Shloka 56

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

शयनेषुमहार्हेषुशयित्वाराक्षसेश्वर ।।।।इहकर्मात्प्रसुप्तोऽसिधरण्यांरेणुगुण्ठितः ।

Transliteration

śayaneṣu mahārheṣu śayitvā rākṣaseśvara | iha karmāt prasupto'si dharaṇyāṃ reṇuguṇṭhitaḥ ||

Translation

O Herr der Rākṣasas! Nachdem du auf den kostbarsten Lagern geruht hast, liegst du nun hier, als schliefest du durch deine eigenen Taten—auf nackter Erde, der Leib von Staub bedeckt.

Word by Word

शयनेषुon beds

महार्हेषुmost precious

शयित्वाhaving lain

राक्षसेश्वरO lord of the Rākṣasas

इहhere

कस्मात्why/from what cause

प्रसुप्तःasleep

असिyou are

धरण्याम्on the ground

रेणुगुण्ठितःcovered with dust

Context

"O Lord of Rakshasas! Having slept on the best of beds, you are now lying here on the hard ground, body covered with dust. Where are you sleeping?"

Characters & Entities

Mandodarī

Rāvaṇa

Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

The verse underscores karma and moral consequence: power and luxury cannot protect one who violates dharma; wrongful action ripens into downfall.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāvaṇa is killed in battle, Mandodarī comes to the battlefield and mournfully addresses his body, contrasting his former royal comforts with his present state.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mandodarī’s clear-sightedness and moral discernment: even in grief she recognizes the causal force of deeds (karma) behind the tragedy.