Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 32

तृतीयः सर्गः (Bālakāṇḍa 3): Vālmīki’s Yogic Verification and the Epic Synopsis

Devanagari script

राक्षसीविद्रवं चैव किङ्कराणां निबर्हणम् ।ग्रहणं वायुसूनोश्च लङ्कादाहाभिगर्जनम् ।।।।

Transliteration

rākṣasīvidravaṃ caiva kiṅkarāṇāṃ nibarhaṇam | grahaṇaṃ vāyusūnoś ca laṅkādāhābhigarjanam ||

Translation

（彼は語る）羅刹女たちの潰走、ラーヴァナの従者キンカラの討滅、風神の子ハヌマーンの捕縛、そして猛き咆哮とともにランカーを焼き払ったことを。

Word by Word

• राक्षसीविद्रवम्: flight of the demonesses
• राक्षसीविद्रवम्: Karma (कर्म) / listed item
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसी + विद्रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राक्षसीनां विद्रवः = flight/panic)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• किङ्कराणाम्: of the servants
• किङ्कराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Plural)

• निबर्हणम्: killing/destroying
• निबर्हणम्: Karma (कर्म) / listed item
• Type: Noun
• Root: निबर्हण (प्रातिपदिक; √बर्ह्/बृह्? ‘to destroy’—usage as ‘slaying’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ग्रहणम्: seizure/capture
• ग्रहणम्: Karma (कर्म) / listed item
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रहण (प्रातिपदिक; √ग्रह् धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वायुसूनोः: of the son of Wind (Hanumān)
• वायुसूनोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु + सूनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वायोः सूनुः)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• लङ्कादाहाभिगर्जनम्: burning of Laṅkā and fierce roaring
• लङ्कादाहाभिगर्जनम्: Karma (कर्म) / listed item
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का + दाह + अभिगर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (लङ्कादाहः च अभिगर्जनम् च) — ‘burning of Laṅkā and roaring’

Context

(He described) the flight of the female demons, the killing of the servants (of Ravana),the seizure of Hanuman and the burning of Lanka (by Hanuman) with a ferocious roar.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasīs (demonesses)
• Kiṅkaras (attendants of Rāvaṇa)
• Hanumān (Vāyusūnu)
• Laṅkā

FAQs

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

Righteous force as deterrence: when adharma persists (terror in Laṅkā), measured destruction serves as a moral warning and strategic act to protect the innocent and uphold truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Nārada summarizes the escalation in Laṅkā: Hanumān defeats attendants, is captured, and then retaliates by setting Laṅkā ablaze.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s courage and unwavering commitment to Rāma’s cause, combining strength with mission-focused intent.