Shloka 23

लङ्कादाहः — The Burning of Lanka

Catuḥpañcāśaḥ Sargaḥ

Devanagari script

तानि काञ्चनजालानि मुक्तामणिमयानि च।भवनान्यवशीर्यन्त रत्नवन्ति महान्ति च।।।।

Transliteration

tāni kāñcanajālāni muktāmaṇimayāni ca |

bhavanāny avaśīryanta ratnavanti mahānti ca ||

Translation

Maka runtuhlah rumah-rumah besar itu—berjeriji emas, bertatah mutiara dan permata; luas lagi sarat ratna—pecah berderai dan rebah.

Word by Word

• tāni: those
• tāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भवनानि इति विशेषणवत् (those)

• kāñcana-jālāni: golden lattices/meshworks
• kāñcana-jālāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāñcana (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—कर्मधारय: काञ्चनं जालं (golden lattice/meshwork); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भवनानि इति विशेषणम्

• muktā-maṇi-mayāni: made of pearls and gems
• muktā-maṇi-mayāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muktā (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष: मुक्तामणिभिः मयम् (made of/embedded with pearls and gems); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भवनानि इति विशेषणम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• bhavanāni: buildings
• bhavanāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• avaśīryanta: collapsed/fell apart
• avaśīryanta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√śṝ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; अर्थे—अवशीर्यन्त = पतित/विनष्ट (were falling apart)

• ratnavanti: gem-filled
• ratnavanti: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratnavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भवनानि इति विशेषणम्

• mahānti: great/large
• mahānti: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भवनानि इति विशेषणम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

Context

Combined with the wind the fire began to spread, burning the houses with great speed.

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• gold (kāñcana)
• pearls (muktā)
• gems (maṇi/ratna)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Anityatā (impermanence): material grandeur, even when dazzling, is fragile—especially when used in service of adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

The fire destroys Laṅkā’s richly ornamented palaces; buildings with gold latticework and gem inlays collapse.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Detachment is implicitly taught: the verse contrasts jewel-wealth with its sudden ruin, urging values beyond mere opulence.