The Burning of Hanuman's Tail

Shloka 1 (sundara.53.1)

तस्य तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा दशग्रीवो महाबलः । देश काल हितम् वाक्यम् भ्रातुः उत्तमम् अब्रवीत् ॥ 53.1 ॥

tasya tat vacanam śrutvā daśagrīvo mahābalaḥ | deśa kāla hitam vākyam bhrātuḥ uttamam abravīt || 53.1 ||

Hearing those words of his, the mighty ten-necked Ravana spoke to his brother excellent words, fitted to the place and the time.

Shloka 2 (sundara.53.2)

सम्यग् उक्तम् हि भवता दूत वध्या विगर्हिता । अवश्यम् तु वधात् अन्यः क्रियताम् अस्य निग्रहः ॥ 53.2 ॥

samyag uktam hi bhavatā dūta vadhyā vigarhitā | avaśyam tu vadhāt anyaḥ kriyatām asya nigrahaḥ || 53.2 ||

"You have spoken well indeed — the killing of an envoy is condemned. But some punishment other than death must certainly be inflicted on him."

Shloka 3 (sundara.53.3)

कपीनाम् किल लान्गूलम् इष्टम् भवति भूषणम् । तत् अस्य दीप्यताम् शीघ्रम् तेन दग्धेन गच्छतु ॥ 53.3 ॥

kapīnām kila lāngūlam iṣṭam bhavati bhūṣaṇam | tat asya dīpyatām śīghram tena dagdhena gacchatu || 53.3 ||

"They say a tail is a monkey's most cherished ornament. Let his be set ablaze at once — let him go from here with it burnt."

Shloka 4 (sundara.53.4)

ततः पश्यन्तु इमम् दीनम् अन्ग वैरूप्य कर्शितम् । समित्रा ज्ञातयः सर्वे बान्धवाः ससुहृज् जनाः ॥ 53.4 ॥

tataḥ paśyantu imam dīnam anga vairūpya karśitam | samitrā jñātayaḥ sarve bāndhavāḥ sasuhṛj janāḥ || 53.4 ||

"Then let all its kinsmen, together with its friends, relatives and well-wishers, see it thus wretched, its limbs disfigured and worn."

Shloka 5 (sundara.53.5)

आज्ञापयत् राक्षस इन्द्रः पुरम् सर्वम् सचत्वरम् । लान्गूलेन प्रदीप्तेन रक्षोभिः परिणीयताम् ॥ 53.5 ॥

ājñāpayat rākṣasa indraḥ puram sarvam sacatvaram | lāngūlena pradīptena rakṣobhiḥ pariṇīyatām || 53.5 ||

The lord of demons commanded: "Let it be led by the demons through the entire city, with its crossroads, its tail set ablaze."

Shloka 6 (sundara.53.6)

तस्य तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा राक्षसाः कोप कर्कशाः । वेष्टन्ते तस्य लान्गूलम् जीर्णैः कार्पासिकैः पटैः ॥ 53.6 ॥

tasya tat vacanam śrutvā rākṣasāḥ kopa karkaśāḥ | veṣṭante tasya lāngūlam jīrṇaiḥ kārpāsikaiḥ paṭaiḥ || 53.6 ||

Hearing those words of his, the demons, harsh with fury, wound old cotton rags around his tail.

Shloka 7 (sundara.53.7)

सम्वेष्ट्यमाने लान्गूले व्यवर्धत महाकपिः । शुष्कम् इन्धनम् आसाद्य वनेष्व् इव हुत अशनः ॥ 53.7 ॥

samveṣṭyamāne lāngūle vyavardhata mahākapiḥ | śuṣkam indhanam āsādya vaneṣv iva huta aśanaḥ || 53.7 ||

As his tail was being wrapped, the great monkey's body began to swell, like fire in a forest that has found dry fuel.

Shloka 8 (sundara.53.8)

तैलेन परिषिच्य अथ ते अग्निम् तत्र अवपातयन् । लान्गूलेन प्रदीप्तेन राक्षसान् तान् अपातयत् ॥ 53.8 ॥

tailena pariṣicya atha te agnim tatra avapātayan | lāngūlena pradīptena rākṣasān tān apātayat || 53.8 ||

Then, having drenched it with oil, they set fire to it there; and with his blazing tail he struck those demons down.

Shloka 9 (sundara.53.9)

रोष अमर्ष परीत आत्मा बाल सूर्य सम आननः । लाङ्गूलम् सम्प्रदीप्तम् तु द्रष्टुम् तस्य हनूमतः ॥ 53.9 ॥

roṣa amarṣa parīta ātmā bāla sūrya sama ānanaḥ | lāṅgūlam sampradīptam tu draṣṭum tasya hanūmataḥ || 53.9 ||

His whole being filled with rage and indignation, his face like the newly risen sun — and to see Hanuman's tail thus set ablaze,

Shloka 10 (sundara.53.10)

सहस्त्रीबालवृद्धाश्च जग्मुः प्रीता निशाचराः । स भूयः सम्गतैः क्रूरै राकसैः हरि सत्तमः ॥ 53.10 ॥

sahastrībālavṛddhāśca jagmuḥ prītā niśācarāḥ | sa bhūyaḥ samgataiḥ krūrai rākasaiḥ hari sattamaḥ || 53.10 ||

the night-wanderers, delighted, went there together with their women, children and the aged; while that best of monkeys was once again surrounded by the cruel demons.

Shloka 11 (sundara.53.11)

निबद्धः कृतवान् वीरः तत् काल सदृशीम् मतिम् । कामम् खलु न मे शक्ता निबधस्य अपि राक्षसाः ॥ 53.11 ॥

nibaddhaḥ kṛtavān vīraḥ tat kāla sadṛśīm matim | kāmam khalu na me śaktā nibadhasya api rākṣasāḥ || 53.11 ||

Being bound, that hero resolved on a thought fitting the moment: "Even bound as I am, these demons indeed have no real power over me;"

Shloka 12 (sundara.53.12)

चित्त्वा पाशान् समुत्पत्य हन्याम् अहम् इमान् पुनः । यदिभर्तुर्हतार्थाय चरन्तम् भर्तृशासनात् ॥ 53.12 ॥

cittvā pāśān samutpatya hanyām aham imān punaḥ | yadibharturhatārthāya carantam bhartṛśāsanāt || 53.12 ||

"breaking these bonds, I could leap up and slay them all again. If these evil ones, at their own lord's command, bind me who moves only for my own lord's good,"

Shloka 13 (sundara.53.13)

बध्नन्त्येते दुरात्मनो न तु मे निष्कृतिः कृता । सर्वेषाम् एव पर्याप्तो राक्षसानाम् अहम् युधि ॥ 53.13 ॥

badhnantyete durātmano na tu me niṣkṛtiḥ kṛtā | sarveṣām eva paryāpto rākṣasānām aham yudhi || 53.13 ||

"then no wrong has really been done to me. I alone am indeed a match for all these demons in battle;"

Shloka 14 (sundara.53.14)

किम् तु रामस्य प्रीति अर्थम् विषहिष्ये अहम् ईदृशम् । लन्का चरयितव्या मे पुनः एव भवेत् इति ॥ 53.14 ॥

kim tu rāmasya prīti artham viṣahiṣye aham īdṛśam | lankā carayitavyā me punaḥ eva bhavet iti || 53.14 ||

"but for Rama's pleasure I shall endure even this — so that this Lanka may once again be thoroughly scouted by me."

Shloka 15 (sundara.53.15)

रात्रौ न हि सुदृष्टा मे दुर्ग कर्म विधानतः । अवश्यम् एव द्रष्टव्या मया लन्का निशा क्षये ॥ 53.15 ॥

rātrau na hi sudṛṣṭā me durga karma vidhānataḥ | avaśyam eva draṣṭavyā mayā lankā niśā kṣaye || 53.15 ||

"By night I could not see well the arrangement of this fortress; surely this Lanka must be seen by me again as night gives way to day."

Shloka 16 (sundara.53.16)

कामम् बन्धैः च मे भूयः पुच्छस्य उद्दीपनेन च । पीडाम् कुर्वन्तु रक्षांसि न मे अस्ति मनसः श्रमः ॥ 53.16 ॥

kāmam bandhaiḥ ca me bhūyaḥ pucchasya uddīpanena ca | pīḍām kurvantu rakṣāṃsi na me asti manasaḥ śramaḥ || 53.16 ||

"Let the demons, if they wish, bind me again and torment me by setting my tail ablaze — my mind feels no distress in this at all."

Shloka 17 (sundara.53.17)

ततः ते सम्वृत आकारम् सत्त्ववन्तम् महाकपिम् । परिगृह्य ययुः हृष्टा राक्षसाः कपि कुन्जरम् ॥ 53.17 ॥

tataḥ te samvṛta ākāram sattvavantam mahākapim | parigṛhya yayuḥ hṛṣṭā rākṣasāḥ kapi kunjaram || 53.17 ||

Then those demons, delighted, seized that mighty great monkey — his true feelings entirely concealed — and led him away.

Shloka 18 (sundara.53.18)

शन्ख भेरी निनादैः तैः घोषयन्तः स्व कर्मभिः । राक्षसाः क्रूर कर्माणः चारयन्ति स्म ताम् पुरीम् ॥ 53.18 ॥

śankha bherī ninādaiḥ taiḥ ghoṣayantaḥ sva karmabhiḥ | rākṣasāḥ krūra karmāṇaḥ cārayanti sma tām purīm || 53.18 ||

Sounding conches and kettledrums, proclaiming his deeds, those cruel-acting demons paraded him through that city.

Shloka 19 (sundara.53.19)

अन्वीयमानो रक्षोभिर्ययौ सुखमरिंदमः । हनुमान् चारयामास राक्षसानाम् महापुरीम् ॥ 53.19 ॥

anvīyamāno rakṣobhiryayau sukhamariṃdamaḥ | hanumān cārayāmāsa rākṣasānām mahāpurīm || 53.19 ||

Followed on all sides by demons, Hanuman, subduer of foes, went along at ease and was paraded through the great city of the demons.

Shloka 20 (sundara.53.20)

अथ अपश्यत् विमानानि विचित्राणि महाकपिः । सम्वृतान् भूमि भागान् च सुविभक्तान् च चत्वरान् ॥ 53.20 ॥

atha apaśyat vimānāni vicitrāṇi mahākapiḥ | samvṛtān bhūmi bhāgān ca suvibhaktān ca catvarān || 53.20 ||

Then the great monkey beheld wondrous mansions, enclosed plots of ground, and well laid-out squares,

Shloka 21 (sundara.53.21)

वीथीश्च गृहसम्बाधाः कपिः शृङ्गटकानि च । तथा रथ्योपरथ्याश्च तथैव गृहकान्तरान् ॥ 53.21 ॥

vīthīśca gṛhasambādhāḥ kapiḥ śṛṅgaṭakāni ca | tathā rathyoparathyāśca tathaiva gṛhakāntarān || 53.21 ||

streets crowded with houses, junctions where several roads met, highways and byroads alike, and the inner courtyards of houses,

Shloka 22 (sundara.53.22)

गृहांश्च मेघसम्काशान् ददर्श पवनात्मजः । चत्वरेषु चतुष्केषु राज मार्गे तथैव च ॥ 53.22 ॥

gṛhāṃśca meghasamkāśān dadarśa pavanātmajaḥ | catvareṣu catuṣkeṣu rāja mārge tathaiva ca || 53.22 ||

and mansions resembling banks of cloud — all this the son of the Wind-god beheld; and at every crossroad, every four-pillared shrine, and on the royal highway too,

Shloka 23 (sundara.53.23)

घोषयन्ति कपिम् सर्वे चारीक इति राक्षसाः । स्त्रीबालवृद्धा निर्जग्मुस्तत्र तत्र कुतूहलात् ॥ 53.23 ॥

ghoṣayanti kapim sarve cārīka iti rākṣasāḥ | strībālavṛddhā nirjagmustatra tatra kutūhalāt || 53.23 ||

all the demons proclaimed him a spy; and women, children and old people came out from every quarter in eager curiosity,

Shloka 24 (sundara.53.24)

तम् प्रदीपितलाङ्गूलम् हनुमन्तम् दिदृक्षवः । दीप्यमाने ततः तस्य लान्गूल अग्रे हनूमतः ॥ 53.24 ॥

tam pradīpitalāṅgūlam hanumantam didṛkṣavaḥ | dīpyamāne tataḥ tasya lāngūla agre hanūmataḥ || 53.24 ||

wishing to see that Hanuman with his blazing tail. Then, as the very tip of Hanuman's tail was set alight,

Shloka 25 (sundara.53.25)

राक्षस्यः ता विरूप अक्ष्यः शंसुः देव्याः तत् अप्रियम् । यः त्वया कृत सम्वादः सीते ताम्र मुखः कपिः ॥ 53.25 ॥

rākṣasyaḥ tā virūpa akṣyaḥ śaṃsuḥ devyāḥ tat apriyam | yaḥ tvayā kṛta samvādaḥ sīte tāmra mukhaḥ kapiḥ || 53.25 ||

those demonesses with hideous eyes brought that unwelcome news to the princess: "O Sita, that copper-faced monkey with whom you spoke —"

Shloka 26 (sundara.53.26)

लान्गूलेन प्रदीप्तेन स एष परिणीयते । श्रुत्वा तत् वचनम् क्रूरम् आत्म अपहरण उपमम् ॥ 53.26 ॥

lāngūlena pradīptena sa eṣa pariṇīyate | śrutvā tat vacanam krūram ātma apaharaṇa upamam || 53.26 ||

"he is now being led about the city with his tail ablaze." Hearing that cruel news, as grievous to her as her own abduction had been,

Shloka 27 (sundara.53.27)

वैदेही शोक सम्तप्ता हुत अशनम् उपागमत् । मन्गला अभिमुखी तस्य सा तदा आसीन् महाकपेः ॥ 53.27 ॥

vaidehī śoka samtaptā huta aśanam upāgamat | mangalā abhimukhī tasya sā tadā āsīn mahākapeḥ || 53.27 ||

Vaidehi, burning with grief, drew near to the fire-god; and she, the wide-eyed one, wishing well for that great monkey,

Shloka 28 (sundara.53.28)

उपतस्थे विशाल अक्षी प्रयता हव्य वाहनम् । यदि अस्ति पति शुश्रूषा यदि अस्ति चरितम् तपः ॥ 53.28 ॥

upatasthe viśāla akṣī prayatā havya vāhanam | yadi asti pati śuśrūṣā yadi asti caritam tapaḥ || 53.28 ||

with purified heart worshipped the fire-god, saying: "If I have indeed served my husband, if I have truly practised austerity,"

Shloka 29 (sundara.53.29)

यदि च अस्ति एक पत्नीत्वम् शीतो भव हनूमतः । यदि कश्चित् अनुक्रोशः तस्य मयि अस्ति धीमतः ॥ 53.29 ॥

yadi ca asti eka patnītvam śīto bhava hanūmataḥ | yadi kaścit anukrośaḥ tasya mayi asti dhīmataḥ || 53.29 ||

"and if I am indeed a wife devoted to one alone — then be cool to Hanuman. If that wise Rama bears me even a little compassion,"

Shloka 30 (sundara.53.30)

यदि वा भाग्य शेषम् मे शीतो भव हनूमतः । यदि माम् वृत्त सम्पन्नाम् तत् समागम लालसाम् ॥ 53.30 ॥

yadi vā bhāgya śeṣam me śīto bhava hanūmataḥ | yadi mām vṛtta sampannām tat samāgama lālasām || 53.30 ||

"or if any good fortune yet remains for me — then be cool to Hanuman. If he recognizes me as one of pure conduct, longing only for reunion with him,"

Shloka 31 (sundara.53.31)

स विजानाति धर्म आत्मा शीतो भव हनूमतः । यदि माम् तारयति आर्यः सुग्रीवः सत्य सम्गरः ॥ 53.31 ॥

sa vijānāti dharma ātmā śīto bhava hanūmataḥ | yadi mām tārayati āryaḥ sugrīvaḥ satya samgaraḥ || 53.31 ||

"that righteous Rama truly knows me — then be cool to Hanuman. If the noble Sugriva, true to his given word, will carry me across"

Shloka 32 (sundara.53.32)

अस्मात् दुह्खान् महाबाहुः शीतो भव हनूमतः । ततः तीक्ष्ण अर्चिः अव्यग्रः प्रदक्षिण शिखो अनलः ॥ 53.32 ॥

asmāt duhkhān mahābāhuḥ śīto bhava hanūmataḥ | tataḥ tīkṣṇa arciḥ avyagraḥ pradakṣiṇa śikho analaḥ || 53.32 ||

"this ocean of sorrow, that mighty-armed one — then be cool to Hanuman." Then the fire, its flames sharp yet steady, its crest curling to the right,

Shloka 33 (sundara.53.33)

जज्वाल मृग शाव अक्ष्याः शंसन्न् इव शिवम् कपेः । हनुमज्जनकश्चापि पुच्छानलयुतोऽनिलः ॥ 53.33 ॥

jajvāla mṛga śāva akṣyāḥ śaṃsann iva śivam kapeḥ | hanumajjanakaścāpi pucchānalayuto'nilaḥ || 53.33 ||

blazed up, as though declaring to the fawn-eyed Sita the well-being of the monkey; and the Wind-god too, Hanuman's own father, mingling with the fire on his tail,

Shloka 34 (sundara.53.34)

ववौ स्वास्थ्यकरो देव्याः प्रालेयानिलशीतलः । दह्यमाने च लान्गूले चिन्तयामास वानरः ॥ 53.34 ॥

vavau svāsthyakaro devyāḥ prāleyānilaśītalaḥ | dahyamāne ca lāngūle cintayāmāsa vānaraḥ || 53.34 ||

blew gently, cool as a breeze of snow, bringing comfort to the princess. And even as his tail burned, that monkey Hanuman began to think within himself:

Shloka 35 (sundara.53.35)

प्रदीप्तो अग्निः अयम् कस्मान् न माम् दहति सर्वतः । दृश्यते च महाज्वालः करोति च न मे रुजम् ॥ 53.35 ॥

pradīpto agniḥ ayam kasmān na mām dahati sarvataḥ | dṛśyate ca mahājvālaḥ karoti ca na me rujam || 53.35 ||

"Why does this blazing fire not burn me on every side? Its great flames are plainly seen, and yet it causes me no pain at all —"

Shloka 36 (sundara.53.36)

शिशिरस्य इव सम्पातो लान्गूल अग्रे प्रतिष्ठितः । अथवा तत् इदम् व्यक्तम् यत् दृष्टम् प्लवता मया ॥ 53.36 ॥

śiśirasya iva sampāto lāngūla agre pratiṣṭhitaḥ | athavā tat idam vyaktam yat dṛṣṭam plavatā mayā || 53.36 ||

"it is as if a mass of frost lay upon the very tip of my tail. Or else this too is now clear to me — that which I saw while leaping across the sea,"

Shloka 37 (sundara.53.37)

राम प्रभावात् आश्चर्यम् पर्वतः सरिताम् पतौ । यदि तावत् समुद्रस्य मैनाकस्य च धीमथ ॥ 53.37 ॥

rāma prabhāvāt āścaryam parvataḥ saritām patau | yadi tāvat samudrasya mainākasya ca dhīmatha || 53.37 ||

"was that wondrous mountain, Mainaka, risen by Rama's very power within the lord of rivers, the ocean. If such fervour for Rama's sake was shown even by the ocean and the wise Mainaka,"

Shloka 38 (sundara.53.38)

राम अर्थम् सम्भ्रमः तादृक् किम् अग्निः न करिष्यति । सीतायाः च आनृशंस्येन तेजसा राघवस्य च ॥ 53.38 ॥

rāma artham sambhramaḥ tādṛk kim agniḥ na kariṣyati | sītāyāḥ ca ānṛśaṃsyena tejasā rāghavasya ca || 53.38 ||

"such fervour for Rama's sake, why should fire not do the same? It is indeed by Sita's kindness, by Raghava's power,"

Shloka 39 (sundara.53.39)

पितुः च मम सख्येन न माम् दहति पावकः । भूयः स चिन्तयामास मुहूर्तम् कपि कुन्जरः ॥ 53.39 ॥

pituḥ ca mama sakhyena na mām dahati pāvakaḥ | bhūyaḥ sa cintayāmāsa muhūrtam kapi kunjaraḥ || 53.39 ||

"and by the friendship of my own father that this fire does not burn me." That foremost of monkeys reflected thus for a moment more,

Shloka 40 (sundara.53.40)

उत्पपात अथ वेगेन ननाद च महाकपिः । पुर द्वारम् ततः श्रीमान् शैल शृन्गम् इव उन्नतम् ॥ 53.40 ॥

utpapāta atha vegena nanāda ca mahākapiḥ | pura dvāram tataḥ śrīmān śaila śṛngam iva unnatam || 53.40 ||

then leapt up with great speed, and that great monkey roared aloud; and that glorious one then drew near the city gate, towering like a mountain peak,

Shloka 41 (sundara.53.41)

विभक्त रक्षः सम्बाधम् आससाद अनिल आत्मजः । स भूत्वा शैल सम्काशः क्षणेन पुनः आत्मवान् ॥ 53.41 ॥

vibhakta rakṣaḥ sambādham āsasāda anila ātmajaḥ | sa bhūtvā śaila samkāśaḥ kṣaṇena punaḥ ātmavān || 53.41 ||

where the crowd of demons had now thinned apart — thither the son of the Wind-god came. Having assumed a form like a mountain, that self-possessed one, in a single instant,

Shloka 42 (sundara.53.42)

ह्रस्वताम् परमाम् प्राप्तो बन्धनानि अवशातयत् । विमुक्तः च अभवत् श्रीमान् पुनः पर्वत सम्निभः ॥ 53.42 ॥

hrasvatām paramām prāpto bandhanāni avaśātayat | vimuktaḥ ca abhavat śrīmān punaḥ parvata samnibhaḥ || 53.42 ||

took on the smallest possible form and so slipped free of his bonds. And once free, that glorious one again became like a mountain,

Shloka 43 (sundara.53.43)

वीक्षमाणः च ददृशे परिघम् तोरण आश्रितम् । स तम् गृह्य महाबाहुः काल आयस परिष्कृतम् ॥ 53.43 ॥

vīkṣamāṇaḥ ca dadṛśe parigham toraṇa āśritam | sa tam gṛhya mahābāhuḥ kāla āyasa pariṣkṛtam || 53.43 ||

and looking about, he saw an iron bar fixed upon the archway; that mighty-armed one seized it — wrought entirely of dark iron —

Shloka 44 (sundara.53.44)

रक्षिणः तान् पुनः सर्वान् सूदयामास मारुतिः । स तान् निहत्वा रण चण्ड विक्रमः । समीक्षमाणः पुनः एव लन्काम् । प्रदीप्त लान्गूल कृत अर्चि माली । प्रकाशत आदित्य इव अंशु माली ॥ 53.44 ॥

rakṣiṇaḥ tān punaḥ sarvān sūdayāmāsa mārutiḥ | sa tān nihatvā raṇa caṇḍa vikramaḥ | samīkṣamāṇaḥ punaḥ eva lankām | pradīpta lāngūla kṛta arci mālī | prakāśata āditya iva aṃśu mālī || 53.44 ||

and with it Maruti slew all those guards once more. Having thus slain them, that hero of fierce valour in battle, gazing again upon the whole of Lanka, garlanded with the flames of his own blazing tail, shone forth like the radiant sun crowned with its rays.