Shloka 43

लङ्कादाहः — The Burning of Lanka

Catuḥpañcāśaḥ Sargaḥ

Devanagari script

भङ्क्त्वा वनं पादपरत्नसङ्कुलं हत्वा तु रक्षांसि महान्ति संयुगे।दग्ध्वा पुरीं तां गृहरत्नमालिनीं तस्थौ हनूमान्पवनात्मजः कपिः।।।।

Transliteration

bhaṅktvā vanaṃ pādaparatnasaṅkulaṃ hatvā tu rakṣāṃsi mahānti saṃyuge | dagdhvā purīṃ tāṃ gṛharatnamālinīṃ tasthau hanūmān pavanātmajaḥ kapiḥ ||

Translation

見事な樹々に満ちた林を打ち砕き、戦いで強大な羅刹を討ち、宝石のごとき家々が連なるその都を焼き尽くしたのち、風神の子ハヌマーンなる猿は、揺るがず立ち尽くした。

Word by Word

• भङ्क्त्वा: having broken
• भङ्क्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भञ्ज् (धातु) → भङ्क्त्वा (कृदन्त, त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having broken’

• वनम्: the grove
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• पादप-रत्न-सङ्कुलम्: crowded with jewel-like trees
• पादप-रत्न-सङ्कुलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पादप (प्रातिपदिक) + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘रत्नवत् पादपाः’ (कर्मधारय) + ‘तैः सङ्कुलम्’ (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• हत्वा: having killed
• हत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) → हत्वा (कृदन्त, त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having slain’

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle: emphasis/contrast)

• रक्षांसि: demons
• रक्षांसि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• महान्ति: great/mighty
• महान्ति: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• संयुगे: in battle
• संयुगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• दग्ध्वा: having burned
• दग्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु) → दग्ध्वा (कृदन्त, त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having burned’

• पुरीम्: the city
• पुरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम, विशेषणरूपेण

• गृह-रत्न-मालिनीम्: adorned with rows of splendid houses
• गृह-रत्न-मालिनीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक) + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + मालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘रत्नवत् गृहाणि’ (कर्मधारय) + ‘तैः मालिनी’ (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: adorned with rows of jewel-like houses)

• तस्थौ: stood
• तस्थौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हनूमान्: Hanuman
• हनूमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पवन-आत्मजः: son of the Wind-god
• पवन-आत्मजः: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवन (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘पवनस्य आत्मजः’ (son of the Wind)

• कपिः: the monkey
• कपिः: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Context

Great Hanuman, sought Rama's presence in his mind after killing many demons, breaking down many trees of the garden, and setting fire to the mansions of demons.

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Vayu (Wind-god)
• Rakshasas
• Lanka (implied by 'city')

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as resolute service to a righteous cause: force is used as a measured instrument against adharma (Rakshasa aggression) to advance Rama’s quest, not for personal gain.

What is the narrative situation?

The verse summarizes Hanuman’s completed acts in Lanka—destroying the grove, defeating Rakshasas, and burning parts of the city—after which he pauses, steady and unshaken.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness and composure after intense action: strength guided by purpose, not intoxicated by violence.