Shloka 36

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

हाराजन् सुकुमारंतेसुभ्रुसुत्वक्समुन्नसम् ।।6.114.34।।कान्तिश्रीद्युतिभिस्तुल्यमिन्दुपद्मदिवाकरैः ।किरीटकूटोज्ज्वलितंताम्रास्यंदीप्तकुण्डलम् ।।6.114.35।।मदव्याकुललोलाक्षंभूत्वायत्पानभूमिषु ।विविधस्रग्धरंचारुवल्गुस्मितकथंशुभम् ।।6.114.36।।तदेवाद्यतवैवंहिवक्त्रं न भ्राजतेप्रभो ।रामसायकनिर्भिन्नंरक्तंरुधिरविस्रवैः ।।6.114.37।।वीशीर्णमेदोमस्तिष्कंरूक्षस्यन्दनरेणुभिः ।

Transliteration

madavyākulalolākṣaṃ bhūtvā yatpānabhūmiṣu |

vividhasragdharaṃ cāru valgu-smita-kathaṃ śubham ||6.114.36||

Translation

ข้าแต่พระราชา พระพักตร์ของพระองค์นั้น—ครั้งหนึ่งเคยงดงามเป็นมงคล ประดับด้วยพวงมาลัยนานา และเมื่ออยู่ในโรงสุรา ก็ยิ่งมีชีวิตชีวา ด้วยดวงเนตรไหวเอนเพราะความเมา พร้อมรอยยิ้มอ่อนโยนและวาจาไพเราะน่าฟัง—

Word by Word

• कान्तिश्रीद्युतिभिः: with radiance, beauty and lustre
• कान्तिश्रीद्युतिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्ति + श्री + द्युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (kānti-śrī-dyuti: radiance, beauty, lustre) (instr pl)

• तुल्यम्: equal
• तुल्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (acc sg; 'equal to')

• इन्दुपद्मदिवाकरैः: with the moon, lotus and sun (as comparands)
• इन्दुपद्मदिवाकरैः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्दु + पद्म + दिवाकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (moon, lotus, sun) (instr pl)

• किरीटकूटोज्ज्वलितम्: shining with a crown’s crest
• किरीटकूटोज्ज्वलितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किरीट + कूट + उज्ज्वलित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (kirīṭa-kūṭa-ujjvalita: shining with the peak of a crown) (acc sg)

• ताम्रास्यम्: copper-lipped/faced
• ताम्रास्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्र + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (tāmra-āsya: coppery-faced/lipped) (acc sg)

• दीप्तकुण्डलम्: with glowing earrings
• दीप्तकुण्डलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्त + कुण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (dīpta-kuṇḍala: having shining earrings) (acc sg)

Context

"Oh King, My Lord! Your shiny eyes with delicate eyebrows, which used to be shiny and delicate your prominent nose brilliant skin resembling moon in pleasantness, lotus in beauty, and Sun in radiance your illuminating crown, your shining crown with gems like the peaks of mountains your coppery lips, glowing earrings, rolling eyes were pleasing earlier in the drinking parlours through inebriety, and your auspicious mouth having been indulged in pleasing talk. Today you are pierced by Rama's arrow and shattered with blood flowing, marrow of brain scattered, soiled by dust, dirtied and without any shine."

Characters & Entities

• Ravana
• pānabhūmi (drinking halls)

FAQs

How does this verse relate to Dharma in the Ramayana?

By contrasting Ravana’s former splendor with his fallen state, the verse underscores a dharmic theme: adharma-driven indulgence and arrogance do not endure, and unrighteous power collapses when confronted by righteous action.

Where is Satya (truth) reflected in this lament?

The speaker states an unvarnished truth about impermanence: beauty, pleasure, and worldly glory fade, and the reality of death and consequence replaces illusion—an ethical reminder central to the Ramayana’s moral vision.