Shloka 23
सरमा-सीता संवादः
Saramā Consoles Sītā; Preparations in Laṅkā
कल्प्यन्तेमत्तमातङ्गायुज्यन्तेरथवाजिन ।हृष्यन्तेतुरगारूढाःप्रासहस्तस्सहस्रशः ।।।।
kalpyante mattamātaṅgā yujyante rathavājinaḥ | hṛṣyante turagārūḍhāḥ prāsahastāḥ sahasraśaḥ ||
Gajah-gajah yang sedang mabuk birahi disusun berbaris; kereta-kereta dan kuda-kuda dipasangkan; dan ribuan penunggang kuda, bertombak di tangan, bersukacita saat menaiki tunggangannya.
"Elephants in rut are being decorated, charioteers are getting ready for war in thousands and discharging darts from hands and laughing loudly."
FAQs
The verse frames the gravity of impending war: when adharma reaches its limit, society mobilizes—dharma requires readiness to protect the innocent.
Saramā describes the visible and audible signs of Laṅkā’s forces preparing for battle.
Preparedness and discipline (on the military side), contrasted implicitly with the moral question of how such power will be used.