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Shloka 11

सीताया रावणं प्रति धर्मोपदेशः

Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana

अकृतात्मानमासाद्य राजानमनये रतम्।।।।समृद्धानि विनश्यन्ति राष्ट्राणि नगराणि च।

akṛtātmānam āsādya rājānam anaye rataṃ |

samṛddhāni vinaśyanti rāṣṭrāṇi nagarāṇi ca ||5.21.11||

Cuando un rey sin dominio de sí, entregado a caminos injustos, llega al poder, los reinos prósperos e incluso las ciudades se arruinan.

akṛta-ātmānaman undisciplined/foolish person
akṛta-ātmānam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Roota- (नञ्) + kṛta (कृदन्त, √kṛ + क्त) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः—"अकृतः आत्मा यस्य/अकृतात्मा" (undisciplined)
āsādyahaving approached/obtained
āsādya:
TypeIndeclinable
Root√sad (धातु) + ā (उपसर्ग) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
FormAbsolutive (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), gerund; action prior to main verb
rājānama king
rājānam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootrājan (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
anayein injustice/evil policy
anaye:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootanaya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)
ratamengaged/delighting (in)
ratam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Root√ram (धातु) + kta (क्त)
FormPast participle used adjectivally; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with rājānam
samṛddhāniprosperous
samṛddhāni:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootsamṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with rāṣṭrāṇi/nagarāṇi
vinaśyantiperish/are destroyed
vinaśyanti:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√naś (धातु) + vi (उपसर्ग)
FormPresent tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)
rāṣṭrāṇikingdoms/states
rāṣṭrāṇi:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootrāṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)
nagarāṇicities
nagarāṇi:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootnagara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)
caand
ca:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चय-निपात)

"Even prosperous countries and cities are destroyed on account of indiscreet rulers engaged in unfair means.

S
Sītā
R
Rāvaṇa
K
king (rājā)

FAQs

Rājadharma: a ruler’s self-control and justice are foundational; when leadership is unrighteous, society’s prosperity collapses.

Sītā generalizes from Rāvaṇa’s conduct to a principle of governance: immoral kings destroy their own states.

Sītā’s wisdom and commitment to dharma-based governance, even while she is a captive.