Shloka 5.54.36

लङ्कादाहः — The Burning of Lanka (Catuḥpañcāśaḥ Sargaḥ)

Devanagari script

किं ब्रह्मणस्सर्वपितामहस्य सर्वस्य धातुश्चतुराननस्य।इहाऽऽगतो वानररूपधारी रक्षोपसंहारकरः प्रकोपः।।।।

Transliteration

kiṁ brahmaṇaḥ sarva-pitāmahasya sarvasya dhātuś catur-ānanasya |

ihāgato vānararūpa-dhārī rakṣopasaṁhārakaraḥ prakopaḥ ||

Translation

“Could this be the wrath of four-faced Brahmā—the grandsire of all, the creator of the worlds—come here wearing a monkey’s form, intent on the destruction of the rākṣasas?”

Context

'Or is it Grandfather Brahma, the supreme four-faced god enraged and arrived in the form of vanara to kill the clan of demons?

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Caturānana, Svayambhū implied)
• rākṣasas
• vānara-rūpa (monkey form)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as protected by cosmic governance: when adharma reaches excess, even the highest powers are imagined as intervening to restore balance.

What is the narrative situation?

The rākṣasas, unable to accept that a single vanara could do this, hypothesize a divine agency—Brahmā’s wrath—behind the destruction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s role as dharma-sādhaka (agent of righteous purpose) is indirectly affirmed: his actions appear superhuman and aligned with restoration of order.