Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 54, Shloka 24
लङ्कादाहः — The Burning of Lanka
Catuḥpañcāśaḥ Sargaḥ
संजज्ञे तुमुलश्शब्दो राक्षसानां प्रधावताम्।स्वगृहस्य परित्राणे भग्नोत्साहोर्जितश्रियाम्।।।।नूनमेषोऽग्निरायातः कपिरूपेण हा इति।
saṃjajñe tumulaś śabdo rākṣasānāṃ pradhāvatām |
svagṛhasya paritrāṇe bhagnotsāhorjitaśriyām ||
nūnam eṣo 'gnir āyātaḥ kapirūpeṇa hā iti |
A tumultuous uproar arose among the rākṣasas as they ran about to save their own houses—their confidence shattered along with their amassed splendor—crying, “Surely this is Fire himself, come in the form of a monkey—alas!”
The palatial structures with windows of golden mesh-work, embedded with pearls and gems and other precious stones tumbled.
FAQs
Adharma breeds fear and insecurity: when wrongdoing matures into consequence, even the powerful interpret it as divine retribution and lose inner steadiness.
As the city burns, rākṣasas run to save their homes; panic spreads and they exclaim that Fire itself has come in a monkey’s form.
Implicit contrast: the rākṣasas show bhaya (fear) and moha (attachment to property), while Hanumān’s dharmic courage remains unwavering.