Shloka 6.114.107
रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः — Ravana’s Funeral Rites and the Ethics of Post-War Conduct
सौवर्णींशिबिकांदिव्यामारोप्यक्षौमवासनम् ।।।।रावणंराक्षसाधीशमश्रुपूर्यमुखाद्विजाः ।तूर्यघोषैश्चविविधैस्स्तुवद्भिश्चाभिनन्दितम् ।।।।प्ताकाभिश्चचित्राभिस्सुमनोभिश्चचित्रिताम् ।उत्क्षिप्यशिबिकांतांतुविभीषणपुरोगमाः ।।।।दक्षिणाभिमुखास्सर्वेगृह्यकाष्ठानिभेजिरे ।
sauvarṇīṃ śibikāṃ divyām āropya kṣaumavāsanam | rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasādhīśam aśrupūryamukhā dvijāḥ || tūryaghoṣaiś ca vividhaiḥ stuvadbhiś cābhinanditam | patākābhiś ca citrābhiḥ sumanobhiś ca citritām || utkṣipya śibikāṃ tāṃ tu vibhīṣaṇapurogamāḥ | dakṣiṇābhimukhāḥ sarve gṛhya kāṣṭhāni bhejire ||
The priests, their faces filled with tears, placed Rāvaṇa—the lord of the rākṣasas—clad in fine linen upon a splendid golden bier. With varied music of instruments and words of praise they honored him; the bier was adorned with many-colored banners and flowers. Lifting it up, with Vibhīṣaṇa at the front, all proceeded southward, carrying the funeral wood.
As the dead body of Ravana was lifted up for final beatitude, panegyrists hailed him with blasts of several musical instruments and praised him with their faces bathed in tears. The golden cart was decorated with beautiful, picturesque, wonderful pictures and flags. Logs of wood were placed on the body and consecrated by sprinkling fragrant water. With Vibheeshana in the forefront, faces turned to the southern side, all proceeded.
Dharma includes honoring the dead with proper rites and dignity; ritual duty is maintained even when the deceased was an adversary.
Rāvaṇa’s body is placed on a golden bier; priests lament and perform ceremonial honors while the procession moves toward the cremation ground.
Vibhīṣaṇa’s steadiness in dharma: leadership in performing lawful rites and restoring order after conflict.