66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

Sukracharya, who guided the asuras—men possessing the
finest intellects, were also there ready to advise Ravana
when asked and to act generally as soothsayers.
Into this setting crashed Soorpanaka, screaming so loudly
that all the men, women, and children of the city came
rushing out of their homes and crowded the northern portal of
the palace, where Soorpanaka had made her entry. She
dashed up and fell before Ravana’s throne, crying, “See
what has happened to me!”
When Ravana observed her state, he thundered, “What is
the meaning of this? Who has done it?”—in such a tone that
all nature shrank and slunk away from the scene. Gods held
their breath unable to gauge the upheaval that would follow
when Ravana struck in revenge. While everyone in the
assembly held his breath and waited, Ravana inquired with
deliberate calmness, “Who has done this to you?”
Soorpanaka explained in detail and concluded, referring
to Rama, “Even if I had a thousand tongues, I could never
fully explain his beauty and the grandeur of his personality.
Even if one had a thousand eyes one could not take in the
splendour of this being. His strength is unmatched. Singlehanded
he wiped out all our army.” She realized that she had
made a blunder revealing too much of her inner feelings for
Rama and corrected herself by adding, “For all his looks,
what a cruel heart he has! His mission in life is to wipe out
our whole family, clan, class from the face of this earth.”