Shloka 3.20.5
विंशः सर्गः (Sarga 20): शूर्पणखाप्रेरितराक्षसवधः — The Slaying of the Fourteen Demons Sent by Śūrpaṇakhā
वाक्यमेतत्ततश्श्रुत्वा रामस्य विदितात्मनः।तथेति लक्ष्मणो वाक्यं रामस्य प्रत्यपूजयत्।।।।
nipātitān dṛśya raṇe tu rākṣasān pradhāvitā śūrpaṇakhā punas tataḥ |
vadhaṃ ca teṣāṃ nikhilena rakṣasāṃ śaśaṃsa sarvaṃ bhaginī kharasya sā ||
When Śūrpaṇakhā saw the rākṣasas struck down in battle, she ran from there again and reported to Khara—her brother—everything in full detail about their slaughter.
Lakshmana heard him and in turn honoured the word of Rama, knower of the self.
Truth-telling can serve dharma or adharma depending on intent: here, accurate reporting is used to incite retaliatory violence, showing how speech (vāc) must be guided by righteousness, not revenge.
Śūrpaṇakhā, after the defeat of the rākṣasas, rushes to Khara and narrates the entire incident, setting up the next escalation.
By contrast, the episode underscores the need for विवेक (discernment) in leadership—Khara must judge rightly rather than be driven by provocation.