Shloka 6.113.2

रावणवधदर्शनम् — Lament of the Rākṣasa Women upon Seeing Rāvaṇa Slain

Devanagari script

वार्यमाणास्सुबहुशोवेष्टन्त्यःक्षितिपांसुषु ।विमुक्तकेश्यश्शोकार्तागावोवत्सहतायथा ।।।।

Transliteration

vāryamāṇāḥ subahuśo veṣṭantyaḥ kṣitipāṃsuṣu |

vimuktakeśyaḥ śokārtā gāvo vatsahatā yathā ||6.113.2||

Translation

Though restrained again and again, many women rolled in the dust of the earth, their hair dishevelled, stricken with grief, like cows whose calves have been slain.

Context

Numerous women, though obstructed, were rolling in dust, with dishevelled hair and crying like cows which had lost their calves.

Characters & Entities

• women of Laṅkā (implied rākṣasī-striyaḥ)
• earth/dust (kṣiti-pāṃsu)

FAQs

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

War born of adharma spreads suffering beyond the battlefield; the innocent and dependent also bear the cost of unrighteous choices.

What is the narrative situation?

A narrative description of the women’s uncontrolled mourning in Laṅkā after the catastrophic losses.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes pathos and consequence rather than a virtue; it implicitly commends restraint and responsibility in rulers to prevent such suffering.