Chapter 21 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 21

Valmiki Ramayana — Sundara Kanda

Verse 21.10

अकृतात्मानमासाद्य राजानमनये रतम्। समृद्धानि विनश्यन्ति राष्ट्राणि नगराणि च॥

akṛtātmānamāsādya rājānamanaye ratam| samṛddhāni vinaśyanti rāṣṭrāṇi nagarāṇi ca||

English Meaning

Wealth, kingdom and cities-all are brought to naught when they are placed at the hands of a vicious and illiterate king.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)