Shloka 18
खरस्य क्रोधः — शूर्पणखावृत्तान्तकथनम्
Khara’s Wrath and Śūrpaṇakhā’s Report
ताभ्यामुभाभ्यां सम्भूय प्रमदामधिकृत्य ताम्।इमामवस्थां नीताहं यथानाथासती तथा।।।।
tābhyām ubhābhyāṁ sambhūya pramadām adhikṛtya tām | imām avasthāṁ nītāhaṁ yathā anāthā asatī tathā ||
Gemeinsam handelnd haben diese beiden – wegen jener Frau – mich in diesen Zustand versetzt, als wäre ich eine hilflose, entehrte Frau ohne Schutz.
I have been subjected to this state of an orphan unfaithful woman by both of them for the sake of that lady.
FAQs
The verse shows how adharma can arise through distorted framing: Shurpanakha casts herself as wronged to incite retaliation, warning that narratives can be weaponized against dharma.
Shurpanakha claims Rama and Lakshmana jointly humiliated her because of Sita, presenting her injury as dishonor.
Indirectly, it points to the need for discernment (viveka) in the listener—Khara must judge truth versus provocation.