Shloka 29

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

सर्वदासर्वभूतानांनास्तिमुत्युरलक्षणः ।तवतावदयंमृत्युर्मैथिलीकृतलक्षणः ।।।।

Transliteration

sarvadā sarvabhūtānāṃ nāsti mṛtyur alakṣaṇaḥ |

tava tāvad ayaṃ mṛtyur maithilī-kṛta-lakṣaṇaḥ ||

Translation

സകല ജീവികൾക്കും മരണം കാരണമില്ലാതെ വരികയില്ല; നിനക്കുള്ള ഈ മരണം മൈഥിലി (സീത)യെ സംബന്ധിച്ച നിന്റെ കൃത്യത്താൽ തന്നെ ലക്ഷിതമായിരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• sītā-nimitta-jaḥ: arisen due to Sita
• sītā-nimitta-jaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक) + nimitta (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: "sītā-nimittāt jātaḥ" (born from Sita as cause)

• mṛtyuḥ: death
• mṛtyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• dūrāt: from afar
• dūrāt: Apādāna (अपादान/source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययीभाववत् (ablatival adverb): "from afar"

• upāhṛtaḥ: has been brought upon (yourself)
• upāhṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-ā√hṛ (धातु) + upāhṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; "brought near/attracted"

• maithilī: Maithili (Sita)
• maithilī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maithilī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• saha: with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय (with)

• rāmeṇa: Rama
• rāmeṇa: Sahakāraka (सह/companion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• viśokā: free from sorrow
• viśokā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśoka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying maithilī)

• vihariṣyati: will roam/sport
• vihariṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√hṛ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

"O mighty armed Ravana! O, brother of Visrava! When in anger even Purandara was afraid to stand before you, it is well known."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Maithilī (Sītā)

FAQs

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

Actions have consequences (karma-phala): adharma generates its own downfall. The truth (satya) asserted is that suffering and death are not random but arise from causes—here, wrongdoing toward Sītā.

What is the narrative situation?

Mandodarī addresses the fallen Rāvaṇa and interprets his death as the direct consequence of abducting and wronging Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral discernment and truth-speaking (satya-vacana): Mandodarī names the real cause of ruin rather than excusing it as mere fate.