Shloka 77

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

हेत्वर्थयुक्तंविधिवच्छ्रेयस्करमदारुणम् ।विभीषणेनाभिहितं न कृतंहेतुमत्त्वया ।।।।

Transliteration

hetv-artha-yuktaṁ vidhivat śreyaskaram adāruṇam | vibhīṣaṇenābhihitaṁ na kṛtaṁ hetumattvayā ||

Translation

ವಿಭೀಷಣನು ಕಾರಣಸಹಿತವಾಗಿ, ಅರ್ಥಯುಕ್ತವಾಗಿ, ವಿಧಿಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿ, ಶ್ರೇಯಸ್ಕರವಾಗಿ ಮತ್ತು ಕಠೋರವಲ್ಲದ ವಚನವನ್ನು ಹೇಳಿದನು; ಆದರೂ ನೀನು ಆ ಹಿತೋಪದೇಶವನ್ನು ಅನುಸರಿಸಲಿಲ್ಲ, ಹೇ ಅಹೇತುಮತಿ.

Word by Word

• hetu-artha-yuktam: reasonable and meaningful
• hetu-artha-yuktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hetu (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: hetv-artha-yukta (तत्पुरुष: 'endowed with reason and purpose'); Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifies (vacanam) understood

• vidhivat: properly
• vidhivat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (वत्)
• Form: Avyaya adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय): 'according to rule/properly'

• śreyas-karam: beneficial
• śreyas-karam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: śreyas-kara (तत्पुरुष: 'producing welfare'); Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• adāruṇam: not harsh/agreeable
• adāruṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• vibhīṣaṇena: by Vibhishana
• vibhīṣaṇena: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• abhihitam: was said
• abhihitam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√dhā (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta (क्त), Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'was stated'

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• kṛtam: was done/followed
• kṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta (क्त), Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; impersonal passive: 'was not done (followed)'

• hetumat: reasonably
• hetumat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hetumat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'with reason' (qualifies implied act/response)

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; agent in passive

Context

"You have not listened to the meaningful, agreeable and reasonable advice given according to tradition by Vibheeshana."

Characters & Entities

• Mandodarī
• Rāvaṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma values reasoned, beneficial counsel delivered without cruelty; rejecting such guidance is a step toward adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Mandodarī recalls Vibhīṣaṇa’s earlier advice to Rāvaṇa and notes Rāvaṇa’s refusal to follow it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Wisdom guided by reason (hetu) and propriety (vidhi), exemplified by Vibhīṣaṇa.