Shloka 9

शूर्पणखाया रावणं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Surpanakha’s Political Admonition to Ravana

Devanagari script

येषां चारश्च कोशश्च नयश्च जयतां वर।अस्वाधीना नरेन्द्राणां प्राकृतैस्ते जनैस्समाः।।।।

Transliteration

yeṣāṃ cāraś ca kośaś ca nayaś ca jayatāṃ vara | asvādhīnā narendrāṇāṃ prākṛtais te janaḥ samāḥ ||

Translation

โอ้ผู้ประเสริฐในหมู่ผู้มีชัย! กษัตริย์ใดไม่อาจควบคุมข่าวกรอง คลังหลวง และนโยบายการปกครอง กษัตริย์นั้นก็ไม่ต่างจากคนสามัญ

Word by Word

• येषाम्: of whom/whose
• येषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• चारः: spy system/spies
• चारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• कोशः: treasury
• कोशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• नयः: policy/statecraft
• नयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• जयताम्: of the victorious
• जयताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √जि (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle): ‘of the victorious’

• वर: O best
• वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (addressing: best one)

• अस्वाधीनाः: not under control
• अस्वाधीनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + स्वाधीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of narendrāṇām understood)

• नरेन्द्राणाम्: of kings
• नरेन्द्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नराणाम् इन्द्रः); पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• प्राकृतैः: with common/ordinary
• प्राकृतैः: Sahakaraka (सह-कारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्ति (सह), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of janaiḥ)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• जनैः: with people/commoners
• जनैः: Sahakaraka (सह-कारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्ति (सह), बहुवचन

• समाः: equal
• समाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; predicate adjective

Context

The best among the victorious kings, who are not masters of their espionage, judicial system and their exchequer are equal to the laity.

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

A ruler’s dharma includes disciplined stewardship of state instruments—intelligence, finances, and governance—so that power serves order rather than chaos.

What is the narrative situation?

Śūrpaṇakhā continues advising Rāvaṇa on kingship, arguing that failure to manage key institutions makes a king ineffective.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Administrative self-mastery and responsible statecraft (naya) as markers of true kingship.