[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c9.142 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.142 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c9.142 - **Language:** English ### [c9.142](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.142) 15) \*The incident of Śūrpaṇakhā.\* Śūrpaṇakhā was the wife of a Rākṣasa called Vidyujjihva. Once in a war which Rāvaṇa, Vidyujjihva and other Rākṣasas fought at Devaloka Vidyujjihva was killed by mistake. Rāvaṇa, therefore, permitted Śūrpaṇakhā to choose whomsoever she liked as her husband, and she went about the world in search of a suitable husband. She liked some persons, but they did not like her, and vice versa. Thus she was roaming about discontented. She was also on the look-out for an opportunity to take vengeance on Lakṣmaṇa for killing her son, Śambhukumāra. Śūrpaṇakhā, who heard about the beauty of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa came to Pañcavaṭī disguised as Lalitā. Śrī Rāma alone was there in the āśrama at the time and she told him that she was love-sick. Śrī Rāma rejected her prayer on the plea that he was already married, Then she approached Lakṣmaṇa with the same request. He too refused to oblige her. Then she saw Sītā there and decided to shatter her married life and also to make a present of her to Rāvaṇa. She also thought that if Sītā were got rid of she would have Rāma for husband. Maddened by such thoughts she rushed into the āśrama. But, Lakṣmaṇa drove her out. Then, carrying Lakṣmaṇa with her she rose into the sky and he cut away both her ears, breasts and nose. Thus disfigured she resumed her form of Rākṣasī. She flew away in the sky roaring loudly. - [Previous: c9.141](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.141) - [Next: c9.143](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.143) - [Up: c9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.142](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.142) · Pramāṇa