Sundarkand in Hindi with meaning: the full path in 6 parts

What the Sundarkand is

The Ramcharitmanas, written in Awadhi by Goswami Tulsidas in the sixteenth century, tells the story of Rama in seven books (kands). The fifth, the Sundarkand, is Hanuman's book: he leaps across the ocean, searches Lanka, finds Sita in the Ashoka grove, gives her Rama's ring, burns Lanka and returns with her message. It ends with Vibhishana taking refuge with Rama and the ocean making way for the army.

It has 3 Sanskrit prayers at the start, then about 60 dohas, each closing a group of chaupais (four-part verses). Many families read the whole Sundarkand on Tuesdays or Saturdays, before a new start, or when they want courage and steadiness; it is also read together in temples and homes as a group path.

How to read it

There is no strict rule; these are the common customs.

1. Sit facing a picture of Rama or Hanuman, light a lamp if you wish, and begin with the three opening shlokas.
2. Read the six parts in order. Reading aloud at a steady pace, the whole path takes about one and a half to two hours; each part about 15–20 minutes.
3. If the full path is too long for one sitting, read one part a day; many people finish the Sundarkand over a week.
4. Many families end with the Hanuman Chalisa and the aarti.

The 6 parts

Each part has every line in Hindi (Awadhi), in English letters, and a simple Hindi and English meaning written by us.

1. Part 1: Hanuman crosses the sea and finds Sita (63 verses)
   The opening prayers and dohas 1–10: Hanuman leaps the ocean, enters Lanka, meets Vibhishana and finds Sita. With meaning.
2. Part 2: Hanuman meets Sita and is bound by Meghnad (59 verses)
   Dohas 11–20: Rama’s ring and message, Sita’s blessing “ajar amar gunanidhi”, the Ashoka grove and Meghnad’s Brahmastra. With meaning.
3. Part 3: Hanuman burns Lanka (54 verses)
   Dohas 21–30: Hanuman’s counsel to Ravana, the burning of Lanka, Sita’s chudamani and the return to Rama.
4. Part 4: Rama marches to the sea (58 verses)
   Dohas 31–40: Sita’s message to Rama, Hanuman’s humility, the march to the sea, and the pleas of Mandodari and Vibhishana.
5. Part 5: Vibhishan takes refuge with Rama (54 verses)
   Ravana casts out Vibhishan; Rama welcomes him, explains his promise to all who seek refuge, and crowns him king of Lanka.
6. Part 6: The ocean yields to Rama (55 verses)
   Ravana’s spies and Lakshmana’s letter, the Ocean yields to Rama, and the closing chhand, doha and colophon of Sundarkand.

Questions

Why is it called Sundarkand?

“Sundar” means beautiful. Tradition gives several reasons: Hanuman's deeds in it are the most beautiful part of the story, Lanka stood on the Trikuta hills, one of whose peaks was called Sundar, and Hanuman himself was called Sundar by his mother.

How long does the Sundarkand path take?

Read aloud at an even pace, about one and a half to two hours; group paths with music often take longer. Reading one part a day is also common.

Is the Sundarkand in Sanskrit?

Tulsidas's Sundarkand is in Awadhi, an old form of Hindi, apart from the three Sanskrit prayers at the start. Valmiki's Ramayana also has a Sundara Kanda, in Sanskrit, which is a different and much longer text.