Shloka 104

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

शकटान् दारुरूपाणिअग्नीनवैयाजकांस्तथा ।।।।तथाचन्दनकाष्ठानिकाष्ठानिविविधानि च ।अगरूणिसुगधनीनिगन्धांश्चसुरभींस्तथा ।।।।मणिमुक्ताप्रवाळानिनिर्यापयतिराक्षसः ।

Transliteration

śakaṭān dārurūpāṇi agnīn vai yājakāṃs tathā |

tathā candanakāṣṭhāni kāṣṭhāni vividhāni ca |

agarūṇi sugandhāni gandhāṃś ca surabhīṃs tathā |

maṇimuktāpravāḷāni niryāpayati rākṣasaḥ ||

Translation

Rākṣasa itu pun menyediakan pedati dan kayu pilihan; menata api suci upacara serta para pendeta yajaka; juga kayu cendana dan pelbagai jenis kayu bakar; gaharu (agaru) dan bahan-bahan harum serta minyak wangi yang semerbak; bahkan permata, mutiara, dan karang—semuanya dipersiapkan bagi pelaksanaan upacara.

Word by Word

• शकटान्: carts
• शकटान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• दारु-रूपाणि: made of wood; wooden
• दारु-रूपाणि: कर्मविशेषण (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारु + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — शकटान् इति विशेषण

• अग्नीन्: fires
• अग्नीन्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic particle)

• याजकान्: priests
• याजकान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तथा: and also; likewise
• तथा: समुच्चय (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb/conjunctive)

• तथा: also
• तथा: समुच्चय (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थ

• चन्दन-काष्ठानि: sandalwood logs
• चन्दन-काष्ठानि: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन + काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• काष्ठानि: wood; logs
• काष्ठानि: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• विविधानि: various; many kinds of
• विविधानि: कर्मविशेषण (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — काष्ठानि इति विशेषण

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

Context

Vibheeshana arranged to get excellent carts, fires maintained by Ravana, priests, so also sandalwood, and many kinds of wood, fragrant perfumes, sandals, sweet smelling odours, gems, pearls, and corals and proceeded with obsequies.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• Laṅkā
• agnī (ritual fires)
• yājaka (priests)
• candana (sandalwood)
• agaru
• maṇi (gems)
• muktā (pearls)
• pravāḷa (corals)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as careful observance of antyeṣṭi duties: the dead must be honored with proper rites and materials, reflecting respect for social and sacred order.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa gathers the necessary resources—priests, fires, woods, perfumes, and valuables—to proceed with Rāvaṇa’s funerary ceremonies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Thoroughness and reverence in duty: Vibhīṣaṇa ensures the rites are not neglected despite the turmoil of war.