Shloka 23

रावणवधदर्शनम्

Lament of the Rākṣasa Women upon Seeing Rāvaṇa Slain

Devanagari script

न कामकारःकामंवातवराक्षसपुङ्गव ।दैवंचेष्टयतेसर्वंहतंदैवेनहन्यते ।।।।

Transliteration

na kāmakāraḥ kāmaṃ vā tava rākṣasapuṅgava | daivaṃ ceṣṭayate sarvaṃ hataṃ daivena hanyate ||

Translation

Hỡi bậc đứng đầu loài rākṣasa, chẳng phải chỉ do ý muốn buông thả hay dục vọng mà sự việc thành; thiên mệnh thúc đẩy muôn sự. Kẻ đã bị số mệnh đánh gục—ắt cũng bởi số mệnh mà bị diệt.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध

• कामकारः: one who acts by desire (free-willed agent)
• कामकारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma-kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कामस्य कारः/कर्ता), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कामम्: as you wish, at will
• कामम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययवत् (as adverb: at will)

• वा: or
• वा: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक (or)

• तव: of you, your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• राक्षसपुङ्गव: O foremost of Rakshasas
• राक्षसपुङ्गव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa-puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (राक्षसानां पुङ्गवः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन

• दैवम्: fate, the divine
• दैवम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चेष्टयते: moves/impels, makes act
• चेष्टयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ceṣṭ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• हतम्: what is slain
• हतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (यत्)

• दैवेन: by fate
• दैवेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• हन्यते: is killed
• हन्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Context

"O Foremost of Rakshasas! You have acted according to your desire alone is not sufficient as divine will make you do everything. He is killed whom destiny kills."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Daiva (Fate)

FAQs

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

Human desire is not sovereign; moral order and consequences operate through a larger law (daiva/karma). Dharma requires humility before that order.

What is the narrative situation?

In mourning, the speaker interprets the war’s outcome as the unfolding of destiny, framing Rāvaṇa’s death as inevitable once adharma matured.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reflective wisdom: the ability to see beyond personal preference to the workings of fate and moral causality.