Sloka & Translation

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

tataḥ śūrpaṇakhā dīnā rāvaṇaṅ lōkarāvaṇam.

amātyamadhyē saṅkruddhā paruṣaṅ vākyamabravīt৷৷3.33.1৷৷


tataḥ then, dīnā distressed , śūrpaṇakhā Surpanakha, saṅkruddhā anguished , amātyamadhyē in the midst of ministers, lōkarāvaṇam who makes the world cry, rāvaṇam Ravana, paruṣam harsh, vākyam these words, abravīt 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:
pramattaḥ kāmabhōgēṣu svairavṛttō niraṅkuśaḥ.

samutpannaṅ bhayaṅ ghōraṅ bōddhavyaṅ nāvabudhyasē৷৷3.33.2৷৷


pramattaḥ intoxicated, kāmabhōgēṣu with the pleasures of passion, svairavṛttaḥ acting impulsively, niraṅkuśaḥ ungoaded, bōddhavyam which ought to be understood, samutpannam arising, ghōram dreadful, bhayam fear, nāvabudhyasē 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.
saktaṅ grāmyēṣu bhōgēṣu kāmavṛttaṅ mahīpatim.

lubdhaṅ na bahumanyantē śmaśānāgnimiva prajāḥ৷৷3.33.3৷৷


grāmyēṣu vulgar, bhōgēṣu pleasures, saktam addicted to, kāmavṛttam who acts as he wishes, lubdham greedy, mahīpatim king, prajāḥ people, śmaśānāgnimiva like the fire in the crematorium, na
bahumanyantē will not respect.

Lustful and greedy, you are addicted to vulgar pleasures. People will not respect you like the fire on the crematorium.
svayaṅ kāryāṇi yaḥ kālē nānutiṣṭhati pārthivaḥ.

sa tu vai saha rājyēna taiśca kāryairvinaśyati৷৷3.33.4৷৷


pārthivaḥ king, kālē at the right time, kāryāṇi actions, nānutiṣṭhati does not execute, rājyēna saha along with kingdom, taiḥ with them, kāryaiśca saha along with works, vinaśyati is destroyed.

A king who does not act at the right time will be ruined along with the kingdom and its works.
ayuktacāraṅ durdarśamasvādhīnaṅ narādhipam.

varjayanti narā dūrānnadīpaṅkāmiva dvipāḥ৷৷3.33.5৷৷


ayuktacāram without employment of spies, durdarśam not giving audience (to people), asvādhīnam not independent, narādhipam king, narāḥ people, dvipāḥ elephants, nadīpaṅkāmiva like a muddy river, dūrāt from a distance, varjayanti 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.
yē na rakṣanti viṣayamasvādhīnā narādhipāḥ.

tē na vṛddhyā prakāśantē girayassāgarē yathā৷৷3.33.6৷৷


asvādhīnāḥ not independent, yē those, narādhipāḥ kings, viṣayam their country, na rakṣanti do not protect, tē they, vṛddhyā by intellect, sāgarē in the sea, girayaḥ yathā like the mountains, na prakāśantē 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.
ātmavadbhirvigṛhya tvaṅ dēvagandharvadānavaiḥ.

ayuktacāraścapalaḥ kathaṅ rājā bhaviṣyasi৷৷3.33.7৷৷


tvam you, ātmavadbhi: by the self-respecting, dēvagandharvadānavaiḥ by gods, gandharvas and demons, vigṛhya having made enmity, ayuktacāraḥ not appointed spies, capalaḥ fickle-minded, katham how, rājā king, bhaviṣyasi will you be?

Having created enmity with self-respecting persons like gods, gandharvas and demons, with a fickle mind and without spies how long can you continue as king ?
tvantu bālasvabhāvaśca buddhihīnaśca rākṣasa.

jñātavyantu na jānīṣē kathaṅ rājā bhaviṣyasi৷৷3.33.8৷৷


rākṣasa O demon, tvaṅ tu you are, bālasvabhāvaśca childish in nature, buddhihīnaśca devoid of any intellect, jñātavyam what ought to be known, na jānīṣē you do not know, kathaṅ how, rāja king, bhaviṣyasi 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?
yēṣāṅ cāraśca kōśaśca nayaśca jayatāṅ vara.

asvādhīnā narēndrāṇāṅ prākṛtaistē janaissamāḥ৷৷3.33.9৷৷


jayatām of the victorious, vara best, yēṣām of those, narēndrāṇām of kings, cāraśca spy, kōśaśca treasury, nayaśca judiciary, asvādhīnāḥ not under control, tē those, prākṛtaiḥ with commoners, janaiḥ with people, samāḥ 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.
yasmātpaśyanti dūrasthān sarvānarthānnarādhipāḥ.

cārēṇa tasmāducyantē rājānō dīrghacakṣuṣaḥ৷৷3.33.10৷৷


narādhipāḥ kings, yasmāt since, dūrasthān things at distant places, sarvān all, arthān issues, cārēṇa by spies, paśyanti see, tasmāt for that, rājānaḥ kings, dīrghacakṣuṣaḥ far-sighted, ucyantē are called.

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

svajanaṅ tu janasthānē hataṅ yō nāvabuddhyasē৷৷3.33.11৷৷


ayuktacāram without employing spies, tvām you, prākṛtaiḥ ignoramus, sacivaiḥ ministers, vṛtam surrounding, manyē consider, yaḥ who, janasthānē at Janasthana, svajanam your relations, hatam killed, nāvabuddhyasē 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.
caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasāṅ krūrakarmaṇām.

hatānyēkēna rāmēṇa kharaśca sahadūṣaṇaḥ৷৷3.33.12৷৷


ēkēna by one alone, rāmēṇa by Rama, krūrakarmaṇām perpetrators of cruel acts, rakṣasām demons, caturdaśa fourteen, sahasrāṇi thousand, hatāni are killed, sahadūṣaṇaḥ and Dusana too, kharaśca Khara also.

One Rama alone killed all the fourteen thousand demons including Dusana and Khara, demons capable of fierce exploits.
ṛṣīṇāmabhayaṅ dattaṅ kṛtakṣēmāśca daṇḍakāḥ.

dharṣitaṅ ca janasthānaṅ rāmēṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā৷৷3.33.13৷৷


akliṣṭakarmaṇā by effortless performer of formidable tasks, rāmēṇa by Rama, ṛṣīṇām of the ascetics, abhayam safety, dattam is given, daṇḍakāḥ Dandaka's, kṛtakṣēmāśca peace restored, janasthānam Janasthanam, dharṣitaṅ ca 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.
tvantu lubdaḥ pramattaśca parādhīnaśca rāvaṇa.

viṣayē svē samutpannaṅ bhayaṅ yō nāvabudhyasē৷৷3.33.14৷৷


rāvaṇa O Ravana!, tvaṅ tu you are, lubdhaḥ avaricious, pramattaḥ intoxicated, parādhīnaśca under others control, yaḥ who, svē his own, viṣayē kingdom, (sam) utpannam generated, bhayam fear, nāvabudhyasē 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.
tīkṣṇamalpapradātāraṅ pramattaṅ garvitaṅ śaṭham.

vyasanē sarvabhūtāni nābhidhāvanti pārthivam৷৷3.33.15৷৷


tīkṣṇam sharp one, alpapradātāram not a generous giver, pramattam intoxicated, garvitam proud, śaṭham fraudulent, pārthivam to the king, vyasanē in calamity, sarvabhūtāni all beings, nābhidhāvanti 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.
atimāninamagrāhyamātmasambhāvitaṅ naram.

krōdhinaṅ vyasanē hanti svajanō.pi mahīpatim৷৷3.33.16৷৷


atimāninam extremely arrogant, agrāhyam one who is not acceptable (to good people), ātmasambhāvitaṅ naram self-conceited, krōdhinam choloric-tempered, mahīpatim king, svajanō.pi his own people also, vyasanē in adversity, hanti will murder.

A king who is extremely arrogant, who is not acceptable to good people, who is self-conceited and choleric-tempered will be murdered even by his own people at the time of adversity.
nānutiṣṭhati kāryāṇi bhayēṣu na bibhēti ca.

kṣipraṅ rājyācyutō dīnastṛṇaistulyō bhaviṣyati৷৷3.33.17৷৷


kāryāṇi works, nānutiṣṭhati he does not do, bhayēṣu fear, na bibhēti ca not afraid of, kṣipram surely, rājyāt from the kingdom, cyutaḥ toppled down, dīnaḥ wretched, tṛṇaiḥ with a blade of grass, tulyaḥ equal, bhaviṣyati 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.
śuṣkaiḥ kāṣṭhairbhavētkāryaṅ lōṣṭairapi ca pāṅsubhiḥ.

na tu sthānātparibhraṣṭaiḥ kāryaṅ syādvasudhādhipaiḥ৷৷3.33.18৷৷


śuṣkaiḥ dried up, kāṣṭhaiḥ logs of wood, lōṣṭairapi even clods of earth, pāṅsubhirapi ca even with the dust, kāryam may have some value, bhavēt will be, tu but, sthānāt from the throne, paribhraṣṭaiḥ thrown out, vasudhādhipai by the kings, kāryam work, na syāt 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.
apabhuktaṅ yathā vāsassrajō vā mṛditā yathā.

ēvaṅ rājyātparibhraṣṭassamarthō.pi nirarthakaḥ৷৷3.33.19৷৷


upabhuktam worn and discarded, vāsaḥ cloth, yathā as, mṛditāḥ crushed, srajō vā even garlands, yathā as, ēvam in that way, rājyāt from the kingdom, paribhraṣṭaḥ fallen, samarthō.pi even if he be capable, nirarthakaḥ 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.
apramattaśca yō rājā sarvajñō vijitēndriyaḥ.

kṛtajñō dharmaśīlaśca sa rājā tiṣṭhatē ciram৷৷3.33.20৷৷


yaḥ rājā such king, apramattaḥ alert, sarvajñaḥ omniscient, vijitēndriyaḥ has control over his senses, kṛtajñaḥ grateful, dharmaśīlaśca one with moral conduct, saḥ rājā that king, ciram for a long time, tiṣṭhatē 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.
nayanābhyāṅ prasuptō.pi jāgarti nayacakṣuṣā.

tyaktakrōdhapramādaśca sa rājā pūjyatē janaiḥ৷৷3.33.21৷৷


nayanābhyām with both the eyes, prasuptō.pi even when asleep, nayacakṣuṣā eye of justice, jāgarti who is awake, tyaktakrōdhaḥ devoid of anger, apramādaśca attentive man, saḥ rājā such a king, janaiḥ by people, pūjyatē 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.
tvaṅ tu rāvaṇa durbuddhirguṇairētairvivarjitaḥ.

yasya tē.viditaścārai rakṣasāṅ sumahānvadhaḥ৷৷3.33.22৷৷


rāvaṇa Ravana, durbuddhi: evil-minded, tvaṅ tu you are, ētaiḥ by these, guṇaiḥ qualities, vivarjitaḥ you are devoid of, yasya whose, tē your, rakṣasām of demons, sumahān very great, vadhaḥ destruction, cāraiḥ by spies, aviditaḥ was not known.

O Ravana! you are evil-minded. You are devoid of all these good qualities. Your spies could not know that there had been a great massacre of your fellow-demons.
parāvamantā viṣayēṣu saṅgatō na dēśakālapravibhāgatatvavit.

ayuktabuddhirguṇadōṣaniścayē vipannarājyō nacirādvipatsyasē৷৷3.33.23৷৷


parāvamantā accusing others, viṣayēṣu in pleasures, saṅgataḥ addicted, dēśakālapravibhāgatatvavit sense of judgement of place and time, guṇadōṣaniścayē discrimination of vice and virtue, ayuktabuddhiḥ lacks wisdom, vipannarājyaḥ with loss of kingdom, nacirāt in no time, vipatsyasē 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.
iti svadōṣān parikīrtitāṅstayā samīkṣya buddhyā kṣaṇadācarēśvaraḥ.

dhanēna darpēṇa balēna cānvitō vicintayāmāsa ciraṅ sa rāvaṇaḥ৷৷3.33.24৷৷


kṣaṇadācarēśvaraḥ lord of night-walkers, dhanēna by wealth, darpēṇa by arrogance, balēna ca and by strength, anvitaḥ heeding, saḥ rāvaṇaḥ that Ravana, iti thus, tayā by her, parikīrtitān mentioned, svadōṣān his mistakes, buddhyā by his intellect, samīkṣya after reviewing, ciram for a long time, vicintayāmāsa started thinking over.

Ravana, king of demons, wealthy, arrogant and mighty, listened to Surpanakha and pondered over the mistakes she mentioned.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē trayastriṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the thirtythird sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.