Shloka 24

आरण्यकाण्डे चतुस्त्रिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

तं शरैर्निशितैर्हत्वा लक्ष्मणं च महारथम्।हतनाथां सुखं सीतां यथावदुपभोक्ष्यसि।।।।

Transliteration

taṁ śarair niśitair hatvā lakṣmaṇaṁ ca mahāratham |

hatanāthāṁ sukhaṁ sītāṁ yathāvad upabhokṣyasi ||

Translation

Hãy giết chiến binh vĩ đại Rama và Lakshmana bằng những mũi tên sắc bén; sau đó, khi người bảo vệ nàng đã chết, ngài sẽ được tận hưởng Sita một cách dễ dàng theo ý muốn.

Word by Word

• तम्: him (Rama)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; pronoun

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; instrument

• निशितैः: sharp
• निशितैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of शरैः

• हत्वा: having killed
• हत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (हन्) (धातु)
• Form: ktvā-anta (absolutive), ‘having killed’

• लक्ष्मणम्: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of hatvā (understood)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: conjunction

• महा-रथम्: great chariot-warrior
• महा-रथम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of लक्ष्मणम्

• हत-नाथाम्: bereft of her protector (husband slain)
• हत-नाथाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata (कृदन्त, √han) + nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of सीताम्; ‘whose lord is slain’

• सुखम्: happily, with ease
• सुखम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: kriyā-viśeṣaṇa-avyaya (accusative used adverbially)

• सीताम्: Sita
• सीताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• यथा-वत्: as you wish / properly
• यथा-वत्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + vat (अव्यय)
• Form: adverb ‘properly/as desired’

• उपभोक्ष्यसि: you will enjoy
• उपभोक्ष्यसि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa + √bhuj (भुज्) (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (periphrastic future), Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Context

Kill Rama, that great warrior along with Lakshmana with sharp arrows and enjoy the company of Sita happily as you like, with her husband dead.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā

FAQs

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

It starkly presents adharma: violence for lust and coercive possession. The Ramayana’s moral universe treats such intent as a grave breach of satya, dharma, and respect for personhood.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā lays out a plan: kill Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, then take Sītā once she is left without protection.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, the verse highlights the need for kṣātra-dharma aligned with justice—strength used to protect, not to exploit.