Shloka 16

रावणवधोत्तरं विभीषणशोकः—क्षत्रधर्मोपदेशः

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

Devanagari script

नैवंविनष्टाःशोच्यन्तेक्षत्रधर्मव्यवस्थिताः ।वृधदिमाशंसमानायेनिपतन्तिरणाजिरे ।।।।

Transliteration

naivaṃ vinaṣṭāḥ śocyante kṣatradharmavyavasthitāḥ |

vṛddhim āśaṃsamānā ye nipatanti raṇājire ||

Translation

Die im Kṣatriya-Dharma standhaft sind und auf dem Schlachtfeld fallen, in Hoffnung auf ehrenvolle Erhöhung, sind nicht so zu beweinen, als wären sie auf solche Weise „verloren“.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Vākya-niṣedha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-nipāta

• evam: thus, in this way
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vinaṣṭāḥ: those who have perished
• vinaṣṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) of śocyante
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vinaṣṭa (कृदन्त, √naś with vi-)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• śocyante: are mourned
• śocyante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śuc (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa Bahuvacana; ātmanepada; passive sense "are to be mourned/are mourned"

• kṣatra-dharma-vyavasthitāḥ: steadfast in the warrior code
• kṣatra-dharma-vyavasthitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of (ye)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣatra (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + vyavasthita (कृदन्त, √sthā with vi-ava)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; तत्पुरुषः—"क्षत्रधर्मे व्यवस्थिताः" (steadfast in kshatriya-duty)

• vṛddhim: advancement, increase
• vṛddhim: Karma (कर्म) of āśaṃsamānāḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana

• āśaṃsamānāḥ: hoping for
• āśaṃsamānāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ye
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āśaṃsamāna (कृदन्त, √śaṃs with ā-; śānac/शानच्)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Śānac (शानच्) present middle participle; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; "hoping/desiring"

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता) of nipatanti
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; relative pronoun

• nipatanti: fall (in battle)
• nipatanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pat (धातु) with ni-
• Form: Laṭ, Prathama-puruṣa Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• raṇa-ajire: on the battlefield
• raṇa-ajire: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ajira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī Ekavacana; तत्पुरुषः—"रणस्य अजिरे"

Context

"Those kings who follow duty steadfast, desiring advancement, fearless in the battlefield, who die in that way should not be mourned."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Battlefield (raṇājira)

FAQs

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

Kṣatriya-dharma teaches that death faced in rightful battle, with courage and purpose, is not disgrace but a duty-fulfilled end—grief should be moderated by this truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma instructs Vibhīṣaṇa not to grieve excessively, presenting a dharmic view of a warrior’s death.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness in duty—holding one’s role and obligations even amid fear, loss, and personal emotion.