Sundarakanda Sarga 42: Slaying of the Kiṃkaras (Full Text & Meaning) 

Summary of Sarga 42

| Detail | Total Shlokas: 44 | Primary Character: Hanumān | Key Events: Kiṁkara-Sēna-Nigrahaḥ (Defeating the Kiṃkara army), Jaya-Ghōṣaḥ (Victory chant), Rāvaṇa-Kōpaḥ (Rāvaṇa's wrath) | Location: Ashoka Vatika Archway, Lanka | 

Section 1: The Panic of the Rākṣasīs (Shlokas 1–11)

ataḥ pakṣininādēna vṛkṣabhaṅgasvanēna ca | babhūvustrāsasambhrāntāḥ sarvē laṅkānivāsinaḥ || 1

Consequentially, the combined, overwhelming sound—of trees being violently shattered and the resulting clamor of terrified birds—left all the residents of Lankā utterly bewildered and paralyzed with fear. (1)

vidrutāśca bhayatrastā vinēdurmṛgapakṣiṇaḥ | rakṣasāṅ ca nimittāni krūrāṇi pratipēdirē || 2

The terrified animals and birds scattered and cried out in distress. And for the Rākṣasas, the very event was marked by the appearance of cruel, ominous portents. (2)

tatō gatāyāṅ nidrāyāṅ rākṣasyō vikṛtānanāḥ | tadvanaṅ dadṛśurbhagnaṅ taṅ ca vīraṅ mahākapim || 3

Then, when their sleep was disturbed, the Rākṣasīs with dreadful faces saw that the grove was destroyed and also the brave Hanuman. (3)

sa tā dṛṣṭvā mahābāhurmahāsattvō mahābalaḥ | cakāra sumahadrūpaṅ rākṣasīnāṅ bhayāvaham || 4

Having seen them, he (Hanuman), mahābāhu, of great courage and power, assumed an exceedingly huge form, one that instilled great fear in the Rākṣasīs. (4)

tatastaṅ girisaṅkāśamatikāyaṅ mahābalam | rākṣasyō vānaraṅ dṛṣṭvā papracchurjanakātmajām || 5

Having then seen that mountain-like, exceedingly huge-bodied, and greatly powerful Hanuman, the Rākṣasīs asked Janaka's daughter, Sita. (5)

kō.yaṅ kasya kutō vāyaṅ kiṅ nimittamihāgataḥ | kathaṅ tvayā sahānēna saṅvādaḥ kṛta ityuta || 6 

ācakṣva nō viśālākṣi mā bhūttē subhagē bhayam | saṅvādamasitāpāṅgē tvayā kiṅ kṛtavānayam || 7

"O viśālākṣi, tell us; let there be no fear for you. Who is this being? Whose follower is he? Where has he come from? For what purpose has he arrived here? And what conversation did you hold with him?" (6-7)

athābravīt tadāsādhvī sītā sarvāṅgasundarī | rakṣasāṅ bhīmarūpāṇāṅ vijñānē mama kā gatiḥ || 8 

yūyamēvābhijānīta yō.yaṅ yadvā kariṣyati | ahirēva hyahēḥ pādānvijānāti na saṅśayaḥ || 9 

ahamapyasya bhītāsmi nainaṅ jānāmi kō nvayaṅ | vēdmi rākṣasamēvainaṅ kāmarūpiṇamāgatam || 10

Then the most virtuous Sītā spoke: "What means do I have to understand the intentions of you dreadful-looking Rākṣasas? Only you yourselves will know who this is. A snake alone, of course, knows the footprints of another snake. I am afraid of him, and I do not know who he is. I believe that this is merely a Rākṣasa capable of assuming any form." (8-10)

vaidēhyā vacanaṅ śrutvā rākṣasyō vidrutā diśaḥ | sthitāḥ kāścidgatāḥ kāścidrāvaṇāya nivēditum || 11

Having heard the words of Vaidehī, the Rākṣasīs scattered; some remained, while others departed to report to Rāvaṇa. (11)

Section 3: The Battle with the Kiṅkaras (Shlokas 24–36)

ātmanassadṛśānśūrānkiṅkarānnāma rākṣasān | vyādidēśa mahātējā nigrahārthaṅ hanūmataḥ || 24

Rāvaṇa commanded eighty thousand brave Rākṣasas named Kiṅkaras to capture Hanumān. (24)

tēṣāmaśītisāhasraṅ kiṅkarāṇāṅ tarasvinām | niryayurbhavanāttasmātkūṭamudgarapāṇayaḥ || 25 

mahōdarā mahādaṅṣṭrā ghōrarūpā mahābalāḥ | yuddhābhimanasaḥ sarvē hanumadgrahaṇōdyatāḥ || 26

Eighty thousand powerful Kiṅkaras, with large bellies and huge tusks, issued forth from the palace armed with clubs and maces. (25-26)

tē kapīndraṅ samāsādya tōraṇasthamavasthitam | abhipēturmahāvēgāḥ pataṅgā iva pāvakam || 27

They rushed toward Hanumān, who was at the archway, like moths toward a fire. (27)

tē gadābhirvicitrābhiḥ parighaiḥ kāñcanāṅgadaiḥ | ājaghnurvānaraśrēṣṭhaṅ śaraiścādityasannibhaiḥ || 28 

mudgaraiḥ paṭṭiśaiśśūlaiḥ prāsatōmaraśaktibhiḥ | parivārya hanūmantaṅ sahasā tasthuragrataḥ || 29

They struck Hanumān with maces, iron clubs, and arrows, surrounding him with a variety of sharp weapons. (28-29)

hanumānapi tējasvī śrīmānparvatasannibhaḥ | kṣitāvāvidhya lāṅgūlaṅ nanāda ca mahāsvanam || 30

The glorious Hanumān dashed his tail against the ground and roared with a mighty sound. (30)

sa bhūtvā sumahākāyō hanumānmārutātmajaḥ | dhṛṣṭamāsphōṭayāmāsa laṅkāṅ śabdēna pūrayan || 31 

tasyāsphōṭitaśabdēna mahatā sānunādinā | pēturvihaṅgā gaganāduccaiścēdamaghōṣayat || 32

Assuming an exceedingly huge form, Hanumān slapped his upper arms, making a sound so loud that birds fell from the sky. (31-32)

ayatyatibalō rāmō lakṣmaṇaśca mahābalaḥ | rājā jayati sugrīvō rāghavēṇābhipālitaḥ || 33 

dāsō.haṅ kōsalēndrasya rāmasyākliṣṭa karmaṇaḥ | hanumān śatrusainyānāṅ nihantā mārutātmajaḥ || 34

"Victory to Śrī Rāma! Victory to Lakṣmaṇa! Victory to Sugrīva! I am the servant of Rāma, the son of Vāyu, Hanumān, the destroyer of enemy armies!" (33-34)

na rāvaṇasahasraṅ mē yuddhē pratibalaṅ bhavēt | śilābhistu praharataḥ pādapaiśca sahasraśaḥ || 35 a

rdayitvā purīṅ laṅkāmabhivādya ca maithilīm | samṛddhārthō gamiṣyāmi miṣatāṅ sarvarakṣasām || 36

"Even a thousand Rāvaṇas are no match for me. After crushing Laṅkā and bowing to Sītā, I shall depart with my mission accomplished." (35-36)