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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 17: Śūrpaṇakhā attacks Sītā

Summary. The brothers’ teasing turns to danger, Rāma orders her disfigurement, Lakṣmaṇa cuts off her ears and nose and she flees

Sequence

  1. Rāma says he already has a beloved wife and that Śūrpaṇakhā would dislike having a rival (3.17.1–2)
  2. teasing her, he presents Lakṣmaṇa as an unmarried young man who needs a wife and directs her to him (3.17.3–5)
  3. she immediately approaches Lakṣmaṇa and proposes that they live together (3.17.6–7)
  4. Lakṣmaṇa smiles and says that, as Rāma's dependent, he could only make her a servant's wife → he sends her back to Rāma, suggesting that Rāma will abandon Sītā for her (3.17.8–12)
  5. Śūrpaṇakhā fails to recognize the joke and takes him literally (3.17.13)
  6. she again tells Rāma she will eat Sītā to remove her rival, then rushes at her (3.17.14–17)
  7. Rāma intercepts her and tells Lakṣmaṇa that joking with a cruel person has endangered Sītā → he orders him to disfigure Śūrpaṇakhā (3.17.18–20)
  8. Lakṣmaṇa draws his sword and cuts off her ears and nose (3.17.21)
  9. screaming and bleeding, she flees to Janasthāna, falls before Khara, and reports the brothers' arrival and her mutilation. (3.17.22–26)

Verses 3.17.1–26

3.17.1

tāṃ tu śūrpaṇakhāṃ rāmaḥ kāmapāśāvapāśitām
svecchayā ślakṣṇayā vācā smitapūrvam athābravīt

Then Rāma addressed that Śūrpaṇakhā, bound fast in the noose of desire, of his own accord, with a smile, in gentle words:

Words: tāṃ — her; tu — then; śūrpaṇakhāṃ — Śūrpaṇakhā; rāmaḥ — Rāma; kāmapāśāvapāśitām — bound fast in the noose of desire; svecchayā — of his own accord, playfully; ślakṣṇayā — gentle, smooth; vācā — with words; smitapūrvam — with a smile; athābravīt — then said

3.17.2

kṛtadāro 'smi bhavati bhāryeyaṃ dayitā mama
tvadvidhānāṃ tu nārīṇāṃ suduḥkhā sasapatnatā

“I am married, lady; this is my beloved wife. For women like you, to have a co-wife would be most painful.

Words: kṛtadāro — married; 'smi — I am; bhavati — O lady, madam; bhāryeyaṃ — this wife; dayitā — beloved; mama — my; tvadvidhānāṃ — of (women) like you; tu — but; nārīṇāṃ — of women; suduḥkhā — very painful; sasapatnatā — the state of having a co-wife

3.17.3

anujas tv eṣa me bhrātā śīlavān priyadarśanaḥ
śrīmān akṛtadāraś ca lakṣmaṇo nāma vīryavān

But here is my younger brother, of good character, handsome, glorious, unmarried, and valiant, named Lakṣmaṇa.

Words: anujas — younger (brother); tv — but; eṣa — this; me — my; bhrātā — brother; śīlavān — of good character; priyadarśanaḥ — handsome, pleasant to look at; śrīmān — glorious, prosperous; akṛtadāraś — unmarried; ca — and; lakṣmaṇo — Lakṣmaṇa; nāma — by name; vīryavān — valiant

3.17.4

apūrvī bhāryayā cārthī taruṇaḥ priyadarśanaḥ
anurūpaś ca te bhartā rūpasyāsya bhaviṣyati

He has had no wife before and is in need of one; young and handsome, he will make a husband suited to this beauty of yours.

Words: apūrvī — having no former (wife); bhāryayā — by/with a wife; cārthī — and in need, desirous; taruṇaḥ — young; priyadarśanaḥ — handsome; anurūpaś — suited, fitting; ca — and; te — for you; bhartā — husband; rūpasyāsya — of this beauty; bhaviṣyati — will be, become

3.17.5

enaṃ bhaja viśālākṣi bhartāraṃ bhrātaraṃ mama
asapatnā varārohe merum arkaprabhā yathā

Take him, O large-eyed one, my brother, as a husband — free of any rival, O fair-hipped one, as the sun's radiance clings to Mount Meru.

Words: enaṃ — him; bhaja — take, resort to; viśālākṣi — O large-eyed one; bhartāraṃ — as a husband; bhrātaraṃ — brother; mama — my; asapatnā — free of a rival, without a co-wife; varārohe — O fair-hipped one; merum — Mount Meru; arkaprabhā — the sun's radiance; yathā — as, like

3.17.6

iti rāmeṇa sā proktā rākṣasī kāmamohitā
visṛjya rāmaṃ sahasā tato lakṣmaṇam abravīt

Thus addressed by Rāma, the rākṣasī, bewildered by desire, at once left Rāma and then spoke to Lakṣmaṇa:

Words: iti — thus; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; sā — she; proktā — addressed, spoken to; rākṣasī — the rākṣasī; kāmamohitā — bewildered by desire; visṛjya — having left, released; rāmaṃ — Rāma; sahasā — at once, suddenly; tato — then; lakṣmaṇam — to Lakṣmaṇa; abravīt — spoke

3.17.7

asya rūpasya te yuktā bhāryāhaṃ varavarṇinī
mayā saha sukhaṃ sarvān daṇḍakān vicariṣyasi

“I, of lovely complexion, am a fit wife for this beauty of yours; with me you shall roam happily through all the Daṇḍaka wilds.

Words: asya — this; rūpasya — of the beauty; te — your; yuktā — suited, fit; bhāryāhaṃ — I as a wife; varavarṇinī — of lovely complexion; mayā saha — with me; sukhaṃ — happily; sarvān — all; daṇḍakān — the Daṇḍaka wilds; vicariṣyasi — you shall roam

3.17.8

evam uktas tu saumitrī rākṣasyā vākyakovidaḥ
tataḥ śūrpaṇakhīṃ smitvā lakṣmaṇo yuktam abravīt

Thus addressed by the rākṣasī, Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa), skilled in speech, then smiling, spoke aptly to Śūrpaṇakhā:

Words: evam uktas — thus addressed; tu — and; saumitrī — Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa); rākṣasyā — by the rākṣasī; vākyakovidaḥ — skilled in speech; tataḥ — then; śūrpaṇakhīṃ — to Śūrpaṇakhā; smitvā — having smiled; lakṣmaṇo — Lakṣmaṇa; yuktam — aptly, fittingly; abravīt — spoke

3.17.9

kathaṃ dāsasya me dāsī bhāryā bhavitum icchasi
so 'ham āryeṇa paravān bhātrā kamalavarṇinī

“How do you wish to become the wife of me, a servant, and yourself a servant's wife? O lotus-hued one, I am dependent, subject to my noble brother.

Words: kathaṃ — how; dāsasya — of a servant; me — me (of me); dāsī — a servant-woman; bhāryā — wife; bhavitum — to become; icchasi — you wish; so 'ham — I who (am); āryeṇa — by the noble one; paravān — dependent, subject to another; bhātrā — by (my) brother; kamalavarṇinī — O lotus-hued one

3.17.10

samṛddhārthasya siddhārthā muditāmalavarṇinī
āryasya tvaṃ viśālākṣi bhāryā bhava yavīyasī

Become instead the younger wife of the noble one (Rāma), of abundant fortune, O large-eyed one — then, with your aim achieved, delighted and of spotless complexion.

Words: samṛddhārthasya — of him of abundant fortune; siddhārthā — with your aim achieved; muditāmalavarṇinī — delighted and of spotless complexion; āryasya — of the noble one; tvaṃ — you; viśālākṣi — O large-eyed one; bhāryā — wife; bhava — become; yavīyasī — the younger (wife)

3.17.11

etāṃ virūpām asatīṃ karālāṃ nirṇatodarīm
bhāryāṃ vṛddhāṃ parityajya tvām evaiṣa bhajiṣyati

Abandoning this ugly, unchaste, dreadful, hollow-bellied old wife, he will surely take to you.

Words: etāṃ — this; virūpām — ugly; asatīṃ — unchaste; karālāṃ — dreadful; nirṇatodarīm — hollow-bellied; bhāryāṃ — wife; vṛddhāṃ — old; parityajya — having abandoned; tvām — you; evaiṣa — surely he; bhajiṣyati — will take to, resort to

3.17.12

ko hi rūpam idaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ saṃtyajya varavarṇini
mānuṣeṣu varārohe kuryād bhāvaṃ vicakṣaṇaḥ

For what discerning man, O lovely-complexioned, fair-hipped one, having renounced this surpassing beauty, would set his heart on human women?”

Words: ko hi — for what, who indeed; rūpam — beauty, form; idaṃ — this; śreṣṭhaṃ — surpassing, best; saṃtyajya — having renounced; varavarṇini — O lovely-complexioned one; mānuṣeṣu — on human (women), among mortals; varārohe — O fair-hipped one; kuryād — would set, make; bhāvaṃ — affection, heart; vicakṣaṇaḥ — a discerning man

3.17.13

iti sā lakṣmaṇenoktā karālā nirṇatodarī
manyate tad vacaḥ satyaṃ parihāsāvicakṣaṇā

Thus addressed by Lakṣmaṇa, the dreadful, hollow-bellied one, unable to see the jest, took those words to be true.

Words: iti — thus; sā — she; lakṣmaṇenoktā — addressed by Lakṣmaṇa; karālā — the dreadful one; nirṇatodarī — the hollow-bellied one; manyate — thinks, takes; tad vacaḥ — those words; satyaṃ — true; parihāsāvicakṣaṇā — unable to discern the jest

3.17.14

sā rāmaṃ parṇaśālāyām upaviṣṭaṃ paraṃtapam
sītayā saha durdharṣam abravīt kāmamohitā

Bewildered by desire, she spoke to Rāma — that scorcher of foes, unassailable, seated in the leaf-hut with Sītā:

Words: sā — she; rāmaṃ — Rāma; parṇaśālāyām — in the leaf-hut; upaviṣṭaṃ — seated; paraṃtapam — the scorcher of foes; sītayā saha — with Sītā; durdharṣam — unassailable; abravīt — spoke; kāmamohitā — bewildered by desire

3.17.15

imāṃ virūpām asatīṃ karālāṃ nirṇatodarīm
vṛddhāṃ bhāryām avaṣṭabhya na māṃ tvaṃ bahu manyase

“Clinging to this ugly, unchaste, dreadful, hollow-bellied, old wife, you set no store by me.

Words: imāṃ — this; virūpām — ugly; asatīṃ — unchaste; karālāṃ — dreadful; nirṇatodarīm — hollow-bellied; vṛddhāṃ — old; bhāryām — wife; avaṣṭabhya — clinging to, relying on; na — not; māṃ — me; tvaṃ — you; bahu manyase — esteem, regard highly

3.17.16

adyemāṃ bhakṣayiṣyāmi paśyatas tava mānuṣīm
tvayā saha cariṣyāmi niḥsapatnā yathāsukham

Today I shall devour this human woman before your very eyes; then, rid of my rival, I shall roam with you at my pleasure.”

Words: adyemāṃ — today this; bhakṣayiṣyāmi — I shall devour; paśyatas tava — as you look on; mānuṣīm — the human woman; tvayā saha — with you; cariṣyāmi — I shall roam; niḥsapatnā — rid of a rival; yathāsukham — at my pleasure, at ease

3.17.17

ity uktvā mṛgaśāvākṣīm alātasadṛśekṣaṇā
abhyadhāvat susaṃkruddhā maholkā rohiṇīm iva

Having spoken thus, the one with eyes like fire-brands, greatly enraged, rushed at the fawn-eyed one (Sītā), like a great meteor bearing down on (the star) Rohiṇī.

Words: ity uktvā — having spoken thus; mṛgaśāvākṣīm — the fawn-eyed one (Sītā); alātasadṛśekṣaṇā — with eyes like fire-brands; abhyadhāvat — rushed at; susaṃkruddhā — greatly enraged; maholkā — a great meteor; rohiṇīm — Rohiṇī (a star); iva — like

3.17.18

tāṃ mṛtyupāśapratimām āpatantīṃ mahābalaḥ
nigṛhya rāmaḥ kupitas tato lakṣmaṇam abravīt

Mighty Rāma, seizing her as she rushed on like the noose of death, then, enraged, spoke to Lakṣmaṇa:

Words: tāṃ — her; mṛtyupāśapratimām — resembling the noose of death; āpatantīṃ — rushing on, falling upon; mahābalaḥ — the mighty one; nigṛhya — having seized, restrained; rāmaḥ — Rāma; kupitas — enraged; tato — then; lakṣmaṇam — to Lakṣmaṇa; abravīt — spoke

3.17.19

krūrair anāryaiḥ saumitre parihāsaḥ kathaṃ cana
na kāryaḥ paśya vaidehīṃ kathaṃ cit saumya jīvatīm

“With cruel, ignoble beings, Saumitri, jesting should by no means be done; look, gentle one, at Vaidehī, barely alive!

Words: krūrair — with cruel (ones); anāryaiḥ — with ignoble (ones); saumitre — O Saumitri; parihāsaḥ — jest, joking; kathaṃ cana — by any means, at all; na kāryaḥ — should not be done; paśya — look at; vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī (Sītā); kathaṃ cit — barely, somehow; saumya — O gentle one; jīvatīm — (barely) alive

3.17.20

imāṃ virūpām asatīm atimattāṃ mahodarīm
rākṣasīṃ puruṣavyāghra virūpayitum arhasi

This ugly, unchaste, over-insolent, big-bellied rākṣasī, O tiger among men, you ought to disfigure.”

Words: imāṃ — this; virūpām — ugly; asatīm — unchaste; atimattāṃ — over-insolent, exceedingly wanton; mahodarīm — big-bellied; rākṣasīṃ — rākṣasī; puruṣavyāghra — O tiger among men; virūpayitum — to disfigure; arhasi — you ought

3.17.21

ity ukto lakṣmaṇas tasyāḥ kruddho rāmasya paśyataḥ
uddhṛtya khaḍgaṃ ciccheda karṇanāsaṃ mahābalaḥ

Thus addressed, mighty Lakṣmaṇa, enraged, as Rāma looked on, drew his sword and cut off her ears and nose.

Words: ity ukto — thus addressed; lakṣmaṇas — Lakṣmaṇa; tasyāḥ — her; kruddho — enraged; rāmasya paśyataḥ — as Rāma looked on; uddhṛtya — having drawn; khaḍgaṃ — sword; ciccheda — cut off; karṇanāsaṃ — ears and nose; mahābalaḥ — the mighty one

3.17.22

nikṛttakarṇanāsā tu visvaraṃ sā vinadya ca
yathāgataṃ pradudrāva ghorā śūrpaṇakhā vanam

With her ears and nose cut off, the dreadful Śūrpaṇakhā, shrieking a discordant cry, fled the way she had come, into the forest.

Words: nikṛttakarṇanāsā — with ears and nose cut off; tu — and; visvaraṃ — discordantly, with a harsh cry; sā — she; vinadya — having shrieked, cried out; ca — and; yathāgataṃ — the way she had come; pradudrāva — fled, ran off; ghorā — the dreadful one; śūrpaṇakhā — Śūrpaṇakhā; vanam — into the forest

3.17.23

sā virūpā mahāghorā rākṣasī śoṇitokṣitā
nanāda vividhān nādān yathā prāvṛṣi toyadaḥ

That deformed, most dreadful rākṣasī, drenched in blood, roared forth manifold cries, like a rain-cloud in the monsoon.

Words: sā — she; virūpā — deformed; mahāghorā — most dreadful; rākṣasī — rākṣasī; śoṇitokṣitā — drenched in blood; nanāda — roared, cried out; vividhān — manifold, various; nādān — cries, roars; yathā — like; prāvṛṣi — in the monsoon, rainy season; toyadaḥ — a rain-cloud

3.17.24

sā vikṣarantī rudhiraṃ bahudhā ghoradarśanā
pragṛhya bāhū garjantī praviveśa mahāvanam

Dreadful to behold, streaming blood on every side, throwing up her arms and roaring, she entered the great forest.

Words: sā — she; vikṣarantī — streaming, gushing forth; rudhiraṃ — blood; bahudhā — in many ways, on every side; ghoradarśanā — dreadful to behold; pragṛhya — having raised, thrown up; bāhū — (both) arms; garjantī — roaring; praviveśa — entered; mahāvanam — the great forest

3.17.25

tatas tu sā rākṣasasaṃgha saṃvṛtaṃ kharaṃ janasthānagataṃ virūpitā
upetya taṃ bhrātaram ugratejasaṃ papāta bhūmau gaganād yathāśaniḥ

Then that disfigured (rākṣasī), approaching her brother Khara — of fierce energy, dwelling in Janasthāna, surrounded by a host of rākṣasas — fell to the ground like a thunderbolt from the sky.

Words: tatas tu — then; sā — she; rākṣasasaṃgha saṃvṛtaṃ — surrounded by a host of rākṣasas; kharaṃ — Khara; janasthānagataṃ — dwelling in Janasthāna; virūpitā — disfigured (she); upetya — having approached; taṃ — him, that; bhrātaram — brother; ugratejasaṃ — of fierce energy; papāta — fell; bhūmau — on the ground; gaganād — from the sky; yathāśaniḥ — like a thunderbolt

3.17.26

tataḥ sabhāryaṃ bhayamohamūrchitā salakṣmaṇaṃ rāghavam āgataṃ vanam
virūpaṇaṃ cātmani śoṇitokṣitā śaśaṃsa sarvaṃ bhaginī kharasya sā

Then that sister of Khara, fainting with fear and confusion, drenched in blood, told everything — of Rāghava come to the forest with his wife and Lakṣmaṇa, and of her own disfigurement.

Words: tataḥ — then; sabhāryaṃ — with his wife; bhayamohamūrchitā — fainting with fear and confusion; salakṣmaṇaṃ — with Lakṣmaṇa; rāghavam — Rāghava; āgataṃ — come; vanam — to the forest; virūpaṇaṃ — the disfigurement; cātmani — and upon herself; śoṇitokṣitā — drenched in blood; śaśaṃsa — told, related; sarvaṃ — everything; bhaginī — sister; kharasya — of Khara; sā — she

← 3.16 Śūrpaṇakhā’s proposal · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.18 Khara sends fourteen rākṣasas →

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/3/17.md · JSON: /data/3/17.json