Shloka 53

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

देवासुरनृकन्यानामाहर्तारंततस्ततः ।।।।शत्रुस्त्रीशोकदातारं नेतारं स्वजनस्य च ।

Transliteration

devāsuranṛkanyānām āhartāraṃ tatas tataḥ | śatrustrīśokadātāraṃ netāraṃ svajanasya ca ||

Translation

Der, der von Ort zu Ort die Jungfrauen der devas, asuras und Menschen raubte; der den Frauen seiner Feinde Kummer brachte; und doch ein Führer der Seinen war.

Word by Word

• देवासुरनृकन्यानाम्: of the maidens of gods, demons, and men
• देवासुरनृकन्यानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + असुर + नृ + कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (कन्या-प्रधान), षष्ठी, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (देवाः च असुराः च नराः च) + कन्या

• आहर्तारम्: abductor/one who carries off
• आहर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-हृ (धातु) + तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-तृन् प्रत्ययान्त

• ततः: from there
• ततः: Desha/Avyaya (देश/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिशा/स्थानवाचक (ablatival adverb: 'from there')

• ततः: from there (here and there)
• ततः: Desha/Avyaya (देश/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति (here and there)

• शत्रुस्त्रीशोकदातारम्: giver of grief to enemy women
• शत्रुस्त्रीशोकदातारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु + स्त्री + शोक + दातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शत्रुस्त्रीणां शोकस्य दाता)

• नेतारम्: leader
• नेतारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नी (धातु) + तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-तृन् प्रत्ययान्त

• स्वजनस्य: of his own people
• स्वजनस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (स्वः जनः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

Context

"Brought by force virgin girls of Devas, suras and human beings from here and there forcibly and caused the enemy women to mourn;"

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Devas
• Asuras
• Humans (nṛ)

FAQs

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

The violation of others’ dignity—especially through abduction—stands as adharma and inevitably generates grief and retaliation; Satya manifests as consequence.

What is the narrative situation?

In mourning, Mandodarī recounts Rāvaṇa’s actions that harmed many families, implicitly pointing to the roots of the war’s tragedy.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for boundaries (maryādā) is emphasized by contrast: Dharma requires honoring others’ autonomy and social order.