Shloka 32
लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः
The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle
नारीजनस्यधूमेनव्याप्तस्योच्चैर्विनेदुषः ।स्वनोज्वलनतप्तस्यशुश्रुवेशतयोजनम् ।।।।
nārījanasyadhūmena vyāptasyoccair vineduṣaḥ |
svano jvalanataptasya śuśruve śatayojanam ||
Die Schreie der Frauen—vom sich ausbreitenden Rauch erstickt und vom lodernden Feuer versengt—waren über hundert Yojanas hinweg zu hören.
By the smoke that spread, scorched by the fire, the clamour of the women folk at the top of their voice was heard at a hundred yojanas.
FAQs
Dharma demands compassion and awareness of collateral suffering. The Ramayana repeatedly shows that adharma by a ruler brings anguish upon innocents; thus leadership must be anchored in satya and restraint.
As smoke and flames engulf the city, the terrified cries of women carry across vast distances.
Karunā (compassion) is evoked in the listener/reader: recognizing the human cost of conflict strengthens commitment to dharmic governance.