Shloka 63
रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः
Ravana’s Funeral Rites and the Ethics of Post-War Conduct
अयंक्रीडासहायस्तेऽनाथेलालप्यतेजनः ।।।।न चैवमाश्वासयसिकिंवा न बहुमन्यसे ।
ayaṃ krīḍāsahāyas te'nāthe lālapyate janaḥ | na caivam āśvāsayasi kiṃ vā na bahumanyase ||
ഇവർ—നിന്റെ ക്രീഡാസഹചാരികൾ—ഇന്ന് അനാഥരായി വിലപിച്ച് നിന്നെ വിളിക്കുന്നു. നീ അവരെ എന്തിന് ആശ്വസിപ്പിക്കുന്നില്ല? അല്ലെങ്കിൽ എന്തിന് ആദരിക്കുന്നില്ല?
"O lover of wives! Your wives have come out leaving their veils from their abode to see you. See them, and how is it that you are not angry?"
FAQs
It highlights the dharma of kingship: a ruler is a ‘nātha’ (protector). When leadership collapses through adharma, dependents become anātha—bereft and insecure.
Mandodarī observes the attendants and companions mourning and calling out, and she addresses Rāvaṇa’s inability to respond.
Concern for the wider community: her grief includes not only herself but also those who relied on the king.