Shloka 29
रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः
Ravana’s Funeral Rites and the Ethics of Post-War Conduct
सर्वदासर्वभूतानांनास्तिमुत्युरलक्षणः ।तवतावदयंमृत्युर्मैथिलीकृतलक्षणः ।।।।
sarvadā sarvabhūtānāṃ nāsti mṛtyur alakṣaṇaḥ |
tava tāvad ayaṃ mṛtyur maithilī-kṛta-lakṣaṇaḥ ||
Sa lahat ng nilalang, ang kamatayan ay hindi dumarating nang walang sanhi. Sa iyo, ang kamatayang ito’y may tatak na mula kay Maithilī—kamatayang idinulot ng ginawa mo sa kanya.
"O mighty armed Ravana! O, brother of Visrava! When in anger even Purandara was afraid to stand before you, it is well known."
FAQs
Actions have consequences (karma-phala): adharma generates its own downfall. The truth (satya) asserted is that suffering and death are not random but arise from causes—here, wrongdoing toward Sītā.
Mandodarī addresses the fallen Rāvaṇa and interprets his death as the direct consequence of abducting and wronging Sītā.
Moral discernment and truth-speaking (satya-vacana): Mandodarī names the real cause of ruin rather than excusing it as mere fate.