Shloka 3.19.18

खरस्य क्रोधः — शूर्पणखावृत्तान्तकथनम् (Khara’s Wrath and Śūrpaṇakhā’s Report)

Devanagari script

ताभ्यामुभाभ्यां सम्भूय प्रमदामधिकृत्य ताम्।इमामवस्थां नीताहं यथानाथासती तथा।।।।

Transliteration

tābhyām ubhābhyāṁ sambhūya pramadām adhikṛtya tām | imām avasthāṁ nītāhaṁ yathā anāthā asatī tathā ||

Translation

Acting together, those two—on account of that woman—have reduced me to this condition, as though I were a helpless, dishonored woman without protection.

Context

I have been subjected to this state of an orphan unfaithful woman by both of them for the sake of that lady.

Characters & Entities

• Shurpanakha
• Khara
• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Sita

FAQs

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

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.

What is the narrative situation?

Shurpanakha claims Rama and Lakshmana jointly humiliated her because of Sita, presenting her injury as dishonor.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indirectly, it points to the need for discernment (viveka) in the listener—Khara must judge truth versus provocation.