The Burning of Lanka

Shloka 1 (sundara.54.1)

वीक्षमाणः ततो लन्काम् कपिः कृत मनो रथः । वर्धमान समुत्साहः कार्य शेषम् अचिन्तयत् ॥ 54.1 ॥

vīkṣamāṇaḥ tato lankām kapiḥ kṛta mano rathaḥ | vardhamāna samutsāhaḥ kārya śeṣam acintayat || 54.1 ||

Then, gazing over Lanka, that monkey, his heart's desire now fulfilled, his zeal still mounting, pondered what task yet remained.

Shloka 2 (sundara.54.2)

किम् नु खल्व् अविशिष्टम् मे कर्तव्यम् इह साम्प्रतम् । यत् एषाम् रक्षसाम् भूयः सम्ताप जननम् भवेत् ॥ 54.2 ॥

kim nu khalv aviśiṣṭam me kartavyam iha sāmpratam | yat eṣām rakṣasām bhūyaḥ samtāpa jananam bhavet || 54.2 ||

"What indeed remains now for me to do here, that might bring these demons still greater anguish?"

Shloka 3 (sundara.54.3)

वनम् तावत् प्रमथितम् प्रकृष्टा राक्षसा हताः । बल एक देशः क्षपितः शेषम् दुर्ग विनाशनम् ॥ 54.3 ॥

vanam tāvat pramathitam prakṛṣṭā rākṣasā hatāḥ | bala eka deśaḥ kṣapitaḥ śeṣam durga vināśanam || 54.3 ||

"The grove I have already trampled down, eminent demons I have slain, a portion of their army I have destroyed — only the destruction of this fortress remains."

Shloka 4 (sundara.54.4)

दुर्गे विनाशिते कर्म भवेत् सुख परिश्रमम् । अल्प यत्नेन कार्ये अस्मिन् मम स्यात् सफलः श्रमः ॥ 54.4 ॥

durge vināśite karma bhavet sukha pariśramam | alpa yatnena kārye asmin mama syāt saphalaḥ śramaḥ || 54.4 ||

"Once the fortress is destroyed, the task ahead will grow easy; with only a little more effort now, my labour in this cause shall bear full fruit."

Shloka 5 (sundara.54.5)

यो हि अयम् मम लान्गूले दीप्यते हव्य वाहनः । अस्य सम्तर्पणम् न्याय्यम् कर्तुम् एभिः गृह उत्तमैः ॥ 54.5 ॥

yo hi ayam mama lāngūle dīpyate havya vāhanaḥ | asya samtarpaṇam nyāyyam kartum ebhiḥ gṛha uttamaiḥ || 54.5 ||

"This very fire that now blazes on my own tail — it is only fitting that I feed it its fill with these excellent mansions."

Shloka 6 (sundara.54.6)

ततः प्रदीप्त लान्गूलः सविद्युत् इव तोयदः । भवन अग्रेषु लन्काया विचचार महाकपिः ॥ 54.6 ॥

tataḥ pradīpta lāngūlaḥ savidyut iva toyadaḥ | bhavana agreṣu lankāyā vicacāra mahākapiḥ || 54.6 ||

Then, his tail ablaze, the great monkey ranged over the housetops of Lanka, like a raincloud charged with lightning.

Shloka 7 (sundara.54.7)

गृहाद्गृहम् राक्षसानामुद्यानानि च वानरः । वीक्षमाणो ह्यसम्त्रस्तः प्रासादांश्च चचार सः ॥ 54.7 ॥

gṛhādgṛham rākṣasānāmudyānāni ca vānaraḥ | vīkṣamāṇo hyasamtrastaḥ prāsādāṃśca cacāra saḥ || 54.7 ||

That monkey passed fearlessly from one demon's house to the next, surveying their gardens and their lofty mansions.

Shloka 8 (sundara.54.8)

अवप्लुत्य महावेगः प्रहस्तस्य निवेशनम् । अग्निम् तत्र स निक्षिप्य श्वसनेन समो बली ॥ 54.8 ॥

avaplutya mahāvegaḥ prahastasya niveśanam | agnim tatra sa nikṣipya śvasanena samo balī || 54.8 ||

Leaping down with great speed onto Prahasta's dwelling, mighty as the wind, that powerful one flung fire upon it,

Shloka 9 (sundara.54.9)

ततोऽन्यत्पुप्लुवे वेश्म महापार्श्वस्य वीर्यवान् । मुमोच हनुमान् अग्निम् काल अनल शिखा उपमम् ॥ 54.9 ॥

tato'nyatpupluve veśma mahāpārśvasya vīryavān | mumoca hanumān agnim kāla anala śikhā upamam || 54.9 ||

then that valiant one leapt on to another house, that of Mahaparshva, and there too Hanuman released a fire like the very flame that consumes an age.

Shloka 10 (sundara.54.10)

वज्रदंष्ट्र स्य च तदा पुप्लुवे स महाकपिः । शुकस्य च महातेजाः सारणस्य च धीमतः ॥ 54.10 ॥

vajradaṃṣṭra sya ca tadā pupluve sa mahākapiḥ | śukasya ca mahātejāḥ sāraṇasya ca dhīmataḥ || 54.10 ||

That great monkey of surpassing splendour then leapt on to the houses of Vajradamshtra, of Shuka, and of the wise Sarana.

Shloka 11 (sundara.54.11)

तथा चेन्द्रजितो वेश्म ददाह हरियूथपः । जम्बुमालेः सुमालेश्च ददाह भवनम् ततः ॥ 54.11 ॥

tathā cendrajito veśma dadāha hariyūthapaḥ | jambumāleḥ sumāleśca dadāha bhavanam tataḥ || 54.11 ||

So too that lord of monkey-hosts burnt down the dwelling of Indrajit; and then he burnt the houses of Jambumali and of Sumali,

Shloka 12 (sundara.54.12)

रश्मिकेतोश्च भवनम् सूर्यशत्रोस्तथैव च । ह्रस्वकर्णस्य दंष्ट्रस्य रोमशस्य च रक्षसः ॥ 54.12 ॥

raśmiketośca bhavanam sūryaśatrostathaiva ca | hrasvakarṇasya daṃṣṭrasya romaśasya ca rakṣasaḥ || 54.12 ||

and the house of Rashmiketu, and likewise of Suryashatru, of Hrasvakarna, of Damshtra, and of the demon Romasha,

Shloka 13 (sundara.54.13)

युद्धोन्मत्तस्य मत्तस्य ध्वजग्रीवस्य रक्षसः । विद्युज्जिह्वस्य घोरस्य तथा हस्तिमुखस्य च ॥ 54.13 ॥

yuddhonmattasya mattasya dhvajagrīvasya rakṣasaḥ | vidyujjihvasya ghorasya tathā hastimukhasya ca || 54.13 ||

of Yuddhonmatta, of Matta, of the demon Dhvajagriva, of the terrible Vidyujjihva, and likewise of Hastimukha,

Shloka 14 (sundara.54.14)

कराळस्य पिशाचस्य शोणिताक्षस्य चैव हि । कुम्भकर्णस्य भवनम् मकराक्षस्य चैव हि ॥ 54.14 ॥

karāḷasya piśācasya śoṇitākṣasya caiva hi | kumbhakarṇasya bhavanam makarākṣasya caiva hi || 54.14 ||

and of Karala the pishacha, and of Shonitaksha too, and the house of Kumbhakarna, and of Makaraksha as well,

Shloka 15 (sundara.54.15)

यज्ञशत्रोश्च भवनम् ब्रह्मशत्रोस्तथैव च। नरान्तकस्य कुम्भस्य निकुम्भस्य दुरात्मनः ॥ 54.15 ॥

yajñaśatrośca bhavanam brahmaśatrostathaiva ca| narāntakasya kumbhasya nikumbhasya durātmanaḥ || 54.15 ||

and the house of Yajnashatru, and likewise of Brahmashatru, of Narantaka, of Kumbha, and of the evil-minded Nikumbha —

Shloka 16 (sundara.54.16)

वर्जयित्वा महातेजा विभीषणगृहम् प्रति । क्रममाणः क्रमेणैव ददाह हरिपुङ्गवः ॥ 54.16 ॥

varjayitvā mahātejā vibhīṣaṇagṛham prati | kramamāṇaḥ krameṇaiva dadāha haripuṅgavaḥ || 54.16 ||

only Vibhishana's house he spared; and that most glorious bull among monkeys burnt all the rest, one after another, going in order from each to the next.

Shloka 17 (sundara.54.17)

तेषु तेषु महार्हेषु भवनेषु महायशाः । गृहेष्वृद्धिमतामृद्धिम् ददाह स महाकपिः ॥ 54.17 ॥

teṣu teṣu mahārheṣu bhavaneṣu mahāyaśāḥ | gṛheṣvṛddhimatāmṛddhim dadāha sa mahākapiḥ || 54.17 ||

That greatly renowned monkey burnt away the very wealth stored up in each of those costly mansions belonging to the rich.

Shloka 18 (sundara.54.18)

सर्वेषाम् समतिक्रम्य राक्षसेन्द्रस्य वीर्यवान् । आससादाथ लक्ष्मीवान् रावणस्य निवेशनम् ॥ 54.18 ॥

sarveṣām samatikramya rākṣasendrasya vīryavān | āsasādātha lakṣmīvān rāvaṇasya niveśanam || 54.18 ||

Having passed over all of them, that mighty and glorious one then came at last upon the very dwelling of Ravana, lord of the demons.

Shloka 19 (sundara.54.19)

ततस्तस्मिन् गृहे मुख्ये नानारत्नविभूषिते । मेरुमन्दरसंकाशे सर्वमङ्गळशोभिते ॥ 54.19 ॥

tatastasmin gṛhe mukhye nānāratnavibhūṣite | merumandarasaṃkāśe sarvamaṅgaḷaśobhite || 54.19 ||

Then, upon that foremost mansion, adorned with jewels of every kind, resembling Mount Meru or Mount Mandara, and radiant with every auspicious sign,

Shloka 20 (sundara.54.20)

प्रदीप्तमग्निमुत्सृज्य लाङ्गूलाग्रे प्रतिष्ठितम् । ननाद हनुमान् वीरो युगान्तजलदो यथा ॥ 54.20 ॥

pradīptamagnimutsṛjya lāṅgūlāgre pratiṣṭhitam | nanāda hanumān vīro yugāntajalado yathā || 54.20 ||

the valiant Hanuman flung the blazing fire lodged at the tip of his tail, and roared aloud like a thundercloud at the world's dissolution.

Shloka 21 (sundara.54.21)

श्वसनेन च सम्योगात् अतिवेगो महाबलः । काल अग्निः इव जज्वाल प्रावर्धत हुत अशनः ॥ 54.21 ॥

śvasanena ca samyogāt ativego mahābalaḥ | kāla agniḥ iva jajvāla prāvardhata huta aśanaḥ || 54.21 ||

Fed by contact with the wind, that fire, mighty and swift beyond measure, blazed up and grew like the very fire that ends an age.

Shloka 22 (sundara.54.22)

प्रदीप्तम् अग्निम् पवनः तेषु वेश्मसु चारयत् । अभूच्छ्वसनसम्योगादतिवेगो हुताशनः ॥ 54.22 ॥

pradīptam agnim pavanaḥ teṣu veśmasu cārayat | abhūcchvasanasamyogādativego hutāśanaḥ || 54.22 ||

The wind bore that blazing fire on from house to house; and joined to the wind, the fire grew exceedingly swift.

Shloka 23 (sundara.54.23)

तानि कान्चन जालानि मुक्ता मणिमयानि च । भवनानि अवशीर्यन्त रत्नवन्ति महान्ति च ॥ 54.23 ॥

tāni kāncana jālāni muktā maṇimayāni ca | bhavanāni avaśīryanta ratnavanti mahānti ca || 54.23 ||

Those great mansions, latticed with gold and set with pearls and gems, laden with jewels, crumbled and fell apart.

Shloka 24 (sundara.54.24)

सम्जज्ञे तुमुलः शब्दो राक्षसानाम् प्रधावताम् । स्वग्ऱिहस्य परित्राणे भग्नोत्साहोर्जिअश्रियाम् ॥ 54.24 ॥

samjajñe tumulaḥ śabdo rākṣasānām pradhāvatām | svagऱिhasya paritrāṇe bhagnotsāhorjiaśriyām || 54.24 ||

A tumultuous din arose from the demons, running here and there to save their homes, their courage broken, their splendour undone —

Shloka 25 (sundara.54.25)

नूनेमेषाऽग्निरायातः कपिरूपेण हा इति । क्रन्दन्त्यः सहसा पेतुः स्तनंधयधराः स्त्रियः ॥ 54.25 ॥

nūnemeṣā'gnirāyātaḥ kapirūpeṇa hā iti | krandantyaḥ sahasā petuḥ stanaṃdhayadharāḥ striyaḥ || 54.25 ||

crying, "Alas, surely this is the fire-god himself, come in the form of a monkey!" And women, wailing, carrying their infants at the breast, fell suddenly from their houses,

Shloka 26 (sundara.54.26)

काश्चिरग्निपरीतेभ्यो हर्म्येभ्यो मुक्तमूर्धजाः । पतन्त्यो रेजिरेऽभ्रेभ्यः सौदामिन्य इवाम्बरात् ॥ 54.26 ॥

kāściragniparītebhyo harmyebhyo muktamūrdhajāḥ | patantyo rejire'bhrebhyaḥ saudāminya ivāmbarāt || 54.26 ||

their hair come loose, tumbling from mansions wrapped in fire — and as they fell, they gleamed like flashes of lightning falling from the clouds in the sky.

Shloka 27 (sundara.54.27)

वज्र विद्रुम वैदूर्य मुक्ता रजत सम्हितान् । विचित्रान् भवनात् धातून् स्यन्दमानान् ददर्श सः ॥ 54.27 ॥

vajra vidruma vaidūrya muktā rajata samhitān | vicitrān bhavanāt dhātūn syandamānān dadarśa saḥ || 54.27 ||

He saw molten metals streaming from those wondrous mansions, mingled with diamonds, coral, beryl, pearls and silver.

Shloka 28 (sundara.54.28)

न अग्निः तृप्यति काष्ठानाम् तृणानाम् च यथा तथा । हनूमान् राक्षस इन्द्राणाम् वधे किंचिन् न तृप्यति ॥ 54.28 ॥

na agniḥ tṛpyati kāṣṭhānām tṛṇānām ca yathā tathā | hanūmān rākṣasa indrāṇām vadhe kiṃcin na tṛpyati || 54.28 ||

Just as fire is never sated with logs and dry grass, so Hanuman found no measure of satisfaction in the killing of the lordly demons;

Shloka 29 (sundara.54.29)

न हनूमद्विशस्तानाम् राक्षसानाम् वसुन्धरा । क्वचित्किंशुकसम्काशाः क्वचिच्छाल्मलिसन्निभाः ॥ 54.29 ॥

na hanūmadviśastānām rākṣasānām vasundharā | kvacitkiṃśukasamkāśāḥ kvacicchālmalisannibhāḥ || 54.29 ||

nor did the earth herself grow weary of receiving the demons slain by Hanuman. Here the flames of that fire gleamed like kimshuka blossoms, there like blooms of the shalmali tree,

Shloka 30 (sundara.54.30)

क्वचित्कुङ्कुमसम्काशाः शिखा वह्नेश्चकाशिरे । हनूमता वेगवता वानरेण महात्मना । लङ्कापुरम् प्रदग्धम् तद्रुद्रेण त्रिपुरम् यथा ॥ 54.30 ॥

kvacitkuṅkumasamkāśāḥ śikhā vahneścakāśire | hanūmatā vegavatā vānareṇa mahātmanā | laṅkāpuram pradagdham tadrudreṇa tripuram yathā || 54.30 ||

and elsewhere like the hue of saffron. So was the city of Lanka set ablaze by that swift, great-souled monkey Hanuman, even as Tripura once was burnt by Rudra.

Shloka 31 (sundara.54.31)

ततस्तु लङ्कापुरपर्वताग्रे । स्मुत्थितो भीमपराक्रमोऽग्निः । प्रसार्य चूडावलयम् प्रदीप्तो । हनूमता वेगवता विसृष्टः ॥ 54.31 ॥

tatastu laṅkāpuraparvatāgre | smutthito bhīmaparākramo'gniḥ | prasārya cūḍāvalayam pradīpto | hanūmatā vegavatā visṛṣṭaḥ || 54.31 ||

Then, released by swift Hanuman, that fire of fearsome might rose blazing to the very summit of the mountain on which the city of Lanka stood, spreading out a ring of flame like a crown.

Shloka 32 (sundara.54.32)

युगान्तकालानलतुल्यवेगः । समारुतोऽग्निर्ववृधे दिवस्पृक् । विधूमरश्मिर्भवनेषु सक्तो । रक्षः शरीराज्यसमर्पितार्चिः ॥ 54.32 ॥

yugāntakālānalatulyavegaḥ | samāruto'gnirvavṛdhe divaspṛk | vidhūmaraśmirbhavaneṣu sakto | rakṣaḥ śarīrājyasamarpitārciḥ || 54.32 ||

Fed by the wind, that fire, swift as the fire of the age's end, grew until it touched the very sky, its light smokeless, clinging to the mansions, its flames as though offered ghee by the very bodies of the demons.

Shloka 33 (sundara.54.33)

आदित्यकोटीसदृशः सुतेजा । लङ्काम् समस्ताम् परिवार्य तिष्ठन् । शब्दैरनेकैरशनिप्ररूडै । र्भिन्दन्निवाण्डम् प्रबभौ महाग्निः ॥ 54.33 ॥

ādityakoṭīsadṛśaḥ sutejā | laṅkām samastām parivārya tiṣṭhan | śabdairanekairaśaniprarūḍai | rbhindannivāṇḍam prababhau mahāgniḥ || 54.33 ||

Radiant as a myriad suns, that great fire stood enclosing the whole of Lanka, blazing forth with countless sounds like bursts of thunder, as though it were splitting apart the very shell of the cosmic egg.

Shloka 34 (sundara.54.34)

तत्राम्बरादग्निरतिप्रवृद्धो । रूक्षप्रभः किंशुकपुष्पचूडाः । निर्वाणधूमाकुलराजयश्च । नीलोत्पलाभाः प्रचकाशिरेऽभ्राः ॥ 54.34 ॥

tatrāmbarādagniratipravṛddho | rūkṣaprabhaḥ kiṃśukapuṣpacūḍāḥ | nirvāṇadhūmākularājayaśca | nīlotpalābhāḥ pracakāśire'bhrāḥ || 54.34 ||

There the fire, harsh in its brilliance, rose ever higher toward the sky, its crest like kimshuka blossoms; and the clouds, streaked with the smoke of dying flame, shone with the deep blue hue of lotuses.

Shloka 35 (sundara.54.35)

वज्री महेन्द्रस्त्रिदशेश्वरो वा । साक्षाद्यमो वा वरुणोऽनिलो वा । रुद्रोग्निरर्को धनदश्च सोमो । न वानरोऽयम् स्वयमेव कालः ॥ 54.35 ॥

vajrī mahendrastridaśeśvaro vā | sākṣādyamo vā varuṇo'nilo vā | rudrognirarko dhanadaśca somo | na vānaro'yam svayameva kālaḥ || 54.35 ||

"He is no monkey! Surely he is thunderbolt-wielding Mahendra, lord of the thirty gods, or Yama himself, or Varuna, or the wind-god, or Rudra, or Agni, or Surya, or Kubera, lord of wealth, or the moon — or Time itself in person."

Shloka 36 (sundara.54.36)

किम् ब्रह्मण सर्वपितामहस्य । सर्वस्य धातुश्चतुराननस्य । इहागतो वानररूपधारी । रक्षोपसम्हारकरः प्रतापः ॥ 54.36 ॥

kim brahmaṇa sarvapitāmahasya | sarvasya dhātuścaturānanasya | ihāgato vānararūpadhārī | rakṣopasamhārakaraḥ pratāpaḥ || 54.36 ||

"Or is this the very might of four-faced Brahma, grandsire of all beings and creator of all, come here in the guise of a monkey to bring about the destruction of the demons?"

Shloka 37 (sundara.54.37)

किम् वैष्णवम् वा कपिरूपमेत्य । रक्षोविनाशाय परम् सुतेजः । अनन्तमव्यक्तमचिन्त्यमेकम् । स्वमायया साम्प्रतमागतम् वा ॥ 54.37 ॥

kim vaiṣṇavam vā kapirūpametya | rakṣovināśāya param sutejaḥ | anantamavyaktamacintyamekam | svamāyayā sāmpratamāgatam vā || 54.37 ||

"Or has that supreme, splendid energy of Vishnu — infinite, unmanifest, unthinkable, one alone — now come, assuming a monkey's form by its own power, to destroy the demons?"

Shloka 38 (sundara.54.38)

इत्येवमूचुर्बहवो विशिष्टा । रक्षोगणास्तत्र समेत्य सर्वे । सप्राणिसम्घां सगृहाम् सवृक्षाम् । दग्धाम् पुरीम् ताम् सहसा समीक्ष्य ॥ 54.38 ॥

ityevamūcurbahavo viśiṣṭā | rakṣogaṇāstatra sametya sarve | saprāṇisamghāṃ sagṛhām savṛkṣām | dagdhām purīm tām sahasā samīkṣya || 54.38 ||

So spoke, gathering there together, the many eminent hosts of demons, when they suddenly beheld that city burnt, with all its host of living beings, its houses and its very trees.

Shloka 39 (sundara.54.39)

ततस्तु लङ्का सहसा प्रदग्धा । सराक्षसा साश्वरथा सनागा । सपक्षिसम्घा समृगा सवृक्षा । रुरोद दीना तुमुलम् सशब्दम् ॥ 54.39 ॥

tatastu laṅkā sahasā pradagdhā | sarākṣasā sāśvarathā sanāgā | sapakṣisamghā samṛgā savṛkṣā | ruroda dīnā tumulam saśabdam || 54.39 ||

Then Lanka, suddenly set ablaze, with its demons, its horses and chariots, its elephants, its flocks of birds, its beasts and its very trees, cried out in misery with a tumultuous, piteous sound.

Shloka 40 (sundara.54.40)

हा तात हा पुत्रक कान्त मित्र । हा जीवितम् भोगयुतम् सुपुण्यम् । रक्षोभिरेवम् बहुधा ब्रुवद्भिः । शब्दः कृतो घोररवः सुभीमः ॥ 54.40 ॥

hā tāta hā putraka kānta mitra | hā jīvitam bhogayutam supuṇyam | rakṣobhirevam bahudhā bruvadbhiḥ | śabdaḥ kṛto ghoraravaḥ subhīmaḥ || 54.40 ||

"Alas, my father! Alas, my dear son! My beloved! My friend! Alas, this blessed life so full of joys!" — crying thus in a hundred ways, the demons raised a fearsome, dreadful clamour.

Shloka 41 (sundara.54.41)

हुताशनज्वालसमावृता सा । हतप्रवीरा परिवृत्तयोधा । हनूमतः क्रोधबलाभिभूता । बभूव शापोपहतेअ लङ्का ॥ 54.41 ॥

hutāśanajvālasamāvṛtā sā | hatapravīrā parivṛttayodhā | hanūmataḥ krodhabalābhibhūtā | babhūva śāpopahatea laṅkā || 54.41 ||

Wrapped now in the flames of that fire, its finest heroes slain, its warriors turned in retreat, overpowered by the strength of Hanuman's fury, Lanka appeared as though struck down by a curse.

Shloka 42 (sundara.54.42)

स सम्भ्रामत्रस्तविषण्णराक्षसां । समुज्ज्वलज्ज्वालहुताशनाङ्किताम् । ददर्श लङ्काम् हनुमान् महामानाः । स्वयम्भूकोपोपहतामिवावनिम् ॥ 54.42 ॥

sa sambhrāmatrastaviṣaṇṇarākṣasāṃ | samujjvalajjvālahutāśanāṅkitām | dadarśa laṅkām hanumān mahāmānāḥ | svayambhūkopopahatāmivāvanim || 54.42 ||

Great-souled Hanuman beheld Lanka thus — its demons bewildered, terror-struck, and despairing, marked all over by the blazing flames of that fire — as though it were the very earth laid low by the wrath of the Self-existent One.

Shloka 43 (sundara.54.43)

भम्क्त्वा वनम् पादपरत्नसम्कुलम् । हत्वा तु रक्षांसि महान्ति सम्युगे । दग्ध्वा पुरीम् ताम् गृहरत्नमालिनीम् । तस्थौ हनूमान् पवनात्मजः कपिः ॥ 54.43 ॥

bhamktvā vanam pādaparatnasamkulam | hatvā tu rakṣāṃsi mahānti samyuge | dagdhvā purīm tām gṛharatnamālinīm | tasthau hanūmān pavanātmajaḥ kapiḥ || 54.43 ||

Having broken the grove that was thronged with matchless trees, having slain great demons in that combat, and having burnt that city strung with jewel-like mansions, Hanuman, the monkey and son of the Wind-god, stood there at ease.

Shloka 44 (sundara.54.44)

त्रिकूटशृङ्गाग्रतले विचित्रे । प्रतिष्ठितो वानरराजसिम्हः । प्रदीप्तलाङ्गूलकृतार्चिमाली । व्यराजतादित्य इवांशुमाली ॥ 54.44 ॥

trikūṭaśṛṅgāgratale vicitre | pratiṣṭhito vānararājasimhaḥ | pradīptalāṅgūlakṛtārcimālī | vyarājatāditya ivāṃśumālī || 54.44 ||

Standing there upon the wondrous flat summit of Mount Trikuta, that lion among monkey-kings, garlanded with the flames of his blazing tail, shone forth like the sun crowned with its own rays.

Shloka 45 (sundara.54.45)

स राक्षसांस्तान् सुबहूंश्च हत्वा । वनम् च भम्क्त्वा बहूपादपम् तत् । विसृज्य रक्षोभवनेषु चाग्निम् । जगाम रामम् मनसा महात्मा ॥ 54.45 ॥

sa rākṣasāṃstān subahūṃśca hatvā | vanam ca bhamktvā bahūpādapam tat | visṛjya rakṣobhavaneṣu cāgnim | jagāma rāmam manasā mahātmā || 54.45 ||

Having slain those very many demons, having broken that grove of many trees, and having cast fire upon the houses of the demons, that great-souled one turned his mind at once toward Rama.

Shloka 46 (sundara.54.46)

ततस्तु तम् वानवीरमुख्यम् । महाबलम् मारुततुल्यवेगम् । महामतिम् वायुसुतम् वरिष्ठम् । प्रतुष्टवुर्देवगणाश्च सर्वे ॥ 54.46 ॥

tatastu tam vānavīramukhyam | mahābalam mārutatulyavegam | mahāmatim vāyusutam variṣṭham | pratuṣṭavurdevagaṇāśca sarve || 54.46 ||

Then all the hosts of the gods together extolled that foremost hero of the monkeys, mighty in strength, swift as the very wind, of great wisdom, most excellent son of Vayu.

Shloka 47 (sundara.54.47)

भम्क्त्वा वनम् महातेजा हत्वा रक्षांसि सम्युगे । दग्ध्वा लङ्कापुरीम् रम्याम् रराज स महाकपिः ॥ 54.47 ॥

bhamktvā vanam mahātejā hatvā rakṣāṃsi samyuge | dagdhvā laṅkāpurīm ramyām rarāja sa mahākapiḥ || 54.47 ||

Having broken the grove, having slain the demons in that combat, and having burnt the beautiful city of Lanka, that great monkey of surpassing splendour shone forth gloriously.

Shloka 48 (sundara.54.48)

तत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्ष्यः । दृष्ट्वा लङ्काम् प्रद्ग्धाम् ताम् विस्मयम् परमम् गताः ॥ 54.48 ॥

tatra devāḥ sagandharvāḥ siddhāśca paramarṣyaḥ | dṛṣṭvā laṅkām pradgdhām tām vismayam paramam gatāḥ || 54.48 ||

There the gods, together with the gandharvas, the siddhas, and the great sages, beholding that Lanka thus burnt, were filled with the utmost wonder.

Shloka 49 (sundara.54.49)

तम् दृष्ट्वा वानरश्रेष्ठम् हनुमन्तम् महाकपिम् । कालाग्निरिति संचिन्त्य सर्वभूतानि तत्रसुः ॥ 54.49 ॥

tam dṛṣṭvā vānaraśreṣṭham hanumantam mahākapim | kālāgniriti saṃcintya sarvabhūtāni tatrasuḥ || 54.49 ||

Seeing that Hanuman, foremost of monkeys and great among them, all beings trembled in fear, thinking him to be the very fire that ends an age.

Shloka 50 (sundara.54.50)

देवाश्च सर्वे मुनिपुङ्गवाश्च । गन्धर्वविद्याधरनागयक्षाः । भूतानि सर्वाणि महान्ति तत्र । जग्मुः पराम् प्रीतिमतुल्यरूपाम् ॥ 54.50 ॥

devāśca sarve munipuṅgavāśca | gandharvavidyādharanāgayakṣāḥ | bhūtāni sarvāṇi mahānti tatra | jagmuḥ parām prītimatulyarūpām || 54.50 ||

All the gods, and the foremost among sages, the gandharvas, the vidyadharas, the nagas and the yakshas, and all the great beings there, were filled with a supreme and matchless delight.