Shloka 3.33.16

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

Devanagari script

अतिमानिनमग्राह्यमात्मसम्भावितं नरम्।क्रोधिनं व्यसने हन्ति स्वजनोऽपि महीपतिम्।।।।

Transliteration

tīkṣṇam alpapradātāraṃ pramattaṃ garvitaṃ śaṭham | vyasane sarvabhūtāni nābhidhāvanti pārthivam ||

Translation

When a king is harsh, ungenerous, heedless, proud, and deceitful, creatures do not run to him in calamity; they cease to seek his shelter.

Context

A king who is extremely arrogant, who is not acceptable to good people, who is self-conceited and choleric-tempered will be murdered even by his own people at the time of adversity.

Characters & Entities

• King (pārthiva)

FAQs

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

A ruler’s dharma is to be a refuge; cruelty, pride, and deceit destroy legitimacy, so people withdraw trust and protection-seeking.

What is the narrative situation?

General political-ethical instruction is given to Rāvaṇa: bad kingship results in abandonment by subjects and dependents during crises.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate justice and generosity: the king must be reliable and beneficent to remain a true protector.