Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kanda, Sarga 3 — Hanuman enters Lanka

Sarga 3 of the Sundara Kanda: Hanuman, in a diminished form, enters the city of Lanka by night, overcoming Lankini — the guardian deity of the city — before beginning his search for Sita through the streets and palaces.

This sarga is symbolic as much as it is narrative. Hanuman’s victory over Lankini is not merely defeating a gatekeeper — it represents Dharma crossing the threshold into Adharma’s stronghold. From this point onward, Ravana’s seemingly impregnable kingdom is spiritually breached, even before any army arrives. Lankini herself acknowledges, upon being struck down, that Brahma’s prophecy is now being fulfilled. Hanuman’s successful entry sets the stage for the central events of the Sundara Kāṇḍa: discovering Sita, delivering Rama’s message, and ultimately heralding the fall of Lanka.