Shloka 117

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

शास्त्रादृष्टेनविधिनामहर्षिविहितेन च ।।।।तत्रमेध्यंपशुंहत्वाराक्षसेन्द्रस्यराक्षसाः ।परिस्तरणिकांराज्ञोघृताक्तांसमवेशयन् ।।।।

Transliteration

śāstrādṛṣṭena vidhinā maharṣivihitena ca | tatra medhyaṃ paśuṃ hatvā rākṣasendrasya rākṣasāḥ | paristaraṇikāṃ rājño ghṛtāktāṃ samaveśayan ||

Translation

ต่อจากนั้น ตามวิธีที่ปรากฏในศาสตราและที่มหาฤษีกำหนดไว้ เหล่ารากษสได้ฆ่าสัตว์บูชาที่ชำระให้บริสุทธิ์แล้ว และได้ปูผ้าปรัสตระณิกาให้พระราชา ชโลมด้วยเนยใส

Word by Word

• शास्त्रादृष्टेन: as prescribed by scripture
• शास्त्रादृष्टेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शास्त्र + दृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विधिना इति विशेषणम्; 'seen/approved by śāstra'

• विधिना: by the rite/procedure
• विधिना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'by the procedure/rite'

• महर्षिविहितेन: ordained by great sages
• महर्षिविहितेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महर्षि + विहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विधिना इति विशेषणम्; 'laid down by great sages'

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

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• मेध्यम्: sacrificial (fit for offering)
• मेध्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पशुम् इति विशेषणम्; 'fit for sacrifice'

• पशुम्: animal (victim)
• पशुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हत्वा: having killed
• हत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive) 'having slain'

• राक्षसेन्द्रस्य: of the rākṣasa-lord
• राक्षसेन्द्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• राक्षसाः: the rākṣasas
• राक्षसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

Thereafter according to tradition laid down in sastras by great Rsis, the ogres killed a cow and spread a sheet, daubed it with ghee and spread it on the body of the king of Rakshasa.

Characters & Entities

• śāstra
• maharṣi (great seers)
• rākṣasāḥ (rākṣasas)
• rākṣasendra (Rāvaṇa)
• ghṛta (ghee)

FAQs

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

Dharma is adherence to śāstra-based duty: even an enemy-king receives rites conducted according to authoritative tradition, reflecting fidelity to rule over personal emotion.

What is the narrative situation?

The rākṣasas proceed with the formal, śāstra-sanctioned steps of the obsequies for Rāvaṇa, preparing the ritual setting and materials.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Maryādā (respect for established boundaries and norms): the community maintains ritual law and order after a catastrophic war.