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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 16: Śūrpaṇakhā’s proposal

Summary. Rāvaṇa’s sister asks Rāma to marry her and threatens to eat Sītā & Lakṣmaṇa so they can roam the forest together

Sequence

  1. After bathing and completing the morning rites, Rāma sits in the hut with Sītā and talks with Lakṣmaṇa (3.16.1–3)
  2. the rākṣasī Śūrpaṇakhā, Rāvaṇa's sister, happens to arrive → struck by Rāma's beauty and royal bearing, she becomes attracted to him (3.16.4–10)
  3. she asks why a man dressed as a tapasvin is carrying weapons and living with a wife in rākṣasa territory (3.16.11)
  4. Rāma openly identifies himself, his wife, and his brother, explains the parental command behind his exile, and asks who she is (3.16.12–16)
  5. she names herself as the shape-changing Śūrpaṇakhā and identifies her brothers Rāvaṇa, Kumbhakarṇa, Vibhīṣaṇa, Khara, and Dūṣaṇa (3.16.17–20)
  6. boasting of her own power, she asks Rāma to marry her and dismisses Sītā as an unsuitable wife (3.16.21–22)
  7. she threatens to eat Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa so that she and Rāma can roam the forest together → Rāma begins his answer with a smile. (3.16.23–25)

Verses 3.16.1–25

3.16.1

kṛtābhiṣeko rāmas tu sītā saumitrir eva ca
tasmād godāvarītīrāt tato jagmuḥ svam āśramam

Rāma, having bathed, together with Sītā and Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa), then went from that bank of the Godāvarī back to their own hermitage.

Words: kṛtābhiṣeko — having performed his ablution; rāmas — Rāma; tu — and; sītā — Sītā; saumitrir — Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa); eva ca — and also; tasmād — from that; godāvarītīrāt — bank of the Godāvarī; tato — then; jagmuḥ — went; svam — their own; āśramam — hermitage

3.16.2

āśramaṃ tam upāgamya rāghavaḥ sahalakṣmaṇaḥ
kṛtvā paurvāhṇikaṃ karma parṇaśālām upāgamat

Reaching that hermitage, Rāghava together with Lakṣmaṇa, having performed the morning rites, went into the leaf-hut.

Words: āśramaṃ — the hermitage; tam — that; upāgamya — having reached; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; sahalakṣmaṇaḥ — together with Lakṣmaṇa; kṛtvā — having performed; paurvāhṇikaṃ — of the forenoon, morning; karma — rite, act; parṇaśālām — the leaf-hut; upāgamat — went to, approached

3.16.3

sa rāmaḥ parṇaśālāyām āsīnaḥ saha sītayā
virarāja mahābāhuś citrayā candramā iva
lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā cakāra vividhāḥ kathāḥ

That mighty-armed Rāma, seated in the leaf-hut with Sītā, shone like the moon with the star Citrā; and with his brother Lakṣmaṇa he carried on various conversations.

Words: sa — that; rāmaḥ — Rāma; parṇaśālāyām — in the leaf-hut; āsīnaḥ — seated; saha — with; sītayā — Sītā; virarāja — shone; mahābāhuś — mighty-armed; citrayā — with (the star) Citrā; candramā — the moon; iva — like; lakṣmaṇena — with Lakṣmaṇa; saha — with; bhrātrā — (his) brother; cakāra — made, carried on; vividhāḥ — various; kathāḥ — conversations, talks

3.16.4

tadāsīnasya rāmasya kathāsaṃsaktacetasaḥ
taṃ deśaṃ rākṣasī kā cid ājagāma yadṛcchayā

While Rāma sat thus, his mind absorbed in conversation, a certain rākṣasī came to that place by chance.

Words: tadāsīnasya — of him then seated; rāmasya — of Rāma; kathāsaṃsaktacetasaḥ — whose mind was absorbed in conversation; taṃ — that; deśaṃ — place, region; rākṣasī — a rākṣasī (demoness); kā cid — a certain, some; ājagāma — came; yadṛcchayā — by chance

3.16.5

sā tu śūrpaṇakhā nāma daśagrīvasya rakṣasaḥ
bhaginī rāmam āsādya dadarśa tridaśopamam

She, named Śūrpaṇakhā, sister of the demon Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa), approaching Rāma, beheld him, godlike in form.

Words: sā — she; tu — now; śūrpaṇakhā — Śūrpaṇakhā; nāma — by name; daśagrīvasya — of Daśagrīva (ten-necked Rāvaṇa); rakṣasaḥ — of the demon; bhaginī — sister; rāmam — Rāma; āsādya — having approached; dadarśa — saw, beheld; tridaśopamam — resembling a god

3.16.6

siṃhoraskaṃ mahābāhuṃ padmapatranibhekṣaṇam
sukumāraṃ mahāsattvaṃ pārthivavyañjanānvitam

(She saw him) lion-chested, mighty-armed, his eyes like lotus-petals, delicate, of great strength, endowed with the marks of a king,

Words: siṃhoraskaṃ — lion-chested; mahābāhuṃ — mighty-armed; padmapatranibhekṣaṇam — with eyes like lotus-petals; sukumāraṃ — delicate, tender; mahāsattvaṃ — of great strength; pārthivavyañjanānvitam — endowed with the marks of a king

3.16.7

rāmam indīvaraśyāmaṃ kandarpasadṛśaprabham
babhūvendropamaṃ dṛṣṭvā rākṣasī kāmamohitā

Seeing Rāma, dark as a blue lotus, of splendour like Kandarpa (the god of love) and resembling Indra, the rākṣasī became bewildered with desire.

Words: rāmam — Rāma; indīvaraśyāmaṃ — dark as a blue lotus; kandarpasadṛśaprabham — of splendour like the god of love; babhūvendropamaṃ — became... (Rāma) resembling Indra; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; rākṣasī — the rākṣasī; kāmamohitā — bewildered with desire

3.16.8

sumukhaṃ durmukhī rāmaṃ vṛttamadhyaṃ mahodarī
viśālākṣaṃ virūpākṣī sukeśaṃ tāmramūrdhajā

She, ugly-faced, (looked upon) fair-faced Rāma; she, big-bellied, on him slender-waisted; she, deformed-eyed, on him large-eyed; she, copper-haired, on him fair-haired;

Words: sumukhaṃ — fair-faced (Rāma); durmukhī — ugly-faced (she); rāmaṃ — Rāma; vṛttamadhyaṃ — slender-waisted (Rāma); mahodarī — big-bellied (she); viśālākṣaṃ — large-eyed (Rāma); virūpākṣī — deformed-eyed (she); sukeśaṃ — fair-haired (Rāma); tāmramūrdhajā — copper-haired (she)

3.16.9

priyarūpaṃ virūpā sā susvaraṃ bhairavasnavā
taruṇaṃ dāruṇā vṛddhā dakṣiṇaṃ vāmabhāṣiṇī

she, deformed, (gazed at) him of lovely form; she, of frightful voice, at him sweet-voiced; she, harsh and old, at him young; she, crooked-tongued, at him straightforward;

Words: priyarūpaṃ — of lovely form (Rāma); virūpā — deformed (she); sā — she; susvaraṃ — sweet-voiced (Rāma); bhairavasnavā — of frightful voice (she); taruṇaṃ — young (Rāma); dāruṇā — harsh, cruel (she); vṛddhā — old (she); dakṣiṇaṃ — upright, courteous (Rāma); vāmabhāṣiṇī — contrary-speaking (she)

3.16.10

nyāyavṛttaṃ sudurvṛttā priyam apriyadarśanā
śarīrajasamāviṣṭā rākṣasī rāmam abravīt

she, of very wicked conduct, (looked on) him of righteous conduct; she, of unpleasant appearance, on him agreeable — and the rākṣasī, possessed by the body-born (god of love), spoke to Rāma:

Words: nyāyavṛttaṃ — of righteous conduct (Rāma); sudurvṛttā — of very wicked conduct (she); priyam — agreeable, dear (Rāma); apriyadarśanā — of unpleasant appearance (she); śarīrajasamāviṣṭā — possessed by the body-born (Kāma); rākṣasī — the rākṣasī; rāmam — to Rāma; abravīt — spoke

3.16.11

jaṭī tāpasarūpeṇa sabhāryaḥ śaracāpadhṛk
āgatas tvam imaṃ deśaṃ kathaṃ rākṣasasevitam

“Wearing matted locks, in the guise of an ascetic, with a wife, and bearing arrows and a bow — how have you come to this region frequented by rākṣasas?

Words: jaṭī — wearing matted locks; tāpasarūpeṇa — in the guise of an ascetic; sabhāryaḥ — with a wife; śaracāpadhṛk — bearing arrows and a bow; āgatas — come; tvam — you; imaṃ — this; deśaṃ — region; kathaṃ — how; rākṣasasevitam — frequented by rākṣasas

3.16.12

evam uktas tu rākṣasyā śūrpaṇakhyā paraṃtapaḥ
ṛjubuddhitayā sarvam ākhyātum upacakrame

Thus addressed by the rākṣasī Śūrpaṇakhā, that scorcher of foes, out of his straightforwardness, began to tell everything:

Words: evam uktas — thus addressed; tu — and; rākṣasyā — by the rākṣasī; śūrpaṇakhyā — by Śūrpaṇakhā; paraṃtapaḥ — the scorcher of foes; ṛjubuddhitayā — out of straightforwardness of mind; sarvam — everything; ākhyātum — to tell; upacakrame — began

3.16.13

āsīd daśaratho nāma rājā tridaśavikramaḥ
tasyāham agrajaḥ putro rāmo nāma janaiḥ śrutaḥ

“There was a king named Daśaratha, of valour like the gods. I am his eldest son, known among people by the name Rāma.

Words: āsīd — there was; daśaratho — Daśaratha; nāma — by name; rājā — a king; tridaśavikramaḥ — of valour like the gods; tasyāham — his I (am); agrajaḥ — eldest, first-born; putro — son; rāmo — Rāma; nāma — by name; janaiḥ — by people; śrutaḥ — known, heard of

3.16.14

bhrātāyaṃ lakṣmaṇo nāma yavīyān mām anuvrataḥ
iyaṃ bhāryā ca vaidehī mama sīteti viśrutā

This is my younger brother named Lakṣmaṇa, devoted to me; and this is my wife Vaidehī, renowned as Sītā.

Words: bhrātāyaṃ — this brother; lakṣmaṇo — Lakṣmaṇa; nāma — by name; yavīyān — younger; mām — to me; anuvrataḥ — devoted, faithful; iyaṃ — this; bhāryā — wife; ca — and; vaidehī — Vaidehī (princess of Videha); mama — my; sīteti — as Sītā; viśrutā — renowned

3.16.15

niyogāt tu narendrasya pitur mātuś ca yantritaḥ
dharmārthaṃ dharmakāṅkṣī ca vanaṃ vastum ihāgataḥ

By the command of the king my father and of my mother, bound (by their order), for the sake of dharma and desiring dharma, I have come here to dwell in the forest.

Words: niyogāt — by command; tu — and; narendrasya — of the king (lord of men); pitur — of (my) father; mātuś ca — and of (my) mother; yantritaḥ — bound, constrained; dharmārthaṃ — for the sake of dharma; dharmakāṅkṣī — desiring dharma; ca — and; vanaṃ — forest; vastum — to dwell; ihāgataḥ — come here

3.16.16

tvāṃ tu veditum icchāmi kathyatāṃ kāsi kasya vā
iha vā kiṃnimittaṃ tvam āgatā brūhi tattvataḥ

But I wish to know you; let it be told — who are you, and whose (are you)? And for what purpose have you come here? Tell me truly.

Words: tvāṃ — you; tu — but; veditum — to know; icchāmi — I wish; kathyatāṃ — let it be told; kāsi — who are you; kasya vā — or whose; iha vā — and here; kiṃnimittaṃ — for what purpose; tvam — you; āgatā — come (fem.); brūhi — tell; tattvataḥ — truly, in truth

3.16.17

sābravīd vacanaṃ śrutvā rākṣasī madanārditā
śrūyatāṃ rāma vakṣyāmi tattvārthaṃ vacanaṃ mama

Having heard his speech, the rākṣasī, tormented by love, spoke: “Listen, Rāma, I shall tell you; my words are truthful.

Words: sābravīd — she spoke; vacanaṃ — the speech; śrutvā — having heard; rākṣasī — the rākṣasī; madanārditā — tormented by love; śrūyatāṃ — let it be heard; rāma — O Rāma; vakṣyāmi — I shall speak; tattvārthaṃ — the truthful (words); vacanaṃ — words; mama — my

3.16.18

ahaṃ śūrpaṇakhā nāma rākṣasī kāmarūpiṇī
araṇyaṃ vicarāmīdam ekā sarvabhayaṃkarā

I am a rākṣasī named Śūrpaṇakhā, able to take any form at will; I roam this forest alone, terrifying to all.

Words: ahaṃ — I; śūrpaṇakhā — Śūrpaṇakhā; nāma — by name; rākṣasī — rākṣasī; kāmarūpiṇī — able to take any form at will; araṇyaṃ — forest; vicarāmīdam — I roam this; ekā — alone; sarvabhayaṃkarā — terrifying to all

3.16.19

rāvaṇo nāma me bhrātā rākṣaso rākṣaseśvaraḥ
pravṛddhanidraś ca sadā kumbhakarṇo mahābalaḥ

My brother is the rākṣasa named Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas; and mighty Kumbhakarṇa, ever sunk in deep sleep;

Words: rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; nāma — by name; me — my; bhrātā — brother; rākṣaso — a rākṣasa; rākṣaseśvaraḥ — lord of the rākṣasas; pravṛddhanidraś — sunk in deep sleep; ca — and; sadā — ever, always; kumbhakarṇo — Kumbhakarṇa; mahābalaḥ — mighty

3.16.20

vibhīṣaṇas tu dharmātmā na tu rākṣasaceṣṭitaḥ
prakhyātavīryau ca raṇe bhrātarau kharadūṣaṇau

But Vibhīṣaṇa is righteous of soul, not behaving like a rākṣasa; and the two brothers Khara and Dūṣaṇa, famed for their valour in battle.

Words: vibhīṣaṇas — Vibhīṣaṇa; tu — but; dharmātmā — righteous of soul; na tu — not however; rākṣasaceṣṭitaḥ — behaving like a rākṣasa; prakhyātavīryau — the two of famed valour; ca — and; raṇe — in battle; bhrātarau — the two brothers; kharadūṣaṇau — Khara and Dūṣaṇa

3.16.21

tān ahaṃ samatikrāntā rāma tvāpūrvadarśanāt
samupetāsmi bhāvena bhartāraṃ puruṣottamam
cirāya bhava bhartā me sītayā kiṃ kariṣyasi

But I have surpassed them all, Rāma; on account of this unprecedented sight (of you) I have come with love to (you,) the best of men, as a husband. Be my husband for a long time — what will you do with Sītā?

Words: tān — them; ahaṃ — I; samatikrāntā — have surpassed, excelled; rāma — O Rāma; tvāpūrvadarśanāt — but on account of this unprecedented sight; samupetāsmi — I have come, approached; bhāvena — with love, feeling; bhartāraṃ — as a husband; puruṣottamam — the best of men; cirāya — for a long time; bhava — be; bhartā — husband; me — my; sītayā — with Sītā; kiṃ — what; kariṣyasi — will you do

3.16.22

vikṛtā ca virūpā ca na seyaṃ sadṛśī tava
aham evānurūpā te bhāryā rūpeṇa paśya mām

Deformed and ugly, this one (Sītā) is no match for you; I alone am a fitting wife for you in beauty — look at me!

Words: vikṛtā — misshapen, deformed; ca — and; virūpā — ugly; ca — and; na — not; seyaṃ — this she; sadṛśī — a match, like; tava — for you; aham — I; evānurūpā — alone (am) fitting; te — for you; bhāryā — wife; rūpeṇa — in beauty, form; paśya — look at, behold; mām — me

3.16.23

imāṃ virūpām asatīṃ karālāṃ nirṇatodarīm
anena saha te bhrātrā bhakṣayiṣyāmi mānuṣīm

This ugly, unchaste, dreadful, hollow-bellied human woman — her, together with this brother of yours, I shall devour!

Words: imāṃ — this; virūpām — ugly; asatīṃ — unchaste, wicked; karālāṃ — dreadful, gaping (of terrible teeth); nirṇatodarīm — hollow-bellied; anena — with this; saha — together; te — your; bhrātrā — brother; bhakṣayiṣyāmi — I shall devour; mānuṣīm — the human woman

3.16.24

tataḥ parvataśṛṅgāṇi vanāni vividhāni ca
paśyan saha mayā kānta daṇḍakān vicariṣyasi

Then, O beloved, beholding the mountain-peaks and the various forests, you shall roam the Daṇḍaka wilds with me.

Words: tataḥ — then; parvataśṛṅgāṇi — mountain-peaks; vanāni — forests; vividhāni — various; ca — and; paśyan — beholding; saha mayā — with me; kānta — O beloved; daṇḍakān — the Daṇḍaka wilds; vicariṣyasi — you shall roam

3.16.25

ity evam uktaḥ kākutsthaḥ prahasya madirekṣaṇām
idaṃ vacanam ārebhe vaktuṃ vākyaviśāradaḥ

Thus addressed, Kākutstha (Rāma), skilled in speech, smiling at the wanton-eyed one, began to speak these words.

Words: ity evam — thus; uktaḥ — addressed; kākutsthaḥ — Kākutstha (Rāma); prahasya — smiling, laughing; madirekṣaṇām — the wanton-eyed one; idaṃ — this; vacanam — speech, words; ārebhe — began; vaktuṃ — to speak; vākyaviśāradaḥ — skilled in speech

← 3.15 Rāma’s winter bath in the Godāvarī · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.17 Śūrpaṇakhā attacks Sītā →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

Plain text: /text/3/16.md · JSON: /data/3/16.json