Sloka & Translation

[Hanuman perceiving the damage caused by him to the City of Lanka, thinks of Sita and begins to blame himself -- on seeing good omens he presumes that Sita would have been protected by her chastity]

लङ्कां समस्तां सन्दीप्य लाङ्गूलाग्निं महाबलः।

निर्वापयामास तदा समुद्रे हरिसत्तमः।।

सन्दीप्यमानां विध्वस्तां त्रस्तरक्षोगणां पुरीम्।

आवेक्ष्य हनुमान् लङ्कां चिन्तयामास वानरः।।5.55.1।।

लङ्कां समस्तां the entire city of Lanka, सन्दीप्य having burnt, महाबलः powerful, तदा then, लाङ्गूलाग्निं fire on his tail, समुद्रे in the ocean, निर्वापयामास put off, वानरः vanara, हनुमान् Hanuman, सन्दीप्यमानाम् having been lit, विध्वस्ताम् destroyed, त्रस्तरक्षोगणाम् panic stricken ogres, लङ्कां पुरीम् Lanka city, आवेक्ष्य seeing, चिन्तयामास began to think.

Powerful Hanuman, having burnt the entire city of Lanka, put out the fire on his tail in the ocean. Beholding the burning city, the destroyed gardens and the panic stricken ogres, he began to think:

तस्याभूत्सुमहांस्त्रासः कुत्सा चात्मन्यजायत।

लङ्कां प्रदहता कर्म किंस्वित्कृतमिदं मया।।5.55.2।।

तस्य to him, सुमहान् very great, त्रासः fear, अभूत् overtook, आत्मनि in himself, कुत्सा च self reproach, अजायत was felt, लङ्काम् Lanka, प्रदहता while burning, मया by me, इदम् this, किंस्वित् what a heinous, कर्म action, कृतम् perpetrated.

Overtaken by great fear, Hanuman felt a sense of selfreproach seeing Lanka reduced to ashes, and said, ' Lanka is burnt. What a heinous action has been perpetrated by me'.

धन्यास्ते पुरुषश्रेष्ठा ये बुद्ध्या कोपमुत्थितम्।

निरुन्धन्ति महात्मानो दीप्तमग्निमिवाम्भसा।।5.55.3।।

उत्थितम् rising, कोपम् anger, बुद्ध्या by their wisdom,दीप्तम् burning अग्निम् fire, अम्भसा इव with water, ये those, निरुन्धन्ति will restrain, महात्मानः highsouled men, ते they, पुरुषश्रेष्ठाः best among men, धन्याः blessed.

'Blessed indeed are the highsouled men, who in their wisdom restrain their own anger as one would put off burning fire with water.

क्रुद्धः पापं न कुर्यात्कः क्रुद्धो हन्याद्गुरूनपि।

क्रुद्धः परुषया वाचा नरस्साधूनधिक्षिपेत्।।5.55.4।।

क्रुद्धः angry man, कः who, पापम् sin, न कुर्यात् will not comit, क्रुद्धः angry man, गुरूनपि even his elders, हन्यात् will kill, क्रुद्धः angry, नरः human being, परुषया with a harsh, वाचा with word, साधून् sages, अधिक्षिपेत् will accuse.

'Which sinful act an angry man will not commit? He will even kill his respectable elders or insult sages with his harsh tongue.

वाच्यावाच्यं प्रकुपितो न विजानाति कर्हिचित्।

नाकार्यमस्ति क्रुद्धस्य नावाच्यं विद्यते क्वचित्।।5.55.5।।

प्रकुपितः one who is angry, कर्हिचित् at any time, वाच्यावाच्यम् a word worthy of speaking or not, न विजानाति knows not, क्रुद्धस्य angry man's, अकार्यम् misdeed, न अस्ति exists not, अवाच्यम् unutterable, क्वचित् anywhere, न विद्यते exists not.

'An angry person knows not what he should utter and what he should not. No act appears wrong for an angry man. Nothing is unutterable for him at any time, anywhere.

यस्समुत्पतितं क्रोधं क्षमयैव निरस्यति।

यथोरगस्त्वचं जीर्णां स वै पुरुष उच्यते।।5.55.6।।

उरगः snake, जीर्णाम् worn out, त्वचं यथा as its slough, यः he who, समुत्पतितम् rising, क्रोधम् anger, क्षमया एव with tolerance alone, निरस्यति drives away, सः वै he alone, पुरुषः man, उच्यते is said to be.

'A man who drives away his rising anger with tolerance just as a snake casts off its slough is alone called a truly wise man.

धिगस्तु मां सुदुर्बुद्धिं निर्लज्जं पापकृत्तमम्।

अचिन्तयित्वा तां सीतामग्निदं स्वामिघातुकम्।।5.55.7।।

तां सीताम् that Sita, अचिन्तयित्वा not thinking of, अग्निदम् set fire, स्वामिघातुकम् betrayer of the master, सुदुर्बुद्धिम् having of a wicked mind, निर्लज्जम् shameless, पापकृत्तमम् greatest sinner, माम् me, धिक् अस्तु fie upon.

'Fie upon me, a wicked, shameless person and the greatest sinner for betraying the master and setting fire to the city without thinking of Sita.

यदि दग्धा त्वियं लङ्का नूनमार्याऽपि जानकी।

दग्धा तेन मया भर्तुर्हितं कार्यमजानता।।5.55.8।।

इयम् this, लङ्का Lanka, दग्धा यदि if it burnt, आर्या noble lady, जानक्यपि even Janaki, दग्धा is burnt, तेन therefore, अजानता unknowingly, मया by me, भर्तुः master's, कार्यम् mission, हतम् spoilt.

'If this Lanka is burnt, even noble Janaki is burnt, my master's work is spoilt by me unknowingly.

यदर्थमयमारम्भस्तत्कार्यमवसादितम्।

मया हि दहता लङ्कां न सीता परिरक्षिता।।5.55.9।।

यदर्थम् on account of what, अयम् this, आरम्भ: effort, तत् कार्यम् that work, अवसादितम् is foiled, लङ्काम् Lanka, दहता while burning, मया by me, सीता Sita, न परिरक्षिता हि not protected.

'My very mission is foiled. Sita has not been protected by me for no part of Lanka has escaped unburnt.

ईषत्कार्यमिदं कार्यं कृतमासीन्न संशयः।

तस्य क्रोधाभिभूतेन मया मूलक्षयः कृतः।।5.55.10।।

इदं कार्यम् this work, ईषत्कार्यम् a small work, कृतम् is done, आसीन्न was, क्रोधाभिभूतेन over powered by anger, मया by me, तस्य its, मूलक्षयः the very root of my achievement is defeated, कृतः done, संशयः doubt, न no.

'A small work is done, no doubt. But the very root of my achievement has been destroyed in my anger.

विनष्टा जानकी नूनं न ह्यदग्धः प्रदृश्यते।

लङ्कायां कश्चिदुद्धेशस्सर्वा भस्मीकृता पुरी।।5.55.11।।

नूनम् surely, जानकी Janaki, विनष्टा lost, लङ्कायाम् in Lanka, कश्चित् even a little, उद्धेशः place, अदग्धः unburnt, न प्रदृश्यते हि indeed not seen, सर्वाः entire, पुरी city, भस्मीकृता is reduced to ashes.

'Surely Janaki has perished in Lanka, for not even a little place is left unburnt. The entire city is reduced to ashes.

यदि तद्विहतं कार्यं मम प्रज्ञाविपर्ययात्।

इहैव प्राणसंन्यासो ममापि ह्यद्य रोचते।।5.55.12।।

मम my, प्रज्ञाविपर्ययात् stupidity, तत् this, कार्यम् work, विहतं यदि if it has been foiled, ममापि foil me also, इहैव here itself, प्राणसन्यासः give up life, अद्य now, रोचते is proper.

'If my work has been destroyed by my perversity of judgement, I will give up my life now and here itself'.

किमग्नौ निपताम्यद्य आहोस्विद्बडबामुखे।

शरीरमाहो सत्त्वानां दद्मि सागरवासिनाम्।।5.55.13।।

अद्य today, अग्नौ in fire, निपतामि shall I jump, आहोस्वित् alas बडबामुखे in the mouth of submarine fire, आहो alas शरीरम् body, सागरवासिनाम् सत्त्वानाम् to those aquatic creatures living in the ocean दद्मि I would offer.

'Shall I end my life by jumping into fire just now, or else into the mouth of submarine fire? Should I offer my body to the living creatures of the ocean as their food?

कथं हि जीवता शक्यो मया द्रष्टुं हरीश्वरः।

तौ वा पुरुषशार्दूलौ कार्यसर्वस्वघातिना।।5.55.14।।

कार्यसर्वस्वघातिना after completely spoiling the work, मया by me, जीवता with life, हरीश्वरः king of monkeys, द्रष्टुम् to see, कथं वा how to, शक्यः possible, पुरुषशार्दूलौ two tigers among men, तौ वा or both those (Rama and Lakshmana.)

'Having spoilt the entire work how can I show my face to the king of monkeys? How is it possible to see both the tigers among men?

मया खलु तदेवेदं रोषदोषात्प्रदर्शितम्।

प्रथितं त्रिषु लोकेषु कपित्वमनवस्थितम्।।5.55.15।।

मया by me, रोषदोषात् due to the mistake committed angerily, त्रिषु लोकेषु in all the three worlds, प्रथितम् wellknown, अनवस्थितम् Instability, तत् that, इदम् this, कपित्वम् monkeynature, प्रदर्शितं खलु indeed exhibited.

'On account of my mistake of yielding to anger, I have exhibited the unstable monkeynature and made it well established in the three worlds.

धिगस्तु राजसं भावमनीशमनवस्थितम्।

ईश्वरेणापि यद्रागान्मया सीता न रक्षिता।।5.55.16।।

अनीशम् having no control, अनवस्थितम् unstable, राजसम् excitable, भावम् nature, धिक् अस्तु fie upon, यत् that which, ईश्वरेणापि even though I am powerful, मया by me, रागात् out of passion, सीता Sita, न रक्षिता is not protected.

'Fie upon my hasty action commited due to lack of selfcontrol. I did not save Sita eventhough the entire situation was under my control. (I had the capacity to save her. But I failed due to anger.)

विनष्टायां तु सीतायां तावुभौ विनशिष्यतः।

तयोर्विनाशे सुग्रीवः सबन्धुर्विनशिष्यति।।5.55.17।।

सीतायाम् When Sita, विनष्टायाम् is lost, तौ उभौ those two, विनशिष्यतः will die, तयोः of those two, विनाशे when they are dead, सबन्धुः including all relatives, सुग्रीवः Sugriva, विनशिष्यति will perish.

'If the two princes know about Sita's loss they will die and when they are dead Sugriva would perish along with all his relatives.

एतदेव वचश्श्रुत्वा भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः।

धर्मात्मा सहशत्रुघ्नः कथं शक्ष्यति जीवितुम्।।5.55.18।।

एतदेव this alone, वचः word, श्रुत्वा having heard, भ्रातृवत्सलः a loving brother, धर्मात्मा righteous one, सहशत्रुघ्नः along with Satrughna, भरतः Bharata, जीवितुम् to live, कथम् how, शक्ष्यति he can.

'How will the loving righteous brother, Bharata along with Satrughna survive after hearing this?

इक्ष्वाकुवंशे धर्मिष्ठे गते नाशमसंशयम्।

भविष्यन्ति प्रजास्सर्वाश्शोकसन्तापपीडिताः।।5.55.19।।

धर्मिष्ठे when the righteous, इक्ष्वाकुवंशे Ikshvaku race, नाशम् will perish, गते when it happens, सर्वाः all, प्रजाः people, असंशयम् there is no doubt, शोकसन्तापपीडिताः tormented by grief and remorse, भविष्यन्ति would be.

'When the righteous Ikshvaku race perishes the people would be tormented by grief and remorse. There is no doubt.

तदहं भाग्यरहितो लुप्तधर्मार्थसङ्ग्रहः।।5.55.20।।

रोषदोषपरीतात्मा व्यक्तं लोकविनाशनः।

तत् then, भाग्यरहितः unfortunate, लुप्तधर्मार्थसङ्ग्रहः failed to secure dharma and artha, रोषदोषपरीतात्मा overwhelmed with anger, अहम् I, व्यक्तम् this is evident, लोकनाशनः destroyer of the whole world.

'I have failed in seeking dharma and artha. It is evident is that I am a destroyer of the world because I was overtaken by anger. How unfortunate I am'

इति चिन्तयतस्तस्य निमित्तान्युपपेदिरे।

पूर्वमप्युपलब्धानि साक्षात्पुनरचिन्तयत्।।5.55.21।।

तस्य when he, इति thus, चिन्तयतः while he was bemoaning, साक्षात् directly witnessed, पूर्वमपि earlier, उपलब्धानि experienced, निमित्तानि omens, उपपेदिरे पुनः once again appeared, अचिन्तयत् he reflected upon them again.

When Hanuman was thus bemoaning, good omens as in the past appeared before him. He started reflecting once again:

अथवा चारुसर्वाङ्गी रक्षिता स्वेन तेजसा।

न नशिष्यति कल्याणी नाग्निरग्नौ प्रवर्तते।।5.55.22।।

अथवा or else, चारुसर्वाङ्गी lady of beautiful limbs, स्वेन by her own, तेजसा by splendour, रक्षिता is protected, कल्याणी auspicious lady, न नशिष्यति will not perish, अग्निः fire, अग्नौ at fire, न प्रवर्तते cannot actbe effective.

'On the other hand a beautiful and auspicious lady like Sita will be protected by her own splendour and will not perish as fire cannot extinguish fire. (Sita is pure like fire. Here the great sage Valmiki is suggesting the future incident in which Sita emerged safe from 'Agnipariksha' or fireordeal.)

न हि धर्मात्मनस्तस्य भार्याममिततेजसः।

स्वचारित्राभिगुप्तां तां स्प्रष्टुमर्हति पावकः।।5.55.23।।

धर्मात्मनः of the righteous one, अमिततेजसः of a man of immeasureable glory, तस्य his, भार्याम् wife, स्वचारित्राभिगुप्ताम् protected by her own chastity, ताम् her, पावकः fire, स्प्रष्टुम् to touch, नार्हति हि cannot.

'Fire cannot touch that lady who is protected by her own chastity and who is wedded to the righteous man of immasureable glory.

नूनं रामप्रभावेण वैदेह्यास्सुकृतेन च।

यन्मां दहनकर्मायं नादहद्धव्यवाहनः।।5.55.24।।

दहनकर्मा fire who consumes, अयम् this, हन्यवाहनः the consumer of oblations, माम् me, नादहत् did not burn, इति यत् and this is, नूनम् surely, रामप्रभावेण by Rama's power, वैदेह्याः Vaidehi's, सुकृतेन च by her merits also.

'Fire, the consumer of oblations who has the property of burning has not burnt me and this is surely on account of Rama's power and Vaidehi's merits.

त्रयाणां भरतादीनां भ्रात्रूणां देवता च या।

रामस्य च मन: कान्ता सा कथं विनशिष्यति।।5.55.25।।

या such lady, भरतादीनाम् of Bharata and others, त्रयाणाम् of all the three, देवताः च is treated as a goddess, रामस्य Rama's, मनः कान्ता dear to his heart, सा she, कथम् how, विनशिष्यति will she be destroyed?

'To Bharata, Lakshmana and Satrughna she is a goddess and she is dear to Rama's heart, how would she perish?

यद्वा दहनकर्मायं सर्वत्र प्रभुरव्ययः।

न मे दहति लाङ्गूलं कथमार्यां प्रधक्ष्यति।।5.55.26।

यद्वा or if, सर्वत्र everywhere, प्रभुः lord, अव्ययः that which never fails, अयम् this, दहनकर्मा burning firegod, मे my, लङ्गूलम् tail, न दहति has not burnt, आर्याम् noble Sita, कथम् how, प्रधक्ष्यति will he burn.

'If not so, the firegod who never fails in burning has not burnt my tail. How will he burn noble Sita?'

पुनश्चाचिन्तयत्तत्र हनुमान्विस्मितस्तदा।

हिरण्यनाभस्य गिरेर्जलमध्ये प्रदर्शनम्।।5.55.27।।

तदा then, हनुमान् Hanuman, विस्मितः wondered, जलमध्ये in the midst of water, हिरण्यनाभस्य of Hiranyanabha's, गिरेः mountain, प्रदर्शनम् appearing, तत्र there, पुनः again, अचिन्तयत् thought.

Then Hanuman thought of the appearance of mountain Hiranyanabha in the midst of water, a wonderful phenomenon.

तपसा सत्यवाक्येन अनन्यत्वाच्च भर्तरि।

अपि सा निर्दहेदग्निं न तामग्निः प्रधक्ष्यति।।5.55.28।।

तपसा by asceticism, सत्यवाक्येन by adhering to truth, भर्तरि towards her husband, अनन्यत्वाच्च completeexclusive devotion, सा she, अग्निम् fire, निर्दहेत् अपि may even burn, ताम् her, अग्निः fire, न प्रधक्ष्यति is not capable of burning.

'By virtue of her power of asceticism, power of truthfulness and exclusive devotion towards her husband, she may consume the fire. Fire will not burn her'.

स तथा चिन्तयंस्तत्र देव्या धर्मपरिग्रहम्।

शुश्राव हनुमान्वाक्यं चारणानां महात्मनाम्।।5.55.29।।

तत्र there, तथा so, देव्याः queen's, धर्मपरिग्रहम् power of righteousness, चिन्तयन् while thinking, सः हनुमान् that Hanuman, महात्मनाम् of the great ones, चारणानाम् of charanas (heavenly birds moving in the sky), वाक्यम् word, शुश्राव heard.

As Hanuman was thinking so, he heard the words of the great charanas who were praising the queen's power of righteousness.

अहो खलु कृतं कर्म दुष्करं हि हनूमता।

अग्निं विसृजताऽभीक्ष्णं भीमं राक्षसवेश्मनि।।5.55.30।।

राक्षसवेश्मनि in the demons buildings, आभीक्ष्णम् excessively, भीमम् terrific, अग्निम् fire, विसृजता spreading, हनूमता by Hanuman, दुष्करम् marvellous, कर्म task, कृतं खलु has been done verily, अहो Oh

'Oh Hanuman has indeed accomplished the marvellous task of spreading the terrific fire on the demons buildings.

प्रपलायितरक्षः स्त्रीबालवृद्धसमाकुला।

जनकोलाहलाध्माता क्रन्दन्तीवाद्रिकन्दरै: ।।5.55.31।।

प्रपलायितरक्षस्त्रीबालवृद्धसमाकुला crowded with children, women and old demons running (in a bid to save their lives), जनकोलाहलाध्माता loud with the wails of demons people, अद्रिकन्दरे with the cave like houses, क्रन्दन्ती इव as if wailing loudly.

The city is crowded with women, children and old demons running (in a bid to save themselves). The loud wails of demons resounded in the mountaincaves. It was as if the city was shrieking loudly.

दग्धेयं नगरी सर्वा साट्टप्राकारतोरणा।

जानकी न च दग्धेति विस्मयोऽद्भुत एव नः।।5.55.32।।

साट्टप्राकारतोरणा with towering markets ramparts and portals, इयम् this, नगरी city, सर्वा entirely, दग्धा is burnt, जानकी च and Janaki, न दग्धा is not burnt, इति thus, नः for us, अद्भुतः wonderful, विस्मयः एव It is surprising.

'The city with its towering markets, ramparts and portals is burnt, but Janaki is not. It is really wonderful, strange

स निमित्तैश्च दृष्टार्थैः कारणैश्च महागुणैः।

ऋषिवाक्यैश्च हनुमानभवत्प्रीतमानसः।।5.55.33।।

सः हनूमान् that Hanuman, दृष्ठार्थैः with proofs having seen, निमित्तै: with omens, महागुणैः good tidings, कारणैश्च and by reasons, ऋषिवाक्यैश्च by the sages words, प्रीतमानसः happy at heart, अभवत् became.

With omens that proved to be right and for good reasons and from the words of the sages (charanas), Hanuman felt happy.

ततः कपिः प्राप्तमनोरथार्थस्तामक्षतां राजसुतां विदित्वा।

प्रत्यक्षतस्तां पुनरेव दृष्टवा प्रतिप्रयाणाय मतिं चकार।।5.55.34।।

ततः then, कपिः Hanuman, प्राप्तमनोरथार्थः with his desires fulfilled, तां राजसुताम् the princess, अक्षताम् not hurt, विदित्वा after knowing, ताम् her, पुनरेव once again, प्रत्यक्षतः directly, दृष्ट्वा after seeing, प्रतिप्रयाणाय for departing, मतिम् thought, चकार entertained.

Hanuman, having fulfilled his desires and knowing that Sita is not hurt, thought of departing after meeting Sita once again (to testify that she is really safe).
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे पञ्चपञ्चाशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fiftyfifth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.