Shloka 3.32.19

अरण्यकाण्डे द्वात्रिंशः सर्गः — Śūrpaṇakhā’s Report to Rāvaṇa and the Panegyric of His Might

Devanagari script

मन्त्रैरभिष्टुतं पुण्यमध्वरेषु द्विजातिभिः।हविर्धानेषु यस्सोममुपहन्ति महाबलः।।।।

Transliteration

mantrair abhiṣṭutaṃ puṇyam adhvareṣu dvijātibhiḥ |

havirdhāneṣu yaḥ somam upahanti mahābalaḥ ||

Translation

Mighty though he was, he profaned the sacred Soma—praised with mantras by the twice-born in the sacrifices—at the very places where the oblations are set forth.

Context

The mighty Ravana defiled the sacred Soma juice, worthy of oblations, extracted byBrahmins by chanting mantras in scrifices.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Soma
• Dvijāti (twice-born Brahmins)
• Adhvara (sacrifice)
• Havirdhāna (oblation place)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes protecting sacred rites that sustain social and cosmic order. Violating yajña and profaning Soma symbolizes attacking the foundations of truth, duty, and communal welfare.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa is characterized through his crimes—especially disrupting sacrifices—setting the moral justification for his eventual downfall.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue implied is reverence for sacred duty (yajña-rakṣaṇa). By contrast, Rāvaṇa’s trait is impiety and hostility to Dharma.