Shloka 119

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

गन्धैर्माल्यैरलङ्कृत्यरावणंदीनमानसाः ।।।।विभीषणसहायास्तेवस्त्रैश्चविविधैरपि ।लाजैरश्चावकिरन्तिस्मबाष्पपूर्णमुखास्तदा ।।।।

Transliteration

gandhair mālyair alaṅkṛtya rāvaṇaṃ dīnamānasāḥ | vibhīṣaṇasahāyās te vastraiś ca vividhair api | lājair aś cāvakiranti sma bāṣpapūrṇamukhās tadā ||

Translation

ତାପରେ ଦୀନମନା ସେମାନେ ରାବଣଙ୍କୁ ସୁଗନ୍ଧ ଓ ମାଳାରେ ଅଲଙ୍କୃତ କଲେ; ବିଭୀଷଣଙ୍କ ସହାୟତାରେ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ବସ୍ତ୍ରରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଢାକିଲେ; ସେତେବେଳେ ଅଶ୍ରୁପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ମୁଖରେ ଲାଜ (ଭୁନା ଧାନ୍ୟ) ଛିଟାଇଲେ।

Word by Word

• गन्धैः: with perfumes
• गन्धैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• माल्यैः: with garlands
• माल्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अलङ्कृत्य: having adorned
• अलङ्कृत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive) 'having adorned'

• रावणम्: Ravana
• रावणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दीनमानसाः: with dejected hearts
• दीनमानसाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'whose minds are dejected' (te)

• विभीषणसहायाः: with Vibhishana as helper
• विभीषणसहायाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभीषण + सहाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ते इति विशेषणम्; 'having Vibhīṣaṇa as helper/with Vibhīṣaṇa'

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वस्त्रैः: with cloths
• वस्त्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

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

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; वस्त्रैः इति विशेषणम्

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक निपात (particle: 'also/even')

Context

Then the Rakshasas along with Vibheeshana desperately, eyes dimmed with tears, covered Ravana with several clothes and decorated with garland s and sandal. They sprinkled parched grain.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa
• gandha (perfumes/sandal)
• mālya (garlands)
• vastra (garments)
• lājā (parched grain)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes honoring the dead with due rites and dignity; grief does not cancel responsibility, and kin/community obligations are carried out truthfully.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa’s body is ceremonially adorned and honored as part of the funeral observances, with Vibhīṣaṇa assisting the grieving rākṣasas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Karunā (compassion) and duty: they mourn and still perform respectful rites rather than abandoning propriety.