Shloka 3.18.15

शूर्पणखाविरूपणम् (The Disfigurement of Śūrpaṇakhā)

Devanagari script

एनां विरूपामसतीं करालां निर्णतोदरीम्।वृद्धां भार्यामवष्टभ्य मां न त्वं बहुमन्यसे।।।।

Transliteration

enāṃ virūpām asatīṃ karālāṃ nirṇatodarīm | vṛddhāṃ bhāryām avaṣṭabhya māṃ na tvaṃ bahumanyase ||

Translation

Clinging to that wife—ugly, unfaithful, frightful, slack-bellied, and old—you do not value me.

Context

You are holding on to this lady who is ugly, unchaste, fierce-looking, flat-bellied and aged and not caring for me.

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Rāma
• Sītā (as the maligned ‘wife’)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Adharma appears as slander and the attempt to break a righteous marriage; dharma upholds fidelity, respect, and non-injury through speech.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā, believing Lakṣmaṇa’s insinuations, insults Sītā and accuses Rāma of ignoring her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, Rāma’s commitment to Sītā (patnī-vrata) is the virtue under attack and thereby foregrounded.