Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 10, Shloka 15
विभीषणोपदेशः
Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana and the Catalogue of Omens
सस्फुलिङ्गस्सधूमार्चिस्सधूमकलुषोदयः ।मन्त्रसङ्घहुतोऽप्यग्निर्नसम्यगभिवर्थते ।।।।
sasphuliṅgaḥ sadhūmārciḥ sadhūmakaluṣodayaḥ | mantrasaṅghahuto 'py agnir na samyag abhivardhate ||
供犠の火でさえ——しかも諸儀礼と真言を尽くして供されたにもかかわらず——火花と煙を噴き、煙に汚れた濁りの炎となって立ちのぼり、正しくは燃え盛らない。
"Even from the fire of fire sacrifices, fire particles polluted with smoke are rising and the fire is not burning with brilliance."
FAQs
Outer ritual cannot compensate for inner unrighteousness: when adharma dominates, even properly performed rites lose their auspicious efficacy.
Vibhīṣaṇa cites ritual anomalies in Laṅkā—smoky, failing sacrificial fire—as omens warning Rāvaṇa.
Discernment: Vibhīṣaṇa reads religious and social signs as indicators of moral disorder.