Shloka 53
रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः
Ravana’s Funeral Rites and the Ethics of Post-War Conduct
देवासुरनृकन्यानामाहर्तारंततस्ततः ।।।।शत्रुस्त्रीशोकदातारं नेतारं स्वजनस्य च ।
devāsuranṛkanyānām āhartāraṃ tatas tataḥ | śatrustrīśokadātāraṃ netāraṃ svajanasya ca ||
神々・アスラ・人間の乙女たちを、あちらこちらからさらい去った者。敵の女たちに嘆きを与えながらも、自らの民の導き手であった者。
"Brought by force virgin girls of Devas, suras and human beings from here and there forcibly and caused the enemy women to mourn;"
FAQs
The violation of others’ dignity—especially through abduction—stands as adharma and inevitably generates grief and retaliation; Satya manifests as consequence.
In mourning, Mandodarī recounts Rāvaṇa’s actions that harmed many families, implicitly pointing to the roots of the war’s tragedy.
Respect for boundaries (maryādā) is emphasized by contrast: Dharma requires honoring others’ autonomy and social order.