Shloka 92

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

तमुवाचततोधीमान् विभीषणइदंवचः ।।।।विमृश्यबुद्ध्याधर्मज्ञोधर्मार्थसहितंहितम् ।

Transliteration

tam uvāca tato dhīmān vibhīṣaṇa idaṃ vacaḥ |

vimṛśya buddhyā dharmajño dharmārthasahitaṃ hitam ||

Translation

Daraufhin überlegte der weise Vibhīṣaṇa, der das Dharma kennt, sorgfältig und sprach diese heilsamen Worte, im Einklang mit Recht und rechtem Zweck.

Word by Word

• tam: him (Rama)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla/Sequence (काल/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• dhīmān: wise
• dhīmān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (of vibhīṣaṇaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana
• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म) (object of implied 'said')
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vacaḥ: speech / words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vimṛśya: having considered
• vimṛśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi + mṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), avyaya; 'having reflected'

• buddhyā: with intellect
• buddhyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dharmajñaḥ: knower of dharma
• dharmajñaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (of vibhīṣaṇaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + jña (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); उपपद-तत्पुरुष: dharmaṃ jānāti iti

• dharmārthasahitam: consistent with dharma and purpose
• dharmārthasahitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (of vacaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + artha + sahita (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: dharmārthena sahitam

• hitam: beneficial
• hitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (of vacaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Then the wise and righteous Vibheeshana thinking made a wholesome and righteous submission in the following words.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as something to be approached with thoughtful deliberation (vimṛśya). Right speech should be both beneficial (hita) and aligned with dharma (righteous norms) and artha (practical right order).

What is the narrative situation?

After the fall of Rāvaṇa, Vibhīṣaṇa prepares to address Rāma, weighing what is proper regarding the next rites and duties.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s discernment and dharma-knowledge—he speaks only after reflection, aiming at what is wholesome and right.