अरण्यकाण्डे द्वात्रिंशः सर्गः — Śūrpaṇakhā’s Report to Rāvaṇa and the Panegyric of His Might
अरण्यकाण्ड
This sarga functions as a narrative relay from battlefield aftermath to strategic escalation. Śūrpaṇakhā, having witnessed Rāma single-handedly annihilate Khara, Dūṣaṇa, Triśiras, and fourteen thousand rākṣasas, emits a thundercloud-like roar and departs in fear and agitation toward Laṅkā. She finds Rāvaṇa enthroned in splendor—described through royal insignia, formidable bodily marks from divine conflicts, and a catalogue of superhuman capacities (invulnerability to divine weapons, disruption of yajñas, conquest of Kubera and seizure of the Puṣpaka-vimāna, and fearlessness against all beings except “humans” per boon-logic). The chapter’s rhetoric is intentionally encomiastic: it magnifies Rāvaṇa’s prowess to heighten the epic stakes and to foreshadow the paradox of his vulnerability. The sarga culminates with Śūrpaṇakhā, disfigured by Lakṣmaṇa, approaching the rākṣasa court and beginning a harsh, accusatory speech that will redirect Rāvaṇa’s attention toward Rāma and Sītā, thereby advancing the causal chain toward the central crisis.
Verse 3.32.1
ततश्शूर्पणखा दृष्ट्वा सहस्राणि चतुर्दश।हतान्येकेन रामेण रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम्।।।।दूषणं च खरं चैव हतं त्रिशिरसा सह।दृष्ट्वा पुनर्महानादं ननाद जलदो यथा।।।।
Then Śūrpaṇakhā, seeing fourteen thousand rākṣasas of dreadful deeds slain by Rāma single-handedly—and seeing Dūṣaṇa and Khara too, along with Triśiras, killed—roared again with a thunderous cry, like a rain-cloud.
Verse 3.32.2
ततश्शूर्पणखा दृष्ट्वा सहस्राणि चतुर्दश।हतान्येकेन रामेण रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम्।।3.32.1।।दूषणं च खरं चैव हतं त्रिशिरसा सह।दृष्ट्वा पुनर्महानादं ननाद जलदो यथा।।3.32.2।।
Then Śūrpaṇakhā, seeing fourteen thousand rākṣasas of dreadful deeds slain by Rāma alone—and seeing Dūṣaṇa and Khara, and Triśiras with them, also killed—roared again with a great cry, like a thundercloud.
Verse 3.32.3
सा दृष्ट्वा कर्म रामस्य कृतमन्यैस्सुदुष्करम्।जगाम परमोद्विग्ना लङ्कां रावणपालिताम्।।।।
She beheld Rāvaṇa blazing with splendor, seated upon the foremost part of his aerial car, surrounded by ministers—like Vāsava (Indra) amid the Maruts.
Verse 3.32.4
सा ददर्श विमानाग्रे रावणं दीप्ततेजसम्।उपोपविष्टं सचिवैर्मरुद्भिरिव वासवम्।।।।
He was seated on a splendid golden throne, radiant like the sun—like a great fire blazing upon a golden altar.
Verse 3.32.5
आसीनं सूर्यसङ्काशे काञ्चने परमासने।रुक्मवेदिगतं प्राज्यं ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम्।।।।
Invincible in battle even to devas, gandharvas, beings, and great seers, that warrior seemed like Death itself, jaws agape.
Verse 3.32.6
देवगन्धर्वभूतानामृषीणां च महात्मनाम्।अजेयं समरे शूरं व्यात्ताननमिवान्तकम्।।।।
He bore wounds made by thunderbolts and missiles in clashes of devas and asuras, and scars upon his chest gouged by the tips of Airāvata’s tusks.
Verse 3.32.7
देवासुरविमर्देषु वज्राशनिकृतव्रणम्।ऐरावतविषाणग्रैरुद्घृष्टकिणवक्षसम्।।।।
He was a hero with twenty arms and ten necks, splendidly arrayed, broad-chested, and adorned with the marks of royalty.
Verse 3.32.8
विंशद्भुजं दशग्रीवं दर्शनीयपरिच्छदम्।विशालवक्षसं वीरं राजलक्षण शोभितम्।।।।
With gleaming luster like polished vaiḍūrya, wearing burnished golden earrings, strong-armed, white-toothed, and wide-mouthed, he seemed mountain-like in presence.
Verse 3.32.9
स्निग्धवैडूर्यसङ्काशं तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलम्।सुभुजं शुक्लदशनं महास्यं पर्वतोपमम्।।।।
Disfigured by the great-souled Lakṣmaṇa, Śūrpaṇakhā—once a fearless wanderer—now faint with fear and confusion, showed her mutilation and spoke cruel words to him of large, blazing eyes (Rāvaṇa).
Verse 3.32.10
विष्णुचक्रनिपातैश्च शतशो देवसंयुगे।अन्यैश्शस्त्रप्रहारैश्च महायुद्धेषु ताडितम्।।।।
In wars against the gods he had been struck hundreds of times by the falling discus of Viṣṇu, and battered in great battles by the blows of many other weapons.
Verse 3.32.11
अहताङ्गं समस्तैश्च देवप्रहरणैस्तथा।अक्षोभ्याणां समुद्राणां क्षोभणं क्षिप्रकारिणम्।।।।
His limbs remained unhurt even by all the divine weapons; he could churn even the unshakable oceans, and he was swift in action.
Verse 3.32.12
क्षेप्तारं पर्वतेन्द्राणां सुराणां च प्रमर्दनम्।उच्छेत्तारं च धर्माणां परदाराभिमर्शनम्।।।।
He was one who could hurl mighty mountains, who tormented even the gods; a root-destroyer of dharma, and one who violated others’ wives.
Verse 3.32.13
सर्वदिव्यास्त्रयोक्तारं यज्ञविघ्नकरं सदा।पुरीं भोगवतीं प्राप्य पराजित्य च वासुकिम्।।।।तक्षकस्य प्रियां भार्यां पराजित्य जहार यः।
He was skilled in deploying every divine weapon, ever a disruptor of sacrifices. Having reached the city of Bhogavatī and defeated Vāsuki, he carried off the beloved wife of Takṣaka after overcoming him.
Verse 3.32.14
कैलासपर्वतं गत्वा विजित्य नरवाहनम्।विमानं पुष्पकं तस्य कामगं वै जहार यः।।।।
He went to Mount Kailāsa, conquered Naravāhana (Kubera), and by force seized his Puṣpaka aerial chariot, which moves wherever one wills.
Verse 3.32.15
वनं चैत्ररथं दिव्यं नलिनीं नन्दनं वनम्।विनाशयति यः क्रोधाद्देवोद्यानानि वीर्यवान्।।।।
Valiant though he was, in anger he laid waste the devas’ gardens—the divine Caitraratha, the lotus-ponds, and the Nandana grove.
Verse 3.32.16
चन्द्रसूर्यौ महाभागावुत्तिष्ठन्तौ परन्तपौ।निवारयति बाहुभ्यां यश्शैलशिखरोपमः।।।।
Mountain-peak-like in stature, a great hero who scorches his foes—so mighty that with his own arms he could hold back the rising Moon and Sun.
Verse 3.32.17
दशवर्षसहस्राणि तपस्तप्वा महावने।पुरा स्वयंभुवे धीरश्शिरांस्युपजहार यः।।।।
Steadfast, he once performed tapas for ten thousand years in a great forest, and offered up his own heads to Svayaṃbhū (Brahmā).
Verse 3.32.18
देवदानवगन्धर्वपिशाचपतगोरगैः।अभयं यस्य सङ्ग्रामे मृत्युतो मानुषादृते।।।।
In battle he feared no death at the hands of devas, dānavas, gandharvas, piśācas, birds, or serpents—save only from a human being.
Verse 3.32.19
मन्त्रैरभिष्टुतं पुण्यमध्वरेषु द्विजातिभिः।हविर्धानेषु यस्सोममुपहन्ति महाबलः।।।।
Mighty though he was, he profaned the sacred Soma—praised with mantras by the twice-born in the sacrifices—at the very places where the oblations are set forth.
Verse 3.32.20
आप्तयज्ञहरं क्रूरं ब्रह्मघ्नं दुष्टचारिणम्।कर्कशं निरनुक्रोशं प्रजानामहिते रतम्।।।।
He was a cruel spoiler of sacrifices at their culmination, a slayer of brahmins—of wicked conduct, harsh and without compassion—ever engaged in what harms the people.
Verse 3.32.21
रावणं सर्वभूतानां सर्वलोकभयावहम्।राक्षसी भ्रातरं शूरं सा ददर्श महाबलम्।।।।
That rākṣasī saw her brother Rāvaṇa—valiant and immensely strong—who brought fear upon all beings and all worlds.
Verse 3.32.22
तं दिव्यवस्त्राभरणं दिव्यमाल्योपशोभितम्।आसने सूपविष्टं च कालकालमिवोद्यतम्।।।।
She saw him resplendent in divine garments and ornaments, beautified with celestial garlands—seated firmly upon his throne, like Death even to Death itself, poised to strike.
Verse 3.32.23
राक्षसेन्द्रं महाभागं पौलस्त्यकुलनन्दनम्। ।।रावणं शत्रुहन्तारं मन्त्रिभिः परिवारितम्।अभिगम्याब्रवीद्वाक्यं राक्षसी भयविह्वला।।।।
Approaching Rāvaṇa—the lord of the rākṣasas, mighty and illustrious, the pride of the Paulastya line, a slayer of enemies, surrounded by his ministers—the rākṣasī, trembling with fear, spoke these words.
Verse 3.32.24
राक्षसेन्द्रं महाभागं पौलस्त्यकुलनन्दनम्। 3.32.23।।रावणं शत्रुहन्तारं मन्त्रिभिः परिवारितम्।अभिगम्याब्रवीद्वाक्यं राक्षसी भयविह्वला।।3.32.24।।
Approaching Rāvaṇa—the destroyer of enemies—surrounded by his ministers, the rākṣasī, shaken with fear, spoke these words.
Verse 3.32.25
तमब्रवीद्दीप्तविशाललोचनं प्रदर्शयित्वा भयमोहमूर्छिता।सुदारुणं वाक्यमभीतचारिणी महात्मना शूर्पणखा विरूपिता।।।।
Seeing Rāma’s deed—something exceedingly hard for others to accomplish—Śūrpaṇakhā, deeply shaken, went to Laṅkā, the city ruled by Rāvaṇa.