Shloka 59
रावणस्य अन्त्येष्टिः
Ravana’s Funeral Rites and the Ethics of Post-War Conduct
प्रपन्नोदीर्घमध्वानंराजन्नद्यसुदुर्गमम् ।।।।नयमामपिदुःखार्तां न वर्तिष्येत्वयाविना ।
prapanno dīrgham adhvānaṃ rājann adya sudurgamam | naya mām api duḥkhārtāṃ na vartiṣye tvayā vinā ||
O hari, mahal na hari, ngayo’y tumahak ka sa mahabang landas na lubhang mahirap tawirin. Isama mo rin ako, bagaman sugatan ng dalamhati—sapagkat hindi ako mabubuhay kung wala ka.
"O king! Today, take me on your journey which is very difficult. Stricken with sorrow I cannot live without you."
FAQs
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.
Mandodarī interprets Rāvaṇa’s death as a departure on a ‘journey’ and expresses the wish to accompany him.
Single-minded devotion (pati-niṣṭhā): she declares she cannot continue life without her husband.