Shloka 23

रावणवधोत्तरं विभीषणशोकः—क्षत्रधर्मोपदेशः

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

Devanagari script

अनेनदत्तानिवनीपकेषुभुक्ताश्चभोगानिभृताश्चभृत्याः ।धनानिमित्रेषुसमर्पितानिवैराण्यमित्रेषुनिपातितानि ।।।।

Transliteration

anena dattāni vanīpakeṣu bhuktāś ca bhogāni bhṛtāś ca bhṛtyāḥ |

dhanāni mitreṣu samarpitāni vairāṇy amitreṣu nipātitāni ||

Translation

Durch ihn wurden Gaben den Waldasketen gespendet; Genüsse wurden erfahren; Diener und Abhängige wurden versorgt; Reichtümer Freunden anvertraut; und Feindschaften wurden gegen die Gegner gerichtet und sie zu Fall gebracht.

Word by Word

अनेनby him, with this (man)

दत्तानिgiven, bestowed

वनीपकेषुto/among forest-dwellers, mendicants

भुक्ताःfed, enjoyed, maintained

चand

भोगानिenjoyments, provisions

भृताःsupported, maintained

चand

भृत्याःservants, dependants

धनानिwealths, riches

मित्रेषुto friends

समर्पितानिhanded over, entrusted

वैराणिenmities, hostilities

अमित्रेषुamong enemies, against enemies

निपातितानिcast down, destroyed, brought to an end

Context

"He bestowed gifts to mendicants, nurtured dependents, filled his friends with wealth, and held grudges against enemies and destroyed them."

Characters & Entities

Vibhīṣaṇa

Rāma

FAQs

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

A ruler/warrior’s dharma includes charity, care for dependents, loyalty to friends, and firm opposition to enemies—each in its proper measure.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa enumerates the fallen warrior’s kingly qualities to justify performing proper post-death rites.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāja-dharma: generosity, responsibility for dependents, and decisive protection of one’s side.