Sloka & Translation

[Rama directs Surpanakha to Lakshmana-- Surpanakha approaches Lakshmana to marry her -- Lakshmana cuts her nose and ears-- Surpanakha narrates the event to Khara.]

tataśśūrpaṇakhāṅ rāmaḥ kāmapāśāvapāśitām.

svacchayā ślakṣṇayā vācā smitapūrvamathābravīt৷৷3.18.1৷৷


tataḥ then, rāmaḥ Rama, kāmapāśāvapāśitām to one who was overcome by lust, śūrpaṇakhām to Surpanakha, svacchayā with clear, ślakṣṇayā with lucid, vācā with words, smitapūrvam with a smile, atha then, abravīt said.

To Surpanakha bound by the noose of passion Rama with a smile replied in a clear, lucid manner:
kṛtadārō.smi bhavati bhāryēyaṅ dayitā mama.

tvadvidhānāṅ tu nārīṇāṅ suduḥkhā sasapatnatā৷৷3.18.2৷৷


bhavati O Lady, kṛtadāraḥ married, asmi I am, iyam this woman, mama myself, dayitā dear, bhāryā wife, tvadvidhānām of people like you, nārīṇām for women, sasapatnatā being a co-wife, suduḥkhā very painful.

O lady I am married and here is my wife who is dear to me. To be a co-wife to some one is indeed painful for people like you.
anujastvēṣa mē bhrātā śīlavānpriyadarśanaḥ.

śrīmānakṛtadāraśca lakṣmaṇō nāma vīryavān৷৷3.18.3৷৷


lakṣmaṇō nāma by name Lakshmana, ēṣaḥ this man, mē my, anujaḥ younger, bhrātā brother, śīlavān a man of good conduct, priyadarśanaḥ good-looking, śrīmān virtuous, akṛtadāraśca
single, vīryavān heroic.

Here is my younger brother Lakshmana. He is a man of good conduct, good look, valiant and virtuous. (Besides) he is not with his wife.
apūrvī bhāryayā cārthī taruṇaḥ priyadarśanaḥ.

anurūpaśca tē bhartā rūpasyāsya bhaviṣyati৷৷3.18.4৷৷


apūrvī not accompanied by his, bhāryayā wife, arthī a man in need, taruṇaḥ young, priyadarśanaḥ handsome, tē to your, rūpasya beauty, anurūpaḥ worthy of, bhartā husband, bhaviṣyati will be.

He is not with his wife, and is in need of one. He is young, handsome and worthy. He will be an appropriate husband to you.
ēnaṅ bhaja viśālākṣi bhartāraṅ bhrātaraṅ mama.

asapatnā varārōhē mērumarkaprabhā yathā৷৷3.18.5৷৷


viśālākṣi O large-eyed one, varārōhē with fine hips, ēnam him, bhrātaram my brother, arkaprabhā radiance of the Sun, mēruṅ yathā like mount Meru, asapatnā without a co-wife, bhaja serve him.

O woman of large eyes and fine hips, my brother is fit for you. You will (with him) shine like the radiant Sun on mount Meru. You will enjoy yourself without a co-wife. You may approach him.
iti rāmēṇa sā prōktā rākṣasī kāmamōhitā.

visṛjya rāmaṅ sahasā tatō lakṣmaṇamabravīt৷৷3.18.6৷৷


rāmēṇa by Rama, iti this way, prōktā having been told, rākṣasī the demoness, kāmamōhitā deluded with lust, sahasā suddenly, rāmam Rama, visṛjya leaving, tataḥ thereafter, lakṣmaṇam to Lakshmana, abravīt said.

Thus told by Rama, the demoness, deluded with lust, left him suddenly, and said to
Lakshmana:
asya rūpasya tē yuktā bhāryāhaṅ varavarṇinī.

mayā saha sukhaṅ sarvāndaṇḍakānvicariṣyasi৷৷3.18.7৷৷


tē to you, asya rūpasya for your form, varavarṇinī a woman of fine complexion, aham I am, yuktā most suitable, bhāryā wife, mayā saha with me, sukham happily, daṇḍakān to Dandaka forest, vicariṣyasi you can wander about.

With my fine complexion, I will be a suitable wife for you. You can happily wander about in Dandaka forest with me.
ēvamuktastu saumitrī rākṣasyā vākyakōvidaḥ.

tataśśūrpaṇakhīṅ smitvā lakṣmaṇō yuktamabravīt৷৷3.18.8৷৷


rākṣasyā by that demoness, ēvam thus, uktaḥ spoken, vākyakōvidaḥ well-versed in the use of words, saumitriḥ son of Sumitra, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, tataḥ then, smitvā with a gentle smile, śūrpaṇakhīm to Surpanakha, yuktam appropriately, abravīt said.

Thus addressed by the demoness Lakshmana, son of Sumitra, well-versed in the use of words gave her a befitting reply :
kathaṅ dāsasya mē dāsī bhāryā bhavitumicchasi.

sō.hamāryēṇa paravānbhrātrā kamalavarṇini৷৷3.18.9৷৷


kamalavaṇini O woman of lotus complexion, dāsasya of a servant, mē myself, bhāryā wife, dāsī female servant, bhavitum will become, katham how, icchasi do you intend to be, saḥ such Rama, aham I am, āryēṇya to that revered, paravān dependent upon, bhrātrā brother.

O lotus-complexioned woman , how can you act as a maid to a slave ? Why do you intend to be so? I am already dependent on my revered brother.
samṛddhārthasya siddhārthā muditāmalavarṇinī.

āryasya tvaṅ viśālākṣi bhāryā bhava yavīyasī৷৷3.18.10৷৷


viśālākṣi large-eyed, amalavarṇinī of clear complexion, tvam you, samṛddhārthasya lord of great wealth, āryasya to Rama, yavīyasī younger, bhāryā wife, siddhārthā fulfilled, muditā happy, bhava you may be.

O large-eyed one, you have a clear complexion. You may become the younger wife of my master who is lord of great wealth. And live a happy, fulfilled life.
ēnāṅ virūpāmasatīṅ karālāṅ nirṇatōdarīm.

bhāryāṅ vṛddhāṅ parityajya tvāmēvaiṣa bhajiṣyati৷৷3.18.11৷৷


ēṣaḥ this man, virūpām deformed, asatīm unchaste, karālām frightful, nirṇatōdarīm a woman of drooping belly, vṛddhām old, ēnām her, bhāryām wife, parityajya after discarding, tvāmēva you alone, bhajiṣyati he will accept you.

He will abandon this ugly-looking, unchaste, frightening old woman of drooping belly and accept you alone as his wife.
kō hi rūpamidaṅ śrēṣṭhaṅ saṅtyajya varavarṇini.

mānuṣīṣu varārōhē kuryādbhāvaṅ vicakṣaṇaḥ৷৷3.18.12৷৷


varavarṇini O lady of fair complexion, varārōhē (lady with beautiful hips)charming, vicakṣaṇaḥ which wise man, kō hi indeed, śrēṣṭham best, idaṅ rūpam this figure, saṅtyajya giving up, mānuṣīṣu among females, bhāvam love, kuryāt how will he have?.

O lady of fair complexion and beautiful hips, which wise man will fall in love with any other female giving up a fine figure like you ?
iti sā lakṣmaṇēnōktā karālā nirṇatōdarī.

manyatē tadvacastathyaṅ parihāsāvicakṣaṇā৷৷3.18.13৷৷


lakṣmaṇēna by Lakshmana, iti thus, uktā having spoken, karālā fierce, nirṇatōdarī drooping- bellied woman, parihāsāvicakṣaṇā capable of making fun, sā that Surpanakha, tadvacaḥ those words, tathyam to be true, manyatē presumes

While Lakshmana was thus making fun of the dreadful, drooping-bellied Surpanakha, she presumed his words to be true.
sā rāmaṅ parṇaśālāyāmupaviṣṭaṅ parantapam.

sītayā saha durdarṣamabravītkāmamōhitā৷৷3.18.14৷৷


kāmamōhitā deluded with passion, sā she, sītayā saha with Sita, parṇaśālāyām in the leaf-thatched hut, upaviṣṭaṅ seated, parantapam tormentor of foes, Rama, durdharṣam formidable, rāmam Rama, abravīt said.

Deluded with passion, Surpanakha said to formidable Rama, the scorcher of foes, seated in the leaf-thatched hut along with Sita:
ēnāṅ virūpāmasatīṅ karālāṅ nirṇatōdarīm.

vṛddhāṅ bhāryāmavaṣṭabhya māṅ na tvaṅ bahumanyasē৷৷3.18.15৷৷


virūpām ugly, asatīm unchaste, karālām fierce-looking woman, nirṇatōdarīm a flat-bellied woman, vṛddhām aged, ēnām her, bhāryām wife, avaṣṭabhya taking hold , tvam you, mām me, na bahumanyasē not honouring me.

You are holding on to this lady who is ugly, unchaste, fierce-looking, flat-bellied and aged and not caring for me.
adyēmāṅ bhakṣayiṣyāmi paśyatastava mānuṣīm.

tvayā saha cariṣyāmi nissapatnā yathāsukham৷৷3.18.16৷৷


tava while you, paśyataḥ are seeing, adya now, imām this, mānuṣīm to this woman, bhakṣayiṣyāmi I will eat up, nissapatnā without a co-wife, tvayā saha with you, yathāsukham happily, cariṣyāmi I shall move about.

I shall eat up this woman now before your very eyes and I can move about happily with you without a co-wife.
ityuktvā mṛgaśābākṣīmalātasadṛśēkṣaṇā.

abhyadhāvatsusaṅkṛddhā mahōlkāṅ rōhiṇīmiva৷৷3.18.17৷৷


alātasadṛśēkṣaṇā a woman of flaming amber-coloured eye, iti this way, uktvā after telling, susaṅkṛddhā very angrily, mahōlkām a giant meteor, rōhiṇīmiva as if hurtling towards the constellation Rohini, mṛgaśābākṣīm the fawn-eyed lady, abhyadhāvat rushed towards.

While speaking this, Surpanakha, with eyes like flaming amber ran to the fawn-eyed Sita in great anger like a giant meteor hurtling towards the constellation of Rohini :
tāṅ mṛtyupāśapratimāmāpatantīṅ mahābalaḥ.

nigṛhya rāmaḥ kupita statō lakṣmaṇamabravīt৷৷3.18.18৷৷


mahābalaḥ mighty, rāmaḥ Rama, kupitaḥ enraged, mṛtyupāśapratimāmāpatantīṅ falling like the noose of death, tām her, nigṛhya restraining, tataḥ after that, lakṣmaṇam to Lakshmana, abravīt said.

Mighty Rama in a rage restrained her who was falling upon Sita like the noose of death, and said to Lakshmana:
krūrairanāryai ssaumitrē parihāsaḥ kathañcana.

na kāryaḥ paśyavaidēhīṅ kathañcitsaumya jīvatīm৷৷3.18.19৷৷


saumya O handsome one, saumitrē Lakshmana, krūraiḥ by the wicked, anāryaiḥ by the uncivilised one, kathañcana indeed, parihāsaḥ fun, na not, kāryaḥ proper, kathañcit somehow, jīvatīm a living
lady, vaidēhīm Sita, paśya see.

O handsome Lakshmana! it is not proper to cut jokes with wicked, uncivilized persons. Now see Sita who has somehow survived.
imāṅ virūpāmasatīmatimattāṅ mahōdarīm.

rākṣasīṅ puruṣavyāghra virūpayitumarhasi৷৷3.18.20৷৷


puruṣavyāghra tiger among men, virūpām uncouth, asatīm unchaste , atimattām passionate, mahōdarīm big- bellied imāṅ rākṣasīm this demoness, virūpayitum to deform, arhasi you should.

O tiger among men, this uncouth, big-bellied, unchaste and highly passionate demoness deserves to be formed.
ityuktō lakṣmaṇastasyāḥ kruddhō rāmasya pārśvataḥ.

uddhṛtya khaṅgaṅ cicchēda karṇanāsaṅ mahābalaḥ৷৷3.18.21৷৷


iti this, uktaḥ instructed, mahābalaḥ powerful, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, kruddhaḥ being angry, rāmasya Rama's, pārśvataḥ by the side, khaṅgam sword, uddhṛtya having lifted, tasyāḥ her, karṇanāsam ears and nose, cicchēda cut off.

Thus instructed (by Rama), powerful Lakshmana took position by the side of Rama, angrily lifted the sword and cut off her nose and ears.
nikṛttakarṇanāsā tu visvaraṅ sā vinadya ca.

yathāgataṅ pradudrāva ghōrā śūrpaṇakhā vanam৷৷3.18.22৷৷


ghōrā dreadful one, sā śūrpaṇakhā that Surpanakha, nikṛttakarṇanāsā with her ears and nose cut off, visvaram in a hoarse voice, vinadya ca making a loud noise, yathāgatam in the same way as she came from, vanam forest, pradudrāva ran away.

Dreadful Surpanakha with her ears and nose cut off, roared in a hoarse voice and ran
away into the forest in the same direction as she came.
sā virūpā mahāghōrā rākṣasī śōṇitōkṣitā.

nanāda vividhānnādānyathā prāvṛṣi tōyadaḥ৷৷3.18.23৷৷


virūpā disfigured, mahāghōrā very dreadful, śōṇitōkṣitā drenched in blood, sā rākṣasī that demoness, prāvṛṣi in rainy season, tōyadaḥ yathā like a cloud, vividhān different, nādān sounds, nanāda released.

The dreadful demoness who thus was disfigured. Drenched in blood, she thundered like a cloud in rainy season.
sā vikṣarantī rudhiraṅ bahudhā ghōradarśanā.

pragṛhya bāhū garjantī pravivēśa mahāvanam৷৷3.18.24৷৷


ghōradarśanā of frightful look, sā she, bahudhā in many ways, rudhiram blood, vikṣarantī dripping, bāhū pragṛhya holding her arms, garjantī while roaring, mahāvanam great forest, pravivēśa entered.

Dripping blood profusely, the frightful demoness lifted her arms and entered the great forest-roaring.
tatastu sā rākṣasasaṅghasaṅvṛtaṅ kharaṅ janasthānagataṅ virūpitā.

upētya taṅ bhrātaramugradarśanaṅ papāta bhūmau gaganādyathā.śaniḥ৷৷3.18.25৷৷


tataḥ after that, virūpitā a disfigured woman, sā she, rākṣasasaṅghasaṅvṛtam surrounded by demons, janasthānagatam living in Janasthana, ugradarśanam fierce-looking, bhrātaram brother, taṅ kharam to Khara, upētya approaching, gaganāt from the sky, aśaniḥ thunderbolt, yathā like that, bhūmau on the ground, papāta fell down.

A disfigured demoness, she fell down like the thunderbolt from the sky on the ground while her fierce-looking brother Khara sat surrounded by demons at Janasthana.
tatassabhāryaṅ bhayamōhamūrchitā salakṣmaṇaṅ rāghavamāgataṅ vanam.

virūpaṇaṅ cātmani śōṇitōkṣitā śaśaṅsa sarvaṅ bhaginī kharasya sā৷৷3.18.26৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, kharasya to Khara, bhaginī a sister, sā she, bhayamōhamūrchitā a woman who was wild with fear and delusion, śōṇitōkṣitā drenched in blood, vanam forest, āgatam reached, sabhāryam with wife, salakṣmaṇam with Lakshmana, rāghavam Rama, ātmani at her, virūpaṇaṅ ca disfigurement, sarvam all, śaśaṅsa narrated.

Thereafter the sister of Khara, wild with fear and delusion and drenched in blood, narrated all about the arrival of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana in the forest and her disfigurement.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē aṣṭādaśassarga৷৷
Thus ends the eighteenth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.