Sloka text in Devanagari , Telugu , Kannada , Gujarati , English
|| Om tat sat |

hariḥ ōm
ōm śrīrāmāya namaḥ
śrīmadvālmīki rāmāyaṇē
suṁdarakāṁḍē
tr̥tīya sargaḥ
( ślōkārthatātparyatattvadīpika)

Sundarakanda
Sarga 3
(Slokas with word meanings and summary)
)

At the end of second Sarga we heard that Hanuma reduced his form to that of a small cat to enter the city of Lanka, with Moon spreading light with thousand rays, as though to support Hanuma's search for Sita. Now we hear Valmiki tell us what happened as he entered Lanka.

||Slokas 3.01-02||

sa lamba śikharē lambē lambatōyada sannibhē|
sattvamāsthāya mēdhāvī hanumānmārutātmajaḥ||3.01||

niśi laṅkāṁ mahōsattvō vivēśa kapikuṁjaraḥ|
ramyakānana tōyāḍhyāṁ purīṁ rāvaṇapālitām||3.02||

sa|| sa mēdhāvī mārutātmajaḥ tōyada sannibhē laṁba śikharē sattvam asthāya (saḥ) mahāsattvaḥ kapikuṁjaraḥ ramyakānana tōyāḍyāṁ rāvaṇapālitāṁ niśi laṅkāṁ vivēśa||

||Sloka meanings||

sa mēdhāvī mārutātmajaḥ mahāsattvaḥ
- that powerful and intelligent son of Vayu
kapikuṁjaraḥ
- an elephant among Vanaras
sattvam asthāya - relying on his own energy
niśi vivēśa - entered (Lanka) in the night .
rāvaṇapālitāṁ laṅkāṁ
- Lanka ruled by Ravana
tōyada sannibhē laṁba śikharē
- on the peak of Lamba mountain resembling a cloud full of water
ramyakānana tōyāḍyāṁ
- with delightful forests and groves and pools

||Sloka summary||

In the night, that powerful and intelligent son of wind god, relying on his own energy, entered the city of Lanka, which is on a tall peak resembling a mass of rain bearing clouds , which is rich in delightful forests, groves and pools, and which is ruled by Ravana

In the next five Slokas Valmiki describes the city of Lanka seen through the eyes of Hanuma. These descriptions are cryptic, yet intricate. The description of city of Lanka is full of word compounds that require an elaboration more than simple word translation, which may actually miss the meaning. We have used the notes from Tika Traya of Govindaraja, Siva Sahai and Rama Tilaka to be faithful to the text.

||Sloka 3.03||

śāradāṁbura prakhyaiḥ bhavanairupaśōbhitām|
sāgarōpamanirghōṣāṁ sāgarānilasēvitām||3.03||

sa|| ( hr̥ṣṭaḥ sahasā prākāraṁ āsādya) śāradāmbudhara prakhyaiḥ bhavanaiḥ upaśōbhitām sāgarōpama nirghōṣām sāgarā nilasēvitām (tāṁ laṅkāṁ abhipēdivān) ||

||Sloka meanings||

śāradāmbudhara prakhyaiḥ bhavanaiḥ upaśōbhitām
- shining with mansions like the autumnal clouds
sāgarōpama nirghōṣām
- sounds like the roar of the sea
sāgarā nilasēvitām
- served by the sea breeze

(tāṁ laṅkāṁ abhipēdivān - that Lanka he saw)

||Sloka summary||

"Lanka which was full of mansions looking like beautiful autumnal clouds, filled with sounds like the roar of the sea, served by the breeze from the sea." ||3.03||

In Rama Tilaka this is elaborated as follows: śāradāḥ śaratkālaprabhavāḥ yē ambudharā mēghāḥ tatprakhyaiḥ śvētatvēna tat sadr̥śaiḥ rājatairityarthaḥ; bhavanai rupaśōbhitām; sāgarōpamaḥ nirghōṣaḥ rākṣasasvanō yasyām; Lanka was shining with mansions which are like the autumnal clouds, filled with breathing sounds of Rakshasas which are like the roar of the sea.

||Sloka 3.04||

supuṣṭhabalasaṁpuṣṭhāṁ yathaiva viṭapāvatīm|
cārutōraṇa niryūhāṁ pāṇḍuradvāratōraṇām||3.04||

sa|| supuṣṭha balasaṁpuṣṭhām yathaiva viṭapāvatīṁ cārutōraṇa niryūhām pāṇḍuradvāra tōraṇām (tāṁ laṅkāṁ abhipēdivān) ||

|| Sloka meanings||

supuṣṭhabalasaṁpuṣṭhāṁ - strong with well-nourished army
yathaiva viṭapāvatīm - like the city of Vitapavati
cārutōraṇa niryūhām -with beautiful archways
pāṇḍuradvāra tōraṇām - with white gates and arches
(tāṁ laṅkāṁ abhipēdivān) - ( that Lanka he saw)

||Sloka summary||

"(Lanka) which is strong with well-nourished army stationed at the beautiful arch ways just like Vitapavathi, which is provided with white gates and arches;" ||3.04||
.
Rama Tilaka brings clarity to the description with the following elaboration: supuṣṭhāni yāni balāni sainyāni taiḥ saṁpuṣṭhāṁ dr̥ḍhāṁ, viṭapāvatīṁ yathā alakāpurī sadr̥śīṁ cārutōraṇēṣu bahidvārēṣu niryūhā mattagajā yasyāṁ pāṇḍurāḥ sudhāsaṁskārādinā śvētāḥ antardvārē bahiḥdvārē yasyām tām; - army whose forces are well nourished, city made strong by them , like Vitapavati resembling Alakapuri; beautiful arches with images of elephants which are white , placed at the outer gates and inner gates etc

||Sloka 3.05||

bhujagācaritāṁ guptāṁ śubhāṁ bhōgavatī miva|
tāṁ savidyudghanākīrṇaṁ jyōtirmārganiṣēvitām||3.05||

sa|| bhujagā caritāṁ guptāṁ śubhāṁ bhōgavatīṁ iva (dr̥śyām) tāṁ savidyudghanākīrṇaṁ jyōtirmārganiṣēvitām tāṁ laṅkāṁ abhipēdivān)|

||Sloka meanings||

bhujagācaritāṁ guptāṁ
- inhabited and protected by snakes
śubhāṁ bhōgavatīṁ iva
- like the auspicious city of Bhogavati
tāṁ savidyudghanākīrṇaṁ
- with overcast clouds and lightning
jyōtirmārganiṣēvitām
- as though served by the planets and starts
(tāṁ laṅkāṁ abhipēdivān) - ( that Lanka he saw)

||Sloka summary||

"(Saw Lanka) which is like Bhujagavati inhabited by snakes, well protected and auspicious; ( Saw Lanka) which is overcast with streaks of lightning, touching the skies, looking as though served by all planets and stars". ||3.05||

||Sloka 3.06||

maṁdamāruta saṁcārāṁ yathēṁdrasya amarāvatīm|
śātakuṁbhēna mahatā prākārēṇābhisaṁvr̥tām||3.06||

sa|| maṁdamāruta saṁcārāṁ mahatā śātakuṁbhēna prākārēṇa abhisaṁvr̥tāṁ yathā iṁdrasya amarāvatīṁ (tāṁ laṅkāṁ abhipēdivān)||

||Sloka meanings||

maṁdamāruta saṁcārāṁ
- with winds blowing gently
mahatā śātakuṁbhēna prākārēṇa abhisaṁvr̥tāṁ
- surrounded by golden ramparts
yathā iṁdrasya amarāvatīṁ
- ( looking) like Indra's Amaravati
(tāṁ laṅkāṁ abhipēdivān - that Lanka he saw)||

||Sloka summary||

(Saw Lanka) with winds blowing gently, which is like the city of Amaravati surrounded with golden ramparts;"||3.06||

Here also Rama Tilaka has an elaboration; bhujagānāṁ nāgānāṁ ācaritāṁ rakṣaṇārthaṁ saṁcārō yasyāṁ tāṁ ata ēva guptāṁ nāgairabhirakṣitāṁ bhōgavatīṁ sarpa purīṁ iva; savidyudghanaiḥ rākṣasamāyā nirmita vidyut sahita mēghaiḥ ākīrṇā vyāptāṁ jyōtirgaṇaniṣēvitāṁ; Like the city of Bhogavati, inhabited by and protected by serpents, the city of Lanka was protected by Rakshasas moving about; with phantom lightnings clouds created by the Rakshasas, it was looking as the served by the stars and planets".

||Sloka 3.07||

kiṁkiṇījālaghōṣābhiḥ patākābhiralaṁkr̥tām|
asādya sahasā hr̥ṣṭaḥ prākāramabhipēdivān||3.07||

sa|| kiṁkiṇī jālaghōṣābhiḥ patākābhīḥ alaṁkr̥tām (tāṁ laṅkāṁ) hr̥ṣṭaḥ sahasā āsādya prākāraṁ abhipēdivān||

||Sloka meanings||

kiṁkiṇījālaghōṣābhiḥ
- with jingling sounds of small bells
patākābhiralaṁkr̥tām
- decorated with flags
hr̥ṣṭaḥ sahasā prākāraṁ āsādya -
delighted one, quickly approaching the ramparts
abhipēdivān - looked

||Sloka summary||

"Delighted Hanuma quickly approached the ramparts of that Lanka decorated with flags everywhere and adorned with jingling sounds of small bells and saw the city of Lanka " ||3.07||

||Sloka 3.08 - 09||

vismayāviṣṭhahr̥dayaḥ purīmālōkya sarvataḥ|
jāṁbūnadamayairdvāraiḥ vaiḍhūryakr̥tavēdikaiḥ ||3.08||
vajrasphaṭikamuktābhiḥ maṇikuṭṭimabhūṣitaiḥ|
taptahāṭakaniryūhai rājatāmalapāṇḍuraiḥ||3.09||

sa|| sarvataḥ (sa)jāmbūnadamayaiḥ dvāraiḥ (sa)vaiḍhūryakr̥ta vēdikaiḥ vajra sphaṭikamuktābhiḥ maṇikuṭṭimabhūṣitaiḥ taptahāṭakaniryūhaiḥ rājatāmalapāṇḍuraiḥ purīṁ ālōkya vismayā viṣṭhahr̥dayaḥ (hanumān kapiḥ jaharṣa)||

||Sloka meanings||

vismayāviṣṭhahr̥dayaḥ -
with a heart full of wonder
sarvataḥ jāṁbūnadamayairdvāraiḥ -
everywhere full of golden gates
vaiḍhūryakr̥tavēdikaiḥ -
platforms made of gold encrusted with Vaidhuryas
vajra sphaṭikamuktābhiḥ -
with diamonds and crystals, and pearls, maṇikuṭṭimabhūṣitaiḥ - decorated with gems
taptahāṭakaniryūhai - with images made of molten gold
rājatāmalapāṇḍuraiḥ - with pure white floors
purīmālōkya - seeing the city
(hanumān kapiḥ jaharṣa - Hanuman was delighted )

||Sloka summary||

With heart full of wonder, (Hanuman was delighted) seeing the city full of golden gates, platforms made of gold encrusted with Vaidhuryas, diamonds and crystals, and pearls; decorated with gems, with images made of molten gold, with pure white floors; ||3.08-09||

||Sloka 3.10||

vaiḍhūryakr̥tasōpānaiḥ sphāṭikāṁtara pāṁsubhiḥ|
cārusaṁjavanōpētaiḥ khamivōtpatai śśubhaiḥ||3.10||

sa|| vaiḍhūryakr̥ta sōpānaiḥ (sa)sphāṭikāṁtara pāṁsubhiḥ cārusaṁjavanōpētaiḥ khamivōtpattaiḥ śubhaiḥ ,(tāṁ nagarīṁ vīkṣya hanumān kapiḥ jaharṣa) ||

||Sloka meanings||

vaiḍhūryakr̥ta sōpānaiḥ -
with stair cases decorated with Vaidhuryas
sphāṭikāṁtara pāṁsubhiḥ -
with crystals, gems sphaṭikamāṇikyamulatō
cārusaṁjavanōpētaiḥ -
with lovely quadrangles
khamivōtpattaiḥ śubhaiḥ -
touching the sky and auspicious

||Sloka summary||

"(Saw Lanka) with stair cases encrusted with Vaidhurya and covered with crystal grains, lovely quadrangles touching the sky, ( Hanuma was delighted) "||3.10||

||Sloka 3.11||

krauṁcabarhiṇasaṁghuṣṭhaiḥ rājahaṁsaniṣēvitaiḥ|
tūryābharaṇanirghōṣaiḥ sarvataḥ pratināditām||3.11||

sa|| krauṁcabarhiṇa saṁghuṣṭhaiḥ rājahaṁsa niṣēvitaiḥ tūryābharaṇa nirghōṣaiḥ sarvataḥ pratināditāṁ (tāṁ nagarīṁ vīkṣya hanumān kapiḥ jaharṣa)

||Sloka meanings||

sarvataḥ- every where
krauṁcabarhiṇa saṁghuṣṭhaiḥ -
with groups of Krauncha birds moving about
rājahaṁsa niṣēvitaiḥ - served by Royal swans
tūryābharaṇa nirghōṣaiḥ pratināditāṁ -
echoing with the sounds of musical instruments and jewelry worn by women

||Sloka summary||

(Saw Lanka) with lovely Krauncha birds moving about and, served by royal swans , echoing with sounds of auspicious musical instruments and the jewelry worn by women everywhere, ( Hanuma was delighted)". ||3.11||

||Sloka 3.12||

vasvaukasārāpratimāṁ tāṁ vīkṣya nagarīṁ tataḥ |
khamivōtpatitāṁ laṁkāṁ jaharṣa hanumān kapiḥ||3.12||

sa|| khamivōtpatituṁ vasvaukasārāpratimāṁ tāṁ nagarīṁ laṁkāṁ vīkṣya hanumān kapiḥ jaharṣa||

||Sloka meanings||

vasvaukasārāpratimāṁ - resembling the city of Vasvaukasara
khamivōtpatitāṁ - rising into the sky
tāṁ nagarīṁ laṁkāṁ vīkṣya - seeing that city of Lanka
tataḥ jaharṣa hanumān kapiḥ - Hanuman was delighted

||Sloka summary||

" Seeing that city of Lanka, rising into the sky, resembling the city of Vasvaukasara, Hanuman was delighted." ||3.12||

Here Rama Tika elaborates; "tūryāṇāmābharaṇānāṁ nūpurādīnāṁ nirghōṣaiḥ sarvataḥ pratināditāṁ ata ēva vasvōkasāra pratimām alakā sadr̥śīṁ samutpatitāmiva laṁkāṁ samīkṣya hanumān jaharṣa"; with the echoing sounds of women's jewels, hence resembling the city of Vasvaukasara, like the city of Alakapuri; situated on the top of the mountain , hence looking like it is flying off into the sky ; seeing that Hanuman was delighted ;

||Sloka 3.13||

tāṁ samīkṣya purīm ramyāṁ rākṣasādhipatē śśubhām|
anuttamāṁ r̥ddhiyutāṁ ciṁtayāmāsa vīryavān ||13||

sa|| śubhāṁ ramyāṁ anuttamāṁ r̥ddhiyutāṁ rākṣasādhipatēḥ tāṁ purīṁ vīkṣya vīryavān hanumataḥ cintayāmāsa||

||Sloka meanings||

śubhāṁ ramyāṁ anuttamāṁ -
auspicious, enchanting, wonderful
r̥ddhiyutāṁ -
prosperous
rākṣasādhipatēḥ tāṁ purīṁ
- that city of king of Rakshasas
vīryavān hanumataḥ cintayāmāsa
- valiant Hanuman started thinking

||Sloka summary||

"Seeing the incomparable, auspicious, beautiful, prosperous city, mighty Hanuman started to think." ||3.13||

||Sloka 3.14||

nēyamanyēna nagarī śakyā dharṣayituṁ balāt |
rakṣitā rāvaṇa balaiḥ udyatāyudhadāribhiḥ ||3.14||

sa||udyatāyudhadhārubhiḥ rāvaṇa balaiḥ rakṣitā iyaṁ nagarī anyēna balāt dharṣayituṁ na śakyā||

||Sloka meanings||

udyatāyudhadhārubhiḥ -
- with warriors ready to fight
rāvaṇa balaiḥ rakṣitā -
protected by Ravana's forces
iyaṁ nagarī - this city
anyēna balāt dharṣayituṁ na śakyā-
cannot be taken by others with force

||Sloka summary||

"This city, which cannot be overtaken by others with force, is protected by Ravana forces which are ever ready to fight."||3.14||

"anyēna", means "rāmabhinnēna janēna", cannot be won over by anyone other than Rama - this is the elaboration in Rama Tika .

||Sloka 3.15||

kumudāṅgadayōrvāpi suṣēṇasya mahākapēḥ|
prasiddhēyaṁ bhavēt bhūmiḥ maindadvividayō rapi||3.15||

sa|| iyaṁ bhūmiḥ kumudāṅgadayōrvāpi mahākapēḥ suṣēṇasya maindadvividayōrapi prasiddhā bhavēt||

||Sloka meanings||

iyaṁ bhūmiḥ - this Lanka
kumudāṅgadayōrvāpi - Kumuda Angada and others also
mahākapēḥ suṣēṇasya - great Vanara Sushena
maindadvividayōrapi- Mainda and Dvivida too
prasiddhā bhavēt - know all this.

||Sloka summary||

"This place may be known to Kumuda, Angada or the great Vanara Sushena, as also Mainda and Dvivida". ||3.15||

||Sloka 3.16||

vivasvata stanūjasya harēśca kuśaparvaṇaḥ|
r̥kṣasya kētumālasya mama caiva gatirbhavēt ||3.16||

sa|| (iyaṁ bhūmiḥ) vivasvataḥ tanūjasya harēḥ kuṣaparvaṇaḥ r̥kṣasya kētumālasya mama ca gatiḥ bhavēt||

||Sloka meanings||

vivasvata stanūjasya -
Vivasvan's son Sugriva
harēḥ kuśaparvaṇaḥ -
Vanaras Kusaparvana
r̥kṣasya kētumālasya mama ca -
Ruksha, Ketumala and me
gatiḥ bhavēt - can reach this place

||Sloka summary||

"Vivasvan's son Sugriva, Vanaras Kusaparvana, Ruksha, Ketumala and me can reach this place." ||3.16||

Rama Tilaka and Govindaraja's Bhushana say in their Tika, that this indicates nobody else can reach this place, indicating the difficulty of entering Lanka.

||Sloka 3.17||

samīkṣyatu mahābāhū rāghavasya parākramam|
lakṣmaṇasya vikrāntaṁ abhavatprītimān kapiḥ||3.17||

sa|| kapiḥ mahābāhuḥ rāghavasya parākramaṁ lakṣmaṇasya vikrāntaṁ ca samīkṣya prītimān abhavat ||

||Sloka meanings||

kapiḥ mahābāhuḥ - Vanara with powerful arms
rāghavasya parākramaṁ - Raghava's prowess
lakṣmaṇasya vikrāntaṁ ca - as well as Lakshmana's prowess
samīkṣya prītimān abhavat - thinking , he was happy

||Sloka summary||

"Vanara with powerful arms was happy , remembering Raghava's prowess, as well as Lakshmana's prowess". ||3.17||

||Sloka 3.18-19||

tāṁ ratna vasanōpētāṁ kōṣṭhāgārāvataṁsakām|
yaṁtrāgārāstanīmr̥ddhāṁ pramadāmiva bhūṣitām||3.18||
tāṁ naṣṭhatimirāṁ dīptairbhāsvaraiśca mahāgr̥haiḥ|
nagarīṁ rākṣasēṁdrasya sa dadarśa mahākapiḥ||3.19||

sa|| saḥ mahākapiḥ bhāsvaraiśca dīptaiḥ naṣṭhatimirāṁ mahāgr̥haiḥ tāṁ rākṣasēndrasya nagarīṁ ratna vasanōpētāṁ kōṣṭhāgāravataṁsakām yantrāgārāṁ stanīṁ r̥ddhāṁ bhūṣitām pramadāmiva dadarśa ||

||Sloka meanings||

saḥ mahākapiḥ - that great Vanara
bhāsvaraiścadīptaiḥ naṣṭhatimirāṁ -
whose darkness was dispelled by the bright
mahāgr̥haiḥ - will great mansions
tāṁ rākṣasēndrasya nagarīṁ - that city of the king of Rakshasas
ratna vasanōpētāṁ - luminance of the gems looking like clothes
kōṣṭhāgāravataṁsakām - stables as her earrings
yantrāgārāṁ stanīṁ - armories as her breasts
r̥ddhāṁ bhūṣitām pramadāmiva - riches as jewels of a women
dadarśa- saw

||Sloka summary||

"Hanuman looked at the city of the Rakshasa King whose darkness was dispelled by the luminance of bright gems and mighty mansions as if it were a young maiden. The prosperous city was like a well decorated woman adorned with luminance of gems for her dress, the stables for her ear rings, and the armories for her breasts."||3.17-18||

The description of city of Lanka resembling a lady is pointing to the appearance of the city goddess in the form of a woman Lankini in the next sloka

||Sloka 3.20||

atha sā hariśārdūlaṁ praviśaṁtaṁ mahābalaḥ|
nagarīsvēna rūpēṇa dadarśa pavanātmajam||3.20||

sa|| atha mahābalaḥ hariśārdūlaṁ praviśaṁtaṁ pavanātmajaṁ sā nagarī svēna rūpēṇa dadarśa||

||Sloka meanings||

atha praviśaṁtaṁ -
then the one entering
mahābalaḥ - powerful
hariśārdūlaṁ pavanātmajaṁ -
son of Vayu , and the elephant among Vanaras
sā nagarī svēna rūpēṇa dadarśa -
seen by that goddess of the city, in her own form

||Sloka summary||

" Then that powerful son of Vayu, and elephant among Vanaras who was entering the city, was seen by the goddess of the city, in her own form ." ||3.20||

||Sloka 3.21||

sā taṁ harivaraṁ dr̥ṣṭvā laṅkārāvaṇapālitā|
svayamēvōththitā tatra vikr̥tānana darśanā ||3.21||

sa|| rāvaṇapālitā sā laṅkā taṁ harivaraṁ dr̥ṣṭvā vikr̥tānana darśanā tatra svayamēva utthitā ||

||Sloka meanings||

rāvaṇapālitā sā laṅkā -
that Lanka ruled by Ravana
vikr̥tānana darśanā -
with hideous face and eyes
taṁ harivaraṁ dr̥ṣṭvā -
seeing that best of Vanaras
tatra svayamēva utthitā -
there stood up on her own

||Sloka summary||

"That Lanka ruled by Ravana , with hideous face and eyes, stood up on her own." ||3.21||

"svayamēva utthitā" means that she got up on her own without being alerted by anybody else.

||Sloka 3.22||

purastāt kapivaryasya vāyusūnōratiṣṭhata|
muñcamānā mahānādaṁ abravīt pavanātmajam||3.22||

sa|| kapivaryasya vāyusūnōḥ purastāt atiṣṭhata | mahānādaṁ muñcamānā pavanātmajaṁ abravīt||

||Sloka meanings||

kapivaryasya vāyusūnōḥ -
of son of Vayu and the best of Vanaras
purastāt atiṣṭhata - stood in front
mahānādaṁ muñcamānā - making great sound
pavanātmajaṁ abravīt - spoke to Hanuma as follows

||Sloka summary||

"(That Rakshasi Lankini) Stood in front of the son of Vayu and the best of Vanaras, making great sound and spoke as follows." ||3.22||

||Sloka 3.23||

kastvaṁ kēna ca kāryēṇa iha prāptō vanālaya|
kathaya svēha yattatvaṁ yāvatprāṇādharaṁti tē ||3.23||

sa|| (hē) vanālaya kaḥ tvaṁ| kēna kāryēṇa iha prāptaḥ ca| yāvat tē prāṇāḥ dharanti iha yat tattvaṁ (tat) kathayasva||

||Sloka meanings||

vanālaya kaḥ tvaṁ -
O forest dweller, who are you?
kēna kāryēṇa iha prāptaḥ ca -
with what purpose you have come here?
yāvat tē prāṇāḥ dharanti iha -
till you hold your life here
yat tattvaṁ (tat) kathayasva-
tell me that which is the truth ?

||Sloka summary||

"Oh forest dweller, who are you? For what purpose you have come here? Tell me that which is the truth till you hold your life?". ||2.23||

||Sloka 3.24||

na śakyaṁ khalviyaṁ laṅkā pravēṣṭhuṁ vānara tvayā |
rakṣitā rāvaṇa balaiḥ abhiguptāsamaṁtataḥ||3.24||

sa|| (hē) vānara rāvaṇa balaiḥ samantataḥ rakṣitā abhiguptā laṅkā pravēṣṭhuṁ tvayā na śakyaṁ khalu||

||Sloka meanings||

vānara - O Vanara
rāvaṇa balaiḥ samantataḥ rakṣitā -
protected all around by the forces of Ravana
abhiguptā laṅkā pravēṣṭhuṁ -
to enter protected Lanka
tvayā na śakyaṁ khalu -
surely, not possible for you

||Sloka summary||

"O Vanara Lanka is well protected by Ravana forces everywhere. It is surely not possible for you to enter." ||3.24||

||Sloka 3.25||

atha tāmabravīdvīrō hanumānagratasthitām|
kathayiṣyāmi tē tattvaṁ yanmāṁ tvaṁ paripr̥cchasi||3.25||

sa|| atha agrata sthitām tāṁ vīraḥ hanumān abravīt| yat tvāṁ māṁ paripr̥cchasi tattvaṁ tē kathayiṣyāmi||

||Sloka meanings||

agrata sthitām tāṁ -
that one who is standing in front of
vīraḥ hanumān abravīt -
Valiant Hanuman spoke
yat tvāṁ māṁ paripr̥cchasi -
that which you are asking me
tattvaṁ tē kathayiṣyāmi -
that I will tell you.

||Sloka summary||

"Then valiant Hanuman spoke to that one standing in front of him. 'That which you are asking me I will tell you'." ||3.25||

Here Hanuma is promising to answer questions. Promising to answer means that he has his own questions.

||Sloka 3.26||

kā tvaṁ virūpanayanā puradvārē avatiṣṭhasi|
kimarthaṁ cāpi māṁ ruddvā nirbhartsayasi dāruṇā||3.26||

sa|| hē dāruṇā virūpa nayanā puradvārē avatiṣṭhasi kā tvaṁ | kiṁ artham māṁ ruddhvā nirbhartsasi |

||Sloka meanings||

hē dāruṇā virūpa nayanā
- O dreadful one of ugly distorted eyes
puradvārē avatiṣṭhasi kā tvaṁ
- who are you, standing at entrance of the city ?
kiṁ artham - what for
māṁ ruddhvā nirbhartsasi -
you are obstructing me and threatening me?

||Sloka summary||

"O dreadful one of ugly distorted eyes, who are you standing at entrance of the city ? what for you are obstructing me and threatening me?" ||3.26||

Here, Rama Tilaka Tika adds as follows; atha tayā pr̥ṣṭaḥ hanumān tāṁ prati tat praśnōttara kathanaṁ pratijñāya, surasādēṣā pūjyā yā siṁhikāvat vathyā vēti nirṇētuṁ pr̥chchati; Thus asked by her, having promised to answer her questions , in order to decide if she is worship worthy like Surasa or fit to be killed like Simhika, Hanuman decides to ask his own questions.

||Sloka 3.27||

hanumādvacanaṁ śrutvā laṅkā sā kāmarūpiṇī|
uvāca vacanaṁ kruddhā paruṣaṁ pavanātmajam||3.27||

sa|| hanumāt tat vacanaṁ śrutvā sā kāmarūpiṇī laṅkā kr̥ddhā pavanātmajaṁ paruṣaṁ vacanaṁ uvāca||

||Sloka meanings||

hanumāt tat vacanaṁ śrutvā -
hearing those words of Hanuman
sā kāmarūpiṇī laṅkā-
that deity of Lanka who can take any form
kr̥ddhā - angrily
pavanātmajaṁ paruṣaṁ vacanaṁ uvāca -
spoke harsh words to Hanuman

||Sloka summary||

"Hearing those words of Hanuman that deity of Lanka who can take any form, angrily spoke harsh words to Hanuman." ||3.27||

||Sloka 3.28||

ahaṁ rākṣasarājasya rāvaṇasya mahātmanaḥ|
ajñāpratīkṣā durdarṣā rakṣāmi nagarīṁ imām||3.28||

sa||ahaṁ mahātmanaḥ rākṣasa rājasya ājñāpratīkṣā imām durdharṣā nagarīṁ rakṣāmi ||

||Sloka meanings||

mahātmanaḥ - the great
rākṣasa rājasya ājñāpratīkṣā-
following the orders of the king of Rakshasa
imām durdharṣā nagarīṁ - this impregnable city
ahaṁ rakṣāmi - I am protecting

||Sloka summary||

"Following the orders of the king of Rakshasa, I am protecting this impregnable city." ||3.28||

||Sloka 3.29||

na śakyā māmavajñāya pravēṣṭhuṁ nagarī tvayā|
adya prāṇaiḥ parityaktaḥ svapsyasē nihatō mayā||3.29||

sa|| māṁ avajñāya tvayā nagarīṁ pravēṣṭhuṁ na śakyā| adya mayā nihataḥ prāṇaiḥ parityaktaḥ svapsyasē||

||Sloka meanings||

māṁ avajñāya - ignoring me
tvayā nagarīṁ pravēṣṭhuṁ na śakyā -
not possible for you to enter the city
adya mayā nihataḥ - today being killed by me
prāṇaiḥ parityaktaḥ svapsyasē -
giving up life you will attain eternal sleep.

||Sloka summary||

"It is not possible for you to enter the city ignoring me . Being killed by me now, giving up life, you will attain eternal sleep" ||3.29||

||Sloka 3.30||

ahaṁ hi nagarī laṅkā svayamēva plavaṁgama|
sarvataḥ parirakṣāmi hyētattē kathitaṁ mayā||3.30||

sa|| hē plavaṁgama ! ahaṁ svayamēva nagarī laṅkā | sarvataḥ parirakṣāmi ētat tē kathitaṁ||

||Sloka meanings||

hē plavaṁgama ! - O Vanara
ahaṁsvayamēva nagarī laṅkā -
I am the presiding deity of city of Lanka
sarvataḥ parirakṣāmi - I am protecting (the city) all over
ētat tē kathitaṁ - This is my answer to you

||Sloka summary||

"O Vanara, I am the presiding deity of city of Lanka. I am protecting (the city) all over This is my answer to you".||3.30||

||Sloka 3.31||

laṅkāyā vacanaṁ śrutvā hanumānmārutātmajaḥ|
yatnavān sa hariśrēṣṭhaḥ sthitaśśaila ivāparaḥ||3.31||

sa||mārutātmajaḥ saḥ hanumān laṅkāyāḥ vacanaṁ śrutvā yatnavān saḥ hariśrēṣṭhaḥ aparaṁ śailaḥ iva sthitaḥ||

||Sloka meanings||

mārutātmajaḥ saḥ hanumān -
Hanuman the son of Vayu
laṅkāyāḥ vacanaṁ śrutvā -
hearing those words of Lankini
saḥ hariśrēṣṭhaḥ - that best of Vanaras
yatnavān - ready to face her
aparaṁ śailaḥ iva sthitaḥ -
stood up like another mountain

||Sloka summary||

"Hanuman the son of Vayu and the best of Vanaras , hearing those words of Lankini, stood up like another mountain ready to face her." ||3.31||

||Sloka 3.32||

sa tāṁ strīrūpa vikr̥tāṁ dr̥ṣṭvā vānarapuṁgavaḥ|
ababhāṣē'tha mēdhāvī sattvavān plavagarṣabhaḥ||3.32||

sa|| saḥ mēdhāvī sattvavān plavagarṣabhaḥ vānapuṁgavaḥ strīrūpa vikr̥tāṁ dr̥ṣṭvā tāṁ ababhāṣē||

||Sloka meanings||

saḥ mēdhāvī sattvavān -
that intelligent and powerful
plavagarṣabhaḥ vānapuṁgavaḥ -
best among the fliers, and best of Vanaras
strīrūpa vikr̥tāṁ dr̥ṣṭvā
- seeing the monster in the form of a woman
tāṁ ababhāṣē - spoke to her

||Sloka summary||

"That intelligent and powerful one, best among the fliers, and the best of Vanaras, seeing the monster in the form of a woman, spoke to her ." ||3.32||

||Sloka 3.33||

drakṣyāmi nagarīṁ laṅkāṁ sāṭṭaprākāratōraṇām|
ityarthamiha saṁprāptaḥ paraṁ kautūhalam hi mē ||3.33||

sa|| sāṭṭaprākāratōraṇāṁ laṅkāṁ drakṣyāmi | ityarthaṁ iha saṁprāptaḥ | mē paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi||

||Sloka meanings||

sāṭṭaprākāratōraṇāṁ laṅkāṁ drakṣyāmi
- see Lanka with market places, ramparts and gateways
ityarthaṁ iha saṁprāptaḥ -
for that purpose came here
mē paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi-
I have a great curiosity

||Sloka summary||

"To see Lanka with its market places, ramparts and gateways, for that purpose came here. I have a great curiosity." ||3.33||

||Sloka 3.34||

vanānyupavanānīha laṅkāyāḥ kānanānica |
sarvatō gr̥hamukhyāni draṣṭumāgamanaṁ hi mē|| 3.34||

sa|| iha vanāni upavanāni kānanāni ca mukhyāni gr̥hāni sarvataḥ draṣṭhuṁ mē āgamanaṁ hi||

||Sloka meanings||

iha vanāni upavanāni kānanāni ca
- the gardens, groves, and forests too
mukhyāni gr̥hāni - important houses too
sarvataḥ draṣṭhuṁ - to see all of them
mē āgamanaṁ hi - I have come here

||Sloka summary||

"I have come here to see the gardens, groves, forests, and important houses too."||3.34||

||Sloka 3.35||

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā laṅkā sā kāmarūpiṇī|
bhūya ēva punarvākyaṁ babhāṣē paruṣākṣaram||3.35||

sa|| tasya tat vacanaṁ śrutvā sā kāmarūpiṇī bhūya ēva punaḥ paruṣākṣaraṁ (vākyaṁ) babhāṣē||

||Sloka meanings||

tasya tat vacanaṁ śrutvā -
hearing those words of him
sā kāmarūpiṇī -
that one who can take any form
bhūya ēva punaḥ -
again like before
paruṣākṣaraṁ babhāṣē-
spoke harsh words

||Sloka summary||

"Hearing those words of Hanuman, that one who can take any form, again spoke harsh words like before." ||3.35||

||Sloka 3.36||

māmanirjitya durbuddhē rākṣasēśvarapālitām|
na śakyamadya tē draṣṭuṁ purīyaṁ vānarādhamā||3.36||

sa|| hē durbuddhē vānarādhamā māṁ anirjitya rākṣasēśvara pālitāṁ iyaṁ purīṁ adya tē draṣṭhuṁ na śakyaṁ||

||Sloka meanings||

hē durbuddhē vānarādhamā -
O evil minded foolish monkey,
māṁ anirjitya - without defeating me
rākṣasēśvara pālitāṁ iyaṁ purīṁ -
this city ruled by king of Rakshasas
adya tē draṣṭhuṁ na śakyaṁ -
not possible for you to see

||Sloka summary||

"O evil minded monkey, it is not possible for you to see this city of Lanka ruled by the king of Rakshasas, without defeating me." ||3.36||

||Sloka 3.37||

tatassa kapiśārdūlaḥ tāṁ uvāca niśācarīm|
dr̥ṣṭvāpurīṁ imāṁ bhadrē punaryāsyē yathāgatam||3.37||

sa|| tataḥ sa kapi śārdūlaḥ tāṁ niśācarīm (punaḥ) uvāca ||hē bhadrē imāṁ purīṁ dr̥ṣṭvā yathāgataṁ punaḥ yāsyē||

||Sloka meanings||

tataḥ sa kapi śārdūlaḥ -
then that tiger among Vanaras
tāṁ niśācarīm uvāca -
told the one moving about in the night
hē bhadrē - oh noble one
imāṁ purīṁ dr̥ṣṭvā-
having seen the city
yathāgataṁ punaḥ yāsyē -
will go the way I came

||Sloka summary||

"Then that tiger among Vanaras, told the one moving about in the night, "oh noble one, having seen the city I will go away." ||3.37||

||Sloka 3.38||

tataḥ kr̥tvā mahānādaṁ sāvai laṅkā bhayāvahaṁ |
talēna vānaraśrēṣṭhaṁ tāḍayāmāsa vēgitā ||3.38||

sa|| tataḥ bhayāvahaṁ mahānādaṁ kr̥tvā sā laṅkā vēgitā talēna vānaraśrēṣṭhaṁ tāḍāyāmāsa

||Sloka meanings||

tataḥ bhayāvahaṁ mahānādaṁ kr̥tvā -
then making frightening loud sound
sā laṅkā vēgitā - that Lankini with speed
talēna vānaraśrēṣṭhaṁ tāḍāyāmāsa -
struck the best of Vanara with her palm

||Sloka summary||

"Then that Lankini making frightening loud sound speedily struck the best of Vanaras with her palm." ||3.38||.

||Sloka 3.39||

tatassa kapiśārdūlō laṅkayā tāḍitō bhr̥śam|
nanāda su mahānādaṁ vīryavān pavanātmajaḥ||3.39||

sa|| tataḥ laṅkayā bhr̥śaṁ tāḍitaḥ kapiśārdūlaḥ vīryavān mārutātmajaḥ su mahānādaṁ nanāda||

||Sloka meanings||

tataḥ laṅkayā bhr̥śaṁ tāḍitaḥ -
Then thus hit by Lankini
kapiśārdūlaḥ vīryavān mārutātmajaḥ -
valiant, tiger among Vanaras and son of Vayu,
su mahānādaṁ nanāda-
made a loud noise.

||Sloka summary||

"Then, thus hit by Lankini, tiger among Vanaras and son of Vayu, the valiant Hanuman made a loud noise." ||3.39||

||Sloka 3.40||

tatassaṁvartayāmāsa vāmahastasyasō'ṅguḷīḥ|
muṣṭhinā'bhijaghānaināṁ hanumān krōdhamūrchitaḥ||3.40||

sa|| tataḥ saḥ hanumān krōdhamūrchitaḥ vāma hastasya aṅguḷīḥsaṁvartayāmāsa | ēnām muṣṭinā abhijaghāna||

||Sloka meanings||

tataḥ saḥ hanumān krōdhamūrchitaḥ -
then that Hanuman overcome by anger
vāma hastasya aṅguḷīḥsaṁvartayāmāsa -
clenching the fingers of his left hand
ēnām muṣṭinā abhijaghāna - hit her with his fist

||Sloka summary||

"Then that Hanuman overcome by anger, clenching the fingers of his left hand, hit her with his fist." ||3.40||

||Sloka 3.41||

strīcēti manyamānēna nāti krōdhaḥ svayaṁ kr̥taḥ|
sā tu tēna prahārēṇa vihvalāṅgī niśācarī||3.41||
papāta sahasā bhumau vikr̥tānana darśanā|

sa||strī ca iti manyamānēna svayaṁ atikrōdhaḥ na kr̥taḥ| sā niśācarī tu tēna prahārēṇa vihvalāṅgī vikr̥tānana darśanā sahasā bhūmau papāta ||

||Sloka meanings||

strī ca iti manyamānēna -
considering that she is a woman
svayaṁ atikrōdhaḥ na kr̥taḥ -
he did not become very angry
sā niśācarī tu -
that night roamer too
tēna prahārēṇa vihvalāṅgī vikr̥tānana darśanā-
with limbs shattered by that blow and distorted face
sahasā bhūmau papāta -
immediately fell on the ground

||Sloka summary||

"Considering that she is a woman, he did not become very angry. That night roamer too immediately fell on the ground, with limbs shattered by that blow and a distorted face." ||3.41||

||Sloka 3.42||

tatastu hanumān prājñastāṁ dr̥ṣṭvā vinipātitām||3.42||
kr̥pāṁ cakāra tējasvī manyamānaḥ striyam tu tām|

sa||tataḥ prājñaḥ vinipātitāṁ tāṁ dr̥ṣṭvā tāṁ striyaṁ tu manyamānaḥ kr̥pāṁ cakāra |

||Sloka meanings||

tataḥ prājñaḥ - that wise one
vinipātitāṁ tāṁ dr̥ṣṭvā -
looking at her who fell down
striyaṁ tu manyamānaḥ - considering that she is a woman
kr̥pāṁ cakāra - showed compassion

||Sloka summary||

"Considering that she is a woman, looking at her who fell down, that wise one showed compassion ." ||3.42||

||Sloka 3.43-44||

tatō vaibhr̥śa saṁvignā laṅkā sā gadgadākṣaram||3.43||
uvāca garvitaṁ vākyaṁ hanūmaṁtaṁ plavaṅgamam|
prasīda sumahābāhō trāyasva harisattama||3.44||

sa|| tataḥ sā laṅkā bhr̥śa saṁvignā gad gadākṣaraṁ agarvitaṁ plavaṅgamam hanūmaṁtaṁ uvāca| hē mahābāhō prasīda | harisattama trāyasva||

||Sloka meanings||

tataḥ sā laṅkā bhr̥śa saṁvignā -
then that Lankini greatly agitated
gad gadākṣaraṁ -
with a choked voice-
agarvitaṁ plavaṅgamam hanūmaṁtaṁ uvāca -
free of her pride spoke to Hanuman the best of fliers
hē mahābāhō prasīda -
O one with powerful arms be gracious
harisattama trāyasva- O best of Vanaras, save me.

||Sloka summary||

"Then that Lankini, free of her pride, greatly agitated and with a choked voice, spoke to Hanuman the best of fliers. 'O one with powerful arms be gracious. O best of Vanaras, save me." ||3.44||

||Sloka 3.45||

samayē saumya tiṣṭhaṁti sattvavaṁtō mahābalāḥ|
ahaṁ tu nagarī laṅkā svayamēva plavaṅgama||3.45||

sa||saumya sattvavaṁtaḥ mahābalāḥ samayē tiṣṭhaṁti | plavaṅgama ahaṁ tu svayamēva nagarī laṅkā ||

||Sloka meanings||

saumya sattvavaṁtaḥ mahābalāḥ -
O noble one, heroes of great strength, powerful ones
samayē tiṣṭhaṁti -
act appropriately when time comes.
plavaṅgama - O Vanara
ahaṁ tu svayamēva nagarī laṅkā -
I am the city of Lanka

||Sloka summary||

"O noble one, heroes of great strength, powerful ones act appropriately when time comes. O Vanara, I am the city of Lanka." ||3.45||

"samayē" mean acting according to time and place , implying there by that a woman shall not be killed, says Rama Tilaka in the Tika.

||Sloka 3.46||

nirjitāhaṁ tvayā vīra vikramēṇa mahābala|
idaṁ tu tathyaṁ śr̥ṇūvai bruvaṁtyā harīśvara||3.46||

sa|| hē vīra mahābala ahaṁ tvayā vikramēṇa nirjitā| harīśvarā idaṁ tu tathyaṁ śr̥ṇuvai||

||Sloka meanings||

vīra mahābala -
valiant and powerful one
nirjitāhaṁ tvayā vikramēṇa -
I have been defeated by your valor
idaṁ tu tathyaṁ vai - this is true
bruvaṁtyā śr̥ṇu vai harīśvara -
o lord of Vanaras, hear what I am telling you.

||Sloka summary||

"Valiant and powerful one, I have been defeated by your valor. O lord of Vanaras, hear what I am telling you, this is true." ||3.46||

||Sloka 3.47||

svayaṁbhuvā purā dattaṁ varadānaṁ yathā mama|
yadā tvāṁ vānaraḥ kaścit vikramāt vaśamānayēt||3.47||
tadā tvayā hi vijñēyaṁ rakṣasāṁ bhayamāgatam|

sa|| purā svayaṁbhuvā mama dattaṁ varadānaṁ yathā | yadā tvāṁ kaścit vānaraḥ vikramāt vaśamānayēt tadā rakṣasāṁ bhayamāgayēt (iti||

||Sloka meanings||

purā svayaṁbhuvā -
Long ago Brahma
mama dattaṁ varadānaṁ yathā -
has given me a boon.
yadā tvāṁ - when you are
kaścit vānaraḥ vikramāt vaśamānayēt -
one Vanara overcomes you with his valor
tadā tvayā hi vijñēyaṁ -
then you ought to know
rakṣasāṁ bhayamāgayēt -
the danger has come to Rakshasa

||Sloka summary||

"Long ago Brahma has given me a boon. When one Vanara overcomes you with his valor, then you ought to know
the destruction of Rakshasas will set in." ||3.47||

Govindaraja in his Tika and Rama Tilak in their Tika too, mention the following story about the boon from Puranas. Cursed by Nandi, Ravana performs penance to protect Rakshasa from destruction. Then Brahma in the form of a boon, assures them that destruction of Rakshasa will not set in until a Vanara overcomes the Lankini. The Lankini being overcome by a Vanara is unthinkable for the egoistic Rakshasa, so they consider that as boon.

||Sloka 3.48||

sa hi mē samayaḥ saumya prāptō'dya tavadarśanāt||3.48||
svayaṁbhūvihitaḥ satyō na tasyāsti vyatikramaḥ |

sa|| hē saumya ādya sa samayaḥ mē tava darśanāt saṁprāptaḥ|| svayaṁbhūvihitaḥ satyō na tasyāsti vyatikramaḥ |

||Sloka meanings||

hē saumya ādya sa samayaḥ saṁprāptaḥ -
O gentle one now that time has come
mē tava darśanāt - with your appearance to me
svayaṁbhūvihitaḥ satyō -
that which is ordained by Brahma is true
na tasyāsti vyatikramaḥ - nothing can be otherwise

||Sloka summary||

"O gentle one, now with your appearance that time has come to me. That which is ordained by Brahma is true, it cannot be otherwise."||3.48||

||Sloka 3.49-51||

sītānimittaṁ rājñastu rāvaṇasya durātmanaḥ||3.49||
rakṣasāṁ caiva sarvēṣāṁ vināśaḥ samupāgataḥ|
tatpraviśya hariśrēṣṭha purīṁ rāvaṇapālitām||3.50 ||
vidhatsvasarva kāryāṇi yāni yānīha vāṁcchasi||3.51||

sa|| durātmanaḥ rājñjaḥ rāvaṇasya sītānimittaṁ sarvēṣāṁ rakṣasāṁ ca vināśaḥ samupāgataḥ|| hē hariśrēṣṭha tataḥ rāvaṇa pālitāṁ purīṁ iha praviśya yāni yāni kāryāṇi vāṁcchasi tat sarvakāryāṇi vidhatsva||

||Sloka meanings||

durātmanaḥ rājñjaḥ -
evil minded king
rāvaṇasya sītānimittaṁ -
because of Ravana due to Sita
sarvēṣāṁ rakṣasāṁ ca - all the Rakshasas
vināśaḥ samupāgataḥ - destruction has come
hē hariśrēṣṭha - O best of Vanaras
tataḥ rāvaṇa pālitāṁ purīṁ praviśya-
hence entering the city ruled by Ravana
iha yāni yāni kāryāṇi vāṁcchasi -
whatever works you wish to do
tat sarvakāryāṇi vidhatsva -
undertake all those works

||Sloka summary||

" The destruction of all Rakshasas and the evil-minded Ravana has come because Sita's abduction. Hence o best of Vanaras whatever works you wish to do undertake all those works, entering the city ruled by Ravana." || 3.51||

||Sloka 3.52||

praviśya śāpōpahataṁ harīśvaraḥ
śubhāṁ purīṁ rākṣasa mukhyapālitām|
yadr̥cchayā tvaṁ janakātmajāṁ satīm
vimārga sarvatra gatō yathā sukham||52||

sa||harīśvara śāpōpahataṁ rākṣasamukhya pālitāṁ śubhāṁ purīṁ yadr̥cchayā praviśya tvaṁ sarvatra gataḥ yathāsukhaṁ satīṁ janakātmajāṁ vimārgasva||

||Sloka meanings||

rākṣasamukhya pālitāṁ -
ruled by the chief of Rakshasas
śubhāṁ purīṁ śāpōpahataṁ -
auspicious city doomed by the curse
yadr̥cchayā praviśya -
entering as you wish
tvaṁ sarvatra gataḥ yathāsukhaṁ -
going everywhere with ease
janakātmajāṁ vimārgasva -
search for the daughter of Janaka

||Sloka summary||

"Entering the city doomed by the curse, ruled by the chief of Rakshasas freely going everywhere with ease
search for the daughter of Janaka."||3.52||

That is the story of the third Sarga.

The important part of the Sarga is the dialog between Hanuma and the Lankini. This dialog has hints of the spiritual journey, while overcoming obstacles.

In the philosophical lore, the Self is different from the body.
But this fact is masked by ignorance. It is the ego that comes in the way. This attitude of ego is best described as
"dēhātmābhimānam". That is the egotistic feeling of body that it is the Self. As long as this feeling of ego is predominant, the search for "Self" will not move forward.
The mind does not have the power to overcome that ego.

Here the one who stood in front of Hanuma saying
" ahaṁ hi nagarī laṁkā", is precisely that ego. It is that demon protecting the body complex which is the Lanka.
As though to emphasize that it is indeed the ego,
the word "ahaṁ" is repeated twice saying,"ahaṁ rākṣasarājasya"; " ahaṁ hi nagarī laṁkā".

The thought of "Body" which is not Self, as the embodiment of "Self", is the love for the body . It is also called "dēhātmābhimānam" One has to defeat that demon to move forward in the search. Once one is able to defeat that demon "ahaṁ", the destruction of Rakshasas and
the metaphorical Ravana, the mind, is certain. The demoniac thoughts get decimated and the identification "Self" happens. Sita "Darshana" happens.

A Sadhaka in search of "Self" has to overcome this "aham" or ego.

In the dialog of Hanuma and the deity of Lanka, there are interesting lines.
Lankini says "kastvaṁ ? or " Who are you ? "kēna ca kāryēṇa iha prāptō vanālaya?"; "Oh Forest Dweller ! For what reason have you come here? "

Appalacharyulu garu says "vanālaya" means one who lives in a forest. The word also has a hint or allusion of "Brahman", implying that Hanuma being addressed thus is one focused on Brahman. In the Upanishadic lore it is said that "brahma vanaṁ brahma savr̥kṣa āsīt". It means that the forest is established as form of "Brahman", Hanuma himself is thus seen as established in Brahman .

In turn Hanuman says," kā tvaṁ ? virūpanayanā?" - Oh Ugly eyed one ! Who are you?
In the word "virūpanayanā", the later part of the word nayanā means, that which makes earlier part grow.
Growing "virūpa", is growing Maya. The one that lets Maya grow is "Prakruti"

Maya is the one which inculcates the feeling that the Body is the Self. This Maya creates the ego and establishes the illusion dēhātmabhrāṁti. That is that Body complex is the Self.

Lanka opposes Hanuma. Maya confronts great ones too.
But the great ones overcome the ignorance, and move forward in the search for Self.

Thus in the confrontation of Hanuma and Lankini
Appalacharyulu garu says that the poet hints at how the Purusha overcomes the ego and goes forward in search of Self.

ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē ādikāvyē vālmīkīyē
caturviṁśat sahasrikāyāṁ saṁhitāyām
śrīmatsuṁdarakāṁḍē tr̥tīya ssargaḥ||

Thus ends the third Sarga of Sundarakanda in Ramayana, the first ever poem of mankind composed by Maharshi Valmiki.

|| om tat sat||

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

|| om tat sat||

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

||om tat sat||