Bhakti Arohan
ॐ

Sundarkand — Doha 25

The Burning Tail

Doha 25: The Burning Tail

Lanka runs out of cloth and oil as the tail grows; once it is lit, Hanuman slips free and, with the winds rising, grows to the sky.

Verse 25.1

पूँछहीन बानर तहँ जाइहि। तब सठ निज नाथहि लइ आइहि॥ जिन्ह कै कीन्हिसि बहुत बड़ाई। देखउ मैं तिन्ह कै प्रभुताई॥ १ ॥

pūm̐chhahīna bānara taham̐ jāihi taba saṭha nija nāthahi lai āihi jinha kai kīnhisi bahuta baṛāī dekhau maiṁ tinha kai prabhutāī

Translation

"When the tailless monkey goes back there, the fool will bring his master here. Then I will see the greatness of the one he has praised so much."

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

"जब बिना पूँछ का बंदर वहाँ जाएगा, तब यह मूर्ख अपने स्वामी को साथ ले आएगा। जिनकी इसने इतनी बड़ाई की है, मैं उनकी प्रभुता देखूँ तो।"

Commentary

Without meaning to, Ravana is inviting Rama to Lanka. Tulsidas often shows the wicked unknowingly bringing about their own end.

Verse 25.2

बचन सुनत कपि मन मुसुकाना। भइ सहाय सारद मैं जाना॥ जातुधान सुनि रावन बचना। लागे रचैं मूढ़ सोइ रचना॥ २ ॥

bachana sunata kapi mana musukānā bhai sahāya sārada maiṁ jānā jātudhāna suni rāvana bachanā lāge rachaiṁ mūṛha soi rachanā

Translation

Hearing this, the monkey smiled inwardly: "I know now that Sarada has come to my help." Hearing Ravana's order, the foolish demons began to carry it out.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

यह सुनकर कपि मन में मुस्कुराए, "मैं समझ गया, सरस्वती जी सहायक हुई हैं।" रावण के वचन सुनकर मूर्ख राक्षस वही तैयारी करने लगे।

Commentary

Sarada is Saraswati, goddess of speech. Hanuman takes it that the goddess herself put these words in Ravana's mouth, since the punishment gives Hanuman exactly the weapon he needs.

Verse 25.3

रहा न नगर बसन घृत तेला। बाढ़ी पूँछ कीन्ह कपि खेला॥ कौतुक कहँ आए पुरबासी। मारहिं चरन करहिं बहु हाँसी॥ ३ ॥

rahā na nagara basana ghṛita telā bāṛhī pūm̐chha kīnha kapi khelā kautuka kaham̐ āe purabāsī mārahiṁ charana karahiṁ bahu hām̐sī

Translation

No cloth, ghee or oil was left in the city, for the monkey played a game and made his tail grow longer. The townspeople came to watch the fun; they kicked him and laughed a great deal.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

नगर में कपड़ा, घी और तेल कुछ भी नहीं बचा, क्योंकि कपि ने खेल किया और पूँछ बढ़ाते गए। तमाशा देखने नगरवासी आए, वे उन्हें पैरों से मारते और बहुत हँसी उड़ाते थे।

Verse 25.4

बाजहिं ढोल देहिं सब तारी। नगर फेरि पुनि पूँछ प्रजारी॥ पावक जरत देखि हनुमंता। भयउ परम लघुरूप तुरंता॥ ४ ॥

bājahiṁ ḍhola dehiṁ saba tārī nagara pheri puni pūm̐chha prajārī pāvaka jarata dekhi hanumaṁtā bhayau parama laghurūpa turaṁtā

Translation

Drums were beaten and everyone clapped. They paraded him around the city and then set his tail alight. Seeing the fire burning, Hanuman at once became very small,

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

ढोल बजते हैं, सब ताली बजाते हैं। नगर में घुमाकर फिर पूँछ में आग लगा दी। आग जलती देखकर हनुमान जी तुरंत बहुत छोटे हो गए,

Verse 25.5

निबुकि चढ़ेउ कपि कनक अटारीं। भईं सभीत निसाचर नारीं॥ ५ ॥

nibuki chaṛheu kapi kanaka aṭārīṁ bhaīṁ sabhīta nisāchara nārīṁ

Translation

slipped out of his bonds, and leapt onto the golden rooftops, while the demon women grew frightened.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

और बंधन से निकलकर सोने की अटारियों पर जा चढ़े। राक्षसों की स्त्रियाँ डर गईं।

Verse 25.6

हरि प्रेरित तेहि अवसर चले मरुत उनचास। अट्टहास करि गर्जा कपि बढ़ि लाग अकास॥ २५ ॥

hari prerita tehi avasara chale maruta unachāsa aṭṭahāsa kari garjā kapi baṛhi lāga akāsa

Translation

At that moment, sent by Hari, all forty-nine winds began to blow. The monkey gave a loud laugh, roared, and grew until he touched the sky.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

उसी समय भगवान की प्रेरणा से उनचासों पवन चलने लगे। कपि अट्टहास करके गरजे और बढ़कर आकाश को छूने लगे।

Commentary

The forty-nine Maruts are the storm gods, and Hanuman is the son of Vayu, the wind. His father's family comes to help, but Tulsidas says they were sent by Hari.

Contents
  1. Mangalacharan
  2. Doha 1: The Leap
  3. Doha 2: Surasa's Test
  4. Doha 3: First Sight of Lanka
  5. Doha 4: Lankini
  6. Doha 5: Searching the Palaces
  7. Doha 6: Meeting Vibhishana
  8. Doha 7: The Tongue among the Teeth
  9. Doha 8: Sita in the Ashoka Grove
  10. Doha 9: The Firefly and the Lotus
  11. Doha 10: Chandrahasa
  12. Doha 11: Trijata's Dream
  13. Doha 12: The Ring Falls
  14. Doha 13: Hanuman Reveals Himself
  15. Doha 14: Has He Forgotten Me?
  16. Doha 15: Rama's Message
  17. Doha 16: The Golden-Mountain Form
  18. Doha 17: Sita's Blessing
  19. Doha 18: Wrecking the Grove
  20. Doha 19: Meghanada and the Brahmastra
  21. Doha 20: In Ravana's Court
  22. Doha 21: On Whose Strength?
  23. Doha 22: The Envoy's Plea
  24. Doha 23: Wealth without Rama
  25. Doha 24: Punishment for the Envoy
  26. Doha 25: The Burning Tail
  27. Doha 26: Lanka Burns
  28. Doha 27: The Crest-Jewel
  29. Doha 28: The Return
  30. Doha 29: Before Rama
  31. Doha 30: Jambavan's Report
  32. Doha 31: Sita's Words
  33. Doha 32: A Debt That Cannot Be Repaid
  34. Doha 33: All by Your Glory
  35. Doha 34: The Boon of Devotion
  36. Doha 35: The March to the Sea
  37. Doha 36: Mandodari's Plea
  38. Doha 37: Flattering Counsel
  39. Doha 38: Vibhishana's Counsel
  40. Doha 39: Rama Is Not Merely a King
  41. Doha 40: Good Sense and Bad
  42. Doha 41: Vibhishana Is Cast Out
  43. Doha 42: Longing for Rama's Feet
  44. Doha 43: Sugriva's Suspicion
  45. Doha 44: The Vow of Refuge
  46. Doha 45: Vibhishana before Rama
  47. Doha 46: The Embrace
  48. Doha 47: Vibhishana's Hymn
  49. Doha 48: The Marks of a Devotee
  50. Doha 49: Vibhishana Crowned
  51. Doha 50: How to Cross the Ocean
  52. Doha 51: Before the Ocean
  53. Doha 52: The Spies Caught
  54. Doha 53: Ravana's Questions
  55. Doha 54: Shuka's Report
  56. Doha 55: Natural Heroes
  57. Doha 56: Lakshman's Letter
  58. Doha 57: Without Fear There Is No Love
  59. Doha 58: The Fire-Arrow
  60. Doha 59: The Ocean Surrenders
  61. Doha 60: Nala and Nila; Conclusion