Shloka 3.32.23
अरण्यकाण्डे द्वात्रिंशः सर्गः — Śūrpaṇakhā’s Report to Rāvaṇa and the Panegyric of His Might
राक्षसेन्द्रं महाभागं पौलस्त्यकुलनन्दनम्। ।।रावणं शत्रुहन्तारं मन्त्रिभिः परिवारितम्।अभिगम्याब्रवीद्वाक्यं राक्षसी भयविह्वला।।।।
rākṣasendraṃ mahābhāgaṃ paulastyakulanandanam |
rāvaṇaṃ śatruhantāraṃ mantribhiḥ parivāritam |
abhigamyābravīd vākyaṃ rākṣasī bhayavihvalā ||
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.
On reaching Ravana, the lord of demons, the delight of the Paulastya dynasty, and the destroyer of enemies surrounded by ministers, the terrified, Surpanakha said these words:
Counsel and speech can redirect events toward Dharma or adharma. This verse marks the moment when fear-driven reporting and courtly influence begin steering Rāvaṇa toward a grievous violation of Dharma.
Śūrpaṇakhā, distressed after the annihilation of Khara’s force, reaches Rāvaṇa’s court and begins to report, initiating the chain leading to the central crisis of Araṇya-kāṇḍa.
The need for wise counsel (mantra) is implicit: a ruler surrounded by ministers should choose restraint and justice—yet the coming narrative shows a failure of discernment.