Shloka 99
रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः
Ravana’s Funeral Rites and the Ethics of Post-War Conduct
शतक्रतुमुखैर्वीरैःश्रूयते न पराजितः ।।।।महात्माबलसम्पन्नोरावणोलोकरावणः ।
śatakratumukhair vīraiḥ śrūyate na parājitaḥ |
mahātmā balasampanno rāvaṇo lokarāvaṇaḥ ||
เล่ากันว่า แม้โดยวีรชนผู้เป็นดั่งศตกรตุ (พระอินทร์) เขาก็มิได้พ่ายแพ้ ราวณะนั้นมีจิตใหญ่และเปี่ยมพลัง—แต่เป็นผู้ก่อความทุกข์เข็ญแก่โลก
"Though he is richly endowed with prowess, he is a tyranny to the world, who has performed a hundred sacrifices (like Indra) and never got defeated, I heard."
FAQs
The verse distinguishes capability from righteousness: immense power and fame do not equal dharma. When strength serves oppression, it becomes ‘loka-rāvaṇa’—a cause of suffering.
Rāma continues characterizing Rāvaṇa: formidable and reputedly unconquered, yet harmful to the world.
Rāma’s ethical discernment—he evaluates greatness by impact on the world, not by mere might.