Shloka 6.114.119

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

Devanagari script

गन्धैर्माल्यैरलङ्कृत्यरावणंदीनमानसाः ।।।।विभीषणसहायास्तेवस्त्रैश्चविविधैरपि ।लाजैरश्चावकिरन्तिस्मबाष्पपूर्णमुखास्तदा ।।।।

Transliteration

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

Translation

Then, their hearts sunk in grief, they adorned Rāvaṇa with perfumes and garlands; aided by Vibhīṣaṇa, they also covered him with various garments and sprinkled him with parched grains, their faces brimming with tears.

Context

Then the Rakshasas along with Vibheeshana desperately, eyes dimmed with tears, covered Ravana with several clothes and decorated with garland s and sandal. They sprinkled parched grain.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• gandha (perfumes/sandal)
• mālya (garlands)
• vastra (garments)
• lājā (parched grain)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes honoring the dead with due rites and dignity; grief does not cancel responsibility, and kin/community obligations are carried out truthfully.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa’s body is ceremonially adorned and honored as part of the funeral observances, with Vibhīṣaṇa assisting the grieving rākṣasas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Karunā (compassion) and duty: they mourn and still perform respectful rites rather than abandoning propriety.