Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 76, Shloka 21
दशरथस्य अन्त्येष्टि
विधानम् — Dasaratha’s Funeral Rites and Ayodhya’s Mourning
क्रौञ्चीनामिव नारीणां निनादस्तत्र शुश्रुवे।आर्तानां करुणं काले क्रोशन्तीनां सहस्रशः।।2.76.21।।
krauñcīnām iva nārīṇāṃ ninādas tatra śuśruve |
ārtānāṃ karuṇaṃ kāle krośantīnāṃ sahasraśaḥ || 2.76.21 ||
Noong sandaling iyon, narinig doon ang panaghoy ng mga babae—libu-libong nagdurusang tinig na humihiyaw nang kaawa-awa—na wari’y matatalim na sigaw ng mga babaeng ibong krauñca.
On hearing the words of Vasistha, dutiful Bharata regained his steadiness and engaged in the performance of the funeral rites.
FAQs
Dharma recognizes human sorrow as natural, yet it frames grief within communal rites—lamentation accompanies, but does not replace, the responsibilities of farewell.
During the cremation proceedings, the collective mourning of women rises loudly and is poetically compared to krauñca birds.
Compassionate realism—acknowledging suffering as part of human life while continuing the sacred duties of the moment.