Shloka 11

विंशः सर्गः (Sarga 20): शूर्पणखाप्रेरितराक्षसवधः

The Slaying of the Fourteen Demons Sent by Śūrpaṇakhā

Devanagari script

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षसास्ते चतुर्दश।ऊचुर्वाचं सुसंक्रुद्धा ब्रह्मघ्नाश्शूलपाणयः।।।।

Transliteration

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā rākṣasās te caturdaśa | ūcur vācaṃ susaṃkruddhā brahmaghnāḥ śūlapāṇayaḥ ||

Translation

Nghe những lời đó, mười bốn tên rakshasa—những kẻ sát hại bà-la-môn với ngọn giáo trong tay—trở nên vô cùng giận dữ và đáp lại.

Word by Word

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/any, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana; 'of him'

• tad: that
• tad: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; qualifies vacanaṃ

• vacanaṃ: speech/words
• vacanaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyā (पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Ktvā (क्त्वा) absolutive; 'having heard'

• rākṣasāḥ: demons
• rākṣasāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana

• te: those
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; qualifies rākṣasāḥ

• caturdaśa: fourteen
• caturdaśa: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturdaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: Numeral (saṃkhyā); used adjectivally; indeclinable-like in form; qualifies rākṣasāḥ

• ūcuḥ: said/spoke
• ūcuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• vācam: speech/words
• vācam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• susaṃkruddhāḥ: very enraged
• susaṃkruddhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + sam + krudh (क्रुध् धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) participle; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; qualifies rākṣasāḥ

• brahma-ghnāḥ: slayers of Brahmins
• brahma-ghnāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + ghnā (कृदन्त, √han/हन्)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa = 'brahmaṇaṃ ghnanti'; agent-noun (घ्न) used as substantive; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• śūla-pāṇayaḥ: spear-in-hand (ones)
• śūla-pāṇayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi = 'yeṣāṃ pāṇau śūlam'; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

Context

At these words, the destroyers of brahmins, the fourteen demons were inflamed. They lifted their spears and spoke:

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• śūla (spear)

FAQs

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

The verse marks the rākṣasas as 'brahmaghnāḥ' (killers of brāhmaṇas), signaling grave adharma; it frames Rama’s opposition as protection of righteous order and the sanctity of the innocent.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rama’s warning, the fourteen demons react with anger, readying their spears and preparing to answer him aggressively.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast and implication: Rama stands for protection and restraint, while the demons embody uncontrolled anger and sacrilegious violence.