Lanka Kaanda
191 - Mandodari and other queens lament; Ravana's funeral
Chaupais
Description
The gods, sages and Siddhas, all rejoiced to hear Mandodari's words. Brahma, the great Lord Siva, Narada, Sanaka and his three brothers (Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanatkumara) and all other great sages who taught the highest truth (the identity of the individual soul with the supreme Spirit) were all overwhelmed with emotion as they feasted their eyes on the Lord of the Raghus, and felt supremely gratified. Seeing all the women making lamentation Vibhisana approached them with a very heavy heart and was grieved to see his Brother's condition. The Lord thereupon gave an order to His younger brother, Laksmana, who consoled him in many ways. Then Vibhisana returned to his lord, who looked upon him with an eye of compassion and said, "Abandon all sorrow and perform the funeral rites." In obedience to the Lord's command he celebrated the obsequies, strictly observing the scriptural ordinance and with due regard to time and place.