Shloka 11

रावणवधोत्तरं विभीषणशोकः—क्षत्रधर्मोपदेशः

Vibhishana’s Lament after Ravana’s Fall; Instruction on Kshatriya-Dharma

Devanagari script

तेजोविषाणःकुलवंशवंशःकोपप्रसादापरगात्रहस्तः ।इक्ष्वाकुसिंहावगृहीतदेहःसुप्तःक्षितौरावणगन्धहस्ती ।।।।

Transliteration

tejoviṣāṇaḥ kulavaṃśavaṃśaḥ kopaprasādāparagātrahastaḥ |

ikṣvākusiṃhāvagṛhītadehaḥ suptaḥ kṣitau rāvaṇagandhahastī ||

Translation

Jener vom Rausch der Brunft rasende Elefant—Rāvaṇa—dessen Stoßzähne der Glanz der Tapferkeit waren, dessen gewaltiger Leib Geschlecht um Geschlecht bedeutete und dessen Glieder Zorn und Gunst waren, ist vom Löwen der Ikṣvāku gepackt worden und liegt nun „schlafend“ auf der Erde.

Word by Word

• तेजः-विषाणः: having splendor as tusks/horns
• तेजः-विषाणः: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + विषाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तेजसः विषाणम् यस्य)

• कुल-वंश-वंशः: with family-lineage as its backbone/support
• कुल-वंश-वंशः: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक) + वंश (प्रातिपदिक) + वंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (कुलस्य वंशः इति; पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोगः ‘lineage upon lineage’)

• कोप-प्रसाद-अपर-गात्र-हस्तः: with wrath and grace as limbs/hands (metaphorically)
• कोप-प्रसाद-अपर-गात्र-हस्तः: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक) + अपर (प्रातिपदिक) + गात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (कोपः/प्रसादः इत्यादि-रूपक-निर्देशः)

• इक्ष्वाकु-सिंह-अवगृहीत-देहः: whose body is seized by the lion of Ikshvaku (Rama)
• इक्ष्वाकु-सिंह-अवगृहीत-देहः: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इक्ष्वाकु (प्रातिपदिक) + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + अव+ग्रह् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (इक्ष्वाकु-सिंहेन अवगृहीतः देहः यस्य)

• सुप्तः: lying as if asleep
• सुप्तः: Kriya (क्रिया/state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वप् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; स्थितिवाचकः

• क्षितौ: on the ground
• क्षितौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरणम्

• रावण-गन्ध-हस्ती: Ravana, the rut-elephant
• रावण-गन्ध-हस्ती: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (रावणः एव गन्धहस्ती इव)

Context

"Ravana's prowess as tusks, father and grand fathers' race as back of the body, wrath as lower body and graciousness as proboscis, overthrown by a lion in the shape of Ikshvaku race having killed him he is lying asleep thrown down."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Ikṣvāku (dynasty)
• Rāma (Ikṣvāku-lion)
• Earth/ground (kṣiti)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Lineage and power do not sanctify wrongdoing; dharma prevails when rightful kingship (Ikṣvāku-lion) subdues destructive arrogance (rut-elephant).

What is the narrative situation?

The poet depicts the fallen Rāvaṇa through an elephant metaphor, emphasizing his former might and his final overthrow by Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s royal courage and moral authority—strength aligned with dharma, not mere domination.