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.]

ततश्शूर्पणखां रामः कामपाशावपाशिताम्।

स्वच्छया श्लक्ष्णया वाचा स्मितपूर्वमथाब्रवीत्।।3.18.1।।


ततः then, रामः Rama, कामपाशावपाशिताम् to one who was overcome by lust, शूर्पणखाम् to Surpanakha, स्वच्छया with clear, श्लक्ष्णया with lucid, वाचा with words, स्मितपूर्वम् with a smile, अथ then, अब्रवीत् said.

To Surpanakha bound by the noose of passion Rama with a smile replied in a clear, lucid manner:
कृतदारोऽस्मि भवति भार्येयं दयिता मम।

त्वद्विधानां तु नारीणां सुदुःखा ससपत्नता।।3.18.2।।


भवति O Lady, कृतदारः married, अस्मि I am, इयम् this woman, मम myself, दयिता dear, भार्या wife, त्वद्विधानाम् of people like you, नारीणाम् for women, ससपत्नता being a cowife, सुदुःखा very painful.

O lady I am married and here is my wife who is dear to me. To be a cowife to some one is indeed painful for people like you.
अनुजस्त्वेष मे भ्राता शीलवान्प्रियदर्शनः।

श्रीमानकृतदारश्च लक्ष्मणो नाम वीर्यवान्।।3.18.3।।


लक्ष्मणो नाम by name Lakshmana, एषः this man, मे my, अनुजः younger, भ्राता brother, शीलवान् a man of good conduct, प्रियदर्शनः goodlooking, श्रीमान् virtuous, अकृतदारश्च
single, वीर्यवान् 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.
अपूर्वी भार्यया चार्थी तरुणः प्रियदर्शनः।

अनुरूपश्च ते भर्ता रूपस्यास्य भविष्यति।।3.18.4।।


अपूर्वी not accompanied by his, भार्यया wife, अर्थी a man in need, तरुणः young, प्रियदर्शनः handsome, ते to your, रूपस्य beauty, अनुरूपः worthy of, भर्ता husband, भविष्यति 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.
एनं भज विशालाक्षि भर्तारं भ्रातरं मम।

असपत्ना वरारोहे मेरुमर्कप्रभा यथा।।3.18.5।।


विशालाक्षि O largeeyed one, वरारोहे with fine hips, एनम् him, भ्रातरम् my brother, अर्कप्रभा radiance of the Sun, मेरुं यथा like mount Meru, असपत्ना without a cowife, भज 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 cowife. You may approach him.
इति रामेण सा प्रोक्ता राक्षसी काममोहिता।

विसृज्य रामं सहसा ततो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्।।3.18.6।।


रामेण by Rama, इति this way, प्रोक्ता having been told, राक्षसी the demoness, काममोहिता deluded with lust, सहसा suddenly, रामम् Rama, विसृज्य leaving, ततः thereafter, लक्ष्मणम् to Lakshmana, अब्रवीत् said.

Thus told by Rama, the demoness, deluded with lust, left him suddenly, and said to
Lakshmana:
अस्य रूपस्य ते युक्ता भार्याहं वरवर्णिनी।

मया सह सुखं सर्वान्दण्डकान्विचरिष्यसि।।3.18.7।।


ते to you, अस्य रूपस्य for your form, वरवर्णिनी a woman of fine complexion, अहम् I am, युक्ता most suitable, भार्या wife, मया सह with me, सुखम् happily, दण्डकान् to Dandaka forest, विचरिष्यसि 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.
एवमुक्तस्तु सौमित्री राक्षस्या वाक्यकोविदः।

ततश्शूर्पणखीं स्मित्वा लक्ष्मणो युक्तमब्रवीत्।।3.18.8।।


राक्षस्या by that demoness, एवम् thus, उक्तः spoken, वाक्यकोविदः wellversed in the use of words, सौमित्रिः son of Sumitra, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, ततः then, स्मित्वा with a gentle smile, शूर्पणखीम् to Surpanakha, युक्तम् appropriately, अब्रवीत् said.

Thus addressed by the demoness Lakshmana, son of Sumitra, wellversed in the use of words gave her a befitting reply :
कथं दासस्य मे दासी भार्या भवितुमिच्छसि।

सोऽहमार्येण परवान्भ्रात्रा कमलवर्णिनि।।3.18.9।।


कमलवणिनि O woman of lotus complexion, दासस्य of a servant, मे myself, भार्या wife, दासी female servant, भवितुम् will become, कथम् how, इच्छसि do you intend to be, सः such Rama, अहम् I am, आर्येण्य to that revered, परवान् dependent upon, भ्रात्रा brother.

O lotuscomplexioned 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.
समृद्धार्थस्य सिद्धार्था मुदितामलवर्णिनी।

आर्यस्य त्वं विशालाक्षि भार्या भव यवीयसी।।3.18.10।।


विशालाक्षि largeeyed, अमलवर्णिनी of clear complexion, त्वम् you, समृद्धार्थस्य lord of great wealth, आर्यस्य to Rama, यवीयसी younger, भार्या wife, सिद्धार्था fulfilled, मुदिता happy, भव you may be.

O largeeyed 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.
एनां विरूपामसतीं करालां निर्णतोदरीम्।

भार्यां वृद्धां परित्यज्य त्वामेवैष भजिष्यति।।3.18.11।।


एषः this man, विरूपाम् deformed, असतीम् unchaste, करालाम् frightful, निर्णतोदरीम् a woman of drooping belly, वृद्धाम् old, एनाम् her, भार्याम् wife, परित्यज्य after discarding, त्वामेव you alone, भजिष्यति he will accept you.

He will abandon this uglylooking, unchaste, frightening old woman of drooping belly and accept you alone as his wife.
को हि रूपमिदं श्रेष्ठं संत्यज्य वरवर्णिनि।

मानुषीषु वरारोहे कुर्याद्भावं विचक्षणः।।3.18.12।।


वरवर्णिनि O lady of fair complexion, वरारोहे (lady with beautiful hips)charming, विचक्षणः which wise man, को हि indeed, श्रेष्ठम् best, इदं रूपम् this figure, संत्यज्य giving up, मानुषीषु among females, भावम् love, कुर्यात् 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 ?
इति सा लक्ष्मणेनोक्ता कराला निर्णतोदरी।

मन्यते तद्वचस्तथ्यं परिहासाविचक्षणा।।3.18.13।।


लक्ष्मणेन by Lakshmana, इति thus, उक्ता having spoken, कराला fierce, निर्णतोदरी drooping bellied woman, परिहासाविचक्षणा capable of making fun, सा that Surpanakha, तद्वचः those words, तथ्यम् to be true, मन्यते presumes

While Lakshmana was thus making fun of the dreadful, droopingbellied Surpanakha, she presumed his words to be true.
सा रामं पर्णशालायामुपविष्टं परन्तपम्।

सीतया सह दुर्दर्षमब्रवीत्काममोहिता।।3.18.14।।


काममोहिता deluded with passion, सा she, सीतया सह with Sita, पर्णशालायाम् in the leafthatched hut, उपविष्टं seated, परन्तपम् tormentor of foes, Rama, दुर्धर्षम् formidable, रामम् Rama, अब्रवीत् said.

Deluded with passion, Surpanakha said to formidable Rama, the scorcher of foes, seated in the leafthatched hut along with Sita:
एनां विरूपामसतीं करालां निर्णतोदरीम्।

वृद्धां भार्यामवष्टभ्य मां न त्वं बहुमन्यसे।।3.18.15।।


विरूपाम् ugly, असतीम् unchaste, करालाम् fiercelooking woman, निर्णतोदरीम् a flatbellied woman, वृद्धाम् aged, एनाम् her, भार्याम् wife, अवष्टभ्य taking hold , त्वम् you, माम् me, न बहुमन्यसे not honouring me.

You are holding on to this lady who is ugly, unchaste, fiercelooking, flatbellied and aged and not caring for me.
अद्येमां भक्षयिष्यामि पश्यतस्तव मानुषीम्।

त्वया सह चरिष्यामि निस्सपत्ना यथासुखम्।।3.18.16।।


तव while you, पश्यतः are seeing, अद्य now, इमाम् this, मानुषीम् to this woman, भक्षयिष्यामि I will eat up, निस्सपत्ना without a cowife, त्वया सह with you, यथासुखम् happily, चरिष्यामि 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 cowife.
इत्युक्त्वा मृगशाबाक्षीमलातसदृशेक्षणा।

अभ्यधावत्सुसङ्कृद्धा महोल्कां रोहिणीमिव।।3.18.17।।


अलातसदृशेक्षणा a woman of flaming ambercoloured eye, इति this way, उक्त्वा after telling, सुसङ्कृद्धा very angrily, महोल्काम् a giant meteor, रोहिणीमिव as if hurtling towards the constellation Rohini, मृगशाबाक्षीम् the fawneyed lady, अभ्यधावत् rushed towards.

While speaking this, Surpanakha, with eyes like flaming amber ran to the fawneyed Sita in great anger like a giant meteor hurtling towards the constellation of Rohini :
तां मृत्युपाशप्रतिमामापतन्तीं महाबलः।

निगृह्य रामः कुपित स्ततो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्।।3.18.18।।


महाबलः mighty, रामः Rama, कुपितः enraged, मृत्युपाशप्रतिमामापतन्तीं falling like the noose of death, ताम् her, निगृह्य restraining, ततः after that, लक्ष्मणम् to Lakshmana, अब्रवीत् said.

Mighty Rama in a rage restrained her who was falling upon Sita like the noose of death, and said to Lakshmana:
क्रूरैरनार्यै स्सौमित्रे परिहासः कथञ्चन।

न कार्यः पश्यवैदेहीं कथञ्चित्सौम्य जीवतीम्।।3.18.19।।


सौम्य O handsome one, सौमित्रे Lakshmana, क्रूरैः by the wicked, अनार्यैः by the uncivilised one, कथञ्चन indeed, परिहासः fun, न not, कार्यः proper, कथञ्चित् somehow, जीवतीम् a living
lady, वैदेहीम् Sita, पश्य see.

O handsome Lakshmana it is not proper to cut jokes with wicked, uncivilized persons. Now see Sita who has somehow survived.
इमां विरूपामसतीमतिमत्तां महोदरीम्।

राक्षसीं पुरुषव्याघ्र विरूपयितुमर्हसि।।3.18.20।।


पुरुषव्याघ्र tiger among men, विरूपाम् uncouth, असतीम् unchaste , अतिमत्ताम् passionate, महोदरीम् big bellied इमां राक्षसीम् this demoness, विरूपयितुम् to deform, अर्हसि you should.

O tiger among men, this uncouth, bigbellied, unchaste and highly passionate demoness deserves to be formed.
इत्युक्तो लक्ष्मणस्तस्याः क्रुद्धो रामस्य पार्श्वतः।

उद्धृत्य खङ्गं चिच्छेद कर्णनासं महाबलः।।3.18.21।।


इति this, उक्तः instructed, महाबलः powerful, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, क्रुद्धः being angry, रामस्य Rama's, पार्श्वतः by the side, खङ्गम् sword, उद्धृत्य having lifted, तस्याः her, कर्णनासम् ears and nose, चिच्छेद 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.
निकृत्तकर्णनासा तु विस्वरं सा विनद्य च।

यथागतं प्रदुद्राव घोरा शूर्पणखा वनम्।।3.18.22।।


घोरा dreadful one, सा शूर्पणखा that Surpanakha, निकृत्तकर्णनासा with her ears and nose cut off, विस्वरम् in a hoarse voice, विनद्य च making a loud noise, यथागतम् in the same way as she came from, वनम् forest, प्रदुद्राव 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.
सा विरूपा महाघोरा राक्षसी शोणितोक्षिता।

ननाद विविधान्नादान्यथा प्रावृषि तोयदः।।3.18.23।।


विरूपा disfigured, महाघोरा very dreadful, शोणितोक्षिता drenched in blood, सा राक्षसी that demoness, प्रावृषि in rainy season, तोयदः यथा like a cloud, विविधान् different, नादान् sounds, ननाद released.

The dreadful demoness who thus was disfigured. Drenched in blood, she thundered like a cloud in rainy season.
सा विक्षरन्ती रुधिरं बहुधा घोरदर्शना।

प्रगृह्य बाहू गर्जन्ती प्रविवेश महावनम्।।3.18.24।।


घोरदर्शना of frightful look, सा she, बहुधा in many ways, रुधिरम् blood, विक्षरन्ती dripping, बाहू प्रगृह्य holding her arms, गर्जन्ती while roaring, महावनम् great forest, प्रविवेश entered.

Dripping blood profusely, the frightful demoness lifted her arms and entered the great forestroaring.
ततस्तु सा राक्षससङ्घसंवृतं खरं जनस्थानगतं विरूपिता।

उपेत्य तं भ्रातरमुग्रदर्शनं पपात भूमौ गगनाद्यथाऽशनिः।।3.18.25।।


ततः after that, विरूपिता a disfigured woman, सा she, राक्षससङ्घसंवृतम् surrounded by demons, जनस्थानगतम् living in Janasthana, उग्रदर्शनम् fiercelooking, भ्रातरम् brother, तं खरम् to Khara, उपेत्य approaching, गगनात् from the sky, अशनिः thunderbolt, यथा like that, भूमौ on the ground, पपात fell down.

A disfigured demoness, she fell down like the thunderbolt from the sky on the ground while her fiercelooking brother Khara sat surrounded by demons at Janasthana.
ततस्सभार्यं भयमोहमूर्छिता सलक्ष्मणं राघवमागतं वनम्।

विरूपणं चात्मनि शोणितोक्षिता शशंस सर्वं भगिनी खरस्य सा।।3.18.26।।


ततः thereafter, खरस्य to Khara, भगिनी a sister, सा she, भयमोहमूर्छिता a woman who was wild with fear and delusion, शोणितोक्षिता drenched in blood, वनम् forest, आगतम् reached, सभार्यम् with wife, सलक्ष्मणम् with Lakshmana, राघवम् Rama, आत्मनि at her, विरूपणं च disfigurement, सर्वम् all, शशंस 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.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे अष्टादशस्सर्ग।।
Thus ends the eighteenth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.