# Araṇya Kāṇḍa 31 — Śūrpaṇakhā rebukes Rāvaṇa *She exposes his ignorance of Janasthāna’s destruction and warns that pleasure, failed intelligence and neglect will cost him his Kingdom* Portion: Śūrpaṇakhā turns Rāvaṇa toward Sītā · Verses: 23 · Ref format: 3.31. ## Sequence - Before the ministers, Śūrpaṇakhā accuses Rāvaṇa of being absorbed in pleasure and failing to recognize the grave danger that has arisen (31.1–3) - she argues that a ruler who neglects business, intelligence, and the protection of his territory will lose both authority and Kingdom (31.4–9) - she points to his ignorance of Janasthāna's destruction: Rāma alone has killed fourteen thousand rākṣasas, including Khara and Dūṣaṇa, and made Daṇḍaka safe for the munis (31.10–12) - she warns that a harsh, arrogant, inaccessible ruler will find no support when disaster comes (31.13–18) - she contrasts him with a vigilant, self-controlled King who remains alert through good policy even while asleep (31.19–20) - she repeats that his failed intelligence and poor judgment will bring him grief → Rāvaṇa reflects on her accusations (31.21–23). ## Verses **3.31.1** tataḥ śūrpaṇakhā dīnā rāvaṇaṃ lokarāvaṇam amātyamadhye saṃkruddhā paruṣaṃ vākyam abravīt Then the wretched Śūrpaṇakhā, enraged, in the midst of the ministers spoke harsh words to Rāvaṇa, the tormentor of the world. **3.31.2** pramattaḥ kāmabhogeṣu svairavṛtto niraṅkuśaḥ samutpannaṃ bhayaṃ ghoraṃ boddhavyaṃ nāvabudhyase Heedless amid the enjoyments of desire, wilful and unrestrained, you fail to grasp the terrible danger that has arisen, which ought to be understood. **3.31.3** saktaṃ grāmyeṣu bhogeṣu kāmavṛttaṃ mahīpatim lubdhaṃ na bahu manyante śmaśānāgnim iva prajāḥ A king attached to vulgar pleasures, acting on his whims and greedy, the people esteem no more than a fire in a cremation-ground. **3.31.4** svayaṃ kāryāṇi yaḥ kāle nānutiṣṭhati pārthivaḥ sa tu vai saha rājyena taiś ca kāryair vinaśyati The king who does not himself attend to his tasks in due time perishes, along with his kingdom and those very tasks. **3.31.5** ayuktacāraṃ durdarśam asvādhīnaṃ narādhipam varjayanti narā dūrān nadīpaṅkam iva dvipāḥ A king whose espionage is ill-managed, who is hard to approach and not his own master, men shun from afar, as elephants avoid the mud of a river. **3.31.6** ye na rakṣanti viṣayam asvādhīnā narādhipaḥ te na vṛddhyā prakāśante girayaḥ sāgare yathā Kings who, not being their own masters, do not guard their realm do not shine forth in prosperity, like mountains sunk in the sea. **3.31.7** ātmavadbhir vigṛhya tvaṃ devagandharvadānavaiḥ ayuktacāraś capalaḥ kathaṃ rājā bhaviṣyasi Having made war with self-possessed gods, gandharvas, and dānavas, while your espionage is ill-managed and you are fickle, how will you remain a king? **3.31.8** yeṣāṃ cāraś ca kośaś ca nayaś ca jayatāṃ vara asvādhīnā narendrāṇāṃ prākṛtais te janaiḥ samāḥ O best of conquerors, those kings whose espionage, treasury, and policy are not under their own control are the equal of common men. **3.31.9** yasmāt paśyanti dūrasthān sarvān arthān narādhipāḥ cāreṇa tasmād ucyante rājāno dīrghacakṣuṣaḥ Because kings behold all matters, even distant ones, by means of spies, they are therefore called 'the far-sighted.' **3.31.10** ayuktacāraṃ manye tvāṃ prākṛtaiḥ sacivair vṛtam svajanaṃ ca janasthānaṃ hataṃ yo nāvabudhyase I consider your espionage ill-managed and you surrounded by common ministers, since you did not even perceive that your own people and Janasthāna had been destroyed. **3.31.11** caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasāṃ bhīmakarmaṇām hatāny ekena rāmeṇa kharaś ca sahadūṣaṇaḥ Fourteen thousand rākṣasas of terrible deeds were slain by Rāma alone, and Khara too, together with Dūṣaṇa. **3.31.12** ṛṣīṇām abhayaṃ dattaṃ kṛtakṣemāś ca daṇḍakāḥ dharṣitaṃ ca janasthānaṃ rāmeṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā Safety was granted to the sages, the Daṇḍaka regions were made secure, and Janasthāna was assailed by Rāma of untiring deeds. **3.31.13** tvaṃ tu lubdhaḥ pramattaś ca parādhīnaś ca rāvaṇa viṣaye sve samutpannaṃ bhayaṃ yo nāvabudhyase But you, Rāvaṇa, are greedy, heedless, and dependent on others, you who do not perceive the danger arisen in your own domain. **3.31.14** tīkṣṇam alpapradātāraṃ pramattaṃ garvitaṃ śaṭham vyasane sarvabhūtāni nābhidhāvanti pārthivam A king who is harsh, a niggardly giver, heedless, arrogant, and deceitful, no creatures rush to help in his hour of calamity. **3.31.15** atimāninam agrāhyam ātmasaṃbhāvitaṃ naram krodhanaṃ vyasane hanti svajano 'pi narādhipam A king who is overweening, unapproachable, self-conceited, and wrathful, even his own people destroy in his hour of calamity. **3.31.16** nānutiṣṭhati kāryāṇi bhayeṣu na bibheti ca kṣipraṃ rājyāc cyuto dīnas tṛṇais tulyo bhaviṣyati He who does not carry out his tasks, and does not take fright amid dangers, is quickly cast down from his kingdom and, wretched, becomes no better than grass. **3.31.17** śuṣkakāṣṭhair bhavet kāryaṃ loṣṭair api ca pāṃsubhiḥ na tu sthānāt paribhraṣṭaiḥ kāryaṃ syād vasudhādhipaiḥ Some use may be had of dry sticks, and even of clods and dust, but no use at all can be had of kings fallen from their station. **3.31.18** upabhuktaṃ yathā vāsaḥ srajo vā mṛditā yathā evaṃ rājyāt paribhraṣṭaḥ samartho 'pi nirarthakaḥ Like a garment already worn out, or like a garland crushed, so a man fallen from his kingship, though capable, is useless. **3.31.19** apramattaś ca yo rājā sarvajño vijitendriyaḥ kṛtajño dharmaśīlaś ca sa rājā tiṣṭhate ciram The king who is vigilant, all-knowing, master of his senses, grateful, and of righteous conduct, that king endures long. **3.31.20** nayanābhyāṃ prasupto 'pi jāgarti nayacakṣuṣā vyaktakrodhaprasādaś ca sa rājā pūjyate janaiḥ Even when asleep with his two eyes, he keeps awake through the eye of policy; and the king whose wrath and favour are plainly shown is honoured by the people. **3.31.21** tvaṃ tu rāvaṇadurbuddhir guṇair etair vivarjitaḥ yasya te 'viditaś cārai rakṣasāṃ sumahān vadhaḥ But you, Rāvaṇa of evil mind, are bereft of these virtues, you by whom, through your spies, the very great slaughter of the rākṣasas went unknown. **3.31.22** parāvamantā viṣayeṣu saṃgato nadeśa kālapravibhāga tattvavit ayuktabuddhir guṇadoṣaniścaye vipannarājyo na cirād vipatsyate A despiser of others, sunk in sensual pleasures, ignorant of the true division of place and time, wrong-headed in discerning merit and fault, his kingdom ruined, will before long come to grief. **3.31.23** iti svadoṣān parikīrtitāṃs tayā samīkṣya buddhyā kṣaṇadācareśvaraḥ dhanena darpeṇa balena cānvito vicintayām āsa ciraṃ sa rāvaṇaḥ Thus, having with his mind weighed the faults she had recounted, that lord of the night-rangers, endowed with wealth, pride, and power, Rāvaṇa reflected long.