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Kanda 5 of 768 sargas2,780 shlokas

Sundara Kanda

सुंदरकांड

The Sundara Kanda, the beautiful book, is Hanuman's book: his leap across the ocean, his search of Lanka, his meeting with Sita and the burning of the city. It is often recited on its own as an act of devotion.

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What happens in the Sundara Kanda

Hanuman leaps from Mount Mahendra. On the way the mountain Mainaka rises to offer him rest, he passes the test of Surasa and kills Simhika. He enters Lanka at night, overcomes its guardian and searches the palaces.

In the Ashoka grove he watches Ravana threaten Sita, then wins her trust by reciting Rama's story and gives her Rama's ring. Sita refuses to be carried back by him, saying Rama himself must come, and gives him her crest jewel.

Hanuman destroys the grove, kills Aksha and lets Indrajit capture him so he can see Ravana. His tail is set on fire and he burns Lanka. He returns with the news, and the vanaras celebrate in Sugriva's honey grove before reporting to Rama.

Themes

Courage, intelligence and devotion. The title is traditionally explained by the beauty of Hanuman's service and of Sita's steadfastness.

Contents

The 68 sargas of the Sundara Kanda

Each sarga opens with its Sanskrit shlokas, the same in English letters, and the meaning in Hindi and English.

  1. Sarga1 201 shlokas The Great Leap हनुमान का समुद्र लंघन Hanuman leaps from Mahendra and flies over the ocean. He rests briefly on the mountain Mainaka, outwits Surasa, the mother of serpents, kills the shadow-seizing Simhika and lands on the shore of Lanka.
  2. Sarga2 58 shlokas First Sight of Lanka लंका का प्रथम दर्शन From a hilltop Hanuman sees the golden walled city. He waits for nightfall and shrinks to the size of a cat to slip inside unnoticed.
  3. Sarga3 51 shlokas Hanuman and Lankini हनुमान और लंकिनी At the gate the guardian spirit of Lanka blocks his way. Hanuman strikes her with his fist, and she admits that the city's end is near, as Brahma foretold.
  4. Sarga4 29 shlokas Inside the City नगर के भीतर Hanuman moves through Lanka by moonlight, seeing its mansions, music and armed guards everywhere.
  5. Sarga5 27 shlokas No Sign of Sita सीता का पता नहीं He searches house after house among sleeping rakshasas but cannot find Sita and grows sad.
  6. Sarga6 42 shlokas Ravana's Palace रावण का महल Hanuman enters Ravana's vast palace, guarded and glittering with gold and jewels.
  7. Sarga7 17 shlokas The Pushpaka Chariot पुष्पक विमान He sees the Pushpaka, the flying chariot Ravana took from Kubera, shining like a mountain of gems.
  8. Sarga8 7 shlokas Wonders of the Pushpaka पुष्पक का वैभव The chariot's carvings, gardens and halls are described in detail.
  9. Sarga9 73 shlokas Ravana's Inner Chambers रावण का अंतःपुर Hanuman enters the women's quarters and sees the many wives of Ravana asleep after the night's revels.
  10. Sarga10 54 shlokas Mandodari Mistaken for Sita मंदोदरी को सीता समझना Seeing Ravana asleep and beside him the beautiful Mandodari, Hanuman for a moment thinks he has found Sita.
  11. Sarga11 47 shlokas The Mistake Corrected भ्रम का निवारण He realises Sita would never sleep, eat or adorn herself apart from Rama, and continues the search through the banquet halls.
  12. Sarga12 25 shlokas Searching Every Corner हर कोने में खोज Hanuman searches every room of the palace grounds and still finds no trace of Sita.
  13. Sarga13 69 shlokas Hanuman's Despair हनुमान की निराशा He fears Sita may be dead and dreads returning empty-handed, then rouses himself to search the Ashoka grove.
  14. Sarga14 52 shlokas In the Ashoka Grove अशोक वाटिका में Hanuman leaps into the Ashoka grove, climbs a shimshapa tree and waits, watching.
  15. Sarga15 54 shlokas Hanuman Sees Sita हनुमान को सीता के दर्शन Below the tree he sees a pale, thin woman in a soiled garment, surrounded by rakshasis, and knows by the ornaments and signs that she is Sita.
  16. Sarga16 32 shlokas Grief for Sita सीता की दशा पर दुख Hanuman weeps to see Sita in such suffering and praises her devotion to Rama.
  17. Sarga17 32 shlokas The Rakshasi Guards राक्षसी पहरेदार He observes the grotesque rakshasis who guard Sita day and night.
  18. Sarga18 32 shlokas Ravana Comes at Dawn भोर में रावण का आगमन At dawn Ravana enters the grove with his wives to see Sita, and Hanuman hides among the leaves.
  19. Sarga19 23 shlokas Sita in Sorrow शोकमग्न सीता Seeing Ravana, Sita shrinks, covers herself and trembles like a plantain tree in the wind.
  20. Sarga20 36 shlokas Ravana Tempts Sita रावण का प्रलोभन Ravana offers Sita his wealth and kingdom and asks her to forget Rama.
  21. Sarga21 34 shlokas Sita Spurns Ravana सीता का तिरस्कार Sita replies that she belongs to Rama as light belongs to the sun, and warns Ravana to return her and seek Rama's mercy.
  22. Sarga22 46 shlokas Two Months to Live दो महीने की अवधि Furious, Ravana gives Sita two more months to yield, after which he will have her killed, and orders the rakshasis to break her will.
  23. Sarga23 19 shlokas The Rakshasis Persuade राक्षसियों का समझाना The rakshasis praise Ravana's greatness and urge Sita to accept him.
  24. Sarga24 48 shlokas Threats and Insults धमकियाँ When Sita refuses, they threaten to tear her apart and eat her.
  25. Sarga25 20 shlokas Sita Weeps सीता का विलाप Sita weeps for Rama and laments that she cannot die even in such misery.
  26. Sarga26 38 shlokas Sita Resolves to Die सीता का प्राण त्यागने का विचार In despair Sita decides to end her life rather than live without Rama.
  27. Sarga27 51 shlokas Trijata's Dream त्रिजटा का स्वप्न The elder rakshasi Trijata tells the others of a dream in which Rama rides in glory and Lanka is destroyed, and warns them to treat Sita kindly.
  28. Sarga28 19 shlokas Sita Holds On सीता का धैर्य Sita grieves again but resolves to hold on, and good omens begin to appear.
  29. Sarga29 8 shlokas Auspicious Signs शुभ शकुन Sita's left eye and arm throb, signs of good news, and her heart lifts.
  30. Sarga30 44 shlokas How to Speak to Sita सीता से बात करने का उपाय Hanuman considers how to approach Sita without frightening her and decides to speak of Rama gently.
  31. Sarga31 19 shlokas Hanuman Sings of Rama हनुमान का राम गुणगान From the tree Hanuman softly recites Rama's story. Sita looks up and sees him.
  32. Sarga32 14 shlokas Is It a Dream? स्वप्न या सत्य Sita wonders if she is dreaming or deceived by Ravana's magic.
  33. Sarga33 31 shlokas Sita Tells Her Story सीता का परिचय Hanuman comes down and asks who she is. Sita tells him her story.
  34. Sarga34 41 shlokas Hanuman Brings Rama's News हनुमान द्वारा राम का संदेश Hanuman tells Sita he is Rama's messenger and that Rama and Lakshmana are well.
  35. Sarga35 89 shlokas Hanuman Describes Rama राम का वर्णन To win her trust Hanuman describes Rama and Lakshmana in detail and tells of the alliance with Sugriva.
  36. Sarga36 47 shlokas Rama's Ring राम की मुद्रिका Hanuman gives Sita Rama's ring. She holds it with joy, as if she had met Rama himself.
  37. Sarga37 65 shlokas Sita Declines Rescue सीता का साथ चलने से इनकार Hanuman offers to carry Sita back on his back. She refuses, saying she will not willingly touch another and that Rama himself must win her back.
  38. Sarga38 73 shlokas The Crow and the Jewel काकासुर और चूड़ामणि As proof for Rama, Sita tells of the crow Rama once punished with a blade of grass at Chitrakoot and gives Hanuman her hair jewel.
  39. Sarga39 54 shlokas Sita's Plea सीता की विनती Sita begs Hanuman to make Rama come quickly. Hanuman assures her the army will cross the sea.
  40. Sarga40 25 shlokas Farewell विदाई Sita blesses Hanuman and gives him leave to go.
  41. Sarga41 21 shlokas Hanuman Tests Ravana's Strength रावण की शक्ति परखना Before leaving, Hanuman decides to measure the enemy's strength and begins wrecking the Ashoka grove.
  42. Sarga42 43 shlokas The Grove Destroyed वाटिका विध्वंस Hanuman uproots the grove. Ravana sends eighty thousand kinkara warriors, and Hanuman kills them all.
  43. Sarga43 25 shlokas The Temple Razed चैत्य प्रासाद का विध्वंस Hanuman destroys a temple tower and its guards, roaring Rama's name.
  44. Sarga44 20 shlokas Jambumali Is Slain जम्बुमाली वध Ravana sends Jambumali, son of Prahasta, and Hanuman kills him with an iron bar.
  45. Sarga45 17 shlokas The Ministers' Sons Fall मंत्रीपुत्रों का वध Seven sons of Ravana's ministers attack and are killed.
  46. Sarga46 39 shlokas Five Generals Fall पाँच सेनापतियों का वध Five of Ravana's commanders lead an army against Hanuman and die.
  47. Sarga47 38 shlokas The Death of Aksha अक्षकुमार वध Ravana's young son Aksha fights bravely, but Hanuman seizes him by the feet and dashes him to the ground.
  48. Sarga48 61 shlokas Bound by the Brahmastra ब्रह्मास्त्र से बंधन Indrajit binds Hanuman with the Brahmastra. Hanuman lets himself be taken so that he can see Ravana.
  49. Sarga49 20 shlokas Ravana in His Court सभा में रावण Hanuman gazes at Ravana on his throne and marvels at his splendour.
  50. Sarga50 19 shlokas Who Sent You? किसने भेजा Prahasta questions Hanuman, who declares himself Rama's messenger.
  51. Sarga51 46 shlokas Hanuman's Warning हनुमान की चेतावनी Hanuman advises Ravana to return Sita and warns that Rama will destroy Lanka if he does not.
  52. Sarga52 26 shlokas Vibhishana Saves the Envoy विभीषण द्वारा दूत की रक्षा Ravana orders Hanuman's death, but Vibhishana reminds him that an envoy must never be killed.
  53. Sarga53 44 shlokas The Burning Tail जलती पूँछ Ravana orders Hanuman's tail set on fire. Sita prays to Agni, and the fire does not burn Hanuman.
  54. Sarga54 50 shlokas Lanka Burns लंका दहन Hanuman breaks free and leaps from roof to roof, setting Lanka ablaze.
  55. Sarga55 34 shlokas Fear for Sita सीता की चिंता Seeing the flames, Hanuman fears he has burned Sita too, until he hears that she is safe.
  56. Sarga56 34 shlokas The Return Leap वापसी की छलांग Hanuman takes leave of Sita once more and leaps back across the sea from Mount Arishta.
  57. Sarga57 51 shlokas Good News on the Shore तट पर शुभ समाचार Hanuman lands among the waiting vanaras and announces he has seen Sita. They rejoice.
  58. Sarga58 166 shlokas Hanuman's Full Account हनुमान का पूरा वृत्तांत Hanuman tells everything that happened from his leap to his return.
  59. Sarga59 36 shlokas Sita's Plight सीता की दशा Hanuman describes Sita's suffering and urges the vanaras to act.
  60. Sarga60 6 shlokas Jambavan's Counsel जाम्बवान की सलाह Angada wants to storm Lanka at once. Jambavan advises reporting to Rama first.
  61. Sarga61 23 shlokas The Honey Grove मधुवन On the way home the vanaras celebrate by raiding Sugriva's honey grove, Madhuvana.
  62. Sarga62 39 shlokas Dadhimukha Complains दधिमुख की शिकायत The guard Dadhimukha is beaten when he tries to stop them and goes to complain to Sugriva.
  63. Sarga63 29 shlokas Sugriva Understands सुग्रीव का अनुमान Sugriva realises the raid means success and joyfully summons the search party.
  64. Sarga64 39 shlokas Sita Is Found सीता मिल गईं Hanuman and Angada come before Rama and Hanuman announces that he has seen Sita.
  65. Sarga65 27 shlokas The Hair Jewel चूड़ामणि Hanuman describes Sita under the shimshapa tree and gives Rama her hair jewel.
  66. Sarga66 15 shlokas Rama Weeps राम का विलाप Holding the jewel, Rama weeps and asks Hanuman to repeat Sita's every word.
  67. Sarga67 37 shlokas Sita's Message सीता का संदेश Hanuman repeats Sita's message, including the story of the crow, and her plea that Rama come within a month.
  68. Sarga68 29 shlokas Hanuman's Assurance हनुमान का आश्वासन Hanuman tells how he assured Sita that the vanaras could cross the ocean and that Rama would soon free her.

Who is in the Sundara Kanda

All characters
54 sargasHanumanहनुमानHanuman is the vanara devotee of Rama, revered for boundless strength, courage and selfless devotion. Son of the…37 sargasSitaसीताSita, found in a furrow by King Janaka of Mithila, married Rama when he broke Shiva's bow and…25 sargasRamaरामRama, prince of Ayodhya and seventh avatar of Vishnu, is the hero of the Ramayana. Exiled for fourteen…20 sargasRavanaरावणRavana, the ten-headed king of Lanka, is the antagonist of the Ramayana. A great scholar and devotee of…6 sargasAngadaअंगदAngada is the son of Vali and Tara and the crown prince of Kishkindha. He leads the southern…5 sargasSugrivaसुग्रीवSugriva is the vanara king of Kishkindha who was driven out by his brother Vali. Rama killed Vali…3 sargasMandodariमंदोदरीMandodari was the wise and virtuous queen of Lanka and wife of Ravana, who repeatedly counselled him to…3 sargasLakshmanaलक्ष्मणLakshmana, son of Dasharatha and Sumitra, is Rama's devoted younger brother who followed him into exile and guarded…

Stories from the Sundara Kanda

All Ramayana stories
StoryLanka Dahan: Hanuman Burns Lankaलंका दहन: हनुमान ने लंका जलाईCaptured in Ravana's court and his tail set alight to shame him, Hanuman turned the fire against the city itself, burning golden Lanka, a blazing warning of the…StoryHanuman’s Leap to Lankaहनुमान की लंका यात्राIn the Sundara Kanda, Hanuman, reminded of his powers by Jambavan, leaps across the ocean, overcomes Mainaka, Surasa and Simhika, finds Sita in the Ashoka grove and gives…

Frequently asked questions

Why is it called the Sundara Kanda?
Tradition explains the name by the beauty of its events, Hanuman's service and Sita's constancy.
How many sargas are in the Sundara Kanda?
68 sargas in the edition used here.