Shloka 14
शूर्पणखाया रावणं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः
Surpanakha’s Political Admonition to Ravana
त्वन्तु लुब्दः प्रमत्तश्च पराधीनश्च रावण।विषये स्वे समुत्पन्नं भयं यो नावबुध्यसे।।।।
tvaṃ tu lubdhaḥ pramattaś ca parādhīnaś ca rāvaṇa | viṣaye sve samutpannaṃ bhayaṃ yo nāvabudhyase ||
然而你，罗波那——贪婪、放逸、受人摆布——竟不觉察那已在你自身疆域中生起的危惧。
All living beings stop seeking refuge under a king who is, not a generous giver, but intoxicated, harsh, arrogant and fraudulent. They do not run to him for protection in times of calamity.
FAQs
Dharma in rulership demands independence of judgment and freedom from greed; being driven by lobha and others’ influence leads to blindness toward imminent harm.
The advisor intensifies the rebuke: the threat is no longer distant—it has arisen inside Rāvaṇa’s own sphere, yet he remains unaware.
Discernment (viveka) and autonomy in counsel: a leader must not become parādhīna (captured by others’ agendas).