Shloka 21

शूर्पणखाया रावणं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Surpanakha’s Political Admonition to Ravana

Devanagari script

नयनाभ्यां प्रसुप्तोऽपि जागर्ति नयचक्षुषा।त्यक्तक्रोधप्रमादश्च स राजा पूज्यते जनैः।।।।

Transliteration

nayanābhyāṃ prasupto 'pi jāgarti nayacakṣuṣā | tyaktakrodhapramādaś ca sa rājā pūjyate janaiḥ ||

Translation

แม้หลับด้วยดวงตาทั้งสองปิดอยู่ ก็ยังตื่นด้วยนัยน์ตาแห่งนิติธรรม; ผู้ละโทสะและความประมาทเช่นนั้น ย่อมเป็นพระราชาที่ประชาชนเคารพบูชา

Word by Word

• नयनाभ्याम्: with (his) two eyes
• नयनाभ्याम्: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचन; Instrumental dual

• प्रसुप्तः: asleep
• प्रसुप्तः: कर्तृविशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-स्वप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अपवादबोधक अव्यय (even)

• जागर्ति: is awake, keeps watch
• जागर्ति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जागृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (परस्मैपद-रूप)

• नयचक्षुषा: with the eye of policy/justice
• नयचक्षुषा: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नय-चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: नयस्य चक्षुः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• त्यक्तक्रोधप्रमादः: having abandoned anger and negligence
• त्यक्तक्रोधप्रमादः: विशेषण (to कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यक्त-क्रोध-प्रमाद (प्रातिपदिक; त्यक्त from त्यज् + क्त)
• Form: समास: त्यक्तौ क्रोधः प्रमादश्च यस्य सः (बहुव्रीहि; अन्तर्गत द्वन्द्व: क्रोध+प्रमाद); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; modifies राजा

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

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

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

• पूज्यते: is honored/worshipped
• पूज्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), आत्मनेपद

• जनैः: by the people
• जनैः: कर्ता (Passive agent/कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

Context

A king who does not act at the right time will be ruined along with the kingdom and its works.

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Rāvaṇa
• janāḥ (people)

FAQs

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

Dharma in rulership is constant vigilance through justice and policy, not impulsive anger; truth and fairness must remain ‘awake’ at all times.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā continues describing the model king—contrasting just wakefulness with Rāvaṇa’s anger and carelessness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Naya (just governance) and freedom from krodha (anger), supported by apramāda (unremitting attentiveness).