Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 60, Shloka 37
कुम्भकर्णविबोधनम्
The Awakening of Kumbhakarna
सशङ्खभेरीपणवप्रणादमास्फोटितक्षेवळितसिंहनादम् ।दिशोद्रवन्तस्त्रिदिवंकीरन्तःश्रुत्वाविहंगाःसहसानिपेतुः ।।।।
saśaṅkha-bherī-paṇava-praṇādam āsphoṭita-kṣevaḷita-siṃhanādam | diśo dravantas tridivaṃ kīrantaḥ śrutvā vihaṅgāḥ sahasā nipetuḥ ||
Hearing that uproar—conches and kettle-drums, the clapping and tumult, and a lion-like roar—the birds that ranged through the sky scattered in all directions and suddenly fell.
On hearing the conchs, and of the clapping of arms, and thundering like a lion, the birds playing in the sky got scattered and fell.
FAQs
The verse underscores consequence and atmosphere rather than direct instruction: adhārmic war preparations disturb the natural order, suggesting that unrighteous upheaval reverberates beyond the battlefield.
The rousing noise becomes so intense that birds in the sky panic, scatter, and drop—showing the magnitude of the commotion in Laṅkā.
Not a personal virtue but a narrative emphasis on overwhelming force and urgency in mobilization.