Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 114, Shloka 16
रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः
Ravana’s Funeral Rites and the Ethics of Post-War Conduct
व्यक्तमेषमहायोगीपरमात्मासनातनः ।अनादिमध्यनिधनोमहतंपरमोमहान् ।।6.114.14।।तमसःपरमोधाताशङ्खचक्रगदाधरः ।श्रीवत्सवक्षानित्यश्रीरजय्यश्शाश्वतोध्रुवः ।।6.114.15।।मानुषंरूपमास्थायविष्णुस्सत्यपराक्रमः ।सर्वैःपरिवृतोदेवैर्वानरत्वमुपागतैः ।।6.114.16।।सर्वलोकेश्वर्श्रीमान्लोकानांहितकाम्यया ।सराक्षसरपरीवारंहतवांस्त्वांमहाद्युतिः ।।6.114.17।।
yadaiva hi janasthāne rākṣasair bahubhir vṛtaḥ | kharas tu nihato bhrātā tadā rāmo na mānuṣaḥ ||
yadaiva nagarīṃ laṅkāṃ duṣpraveśāṃ surair api | praviṣṭo hanumān vīryāt tadaiva vyathitā vayam ||
Indeed, when at Jana-sthāna your brother Khara—though surrounded by many rākṣasas—was slain, it was clear then that Rāma was no mere man. And when the mighty Hanumān, by sheer valor, entered the city of Laṅkā—hard to enter even for the gods—then we were shaken with fear.
"It is evident that this Rama is a great yogi, eternal, who has no beginning, middle or end. He is supreme, greater than great and stands beyond darkness, a sustainer. He holds conch, discus, and mace in hand. He has symbols of Srivatsa on his chest. He is ever rich, invincible, everlasting, steady supreme soul and of truthful valour. He is prosperous, a mass of brilliance, Lord Vishnu and the Lord of all worlds, a wellwisher of all. He has come in mortal form, in the form of Vanaras also, and by all gods. He vanquished you along with Rakshasas is evident."
FAQs
Heed warning signs and truthful counsel: dharma requires recognizing reality early—ignoring clear evidence of wrongdoing and its consequences leads to destruction.
The speaker recalls earlier events—Khara’s death at Janasthāna and Hanumān’s daring entry into Laṅkā—as unmistakable indicators that Rāma’s cause was extraordinary and divinely supported.
Pragmatic truthfulness and discernment: the verse values clear-eyed recognition over pride and denial.