Shloka 25

अरण्यकाण्डे द्वात्रिंशः सर्गः

Śūrpaṇakhā’s Report to Rāvaṇa and the Panegyric of His Might

Devanagari script

तमब्रवीद्दीप्तविशाललोचनं प्रदर्शयित्वा भयमोहमूर्छिता।सुदारुणं वाक्यमभीतचारिणी महात्मना शूर्पणखा विरूपिता।।।।

Transliteration

tam abravīd dīpta-viśāla-locanaṃ pradarśayitvā bhaya-moha-mūrchitā | sudāruṇaṃ vākyam abhīta-cāriṇī mahātmanā śūrpaṇakhā virūpitā ||

Translation

被大心的罗什曼那毁容后，舒尔帕那迦——昔日无畏游行者——因恐惧与迷乱而昏惫；她指示自身残缺之状，向那双目广大而炽烈者（罗波那）吐出凶厉之言。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• शूर्पणखा: Śūrpaṇakhā
• शूर्पणखा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर्पणखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• दीना: distressed
• दीना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective to 'शूर्पणखा'

• रावणम्: Rāvaṇa
• रावणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• लोक-रावणम्: one who makes the world cry
• लोक-रावणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक + रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective to 'रावणम्' (making the world cry)

• अमात्य-मध्ये: in the midst of ministers
• अमात्य-मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमात्य + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative singular (in the midst of ministers)

• सङ्क्रुद्धा: enraged
• सङ्क्रुद्धा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√क्रुध् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, PPP: सङ्क्रुद्ध); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'enraged'

• परुषम्: harsh
• परुषम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective to 'वाक्यम्'

• वाक्यम्: speech; words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; imperfect 3rd singular

Context

Wearing burnished golden ear-rings, he looked bright like the glittering vaidurya. And with his well-formed arms, white teeth and wide mouth, he looked like a mountain.

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates how suffering can intensify adharma when it turns into cruel speech and vengeful intent. Dharma calls for truth and restraint in speech, even amid pain.

What is the narrative situation?

After being disfigured in the forest, Śūrpaṇakhā reaches Rāvaṇa and, showing her mutilation, speaks harshly to provoke him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, the need for vāg-saṃyama (discipline of speech) is emphasized; Śūrpaṇakhā’s lapse into cruel words highlights how fear and delusion can eclipse discernment.