Shloka 3.18.19
शूर्पणखाविरूपणम् (The Disfigurement of Śūrpaṇakhā)
क्रूरैरनार्यै स्सौमित्रे परिहासः कथञ्चन।न कार्यः पश्यवैदेहीं कथञ्चित्सौम्य जीवतीम्।।।।
krūrair anāryaiḥ saumitre parihāsaḥ kathañcana |
na kāryaḥ paśya vaidehīṃ kathañcit saumya jīvatīm ||
“Saumitra, one must never jest with the cruel and uncivilized. Look—Vaidehī has somehow been spared and still lives.”
O handsome Lakshmana! it is not proper to cut jokes with wicked, uncivilized persons. Now see Sita who has somehow survived.
Dharma includes restraint in speech: mocking the wicked can invite danger and is improper when lives are at stake; seriousness and vigilance are required.
After stopping Śūrpaṇakhā’s violent rush, Rāma admonishes Lakṣmaṇa not to treat such a threat lightly and points to Sītā’s narrow escape.
Rāma’s prudence and protective leadership—he corrects frivolity and centers attention on safeguarding Sītā.