Shloka 10

शूर्पणखाया रावणं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Surpanakha’s Political Admonition to Ravana

Devanagari script

यस्मात्पश्यन्ति दूरस्थान् सर्वानर्थान्नराधिपाः।चारेण तस्मादुच्यन्ते राजानो दीर्घचक्षुषः।।।।

Transliteration

yasmāt paśyanti dūrasthān sarvān arthān narādhipāḥ | cāreṇa tasmād ucyante rājāno dīrghacakṣuṣaḥ ||

Translation

由于君王凭借密探，即使远在他处也能洞察诸般祸患，因此诸王被称为“目光长远者”。

Word by Word

• यस्मात्: since/because
• यस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (ablative used adverbially): ‘since/because’

• पश्यन्ति: see
• पश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• दूरस्थान्: distant/located far away
• दूरस्थान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूर + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (दूरे स्थिताः); पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of arthān)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• अर्थान्: matters/issues
• अर्थान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• नराधिपाः: kings
• नराधिपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• चारेण: by means of spies
• चारेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu-phala (हेतु-फल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूत: ‘therefore/for that reason’

• उच्यन्ते: are called
• उच्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive); धातु: √वच् (to say/call)

• राजानः: kings
• राजानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दीर्घचक्षुषः: far-sighted
• दीर्घचक्षुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ + चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (दीर्घे चक्षुषी यस्य/येषाम् = far-sighted); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of rājānaḥ)

Context

Since kings can see things from a far-off place with the help of the spies they are called far-sighted.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Kings (Narādhipas)
• Spies (Cāras)

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance includes vigilance and truthful intelligence-gathering. Far-seeing rule is not mere suspicion, but responsible awareness used to protect subjects and uphold order.

What is the narrative situation?

In her speech, Śūrpaṇakhā invokes political doctrine—kings ‘see far’ through spies—pressing Rāvaṇa to act with informed decisiveness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rājadharma’s prudence: foresight and situational awareness. Ethically, such tools must be guided by satya and restraint, not by revenge.