Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 93, Shloka 14

Sarga 93: Rāvaṇa’s Grief and Fury after Indrajit’s Fall; Move to Slay Vaidehī and Ministerial Restraint

Devanagari script

ममनामत्वयावीरगतस्ययमसादनम् ।।।।प्रेतकार्याणिकार्याणिविपरीतेहिवर्तसे ।

Transliteration

mama nāma tvayā vīra gatasya yamasādanam | pretakāryāṇi kāryāṇi viparīte hi vartase ||

Translation

வீரனே! நான் யமனின் இல்லத்திற்குச் சென்றிருந்தால் என் பிரேதகர்மங்களை நீ செய்ய வேண்டியது; ஆனால் இன்று எல்லாம் மாறிவிட்டது—இப்போது நான் உன் பிரேதகர்மங்களைச் செய்ய வேண்டியுள்ளது.

Word by Word

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• nāma: indeed
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपादक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) = 'indeed/forsooth' (emphasis)

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• vīra: O hero
• vīra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• gatasya: of (me) gone
• gatasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gam (धातु) > gata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; विशेषण of implied 'me' (of me who has gone)

• yamasādanam: the abode of Yama
• yamasādanam: Karma (कर्म/Object of implied 'to be done')
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama + sādana (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (yamasya sādanaṃ = abode of Yama); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• pretakāryāṇi: funeral rites
• pretakāryāṇi: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta + kārya (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (pretasya kāryāṇi = rites for the dead); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• kāryāṇi: duties to be done
• kāryāṇi: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति-बल (emphatic repetition)

• viparīte: in reverse/contrary manner
• viparīte: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viparīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (in a contrary way)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपादक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) = 'indeed/for'

• vartase: you behave/act
• vartase: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Context

'O hero! My obsequies should have been done by you. It is peculiar that I have to perform'.

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit (Meghanāda)
• Yama

FAQs

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

Dharma includes honoring the dead through prescribed rites; the verse underscores the social-ritual order even amid grief.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa expresses the unnatural reversal of generations: the father must now perform the son’s last rites.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Recognition of ritual responsibility (even by an adhārmic ruler), showing how dharma persists as a cultural imperative.