Sundarakanda Sarga 55: Hanumān’s Anxiety and Reassurance (Full Text & Meaning) 

Summary of Sarga 55

| Detail | Total Shlokas: 35 | Primary Character: Hanumān | Key Events: Hanūmad-Viciṁtanam (Hanuman's reflection), Krōdha-Nindā (Condemnation of anger), Sītā-Rakṣā-Niścayaḥ (Confidence in Sita's safety) | Location: Shore of the ocean and Lanka | 

Section 1: Hanumān's Self-Reproach (Shlokas 1–13)

laṅkāṅ samastāṅ sandīpya lāṅgūlāgniṅ mahābalaḥ | nirvāpayāmāsa tadā samudrē harisattamaḥ || 1 

sandīpyamānāṅ vidhvastāṅ trastarakṣōgaṇāṅ purīm | āvēkṣya hanumān laṅkāṅ cintayāmāsa vānaraḥ || 2

The immensely powerful Hanuman, having set all of Lanka ablaze with the fire of his tail, extinguished it in the ocean. Seeing the city—ablaze, shattered, and filled with terrified Rakshasas—Hanuman began to ponder.

tasyābhūtsumahāṅstrāsaḥ kutsā cātmanyajāyata | laṅkāṅ pradahatā karma kiṅsvitkṛtamidaṅ mayā || 3

A great fear arose in him, and self-reproach was born in his heart: 'What deed is this that I have done by burning Lanka?'

dhanyāstē puruṣaśrēṣṭhā yē buddhyā kōpamutthitam | nirundhanti mahātmānō dīptamagnimivāmbhasā || 4

"Blessed are those best of men who, with wisdom, restrain rising anger. Great-souled ones extinguish it with patience, just as water puts out fire."

kruddhaḥ pāpaṅ na kuryātkaḥ kruddhō hanyādgurūnapi | kruddhaḥ paruṣayā vācā narassādhūnadhikṣipēt || 5 

vācyāvācyaṅ prakupitō na vijānāti karhicit | nākāryamasti kruddhasya nāvācyaṅ vidyatē kvacit || 6 

yassamutpatitaṅ krōdhaṅ kṣamayaiva nirasyati | yathōragastvacaṅ jīrṇāṅ sa vai puruṣ ucyatē || 7

"Who is there that, being angry, would not commit a sin? An enraged person may even slay his preceptors or insult virtuous people. An infuriated person never knows what should be spoken. He who casts off rising anger with forgiveness, like a serpent shedding its skin, is called a true man."

dhigastu māṅ sudurbuddhiṅ nirlajjaṅ pāpakṛttamam | acintayitvā tāṅ sītāmagnidaṅ svāmighātukam || 8 

yadi dagdhā tviyaṅ laṅkā nūnamāryā.pi jānakī | dagdhā tēna mayā bharturhitaṅ kāryamajānatā || 9

"Shame upon me, so foolish and shameless! Not having thought of Sita Devi, I have set this fire, thereby destroying Rama's purpose. If Lanka is burnt, noble Janaki also must have been consumed. I have acted without knowing what is beneficial for my master."

yadarthamayamārambhaḥ tatkārya mavasāditam | mayā hi dahatā laṅkāṅ na sītā parirakṣitā || 10 

īṣatkāryamidaṅ kāryaṅ kṛtamāsīnna saṅśayaḥ | tasya krōdhābhibhūtēna mayā mūlakṣayaḥ kṛtaḥ || 11

"The very purpose for which this was begun has been ruined. By me, who burnt Lanka, Sita was not protected. Anger has destroyed the main goal."

vinaṣṭā jānakī nūnaṅ na hyadagdhaḥ pradṛśyatē | laṅkāyāṅ kaściduddhēśaḥ sarvā bhasmīkṛtā purī || 12 

yadi tadvihataṅ kāryaṅ mama prajñāviparyayāt | ihaiva prāṇasaṅnyāsō mamāpi hyadya rōcatē || 13

"Surely Janaki is lost, for the entire city is reduced to ashes. If the mission is ruined due to my failure of judgment, then giving up my life right here is agreeable to me."

Section 3: Divine Signs and Reassurance (Shlokas 22–35)

iti cintayatastasya nimittānyupapēdirē | pūrvamapyupalabdhāni sākṣāt punaracintayat || 22

While pondering, auspicious signs appeared to him, which he had observed before, and he began to reflect again.

athavā cārusarvāṅgī rakṣitā svēna tējasā | na naśiṣyati kalyāṇī nāgniragnau pravartatē || 23 

na hi dharmātmanastasya bhāryāmamita tējasaḥ | svacāritrābhiguptāṅ tāṅ spraṣṭumarhati pāvakaḥ || 24

"Or, perhaps the embodiment of auspiciousness is protected by her own spiritual power. Fire does not consume fire. It is not worthy to touch the wife of the righteous Rama, for she is protected by her own virtuous conduct."

nūnaṅ rāmaprabhāvēṇa vaidēhyāssukṛtēna ca | yanmāṅ dahanakarmāyaṅ nādahat havyavāhanaḥ || 25

"Surely it is due to Rama's power and Sita's merit that the fire did not consume me."

trayāṇāṅ bharatādīnāṅ bhrātrūṇāṅ dēvatā ca yā | rāmasya ca manaḥ kāntā sā kathaṅ vinaśiṣyati || 26 

yadvā dahanakarmāyaṅ sarvatra prabhuravyayaḥ | na mē dahati lāṅgūlaṅ kathamāryāṅ pradhakṣyati || 27

"How can Sita perish, who is the deity to the three brothers and the beloved of Rama? If fire did not burn my tail, how will it consume noble Sita?"

punaścācintayattatra hanumānvismitastadā | hiraṇyanābhasya girērjalamadhyē pradarśanam || 28

"If Mainaka mountain appeared to help Rama's mission, why would the Fire God not similarly protect Sita?"

tapasā satyāyākyēna ananyatvācca bhartari | api sā nirdahēdagniṅ na tāmagniḥ pradhakṣyati || 29

"By her penance, truthful word, and unwavering devotion, she could perish the fire itself; the fire will certainly not consume her."

sa tathā cintayaṅstatra dēvyā dharmaparigraham | śuśrāva hanumānvākyaṅ cāraṇānāṅ mahātmanām || 30

While pondering, he heard the words of the celestial beings (Charanas).

ahō khalu kṛtaṅ karma duṣkaraṅ hi hanūmatā | agniṅ visṛjatā.bhīkṣṇaṅ bhīmaṅ rākṣasavēśmani || 31 

prapalāyitarakṣaḥ strībālavṛddhasamākulā | janakōlāhalādhmātā krandantīvādrikandaraiḥ || 32 

dagdhēyaṅ nagarī sarvā sāṭṭaprākāratōraṇā | jānakī na ca dagdhēti vismayō.dbhuta ēva naḥ || 33

"Oh, what a remarkable feat has been accomplished by Hanuman! This entire city has been burnt, yet Janaki is not consumed by the fire—this is a marvelous wonder to us."

sa nimittaiśca dṛṣṭārthaiḥ kāraṇaiśca mahāguṇaiḥ | ṛṣivākyaiśca hanumānabhavatprītamānasaḥ || 34

By these signs, visible proofs, and words of sages, Hanuman became gladdened.

tataḥ kapiḥ prāptamanōrathāḥ thastāmakṣatāṅ rājasutāṅ viditvā | pratyakṣatastāṅ punarēva dṛṣṭavā pratiprayāṇāya matiṅ cakāra || 35

Having ascertained that Sita was unharmed and seeing her directly once more, Hanuman resolved to begin his journey back.

ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde paṃcapaṃcāśassargaḥ