Shloka 40
लङ्कादाहः — The Burning of Lanka
Catuḥpañcāśaḥ Sargaḥ
हा तात हा पुत्रक कान्त मित्र हा जीवितं भोगयुतं सुपुण्यम्।रक्षोभिरेवं बहुधा ब्रुवद्भि श्शब्दः कृतो घोरतरस्सुभीमः।।।।
hā tāta hā putraka kānta mitra hā jīvitaṁ bhogayutaṁ supuṇyam |
rakṣobhir evaṁ bahudhā bruvadbhiḥ śabdaḥ kṛto ghorataraḥ subhīmaḥ ||
“Aduhai, ayah! Aduhai, anak! Kekasih! Sahabat! Aduhai—hidup yang dahulu penuh kenikmatan dan pahala kebajikan kini musnah!” Tatkala para rākṣasa meratap demikian dalam pelbagai cara, bangkitlah hiruk-pikuk yang amat mengerikan.
"O father dear! O son! O my dear! O friend! alas, the life which is enjoyable, sacred and prosperous is destroyed in this way". Saying this, the demons cried out dreadfully and loudly.
FAQs
The lament illustrates an ethical warning: lives built around wrongful power and pleasure are fragile; when dharma is violated, what seemed ‘secure and meritorious’ collapses suddenly.
As the city burns, the rākṣasas cry out for family and friends, and the collective panic becomes a terrifying din.
By contrast, Hanumān’s steadfastness is highlighted: while the adharma-side dissolves into chaos, the dharma-agent remains purposeful.