Shloka 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 ||
രാക്ഷസേന്ദ്രനായ, മഹാഭാഗ്യശാലിയായ പൗലസ്ത്യകുലനന്ദനനും ശത്രുഹന്താവുമായ രാവണനെ—മന്ത്രിമാർ ചുറ്റിനിന്നിരിക്കെ—സമീപിച്ച്, ഭയത്താൽ വിറച്ച രാക്ഷസി ഈ വാക്കുകൾ പറഞ്ഞു.
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:
FAQs
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.