Shloka 5.54.15
लङ्कादाहः — The Burning of Lanka (Catuḥpañcāśaḥ Sargaḥ)
रश्मिकेतोश्च भवनं सूर्यशत्रोस्तथैव च।ह्रस्वकर्णस्य दंष्ट्रस्य रोमशस्य च रक्षसः।।5.54.12।।युद्धोन्मत्तस्य मत्तस्य ध्वजग्रीवस्य रक्षसः।विद्युज्जिह्वस्य घोरस्य तथा हस्तिमुखस्य च।।5.54.13।।करालस्य पिशाचस्य शोणिताक्षस्य चैव हि।कुम्भकर्णस्य भवनं मकराक्षस्य चैव हि।।5.54.14।।यज्ञशत्रोश्च भवनं ब्रह्मशत्रोस्तथैव च।नरान्तकस्य कुम्भस्य निकुम्भस्य दुरात्मनः।।5.54.15।।वर्जयित्वा महातेजा विभीषणगृहं प्रति।क्रममाणः क्रमेणैव ददाह हरिपुङ्गवः।।5.54.16।।
yajñaśatroś ca bhavanaṁ brahmaśatros tathaiva ca |
narāntakasya kumbhasya nikumbhasya durātmanaḥ ||5.54.15||
He likewise set fire to the mansions of Yajñaśatru and Brahmaśatru, and also those of Narāntaka, Kumbha, and the wicked Nikumbha.
The brilliant monkey leader bypassed Vibhishanas's house and avoiding it that way set fire to the mansions of other ogres, Rasmiketu, Suryasatru, Hrasvakarna, Vajradamshtra, Romasa, Yuddhonmatta, Matta, Dhwajagriva, Vidyujjihva, Hastimukha, Karala, Pisacha, Sonitaksha, Kumbhakarna, Makaraksha, Yagnasatru, Brahmasatru, Naranthaka, Kumbha, and wicked Nikumbha.
In the Sundarakāṇḍa narrative, the burning is presented as a targeted act within a dharmic mission—striking the rākṣasa power that supports adharma, while (as the context immediately continues) sparing Vibhīṣaṇa’s house, showing restraint and moral discrimination rather than indiscriminate violence.
The verse is part of a factual, sequential report of events—naming specific rākṣasas and their mansions—underscoring truthful narration (satya) and accountability: wrongdoing has identifiable agents and consequences, not vague or anonymous blame.