Shloka 26
शूर्पणखाया आगमनम्
Surpanakha Approaches Rama
अहं प्रभावसम्पन्ना स्वच्छन्दबलगामिनी।।।।चिराय भव मे भर्ता सीतया किं करिष्यसि।
ahaṃ prabhāvasampannā svacchandabalagāminī | cirāya bhava me bhartā sītayā kiṃ kariṣyasi ||
मैं प्रभाव-सम्पन्न हूँ और अपनी इच्छा से जहाँ चाहूँ जा सकती हूँ; दीर्घकाल तक मेरे पति बनो। सीता का तुम क्या करोगे?
I have influence over others, I have capacity to move wherever I want. Be my husband forever. What will you do with Sita?
FAQs
It underscores the dharmic ideal of marital fidelity by presenting its violation: Śūrpaṇakhā urges abandonment of Sītā, opposing righteous conduct.
Śūrpaṇakhā attempts to entice Rāma by boasting of her power and directly demeaning/discounting Sītā.
Implicitly, Rāma’s expected virtue is steadfastness to Sītā and adherence to maryādā (right relationship and restraint).