Shloka 49

लङ्कादाहः — The Burning of Lanka

Catuḥpañcāśaḥ Sargaḥ

Devanagari script

तं दृष्ट्वा वानरश्रेष्ठं हनुमन्तं महाकपिम्।कालाग्निरिति सञ्चिन्त्य सर्वभूतानि तत्रसुः।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā vānaraśreṣṭhaṃ hanumantaṃ mahākapim | kālāgnir iti sañcintya sarvabhūtāni tatrasuḥ ||

Translation

വാനരശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ മഹാകപിയായ ഹനുമാനെ കണ്ടപ്പോൾ, ‘ഇവൻ കാളാഗ്നിയത്രേ’ എന്നു വിചാരിച്ച് അവിടെ സകലഭൂതങ്ങളും വിറച്ചു.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (कृदन्त, त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund)

• वानर-श्रेष्ठम्: best of vanaras
• वानर-श्रेष्ठम्: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘वानराणां श्रेष्ठः’ (best of vanaras)

• हनुमन्तम्: Hanuman
• हनुमन्तम्: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• महा-कपिम्: great monkey
• महा-कपिम्: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘महान् कपिः’

• काल-अग्निः: the fire of dissolution
• काल-अग्निः: Karma (कर्म; as content of thought)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘कालस्य अग्निः’ (fire of dissolution)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्ति-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• सञ्चिन्त्य: having thought
• सञ्चिन्त्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+चिन्त् (धातु) → सञ्चिन्त्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having thought/considered’

• सर्व-भूतानि: all beings
• सर्व-भूतानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘सर्वाणि भूतानि’ (all beings)

• तत्रसुः: were afraid
• तत्रसुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

All gods, great sages, gandharvas, vidyadharas, nagas and yakshas and all great beings experienced supreme joy.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē catuḥpañcāśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the fiftyfourth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Kālāgni (fire of dissolution)
• All beings (sarvabhūta)

FAQs

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

When dharma manifests as unstoppable corrective force, it can appear terrifying—yet that fear functions ethically by restraining adharma and warning against injustice.

What is the narrative situation?

As Hanuman blazes through Lanka, observers interpret his fiery form as the cosmic fire of destruction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Formidable righteous power: his presence becomes a deterrent to wrongdoing.