Shloka 44

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

स्निग्धेन्द्रनीलनीलंतुप्रांशुशैलोपमंमहत् ।।6.114.42।।केयूराङ्गदवैडूर्यमुक्ताहारस्रगुज्ज्वलम् ।कान्तंविहारेष्वधिकंदीप्तांसङ्ग्रामभूमिषु ।।6.114.43।।भात्याभरणभाभिर्यद्विद्युद्भिरिवतोयदः ।तदेवाद्यशरीरंतेतीक्ष्णैर्नैकशरैश्चितम् ।।6.114.44।।पुनर्दुर्लभसम्पर्शंपरिष्वक्तुं न शक्यते ।श्वाविधःशलकैर्यद्वद्भाणैर्लग्नैर्निरन्तरम् ।।6.114.45।।स्वर्पितैर्मर्मसुभृशंसञ्छिन्नस्नायुबन्धनम् ।क्षितौनिपतितंराजन् श्यामंवैरुधिरच्छवि ।।6.114.46।।वज्रप्रहाराभिहतोविकीर्णइवपर्वतः ।

Transliteration

bhāty ābharaṇa-bhābhir yad vidyudbhir iva toyadaḥ |

tad evādya śarīraṁ te tīkṣṇair naika-śaraiś citam ||6.114.44||

Translation

พระวรกายของพระองค์ซึ่งเคยส่องประกายด้วยรัศมีอาภรณ์ดุจเมฆฝนที่วาบวับด้วยสายฟ้า—บัดนี้พระวรกายเดิมนั้นกลับถูกอัดแน่นด้วยศรคมจำนวนนับไม่ถ้วน

Word by Word

• दृप्तानाम्: of the arrogant
• दृप्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √दृप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participial adjective)

• निग्रहीतारम्: the subduer
• निग्रहीतारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि + ग्रहीतृ (प्रातिपदिक; √ग्रह्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक नाम (agent noun)

• आविष्कृतपराक्रमम्: with manifest prowess
• आविष्कृतपराक्रमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आविष्कृत + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय ('whose prowess is made manifest')

• लोकक्षोभयितारम्: the world-disturber
• लोकक्षोभयितारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + क्षोभयितृ (प्रातिपदिक; √क्षुभ्, णिच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष ('agitator of the world')

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• नादैः: by roars/cries
• नादैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• भूतविराविणम्: making beings wail
• भूतविराविणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूत + विराविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ('making beings cry out')

Context

"O king! Your body which is gigantic like a mountain, dark like a sapphire adorned with Keyuras, Angadas, necklaces of cat's eye gems and pearls, which were charming when in the battlefield, and shone brightly on your body with the lustre of your jewels like a rainy cloud with flashes of lightning. It is fixed with numerous arrows cut into pieces by darts and difficult to touch. Since the darts are inserted deep into your vital parts, it is not possible to perform ablution. It is dark, soaked in blood, broken, and crushed like a mountain hit by thunderbolt. Alas, it is not possible to embrace."

Characters & Entities

• Ravana

FAQs

How does this verse convey Satya (truth) in the Ramayana context?

It states the truth of impermanence and consequence: the same splendid body that once shone with royal ornaments is now openly described as pierced with many arrows—an unembellished acknowledgement of reality.

What dharmic lesson is implied by the contrast of ornamented glory and arrow-filled ruin?

The verse implies that adharma-driven power and pride are unstable; when conduct departs from dharma, worldly splendor cannot protect one from the inevitable fruits of actions.