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 ||
कुठे अग्नीच्या ज्वाळा किंशुकफुलांसारख्या, कुठे शाल्मलीसारख्या, तर कुठे कुंकुमासारख्या—अशा नानावर्णांनी नगरात झळकत होत्या।
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.