Shloka 7

शूर्पणखाया रावणं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Surpanakha’s Political Admonition to Ravana

Devanagari script

आत्मवद्भिर्विगृह्य त्वं देवगन्धर्वदानवैः।अयुक्तचारश्चपलः कथं राजा भविष्यसि।।।।

Transliteration

ātmavadbhir vigṛhya tvaṃ devagandharvadānavaiḥ | ayuktacāraś capalaḥ kathaṃ rājā bhaviṣyasi ||

Translation

ท่านได้ก่อเวรกับผู้ทรงศักดิ์ผู้มีศักดิ์ศรี—เหล่าเทวะ คนธรรพ์ และทานวะ—ทั้งยังประพฤติไม่สมควร ใจคะนอง และไร้ระเบียบข่าวกรองอันถูกต้อง แล้วท่านจะดำรงความเป็นพระราชาได้อย่างไร

Word by Word

• आत्मवद्भिः: by/with the self-respecting
• आत्मवद्भिः: Sahakaraka (सह-कारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्ति (सह/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण (self-respecting/possessing self)

• विगृह्य: having made enmity/quarrelled
• विगृह्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु) with वि- (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), absolutive; धातु: √ग्रह् (to seize) with उपसर्ग वि-; अर्थ: having quarrelled/made enmity

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम

• देवगन्धर्वदानवैः: with gods, gandharvas, and demons
• देवगन्धर्वदानवैः: Sahakaraka (सह-कारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + गन्धर्व + दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार/इतरेतर); पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्ति (सह), बहुवचन

• अयुक्तचारः: without employed spies
• अयुक्तचारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + युक्त + चार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of tvam)

• चपलः: fickle/unsteady
• चपलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चपल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (राजन्-शब्द)

• भविष्यसि: will you be/become
• भविष्यसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Ravana, king of demons, wealthy, arrogant and mighty, listened to Surpanakha and pondered over the mistakes she mentioned.ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে অরণ্যকাণ্ডে ত্রযস্ত্রিংশস্সর্গঃ৷৷Thus ends the thirtythird sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Rāvaṇa
• deva
• gandharva
• dānava

FAQs

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

A king must maintain prudent relations and strategic vigilance; reckless enmity and instability undermine legitimate rule.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā argues that Rāvaṇa’s political hostility and lack of intelligence discipline threaten his sovereignty.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadiness and strategic prudence—stable judgment supported by information (spies) and measured diplomacy.