Shloka 54

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

लङ्काद्वीपस्यगोप्तारंकर्तारंभीमकर्मणाम् ।।।।अस्माकंकामभोगानांदातारंरथिनांवरम् ।

Transliteration

laṅkādvīpasya goptāraṃ kartāraṃ bhīmakarmaṇām | asmākaṃ kāmabhogānāṃ dātāraṃ rathināṃ varam ||

Translation

Beschützer der Insel Laṅkā, Vollbringer furchtbarer Taten; Spender unserer Genüsse—der Vortrefflichste unter den Wagenkriegern.

Word by Word

• लङ्काद्वीपस्य: of the island of Laṅkā
• लङ्काद्वीपस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लङ्कायाः द्वीपः)

• गोप्तारम्: protector/guardian
• गोप्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक (protector/guardian)

• कर्तारम्: doer/performer
• कर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-तृन् प्रत्ययान्त

• भीमकर्मणाम्: of terrible deeds
• भीमकर्मणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (भीमं कर्म)

• अस्माकम्: of us/our
• अस्माकम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; pronoun (genitive)

• कामभोगानाम्: of sensual pleasures
• कामभोगानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम + भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (कामस्य भोगाः)

• दातारम्: giver
• दातारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दा (धातु) + तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-तृन् प्रत्ययान्त

• रथिनाम्: of chariot-warriors
• रथिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• वरम्: the best/foremost
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (superlative sense: best)

Context

"In the island of Lanka, he provided for his own sexual pleasures in a concealing manner. He was the foremost among those providers of sensual pleasures."

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the tension between kāma (pleasure) and Dharma: when pleasure and fearsome acts dominate rulership, stability collapses despite material provision.

What is the narrative situation?

Mandodarī praises Rāvaṇa’s worldly capacities—guarding Laṅkā, martial excellence, providing luxury—while lamenting that all of it has ended in death.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Balanced kingship is implicitly emphasized: true royal virtue integrates protection with righteousness, not merely power and indulgence.