Shloka 16

लङ्कादाह-प्रचोदनं तथा वानर-राक्षस-समरारम्भः

The Burning of Lanka and the Outbreak of Battle

Devanagari script

नानाविधान्गृहच्छन्दान्धदाहहुतभुक्तदा ।आवासान्राक्षसानां च सर्वेषांगृहगर्थिनाम् ।।6.75.14।।हेमचित्रतनुत्राणस्रग्दामाम्भरधारिणाम् ।शीधुपानचलाक्षाणांमद्विह्वलगामिनाम् ।।6.75.15।।कान्तालम्बितवस्त्राणांशत्रुसञ्जातमन्युनाम् ।गदाशूलासिहस्तानांखादतांपिबतामपि ।।6.75.16।।शयनेषुमहार्हेषुप्रसुप्तानांप्रियैस्सह ।त्रस्तानांगच्छतांतूर्णंपुत्रानादायसर्वतः ।।6.75.17।।तेषांशतसहस्राणितदालङ्कानिवासिनाम् ।अदहत्पावकस्तत्रजज्वाल च पुनःपुनः ।।6.75.18।।

Transliteration

kāntālambitavastrāṇāṃ śatrusañjātamanyūnām |

gadāśūlāsihastānāṃ khādatāṃ pibatām api || 6.75.16 ||

Translation

Le feu saisit même les rākṣasas qui s’agrippaient aux vêtements de leurs bien-aimées, dont la colère s’était levée contre l’ennemi, tenant massues, tridents et épées—et même ceux qui mangeaient et buvaient encore.

Word by Word

• हेम-चित्र-तनुत्राण-धारिणाम्: of those wearing gold-ornamented armour
• हेम-चित्र-तनुत्राण-धारिणाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेम (प्रातिपदिक) + चित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + तनुत्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'हेमचित्रं तनुत्राणं धारयन्ति'

• स्रग्-दम-आम्बर-धारिणाम्: of those wearing garlands, wreaths, and garments
• स्रग्-दम-आम्बर-धारिणाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रज् (प्रातिपदिक) + दाम (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक) + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (स्रग्दामाम्बर) + धारिन्: 'garlands, wreaths, garments (and) wearing'

• सीधु-पान-चल-अक्षाणाम्: of those whose eyes were unsteady from drinking liquor
• सीधु-पान-चल-अक्षाणाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीधु (प्रातिपदिक) + पान (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + चल (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'सीधुपानात् चलानि अक्षाणि यस्य' (eyes unsteady from drinking)

• मद-विह्वल-गामिनाम्: of those who moved unsteadily from intoxication
• मद-विह्वल-गामिनाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद (प्रातिपदिक) + विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक) + गामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'मदेन विह्वलाः (सन्तः) गच्छन्ति'

Context

The fire consumed many kinds of wonderful homes of Rakshasas, with loved ones on the best beds, their armour made of gold Rakshasas decked with garland s and best of attire their eyes inebriated with intoxication, shaking while walking slowly, holding their loved ones, seized with anger against enemies, holding mace and tridents in hand, eating, drinking and sleeping on the best beds, fast asleep some out of fear taking their sons going quickly and all of them dwelling there in hundreds and thousands were burning again and again.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas
• Laṅkā
• Fire (Agni/Pāvaka)
• Weapons (gadā, śūla, asi)

FAQs

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

Adharma ultimately brings unavoidable consequences: status, strength, and weapons cannot shield one when a society’s collective wrongdoing ripens into disaster.

What is the narrative situation?

During the burning of Laṅkā, the conflagration spreads through the city and overwhelms rākṣasas in ordinary life—armed, angry, feasting—without distinction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s dharmic cause is implicitly affirmed: the destruction is portrayed as the inevitable turning of events against Rāvaṇa’s adharma, rather than random cruelty.