Shloka 22
प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्
Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host
हुताशनंतर्पयतांब्राह्मणांश्चनमस्यताम् ।आज्यगन्धप्रतिवहःसुरभिर्मारुतोववौ ।।।।
hutāśanaṃ tarpayatāṃ brāhmaṇāṃś ca namasyatām |
ājyagandha-prativahaḥ surabhir māruto vavau ||
അവർ ഹുതാശനനെ ആഹുതികളാൽ തൃപ്തിപ്പെടുത്തുകയും ബ്രാഹ്മണന്മാർക്ക് നമസ്കരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തപ്പോൾ, നെയ്യിന്റെ സുഗന്ധം വഹിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് മധുരമായ കാറ്റ് വീശി.
In a short while the whole of Lanka was filled with elephant size Rakshasa warriors gathered with different kinds of weapons.
FAQs
It raises a key Ramayana theme: outward ritual and reverence can coexist with unrighteous intent. Dharma is not only ceremony but also moral purpose and restraint.
During war preparations, the Rākṣasas perform rites—offerings to fire and salutations to brāhmaṇas—while the atmosphere becomes fragrant.
Respect for sacred institutions (fire-ritual and brāhmaṇas), though the epic invites reflection on the gap between piety and ethics.