Shloka 3.33.11

शूर्पणखाया रावणं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः (Surpanakha’s Political Admonition to Ravana)

Devanagari script

अयुक्तचारं मन्ये त्वां प्राकृतैस्सचिवैर्वृतम्।स्वजनं तु जनस्थाने हतं यो नावबुद्ध्यसे।।।।

Transliteration

pramattaḥ kāmabhogeṣu svairavṛtto niraṅkuśaḥ | samutpannaṃ bhayaṃ ghoraṃ boddhavyaṃ nāvabudhyase ||

Translation

Drunk on sensual pleasures, acting on mere whim and without restraint, you fail to grasp the dreadful danger that has arisen—though it is what you ought to understand.

Context

Since you have not engaged any spy you do not know when your own relatives were killed in Janasthana. I take you to be a fool surrounded by ordinary ministers.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Self-restraint and clear judgment are essential to dharma; a ruler or leader must not let kāma (desire) and pramāda (heedlessness) blind them to real dangers and duties.

What is the narrative situation?

A counselor warns Rāvaṇa that his indulgence and lack of restraint prevent him from recognizing the grave threat that has already arisen.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and self-control (saṃyama): the capacity to govern oneself before attempting to govern others.