Shloka 3.48.5

रावणस्यात्मप्रशंसा लङ्कावर्णनं च — Ravana’s Self-Praise and the Description of Lanka

Devanagari script

यद्भयार्तः परित्यज्य स्वमधिष्ठानमृद्धिमत्।कैलासं पर्वतश्रेष्ठमध्यास्ते नरवाहनः।।।।

Transliteration

avaśyaṃ vinaśiṣyanti sarve rāvaṇa rākṣasāḥ |

yeṣāṃ tvaṃ karkaśo rājā durbuddhir ajitendriyaḥ ||

Translation

“Surely, O Rāvaṇa, all those rākṣasas will perish whose king you are—harsh, evil-minded, and uncontrolled in your senses.”

Context

Out of fear for me, Kubera is residing on the mighty mount Kailasa, leaving his own earlier prosperous place of residence.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Rajadharma requires self-mastery; a ruler without sense-control brings ruin upon his people—personal adharma becomes collective disaster.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā predicts the downfall of Rāvaṇa’s entire clan due to his character and leadership.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control (indriya-jaya) as a foundational virtue for leadership and moral life.