Valmiki Ramayana 6.114.12 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 114, Shloka 12

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

अथवारामरूपेणकृतान्तस्स्वयमागतः ।मायांतवविनाशायविधायाप्रतितर्किताम् ।।।।

Transliteration

gandhair mālyair alaṅkṛtya rāvaṇaṃ dīnamānasāḥ | vibhīṣaṇasahāyās te vastraiś ca vividhair api | lājair aś cāvakiranti sma bāṣpapūrṇamukhās tadā ||

Translation

This verse repeats the prior scene: grieving rākṣasas, aided by Vibhīṣaṇa, adorned Rāvaṇa with perfumes and garlands, covered him in various garments, and sprinkled him with parched grain, their faces wet with tears.

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: सम्बन्ध (discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction): alternative

• रामरूपेण: in Rama's form
• रामरूपेण: करण/प्रकार (instrument/manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular: 'in the form of Rama'

• कृतान्तः: Death (Yama)
• कृतान्तः: कर्ता (karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛtānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (Yama/Death)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: सम्बन्ध (emphasis on agent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (reflexive adverb): 'himself'

• आगतः: has come
• आगतः: क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + gam (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृतान्त (past active participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'having come/come'

• मायाम्: a magical illusion/stratagem
• मायाम्: कर्म (karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• तव: your
• तव: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• विनाशाय: for destruction
• विनाशाय: सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन (purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vināśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; Dative singular: 'for destruction'

• विधाय: having devised
• विधाय: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + dhā (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त/अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/ल्यप्): 'having arranged/produced'

• अप्रतितर्किताम्: unimaginable/unforeseen
• अप्रतितर्किताम्: विशेषण (qualifier of karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- + prati + tarkita (कृत/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with मायाम्; 'not conjectured/inconceivable'

Context

"Or else, the god of death would have come in the form of Rama for your destruction, having right knowledge and taking an inconceivable recourse.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• gandha
• mālya
• vastra
• lājā

FAQs

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

The same dharma as 6.114.119: dignified performance of funeral honors, guided by duty and compassion.

What is the narrative situation?

A repeated line in the recension reiterates the adornment and honoring of Rāvaṇa’s body.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast duty amid sorrow.