Shloka 17
आरण्यकाण्डे चतुस्त्रिंशः सर्गः
Śūrpaṇakhā Reports to Rāvaṇa; Rāma’s Might and Sītā’s Description
नैव देवी न गन्धर्वी न यक्षी न च किन्नरी।नैवंरूपा मया नारी दृष्टपूर्वा महीतले।।।।
naiva devī na gandharvī na yakṣī na ca kinnarī |
naivaṁrūpā mayā nārī dṛṣṭapūrvā mahītale ||
ദേവിയുമല്ല, ഗന്ധർവിയുമല്ല, യക്ഷിയുമല്ല, കിന്നരിയുമല്ല—ഭൂമിതലത്തിൽ ഇത്തരമൊരു രൂപവതിയായ സ്ത്രീയെ ഞാൻ മുമ്പെങ്ങും കണ്ടിട്ടില്ല.
I had not seen such a beautiful woman earlier, among the gandharvas, or yakshas, or kinneras. I have not seen such a beauty among the humans on earth.
FAQs
The verse itself is descriptive praise used as persuasion; ethically, it illustrates how uncontrolled desire and flattery can be used to provoke adharma (unrighteous action) by inflaming another’s passions.
After being humiliated and disfigured, Śūrpaṇakhā approaches Rāvaṇa and extols Sītā’s beauty to incite him toward abducting her and attacking Rāma.
No virtue is directly praised; instead, the verse highlights the danger of kāma-driven speech—persuasive admiration that aims to manipulate rather than uphold dharma.