Shloka 11

मारीचस्य रावणं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Maricha’s Counsel on Kingship and Ruin to Ravana

Devanagari script

राज्यं पालयितुं शक्यं न तीक्ष्णेन निशाचर।न चापि प्रतिकूलेन नाविनीतेन राक्षस।।।।

Transliteration

rājyaṃ pālayituṃ śakyaṃ na tīkṣṇena niśācara | na cāpi pratikūlena nāvinītena rākṣasa ||

Translation

夜行者啊，国度不能由残酷者治理；也不能由怀敌意者治理；更不能由不知礼法、缺乏克制者治理，罗刹啊。

Word by Word

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• पालयितुम्: to rule
• पालयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); ‘to protect/rule’

• शक्यम्: possible
• शक्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (प्रातिपदिक; from शक् + यत्)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (potential/‘possible’); नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; विधेयविशेषणम्

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध particle

• तीक्ष्णेन: by a harsh (person)
• तीक्ष्णेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्; साधन/agent-like instrumental

• निशाचर: O night-ranger
• निशाचर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशाचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन एकवचनम्

• न: nor/not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध particle

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

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle; ‘also/even’

• प्रतिकूलेन: by a hostile (person)
• प्रतिकूलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिकूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्

• न: nor/not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध particle

• अविनीतेन: by an undisciplined (person)
• अविनीतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविनीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्

• राक्षस: O demon
• राक्षस: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन एकवचनम्

Context

Ministers who adopt improper strategies go down along with the king just like swift horses driven by a slow charioteer on a rugged terrain.

Characters & Entities

• Mārīca
• Rāvaṇa
• rājya (kingdom)

FAQs

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

Rāja-dharma requires restraint, courtesy, and non-hostility toward subjects; cruelty and arrogance destroy governance.

What is the narrative situation?

Mārīca cautions Rāvaṇa against a temperament unfit for kingship while urging him away from adharma-driven action.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (discipline and humility) and self-restraint as essential virtues of a ruler.