Vedic Kathas
At Panchavati during the exile, Ravana's sister Shurpanakha fell in love with Rama.
Great wars often begin in small moments. In the Ramayana, the war that would end in the fall of Lanka was sparked not by armies but by a single meeting in the forest, when the rakshasi Shurpanakha, sister of…
During their exile, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana had made their home at Panchavati on the banks of the Godavari. There Shurpanakha, wandering the Dandaka forest, saw Rama and was at once overcome by his beauty.
Rama, with gentle courtesy, told her that he was already married to Sita and sent her lightly to his brother Lakshmana. Lakshmana in turn, understanding her nature, teased her and sent her back.
To protect Sita, Lakshmana drew his sword and, in the ancient custom of punishing an attacking demon, cut off Shurpanakha's nose and ears.
Shurpanakha ran first to her brothers Khara and Dushana, who ruled the rakshasas of the Dandaka forest with an army of fourteen thousand. They marched against Rama, and Rama destroyed them all, alone.
Shurpanakha's tale is the Ramayana's study of how great disasters begin. Unchecked desire, wounded pride and the thirst for revenge move from a single heart to a family to a kingdom, until two civilisations…
The story shows how great disasters grow from small beginnings: unchecked desire, wounded pride and revenge spread from one heart to a family to a kingdom until two worlds are at war.
Vedic Kathas
The complete story, its characters and sources, on Vedic Kathas.