Shloka 59

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

प्रपन्नोदीर्घमध्वानंराजन्नद्यसुदुर्गमम् ।।।।नयमामपिदुःखार्तां न वर्तिष्येत्वयाविना ।

Transliteration

prapanno dīrgham adhvānaṃ rājann adya sudurgamam | naya mām api duḥkhārtāṃ na vartiṣye tvayā vinā ||

Translation

ข้าแต่พระราชา วันนี้พระองค์เสด็จออกเดินทางไกล อันยากยิ่งจะข้ามผ่าน ขอทรงนำข้าพระองค์ไปด้วย แม้ข้าพระองค์จะทุกข์โศกนัก—เพราะหากไร้พระองค์ ข้าพระองค์ย่อมอยู่มิได้

Word by Word

• प्रपन्नः: having undertaken
• प्रपन्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र- पद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘प्राप्तः/आश्रितः’ (having entered/undertaken)

• दीर्घम्: long
• दीर्घम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to अध्वानम्)

• अध्वानम्: journey/path
• अध्वानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• सुदुर्गमम्: very difficult
• सुदुर्गमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दुर्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to अध्वानम्)

• नय: lead (me)
• नय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; pronoun

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also/even)

• दुःखार्ताम्: afflicted with sorrow
• दुःखार्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (दुःखेन आर्ता)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• वर्तिष्ये: I shall live/remain
• वर्तिष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• त्वया: with/by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन

• विना: without
• विना: Apadana (अपादान/वियोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: वियोगवाचक-अव्यय (preposition-like: without)

Context

"O king! Today, take me on your journey which is very difficult. Stricken with sorrow I cannot live without you."

Characters & Entities

• Mandodarī
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

It reflects the ideal of spousal devotion in traditional epic ethics, while also showing the human cost when a king’s adharma ends in death.

What is the narrative situation?

Mandodarī interprets Rāvaṇa’s death as a departure on a ‘journey’ and expresses the wish to accompany him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Single-minded devotion (pati-niṣṭhā): she declares she cannot continue life without her husband.