Shloka 120

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

Ravana’s Funeral Rites and the Ethics of Post-War Conduct

Devanagari script

गन्धैर्माल्यैरलङ्कृत्यरावणंदीनमानसाः ।।6.114.119।।विभीषणसहायास्तेवस्त्रैश्चविविधैरपि ।लाजैरश्चावकिरन्तिस्मबाष्पपूर्णमुखास्तदा ।।6.114.120।।

Transliteration

gandhair mālyair alaṅkṛtya rāvaṇaṃ dīnamānasāḥ | vibhīṣaṇasahāyās te vastraiś ca vividhair api | lājair aś cāvakiranti sma bāṣpapūrṇamukhās tadā ||

Translation

Hier wird die Schilderung wiederholt: die trauernden Rākṣasas, von Vibhīṣaṇa unterstützt, schmückten Rāvaṇa mit Düften und Girlanden, bedeckten ihn mit verschiedenen Gewändern und bestreuten ihn mit gerösteten Körnern; ihre Gesichter waren von Tränen benetzt.

Word by Word

• लाजैः: with parched grains
• लाजैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अश्: and/also (particle)
• अश्: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अश् (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: निपात; here as emphatic/metrical particle (often written 'अथ/अश्च' in some recensions)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• अवकिरन्ति: they scatter/sprinkle
• अवकिरन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• स्म: indeed/then (narrative particle)
• स्म: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-निपात; भूतार्थ/अनुस्मरणार्थक (often marking past narrative)

• बाष्पपूर्णमुखाः: with tear-filled faces
• बाष्पपूर्णमुखाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाष्प + पूर्ण + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'whose faces are filled with tears'

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय

Context

"Or else, the god of death would have come in the form of Rama for your destruction, having right knowledge and taking an inconceivable recourse.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• gandha
• mālya
• vastra
• lājā

FAQs

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

The same dharma as 6.114.119: dignified performance of funeral honors, guided by duty and compassion.

What is the narrative situation?

A repeated line in the recension reiterates the adornment and honoring of Rāvaṇa’s body.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast duty amid sorrow.