Shloka 8

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

न चैतत्कर्मरामस्यश्रद्धधामिचमूमुखे ।सर्वतस्समुपेतस्यतवतेनाभिमर्षणम् ।।।।

Transliteration

na caitat karma rāmasya śraddadhāmi ca mūmukhe | sarvatas samupetasya tava tenābhimarṣaṇam ||

Translation

ああ、軍勢の指導者よ、これがラーマの仕業だとは信じられません。あらゆる面で万全の備えをしていたあなたが、このように圧倒されるとは。

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• च: and
• च: Samucchaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• कर्म: deed, act
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• श्रद्धधामि: I believe
• श्रद्धधामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रद् + धा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• चमूमुखे: O leader of the army
• चमूमुखे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चमू (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('front/leader of the army'), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• सर्वतः: from all sides, wholly
• सर्वतः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'from all sides/entirely')

• समुपेतस्य: of you who were fully prepared
• समुपेतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + उप + इ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP: 'fully furnished/attended'), षष्ठी, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषण (to तव)

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• तेन: by him/therefore
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक

• अभिमर्षणम्: assault, overpowering
• अभिमर्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभि + मृष् (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त-नाम)
• Form: ल्युट्-प्रत्ययान्त भाव/क्रिया-नाम (action noun: 'assault/attack'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

"You are always well equipped with the army, so such action (killing you) is not possible for Rama."

Characters & Entities

• Mandodarī
• Rāvaṇa
• Rāma
• Laṅkā (implied battlefield context)

FAQs

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

Dharma is tied to truthful appraisal of agency and power: Mandodarī struggles to reconcile Rāma’s act with Rāvaṇa’s perceived might.

What is the narrative situation?

In grief, Mandodarī expresses disbelief that Rāma could have brought down Rāvaṇa, known as a formidable commander.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Awe at righteous power (Rāma’s dhārmic strength), even when emotionally difficult to accept.