The Mutilation of Shurpanakha

Shloka 1 (aranya.18.1)

ताम् तु शूर्पणखाम् रामः काम पाश अवपाशिताम् | स्वच्छ्हया श्लक्ष्णया वाचा स्मित पूर्वम् अथ अब्रवीत् ॥ 18.1 ॥

tām tu śūrpaṇakhām rāmaḥ kāma pāśa avapāśitām | svacchhayā ślakṣṇayā vācā smita pūrvam atha abravīt || 18.1 ||

Rama then, with a smile preceding his words, spoke clearly and gently to Shurpanakha, who was bound fast by the noose of desire.

Shloka 2 (aranya.18.2)

कृत दारो अस्मि भवति भार्या इयम् दयिता मम | त्वत् विधानाम् तु नारीणाम् सुदुःखा ससपत्नता ॥ 18.2 ॥

kṛta dāro asmi bhavati bhāryā iyam dayitā mama | tvat vidhānām tu nārīṇām suduḥkhā sasapatnatā || 18.2 ||

"O honourable lady, I am already married, and this is my beloved wife. For women of your kind, it would be a great distress to share a husband with a co-wife.

Shloka 3 (aranya.18.3)

अनुजः तु एष मे भ्राता शीलवान् प्रिय दर्शनः | श्रीमान् अकृत दारः च लक्ष्मणो नाम वीर्यवान् ॥ 18.3 ॥

anujaḥ tu eṣa me bhrātā śīlavān priya darśanaḥ | śrīmān akṛta dāraḥ ca lakṣmaṇo nāma vīryavān || 18.3 ||

This is my younger brother, named Lakshmana, of good conduct and pleasing to look upon, promising and valiant — and he is without a wife.

Shloka 4 (aranya.18.4)

अपूर्वी भार्यया च अर्थी तरुणः प्रिय दर्शनः | अनुरूपः च ते भर्ता रूपस्य अस्य भविष्यति ॥ 18.4 ॥

apūrvī bhāryayā ca arthī taruṇaḥ priya darśanaḥ | anurūpaḥ ca te bhartā rūpasya asya bhaviṣyati || 18.4 ||

He is wifeless and in want of a wife, youthful and pleasing to look upon; he would make a husband well suited to your beauty.

Shloka 5 (aranya.18.5)

एनम् भज विशालाक्षि भर्तारम् भ्रातरम् मम | असपत्ना वरारोहे मेरुम् अर्क प्रभा यथा ॥ 18.5 ॥

enam bhaja viśālākṣi bhartāram bhrātaram mama | asapatnā varārohe merum arka prabhā yathā || 18.5 ||

Woo him, O wide-eyed one, this brother of mine, as your husband — as sunlight seeks out Mount Meru — and then, O fair one, you will live without any rival wife."

Shloka 6 (aranya.18.6)

इति रामेण सा प्रोक्ता राक्षसी काम मोहिता | विसृज्य रामम् सहसा ततो लक्ष्मणम् अब्रवीत् ॥ 18.6 ॥

iti rāmeṇa sā proktā rākṣasī kāma mohitā | visṛjya rāmam sahasā tato lakṣmaṇam abravīt || 18.6 ||

Thus addressed by Rama, that demoness, dazed with desire, at once left Rama and turned to Lakshmana, and said:

Shloka 7 (aranya.18.7)

अस्य रूपस्य ते युक्ता भार्या अहम् वरवर्णिनी | मया सह सुखम् सर्वान् दण्डकान् विचरिष्यसि ॥ 18.7 ॥

asya rūpasya te yuktā bhāryā aham varavarṇinī | mayā saha sukham sarvān daṇḍakān vicariṣyasi || 18.7 ||

"I, of fine complexion, am a fitting wife for one of your beauty; with me you may roam happily through the whole of the Dandaka forest."

Shloka 8 (aranya.18.8)

एवम् उक्तः तु सौमित्री राक्षस्या वाक्य कोविदः | ततः शूर्पणखीम् स्मित्वा लक्ष्मणो युक्तम् अब्रवीत् ॥ 18.8 ॥

evam uktaḥ tu saumitrī rākṣasyā vākya kovidaḥ | tataḥ śūrpaṇakhīm smitvā lakṣmaṇo yuktam abravīt || 18.8 ||

Thus addressed by the demoness, Saumitri, skilled in speech, smiled and gave Shurpanakha a fitting reply:

Shloka 9 (aranya.18.9)

कथम् दासस्य मे दासी भार्या भवितुम् इच्छ्हसि | सो अहम् आर्येण परवान् भ्रात्रा कमल वर्णिनी ॥ 18.9 ॥

katham dāsasya me dāsī bhāryā bhavitum icchhasi | so aham āryeṇa paravān bhrātrā kamala varṇinī || 18.9 ||

"How can you wish to become the wife of a mere servant like me, and thereby a servant yourself, O lotus-complexioned one? I am but a dependent of my noble elder brother.

Shloka 10 (aranya.18.10)

समृद्ध अर्थस्य सिद्धार्था मुदित अमल वर्णिनी | आर्यस्य त्वम् विशालाक्षि भार्या भव यवीयसी ॥ 18.10 ॥

samṛddha arthasya siddhārthā mudita amala varṇinī | āryasya tvam viśālākṣi bhāryā bhava yavīyasī || 18.10 ||

O wide-eyed one of flawless hue, become instead the younger wife of my prosperous and noble brother; then your desire will be fulfilled and you shall find happiness.

Shloka 11 (aranya.18.11)

एनाम् विरूपाम् असतीम् करालाम् निर्णत उदरीम् | भार्याम् वृद्धाम् परित्यज्य त्वाम् एव एष भजिष्यति ॥ 18.11 ॥

enām virūpām asatīm karālām nirṇata udarīm | bhāryām vṛddhām parityajya tvām eva eṣa bhajiṣyati || 18.11 ||

Casting off this misshapen, dishonest, hollow-bellied old wife of his, he will surely come to adore you alone."

Shloka 12 (aranya.18.12)

को हि रूपम् इदम् श्रेष्ठम् संत्यज्य वरवर्णिनि | मानुषेषु वरारोहे कुर्यात् भावम् विचक्षणः ॥ 18.12 ॥

ko hi rūpam idam śreṣṭham saṃtyajya varavarṇini | mānuṣeṣu varārohe kuryāt bhāvam vicakṣaṇaḥ || 18.12 ||

"For, O fairest of women, what discerning man indeed would forsake beauty such as yours for the sake of mere human women?" So Lakshmana said to her.

Shloka 13 (aranya.18.13)

इति सा लक्ष्मणेन उक्ता कराला निर्णतोदरी | मन्यते तत् वचः सत्यम् परिहास अविचक्षणा ॥ 18.13 ॥

iti sā lakṣmaṇena uktā karālā nirṇatodarī | manyate tat vacaḥ satyam parihāsa avicakṣaṇā || 18.13 ||

Thus addressed by Lakshmana, that misshapen, hollow-bellied one, unable to discern his jest, took his words to be true.

Shloka 14 (aranya.18.14)

सा रामम् पर्णशालायाम् उपविष्टम् परंतपम् | सीतया सह दुर्धर्षम् अब्रवीत् काम मोहिता ॥ 18.14 ॥

sā rāmam parṇaśālāyām upaviṣṭam paraṃtapam | sītayā saha durdharṣam abravīt kāma mohitā || 18.14 ||

She, maddened by desire, then went to Rama — the scorcher of foes, unassailable, seated in the leaf-hut together with Sita — and said to him:

Shloka 15 (aranya.18.15)

इमाम् विरूपाम् असतीम् करालाम् निर्णतोदरीम् | वृद्धाम् भार्याम् अवष्टभ्य न माम् त्वम् बहु मन्यसे ॥ 18.15 ॥

imām virūpām asatīm karālām nirṇatodarīm | vṛddhām bhāryām avaṣṭabhya na mām tvam bahu manyase || 18.15 ||

"Clinging to this misshapen, dishonest, hollow-bellied old wife of yours, you do not hold me in high regard.

Shloka 16 (aranya.18.16)

अद्य इमाम् भक्षयिष्यामि पश्यतः तव मानुषीम् | त्वया सह चरिष्यामि निःसपत्ना यथा सुखम् ॥ 18.16 ॥

adya imām bhakṣayiṣyāmi paśyataḥ tava mānuṣīm | tvayā saha cariṣyāmi niḥsapatnā yathā sukham || 18.16 ||

This very day, before your own eyes, I shall devour this human woman, and then, free of any rival, roam about happily with you."

Shloka 17 (aranya.18.17)

इति उक्त्वा मृगशावाक्षीम् अलात सदृश ईक्षणा | अभ्यधावत् सुसंक्रुद्धा महा उल्का रोहिणीम् इव ॥ 18.17 ॥

iti uktvā mṛgaśāvākṣīm alāta sadṛśa īkṣaṇā | abhyadhāvat susaṃkruddhā mahā ulkā rohiṇīm iva || 18.17 ||

So saying, that torch-eyed one, greatly enraged, rushed upon the fawn-eyed Sita, as a great meteor might rush upon the star Rohini.

Shloka 18 (aranya.18.18)

ताम् मृत्यु पाश प्रतिमाम् आपतंतीम् महाबलः | विगृह्य रामः कुपितः ततो लक्ष्मणम् अब्रवीत् ॥ 18.18 ॥

tām mṛtyu pāśa pratimām āpataṃtīm mahābalaḥ | vigṛhya rāmaḥ kupitaḥ tato lakṣmaṇam abravīt || 18.18 ||

As she, resembling the very noose of death, swooped down upon Sita, the mighty Rama, enraged, checked her, and then said to Lakshmana:

Shloka 19 (aranya.18.19)

क्रूरैः अनार्यैः सौमित्रे परिहासः कथंचन | न कार्यः पश्य वैदेहीम् कथंचित् सौम्य जीवतीम् ॥ 18.19 ॥

krūraiḥ anāryaiḥ saumitre parihāsaḥ kathaṃcana | na kāryaḥ paśya vaidehīm kathaṃcit saumya jīvatīm || 18.19 ||

"Jesting with the cruel and the base, O Saumitri, is unbecoming in any circumstance. Look — Vaidehi has barely survived!

Shloka 20 (aranya.18.20)

इमाम् विरूपाम् असतीम् अतिमत्ताम् महोदरीम् | राक्षसीम् पुरुषव्याघ्र विरूपयितुम् अर्हसि ॥ 18.20 ॥

imām virūpām asatīm atimattām mahodarīm | rākṣasīm puruṣavyāghra virūpayitum arhasi || 18.20 ||

O tiger among men, it is fitting that you disfigure this misshapen, deceitful, utterly frenzied, hollow-bellied demoness." Thus Rama said to Lakshmana.

Shloka 21 (aranya.18.21)

इति उक्तो लक्ष्मणः तस्याः क्रुद्धो रामस्य पश्यतः | उद्धृत्य खड्गम् चिच्छ्हेद कर्ण नासम् महाबलः ॥ 18.21 ॥

iti ukto lakṣmaṇaḥ tasyāḥ kruddho rāmasya paśyataḥ | uddhṛtya khaḍgam cicchheda karṇa nāsam mahābalaḥ || 18.21 ||

Thus addressed, the mighty Lakshmana, enraged, drew his sword before Rama's very eyes and cut off her ears and nose.

Shloka 22 (aranya.18.22)

निकृत्त कर्ण नासा तु विस्वरम् सा विनद्य च | यथा आगतम् प्रदुद्राव घोरा शूर्पणखा वनम् ॥ 18.22 ॥

nikṛtta karṇa nāsā tu visvaram sā vinadya ca | yathā āgatam pradudrāva ghorā śūrpaṇakhā vanam || 18.22 ||

Her ears and nose sliced away, that ghastly Shurpanakha screamed a discordant cry and fled swiftly back into the forest the way she had come.

Shloka 23 (aranya.18.23)

सा विरूपा महाघोरा राक्षसी शोणित उक्षिता | ननाद विविधान् नादान् यथा प्रावृषि तोयदः ॥ 18.23 ॥

sā virūpā mahāghorā rākṣasī śoṇita ukṣitā | nanāda vividhān nādān yathā prāvṛṣi toyadaḥ || 18.23 ||

That misshapen, most dreadful demoness, drenched in blood, uttered manifold cries, like a raincloud thundering in the rainy season.

Shloka 24 (aranya.18.24)

सा विक्षरंती रुधिरम् बहुधा घोर दर्शना | प्रगृह्य बाहू गर्जन्ती प्रविवेश महावनम् ॥ 18.24 ॥

sā vikṣaraṃtī rudhiram bahudhā ghora darśanā | pragṛhya bāhū garjantī praviveśa mahāvanam || 18.24 ||

Streaming blood in every direction, terrible to behold, she clasped her arms about herself and, roaring, plunged into the great forest.

Shloka 25 (aranya.18.25)

ततः तु सा राक्षस संघ सम्वृतम् खरम् जन स्थान गतम् विरूपिता | उपेत्य तम् भ्रातरम् उग्र तेजसम् पपात भूमौ गगनाद् यथा अशनिः ॥ 18.25 ॥

tataḥ tu sā rākṣasa saṃgha samvṛtam kharam jana sthāna gatam virūpitā | upetya tam bhrātaram ugra tejasam papāta bhūmau gaganād yathā aśaniḥ || 18.25 ||

Then she, thus disfigured, drew near her brother Khara — of fierce splendour, dwelling in Janasthana, surrounded by his host of demons — and fell to the ground before him like a thunderbolt falling from the sky.

Shloka 26 (aranya.18.26)

ततः सभार्यम् भय मोह मूर्चिता सलक्ष्मणम् राघवम् आगतम् वनम् | विरूपणम् च आत्मनि शोणित उक्षिता शशंस सर्वम् भगिनी खरस्य सा ॥ 18.26 ॥

tataḥ sabhāryam bhaya moha mūrcitā salakṣmaṇam rāghavam āgatam vanam | virūpaṇam ca ātmani śoṇita ukṣitā śaśaṃsa sarvam bhaginī kharasya sā || 18.26 ||

Then Khara's sister, convulsed with fear and terror, drenched in blood, told him everything — of Raghava's arrival in the forest with his wife and Lakshmana, and of how he had disfigured her.