Shloka 6.75.20
लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः (The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle)
सारवन्तिमहार्हाणिगम्भीरगुणवन्ति च ।हेमचन्द्रार्धचन्द्राणिचन्द्रशालोनतानि च ।।6.75.19।।तत्रचित्रगवाक्षाणिसाधिष्ठानानिसर्वशः ।मणिविद्रुमचित्राणिस्पृशन्तीवदिवाकरम् ।।6.75.20।।क्रौञ्चबर्हिबवीणानांभूषणानां च निस्स्वनैः ।नादितान्यचलाभानिवेश्मान्यग्निर्ददाह स ।।6.75.21।।
krauñcabarhibavīṇānāṃ bhūṣaṇānāṃ ca nissvanaiḥ |
nāditāny acalābhāni veśmāny agnir dadāha sa || 6.75.21 ||
Resounding with the cries of herons and peacocks, with the music of the vīṇā and the jingling of ornaments, those mountain-like palaces were burned by the fire.
The fire consumed the houses which were strong and impenetrable, with many enclosures, magnificent ones, constructed in gold in the shape of a half moon and full moon, windows endowed with wonderful pictures. All over the rooms were high on top, decorated with gems, and as if touching the Sun. It was rendered noisy with notes of herons and peacocks, playing of Veena, and jingling of ornaments like the vibration of sounds. The dwellings which looked like mountains were consumed by fire.
Refinement and culture cannot compensate for moral failure; when dharma is violated, even beauty and art are swept into suffering.
The soundscape of Laṅkā’s luxury is described as the same palaces are consumed by fire.
The verse highlights the epic’s moral realism: dharma governs outcomes beyond mere aesthetics or power.