

Translation

چودہ ہزار راکشس—جو سفّاک اعمال کے مرتکب تھے—اکیلے رام کے ہاتھوں مارے گئے، اور خر و دُوشن بھی ساتھ ہی ہلاک ہوئے۔

Word by Word

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• चतुर्दश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास/संख्यावाचक; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (indeclinable-like numeral) qualifying sahasrāṇi

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• रक्षसाम्: of demons
• रक्षसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• क्रूरकर्मणाम्: of cruel-deeded (ones)
• क्रूरकर्मणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (क्रूरं कर्म येषाम्); पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of rakṣasām)

• हतानि: (were) killed
• हतानि: Kriya (क्रिया/कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हत (कृदन्त; √हन् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used predicatively: ‘have been killed’

• एकेन: by one (alone)
• एकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• रामेण: by Rama
• रामेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• खरः: Khara
• खरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• सहदूषणः: together with Dushana
• सहदूषणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सह + दूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (दूषणेन सह = together with Dūṣaṇa); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

Rama, the effortless performer of formindable tasks, has assured safety to the sages. Peace and happiness was restored to Dandaka forest but Janasthana has been ravaged.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Khara
• Dūṣaṇa
• Rākṣasas
• Janasthāna

FAQs

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

Adharma-driven violence rebounds upon its perpetrators; dharma, embodied by Rāma’s righteous strength, decisively checks cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker reports the catastrophic defeat of the Janasthāna forces: Rāma alone destroyed the rākṣasa army and its commanders.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s vīrya (valor) in service of dharma—power directed to restore moral order.