Shloka 32

लाङ्गूलदाह-पर्यटनम्

The Burning Tail and the Parade through Laṅkā

Devanagari script

ततस्तीक्ष्णार्चिरव्यग्रः प्रदक्षिणशिखोऽनलः।।5.53.32।।जज्वाल मृगशाबाक्ष्या श्शंसन्निव शिवं कपेः।

Transliteration

tatas tīkṣṇārcir avyagraḥ pradakṣiṇaśikho 'nalaḥ ||5.53.32|| jajvāla mṛgaśābākṣyāḥ śaṃsann iva śivaṃ kapeḥ |

Translation

അപ്പോൾ തീക്ഷ്ണജ്വാലകൾ സ്ഥിരമായി, ദക്ഷിണാവർത്തമായി ശുഭമായി തിരിയുന്ന ശിഖകളോടെ അഗ്നി ജ്വലിച്ചു—മൃഗശാവകനെത്രയായ സീതാദേവിയോട് കപിയുടെ ക്ഷേമം അറിയിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sequence/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक

• तीक्ष्ण-अर्चिः: with sharp/intense flames
• तीक्ष्ण-अर्चिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमासः (‘तीक्ष्णा अर्चिः यस्य’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अनलः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अव्यग्रः: steady / unagitated
• अव्यग्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अनलः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• प्रदक्षिण-शिखः: whose flame-tips moved to the right (auspiciously)
• प्रदक्षिण-शिखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रदक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + शिख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमासः (‘प्रदक्षिणा शिखा यस्य’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अनलः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अनलः: fire
• अनलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जज्वाल: blazed
• जज्वाल: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मृग-शाब-अक्ष्याः: of the fawn-eyed lady (Sita)
• मृग-शाब-अक्ष्याः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक) + शाब (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (उपमानपूर्वक: ‘मृगशाबस्य इव अक्षिणी यस्याः’—idiomatic); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शंसन्: assuring / proclaiming
• शंसन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शंस् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय, Present Active Participle) ‘शंसन्’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अनलः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• इव: as if
• इव: Comparator (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

• शिवम्: auspiciousness / good
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कपेः: for/of the monkey (Hanuman)
• कपेः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

Then the tips of the intense flame appeared steadily moving to the fawn-eyed Sita indicating the fire-god's auspiciousness and safety to Hanuman.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Hanumān
• Agni (Fire-god)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as protected by cosmic forces: when a mission is righteous, nature itself can become an ally rather than a threat.

What is the narrative situation?

After Sītā’s prayer, the fire behaves in an auspicious manner, indicating that Hanumān will not be harmed as expected.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s faith and Hanumān’s righteous service (sevā) are implicitly validated by the auspicious sign.