Shloka 97

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

तवापिमेप्रियंकार्यंत्वत्प्रभावान्मयाजितम् ।।।।अवश्यंतुक्षमंवाच्योमयात्वांराक्षसेश्वर ।

Transliteration

tavāpi me priyaṃ kāryaṃ tvatprabhāvān mayā jitam |

avaśyaṃ tu kṣamaṃ vācyo mayā tvāṃ rākṣaseśvara ||

Translation

O Herr der Rākṣasas, du bist mir lieb. Durch deine Macht habe ich den Sieg errungen; darum muss ich dir sagen, was recht und angemessen ist.

Word by Word

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• me: my / for me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• priyam: dear / pleasing
• priyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicative with kāryam

• kāryam: a task / act
• kāryam: Karta (कर्ता) (in nominal clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tvatprabhāvāt: because of your power
• tvatprabhāvāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvat + prabhāva (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: tava prabhāvāt

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता) (of passive/PPP)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• jitam: won / accomplished
• jitam: Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ji (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with kāryam/priyam

• avaśyam: surely
• avaśyam: Niścaya (निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: avaśyam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha/Contrast (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrastive

• kṣamam: proper / pardonable
• kṣamam: Karma (कर्म) (of vācyaḥ as 'to be said')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially 'proper/forgivable'

• vācyaḥ: should be said / I must say
• vācyaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया) (obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्/यत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'to be said' (agreeing with implied 'aham')

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता) (agent of obligation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• rākṣaseśvara: O lord of the Rakshasas
• rākṣaseśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: rākṣasānām īśvaraḥ

Context

"O Lord of Rakshasas! You are dear to me. It is by your strength I could be victorious. I have to do some kind deed for you.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma includes gratitude and responsible counsel: acknowledging help received, and then speaking what is ‘kṣama’—proper and ethically fitting—rather than what merely pleases.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma begins his response to Vibhīṣaṇa, affirming closeness and crediting his support in the victory.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s gratitude and moral leadership—he honors Vibhīṣaṇa while preparing to guide him toward the correct duty.