Shloka 46

लङ्कादाहः — The Burning of Lanka

Catuḥpañcāśaḥ Sargaḥ

Devanagari script

ततस्तु तं वानरवीरमुख्यं महाबलं मारुततुल्यवेगम्।महामतिं वायुसुतं वरिष्ठं प्रतुष्टुवुर्देवगणाश्च सर्वे।।।।

Transliteration

tatas tu taṃ vānaravīramukhyaṃ mahābalaṃ mārutatulyavegam | mahāmatiṃ vāyusutaṃ variṣṭhaṃ pratuṣṭuvur devagaṇāś ca sarve ||

Translation

ततः सर्वे देवगणाः तं वानरवीरमुख्यं महाबलम्। मारुततुल्यवेगं महामतिं वायुसुतं वरिष्ठं प्रतुष्टुवुः॥

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: then)

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

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

• वानर-वीर-मुख्यम्: chief of vanara heroes
• वानर-वीर-मुख्यम्: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘वानरवीराणां मुख्यः’ (chief of vanara heroes)

• महाबलम्: very strong
• महाबलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘great-strong’

• मारुत-तुल्य-वेगम्: with speed equal to the wind
• मारुत-तुल्य-वेगम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मारुत (प्रातिपदिक) + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘मारुतेन तुल्यः’ (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष) + वेगः (having speed)

• महामतिम्: very wise
• महामतिम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘very wise’

• वायु-सुतम्: son of the Wind
• वायु-सुतम्: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘वायोः सुतः’

• वरिष्ठम्: the best
• वरिष्ठम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; इष्ठ-प्रत्यय (superlative: best/excellent)

• प्रतुष्टुवुः: praised
• प्रतुष्टुवुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• देव-गणाः: hosts of gods
• देव-गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘देवानां गणाः’ (hosts of gods)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Context

The gandharvas, gods, siddhas and great sages were amazed at seeing the burning city of Lanka৷৷

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Vayu
• Devas (gods)

FAQs

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

Divine praise signals moral legitimacy: when strength and speed serve a righteous end, the cosmos ‘approves’—dharma is not mere power but power aligned with justice and truth.

What is the narrative situation?

After Hanuman’s feat in Lanka, the gods extol his qualities and accomplishment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Excellence in capability joined to wisdom: heroism is complete only when guided by discernment.