Shloka 28
Karṇa–Sūrya Saṃvāda: Satya, Dāna, and the Amoghā Śakti (कर्ण–सूर्यसंवादः)
शालिप्रसूनसदृशै: शिरीषकुसुमप्रभै: । तरुणादित्यसदृशै: शणगौरैश्व वानरै:,राजन! धानके फूल-जैसे रंगवाले, मौलसिरीके पुष्प-सदृश कान्तिवाले, प्रातःकालके सूर्यके समान अरुण प्रभावाले तथा सनईके समान सफेद रंगवाले वानरोंसे व्याप्त होनेके कारण लंकाकी चहारदीवारी चारों ओर कपिलवर्णकी दिखायी देती थी। स्त्रियों और वृद्धोंसहित समस्त लंकावासी राक्षस चारों ओर आश्वर्यचकित होकर इस दृश्यको देख रहे थे
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca |
śāliprasūnasadṛśaiḥ śirīṣakusumaprabhaiḥ |
taruṇādityasadṛśaiḥ śaṇagauraiś ca vānaraiḥ, rājan |
Mārkaṇḍeya nói: “Tâu đại vương, các tường lũy của Laṅkā trông như nhuốm sắc vàng nâu khắp bốn phía, vì chật kín bầy khỉ—kẻ mang màu như bông lúa non, kẻ rực như hoa śirīṣa, kẻ đỏ như mặt trời mới mọc, kẻ trắng nhạt như sợi lanh. Thấy cảnh tượng kỳ lạ ấy bao quanh, các rākṣasa ở Laṅkā—cả phụ nữ lẫn người già—đều đứng nhìn sững sờ.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a righteous, disciplined force can become an overwhelming moral and psychological presence: the spectacle of the vānaras surrounding Laṅkā produces awe and destabilizes the confidence of the rākṣasas. It underscores the ethical dimension of conflict in epic narrative—power is not only physical but also the visible momentum of dharma-backed resolve.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes Laṅkā’s walls appearing tawny because they are crowded on all sides with vānaras of varied colors and radiance—likened to blossoms, śirīṣa flowers, the rising sun, and flax. The inhabitants of Laṅkā, including women and elders, watch the extraordinary sight in astonishment.