Shloka 29
लङ्कादाहः — The Burning of Lanka
Catuḥpañcāśaḥ Sargaḥ
क्वचित्किंशुकसङ्काशाः क्वचिच्छाल्मलिसन्निभाः।।।।क्वचित्कुङ्कुमसङ्काशाश्शिखा वह्नेश्चकाशिरे।
kvacit kiṃśuka-saṅkāśāḥ kvacit śālmali-sannibhāḥ | kvacit kuṅkuma-saṅkāśāḥ śikhā vahnēḥ cakāśire ||
នៅកន្លែងខ្លះ អណ្តាតភ្លើងភ្លឺរលោងដូចផ្កាគិមសុកៈ នៅកន្លែងខ្លះដូចផ្កាសាល្មលី ហើយនៅកន្លែងផ្សេងទៀតដូចពណ៌ក្រហមក្រអូបនៃកុង្គុម (សាហ្វ្រ៉ុន)؛ អណ្តាតភ្លើងបានចែងចាំងជាច្រើនពណ៌ពាសពេញទីក្រុង។
The flames of fire were shining like kimsuka flowers here, like salmali wood there, and like saffron flowers elsewhere.
FAQs
The beauty of the imagery contrasts with the tragedy of destruction, reminding that aesthetic splendor cannot sanctify adharma. Dharma evaluates actions by righteousness and harm, not by outward brilliance.
The poet describes the spreading blaze in Laṅkā, noting the varied colors of flames as they consume different structures and materials.
Not a direct virtue statement; the verse supports the epic’s moral atmosphere by portraying the magnitude of consequence unleashed upon an adharma-ruled city.