Shloka 3.18.22

शूर्पणखाविरूपणम् (The Disfigurement of Śūrpaṇakhā)

Devanagari script

निकृत्तकर्णनासा तु विस्वरं सा विनद्य च।यथागतं प्रदुद्राव घोरा शूर्पणखा वनम्।।।।

Transliteration

nikṛttakarṇanāsā tu visvaraṃ sā vinadya ca |

yathāgataṃ pradudrāva ghorā śūrpaṇakhā vanam ||

Translation

With her ears and nose cut off, dreadful Śūrpaṇakhā cried out in a hoarse voice and fled into the forest, back the way she had come.

Context

Dreadful Surpanakha with her ears and nose cut off, roared in a hoarse voice and ranaway into the forest in the same direction as she came.

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Adharma brings immediate consequence: violent aggression rebounds upon the aggressor, and society is safeguarded when danger is driven away.

What is the narrative situation?

After being disfigured, Śūrpaṇakhā screams and retreats into the forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The protective effectiveness of decisive action—harm is halted and the threat withdraws.