Shloka 20

शूर्पणखाया रावणं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Surpanakha’s Political Admonition to Ravana

Devanagari script

अप्रमत्तश्च यो राजा सर्वज्ञो विजितेन्द्रियः।कृतज्ञो धर्मशीलश्च स राजा तिष्ठते चिरम्।।।।

Transliteration

apramattaś ca yo rājā sarvajño vijitendriyaḥ | kṛtajño dharmaśīlaś ca sa rājā tiṣṭhate ciram ||

Translation

พระราชาผู้ดำรงราชอำนาจยืนนาน คือผู้ไม่ประมาท มีปัญญารอบรู้ ชนะอินทรีย์ รู้คุณ และมั่นคงในธรรมจริยา

Word by Word

• अप्रमत्तः: vigilant
• अप्रमत्तः: विशेषण (to कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-प्रमत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-युक्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; modifies राजा

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Relative pronoun

• राजा: king
• राजा: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• सर्वज्ञः: all-knowing
• सर्वज्ञः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: सर्वं जानाति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विजितेन्द्रियः: having conquered the senses
• विजितेन्द्रियः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजित-इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: विजितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य (बहुव्रीहि-प्रायः; परम्परया तत्पुरुष/बहुव्रीहि); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कृतज्ञः: grateful
• कृतज्ञः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत-ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कृतं जानाति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धर्मशीलः: virtuous, of righteous conduct
• धर्मशीलः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: धर्मे शीलं यस्य/धर्मशीलः (तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• सः: that (such a one)
• सः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Demonstrative pronoun

• राजा: king
• राजा: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition

• तिष्ठते: stands/continues (to reign)
• तिष्ठते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time: for long)

Context

Lustful and greedy, you are addicted to vulgar pleasures. People will not respect you like the fire on the crematorium.

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Rāvaṇa
• rājā (king)

FAQs

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

Sustained rule rests on dharmic character: vigilance, sense-control, gratitude, and informed judgment protect both truth (satya) and public welfare.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā lists the virtues of ideal kingship while implicitly contrasting them with Rāvaṇa’s deficiencies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Apramāda (non-negligence) joined with vijitendriyatā (sense-mastery) and dharmaśīlatā (righteous disposition).