Ramayana. Ravana Mourned.
But Vibhishana lamented for his brother sadly, and Rama comforted him, saying: "A hero slain in battle should not be mourned. Success in battle is not for ever: why shouldst thou grieve that one who put to flight Indra himself should fall at last? Do thou rather perform his funeral rites. Take comfort, too, at this: with death our enmity is ended, and Ravana is as dear to me as thee."
Then there issued out of Lanka a host of weeping rakshasis, seeking their lord and wailing bitterly; and Mandodari made this lament:
"O thou great-armed, younger brother of Vaisravana, who could stand before thee? Gods and rishis thou hast daunted; not to be borne is it that a man, fighting on foot, hath slain thee now! But thy death has come to pass because of Sita, and I am a widow. Thou didst not heed my words, nor didst thou think how many fairer damsels thou hadst than her. Alas! how fair thou wert and how kind thy smile: now thou art bathed in blood and pierced with shafts! Thou wert wont to sleep on a couch of gold; but now thou liest in the dust. Why dost thou fare away and leave me alone? Why dost thou not welcome me?" But the other wives of Ravana consoled her and lifted her up, saying: "Life is uncertain for all, and all things change." Meanwhile Vibhishana made ready the funeral pyre, and Ravana was taken to the burning-ground and burnt with every rite and honour due to heroes. Ravana's wives returned to Lanka, and the gods departed to their own place. Then Lakshman, taking water brought from the ocean by Sugriva in a golden jar, anointed Vibhishana as lord of the city of Lanka and king of the rakshasas, and thereat the monkeys and rakshasas both rejoiced.
But Vibhishana lamented for his brother sadly, and Rama comforted him, saying: "A hero slain in battle should not be mourned. Success in battle is not for ever: why shouldst thou grieve that one who put to flight Indra himself should fall at last? Do thou rather perform his funeral rites. Take comfort, too, at this: with death our enmity is ended, and Ravana is as dear to me as thee."
Then there issued out of Lanka a host of weeping rakshasis, seeking their lord and wailing bitterly; and Mandodari made this lament:
"O thou great-armed, younger brother of Vaisravana, who could stand before thee? Gods and rishis thou hast daunted; not to be borne is it that a man, fighting on foot, hath slain thee now! But thy death has come to pass because of Sita, and I am a widow. Thou didst not heed my words, nor didst thou think how many fairer damsels thou hadst than her. Alas! how fair thou wert and how kind thy smile: now thou art bathed in blood and pierced with shafts! Thou wert wont to sleep on a couch of gold; but now thou liest in the dust. Why dost thou fare away and leave me alone? Why dost thou not welcome me?" But the other wives of Ravana consoled her and lifted her up, saying: "Life is uncertain for all, and all things change." Meanwhile Vibhishana made ready the funeral pyre, and Ravana was taken to the burning-ground and burnt with every rite and honour due to heroes. Ravana's wives returned to Lanka, and the gods departed to their own place. Then Lakshman, taking water brought from the ocean by Sugriva in a golden jar, anointed Vibhishana as lord of the city of Lanka and king of the rakshasas, and thereat the monkeys and rakshasas both rejoiced.
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But Vibhishana lamented for his brother sadly, and Rama comforted him, saying: "A hero slain in battle should not be mourned. Success in battle is not for ever: why shouldst thou grieve that one who put to flight Indra himself should fall at last? Do thou rather perform his funeral rites. Take comfort, too, at this: with death our enmity is ended, and Ravana is as dear to me as thee."
Then there issued out of Lanka a host of weeping rakshasis, seeking their lord and wailing bitterly; and Mandodari made this lament:
"O thou great-armed, younger brother of Vaisravana, who could stand before thee? Gods and rishis thou hast daunted; not to be borne is it that a man, fighting on foot, hath slain thee now! But thy death has come to pass because of Sita, and I am a widow. Thou didst not heed my words, nor didst thou think how many fairer damsels thou hadst than her. Alas! how fair thou wert and how kind thy smile: now thou art bathed in blood and pierced with shafts! Thou wert wont to sleep on a couch of gold; but now thou liest in the dust. Why dost thou fare away and leave me alone? Why dost thou not welcome me?" But the other wives of Ravana consoled her and lifted her up, saying: "Life is uncertain for all, and all things change." Meanwhile Vibhishana made ready the funeral pyre, and Ravana was taken to the burning-ground and burnt with every rite and honour due to heroes. Ravana's wives returned to Lanka, and the gods departed to their own place. Then Lakshman, taking water brought from the ocean by Sugriva in a golden jar, anointed Vibhishana as lord of the city of Lanka and king of the rakshasas, and thereat the monkeys and rakshasas both rejoiced.
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