Sundarakanda Sarga 54: The Burning of Lanka (Full Text & Meaning)
Sundarakanda Sarga 54: The Burning of Lanka (Full Text & Meaning)
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Read Sundarakanda Sarga 54 with full Sanskrit Shlokas and verbatim English meanings. In this climactic sarga, Hanumān, having escaped his bonds, resolves to finish his mission by destroying Lanka's fortress. Using his blazing tail as a torch, he systematically incinerates the grand mansions of the Rākṣasa generals and the royal palace of Rāvaṇa itself, sparing only the house of Vibhīṣaṇa. As Lanka crumbles into ash and gems melt in the inferno, the gods and celestial beings look on in awe, praising Hanumān as the personification of divine wrath. Download PDF for convenience or read along online at Kalady.org
| Detail | Total Shlokas: 51 | Primary Characters: Hanumān, Rāvaṇa, & Celestial Hosts | Key Events: Laṅkā-Dāhaḥ (Incineration of Lanka), Vibhīṣaṇa-Gṛha-Rakṣaṇam (Sparing Vibhishana's house), Dēva-Stutiḥ (Praise from the gods) | Location: Houses and Palaces of Lanka |
athaḥ śrīmadvalmīki rāmāyaṇe suṃdarakāṃḍe catuṣpaṁcāśassargaḥ
Beginning of Sundarakanda from Srimad Valmiki Ramanaya - 54th Sarga
laṁkādāhaḥ Burning of Lanka
vīkṣamāṇastatō laṅkāṅ kapiḥ kṛtamanōrathaḥ | vardhamānasamutsāhaḥ kāryaśēṣamacintayat || 1
The Hanuman, whose purpose was now accomplished, looked upon Lanka, his enthusiasm growing, and pondered the remainder of his duty. (1)
kinnu khalvavaśiṣṭaṅ mē kartavyamiha sāmpratam | yadēṣāṅ rakṣasāṅ bhūyaḥ santāpajananaṅ bhavēt || 2
"What further duty remains for me now that would cause more torment to these Rākṣasas?" (2)
vanaṅ tāvatpramathitaṅ prakṛṣṭā rākṣasā hatāḥ | balaikadēśaḥ kṣapitaśśēṣaṅ durgavināśanam || 3
"The garden has been thoroughly destroyed, and the foremost Rākṣasas have been slain. A portion of the army has been annihilated; what remains is the destruction of the fortress." (3)
durgē vināśitē karma bhavētsukhapariśramam | alpayatnēna kāryē.smin mama syātsaphalaśśramaḥ || 4
"When the fortress is destroyed, the remaining work will be an easy endeavor. With just a little more effort in this task, my labor will be fully successful." (4)
yō hyayaṅ mama lāṅgūlē dīpyatē havyavāhanaḥ | asya santarpaṇaṅ nyāyyaṅ kartumēbhirgṛhōttamaiḥ || 5
"This very Agni Deva that blazes upon my tail should now be rightly satisfied by offering these magnificent houses as an oblation." (5)
tataḥ pradīptalāṅgūlassavidyudiva tōyadaḥ | bhavanāgrēṣu laṅkāyā vicacāra mahākapiḥ || 6
gṛhādgṛhaṅ rākṣasānām udyānāni ca vānaraḥ | vīkṣamāṇō hyasantrastaḥ prāsādāṅśca cacāra saḥ || 7
Then, the great Hanuman, with his blazing tail like a rain cloud accompanied by lightning, roamed on the tops of the houses. Fearless, he traversed the Rākṣasas' houses, gardens, and palaces. (6-7)
avaplutya mahāvēgaḥ prahastasya nivēśanam | agniṅ tatra sa nikṣipya śvasanēna samō balī || 8
The mighty one, equal to the wind god in power, leaped down onto Prahasta's house and set it on fire. (8)
tatō.nyatpupluvē vēśma mahāpārśvasya vīryavān | mumōca hanumānagniṅ kālānalaśikhōpamam || 9
Then, Hanuman leaped to the house of Mahāpārśva and placed fire there, resembling the flame of cosmic destruction. (9)
vajradaṅṣṭrasya ca tadā pupluvē sa mahākapiḥ | śukasya ca mahātējāssāraṇasya ca dhīmataḥ || 10 tathā cēndrajitō vēśma dadāha hariyūthapaḥ | jambumālē ssumālēśca dadāha bhavanaṅ tataḥ || 11
He visited the residences of Vajradaṅṣṭra, Śuka, and the wise Sāraṇa. He burned Indrajit's dwelling, followed by the houses of Jambumāli and Sumāli. (10-11)
raśmikētōśca bhavanaṅ sūryaśatrōstathaiva ca | hrasvakarṇasya daṅṣṭrasya rōmaśasya ca rakṣasaḥ || 12 yuddhōnmattasya mattasya dhvajagrīvasya rakṣasaḥ | vidyujjihvasya ghōrasya tathā hastimukhasya ca || 13 karālasya piśācasya śōṇitākṣasya caiva hi | kumbhakarṇasya bhavanaṅ makarākṣasya caiva hi || 14 yajñaśatrōśca bhavanaṅ brahmaśatrōstathaiva ca | narāntakasya kumbhasya nikumbhasya durātmanaḥ || 15 varjayitvā mahātējā vibhīṣaṇagṛhaṅ prati | kramamāṇaḥ kramēṇaiva dadāha haripuṅgavaḥ || 16
Systematically, he burned the dwellings of Raśmiketu, Kumbhakarṇa, Makarākṣa, and many others, deliberately sparing only the house of Vibhīṣaṇa. (12-16)
tēṣu tēṣu mahārhēṣu bhavanēṣu mahāyaśāḥ | gṛhēṣvṛddhimatāmṛddhiṅ dadāha sa mahākapiḥ || 17
Hanuman burned the treasures and opulence found within the homes of the most wealthy Rākṣasas. (17)
sarvēṣāṅ samatikramya rākṣasēndrasya vīryavān | āsasādātha lakṣmīvān rāvaṇasya nivēśanam || 18
tatastasmingṛhē mukhyē nānāratnavibhūṣitē | mērumandarasaṅkāśē sarvamaṅgaḷaśōbhitē || 19
pradīptamagnimutsṛjya lāṅgūlāgrē pratiṣṭhitam | nanāda hanumānvīrō yugāntajaladō yathā || 20
Finally, he reached Ravana's magnificent palace, resembling Mount Meru. He released the fire from his tail into the mansion and roared like the cloud of destruction at the end of an era. (18-20)
śvasanēna ca saṅyōgādativēgō mahābalaḥ | kālāgniriva jajvāla prāvardhata hutāśanaḥ || 21
pradīptamagniṅ pavanastēṣu vēśmasvacārayat | abhūcchvasanasaṅyōgāt ativēgō hutāśanaḥ || 22
The fire, joined with the wind, grew fierce like the fire of cosmic dissolution, spreading rapidly through the houses. (21-22)
tāni kāñcanajālāni muktāmaṇimayāni ca | bhavanānyavaśīryanta ratnavanti mahānti ca || 23
tāni bhgnavimānāni nipēturvasudhātalē | bhavanānīva siddānām aṁbarāt puṇyasaṁkṣayē || 24
Vast palaces with gold nets and pearl structures crumbled to the earth, like celestial abodes falling when merit is exhausted. (23-24)
saṅjajñē tumulaśśabdō rākṣasānāṅ pradhāvatām | svagṛhasya paritrāṇē bhagnōtsāhōrjitaśriyām | nūnamēṣō.gnirāyātaḥ kapirūpēṇa hā iti || 25
A tumultuous noise arose as Rākṣasas ran to save their homes, crying out: "Alas! Surely this is Fire himself, who has come in the form of a Vanara." (25)
krandantyassahasā pētuḥ stanandhayadharāḥ striyaḥ || 26
kāścidagniparītēbhyō harmēbhyō muktamūrdhajāḥ | patantyō rējirē.bhrēbhyassaudāmanya ivāmbarāt || 27
Women carrying children fell down; some, with unbound hair, fell from flame-engulfed mansions like streaks of lightning from the sky. (26-27)
vajravidrumavaidūrya muktārajatasaṅhitān | vicitrān bhavanān dhātūn syandamānāndadarśa saḥ || 28
Hanuman witnessed minerals and gems—diamonds, coral, and silver—melting and flowing from the houses. (28)
nāgnistṛpyati kāṣṭhānāṅ tṛṇānāṅ ca yathā tathā | hanūmān rākṣasēndāṇāṅ viśastānāṅ na tṛpyati || 29
Just as fire is never satisfied with wood, Hanuman was never satisfied with the Rākṣasa chiefs he had slain. (29)
kvacit kiṅśukasaṅkāśāḥ kvacicchālmalisannibhāḥ | kvacit kuṅkumasaṅkāśāḥ śikhāvahnēścakāśirē || 30
The flames appeared like Kiṅśuka flowers or saffron in various places. (30)
hanūmatā vēgavatā vānarēṇa mahātmanā | laṅkāpuraṅ pradagdhaṅ tadrudrēṇa tripuraṅ yathā || 31
Lanka was consumed by Hanuman just as the three cities (Tripura) were burned by Rudra. (31)
tatastu laṅkāpuraparvatāgrē | samutthitō bhīmaparākramō.gniḥ | prasārya cūḍāvalayaṅ pradīptō | hanūmatā vēgavatā visṛṣṭaḥ || 32 yugāntakālānalatulyavēgaḥ | samārutō.gnirvavṛdhē divispṛk | vidhūmaraśmirbhavanēṣu saktō rakṣaśśarīrājyasamarpatārciḥ || 34
The fire rose on the mountain peak, its smokeless flames offering Rākṣasa bodies as an oblation. (32-33)
ādityakōṭīsadṛśassutējā | laṅkāṅ samastāṅ parivārya tiṣṭhan | śabdairanēkairaśaniprarūḍhair | bhindannivāṇḍaṅ prababhau mahāgniḥ || 34
Blazing with the brilliance of a billion suns, the mighty inferno seemed to shatter the cosmic shell itself. (34)
tatrāmbarādagniratipravṛddhō | rūkṣaprabhaḥ kiṅśukapuṣpacūḍaḥ | nirvāṇadhūmākularājayaśca | nīlōtpalābhāḥ pracakāśirē.bhrāḥ || 35
The fire ascended high with crests of flame, while billowing smoke shone with a blue-lotus-like hue. (35)
vajrī mahēndrastridaśēśvarō vā | sākṣādyamō vā varuṇō.nilō vā | rudrō.gnirarkō dhanadaśca sōmō | na vānarō.yaṅ svayamēva kālaḥ || 36
The Rākṣasas cried: "This is not a Vanara, but Indra, Yama, or Vāyu. He is Time (Kāla) himself." (36)
kiṅ brahmaṇassarvapitāmahasya | sarvasya dhātuścaturānanasya | ihāgatō vānarerūpadhārī | rakṣōpasaṅhārakaraḥ prakōpaḥ || 37
"Is this the fierce Wrath of the four-faced Brahma, come to annihilate the Rākṣasas?" (37)
kiṅ vaiṣṇavaṅ vā kapirūpamētya | rakṣōvināśāya paraṅ sutējaḥ | anantamavyaktamacintyamēkaṅ | svamāyayā sāmpratamāgataṅ vā || 38
"Or is it Viṣṇu himself, assumed the form of a Vanara through his own power of illusion (Māyā)?" (38)
ityēvamūcurbahavō viśiṣṭā | rakṣōgaṇāstatra samētya sarvē | saprāṇisaṅghāṅ sagṛhāṅ savṛkṣāṅ | dagdhāṅ purīṅ tāṅ sahasā samīkṣya || 39
All the eminent Rākṣasa hosts spoke in this manner as they surveyed the burning city. (39)
tatastu laṅkā sahasā pradagdhā | sarākṣasā sāśvarathā sanāgā | sapakṣisaṅghā samṛgā savṛkṣā | rurōda dīnā tumulaṅ saśabdam || 40
Lanka, utterly consumed along with its living creatures, wailed pitifully with a loud sound. (40)
hā tāta hā putraka kānta mitra | hā jīvitaṅ bhōgayutaṅ supuṇyam | rakṣōbhirēvaṅ bahudhā bruvadbhiḥ śabdaḥ kṛtō ghōratarassubhīmaḥ || 41
The Rākṣasas lamented for their fathers, sons, and husbands in terrifying cries. (41)
hutāśanajvālasamāvṛtā sā | hatapravīrā parivṛttayōdhā | hanūmataḥ krōdhabalābhibhūtā | babhūva śāpōpahatēva laṅkā || 42
Lanka became as if struck by a curse, overpowered by the hero's wrath. (42)
sa sambhramatrastaviṣaṇṇarākṣasāṅ samujjvalajjvālahutāśanāṅkitām | dadarśa laṅkāṅ hanumānmahāmanāḥ svayambhūkōpōpahatāmivāvanim || 43
Hanuman saw Lanka looking like the earth devastated by the wrath of Brahma. (43)
bhaṅktvā vanaṅ pādaparatnasaṅkulaṅ | hatvā tu rakṣāṅsi mahānti saṅyugē | dagdhvā purīṅ tāṅ gṛharatnamālinīṅ | tasthau hanūmānpavanātmajaḥ kapiḥ || 44
Having ravaged the garden, slain mighty Rākṣasas, and burned the city, Hanuman stood firm. (44)
trikūṭaśṛṅgāgratalē vicitrē pratiṣṭhitō vānararājasiṅhaḥ | pradīptalāṅgūlakṛtārcimālī | vyarājatāditya ivāṅśumālī || 45
Standing on the summit of Trikuta, he shone brilliantly like the sun with his blazing tail. (45)
sa rākṣasāṅstānsubahūṅśca hatvā | vanaṅ ca bhaṅktvā bahupādapaṅ tat | visṛjya rakṣōbhavanēṣu cāgniṅ | jagāma rāmaṅ manasā mahātmā || 46
Having released fire into the dwellings, he focused his mind entirely on Rāma. (46)
tatastu taṅ vānaravīramukhyaṅ | mahābalaṅ mārutatulyavēgam | mahāmatiṅ vāyusutaṅ variṣṭhaṅ | pratuṣṭuvurdēvagaṇāśca sarvē || 47
bhaṅktvā vanaṅ mahātējā hatvā rakṣāṅsi saṅyugē | dagdhvā laṅkāpurīṅ ramyāṅ rarāja sa mahākapiḥ || 48
All celestial hosts praised Hanuman, who shone brightly after destroying Lanka. (47-48)
tatra dēvāssagandharvāssiddhāśca paramarṣayaḥ | dṛṣṭvā laṅkāṅ pradagdhāṅ tāṅ vismayaṅ paramaṅ gatāḥ || 49
taṅ dṛṣṭvā vānaraśrēṣṭhaṅ hanumantaṅ mahākapim | kālāgniriti sañcintya sarvabhūtāni tatrasuḥ || 50
Gods and sages were astonished, while all living beings were struck with terror, perceiving him as the Fire of Cosmic Dissolution (Kālāgni). (49-50)
dēvāśca sarvē munipuṅgavāśca gandharvavidyādharanāgayakṣāḥ | bhūtāni sarvāṇi mahānti tatra | jagmuḥ parāṅ prītimatulyarūpām || 51
All celestial beings attained supreme and incomparable joy. (51)
ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde catuṣpaṁcāśassargaḥ
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