Shloka 5

विंशः सर्गः (Sarga 20): शूर्पणखाप्रेरितराक्षसवधः

The Slaying of the Fourteen Demons Sent by Śūrpaṇakhā

Devanagari script

वाक्यमेतत्ततश्श्रुत्वा रामस्य विदितात्मनः।तथेति लक्ष्मणो वाक्यं रामस्य प्रत्यपूजयत्।।।।

Transliteration

vākyam etat tataḥ śrutvā rāmasya viditātmanaḥ |

tatheti lakṣmaṇo vākyaṃ rāmasya pratyapūjayat ||

Translation

Nghe lời ấy của Rāma, bậc tự tri tự giác, Lakṣmaṇa liền thưa: “Xin vâng như vậy”, và kính cẩn tôn trọng mệnh lệnh của Rāma.

Word by Word

• vākyaṃ: statement/words
• vākyaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (singular)

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of vākyaṃ

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) = 'thereupon/then'

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyā (अनुबन्ध/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (क्त्वा), absolutive/gerund; pūrvakāla-kriyā (prior action) = 'having heard'

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana

• viditātmanaḥ: of the self-knowing one
• viditātmanaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidita (कृदन्त, √vid/विद्) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) = 'yasya ātmā viditaḥ saḥ'; Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana; epithet qualifying rāmasya

• tathā: so/indeed
• tathā: Vākyopapada (वाक्योपपद/भावसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle/adverb used in assent = 'so/indeed'

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyaprayojaka (उद्धरणसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग) marking reported speech

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana

• vākyaṃ: the statement
• vākyaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana

• pratyapūjayat: honoured/assented in return
• pratyapūjayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati + pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्, imperfect/past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada; upasarga: prati-

Context

Her blood slightly dried up, she came back afflicted to Khara and fell down like a sallaki tree, its sap oozing.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma here is disciplined obedience to rightful authority: Lakṣmaṇa accepts Rāma’s directive without ego, sustaining moral order in crisis.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāma instructs Lakṣmaṇa to guard Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa respectfully agrees and prepares to carry out the duty.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s loyalty and humility; Rāma’s stature as a composed, inwardly grounded leader (viditātmā).