Shloka 10
शूर्पणखाया आगमनम्
Surpanakha Approaches Rama
सुमुखं दुर्मुखी रामं वृत्तमध्यं महोदरी।विशालाक्षं विरूपाक्षी सुकेशं ताम्रमूर्धजा।।।।प्रीतिरूपं विरूपा सा सुस्वरं भैरवस्वरा।तरुणं दारुणा वृद्धा दक्षिणं वामभाषिणी।।।।न्यायवृत्तं सुदुर्वृत्ता प्रियमप्रियदर्शना।शरीरजसमाविष्टा राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।।।
sumukhaṃ durmukhī rāmaṃ vṛttamadhyaṃ mahodarī | viśālākṣaṃ virūpākṣī sukeśaṃ tāmramūrdhajā ||
prītirūpaṃ virūpā sā susvaraṃ bhairavasvarā | taruṇaṃ dāruṇā vṛddhā dakṣiṇaṃ vāmabhāṣiṇī ||
nyāyavṛttaṃ sudurvṛttā priyam apriyadarśanā | śarīrajasamāviṣṭā rākṣasī vākyam abravīt ||
Rāma war schön von Angesicht; sie war hässlich von Angesicht. Er war schlank in der Mitte; sie war großbäuchig. Seine Augen waren weit; die ihren missgestaltet. Sein Haar war schön; das ihre kupferrot. Er war lieblich von Gestalt; sie war abstoßend. Seine Stimme war süß; die ihre rau und schreckenerregend. Er war jung; sie war grauenhaft alt. Er war höflich und aufrecht; sie redete verkehrt. Er war gerecht im Wandel; sie war durch und durch böse. Von leiblicher Begierde überwältigt, sprach jene Rākṣasī zu Rāma.
Rama's face was lovely, Surpanakha's was hideous. Rama had a slender waist, she had a huge belly. His eyes were large, hers were deformed. His hair was black and beautiful, hers was coppercoloured. He was lovely in appearance, she was ugly. His voice was sweet, hers was shrill. He was young, she was dreadfully old. He was positive, she was perverted. Rama was wellbehaved, she was wicked. Rama was just and loving while she was overcome by lust. (This) demoness said to Rama :
FAQs
It contrasts dharmic qualities (courtesy, justice, self-possession) with adharmic impulses (perversion of speech, wicked conduct, lust-driven action), showing how inner disposition shapes speech and behavior.
The narrator introduces Śūrpaṇakhā’s lustful approach by contrasting her traits with Rāma’s virtues, immediately before she addresses him.
Rāma’s nyāya-vṛtti—upright, just conduct—set against Śūrpaṇakhā’s uncontrolled kāma and distorted speech.