Shloka 13

रावणवधोत्तरं विभीषणशोकः—क्षत्रधर्मोपदेशः

Vibhishana’s Lament after Ravana’s Fall; Instruction on Kshatriya-Dharma

Devanagari script

सिंहरक्षलाङ्गूलककुद्विषाणःपराभिजिद्गन्धनगन्धहस्ती ।रक्षोवृषश्चापलकर्णचक्षुःक्षितीश्वरव्याघ्रहतोऽवसन्नः ।।।।

Transliteration

siṃharakṣalāṅgūlakakudaviṣāṇaḥ parābhijid gandhanagandhahastī |

rakṣovṛṣaś cāpalakarṇacakṣuḥ kṣitīśvaravyāghra-hato 'vasannaḥ ||

Translation

ശത്രുക്കളെ ജയിച്ചവൻ, മദഗർവിതനായ ഗന്ധഹസ്തിയെപ്പോലെ, സിംഹസദൃശ രാക്ഷസങ്ങൾ അവന്റെ വാൽ-കൂമ്പ്-കൊമ്പുകളായി, ചപലമായ കാതും കണ്ണും ഉള്ള ആ രാക്ഷസവൃഷഭൻ, ഭൂമീശ്വരനായ വ്യാഘ്രംപോലെയുള്ളവൻ അടിച്ചുതകർത്തു താഴെയിട്ടു; അവൻ ക്ഷീണിച്ചു വീണു.

Word by Word

• siṃha-ṛkṣa-lāṅgūla-kakuda-viṣāṇaḥ: having lion/bear-like tail, hump, and horns
• siṃha-ṛkṣa-lāṅgūla-kakuda-viṣāṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of rakṣovṛṣaḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + lāṅgūla (प्रातिपदिक) + kakuda (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; बहुव्रीहिः—"यस्य (अङ्गानि) सिंह-ऋक्ष-लाङ्गूल-ककुद-विषाणानि"

• parābhijit: conqueror of foes
• parābhijit: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of rakṣovṛṣaḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parābhijit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषण—"परान् अभिजयति"

• gandhana-gandha-hastī: like a rutting elephant with strong musk
• gandhana-gandha-hastī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of rakṣovṛṣaḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gandhana (प्रातिपदिक) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + hastin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; कर्मधारयः—"गन्धनगन्धः (मदगन्धः) हस्ती इव" (rut-elephant-like)

• rakṣaḥ-vṛṣaḥ: the bull-like Rakshasa
• rakṣaḥ-vṛṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Subject
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; कर्मधारयः—"रक्षः एव वृषः"

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction/समुच्चय-निपात)

• cāpala-karṇa-cakṣuḥ: having animal-like ears and eyes
• cāpala-karṇa-cakṣuḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of rakṣovṛṣaḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cāpala (प्रातिपदिक) + karṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + cakṣus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; बहुव्रीहिः—"यस्य चापले (तिर्यक्/पशुवत्) करणे चक्षुषी"

• kṣitīśvara-vyāghra-hataḥ: slain by the tiger-like lord of the earth (Rama)
• kṣitīśvara-vyāghra-hataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of rakṣovṛṣaḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣitīśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक) + hata (कृदन्त, √han)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः—"क्षितीश्वरव्याघ्रेण हतः" (by the tiger among kings)

• avasannaḥ: fallen, brought low
• avasannaḥ: Kriyā-samānādhikaraṇa (predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avasanna (कृदन्त, √sad with ava-; past participle)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (fallen/overcome)

Context

"Rakshasas who followed as tails, humps and horns, Ravana the conquerors of enemies, like elephants in pride, animality as ears and eyes, the bull in the form of Rakshasa Ravana was killed by Rama, the master of earth in the form of tiger."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (kṣitīśvara, vyāghra metaphor)
• Rākṣasa (Rāvaṇa implied)
• Rākṣasas (followers)

FAQs

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

Rulership must protect the world: the ‘lord of the earth’ defeats predatory force, showing that dharma curbs violent domination.

What is the narrative situation?

A final metaphorical depiction of Rāvaṇa’s collapse and death at the hands of Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s guardianship and kingly duty—strength used to restore safety and moral order.