Shloka 89

रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः

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

Devanagari script

न तेसुविदितादेविलोकानांस्थितिरध्रुवा ।।।।दशाविभागपर्यायेराज्ञांवैचञ्चलाःश्रियः ।

Transliteration

na te suviditā devi lokānāṁ sthitir adhruvā |

daśāvibhāgapar yāye rājñāṁ vai cañcalāḥ śriyaḥ ||

Translation

ข้าแต่เทวี ท่านย่อมทราบดีว่า สภาพของโลกนี้ไม่เที่ยงแท้ ครั้นเมื่อกาลและชะตาผันแปร ศรีและโชคของพระราชาทั้งหลายก็แปรปรวนไม่มั่นคง

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Niṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; ‘to you’

• सुविदिता: well known
• सुविदिता: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (PPP) with सु-उपसर्ग; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘well-known’

• देवि: O lady
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds/people
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• स्थितिः: condition/state
• स्थितिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अध्रुवा: unstable/impermanent
• अध्रुवा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; स्थितिः इति विशेषण

• दशाविभागपर्याये: at the change of conditions
• दशाविभागपर्याये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशा + विभाग + पर्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: दशायाः विभागस्य पर्याये (at the turn/change of fortune); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• राज्ञाम्: of kings
• राज्ञाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• चञ्चलाः: fickle
• चञ्चलाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चञ्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; श्रियः इति विशेषण

• श्रियः: fortunes/prosperities
• श्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

"Devi! Not that you do not know that when fortune changes in the world, dynasty changes. Fortune is not steady."

Characters & Entities

• Mandodarī
• kings (rājānaḥ)
• śrī (fortune/prosperity)

FAQs

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

Satya: worldly prosperity is unstable; Dharma trains one to meet reversal with steadiness rather than despair.

What is the narrative situation?

The co-wives counsel Mandodarī, reminding her that royal fortune inevitably changes.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Wisdom and composure—offering truthful consolation instead of empty comfort.