Shloka 3

लाङ्गूलदाह-पर्यटनम्

The Burning Tail and the Parade through Laṅkā

Devanagari script

कपीनां किल लाङ्गूलमिष्टं भवति भूषणम्।तदस्य दीप्यतां शीघ्रं तेन दग्धेन गच्छतु।।5.53.3।।

Transliteration

kapīnāṃ kila lāṅgūlam iṣṭaṃ bhavati bhūṣaṇam | tad asya dīpyatāṃ śīghraṃ tena dagdhena gacchatu ||5.53.3||

Translation

「猿にとって尾は愛すべきもの、まことにその飾りだという。ならば急いでその尾に火をつけ、燃える尾を負わせて行かせよ。」

Word by Word

• कपीनाम्: of the monkeys
• कपीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• किल: indeed
• किल: सम्बन्ध (निपात/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle; emphasis/indeed

• लाङ्गूलम्: tail
• लाङ्गूलम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाङ्गूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as subject (प्रथमा)

• इष्टम्: dear/desired
• इष्टम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (कृदन्त; √इष्/इच्छ् + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjectival to लाङ्गूलम्

• भवति: is/becomes
• भवति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भूषणम्: an ornament
• भूषणम्: प्रधानीय-विशेष्य/विधेय (Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate nominative (प्रथमा)

• तत्: that (tail)
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; deictic pronoun, object of implied action 'make/burn'

• अस्य: of him (his)
• अस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम्/अदस्-प्रत्ययान्त तद्-समूह (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक: अस्य = एष/असौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• दीप्यताम्: let it be set on fire
• दीप्यताम्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दीप् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive sense), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): 'let it be kindled'

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तेन: by that
• तेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• दग्धेन: burning/burnt
• दग्धेन: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दग्ध (कृदन्त; √दह् + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; adjectival to तेन

• गच्छतु: let him go
• गच्छतु: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'let him go'

Context

"If wise Rama has some compassion for me, if there is any residue of good luck for me, to Hanuman be cool O Fire-god.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Laṅkā
• rākṣasas
• lāṅgūla (tail)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the abuse of power and cruelty as a mark of adharma—punishment motivated by humiliation rather than justice.

What is the narrative situation?

After capturing Hanumān in Laṅkā, the rākṣasas decide to disgrace him by igniting his tail, then releasing him to spread fear.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (in the broader episode), Hanumān’s fortitude and mission-focused discipline stand out against the rākṣasas’ vindictiveness.