Shloka 5.54.5

लङ्कादाहः — The Burning of Lanka (Catuḥpañcāśaḥ Sargaḥ)

Devanagari script

यो ह्ययं मम लाङ्गूले दीप्यते हव्यवाहनः।अस्य सन्तर्पणं न्याय्यं कर्तुमेभिर्गृहोत्तमैः।।।।

Transliteration

tatra devāḥ sa-gandharvāḥ siddhāś ca paramarṣayaḥ | dṛṣṭvā laṅkāṃ pradagdhāṃ tāṃ vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatāḥ ||

Translation

There the gods, together with the Gandharvas, Siddhas, and great Ṛṣis, beheld Lanka ablaze and were struck with the highest astonishment.

Context

'It would be proper to satiate this fire at the end of my tail by offering it to these excellent mansions (I shall set fire to these houses).

Characters & Entities

• Lanka
• Devas
• Gandharvas
• Siddhas
• Rishis (Paramarshis)

FAQs

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

The cosmos is a witness to moral struggle: dharma and adharma are not private matters; righteous acts reverberate and are ‘seen’ by higher orders of beings.

What is the narrative situation?

Celestial beings observe the burning of Lanka caused by Hanuman and react with amazement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Awe-inspiring capability under dharma: Hanuman’s act is so extraordinary that it draws universal attention.