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VĀLMĪKI RĀMĀYAṆA · CHAPTER 54
सुन्दरकाण्डम् · सर्गः 54
Hanuman carries fire across Lanka’s buildings, sparing Vibhishana’s house. The chapter describes both his overwhelming force and the suffering within the burning city.
An edition-specific reading with original English meanings. Source & reading notes
SCENE 01 · VERSES 1–51
The narrative follows the spreading fire, the inhabitants’ distress and Hanuman’s return of thought to Rama.
वीक्षमाणस्ततो लङ्कां कपिः कृतमनोरथः ।
vīkṣamāṇastato laṅkāṃ kapiḥ kṛtamanorathaḥ |
Looking over Lanka after accomplishing his immediate purpose,
वर्धमानसमुत्साहः कार्यशेषमचिन्तयत् ॥
vardhamānasamutsāhaḥ kāryaśeṣamacintayat ||
the vanara's enthusiasm grew as he considered what remained.
किं नु खल्ववशिष्टं मे कर्तव्यमिह साम्प्रतम् ।
kiṃ nu khalvavaśiṣṭaṃ me kartavyamiha sāmpratam |
'What remains for me to do here now
यदेषां रक्षसां भूयः संतापजननं भवेत् ॥
yadeṣāṃ rakṣasāṃ bhūyaḥ saṃtāpajananaṃ bhavet ||
that would bring further distress to these rakshasas?
वनं तावत्प्रमथितं प्रकृष्टा राक्षसा हताः ।
vanaṃ tāvatpramathitaṃ prakṛṣṭā rākṣasā hatāḥ |
The grove is wrecked, eminent rakshasas killed,
बलैकदेशः क्षपितः शेषं दुर्गविनाशनम् ॥
balaikadeśaḥ kṣapitaḥ śeṣaṃ durgavināśanam ||
and part of the army destroyed; the fortress remains to be ruined.
दुर्गे विनाशिते कर्म भवेत् सुखपरिश्रमम् ।
durge vināśite karma bhavet sukhapariśramam |
If the fortress is destroyed, my labour will bear further fruit;
अल्पयत्नेन कार्येऽस्मिन् मम स्यात् सफलः श्रमः ॥
alpayatnena kārye’smin mama syāt saphalaḥ śramaḥ ||
a little additional effort will make this undertaking successful.
यो ह्ययं मम लाङ्गूले दीप्यते हव्यवाहनः ।
yo hyayaṃ mama lāṅgūle dīpyate havyavāhanaḥ |
The bearer of offerings burns upon my tail;
अस्य संतर्पणं न्याय्यं कर्तुमेभिर्गृहोत्तमैः ॥
asya saṃtarpaṇaṃ nyāyyaṃ kartumebhirgṛhottamaiḥ ||
it is fitting to feed this fire with these splendid houses.'
ततः प्रदीप्तलाङ्गूलः सविद्युदिव तोयदः ।
tataḥ pradīptalāṅgūlaḥ savidyudiva toyadaḥ |
With his tail aflame, like a cloud carrying lightning,
भवनाग्रेषु लङ्काया विचचार महाकपिः ॥
bhavanāgreṣu laṅkāyā vicacāra mahākapiḥ ||
the great vanara moved across Lanka's rooftops.
गृहाद् गृहं राक्षसानामुद्यानानि च वानरः ।
gṛhād gṛhaṃ rākṣasānāmudyānāni ca vānaraḥ |
Fearlessly he passed from rakshasa house to house,
वीक्षमाणो ह्यसंत्रस्तः प्रासादांश्च चचार सः ॥
vīkṣamāṇo hyasaṃtrastaḥ prāsādāṃśca cacāra saḥ ||
surveying gardens and travelling across lofty mansions.
अवप्लुत्य महावेगः प्रहस्तस्य निवेशनम् ।
avaplutya mahāvegaḥ prahastasya niveśanam |
Leaping onto Prahasta's residence,
अग्निं तत्र विनिक्षिप्य श्वसनेन समो बली ॥
agniṃ tatra vinikṣipya śvasanena samo balī ||
that mighty one, swift as the wind, set fire to it.
ततोऽन्यत् पुप्लुवे वेश्म महापार्श्वस्य वीर्यवान् ।
tato’nyat pupluve veśma mahāpārśvasya vīryavān |
Then the powerful Hanuman leapt to Mahaparshva's house
मुमोच हनुमानग्निं कालानलशिखोपमम् ॥
mumoca hanumānagniṃ kālānalaśikhopamam ||
and released fire like the flame of final destruction.
वज्रदंष्ट्रस्य च तथा पुप्लुवे स महाकपिः ।
vajradaṃṣṭrasya ca tathā pupluve sa mahākapiḥ |
The radiant great vanara also leapt to Vajradamshtra's house,
शुकस्य च महातेजाः सारणस्य च धीमतः ॥
śukasya ca mahātejāḥ sāraṇasya ca dhīmataḥ ||
to Shuka's, and to the house of wise Sarana.
तथा चेन्द्रजितो वेश्म ददाह हरियूथपः ।
tathā cendrajito veśma dadāha hariyūthapaḥ |
The vanara leader likewise burned Indrajit's residence,
जम्बुमालेः सुमालेश्च ददाह भवनं ततः ॥
jambumāleḥ sumāleśca dadāha bhavanaṃ tataḥ ||
and then the houses of Jambumali and Sumali.
रश्मिकेतोश्च भवनं सूर्यशत्रोस्तथैव च ।
raśmiketośca bhavanaṃ sūryaśatrostathaiva ca |
He burned the houses of Rashmiketu and Suryashatru,
ह्रस्वकर्णस्य दंष्ट्रस्य रोमशस्य च रक्षसः ॥
hrasvakarṇasya daṃṣṭrasya romaśasya ca rakṣasaḥ ||
Hrasvakarna, Damshtra and the rakshasa Romasha.
युद्धोन्मत्तस्य मत्तस्य ध्वजग्रीवस्य रक्षसः ।
yuddhonmattasya mattasya dhvajagrīvasya rakṣasaḥ |
Those of Yuddhonmatta, Matta and the rakshasa Dhvajagriva,
विद्युज्जिह्वस्य घोरस्य तथा हस्तिमुखस्य च ॥
vidyujjihvasya ghorasya tathā hastimukhasya ca ||
terrible Vidyujjihva and Hastimukha were also burned.
करालस्य विशालस्य शोणिताक्षस्य चैव हि ।
karālasya viśālasya śoṇitākṣasya caiva hi |
The houses of Karala, Vishala and Shonitaksha,
कुम्भकर्णस्य भवनं मकराक्षस्य चैव हि ॥
kumbhakarṇasya bhavanaṃ makarākṣasya caiva hi ||
and those of Kumbhakarna and Makaraksha, were burned.
नरान्तकस्य कुम्भस्य निकुम्भस्य दुरात्मनः ।
narāntakasya kumbhasya nikumbhasya durātmanaḥ |
So were those of Narantaka, Kumbha, wicked Nikumbha,
यज्ञशत्रोश्च भवनं ब्रह्मशत्रोस्तथैव च ॥
yajñaśatrośca bhavanaṃ brahmaśatrostathaiva ca ||
Yajnashatru and Brahmashatru.
वर्जयित्वा महातेजा विभीषणगृहं प्रति ।
varjayitvā mahātejā vibhīṣaṇagṛhaṃ prati |
Passing onward in succession, the radiant foremost vanara
क्रममाणः क्रमेणैव ददाह हरिपुङ्गवः ॥
kramamāṇaḥ krameṇaiva dadāha haripuṅgavaḥ ||
burned the residences, but spared Vibhishana's house.
तेषु तेषु महार्हेषु भवनेषु महायशाः ।
teṣu teṣu mahārheṣu bhavaneṣu mahāyaśāḥ |
In those costly mansions and residences of the wealthy,
गृहेष्वृद्धिमतामृद्धिं ददाह कपिकुञ्जरः ॥
gṛheṣvṛddhimatāmṛddhiṃ dadāha kapikuñjaraḥ ||
the renowned foremost vanara burned their accumulated riches.
सर्वेषां समतिक्रम्य राक्षसेन्द्रस्य वीर्यवान् ।
sarveṣāṃ samatikramya rākṣasendrasya vīryavān |
Having passed beyond all these, that mighty and splendid one
आससादाथ लक्ष्मीवान् रावणस्य निवेशनम् ॥
āsasādātha lakṣmīvān rāvaṇasya niveśanam ||
reached the residence of Ravana, the rakshasa king.
ततस्तस्मिन् गृहे मुख्ये नानारत्नविभूषिते ।
tatastasmin gṛhe mukhye nānāratnavibhūṣite |
There, in that foremost palace adorned with many jewels,
मेरुमन्दरसंकाशे नानामङ्गलशोभिते ॥
merumandarasaṃkāśe nānāmaṅgalaśobhite ||
like Meru or Mandara and bright with auspicious ornaments—
प्रदीप्तमग्निमुत्सृज्य लाङ्गूलाग्रे प्रतिष्ठितम् ।
pradīptamagnimutsṛjya lāṅgūlāgre pratiṣṭhitam |
the hero Hanuman released the blazing fire from his tail
ननाद हनुमान् वीरो युगान्तजलदो यथा ॥
nanāda hanumān vīro yugāntajalado yathā ||
and roared like a cloud at the end of an age.
श्वसनेन च संयोगादतिवेगो महाबलः ।
śvasanena ca saṃyogādativego mahābalaḥ |
Joined with the wind, the immensely powerful fire gathered speed,
कालाग्निरिव जज्वाल प्रावर्धत हुताशनः ॥
kālāgniriva jajvāla prāvardhata hutāśanaḥ ||
growing and blazing like the fire of Time.
प्रदीप्तमग्निं पवनस्तेषु वेश्मसु चारयन् ।
pradīptamagniṃ pavanasteṣu veśmasu cārayan |
The wind spread the blazing fire through the mansions,
तानि काञ्चनजालानि मुक्तामणिमयानि च ॥
tāni kāñcanajālāni muktāmaṇimayāni ca ||
among their golden lattices and ornaments of pearls and gems—
भवनानि व्यशीर्यन्त रत्नवन्ति महान्ति च ।
bhavanāni vyaśīryanta ratnavanti mahānti ca |
and the great jewel-filled houses broke apart;
तानि भग्नविमानानि निपेतुर्वसुधातले ॥
tāni bhagnavimānāni nipeturvasudhātale ||
their lofty structures shattered and fell to the earth.
भवनानीव सिद्धानामम्बरात् पुण्यसंक्षये ।
bhavanānīva siddhānāmambarāt puṇyasaṃkṣaye |
Like celestial dwellings falling when their occupants' merit is spent, they fell;
संजज्ञे तुमुलः शब्दो राक्षसानां प्रधावताम् ॥
saṃjajñe tumulaḥ śabdo rākṣasānāṃ pradhāvatām ||
a tumult arose from rakshasas running everywhere.
स्वे स्वे गृहपरित्राणे भग्नोत्साहोज्झितश्रियाम् ।
sve sve gṛhaparitrāṇe bhagnotsāhojjhitaśriyām |
Disheartened as they tried to save their homes and lost their wealth,
नूनमेषोऽग्निरायातः कपिरूपेण हा इति ॥
nūnameṣo’gnirāyātaḥ kapirūpeṇa hā iti ||
they cried, 'Alas, surely Fire himself has come in a vanara's form!'
क्रन्दन्त्यः सहसा पेतुः स्तनंधयधराः स्त्रियः ।
krandantyaḥ sahasā petuḥ stanaṃdhayadharāḥ striyaḥ |
Some women, screaming and holding nursing infants,
काश्चिदग्निपरीताङ्ग्यो हर्म्येभ्यो मुक्तमूर्धजाः ॥
kāścidagniparītāṅgyo harmyebhyo muktamūrdhajāḥ ||
fell from the mansions, their hair loose and their bodies surrounded by flames.
पतन्त्योरेजिरेऽभ्रेभ्यः सौदामन्य इवाम्बरात् ।
patantyorejire’bhrebhyaḥ saudāmanya ivāmbarāt |
Falling, they appeared like lightning descending from clouds.
वज्रविद्रुमवैदूर्यमुक्तारजतसंहतान् ॥
vajravidrumavaidūryamuktārajatasaṃhatān ||
Diamonds, coral, cat's-eye gems, pearls and masses of silver—
विचित्रान् भवनाद्धातून् स्यन्दमानान् ददर्श सः ।
vicitrān bhavanāddhātūn syandamānān dadarśa saḥ |
and varied molten metals flowed from the houses as he watched.
नाग्निस्तृप्यति काष्ठानां तृणानां च यथा तथा ॥
nāgnistṛpyati kāṣṭhānāṃ tṛṇānāṃ ca yathā tathā ||
Just as fire is never satisfied with wood and grass—
हनूमान् राक्षसेन्द्राणां वधे किंचिन्न तृप्यति ।
hanūmān rākṣasendrāṇāṃ vadhe kiṃcinna tṛpyati |
Hanuman was not yet satisfied in destroying the rakshasa chiefs,
न हनूमद्विशस्तानां राक्षसानां वसुन्धरा ॥
na hanūmadviśastānāṃ rākṣasānāṃ vasundharā ||
nor the earth with receiving the rakshasas struck down by him.
हनूमता वेगवता वानरेण महात्मना ।
hanūmatā vegavatā vānareṇa mahātmanā |
Lanka was burned by that swift and great-hearted vanara Hanuman,
लङ्कापुरं प्रदग्धं तद् रुद्रेण त्रिपुरं यथा ॥
laṅkāpuraṃ pradagdhaṃ tad rudreṇa tripuraṃ yathā ||
as the three cities were burned by Rudra.
ततः स लङ्कापुरपर्वताग्रे
tataḥ sa laṅkāpuraparvatāgre
Then the fire of terrible force rose
समुत्थितो भीमपराक्रमोऽग्निः ।
samutthito bhīmaparākramo’gniḥ |
above the mountain on which Lanka stood.
प्रसार्य चूडावलयं प्रदीप्तो
prasārya cūḍāvalayaṃ pradīpto
Spreading its blazing crest in a circle,
हनूमता वेगवतोपसृष्टः ॥
hanūmatā vegavatopasṛṣṭaḥ ||
it surged where swift Hanuman had kindled it.
युगान्तकालानलतुल्यरूपः
yugāntakālānalatulyarūpaḥ
Like the fire at the end of an age,
समारुतोऽग्निर्ववृधे दिवस्पृक् ।
samāruto’gnirvavṛdhe divaspṛk |
driven by wind, it grew until it touched the sky.
विधूमरश्मिर्भवनेषु सक्तो
vidhūmaraśmirbhavaneṣu sakto
Its bright rays clung to buildings,
रक्षःशरीराज्यसमर्पितार्चिः ॥
rakṣaḥśarīrājyasamarpitārciḥ ||
its flames fed, as with clarified butter, by rakshasa bodies.
आदित्यकोटीसदृशः सुतेजा
ādityakoṭīsadṛśaḥ sutejā
Radiant as millions of suns,
लङ्कां समस्तां परिवार्य तिष्ठन् ।
laṅkāṃ samastāṃ parivārya tiṣṭhan |
the great fire stood surrounding all Lanka.
शब्दैरनेकैरशनिप्ररूढै-
śabdairanekairaśaniprarūḍhai-
With countless thunder-like crashes,
र्भिन्दन्निवाण्डं प्रबभौ महाग्निः ॥
rbhindannivāṇḍaṃ prababhau mahāgniḥ ||
it shone as though breaking apart the cosmic shell.
तत्राम्बरादग्निरतिप्रवृद्धो
tatrāmbarādagniratipravṛddho
The greatly increased fire shone against the sky,
रूक्षप्रभः किंशुकपुष्पचूडः ।
rūkṣaprabhaḥ kiṃśukapuṣpacūḍaḥ |
harshly radiant, its crest like red kinshuka flowers.
निर्वाणधूमाकुलराजयश्च
nirvāṇadhūmākularājayaśca
Banks of smoke from dying flames
नीलोत्पलाभाः प्रचकाशिरेऽभ्राः ॥
nīlotpalābhāḥ pracakāśire’bhrāḥ ||
appeared like clouds dark as blue lotuses.
वज्री महेन्द्रस्त्रिदशेश्वरो वा
vajrī mahendrastridaśeśvaro vā
'Is this thunderbolt-wielding Indra, lord of the gods,
साक्षाद् यमो वा वरुणोऽनिलो वा ।
sākṣād yamo vā varuṇo’nilo vā |
Yama himself, Varuna or the Wind?
रौद्रोऽग्निरर्को धनदश्च सोमो
raudro’gnirarko dhanadaśca somo
Is it fierce Fire, the Sun, Kubera or the Moon?
न वानरोऽयं स्वयमेव कालः ॥
na vānaro’yaṃ svayameva kālaḥ ||
This is no vanara: it is Time itself.
किं ब्रह्मणः सर्वपितामहस्य
kiṃ brahmaṇaḥ sarvapitāmahasya
Has the anger of four-faced Brahma,
लोकस्य धातुश्चतुराननस्य ।
lokasya dhātuścaturānanasya |
grandfather and creator of the whole world,
इहागतो वानररूपधारी
ihāgato vānararūpadhārī
come here in a vanara's form
रक्षोपसंहारकरः प्रकोपः ॥
rakṣopasaṃhārakaraḥ prakopaḥ ||
to bring the rakshasas to destruction?
किं वैष्णवं वा कपिरूपमेत्य
kiṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ vā kapirūpametya
Or has Vishnu's supreme radiance taken a vanara's form
रक्षोविनाशाय परं सुतेजः ।
rakṣovināśāya paraṃ sutejaḥ |
to destroy the rakshasas?
अचिन्त्यमव्यक्तमनन्तमेकं
acintyamavyaktamanantamekaṃ
Inconceivable, unmanifest, infinite and one,
स्वमायया साम्प्रतमागतं वा ॥
svamāyayā sāmpratamāgataṃ vā ||
has it now arrived through its own wondrous power?'
इत्येवमूचुर्बहवो विशिष्टा
ityevamūcurbahavo viśiṣṭā
Thus many distinguished rakshasas
रक्षोगणास्तत्र समेत्य सर्वे ।
rakṣogaṇāstatra sametya sarve |
spoke when they gathered together,
सप्राणिसङ्घां सगृहां सवृक्षां
saprāṇisaṅghāṃ sagṛhāṃ savṛkṣāṃ
suddenly seeing their city burned
दग्धां पुरीं तां सहसा समीक्ष्य ॥
dagdhāṃ purīṃ tāṃ sahasā samīkṣya ||
with its inhabitants, houses and trees.
ततस्तु लङ्का सहसा प्रदग्धा
tatastu laṅkā sahasā pradagdhā
Then Lanka, suddenly burned,
सराक्षसा साश्वरथा सनागा ।
sarākṣasā sāśvarathā sanāgā |
with rakshasas, horses, chariots and elephants,
सपक्षिसङ्घा समृगा सवृक्षा
sapakṣisaṅghā samṛgā savṛkṣā
with flocks of birds, animals and trees,
रुरोद दीना तुमुलं सशब्दम् ॥
ruroda dīnā tumulaṃ saśabdam ||
seemed to cry out miserably in a great tumult.
हा तात हा पुत्रक कान्त मित्र
hā tāta hā putraka kānta mitra
'Father! My child! Beloved! Friend!
हा जीवितेशाङ्ग हतं सुपुण्यम् ।
hā jīviteśāṅga hataṃ supuṇyam |
Lord of my life! Alas, our good fortune is destroyed!'
रक्षोभिरेवं बहुधा ब्रुवद्भिः
rakṣobhirevaṃ bahudhā bruvadbhiḥ
So the rakshasas cried in many ways,
शब्दः कृतो घोरतरः सुभीमः ॥
śabdaḥ kṛto ghorataraḥ subhīmaḥ ||
raising an exceedingly terrible and fearful sound.
हुताशनज्वालसमावृता सा
hutāśanajvālasamāvṛtā sā
Enveloped in flames,
हतप्रवीरा परिवृत्तयोधा ।
hatapravīrā parivṛttayodhā |
its champions killed and its warriors scattered,
हनूमतः क्रोधबलाभिभूता
hanūmataḥ krodhabalābhibhūtā
overwhelmed by the force of Hanuman's anger,
बभूव शापोपहतेव लङ्का ॥
babhūva śāpopahateva laṅkā ||
Lanka seemed struck by a curse.
ससम्भ्रमं त्रस्तविषण्णराक्षसां
sasambhramaṃ trastaviṣaṇṇarākṣasāṃ
Hanuman saw Lanka in turmoil,
समुज्ज्वलज्ज्वालहुताशनाङ्किताम् ।
samujjvalajjvālahutāśanāṅkitām |
its rakshasas frightened and dejected, its buildings marked by blazing fire.
ददर्श लङ्कां हनुमान् महामनाः
dadarśa laṅkāṃ hanumān mahāmanāḥ
That great-minded one beheld it
स्वयंभुरोषोपहतामिवावनिम् ॥
svayaṃbhuroṣopahatāmivāvanim ||
like the earth struck by the Creator's wrath.
भङ्क्त्वा वनं पादपरत्नसंकुलं
bhaṅktvā vanaṃ pādaparatnasaṃkulaṃ
Having broken the grove filled with excellent trees,
हत्वा तु रक्षांसि महान्ति संयुगे ।
hatvā tu rakṣāṃsi mahānti saṃyuge |
killed mighty rakshasas in battle,
दग्ध्वा पुरीं तां गृहरत्नमालिनीं
dagdhvā purīṃ tāṃ gṛharatnamālinīṃ
and burned the city garlanded with splendid houses,
तस्थौ हनूमान् पवनात्मजः कपिः ॥
tasthau hanūmān pavanātmajaḥ kapiḥ ||
Hanuman, the Wind's son, stood still.
स राक्षसांस्तान् सुबहूंश्च हत्वा
sa rākṣasāṃstān subahūṃśca hatvā
After killing many rakshasas,
वनं च भङ्क्त्वा बहुपादपं तत् ।
vanaṃ ca bhaṅktvā bahupādapaṃ tat |
breaking the grove with its numerous trees,
विसृज्य रक्षोभवनेषु चाग्निं
visṛjya rakṣobhavaneṣu cāgniṃ
and setting fire to the rakshasa houses,
जगाम रामं मनसा महात्मा ॥
jagāma rāmaṃ manasā mahātmā ||
the great one turned his thoughts to Rama.
ततस्तु तं वानरवीरमुख्यं
tatastu taṃ vānaravīramukhyaṃ
Then all the hosts of gods praised
महाबलं मारुततुल्यवेगम् ।
mahābalaṃ mārutatulyavegam |
that foremost vanara hero,
महामतिं वायुसुतं वरिष्ठं
mahāmatiṃ vāyusutaṃ variṣṭhaṃ
immensely strong, swift as the wind,
प्रतुष्टुवुर्देवगणाश्च सर्वे ॥
pratuṣṭuvurdevagaṇāśca sarve ||
wise and excellent son of Vayu.
देवाश्च सर्वे मुनिपुङ्गवाश्च
devāśca sarve munipuṅgavāśca
All the gods and foremost sages,
गन्धर्वविद्याधरपन्नगाश्च ।
gandharvavidyādharapannagāśca |
gandharvas, vidyadharas and serpents,
भूतानि सर्वाणि महान्ति तत्र
bhūtāni sarvāṇi mahānti tatra
and the great beings assembled there,
जग्मुः परां प्रीतिमतुल्यरूपाम् ॥
jagmuḥ parāṃ prītimatulyarūpām ||
experienced an extraordinary, unequalled joy.
भङ्क्त्वा वनं महातेजा हत्वा रक्षांसि संयुगे ।
bhaṅktvā vanaṃ mahātejā hatvā rakṣāṃsi saṃyuge |
Having broken the grove, slain rakshasas in battle,
दग्ध्वा लङ्कापुरीं भीमां रराज स महाकपिः ॥
dagdhvā laṅkāpurīṃ bhīmāṃ rarāja sa mahākapiḥ ||
and burned terrible Lanka, the radiant great vanara shone.
गृहाग्र्यशृङ्गाग्रतले विचित्रे
gṛhāgryaśṛṅgāgratale vicitre
Standing upon the decorated summit
प्रतिष्ठितो वानरराजसिंहः ।
pratiṣṭhito vānararājasiṃhaḥ |
of a lofty mansion, that lion among vanaras,
प्रदीप्तलाङ्गूलकृतार्चिमाली
pradīptalāṅgūlakṛtārcimālī
garlanded with flames from his burning tail,
व्यराजतादित्य इवार्चिमाली ॥
vyarājatāditya ivārcimālī ||
shone like the sun surrounded by its rays.
लङ्कां समस्तां सम्पीड्य लाङ्गूलाग्निं महाकपिः ।
laṅkāṃ samastāṃ sampīḍya lāṅgūlāgniṃ mahākapiḥ |
After overwhelming all Lanka, the great vanara
निर्वापयामास तदा समुद्रे हरिपुङ्गवः ॥
nirvāpayāmāsa tadā samudre haripuṅgavaḥ ||
extinguished the fire on his tail in the ocean.
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः ।
tato devāḥ sagandharvāḥ siddhāśca paramarṣayaḥ |
Seeing Lanka burned, the gods, gandharvas,
दृष्ट्वा लङ्कां प्रदग्धां तां विस्मयं परमं गताः ॥
dṛṣṭvā laṅkāṃ pradagdhāṃ tāṃ vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatāḥ ||
perfected beings and great sages were filled with wonder.
तं दृष्ट्वा वानरश्रेष्ठं हनूमन्तं महाकपिम् ।
taṃ dṛṣṭvā vānaraśreṣṭhaṃ hanūmantaṃ mahākapim |
Beholding the foremost great vanara Hanuman,
कालाग्निरिति संचिन्त्य सर्वभूतानि तत्रसुः ॥
kālāgniriti saṃcintya sarvabhūtāni tatrasuḥ ||
all beings trembled, thinking him the fire of final destruction.
CHAPTER 54 COMPLETE
Hanuman has extinguished his tail in the ocean. Concern for Sita will now interrupt his triumph.
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kanda, chapter 54. This reading follows Sanskrit Wikisource revision 355170, with all 51 numbered verses. Verse divisions and wording vary between editions.
The Sanskrit is preserved with normalized display spacing and line breaks. Some sentences continue across verse boundaries; the English follows that continuity. A yojana is a traditional distance unit, retained without assigning a modern measurement. Shape-changing and celestial beings belong to the epic’s sacred narrative.
English line senses and short meanings are original AI-assisted DHIH renderings checked against this Sanskrit reading; they are not a word-for-word grammatical commentary or a claim of human scholarly certification. Roman transliteration is generated mechanically in IAST. Names may also appear in familiar English spellings.
Sanskrit transcription credit: Wikisource contributors, revision history. The adapted reading text and DHIH English on this chapter page are offered under CC BY-SA 4.0. The ancient Sanskrit work is in the public domain. Illustrations are separately commissioned AI-generated DHIH artwork.
Historical comparison: M. N. Dutt’s Ramayana, volume II, a public-domain translation, was consulted for narrative context. The English displayed here is a fresh rendering of the pinned Sanskrit, not a reproduction of that translation.
This chapter contains explicit descriptions of warfare, death, burning buildings and suffering families. It preserves difficult details of the epic and should not be presented to young children without a separate, carefully framed adaptation. Audio will be added only when suitable recording permissions are available.