Shloka 6
शूर्पणखाया रावणं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः
Surpanakha’s Political Admonition to Ravana
ये न रक्षन्ति विषयमस्वाधीना नराधिपाः।ते न वृद्ध्या प्रकाशन्ते गिरयस्सागरे यथा।।।।
ye na rakṣanti viṣayam asvādhīnā narādhipāḥ | te na vṛddhyā prakāśante girayaḥ sāgare yathā ||
พระราชาผู้ไม่สำรวมตนและไม่พิทักษ์แว่นแคว้น ย่อมไม่รุ่งเรืองด้วยความเจริญดุจภูผาที่จมอยู่ในมหาสมุทร มิอาจปรากฏความงามสง่าได้
A king who accuses others, who is addicted to sensual pleasures, who lacks a sense of judgement of place and time, a sense of discrimination between virtue and vice and the right wisdom will destroy himself and the kingdom in no time.
FAQs
Protection of the realm is a primary duty of kingship; without self-control, that duty fails and prosperity cannot manifest.
Continuing her rebuke, Śūrpaṇakhā frames Rāvaṇa’s lack of restraint as a direct cause of weak protection and decline.
Self-mastery (svādīnatā) as the foundation for safeguarding subjects and territory.