Shloka 39

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

पतादानवराजोमेभर्तामेराक्षसेश्वरः ।।।।पुत्रोमेशक्रनिर्जेताइत्यहंगर्विताभृशम् ।

Transliteration

pitā dānavarājo me bhartā me rākṣaseśvaraḥ |

putro me śakra-nirjetā ity ahaṃ garvitā bhṛśam ||

Translation

« Mon père est un roi parmi les Dānavas ; mon époux est le seigneur des Rākṣasas ; mon fils a vaincu Indra lui-même. » En pensant ainsi, je suis devenue extrêmement fière.

Word by Word

• विशीर्णमेदोमस्तिष्कम्: with fat and brain scattered
• विशीर्णमेदोमस्तिष्कम्: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + शीर्ण (कृदन्त) + मेदस् + मस्तिष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (medo-mastiṣka: fat and brain; qualified by viśīrṇa 'scattered')

• रूक्षम्: rough/soiled
• रूक्षम्: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (nom sg)

• स्यन्दनरेणुभिः: by chariot-dust
• स्यन्दनरेणुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्यन्दन + रेणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (syandana-reṇu: chariot-dust) (instr pl)

Context

"My father is a king of Danavas, my husband is a Lord of Rakshasas, and my son has won over Indra, the Lord of gods, thus I was excessively proud."

Characters & Entities

• Mandodarī
• Rāvaṇa
• Dānavas
• Rākṣasas
• Śakra (Indra)

FAQs

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

The verse warns against garva (pride) based on lineage and power; dharma requires humility and right judgment rather than intoxication with status.

What is the narrative situation?

Mandodarī reflects on how her family’s might made her complacent and proud, immediately after the catastrophe of Rāvaṇa’s death.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Honest repentance and clarity: she recognizes pride as a moral failing with painful consequences.