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Shurpanakha, a MythSource painting
Indian

Shurpanakha

01Identity

Shurpanakha in Indian tradition

In the Ramayana, Shurpanakha lunged towards Sita in the forest, and Rama stopped her rush. He told Lakshmana to act after Sita was frightened by the attack. Lakshmana drew his sword and wounded Shurpanakha. She screamed, bled, and fled through the forest, her cries carrying as she ran to seek help from her family. She went straight to her brother Khara, who asked who had mutilated her. Khara, Dushana, and Trishiras then fought Rama, and Rama defeated them. Ravana later heard what had happened and decided to avenge the insult by abducting Sita. Her cries sounded like thunder during the rains, and blood streamed from her face as she fled. Khara grew angry when he saw his wounded sister before him.

SourceThe Ramayana, abridged translation by Arshia Sattar: Chapter Two· Many Ramayanas: The Diversity of a Narrative Tradition in South Asia: FourThe Mutilation of Surpanakha· Ramayana: ‌The Forest· Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana: Book Four: Abduction

Top questions

The quick answers

02Family

Shurpanakha’s family, at a glance

VishravaKaikesi
ShurpanakhaRāvaṇa
03The myths

The myths of Shurpanakha

1 myth, with sources recorded for each.

Shurpanakha Mutilated in the Forest

Shurpanakha’s eyes blazed as she charged towards Sita in the forest. Her clawed hands reached forward and her mouth opened as if to swallow the princess. In the Ramayana, Rama stopped her headlong rush and called to Lakshmana after seeing Sita frightened by the attack. Rama reached for his bow and ordered Lakshmana to cut off her nose and ears. Lakshmana moved to kill her, but Rama stopped him because she was a woman. Lakshmana drew his dagger and cut off Shurpanakha’s ears and nose. She screamed in pain. Blood streamed from her face as she bolted back into the forest. She tore branches and trampled plants as she fled. Her cries sounded like thunder during the rains, and she looked more terrifying than before. Sita trembled, and Rama told her that they would protect her.

Shurpanakha went straight to her brother Khara at Janasthana. Khara was surrounded by his rakshasa forces when she threw herself before him. He saw that she was mutilated and dripping blood, and he asked who had done this to her. Shurpanakha told him what had happened and called for revenge. Khara grew angry when he saw his wounded sister. Khara, Dushana, and Trishiras answered that call by fighting Rama, and Rama defeated them.

Ravana later learned what had happened from his minister and from Shurpanakha. Hearing of Sita’s beauty, he decided to avenge the insult by abducting her. The injury in the forest led to Khara’s attack on Rama and Ravana’s plan against Sita.

Shurpanakha Mutilated in the Forest, a MythSource painting of the scene

6 sources· checked 2026-09-22

  1. 1The Ramayana, abridged translation by Arshia SattarT1
  2. 2Valmiki's RamayanaT1
  3. 3Many Ramayanas: The Diversity of a Narrative Tradition in South AsiaT1
  4. 4Many Ramayanas: The Diversity of a Narrative Tradition in South AsiaT1
  5. 5RamayanaT1
  6. 6Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the RamayanaT1

Also mentioned in

Stories elsewhere on MythSource that mention Shurpanakha, each on that figure’s page.

04Different accounts

Different accounts

›The injury varied among tellings: several named her nose and ears, one named her nose alone, and one added further wounds.

    The accounts that differ: Many Ramayanas: The Diversity of a Narrative Tradition in South Asia, FourThe Mutilation of Surpanakha; Ramayana, ‌The Forest; Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana, Book Four: Abduction

    From “Shurpanakha Mutilated in the Forest”