Shloka 9

आरण्यकाण्डे चतुस्त्रिंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

रक्षसां भीमरूपाणां सहस्राणि चतुर्दश।निहतानि शरै स्तीक्ष्णैस्तेनैकेन पदातिना।।।।अर्धाधिकमुहूर्तेन खरश्च सहदूषणः।

Transliteration

rakṣasāṃ bhīmarūpāṇāṃ sahasrāṇi caturdaśa | nihatāni śarais tīkṣṇais tenaikena padātinā ||

ardhādhikamuhūrtena kharaś ca sahadūṣaṇaḥ |

Translation

他孤身徒步，以锋利之箭诛灭了形貌可怖的罗刹一万四千；又在一又半牟呼尔塔之间，迦罗亦与杜沙那一同被击倒。

Word by Word

• rakṣasām: of the demons
• rakṣasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka/Neuter? (actually rakṣas is commonly Masculine/Neuter; here Genitive plural), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• bhīma-rūpāṇām: of dreadful form
• bhīma-rūpāṇām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (agreeing with rakṣasām as genitive plural of the group)

• sahasrāṇi: thousands
• sahasrāṇi: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (Plural)

• caturdaśa: fourteen
• caturdaśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturdaśa (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (catur + daśa); अव्ययवत्/अव्ययभावेन संख्याविशेषणम्; sahasrāṇi-विशेषणम्

• nihatāni: killed
• nihatāni: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√han (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त-प्रत्यय, PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-भावः (killed)

• śaraiḥ: by arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• tīkṣṇaiḥ: sharp
• tīkṣṇaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; śaraiḥ-विशेषणम्

• tena: by him
• tena: Karta (कर्ता/Agent, expressed in instrumental with PPP)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• ekena: alone/with one (person)
• ekena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; tena-विशेषणम्

• padātinā: by the foot-soldier (on foot)
• padātinā: Karta (कर्ता/Agent, instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; tena ekena इत्यस्य apposition

• ardhādhika-muhūrtena: within one-and-a-half muhūrta
• ardhādhika-muhūrtena: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ardha (प्रातिपदिक) + adhika (प्रातिपदिक) + muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ardha-adhika = ‘half more’ + muhūrta); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; काल-करणम् (time-instrument)

• kharaḥ: Khara
• kharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• saha-dūṣaṇaḥ: together with Dūṣaṇa
• saha-dūṣaṇaḥ: Sahakāraka (सह/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saha (अव्यय) + dūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (‘with Dūṣaṇa’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; kharaḥ इत्यस्य सहचर-निर्देशः

Context

Fighting alone on foot with his sharp arrows Rama killed within a span of one and a half muhurta, the fourteen thousand dreadful demons including Dusana and Khara.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Khara
• Dūṣaṇa
• Rākṣasas
• Janasthāna (implied context)

FAQs

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

The verse reinforces that sustained predatory violence invites swift retribution; dharma asserts itself through the protection of the innocent and defeat of aggressors.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā reports the astonishing scale and speed of Rāma’s victory over the Janasthāna host, including the commanders Khara and Dūṣaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and steadfastness—Rāma stands alone, unwavering, and effective in battle.