Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 10, Shloka 15
विभीषणोपदेशः
Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana and the Catalogue of Omens
सस्फुलिङ्गस्सधूमार्चिस्सधूमकलुषोदयः ।मन्त्रसङ्घहुतोऽप्यग्निर्नसम्यगभिवर्थते ।।।।
sasphuliṅgaḥ sadhūmārciḥ sadhūmakaluṣodayaḥ | mantrasaṅghahuto 'py agnir na samyag abhivardhate ||
Even the sacrificial fire—though offered into with full rites and mantras—throws up sparks and smoke, rises in a murky, smoke-stained flare, and does not blaze forth properly.
"Even from the fire of fire sacrifices, fire particles polluted with smoke are rising and the fire is not burning with brilliance."
FAQs
Outer ritual cannot compensate for inner unrighteousness: when adharma dominates, even properly performed rites lose their auspicious efficacy.
Vibhīṣaṇa cites ritual anomalies in Laṅkā—smoky, failing sacrificial fire—as omens warning Rāvaṇa.
Discernment: Vibhīṣaṇa reads religious and social signs as indicators of moral disorder.