Shloka 6.114.41

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

Devanagari script

तेषामेवंप्रभावाणांयुष्माकंराक्षसर्षभाः ।।।।कथंभयमसम्बुद्धंमानुषादिदमागतम् ।

Transliteration

teṣām evaṃ-prabhāvāṇāṃ yuṣmākaṃ rākṣasarṣabhāḥ |

kathaṃ bhayam asambuddhaṃ mānuṣād idam āgatam ||

Translation

O bulls among the Rākṣasas—when your power was of such a kind, how has this unforeseen fear come to you from a mere human?

Context

"O Bull among Rakshasas! You are such a famous king. This fear from a human is unknown. How did it come?"

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas
• mānuṣa (human—Rāma implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma teaches that moral order can overturn brute superiority; underestimating a righteous opponent (even if “human”) is a failure of discernment and truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Mandodarī marvels at the reversal: the mighty Rākṣasas are brought low by Rāma, a human embodiment of dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Recognition of satya (reality) over propaganda: she confronts the fact of defeat despite past power.