Shloka 24

रावणवधोत्तरं विभीषणशोकः—क्षत्रधर्मोपदेशः

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

Devanagari script

एषोहिताग्निश्च:महातपाश्चवेदान्तगःकर्मसुचाग्य्रशूरः ।एतस्ययत्प्रेतगतस्यकृत्यंतत्कर्तुमिच्छामितवप्रसादात् ।।।।

Transliteration

eṣo hitāgniś ca mahātapāś ca vedāntaghaḥ karmasu cāgraśūraḥ |

etasya yat pretagatasya kṛtyaṃ tat kartum icchāmi tava prasādāt ||

Translation

Er unterhielt die heiligen Feuer, übte große Askese, war im vedischen Wissen gegründet und stand in rituellen Pflichten an vorderster Stelle. Mit deiner gnädigen Zustimmung möchte ich vollziehen, was für ihn zu tun ist, da er nun dahingegangen ist.

Word by Word

एषःthis (man)

हिताग्निःone who has maintained the sacred fire

चand

महातपाःgreat ascetic, of great austerity

चand

वेदान्तगःknower of Vedanta, versed in the Vedas' end

कर्मसुin rites, in duties

चalso

अग्रशूरःforemost hero

एतस्यof this (man)

यत्whatever, that which

प्रेतगतस्यof the departed (one)

कृत्यम्duty, rite to be done

तत्that

कर्तुम्to do

इच्छामिI wish, I desire

तवyour

प्रसादात्by (your) favor/permission

Context

"He maintained sacrificial fire and practised austerities. He mastered vedas and was even doing rituals. To the foremost brother's departed soul, I desire your permission to do the rituals."

Characters & Entities

Vibhīṣaṇa

Rāma

Sacred fire (Agni)

FAQs

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

Antyeṣṭi-dharma: even an enemy deserves proper rites after death; duty continues beyond conflict.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa requests Rāma’s consent to perform funerary obligations for the departed warrior.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate righteousness—honoring ritual duty and human dignity after death.