Sloka & Translation

[Surpanakha points out the flaws in Ravana's rule-- praises Rama's abilities-- describes the qualities of a good king.]

ततः शूर्पणखा दीना रावणं लोकरावणम्।

अमात्यमध्ये सङ्क्रुद्धा परुषं वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।3.33.1।।


ततः then, दीना distressed , शूर्पणखा Surpanakha, सङ्क्रुद्धा anguished , अमात्यमध्ये in the midst of ministers, लोकरावणम् who makes the world cry, रावणम् Ravana, परुषम् harsh, वाक्यम् these words, अब्रवीत् spoke.

When the distressed, anguished Surpanakha met Ravana who makes the world weep, he was seated in the midst of his ministers. She addressed him these harsh words:
प्रमत्तः कामभोगेषु स्वैरवृत्तो निरङ्कुशः।

समुत्पन्नं भयं घोरं बोद्धव्यं नावबुध्यसे।।3.33.2।।


प्रमत्तः intoxicated, कामभोगेषु with the pleasures of passion, स्वैरवृत्तः acting impulsively, निरङ्कुशः ungoaded, बोद्धव्यम् which ought to be understood, समुत्पन्नम् arising, घोरम् dreadful, भयम् fear, नावबुध्यसे do not understand.

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.
सक्तं ग्राम्येषु भोगेषु कामवृत्तं महीपतिम्।

लुब्धं न बहुमन्यन्ते श्मशानाग्निमिव प्रजाः।।3.33.3।।


ग्राम्येषु vulgar, भोगेषु pleasures, सक्तम् addicted to, कामवृत्तम् who acts as he wishes, लुब्धम् greedy, महीपतिम् king, प्रजाः people, श्मशानाग्निमिव like the fire in the crematorium, न
बहुमन्यन्ते will not respect.

Lustful and greedy, you are addicted to vulgar pleasures. People will not respect you like the fire on the crematorium.
स्वयं कार्याणि यः काले नानुतिष्ठति पार्थिवः।

स तु वै सह राज्येन तैश्च कार्यैर्विनश्यति।।3.33.4।।


पार्थिवः king, काले at the right time, कार्याणि actions, नानुतिष्ठति does not execute, राज्येन सह along with kingdom, तैः with them, कार्यैश्च सह along with works, विनश्यति is destroyed.

A king who does not act at the right time will be ruined along with the kingdom and its works.
अयुक्तचारं दुर्दर्शमस्वाधीनं नराधिपम्।

वर्जयन्ति नरा दूरान्नदीपङ्कामिव द्विपाः।।3.33.5।।


अयुक्तचारम् without employment of spies, दुर्दर्शम् not giving audience (to people), अस्वाधीनम् not independent, नराधिपम् king, नराः people, द्विपाः elephants, नदीपङ्कामिव like a muddy river, दूरात् from a distance, वर्जयन्ति keep away.

Just as elephants keep away from a muddy river, people will keep distance from the king who does not employ spies, does not give audience to his people and is not independent.
ये न रक्षन्ति विषयमस्वाधीना नराधिपाः।

ते न वृद्ध्या प्रकाशन्ते गिरयस्सागरे यथा।।3.33.6।।


अस्वाधीनाः not independent, ये those, नराधिपाः kings, विषयम् their country, न रक्षन्ति do not protect, ते they, वृद्ध्या by intellect, सागरे in the sea, गिरयः यथा like the mountains, न प्रकाशन्ते do not shine.

Kings who are not under their own control and cannot protect the country, do not attract the minds of the people like mountains inside sea water.
आत्मवद्भिर्विगृह्य त्वं देवगन्धर्वदानवैः।

अयुक्तचारश्चपलः कथं राजा भविष्यसि।।3.33.7।।


त्वम् you, आत्मवद्भि: by the selfrespecting, देवगन्धर्वदानवैः by gods, gandharvas and demons, विगृह्य having made enmity, अयुक्तचारः not appointed spies, चपलः fickleminded, कथम् how, राजा king, भविष्यसि will you be?

Having created enmity with selfrespecting persons like gods, gandharvas and demons, with a fickle mind and without spies how long can you continue as king ?
त्वन्तु बालस्वभावश्च बुद्धिहीनश्च राक्षस।

ज्ञातव्यन्तु न जानीषे कथं राजा भविष्यसि।।3.33.8।।


राक्षस O demon, त्वं तु you are, बालस्वभावश्च childish in nature, बुद्धिहीनश्च devoid of any intellect, ज्ञातव्यम् what ought to be known, न जानीषे you do not know, कथं how, राज king, भविष्यसि will you be?

O demon you are childish and foolish. You do not even know what ought to be known. How can you rule as a king?
येषां चारश्च कोशश्च नयश्च जयतां वर।

अस्वाधीना नरेन्द्राणां प्राकृतैस्ते जनैस्समाः।।3.33.9।।


जयताम् of the victorious, वर best, येषाम् of those, नरेन्द्राणाम् of kings, चारश्च spy, कोशश्च treasury, नयश्च judiciary, अस्वाधीनाः not under control, ते those, प्राकृतैः with commoners, जनैः with people, समाः are equals.

The best among the victorious kings, who are not masters of their espionage, judicial system and their exchequer are equal to the laity.
यस्मात्पश्यन्ति दूरस्थान् सर्वानर्थान्नराधिपाः।

चारेण तस्मादुच्यन्ते राजानो दीर्घचक्षुषः।।3.33.10।।


नराधिपाः kings, यस्मात् since, दूरस्थान् things at distant places, सर्वान् all, अर्थान् issues, चारेण by spies, पश्यन्ति see, तस्मात् for that, राजानः kings, दीर्घचक्षुषः farsighted, उच्यन्ते are called.

Since kings can see things from a faroff place with the help of the spies they are called farsighted.
अयुक्तचारं मन्ये त्वां प्राकृतैस्सचिवैर्वृतम्।

स्वजनं तु जनस्थाने हतं यो नावबुद्ध्यसे।।3.33.11।।


अयुक्तचारम् without employing spies, त्वाम् you, प्राकृतैः ignoramus, सचिवैः ministers, वृतम् surrounding, मन्ये consider, यः who, जनस्थाने at Janasthana, स्वजनम् your relations, हतम् killed, नावबुद्ध्यसे you do not know.

Since you have not engaged any spy you do not know when your own relatives were killed in Janasthana. I take you to be a fool surrounded by ordinary ministers.
चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां क्रूरकर्मणाम्।

हतान्येकेन रामेण खरश्च सहदूषणः।।3.33.12।।


एकेन by one alone, रामेण by Rama, क्रूरकर्मणाम् perpetrators of cruel acts, रक्षसाम् demons, चतुर्दश fourteen, सहस्राणि thousand, हतानि are killed, सहदूषणः and Dusana too, खरश्च Khara also.

One Rama alone killed all the fourteen thousand demons including Dusana and Khara, demons capable of fierce exploits.
ऋषीणामभयं दत्तं कृतक्षेमाश्च दण्डकाः।

धर्षितं च जनस्थानं रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा।।3.33.13।।


अक्लिष्टकर्मणा by effortless performer of formidable tasks, रामेण by Rama, ऋषीणाम् of the ascetics, अभयम् safety, दत्तम् is given, दण्डकाः Dandaka's, कृतक्षेमाश्च peace restored, जनस्थानम् Janasthanam, धर्षितं च is attacked.

Rama, the effortless performer of formindable tasks, has assured safety to the sages. Peace and happiness was restored to Dandaka forest but Janasthana has been ravaged.
त्वन्तु लुब्दः प्रमत्तश्च पराधीनश्च रावण।

विषये स्वे समुत्पन्नं भयं यो नावबुध्यसे।।3.33.14।।


रावण O Ravana, त्वं तु you are, लुब्धः avaricious, प्रमत्तः intoxicated, पराधीनश्च under others control, यः who, स्वे his own, विषये kingdom, (सम्) उत्पन्नम् generated, भयम् fear, नावबुध्यसे not aware of.

O Ravana, you are not aware of what has happened to your own kingdom. You are avaricious, intoxicated, and under others' control. A great fear has been generated in your own kingdom.
तीक्ष्णमल्पप्रदातारं प्रमत्तं गर्वितं शठम्।

व्यसने सर्वभूतानि नाभिधावन्ति पार्थिवम्।।3.33.15।।


तीक्ष्णम् sharp one, अल्पप्रदातारम् not a generous giver, प्रमत्तम् intoxicated, गर्वितम् proud, शठम् fraudulent, पार्थिवम् to the king, व्यसने in calamity, सर्वभूतानि all beings, नाभिधावन्ति not run for protection.

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.
अतिमानिनमग्राह्यमात्मसम्भावितं नरम्।

क्रोधिनं व्यसने हन्ति स्वजनोऽपि महीपतिम्।।3.33.16।।


अतिमानिनम् extremely arrogant, अग्राह्यम् one who is not acceptable (to good people), आत्मसम्भावितं नरम् selfconceited, क्रोधिनम् cholorictempered, महीपतिम् king, स्वजनोऽपि his own people also, व्यसने in adversity, हन्ति will murder.

A king who is extremely arrogant, who is not acceptable to good people, who is selfconceited and cholerictempered will be murdered even by his own people at the time of adversity.
नानुतिष्ठति कार्याणि भयेषु न बिभेति च।

क्षिप्रं राज्याच्युतो दीनस्तृणैस्तुल्यो भविष्यति।।3.33.17।।


कार्याणि works, नानुतिष्ठति he does not do, भयेषु fear, न बिभेति च not afraid of, क्षिप्रम् surely, राज्यात् from the kingdom, च्युतः toppled down, दीनः wretched, तृणैः with a blade of grass, तुल्यः equal, भविष्यति will be.

A king who does not do what ought to be done, does not fear what ought to be feared, will surely be dislodged from the kingdom and live a wretched life like a blade of grass.
शुष्कैः काष्ठैर्भवेत्कार्यं लोष्टैरपि च पांसुभिः।

न तु स्थानात्परिभ्रष्टैः कार्यं स्याद्वसुधाधिपैः।।3.33.18।।


शुष्कैः dried up, काष्ठैः logs of wood, लोष्टैरपि even clods of earth, पांसुभिरपि च even with the dust, कार्यम् may have some value, भवेत् will be, तु but, स्थानात् from the throne, परिभ्रष्टैः thrown out, वसुधाधिपै by the kings, कार्यम् work, न स्यात् will not be.

Even dried up logs, or clods of earth, or a handful of dust may have some value but not a king who is dethroned.
अपभुक्तं यथा वासस्स्रजो वा मृदिता यथा।

एवं राज्यात्परिभ्रष्टस्समर्थोऽपि निरर्थकः।।3.33.19।।


उपभुक्तम् worn and discarded, वासः cloth, यथा as, मृदिताः crushed, स्रजो वा even garlands, यथा as, एवम् in that way, राज्यात् from the kingdom, परिभ्रष्टः fallen, समर्थोऽपि even if he be capable, निरर्थकः worthless.

Like a piece of cloth that is worn and discarded, like garlands put on and crushed, a king dislodged from the kingdom is worthless even if he is capable.
अप्रमत्तश्च यो राजा सर्वज्ञो विजितेन्द्रियः।

कृतज्ञो धर्मशीलश्च स राजा तिष्ठते चिरम्।।3.33.20।।


यः राजा such king, अप्रमत्तः alert, सर्वज्ञः omniscient, विजितेन्द्रियः has control over his senses, कृतज्ञः grateful, धर्मशीलश्च one with moral conduct, सः राजा that king, चिरम् for a long time, तिष्ठते continues to rule.

A king who is alert, omniscient, has control over his senses, has a sense of gratitude and one of righteous conduct continues to rule for a long time.
नयनाभ्यां प्रसुप्तोऽपि जागर्ति नयचक्षुषा।

त्यक्तक्रोधप्रमादश्च स राजा पूज्यते जनैः।।3.33.21।।


नयनाभ्याम् with both the eyes, प्रसुप्तोऽपि even when asleep, नयचक्षुषा eye of justice, जागर्ति who is awake, त्यक्तक्रोधः devoid of anger, अप्रमादश्च attentive man, सः राजा such a king, जनैः by people, पूज्यते is worshipped.

The king who keeps both his eyes shut but keeps the eye of justice open, one who is free from anger and remains ever alert, is worshipped by the people.
त्वं तु रावण दुर्बुद्धिर्गुणैरेतैर्विवर्जितः।

यस्य तेऽविदितश्चारै रक्षसां सुमहान्वधः।।3.33.22।।


रावण Ravana, दुर्बुद्धि: evilminded, त्वं तु you are, एतैः by these, गुणैः qualities, विवर्जितः you are devoid of, यस्य whose, ते your, रक्षसाम् of demons, सुमहान् very great, वधः destruction, चारैः by spies, अविदितः was not known.

O Ravana you are evilminded. You are devoid of all these good qualities. Your spies could not know that there had been a great massacre of your fellowdemons.
परावमन्ता विषयेषु सङ्गतो न देशकालप्रविभागतत्ववित्।

अयुक्तबुद्धिर्गुणदोषनिश्चये विपन्नराज्यो नचिराद्विपत्स्यसे।।3.33.23।।


परावमन्ता accusing others, विषयेषु in pleasures, सङ्गतः addicted, देशकालप्रविभागतत्ववित् sense of judgement of place and time, गुणदोषनिश्चये discrimination of vice and virtue, अयुक्तबुद्धिः lacks wisdom, विपन्नराज्यः with loss of kingdom, नचिरात् in no time, विपत्स्यसे will destroy yourself.

A king who accuses others, who is addicted to sensual pleasures, who lacks a sense of judgement of place and time, a sense of discrimination between virtue and vice and the right wisdom will destroy himself and the kingdom in no time.
इति स्वदोषान् परिकीर्तितांस्तया समीक्ष्य बुद्ध्या क्षणदाचरेश्वरः।

धनेन दर्पेण बलेन चान्वितो विचिन्तयामास चिरं स रावणः।।3.33.24।।


क्षणदाचरेश्वरः lord of nightwalkers, धनेन by wealth, दर्पेण by arrogance, बलेन च and by strength, अन्वितः heeding, सः रावणः that Ravana, इति thus, तया by her, परिकीर्तितान् mentioned, स्वदोषान् his mistakes, बुद्ध्या by his intellect, समीक्ष्य after reviewing, चिरम् for a long time, विचिन्तयामास started thinking over.

Ravana, king of demons, wealthy, arrogant and mighty, listened to Surpanakha and pondered over the mistakes she mentioned.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे त्रयस्त्रिंशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the thirtythird sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.