Kanda 5 of 7 · 68 sargas
सुन्दरकाण्ड
Book of Beauty (Hanuman)
Sundara-kāṇḍa
Setting: The ocean crossing, Lanka, and the Ashoka Vatika
Central figure: Hanuman — the ideal devotee
Kanda summary
Hanuman leaps from Mahendra hill, defeats Surasa and Simhika, lands in Lanka, finds Sita in the Ashoka Vatika, comforts her with Rama's ring, accepts her chudamani (crest-jewel) as proof, allows himself to be captured by Indrajit, sets Lanka on fire with his tail, and returns to deliver the news. This is the only kanda named after a character's deed rather than a place. Devotees read Sundara Kanda for fulfillment of wishes; its name "Beautiful" reflects Hanuman's perfect bhakti.
Key episodes
- ●The ocean leap
- ●Finding Sita in Ashoka Vatika
- ●The ring of Rama, the chudamani of Sita
- ●Capture by Indrajit; audience with Ravana
- ●Burning of Lanka
- ●Return to Kishkindha with news
Central teaching
Devotion + intelligence + restraint completes any seemingly impossible mission.