Shloka 5.54.38

लङ्कादाहः — The Burning of Lanka (Catuḥpañcāśaḥ Sargaḥ)

Devanagari script

इत्येवमूचुर्बहवो विशिष्टा रक्षोगणास्तत्र समेत्य सर्वे।सप्राणिसङ्घां सगृहां सवृक्षां दग्धां पुरीं तां सहसा समीक्ष्य।।।।

Transliteration

ity evam ūcur bahavo viśiṣṭā rakṣo-gaṇās tatra sametya sarve |

sa-prāṇi-saṅghāṁ sa-gṛhāṁ sa-vṛkṣāṁ dagdhāṁ purīṁ tāṁ sahasā samīkṣya ||

Translation

Thus spoke many eminent rākṣasas, all gathering there together. Swiftly surveying that city—burnt along with its living beings, its houses, and its trees—they conferred in alarm.

Context

All eminent demons having collected together, quickly surveyed the situation.Seeing the burnt city, with all its living creatures, houses and trees consigned to the flames, they spoke to one another.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā (implied as the city)
• rākṣasa-gaṇa (rākṣasa groups)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

It highlights the societal cost of adharma: when rulers and communities support wrongdoing, suffering spreads indiscriminately across beings, homes, and nature.

What is the narrative situation?

Rākṣasa leaders gather and assess the devastation of the burning city, recognizing the scale of the disaster.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s effectiveness as a messenger-warrior is underscored indirectly: his single act forces the enemy into collective crisis management.