Shloka 27

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

अवश्यमेवलभतेफलंपापस्यकर्मणः ।घोरंपर्यागतेकालेकर्तानास्त्यत्रसंशयः ।।।।

Transliteration

avaśyam eva labhate phalaṃ pāpasya karmaṇaḥ | ghoraṃ paryāgate kāle kartā nāsty atra saṃśayaḥ ||

Translation

Unweigerlich erlangt der Sünder die Frucht seiner bösen Tat; wenn die Zeit herangereift ist, geht der Täter schrecklicher Werke zugrunde—daran besteht kein Zweifel.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• kulena: by lineage
• kulena: Karaṇa/Measure (करण/प्रमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• na: nor
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• rūpeṇa: by beauty/form
• rūpeṇa: Karaṇa/Measure (करण/प्रमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• na: nor
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• dākṣiṇyena: by courtesy/gentleness
• dākṣiṇyena: Karaṇa/Measure (करण/प्रमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dākṣiṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• maithilī: Maithili (Sita)
• maithilī: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mayā: than me
• mayā: Upamāna/Standard (उपमान/तुलना-मान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन

• adhikā: superior
• adhikā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (for maithilī)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• tulyā: equal
• tulyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tulya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय

• tattvam: the truth
• tattvam: Karma (कर्म/object of 'budhyase')
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mohāt: from delusion
• mohāt: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: moha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Abl.5), एकवचन; हेतौ (cause)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• budhyase: you understand
• budhyase: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: budh (धातु)
• Form: लट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

Context

"When you touched Sita of slender waist, at that time itself you were not burnt. All gods including Indra headed by fire god are approaching you with hostile intention."

Characters & Entities

• Karma (action)
• Phala (result)

FAQs

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

Moral causality is inviolable: adharma produces suffering, and dharma-aligned truth ultimately prevails in time.

What is the narrative situation?

In lament, Mandodarī universalizes Rāvaṇa’s downfall into a general law of karma and consequence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness about consequence (satya) and ethical clarity—naming wrongdoing plainly and accepting its results.