Shloka 31

लङ्कादाहः — The Burning of Lanka

Catuḥpañcāśaḥ Sargaḥ

Devanagari script

ततस्तु लङ्कापुरपर्वताग्रे समुत्थितो भीमपराक्रमोऽग्निः।प्रसार्य चूडावलयं प्रदीप्तो हनूमता वेगवता विसृष्टः।।।।

Transliteration

tatas tu laṅkāpura-parvatāgre samutthito bhīma-parākramaḥ agniḥ | prasārya cūḍāvalayaṃ pradīpto hanūmatā vegavatā visṛṣṭaḥ ||

Translation

ثمّ على قمة جبل مدينة لانكا اندلع نارٌ رهيبُ البأس، أطلقه هانومان السريع، فامتدّ متّقدًا في حلقة كأنها تاجٌ من لهبٍ يدور.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक/अनन्तरवाचक (then)

• तु: indeed / but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/विरोधसूचक (particle)

• लङ्कापुर-पर्वत-अग्रे: on the summit of the mountain of Laṅkā-city
• लङ्कापुर-पर्वत-अग्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्कापुर (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• समुत्थितः: arose
• समुत्थितः: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उत् + स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे विधेय

• भीम-पराक्रमः: of terrible might
• भीम-पराक्रमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक) + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (अग्निः)

• अग्निः: fire
• अग्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रसार्य: having spread
• प्रसार्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + सृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया

• चूडावलयम्: a ring/circle (like a crest)
• चूडावलयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चूडा (प्रातिपदिक) + वलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेष्य (object of प्रसार्य)

• प्रदीप्तः: blazing
• प्रदीप्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + दीप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त (past participle used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (अग्निः)

• हनूमता: by Hanumān
• हनूमता: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनूमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• वेगवता: swift
• वेगवता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (हनूमता)

• विसृष्टः: was released / let loose
• विसृष्टः: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे—'sent forth' (अग्निः)

Context

Hanuman, endowed with great speed, burnt Lanka just as Tripurari, or Rudra burnt theTripuras (three cities of gold, silver and iron).

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Laṅkā
• agni (fire)
• Trikūṭa (implied mountain of Laṅkā in the broader passage)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is portrayed as force directed by duty: energy becomes meaningful when guided by a just mission. Unchecked power destroys blindly; disciplined power restores balance.

What is the narrative situation?

The blaze intensifies and rises high over Laṅkā’s elevated terrain, spreading in a circular sweep as Hanumān’s fire takes hold across the city.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kāryaniṣṭhā (steadfast dedication to the task): Hanumān’s swift and decisive action drives the mission forward without hesitation.