Shloka 19

शूर्पणखाया रावणं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Surpanakha’s Political Admonition to Ravana

Devanagari script

अपभुक्तं यथा वासस्स्रजो वा मृदिता यथा।एवं राज्यात्परिभ्रष्टस्समर्थोऽपि निरर्थकः।।।।

Transliteration

apabhuktaṃ yathā vāsaḥ srajo vā mṛditā yathā | evaṃ rājyāt paribhraṣṭaḥ samartho 'pi nirarthakaḥ ||

Translation

如同穿旧而弃的衣裳，如同戴过而被践踏的花鬘；君王一旦失国，纵有才能，也成了无用之人。

Word by Word

• अपभुक्तम्: used up, worn
• अपभुक्तम्: विशेषण (to वासः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप-भुज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; used adverbially/predicatively with वासः

• यथा: just as
• यथा: उपमान (Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानबोधक अव्यय (as/just as)

• वासः: a garment
• वासः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• स्रजः: a garland
• स्रजः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (वैदिक/छान्दस रूप; classical often स्रक्/स्रजः); Nominative singular

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Disjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक अव्यय (or)

• मृदिता: crushed, withered
• मृदिता: विशेषण (to स्रजः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with स्रजः

• यथा: as
• यथा: उपमान
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानबोधक अव्यय

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: तथाबोधक अव्यय (thus/in the same way)

• राज्यात्: from the kingdom
• राज्यात्: अपादान (Apādāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; Ablative singular

• परिभ्रष्टः: fallen (from power)
• परिभ्रष्टः: कर्तृविशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-भ्रंश्/भ्रश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• समर्थः: capable
• समर्थः: कर्तृविशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अपवाद/सम्भावनाबोधक अव्यय (even)

• निरर्थकः: useless, worthless
• निरर्थकः: कर्तृविशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-अर्थक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: निर्गतः अर्थः यस्मात्/अर्थो नास्ति (नञ्/उपसर्ग-प्रायः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

Intoxicated with the pleasures of passion, acting on your own, ungoaded and unguided, you do not understand the problems arising out of great fear, problems you ought to know.

Characters & Entities

• King (implied)
• Kingdom (rājya)

FAQs

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

Dharma warns against pride in power: authority is fragile, and once lost through adharma or misjudgment, even personal ability cannot easily restore one’s purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

The advisor concludes the warning with vivid similes, underscoring the disgrace and futility that follow a ruler’s political fall.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and foresight: valuing dharmic conduct over arrogance, so that power is not squandered.