Shloka 6.75.31

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः (The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle)

Devanagari script

साबभूवमुहूर्तेनहरिभिर्दीपितापुरी ।लोकस्यास्यक्ष्येघोरेप्रदीप्तेववसुन्दरा ।।।।

Transliteration

sā babhūva muhūrtena haribhir dīpitā purī |

lokasyāsya kṣaye ghore pradīptev a vasundharā ||

Translation

Set ablaze by the monkeys, in a very short time that city became like the earth itself blazing in the dreadful destruction of the world.

Context

Set fire by the monkeys, in a short while, the city was like a land flaming out of dreadful destruction in the world.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• Vānara forces (hari)
• vasundharā (earth)

FAQs

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

The verse frames war’s devastation as world-ending in feel—implying that Dharma must govern force. Even righteous war is grave; its purpose is restoration of satya and order, not indulgence in destruction.

What is the narrative situation?

The fire spreads rapidly through Laṅkā, and the entire city appears like a cosmic conflagration.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Determination and effectiveness in carrying out a mission (kārya-sādhana), restrained by the larger dharmic goal of ending Rāvaṇa’s oppression.