Shloka 16
खरस्य क्रोधः — शूर्पणखावृत्तान्तकथनम्
Khara’s Wrath and Śūrpaṇakhā’s Report
गन्धर्वराजप्रतिमौ पार्थिवव्यञ्जनान्वितौ।देवौ वा मानुषौ वा तौ न तर्कयितुमुत्सहे।।।।
gandharvarāja-pratimau pārthiva-vyañjanānvitau | devau vā mānuṣau vā tau na tarkayitum utsahe ||
Sie glichen Königen unter den Gandharvas und trugen die Zeichen der Herrschaft; ich wagte nicht zu urteilen, ob sie Götter oder Menschen waren.
They are kings of the gandharvas with all royal insignia. I was not able to discern whether they are gods or humans.
FAQs
Intellectual honesty: when knowledge is uncertain, one should not assert false certainty—aligning speech with satya.
Shurpanakha emphasizes the extraordinary, almost superhuman appearance of the two brothers.
Truthfulness through restraint in claims—admitting uncertainty rather than exaggerating as fact.