Shloka 14

आरण्यकाण्डे चतुस्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Śūrpaṇakhā Reports to Rāvaṇa; Rāma’s Might and Sītā’s Description

Devanagari script

रामस्य तु विशालाक्षी पूर्णेन्दुसदृशानना।धर्मपत्नी प्रिया भर्तुर्नित्यं प्रियहिते रता।।।।

Transliteration

rāmasya tu viśālākṣī pūrṇendu-sadṛśānanā | dharma-patnī priyā bhartur nityaṃ priya-hite ratā ||

Translation

Còn hiền thê đúng pháp của Rāma, đôi mắt rộng lớn, dung nhan như trăng tròn: nàng được phu quân yêu quý, và luôn chuyên tâm vào điều Ngài yêu và điều lợi ích cho Ngài.

Word by Word

• rāmasya: of Rāma
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-अव्यय (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• viśālākṣī: large-eyed (lady)
• viśālākṣī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśāla (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (‘she whose eyes are large’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• pūrṇendu-sadṛśa-ānanā: having a face like the full moon
• pūrṇendu-sadṛśa-ānanā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + indu (प्रातिपदिक) + sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (pūrṇendu-sadṛśam ānanam yasyāḥ); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• dharma-patnī: lawful consort
• dharma-patnī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (‘lawful wife’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• priyā: beloved
• priyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; dharma-patnī/viśālākṣī-विशेषणम्

• bhartuḥ: of (her) husband
• bhartuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय

• priya-hite: in her beloved’s welfare
• priya-hite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative sphere)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक) + hita (√dhā/√hi? here hita as ‘benefit’, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (‘beloved’s welfare’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; विषय/अधिकरणम्

• ratā: engaged/delighting
• ratā: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predication)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ram (धातु)
• Form: PPP/क्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘engaged/delighting’

Context

Rama's beloved consort is a large-eyed lady. Her face is like the full moon. She is engaged in the well-being of her husband.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The ideal of dharma-patnī underscores marital righteousness: fidelity, mutual welfare, and alignment with dharmic household order.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā introduces Sītā’s presence and qualities while speaking to Rāvaṇa, setting the ground for his desire and subsequent adharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s devoted commitment to her husband’s good (priya-hita).