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Shloka 11

सीताया रावणं प्रति धर्मोपदेशः

Sita’s Dharmic Admonition to Ravana

अकृतात्मानमासाद्य राजानमनये रतम्।।।।समृद्धानि विनश्यन्ति राष्ट्राणि नगराणि च।

akṛtātmānam āsādya rājānam anaye rataṃ |

samṛddhāni vinaśyanti rāṣṭrāṇi nagarāṇi ca ||5.21.11||

Khi một vị vua không tự chế, say mê đường lối bất công, nắm quyền trị vì, thì những quốc độ thịnh vượng và cả các thành thị cũng đi đến suy vong.

akṛta-ātmānaman undisciplined/foolish person
akṛta-ātmānam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Roota- (नञ्) + kṛta (कृदन्त, √kṛ + क्त) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः—"अकृतः आत्मा यस्य/अकृतात्मा" (undisciplined)
āsādyahaving approached/obtained
āsādya:
TypeIndeclinable
Root√sad (धातु) + ā (उपसर्ग) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
FormAbsolutive (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), gerund; action prior to main verb
rājānama king
rājānam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootrājan (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
anayein injustice/evil policy
anaye:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootanaya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)
ratamengaged/delighting (in)
ratam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Root√ram (धातु) + kta (क्त)
FormPast participle used adjectivally; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with rājānam
samṛddhāniprosperous
samṛddhāni:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootsamṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with rāṣṭrāṇi/nagarāṇi
vinaśyantiperish/are destroyed
vinaśyanti:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√naś (धातु) + vi (उपसर्ग)
FormPresent tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)
rāṣṭrāṇikingdoms/states
rāṣṭrāṇi:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootrāṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)
nagarāṇicities
nagarāṇi:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootnagara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)
caand
ca:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चय-निपात)

"Even prosperous countries and cities are destroyed on account of indiscreet rulers engaged in unfair means.

S
Sītā
R
Rāvaṇa
K
king (rājā)

FAQs

Rājadharma: a ruler’s self-control and justice are foundational; when leadership is unrighteous, society’s prosperity collapses.

Sītā generalizes from Rāvaṇa’s conduct to a principle of governance: immoral kings destroy their own states.

Sītā’s wisdom and commitment to dharma-based governance, even while she is a captive.