Shloka 1

शूर्पणखाया रावणं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Surpanakha’s Political Admonition to Ravana

Devanagari script

ततः शूर्पणखा दीना रावणं लोकरावणम्।अमात्यमध्ये सङ्क्रुद्धा परुषं वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ śūrpaṇakhā dīnā rāvaṇaṃ loka-rāvaṇam | amātya-madhye saṅkruddhā paruṣaṃ vākyam abravīt ||

Translation

แล้วศูรปณขา ผู้ทุกข์ระทมและเดือดดาล ก็กล่าวถ้อยคำแข็งกร้าวต่อทศกัณฐ์ ผู้ทำให้โลกคร่ำครวญ ขณะประทับท่ามกลางอำมาตย์ทั้งหลาย

Word by Word

• प्रमत्तः: careless; intoxicated
• प्रमत्तः: Visheshya-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√मद् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, PPP: प्रमत्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective (intoxicated/careless)

• काम-भोगेषु: in pleasures of desire
• काम-भोगेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम + भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; locative plural (in sensual enjoyments)

• स्वैर-वृत्तः: self-willed in conduct
• स्वैर-वृत्तः: Visheshya-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वैर + वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective (acting at will)

• निरङ्कुशः: uncontrolled
• निरङ्कुशः: Visheshya-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + अङ्कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective (unrestrained)

• समुत्पन्नम्: arisen
• समुत्पन्नम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उत्-√पद्/√पत् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, PPP: समुत्पन्न); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective to 'भयम्' (arisen)

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; object of 'बोद्धव्यम्' (to be understood)

• घोरम्: dreadful
• घोरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective to 'भयम्'

• बोद्धव्यम्: should be understood
• बोद्धव्यम्: Vidhi (विधि/आवश्यकता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्, gerundive/passive necessity); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; impersonal predicate: 'it should be understood'

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• अवबुध्यसे: you understand
• अवबुध्यसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; present 2nd singular (you understand)

Context

When the distressed, anguished Surpanakha met Ravana who makes the world weep, he was seated in the midst of his ministers. She addressed him these harsh words:

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Rāvaṇa
• Ministers (Amātyas)

FAQs

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

It highlights the ethical danger of anger-driven speech. Dharma values truthful, measured words; harsh speech in public councils can inflame conflict and lead to adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā confronts Rāvaṇa in his court among ministers and begins her angry, accusatory address.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes (negatively) the lack of kṣamā and self-restraint; anger (krodha) becomes the driver of counsel, undermining wise judgment.