Shloka 121

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

ददौ च पावकंतस्यविधियुक्तंविभीषणः ।स्नात्वाचैवार्द्रवस्त्रेणतिलान्दूर्वाभिमिश्रितान् ।।।।उदकेन च सम्मिश्रान्प्रदायविधिपूर्वकम् ।प्रदायचोदकंतस्मैमूर्ध्नाचैनंनमस्य च ।।।।ताःस्त्रियोऽनुनयामाससान्तमुक्त्वापुनःपुनः ।गम्यतामितितास्सर्वाविविशुर्नगरीतदा ।।।।

Transliteration

dadau ca pāvakaṃ tasya vidhiyuktaṃ vibhīṣaṇaḥ | snātvā caivārdravastreṇa tilān dūrvābhimiśritān | udakena ca sammiśrān pradāya vidhipūrvakam | pradāya codakaṃ tasmai mūrdhnā cainaṃ namasya ca | tāḥ striyo 'nunayāmāsa sāntvam uktvā punaḥ punaḥ | gamyatām iti tāḥ sarvā viviśur nagarīṃ tadā ||

Translation

และวิภีษณะได้จุดไฟฌาปนกิจให้เขา ตามพิธีที่ถูกต้อง ครั้นอาบน้ำแล้วนุ่งห่มผ้าเปียก ก็ถวายงาอันผสมหญ้าทูรวา (dūrvā) คลุกกับน้ำ ตามแบบแผน แล้วถวายอุทก (น้ำบูชา) แด่เขาอีก พร้อมก้มศีรษะนอบน้อม จากนั้นท่านปลอบโยนสตรีเหล่านั้นซ้ำแล้วซ้ำเล่า กล่าวว่า “จงกลับไปเถิด” แล้วสตรีทั้งหมดก็เข้าเมืองในเวลานั้น

Word by Word

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपदी

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunctive particle)

• पावकम्: fire
• पावकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• तस्य: of him / his
• तस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (m/n), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• विधियुक्तम्: properly according to rite
• विधियुक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधि + युक्त (प्रातिपदिक; युक्त = कृदन्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); युक्त = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• विभीषणः: Vibhishana
• विभीषणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriyā (पूर्वकर्म/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunctive particle)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• आर्द्रवस्त्रेण: with a wet cloth
• आर्द्रवस्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्द्र + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• तिलान्: sesame seeds
• तिलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• दूर्वाभिमिश्रितान्: mixed with dūrvā grass
• दूर्वाभिमिश्रितान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूर्वा + अभिमिश्रित (प्रातिपदिक; मिश्र = धातु-जन्य)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural); अभिमिश्रित = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

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

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāvaṇa
• pāvaka (funeral fire)
• udaka (water)
• Laṅkā (city)

FAQs

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

Dharma is the faithful completion of last rites and compassionate care for the bereaved; Vibhīṣaṇa unites śāstric correctness with humane consolation.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa conducts Rāvaṇa’s cremation rites—lighting the fire, making water and sesame offerings, saluting the dead—and then sends the grieving women back into Laṅkā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s dharmic leadership: adherence to ritual truth (vidhi) and gentle compassion toward those in grief.