Shloka 17
कुम्भकर्णवधश्रवणेन रावणविलापः
Ravana’s Lament on Hearing of Kumbhakarna’s Slaying
राज्येननास्तिमेकार्यंकिंकरिष्यामिसीतया ।कुम्भकर्णविहीनस्यजीवितेनास्तिमेमतिः ।।।।
rājyena nāsti me kāryaṃ kiṃ kariṣyāmi sītayā |
kumbhakarṇavihīnasya jīvitena nāsti me matiḥ ||
राज्येन नास्ति मे कार्यं किं करिष्यामि सीतया। कुम्भकर्णविहीनस्य जीवितेनास्ति मे मतिः॥
"If I do not kill Raghava who killed my brother in battle it is a waste of my life." Thus, thought Ravana.
FAQs
It reveals the hollowness of possessiveness: when relationships and power are pursued without Dharma, they collapse into despair rather than lasting fulfillment.
Rāvaṇa’s grief turns into nihilism; he declares kingship and even Sītā meaningless after losing Kumbhakarṇa.
A negative lesson: lack of self-mastery—Rāvaṇa’s attachment and pride leave him psychologically unmoored when fortune turns.