Shloka 37

रामायणकथासंक्षेपः — ब्रह्मोक्तो रामावतारवृत्तान्तः

Devanagari script

कपिर्ज्वलितलाङ्गूलो लङ्कां देहेऽ महाबलः / दग्ध्वा लङ्कां समायातो रामपार्श्वं स वानरः

Transliteration

kapirjvalitalāṅgūlo laṅkāṃ dehe' mahābalaḥ / dagdhvā laṅkāṃ samāyāto rāmapārśvaṃ sa vānaraḥ

Translation

Der mächtige Affe, dessen Schwanz in Flammen stand, setzte Laṅkā in Brand; nachdem er Laṅkā verbrannt hatte, kehrte der Vānara zurück und kam an Rāmas Seite.

Word by Word

• कपिः: the monkey (Hanuman)
• कपिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ज्वलितलाङ्गूलः: with a burning tail
• ज्वलितलाङ्गूलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वलित (कृदन्त; ज्वल् धातु) + लाङ्गूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (ज्वलितं लाङ्गूलं यस्य/ज्वलित-लाङ्गूलः)

• लङ्काम्: Lanka
• लङ्काम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• दहे: I burn / I will burn
• दहे: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महाबलः: mighty
• महाबलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महच्च बलं यस्य)

• दग्ध्वा: having burnt
• दग्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund)

• लङ्काम्: Lanka
• लङ्काम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• समायातः: returned / came back
• समायातः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past active participle in sense); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• रामपार्श्वम्: to Rama's side
• रामपार्श्वम्: Adhikarana (Goal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रामस्य पार्श्वम्)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वानरः: monkey
• वानरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (not a Vishnu–Garuda dialogue line; likely an epic narration)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adharmic acts ripen into immediate consequences; the righteous can convert adversity into dharmic action.

Vedantic Theme: Tejas (inner fire) when aligned with dharma becomes transformative rather than destructive to the self.

Application: When wronged, respond with disciplined purpose; channel anger into constructive, principled action.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: city/battlefield route

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.143.36 (tail ignited); Garuda Purana 1.143.38 (report to Rama and token)

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Hanuman (Kapi/Vānara)
• Lanka

FAQs

What is the importance of Hanuman burning Lanka in the tradition?

It symbolizes the triumph of devotion and divine mission over adharma, and serves as a turning point that weakens Ravana’s confidence while affirming Rama’s cause.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s afterlife teachings?

It does not directly map onto Garuda Purana’s preta/karma/afterlife framework; it reads as Ramayana narration, so any afterlife-based interpretation would be forced without the correct Garuda Purana context.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Act with courage and disciplined strength in righteous duties, and return to serve the higher purpose rather than seeking personal glory.