Sundarakanda Sarga 3: Triumph Over the Deity of Lanka (Full Text & Meaning)

A high-definition digital rendering of Valmiki’s Sarga 3, optimized for daily parayana and deep study. 

Section 1: The Descent into Lanka (Sarga 3, Shlokas 1–13)

athaḥ śrīmadvalmīki rāmāyaṇe suṃdarakāṃḍe tritīyassargaḥ

Beginning of Sundarakanda from Srimad Valmiki Ramanaya - 3rd Sarga

laṁkādhidēvatāvijayaḥ

Triumph over Lanka's presiding deity.

sa lambaśikharē lambē lambatōyadasannibhē | sattvamāsthāya mēdhāvī hanumān mārutātmajaḥ || 1 niśi laṅkāṅ mahāsattvō vivēśa kapikuñjaraḥ | ramyakānanatōyāḍhyāṅ purīṅ rāvaṇapālitām || 2

The greatly energetic and courageous Hanumān, son of Vāyu, entered Rāvaṇa's city of Laṅkā. It was perched on the Laṁba (Trikūṭa) mountain, appearing like a towering cloud, and was adorned with beautiful gardens and water bodies. (1 - 2)

śāradāmbudharaprakhyaiḥ bhavanairupaśōbhitām | sāgarōpamanirghōṣāṅ sāgarānilasēvitām || 3

Laṅkā was adorned with palaces as serene as the autumn sky, yet filled with wild roars from the rakshasas that echoed the sound of the ocean, and it seemed ocean was serving Lanka by was constantly fanning the sea breeze. (3)

supuṣṭabalasampuṣṭāṅ yathaiva viṭapāvatīm | cārutōraṇaniryūhāṅ pāṇḍuradvāratōraṇām || 4

Laṅkā was as mighty in its soldiers and prosperity as the city of Viṭapāvatī (Kubera’s capital, also known as Alakapuri). Its beautiful, protruding arched gateways and ramparts were notable features, often displaying carvings of wild elephants. (4)

bhujagācaritāṅ guptāṅ śubhāṅ bhōgavatīmiva | tāṅ sa vidyudghanākīrṇāṅ jyōtirmārganiṣēvitām || mandamārutasañcārāṅ yathēndrasyāmarāvatīm || 5

Protected and beautiful like the glorious city of Bhōgavatī (the capital of the Nāgas), the prosperous city of Laṅkā stood in full splendor, appearing like Amarāvatī (Indra's Capital). Its sky was filled with lightning-like clouds that sparkled like stars, and a cold, pleasant air breezed through the city. (5)

śātakumbhēna mahatā prākārēṇābhisaṅvṛtām || kiṅkiṇījālaghōṣābhiḥ patākābhiralaṅkṛtām || 6

"It (Laṅkā) was completely encircled by a great golden wall and was adorned with flags which were tinkling with their small bells." (6)

āsādya sahasā hṛṣṭaḥ prākāramabhipēdivān | vismayāviṣṭahṛdayaḥ purīmālōkya sarvataḥ || 7

Hanumān quickly reached the Lanka city and, filled with joy, immediately ascended the rampart. His heart was overwhelmed with wonder as he gazed upon the city in its entirety. (7)

jāmbūnadamayairdvārairvaiḍūryakṛtavēdikaiḥ | vajrasphaṭikamuktābhiḥ maṇikuṭṭimabhūṣitaiḥ || 8 taptahāṭakaniryūhai rājatāmalapāṇḍuraiḥ || 9 vaiḍhūryakṛtasōpānaiḥ sphāṭikāntarapāṅsubhiḥ | cārusaṅjavanōpētaiḥ khamivōtpatitaiḥ śubhaiḥ || 10

Laṅkā's buildings were magnificent: they featured gold gates and altars crafted from clear quartz crystal and vaiḍūrya. Inside, the floors glittered with inlays of diamonds, crystal, and pearls. The rooftops were a pure silver-white, and the soaring structures, complete with beautiful windows and balconies appeared so towering that they looked as if they had sprung up into the sky. (8 - 10)

krauñcabarhiṇasaṅghuṣṭaiḥ rājahaṅsa niṣēvitaiḥ | tūryābharaṇanirghōṣaiḥ sarvataḥ pratināditām || 11

The city (Laṅkā) echoed everywhere with the sounds of krauñca (herons) and barhiṇa (peacocks), and was frequented by rājahaṅsa (royal swans). It was also resounded all over with the sounds of musical instruments and tinkling sounds from ornaments.

vasvaukasārāpratimāṅ tāṅ vīkṣya nagarīṅ tataḥ | khamivōtpatituṅ kāmāṅ jaharṣa hanumān kapiḥ|| 12

Seeing that city—which was incomparable even to Vasvaukasārā (a name for the capital of Kubera, Alakapuri) and appeared as if it desired to fly up into the sky– Hanuman was very content. (11 - 12)

tāṅ samīkṣya purīṅ ramyāṅ rākṣasādhipatēḥ śubhām | anuttamāmṛddhiyutāṅ cintayāmāsa vīryavān || 13

Having observed that beautiful, glorious city of the Rākṣasa king (Rāvaṇa), which possessed unparalleled prosperity, the valiant Hanumān began to think. (13)

Section 3: Confronting the Deity Lanka (Sarga 3, Shlokas 20–31)

atha sā hariśārdūlaṅ praviśantaṅ mahābalam | nagarī svēna rūpēṇa dadarśa pavanātmajam || 20

Then, the presiding deity of the city (Laṅkā), in her own form, saw the powerful Hanumān, as he was entering. (20)

sā taṅ harivaraṅ dṛṣṭvā laṅkā rāvaṇapālitā | svayamēvōtthitā tatra vikṛtānanadarśanā || 21

Laṅkā (the presiding deity of the city), protected by Rāvaṇa, having seen the Hanuman, rose up there with cruel countenance. (21)

purastātkapivaryasya vāyusūnōratiṣṭhata | muñcamānā mahānādamabravītpavanātmajam || 22

That deity of Lanka stood before him and spoke to Hanuman with a terrible roar. (22)

kastvaṅ kēna ca kāryēṇa iha prāptō vanālaya | kathayasvēha yattattvaṅ yāvatprāṇā dharanti || 23

"O Vānara, identify yourself and state your purpose for coming here! Speak the truth before I take your life." (23)

na śakyaṅ khalviyaṅ laṅkā pravēṣṭuṅ vānara tvayā | rakṣitā rāvaṇabalairabhiguptā samantataḥ || 24

“O Vānara, it is impossible for you to enter this Lanka which is well - guarded from all directions.” (24)

atha tāmabravīdvīrō hanumānagrataḥ sthitām | kathayiṣyāmi tē tattvaṅ yanmāṅ tvaṅ paripṛcchas || 25 kā tvaṅ virūpanayanā puradvārē.vatiṣṭhasi | kimarthaṅ cāpi māṅ ruddhvā nirbhartsayasi dāruṇā || 26

Then the valiant Hanumān spoke to her, who stood before him: "I will tell you the truth that you ask me. Who are you, with terrible eyes, standing at the city gate? And why do you fiercely block and threaten me?" (25 - 26)

hanumadvacanaṅ śrutvā laṅkā sā kāmarūpiṇī | uvāca vacanaṅ kruddhā paruṣaṅ pavanātmajam || 27

Having heard Hanumān's words, that Laṅkā, who could assume any form she wished, became angry and spoke harsh words to the son of Vayu.

ahaṅ rākṣasarājasya rāvaṇasya mahātmanaḥ | ājñāpratīkṣā durdharṣā rakṣāmi nagarīmimām || 28

"I obey the commands of the great King Rāvaṇa. I guard this city, and no one is capable of getting past me.” (28)

na śakyā māmavajñāya pravēṣṭuṅ nagarī tvayā | adya prāṇaiḥ parityaktaḥ svapsyasē nihatō mayā || 29

“You cannot enter this city by disregarding me. Today, having been killed by me, you will go into a long sleep, having given up your life” (29)

ahaṅ hi nagarī laṅkā svayamēva plavaṅgama | sarvataḥ parirakṣāmi hyētattē kathitaṅ mayā || 30

“ O Vanara, I am the deity of Lanka herself. I guard it completely from all sides. This, I have told you." (30)

laṅkāyā vacanaṅ śrutvā hanumān mārutātmajaḥ | yatnavānsa hariśrēṣṭhaḥ sthitaśśaila ivāparaḥ || 31

Having heard the words of Laṅkā (the city deity), Hanumān, the son of the Wind-god and the best among Vānaras, stood firmly, exerting himself, like another mountain, to confront her. (31)

Section 5: The Prophecy Revealed (Shlokas 44–51)

prasīda sumahābāhō trāyasva harisattama | samayē saumya tiṣṭhanti sattvavantō mahābalāḥ || 44 ahaṅ tu nagarī laṅkā svayamēva plavaṅgama | nirjitāhaṅ tvayā vīra vikramēṇa mahābala || 45

“O best among the varanasi! am the deity of Laṅkā herself. You have conquered me by your courage. O Lord of Vānaras, listen to this truth that I am telling you, concerning the boon that was granted to me long ago by lord Brahmā.” (44 - 46))

idaṅ tu tathyaṅ śṛṇu vai bruvantyā mē harīśvara | svayaṅbhuvā purā dattaṅ varadānaṅ yathā mama || 46 yadā tvāṅ vānaraḥ kaścidvikramādvaśamānayēt | tadā tvāyā hi vijñēyaṅ rakṣasāṅ bhayamāgatam || 47

"Lord Brahmā granted me a boon long ago, declaring that the very moment a Vānara manages to conquer me through his strength, it would signify that great danger has come upon the Rākṣasas. O gentle Hanumān, this prophecy is true and unchangeable, and it has been. (47 - 48))

sa hi mē samayaḥ saumya prāptō.dya tava darśanāt | svayaṅbhū vihitaḥ satyō na tasyāsti vyatikramaḥ || 48 sītānimittaṅ rājñastu rāvaṇasya durātmanaḥ | rakṣasāṅ caiva sarvēṣāṅ vināśaḥ samupāgataḥ. || 49

“The time for downfall of the wicked King Rāvaṇa and the destruction of all the Rākṣasas has approached because of Sītā.” (49)

tatpraviśya hariśrēṣṭha purīṅ rāvaṇapālitām | vidhatsva sarvakāryāṇi yāni yānīha vāñchasi || 50

“Therefore, O best of Vānaras, enter the city ruled by Rāvaṇa, and accomplish all the tasks that you wish to perform here.” (50)

praviśya śāpōpahatāṅ harīśvara śubhāṅ purīṅ rākṣasamukhyapālitām | yadṛcchayā tvaṅ janakātmajāṅ satīṅ vimārga sarvatra gatō yathāsukham || 51

"O Lord of Vānaras, enter this auspicious city—though protected by the Rākṣasa chief, it is now destined for destruction. Go everywhere at your pleasure and search for the virtuous daughter of Janaka (Sītā)." (51)

ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde tritīyassargaḥ

Thus ends the third sarga of the Sundarakanda, which is a part of Srimad Ramayana, the epic poem (Adikavya) authored by sage Valmiki.