ततः शूर्पणखा दीना रावणं लोकरावणम्। अमात्यमध्ये संक्रुद्धा परुषं वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥
Then the woe began Śūrpanakhā, in high wrath spoke harshly in the midst of the courtiers, to Rāvana, given to railing loudly against all creatures.
प्रमत्तश्च कामभोगेषु स्वैरवृत्तो निरङ्कुशः । समुत्पन्नं भयं घोरं बोद्धव्यं भवबुध्यसे ॥
Intoxicated with enjoyments, acting as you will, and without any control whatever, you do not see that a dreadful disaster is impending.
सक्तं ग्राम्येषु भोगेषु कामवृत्तं महीपतिम्। लुब्धं न बहु मन्यन्ते श्मशानाग्निमिव प्रजाः॥
The subjects do not esteem a monarch that is given to sensual enjoyments, in intent upon satisfying his lust and is covetous like the fire in a cemetery.
स्वयं कार्याणि यः काले नानुतिष्ठति पार्थिवः। स तु वै सह राज्येन तैश्च कार्यैर्विनश्यति॥
The king that dose not act at the proper time, finds destruction along with his kingdom and acts.
अयुक्तचारं दुर्दर्शमस्वाधीनं नराधिपम्। वर्जयन्ति नरा दूरानदीपङ्कमिव द्विपाः॥
Even as elephants shun the muddy river, do people shun from a distance, the ruler that dose not send cut spies, who show now himself (to his subjects), and who had lost his independence.
ये न रक्षन्ति विषयमस्वाधीनं नराधिपाः। ते न वृद्ध्या प्रकाशन्ते गिरयः सागरे यथा॥
Like to rocks in the sea, those monarchs that do not administer their dominions, that are not dependent, do not prosper.
आत्मवद्भिर्विगृह्य त्वं देवगन्धर्वदानवैः। अयुक्तचारश्चपलः कथं राजा भविष्यसि॥
Having incurred the hostility of the gods, the Dānavas and the Gandharvas of subdued souls and senses, how can you, who are fickle, and hast not employed spies, become the king?
त्वं तु बालस्वभावश्च बुद्धिहीनश्च राक्षस । ज्ञातव्यं तन्न जानीषे कथं राजा भविष्यसि॥
And. O Raksasa, you are childish and foolish; and dose not know what you should. How can you then become the king?
येषां चाराश्च कोशश्च लयश्च जयतां वर। अस्वाधीना नरेन्द्राणां प्राकृतैस्ते जनैः समाः॥
O you best of conquerors, those kings whose spies, exchequer and morality are not free, are like the common head.
यस्मात् पश्यन्ति दूरस्थान् सर्वानर्थान् नराधिपाः। चारेण तस्मादुच्यन्ते राजानो दीर्घचक्षुषः॥
It is because kings know distant dangers through spies, therefore they are styled farsighted.
अयुक्तचारं मन्ये त्वां प्राकृतैः सचिवैर्युतः। स्वजनं च जनस्थानं निहतं नावबुध्यसे॥
I believe you have no spies, and that your counsellors are common folks, since although Janasthāna with your kinsman is destroyed, yet you take it not to heart.
चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम्। हतान्येकेन रामेण खरश्च सहदूषणः॥ ऋषीणामभयं दत्तं कृतक्षेमाश्च दण्डकाः। धर्षितं च जनस्थानं रामेणाक्लिष्टकारिणा॥
Fourteen thousands of Raksasas of dreadful deeds, with Khara and Dūşana, have all been slain by Rāma single-handed; Rāma of untiring energy has inspired the saints with courage; the Dandakas have been benefited; and Janasthāna had been harassed.
त्वं तु लुब्धः प्रमत्तश्च पराधीनश्च राक्षस। विषये स्वे समुत्पन्नं यद् भयं नावबुध्यसे॥
But you, covetous and intoxicated and in the power of others, do not understand that a great danger is over-hanging (you).
तीक्ष्णमल्पप्रदातारं प्रमत्तं गर्वितं शठम्। व्यसने सर्वभूतानि नाभिधावन्ति पार्थिवम्॥
People do not in times of peril assist a sovereign that is wrathful, stingy, intoxicated, haughty and deceitful.
अतिमानिनमग्राह्यमात्मसम्भावितं नरम्। क्रोधनं व्यसने हन्ति स्वजनोऽपि नराधिपम्॥ नानुतिष्ठति कार्याणि भयेषु न विभेति च। क्षिप्रं राज्याच्च्युतोदीनस्तृणैस्तुल्यो भवेदिह ॥
Even his own kindred slay a sovereign that sets immense store by his own self, is of light worth, regards himself highly, and irascible. They do not serve him; nor do they fear when he intimidates them. Such an one is speedily dethroned; and reduced to poverty and becomes like a straw.
शुष्ककाष्ठैर्भवेत् कार्यं लोष्ठैरपि च पांसुभिः। न तु स्थानात् परिभ्रष्टैः कार्यं स्याद् वसुधाधिपैः।।१८।
Even dry wood may serve a purpose; or stone, or dust; but no purpose is capable of being served by a sovereign that has been cast off his place.
उपभुक्तं यथा वासः स्रजो वा मृदिता यथा। एवं राज्यात् परिभ्रष्टः समर्थोऽपि निरर्थकः॥
Like a cloth that has been worn, like a garland that has been trodden, a king that had been dethroned, although able, is of no consequence.
अप्रमत्तश्च यो राजा सर्वज्ञो विजितेन्द्रियः। कृतज्ञो धर्मशीलश्च स राजा तिष्ठते चिरम्॥
But a king that keeps his wits about him, understands everything, is of controlled senses, and grateful, and of virtuous character, endure for ever.
नयनाभ्यां प्रसुप्तो वा जागर्ति नयचक्षुषा। व्यक्तक्रोधप्रसादश्च स राजा पूज्यते जनैः॥
That king is honoured by men; that sleeping with his eyes, is awake as respects his eye of duty, and (the effects of) whose anger and favour, are seen (by all).
त्वं तु रावण दुर्बुद्धिर्गुणैरेतैर्विवर्जितः। यस्य तेऽविदितश्चारै रक्षसां सुमहान् वधः॥
But, you Rāvana, who hast not by means of spies; acquainted yourself with the slaughter of Rākşasas, are of evil understanding and bereft of all these virtues.
परावमन्ता विषयेषु सङ्गवान् न देशकालप्रविभागतत्ववित्। अयुक्तबुद्धिर्गुणदोष निश्चये विपन्नराज्यो नचिराद् विपत्स्यते॥
Given to disgracing others, ignorant of the proper distribution of time and place*, and never taking care to distinguish merits and defects, : you, your kingdom being in danger, will speedily meet with disaster. The commentator, is silent here. the meaning evidently is, you do not discern the where and when of things.
इति स्वदोषान् परिकीर्तितांस्तया समीक्ष्य बुद्ध्या क्षणदाचरेश्वरः। धनेन दर्पण बलेन चान्वितो विचिन्तयामास चिरं स रावणः॥
On his vices having been thus celebrated by her (Surpanakhā), that lord of the rangers of night, Råvaņa, musing awhile, was long plunged in thought.