Shloka 31

लङ्कादाहः — The Burning of Lanka

Catuḥpañcāśaḥ Sargaḥ

Devanagari script

ततस्तु लङ्कापुरपर्वताग्रे समुत्थितो भीमपराक्रमोऽग्निः।प्रसार्य चूडावलयं प्रदीप्तो हनूमता वेगवता विसृष्टः।।।।

Transliteration

tatas tu laṅkāpura-parvatāgre samutthito bhīma-parākramaḥ agniḥ | prasārya cūḍāvalayaṃ pradīpto hanūmatā vegavatā visṛṣṭaḥ ||

Translation

Entonces, en la cima del monte de la ciudad de Laṅkā, el fuego de terrible poder—soltado por el veloz Hanumān—se alzó, extendiéndose en un anillo, como una corona de llamas que circunda.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक/अनन्तरवाचक (then)

• तु: indeed / but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/विरोधसूचक (particle)

• लङ्कापुर-पर्वत-अग्रे: on the summit of the mountain of Laṅkā-city
• लङ्कापुर-पर्वत-अग्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्कापुर (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• समुत्थितः: arose
• समुत्थितः: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उत् + स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे विधेय

• भीम-पराक्रमः: of terrible might
• भीम-पराक्रमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक) + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (अग्निः)

• अग्निः: fire
• अग्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रसार्य: having spread
• प्रसार्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + सृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया

• चूडावलयम्: a ring/circle (like a crest)
• चूडावलयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चूडा (प्रातिपदिक) + वलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेष्य (object of प्रसार्य)

• प्रदीप्तः: blazing
• प्रदीप्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + दीप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त (past participle used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (अग्निः)

• हनूमता: by Hanumān
• हनूमता: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनूमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• वेगवता: swift
• वेगवता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (हनूमता)

• विसृष्टः: was released / let loose
• विसृष्टः: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे—'sent forth' (अग्निः)

Context

Hanuman, endowed with great speed, burnt Lanka just as Tripurari, or Rudra burnt theTripuras (three cities of gold, silver and iron).

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Laṅkā
• agni (fire)
• Trikūṭa (implied mountain of Laṅkā in the broader passage)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as force directed by duty: energy becomes meaningful when guided by a just mission. Unchecked power destroys blindly; disciplined power restores balance.

What is the narrative situation?

The blaze intensifies and rises high over Laṅkā’s elevated terrain, spreading in a circular sweep as Hanumān’s fire takes hold across the city.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kāryaniṣṭhā (steadfast dedication to the task): Hanumān’s swift and decisive action drives the mission forward without hesitation.