Shloka 38
रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः
Ravana’s Funeral Rites and the Ethics of Post-War Conduct
हापश्चिमामेसम्प्राप्तादशावैधव्यदायिनी ।।।।यामयासीन्नसुम्बद्धाकदाचिदपिमन्दया ।
hā paścimā me samprāptā daśā vaidhavya-dāyinī |
yā mayā āsīn na sambuddhā kadācid api mandayā ||
അയ്യോ! ഇപ്പോൾ എനിക്ക് അന്തിമാവസ്ഥ വന്നെത്തി—വൈധവ്യം നൽകുന്ന ഈ ദശ. മന്ദബുദ്ധിയായ ഞാൻ, ഇത്തരമൊരു സമയം ഒരിക്കലും വരുമെന്ന് ഒരിക്കൽപോലും തിരിച്ചറിഞ്ഞില്ല.
"Ha! You are dead. I am widowed. I am foolish as I never thought that this stage will come."
FAQs
It underscores satya about anityatā (impermanence): worldly pride and security collapse, and one must recognize mortality and consequences of adharma in time.
After Rāvaṇa has fallen in battle, Mandodarī reaches him and mourns, realizing she has become a widow.
Truthful self-assessment (ātma-viveka): she admits her own folly and late realization.