December 23,2012.Day 39. Srimad Valmiki Ramayan - The First Epic Poem Of India. (Continued)

Book I : Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties : Chapter 1(Continued)

तेन तत्र एव वसता जनस्थान निवासिनी |
विरूपिता शूर्पणखा राक्षसी काम रूपिणी || १-१-४६

46. tatra eva vasataa = there, only, while living; tena = by him [Rama]; kaama ruupiNi = by wish, guise-changer; janasthaana nivaasinii = Janasthaana - a place in Dandaka forest, a resident of; shuurpaNakhaa = Shuurpanakha; raakshsii = demoness; vi ruupitaa = rendered without, shape - she is disfigured.

"While Rama is living there in Dandaka forest, a guise-changing demoness named Shuurpanakha, who is a resident of Janasthaana, a place in Dandaka forest, is disfigured... [1-1-46]

This is metonymy. Rama did not do it himself, but his brother Lakshmana does this act of cutting the nose and ears of this demoness, which is the twisting point of the story. She is so named as Shuurpanakha because her like fingernails are like winnowing fans, shuurpa tulya nakhaa iti shuurpanakha; shuurpa= winnowing fan; tulya = like; nakhaa = fingernails. She is the sister of Ravana, and she is the actual trouble-shooter in the epic.