Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 16
मकराक्षस्य निर्गमनम्
The Deployment of Makaraksha and Ravana’s Fury
शङ्खभेरीसहस्राणामाहतानांसमन्ततः ।क्ष्येळितास्फोटितानां च तत्रशब्दोमहानभूत् ।।।।
śaṅkha-bherī-sahasrāṇām āhatānāṃ samantataḥ | kṣveḷitāsphoṭitānāṃ ca tatra śabdo mahān abhūt ||
Entonces se alzó por todas partes un estruendo inmenso: caracolas y tambores de guerra por millares eran tocados, y se unían los alaridos y los chasquidos de palmas y brazos de los guerreros.
There was a beating of drums, blowing of thousands of conchs, clapping of arms and great sound was heard.
FAQs
The verse situates war as a public, collective act with wide consequences. The Ramayana’s dharmic lens asks that such collective force be governed by satya and justice—otherwise the ‘great sound’ becomes the noise of adharma spreading.
As the Rākṣasa forces move out, instruments and battle-cries create a massive uproar signaling the onset of combat.
Alertness and preparedness (jāgratā/samādhāna) are emphasized—qualities that gain ethical worth when used in service of dharma.