Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 29
माल्यवानुपदेशः
Malyavan’s Counsel, Portents in Laṅkā, and the Proposal of Alliance
काळिकाःपाण्डुरैर्दन्तै: प्रहसन्त्यग्रतःस्थिताः ।स्त्रियस्स्वप्नेषुमुष्ण्नत्योगृहाणिप्रतिभाष्यच ।।।।
kāḷikāḥ pāṇḍurair dantaiḥ prahasanti agrataḥ sthitāḥ | striyaḥ svapneṣu muṣṇantyo gṛhāṇi pratibhāṣya ca ||
कोळशासारख्या काळ्या, पांढुरक्या दातांच्या स्त्रिया स्वप्नांत आमच्या पुढे उभ्या राहून मोठ्याने हसतात; अपशकुन वचन बोलत जणू घरांची लूट करतात—हा दुष्ट संकेत आहे।
"Women of dark colour like coal with yellow teeth are speaking unpleasant things standing before us in dreams laughing heartily."
FAQs
A ruler’s dharma is vigilance: when signs indicate disorder, one must examine one’s own wrongdoing and restore righteousness rather than ignore warnings.
Disturbing dream-visions are reported as portents foretelling danger to Laṅkā and its households.
Moral courage to interpret and report unsettling signs truthfully (satya) for the common good.