Shloka 14
मारीचस्य रावणं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः
Maricha’s Counsel on Kingship and Ruin to Ravana
स्वामिना प्रतिकूलेन प्रजास्तीक्ष्णेन रावण।रक्ष्यमाणा न वर्धन्ते मेषा गोमायुना यथा।।।।
svāminā pratikūlena prajāḥ tīkṣṇena rāvaṇa | rakṣyamāṇā na vardhante meṣā gomāyunā yathā ||
ಓ ರಾವಣ, ಪ್ರತಿಕೂಲವೂ ತೀಕ್ಷ್ಣವೂ ಆದ ಸ್ವಾಮಿಯಿಂದ ರಕ್ಷಿಸಲ್ಪಡುವ ಪ್ರಜೆಗಳು ವೃದ್ಧಿಯಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ; ಗോമಾಯು (ನರಿ) ಕಾಪಾಡುವ ಕುರಿಗಳಂತೆ.
Under a rude, crooked king whose senses are not under his control the demons will surely perish.
FAQs
A ruler’s dharma is genuine protection; when ‘protection’ is driven by hostility and cruelty, it becomes exploitation and leads to decline.
Mārīca rebukes Rāvaṇa’s disposition, using a sharp simile to show that tyrannical rule cannot nurture prosperity.
Dayā (compassion) and anukampā (care for dependents) as foundations of righteous rule.