Shloka 23

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

अरुन्धत्याविशिष्टांतांरोहिण्याश्चापिदुर्मते ।सीतांधर्षयतामान्यांत्वयाह्यसदृशंकृतम् ।।।।

Transliteration

arundhatyā viśiṣṭāṃ tāṃ rohiṇyāś cāpi durmate | sītāṃ dharṣayatā mānyāṃ tvayā hy asadṛśaṃ kṛtam ||

Translation

ഹേ ദുർമതിയേ! അരുന്ധതിയെയും രോഹിണിയെയും പോലും അതിക്രമിക്കുന്ന മഹത്വമുള്ള, ആദരാർഹയായ സീതയെ നീ ധർഷിച്ചതിലൂടെ അയോഗ്യമായ പ്രവൃത്തി ചെയ്തു; അത് നിനക്കൊട്ടും യോജിച്ചതല്ല.

Word by Word

• arundhatyā: by/than Arundhati
• arundhatyā: Upamāna/Comparison (उपमान/तुलना-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arundhatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• viśiṣṭām: distinguished; superior
• viśiṣṭām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśiṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्रयोग)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying Sita)

• tām: that (woman)
• tām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• rohiṇyāḥ: (than) Rohini
• rohiṇyāḥ: Upamāna/Comparison (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rohiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया/षष्ठी (Instr./Gen.), एकवचन; अत्र तृतीया-तुलनार्थे

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• durmate: O evil-minded one
• durmate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durmati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Voc.), एकवचन

• sītām: Sita
• sītām: Karma (कर्म/object of 'dharṣayatā')
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• dharṣayatā: by (you) assaulting
• dharṣayatā: Karta (कर्ता/agent-instrumental)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛṣ (धातु) + dharṣayat (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; "by you who were violating/assaulting"

• mānyām: venerable; respected
• mānyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipāta (निपात/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतुबोधक अव्यय (indeed/for)

• asadṛśam: unbefitting; improper
• asadṛśam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying kṛtam)

• kṛtam: was done
• kṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + kṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; "(it) was done"

Context

"O evil minded king! Sita is to be respected even more than Arundathi or Rohini. Your arrogant action to her is unworthy."

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Arundhatī
• Rohiṇī
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma demands honor and protection of the virtuous; violating a woman who is ‘mānyā’ (worthy of reverence) is a grave adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Mandodarī rebukes Rāvaṇa’s offense against Sītā by invoking exemplars of chastity and virtue (Arundhatī, Rohiṇī).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s sanctity and honor; the verse highlights the ideal of revered womanhood and the duty to respect it.