Shloka 114

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

प्रचक्रुःराक्षसेन्द्रस्यपितृमेधमनुक्रमम् ।।।।वेदिं च दक्षिणप्राच्यांयथास्थानं च पावकम् ।

Transliteration

pracakruḥ rākṣasendrasya pitṛmedham anukramam | vediṃ ca dakṣiṇaprācyāṃ yathāsthānaṃ ca pāvakam ||

Translation

Puis, selon l’ordre prescrit, ils accomplirent le pitṛmedha pour le seigneur des rākṣasas : ils établirent l’autel au sud-est et placèrent le feu sacré à l’endroit qui lui convenait.

Word by Word

• प्रचक्रुः: they began / performed
• प्रचक्रुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• राक्षसेन्द्रस्य: of the rākṣasa-lord
• राक्षसेन्द्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; 'of the lord of rākṣasas'

• पितृमेधम्: ancestral funeral sacrifice (pitṛmedha)
• पितृमेधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + मेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनुक्रमम्: the proper sequence/procedure
• अनुक्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'in due sequence/procedure' (object of 'performed')

• वेदिम्: altar
• वेदिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• दक्षिणप्राच्याम्: in the southeast
• दक्षिणप्राच्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण + प्राची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; 'in the south-eastern direction'

• यथास्थानम्: in the proper place
• यथास्थानम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) 'according to proper place'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• पावकम्: fire
• पावकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

Then proceeding in sequence constructing an altar in the south-east and placing sacrificial fire in a proper place, they duly performed in honour of the ruler of Rakshasas.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasendra (lord of rākṣasas)
• Vedi (altar)
• Pāvaka/Agni (sacred fire)

FAQs

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

Dharma is precise, rule-governed responsibility: correct sequencing, correct placement, and fidelity to sacred injunctions uphold social and cosmic order.

What is the narrative situation?

The officiants continue the funeral-sacrificial sequence, establishing the altar and fire according to Vedic directions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discipline and reverence for śāstra—doing what is right in the right way.