Shloka 5.55.26

लङ्कादाहानन्तरचिन्ता — Hanuman’s Post-Conflagration Self-Examination and Assurance of Sita’s Safety

Devanagari script

यद्वा दहनकर्मायं सर्वत्र प्रभुरव्ययः।न मे दहति लाङ्गूलं कथमार्यां प्रधक्ष्यति।।।

Transliteration

yad vā dahanakarmāyaṃ sarvatra prabhur avyayaḥ | na me dahati lāṅgūlaṃ katham āryāṃ pradhakṣyati ||

Translation

Or else—this unfailing lord of burning, fire, has not even burned my tail; how then could he burn the noble lady Sita?

Context

'If not so, the fire-god who never fails in burning has not burnt my tail. How will he burn noble Sita?'

Characters & Entities

• Agni (fire-god / fire)
• Sita
• Hanuman (tail)

FAQs

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

Dharma is seen as harmonizing nature and divinity: fire itself behaves in a way that supports the righteous outcome, suggesting cosmic order protects virtue.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanuman notes that despite being set on fire, his tail did not burn, and he interprets this as a sign that Sita too would not be harmed by the conflagration in Lanka.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanuman’s discernment (buddhi) and faith: he reads extraordinary events as meaningful indications aligned with dharma.