Shloka 3.21.14
खर-शूर्पणखा-संवादः | Khara and Surpanakha: Lament, Reproach, and the Janasthana Crisis
मयि ते यद्यनुक्रोशो यदि रक्षस्सु तेषु च।रामेण यदि ते शक्तिस्तेजो वास्ति निशाचर।।।दण्डकारण्यनिलयं जहि राक्षसकण्टकम्।
mayi te yady anukrośo yadi rakṣaḥsu teṣu ca | rāmeṇa yadi te śaktis tejo vāsti niśācara || daṇḍakāraṇyanilayaṃ jahi rākṣasakaṇṭakam ||
O night-ranger, if you have compassion for me—or for those demons—and if you possess power and splendor equal to Rama’s, then kill that thorn to the rakshasas, who dwells in the Dandaka forest.
O demon ! if you have compassion for me or for the demons, if you have the power and energy to face Rama, kill the enemy of the demons living in Dandaka forest.
The verse illustrates adharma through incitement: compassion is rhetorically weaponized to demand revenge, contrasting with dharma’s restraint and justice.
Shurpanakha urges Khara to attack and kill Rama in Dandaka, framing it as proof of strength and loyalty.
By contrast, it highlights the absence of virtue—revenge-driven persuasion—setting the stage for dharmic confrontation.