Shloka 5.58.156

सुन्दरकाण्डे अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः — हनुमद्वृत्तान्तकथनम्, सीताभिज्ञान-प्रदानम्, लङ्कादाह-वर्णनम्

Devanagari script

विनष्टा जानकी व्यक्तं न ह्यदग्धः प्रदृश्यते।।5.58.156।।लङ्कायां कश्चिदुद्धेशः सर्वा भस्मीकृता पुरी।

Transliteration

vinaṣṭā jānakī vyaktaṃ na hy adagdhaḥ pradṛśyate |

laṅkāyāṃ kaścid uddeśaḥ sarvā bhasmīkṛtā purī ||

Translation

Surely Jānakī has been destroyed—no place in Lanka appears left unburnt; the entire city has been reduced to ash.

Characters & Entities

• Janaki (Sita)
• Lanka
• Hanuman (implied thinker)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes accountability: Hanuman immediately measures his actions against Rama’s objective and fears unintended harm to the innocent.

What is the narrative situation?

After setting Lanka ablaze, Hanuman looks upon the destruction and worries that Sita may have been burned as well.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hri (moral shame) and responsibility: even a victorious act is questioned if it may violate protection of the blameless.