Shloka 98
रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः
Ravana’s Funeral Rites and the Ethics of Post-War Conduct
अधर्मानृतसंयुक्तःकामंत्वेषनिशाचरः ।।।।तेजस्वीबलवान् शूरःसङ्ग्रामेषु च नित्यशः ।
adharmānṛtasaṃyuktaḥ kāmaṃ tv eṣa niśācaraḥ |
tejasvī balavān śūraḥ saṅgrāmeṣu ca nityaśaḥ ||
ยอมรับว่าอสูรผู้ท่องราตรีผู้นี้ข้องเกี่ยวด้วยอธรรมและมุสาวาท; กระนั้นเขาก็รุ่งเรืองด้วยเดช แข็งแกร่ง และเป็นวีรบุรุษในสงครามอยู่เสมอ
"This nightranger is full of unrighteousness and untrue. But he was a strong, energetic hero in combat."
FAQs
Satya (truthfulness) in judgment: even when condemning adharma, one should not deny factual excellence such as courage and strength. Dharma includes fairness, even toward an enemy.
Rāma responds to Vibhīṣaṇa’s condemnation of Rāvaṇa by acknowledging both his moral faults and his martial prowess.
Rāma’s impartial truthfulness—he can recognize valor without endorsing wrongdoing.