Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 112, Shloka 19

रावणवधोत्तरं विभीषणशोकः—क्षत्रधर्मोपदेशः

Vibhishana’s Lament after Ravana’s Fall; Instruction on Kshatriya-Dharma

Devanagari script

इयंहिपूर्वैस्सन्दिष्टागतिःक्षत्रियसम्मता ।क्षत्रियोनिहतंसङ्ख्ये न शोच्यइतिनिश्चयः ।।।।

Transliteration

iyaṃ hi pūrvaiḥ sandeṣṭā gatiḥ kṣatriya-sammatā |

kṣatriyo nihataḥ saṅkhye na śocya iti niścayaḥ ||

Translation

இது முன்னோர் விதித்தும் க்ஷத்திரியரால் ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளப்பட்டும் உள்ள வழி—போரில் கொல்லப்பட்ட க்ஷத்திரியன் இரங்கத் தகுதியற்றவன்; இதுவே உறுதியான நியமம்.

Word by Word

• iyam: this
• iyam: Karta (कर्ता) of (asti) implied
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Vākyārtha-dyotaka
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic/causal particle (निपात)

• pūrvaiḥ: by the ancients
• pūrvaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण) / agent in passive
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā Bahuvacana; "by the ancients"

• sandiṣṭā: prescribed
• sandiṣṭā: Kriyā-samānādhikaraṇa (predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sandiṣṭa (कृदन्त, √diś with sam-; PPP)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; कर्मणि—"was prescribed/declared"

• gatiḥ: course, fate
• gatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• kṣatriya-sammatā: approved by warriors
• kṣatriya-sammatā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of gatiḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक) + sammata (कृदन्त, √man with sam-; PPP)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; तत्पुरुषः—"क्षत्रियैः सम्मता" (approved by kshatriyas)

• kṣatriyaḥ: a kshatriya
• kṣatriyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (generic subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• nihatam: slain
• nihatam: Karma (कर्म) (object of śocyaḥ as predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nihata (कृदन्त, √han with ni-; PPP)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana (used generically); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; understood as "(tam) nihatam"

• saṅkhye: in battle
• saṅkhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅkhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī Ekavacana; अर्थः—युद्धे/समरे

• na: not
• na: Vākya-niṣedha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-nipāta

• śocyaḥ: to be mourned
• śocyaḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śocya (कृदन्त, √śuc; yat/यत् gerundive)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Yat (यत्) gerundive; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; विधेय—"to be mourned"

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle

• niścayaḥ: the conclusion
• niścayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (conclusion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niścaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

Context

"This course has been practised in the past by ancient kings for those killed in war. Warrior killed in war is not to be mourned', is true."

FAQs

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

A warrior’s duty accepts death in battle as honorable; excessive lamentation is restrained by the tradition of kṣatriya-dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker instructs the grieving party to interpret the death through the lens of established warrior ethics.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dharma-jñāna (knowledge of duty) and self-control in sorrow.