Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 82, Shloka 25
इन्द्रजित्-हनूमद्-युद्धं तथा निकुम्भिलायां होमः
Indrajit vs Hanuman; Indrajit’s Nikumbhila rite
निकुम्भिलामधिष्ठायपावकंजुहवेन्द्रजित् ।।।।यज्ञभूम्यांततोगत्वापावकस्तेनरक्षसा ।हूयमानःप्रजज्वालमांसशोणितभुक्तदा ।।।।
nikumbhilām adhiṣṭhāya pāvakaṃ juhave indrajit | yajñabhūmyāṃ tato gatvā pāvakas tena rakṣasā | hūyamānaḥ prajajvāla māṃsaśoṇitabhuk tadā ||
Reaching Nikumbhilā, Indrajit made offerings into the fire. Having gone to the sacrificial ground, the fire—fed by that rākṣasa with flesh and blood—blazed up as the oblations were poured.
Thereafter, Indrajith, with Rakshasas well versed with traditions, poured offerings into the sacrificial fire, as great Rakshasa gathering seated there were watching.।। ityārṣēvālmīkīyēśrīmadrāmāyaṇēādikāvyēyuddhakāṇḍēdvyaśītitamassargaḥ ।।This is the end of the eighty second sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.
FAQs
It highlights a dharmic warning: sacred ritual divorced from purity and right intent becomes a tool of adharma, not true righteousness.
Indrajit performs a powerful rite at Nikumbhilā, using gruesome oblations to empower his next actions in the war.
By contrast, the text underscores the value of purity and right means; Indrajit exemplifies the vice of gaining power through unethical methods.