Passage 1
श्रीराम उवाच— नैवं भाषितुमर्हसि मामेकरमणीव्रतम्। एवमाभाषमाणां त्वां त्रपापि न रुणद्धि किम्॥१॥
Śrī Rāma said: “You should not speak this way to me, for I am vowed to one wife. Does no sense of shame restrain you as you address me so?
Passage 2
अत्यारूढो यदि तव मनः प्रमथनः स्मरः। तदा ममानुजं बाले भजस्व सदृशं मया॥२॥
“Young lady, if desire has risen so high that it churns your mind, then seek my younger brother, who resembles me.
Passage 3
प्रगुणं पुरुषश्रेष्ठं गुणैर्मत्समतां गतम्। चिराद्रामाविमुक्तं तं भज कामार्तमानसे॥३॥
“Tormented by desire, seek that excellent and eminent man, who equals me in virtues and has long been separated from his wife.”
Passage 4
इत्युक्ता सा मनोलग्नमदनानलविह्वला। आजगाम सुमित्रायास्तनयं ध्वानिनूपुरा॥४॥
Thus addressed, she came to Sumitrā's son with her anklets ringing, overwhelmed by the fire of desire fixed within her mind.
Passage 5
सा मन्दमन्दद्विरदाभिगामिनी सकूजमध्यस्थलराजिमेखला। शनैः पदक्षेपरताङ्घ्रिनूपुरा पुरः स्थिता तेन ततो व्यदृश्यत॥५॥
Moving slowly with an elephant's gait, her jeweled girdle sounding at her middle and her anklets chiming at each measured step, she appeared before Lakṣmaṇa and stood there.
Passage 6
तमाह सा कोकिलमञ्जुलालापिनी ललामभावाञ्चितसुन्दरस्मिता। मनोरमापाङ्गविसर्गपूर्वकं मनो हरन्तीव रहः सुसंगता॥६॥
Speaking as sweetly as a cuckoo, with a beautiful smile curved in an alluring expression, she addressed him privately, first casting a charming sidelong glance as though stealing his mind.
Passage 7
गृहाण मां पौरुषसारभूषण त्वमागतां कामविलासकामुकीम्। पूर्वं तव ज्येष्ठमहं गतास्मि भोस्ततोऽसि तेनैव निर्वाचितो मम॥७॥
“You are adorned with the very essence of manliness. Accept me, for I have come desiring the pleasures of love. I first approached your elder brother, sir, and he himself selected you for me.
Passage 8
शुभं तवास्तु स्वयमागतायाः पाणिं च मे गृह्णत आतुरायाः। जानासि नीतिं बत शास्त्रसिद्धां या प्राक्तनैः स्त्रीविषये निबद्धा॥८॥
“May good be yours as you take the hand of a distressed woman who has come to you of her own accord. Surely you know the rules concerning women established in scripture by the ancients.
Passage 9
मामातुरामुररीकुर्वतस्ते सम्बन्ध आशास्यतमो महत्तमैः। भविष्यति प्रायशो यस्त्रिलोक्यामभ्यर्थ्यते पुम्भिरुत्कर्षकामैः॥९॥
“If you accept me in my distress, you will gain a connection most highly desired by great men—a bond sought throughout the three worlds by men who yearn for eminence.
Passage 10
स्वेच्छागमात्त्वामहमात्मनः पतिं नेष्यामि देशं मनसा यथेप्सितम्। यत्र स्थितस्त्वं सुरलोकदुर्लभान् लब्धासि भोगान् बहुसौख्यदायिनः॥१०॥
“Having come by my own will, I shall take you as my husband to whatever place your mind desires, where you will obtain delights that give abundant happiness and are difficult even for heaven's inhabitants to gain.
Passage 11
अथो यदि त्वं न हि मां ग्रहीष्यसि स्वयं करे प्राप्ततमामभीप्सिताम्। श्रियं दुरापामिव साधनैरपि क्षतिस्तदा ते महती भविष्यति॥११॥
“But if you do not accept me when I have willingly come into your hand as the object of your desire, your loss will be great—like losing a fortune difficult to attain even through strenuous means.”
Passage 12
इत्युक्तमात्रः स तया लक्ष्मणः साधुकृत्यवित्। अवहेलिततद्वाक्य उवाच वदतां वरः॥१२॥
As soon as she had spoken, Lakṣmaṇa—who knew proper conduct and was eminent among speakers—disregarded her words and replied. Lakṣmaṇa Refuses Her
Passage 13
लक्ष्मण उवाच— एतन्मेऽनुचितं कृत्यं भवेदङ्गीकृतौ तव। यन्मम ज्येष्ठसविधे पूर्वं संकल्पसंगता॥१३॥
Lakṣmaṇa said: “It would be improper for me to accept you, since you first approached my elder brother with this intention.
Passage 14
गुरुभार्याभिगमनाद्यत्पापं समुदीरितम्। तन्मे भविष्यतितमां पाणिं ते परिगृह्णतः॥१४॥
“If I took your hand, I would surely incur the sin said to arise from approaching the wife of one's superior.
Passage 15
अतो न रोचये तावदहं संगमनं त्वया। यथेष्टं याहि रम्भोरु त्वं विषीद प्रसीद वा॥१५॥
“Therefore I have no desire to unite with you. Lady with thighs like plantain stems, go wherever you please; grieve or be content as you will.”
Passage 16
इत्यनङ्गीकृता तेन भूयः सा रघुपुङ्गवम्। आजगाम स्पृहाभङ्गपरिक्षुब्धान्तरा शनैः॥१६॥
Thus rejected by him, she slowly returned to the scion of Raghu, inwardly agitated because her longing had been thwarted.
Passage 17
हेलितां तामुभयतो हताशां स्मरविद्धराम्। अथापि पुनरायान्तीं जहास जनकात्मजा॥१७॥
Jānakī's daughter laughed when she saw Śūrpaṇakhā returning once more—scorned by both men, without hope, and wounded by desire.
Passage 18
हसन्तीं रामरमणीं विलोक्य कुटिलाशया। चकार हृदि संरम्भमञ्जुरभ्रुकुटीतटा॥१८॥
Seeing Rāma's beloved laughing, the malicious woman filled her heart with rage, her eyebrow ridge contorted in fury.
Passage 19
सा कैतवेन सौम्यत्वमापन्नापि खलाशया। हसन्तीं जानकीमुच्चैः स्वभावोचितमब्रवीत्॥१९॥
Though she deceptively adopted a gentle manner, her intention was wicked; she loudly addressed the laughing Jānakī in words true to her nature.
Passage 20
किं मां हससि कौटिल्यादुभाभ्यामपि वञ्चिताम्। फलं मद्वञ्चनस्यास्य लप्स्येते द्रागिमौ ध्रुवम्॥२०॥
“Why do you mock me maliciously after both of them have deceived me? These two will certainly and swiftly reap the fruit of this deception.
Passage 21
त्वमप्यस्योपहास्यस्य लप्स्यसे फलमञ्जसा। अधिक्षिप्य मृगी व्याघ्रीं का लभेतात्मनो हितम्॥२१॥
“You too will readily reap the fruit of this ridicule. What doe can insult a tigress and obtain her own welfare?
Passage 22
अतो यूयं भाविनः स्वात्ममृत्योरिहानुरूपं चक्रुथेद्धताशाः। ममागताया अवहेलनं बलादुर्दैववश्याः कुरुते किं न मूढाः॥२२॥
“Thus, arrogant ones, you have acted here in a way befitting your own approaching death. Driven by cruel fate, what will fools not do—even forcibly dishonoring me when I have come to them?”
Passage 23
इत्युक्त्वा भृशसंरब्धा रावणावरजा तदा। स्वनाम्न उचितं रूपमाविर्भावितवत्यलम्॥२३॥
Speaking thus, Rāvaṇa's younger sister became intensely enraged and fully manifested a form befitting her own name. Her Terrifying Form
Passage 24
करालदंष्ट्रं विकरालदर्शं ललद्धवज्ज्वालविरूपजिह्वम्। वात्याभनिःश्वासिसुघोरघोणं दुरभ्यां रुषाङ्गारकणौघमोक्षम्॥२४॥
It had fearsome fangs and a hideous appearance, with a misshapen tongue like a flickering flame. Her dreadful nose breathed like a whirlwind, and in fury her two nostrils discharged showers of fiery sparks.
Passage 25
सभीमरूपभ्रुकुटीभुजङ्गीबन्धोत्कटारालललाटपट्टम्। तडित्पिशङ्गोग्रजटासमूहं स्थूलोडुदंशोद्धुरदीर्घदन्तम्॥२५॥
Her terrible brows curved like bound serpents across a huge, crooked forehead. Her fierce matted locks were tawny as lightning, and her long teeth protruded massively beneath a thick upper lip.
Passage 26
महीध्रगण्डाभकपोलयुग्मं विलम्बभीमश्रुतिगह्वराढ्यम्। भृग्वाभचञ्चच्चिबुकाग्रचण्डं शिवासहस्रध्वनिघोरकण्ठम्॥२६॥
Her two cheeks resembled mountain slopes, and immense hanging ears formed dreadful hollows. The fierce tip of her chin moved like a cliff, and her throat roared with the sound of a thousand jackals.
Passage 27
समुच्छ्रितस्कन्धमहाद्रिकूटं तालद्रुमव्यायतबाहुदण्डम्। करालकक्षान्तरकेशसान्द्रं स्थूलस्तनोत्सेधजिताद्रिशृङ्गम्॥२७॥
Her raised shoulders were like great mountain peaks, her arms extended like palm trees, and her dreadful armpits were thick with hair. The mass of her immense breasts surpassed mountain summits.
Passage 28
क्षुधासुसंलग्नकृपीटदर्थि विदीर्णभूम्याभवलीविवर्तम्। महान्धकूपाभगभीरनाभिं तमिस्रधारोद्धुररोमराजिम्॥२८॥
Her ravenous belly bore folds like rents in the earth; her navel was deep as a great dark well, and her line of body hair rose like a stream of darkness. Source note: the edition prints a difficult reading in the first quarter and records the explanatory variant “a large belly” in its footnote; the image reading is preserved rather than silently replaced.
Passage 29
सरित्तटोह्रेशनितम्बवप्रं महोच्चभूभृत्तुलनाभजङ्घम्। मृदङ्घ्रिविन्यासभरेण भूयः प्रकम्पिताशेषमहीवनान्तम्॥२९॥
Her buttocks formed a bank like the edge of a river, and her shanks matched lofty mountains. The weight of her planted feet repeatedly shook the whole earth and the forest's interior.
Passage 30
सुतीक्ष्णशूर्पाभनसाग्ररोहैर्महाशिलाकोटिविपाटनार्हम्। प्रचण्डदीर्घाङ्गुलिवृद्धशारं दिशो महीं खं च परीत्य संस्थितम्॥३०॥
The sharp ridge at the tip of her winnowing-basket-like nose seemed capable of splitting ten million great rocks. Her fearsome long fingers and vast body appeared to fill the directions, earth, and sky.
Passage 31
शरीरं सुतीक्ष्णाङ्गरुहानुमांससुपूतिगन्धैर्दशमन्धयच्च। विभीषयद्भीमदगन्तमोक्षैर्हस्तेन संतर्जयता मुहुश्च॥३१॥
Her body blinded the ten directions with the foul odor of sharp body hair and flesh. She terrified all around her with dreadful emissions and repeatedly threatened them with her hand.
Passage 32
अमङ्गलारावकरं सुघोरतनुत्विषा निन्दितकाकवर्णम्। विरूक्षदीप्तनयनावलोकैर्विदाहयत्प्राणिनस्तत्क्षणेन॥३२॥
She made inauspicious cries; the dreadful luster of her body made even a crow's blackness seem fair. Her harsh, blazing glances seemed to burn living beings in an instant.
Passage 33
तां घोरदर्शां नरमांसगृध्रुं निरीक्ष्य सीता विकृताङ्गसंस्थाम्। विवेश सद्यो निजभर्तुरङ्कं जातास्मि भीतेति मुहुर्वदन्ती॥३३॥
Seeing that dreadful, misshapen creature greedy for human flesh, Sītā immediately took refuge in her husband's lap, repeatedly saying, “I am frightened!” Lakṣmaṇa Mutilates Śūrpaṇakhā
Passage 34
लक्ष्मणः सहसा तत्र राक्षसीति विबुध्य ताम्। पर्णशालामगात् क्षिप्रं खड्गानयनकर्मणे॥३४॥
Lakṣmaṇa at once recognized her as a rākṣasī and quickly went to the leaf cottage to fetch his sword.
Passage 35
विकोशीकृतघोरासिं रुषाविष्टं तथानुजम्। उवाचार्यो न वध्येयं स्त्री विरूपा विधीयताम्॥३५॥
Seeing his younger brother return in anger with the dreadful sword drawn from its sheath, Rāma said, “She is a woman and must not be killed; disfigure her.”
Passage 36
सौमित्रिः सहसा तस्याः कर्णौ नासां च भीषणाम्। चकर्त तीक्ष्णखड्गेन कृपया किं तु नावधीत्॥३६॥
With his sharp sword, Sumitrā's son immediately cut off her ears and fearsome nose; out of compassion, however, he did not kill her.
Passage 37
पूर्वमेव विरूपा सा राक्षसी घोरदर्शना। अत्यर्थं प्राप वैरूप्यं नासाकर्णनिकृन्तनात्॥३७॥
That dreadful-looking rākṣasī had already been hideous, but the severing of her nose and ears made her exceedingly more deformed.
Passage 38
ततः सा तेन निर्मुक्ता क्षरन्ती रुधिरोत्करम्। कृत्तनासाश्रुतिः सद्य उड्डीयाम्बरमास्थिता॥३८॥
Released by him, blood pouring from her wounds, the noseless and earless woman immediately flew upward and took to the sky.
Passage 39
सा विघ्रा नभसि स्थिता क्षरदसृग्धारापरीतं वपुः सांध्याभ्रद्युतिं विभ्रती खररवैरापूरयन्ती दिशः। अङ्गुल्या भृशतीक्ष्णवज्रनखया वक्राकृतिक्रूरया काकस्याश्रितपर्वणा सपदि तां वृत्तं जयन्ती ययौ॥३९॥
Standing in the sky, her body covered by streams of flowing blood and bearing the hue of an evening cloud, she filled the directions with harsh cries. Raising a cruelly crooked finger whose diamond-hard nail was exceedingly sharp and whose joint bent like a crow's claw, she swiftly flew away. Thus ends Chapter 143, “Śūrpaṇakhā's Humiliation,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa.