Valmiki Ramayana 5.4.2: Sundara Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 2
लङ्काप्रवेशः · Hanuman’s Stealth Entry and Survey of Lanka
Setting: Laṅkā (city limits/entry point)Entry into Laṅkā at the start of reconnaissance
प्रविश्य नगरीं लङ्कां कपिराजहितंकरः ॥२॥
चक्रेऽथ पादं सव्यं च शत्रूणां स तु मूर्धनि ।
praviśya nagarīṃ laṅkāṃ kapirājahitaṃkaraḥ ||2||
cakre ’tha pādaṃ savyaṃ ca śatrūṇāṃ sa tu mūrdhani |
लंका शहर में अंदर गया हनुमान। वानर राज के लिए यह अच्छा काम था। उसने बायीं पाँव आगे रखा। ऐसा लग रहा था जैसे दुश्मन के सिर पर पाँव रख दिया हो। यह इशारा था कि अब जीत पक्की है।
Sandhi Notes
- cakre’tha = cakre + atha (e→e’ before vowel)
- nagarīṃ laṅkāṃ: anusvāra before l (ṃ + l)
Hanuman, a devotee of the king of monkeys entered the city of Lanka placing his left foot first on the forehead of the city and proceeded (by tradition one enters the enemy's dwelling by placing the left foot first to cause defeat of the enemy).
The teaching
Firm resolve in a righteous mission turns even entry into hostile space into a sign of eventual victory.
- Ethical theme
- Kartavya-niṣṭhā (steadfast duty)
For your practice
Invokes bhāva of vīrya and niścaya for sādhaka: begin difficult tasks with clear intention and fearlessness.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism), with Bhayanaka (fear)
- Mood
- Bold, ominous, resolute
Themes
- Itihasa
- Dharma
- Maryada
Crossing the threshold with firm saṅkalpa resembles the movement from hesitation to niścaya—mind established in purpose, not swayed by fear.
Īśa’s call to act in the world with clarity (kurvann eveha karmāṇi): purposeful action even amid danger.
- Hanuman and Lanka
- Invader-scout entering hostile territory (defiant)
- Hanuman and Sugriva
- Mission undertaken for the monkey-king’s welfare (loyal)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 5.2-5.3 (approach and entry into Laṅkā); Yuddhakāṇḍa: later literal conquest imagery of Laṅkā’s ‘head’ being subdued
Śakuna-śāstra cultural motif: left-foot entry as inauspicious for the enemy, auspicious for conqueror
Hanumān’s role as dūta and scout: later burning of Laṅkā (5.54-5.57) foreshadowed by conquest-gesture
Anuṣṭup
Commanding
Udātta-leaning, martial cadence; slight pause after ‘praviśya nagarīṃ laṅkām’
FAQs
Dharma here is duty-bound courage in service: Hanumān enters enemy territory not for personal gain, but to fulfill his entrusted mission for Rāma and for the welfare of his ally Sugrīva.
Hanumān has reached Laṅkā and formally steps into the enemy’s city, beginning his reconnaissance to locate Sītā and assess threats.
Fearless resolve and strategic intelligence—he understands signs/omens and proceeds with deliberate intent while remaining focused on the mission.
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