Shloka 15
शूर्पणखाया रावणं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः
Surpanakha’s Political Admonition to Ravana
तीक्ष्णमल्पप्रदातारं प्रमत्तं गर्वितं शठम्।व्यसने सर्वभूतानि नाभिधावन्ति पार्थिवम्।।।।
tīkṣṇam alpapradātāraṃ pramattaṃ garvitaṃ śaṭham | vyasane sarvabhūtāni nābhidhāvanti pārthivam ||
जो राजा कठोर, अल्पदाता, प्रमत्त, गर्विष्ठ व शठ असेल—आपत्तीत प्राणी त्याच्याकडे धावत नाहीत; त्याचा आश्रय घेत नाहीत।
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.
FAQs
A ruler’s dharma is to be a refuge; cruelty, pride, and deceit destroy legitimacy, so people withdraw trust and protection-seeking.
General political-ethical instruction is given to Rāvaṇa: bad kingship results in abandonment by subjects and dependents during crises.
Compassionate justice and generosity: the king must be reliable and beneficent to remain a true protector.