Shloka 3.48.4

रावणस्यात्मप्रशंसा लङ्कावर्णनं च — Ravana’s Self-Praise and the Description of Lanka

Devanagari script

येन वैश्रवणो राजा द्वैमात्रः कारणान्तरे।द्वन्द्वमासादितः क्रोधाद्रणे विक्रम्य निर्जितः।।।।

Transliteration

kathaṃ vaiśravaṇaṃ devaṃ sarva-bhūta-namaskṛtam |

bhrātaraṃ vyapadiśya tvam aśubhaṃ kartum icchasi ||

Translation

“How can you desire to commit an inauspicious deed, while calling the god Vaiśravaṇa Kubera—revered by all beings—your ‘brother’?”

Context

For some reason or other a duel took place between me and king Kubera. With my prowess, I defeated him in the duel.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāvaṇa
• Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera)

FAQs

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

Dharma demands consistency between one’s claims and one’s conduct; invoking a revered relation while doing evil exposes hypocrisy and adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā challenges Rāvaṇa’s self-presentation and questions the moral contradiction in his actions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ethical clarity—Sītā distinguishes auspicious conduct (śubha) from inauspicious acts (aśubha).