Shloka 18
आरण्यकाण्डे चतुस्त्रिंशः सर्गः
Śūrpaṇakhā Reports to Rāvaṇa; Rāma’s Might and Sītā’s Description
यस्य सीता भवेद्भार्या यं च हृष्टा परिष्वजेत्।अतिजीवेत्स सर्वेषु लोकेष्वपि पुरन्दरात्।।।।
yasya sītā bhaved bhāryā yaṁ ca hṛṣṭā pariṣvajet |
atijīvetsa sarveṣu lokeṣv api purandarāt ||
He whose wife Sītā would be, and whom she would embrace with joy, would deem himself more blessed than even Purandara (Indra) and would long to live beyond all others in every world.
Whosoever gets Sita as his wife, whoever she embraces happily will wish to live longer than Indra, the breaker of fortresses in this world.
FAQs
It warns that exalting sensual gain as the highest ‘fortune’ distorts dharma; true wellbeing in the Ramayana is tied to righteousness, restraint, and lawful bonds—not coveting another’s spouse.
Śūrpaṇakhā attempts to entice Rāvaṇa by portraying Sītā as a prize whose possession would surpass even Indra’s glory.
By contrast, the implied virtue is self-control (dama) and respect for marital dharma—virtues that Rāvaṇa is being pushed to abandon.