“In the funeral ceremonies of India the fire was placed on three sides of the pyre; the Dakshi?a on the south, the GÁrhapatya on the west, and the ÁhavanÍya on the east. The funeral rites are not described in detail here, and it is therefore difficult to elucidate and explain them. The poem assigns the funeral ceremonies of Aryan Brahmans to the RÁkshases, a race different from them in origin and religion, in the same way as Homer sometimes introduces into Troy the rites of the Grecian cult.” Gorresio.

Mr. Muir translates the description of the funeral from the Calcutta edition, as follows: “They formed, with Vedic rites, a funeral pile of faggots of sandal-wood, with padmaka wood, usira grass, and sandal, and covered with a quilt of deer's hair. They then performed an unrivalled obsequial ceremony for the RÁxasa prince, placing the sacrificial ground to the S.E. and the fire in the proper situation. They cast the ladle filled with curds and ghee on the shoulder1157 of the deceased; he (?) placed the car on the feet, and the mortar between the thighs. Having deposited all the wooden vessels, the [upper] and lower fire-wood, and the other pestle, in their proper places, they departed. The RÁxasas having then slain a victim to their prince in the manner prescribed in the SÁstras, and enjoined by great rishis, cast [into the fire] the coverlet of the king saturated with ghee. They then, VibhÍsha?a included, with afflicted hearts, adorned RÁva?a with perfumes and garlands, and with various vestments, and besprinkled him with fried grain. VibhÍsha?a having bathed, and having, with his clothes wet, scattered in proper form tila seeds mixed with darbha grass, and moistened with water, applied the fire [to the pile].”