सुंदरकांडSunderkand in English, free PDF
Download the English translation of Sunderkand, read a summary of the story, and learn how it is recited.
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What Sunderkand is
Sunderkand is the fifth book of the Ramayana. It appears in that position both in Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas and in Valmiki’s Sanskrit Ramayana. It tells how Hanuman crosses the ocean in search of Sita, finds her in Lanka, and returns with word from Rama.
Most books of the Ramayana are named after a place, such as Ayodhya Kand or Kishkindha Kand. Sunderkand’s name is different, and a few explanations are common: some connect it to another name for Hanuman, others to the beauty of the events it describes.
At its centre is a story of hope carried through hardship, which is part of why many families recite it during difficult times.
Two texts, one name
Tulsidas
Ramcharitmanas, 16th century
Written in Awadhi, in chaupai and doha verse. This is the version most Hindi-speaking families recite as Sunderkand path.
Valmiki
Ramayana, Sundara Kanda
Written in Sanskrit shlokas. It is considered the older source of the story.
Tulsidas’s Sunderkand runs to about 60 dohas, with a chaupai passage following each one. The dohas are short couplets that mark a pause or turning point in the story, while the chaupais carry the narrative forward in four-line verses. This pattern repeats through the whole of the Ramcharitmanas, not only in Sunderkand, and it is part of why the text is so often recited aloud rather than only read silently.
This English page follows a translation of Tulsidas’s account. A translation can only carry the meaning of the verses, not their original metre or rhyme, so if you read Awadhi or Hindi, it is worth reading the original alongside it. Before you choose a PDF, check which text your family follows.
The story, in brief
The main events of Sunderkand, in the order Tulsidas tells them.
Crossing the ocean
Hanuman sets out across the ocean to find Sita. Mount Mainak offers him a place to rest, but he presses on, since Rama’s work is not yet done. He then overcomes two more obstacles on the way, the demoness Surasa and the shadow-catcher Simhika, using wit rather than force alone. Surasa tests him by demanding he enter her mouth before continuing, and Hanuman agrees, but shrinks himself so small that he passes through and out again in an instant, satisfying her condition without being harmed.
Entering Lanka
Hanuman shrinks himself and enters Lanka at night. Lankini, the guardian of the city, blocks his way, but after he strikes her, she lets him pass and tells him this marks Lanka’s downfall.
Meeting Vibhishana
While searching the city, Hanuman notices a house marked with signs of Rama’s name and a tulsi plant outside. There he meets Vibhishana, Ravana’s brother, who is a devotee of Rama despite living in Ravana’s household. The two recognise each other as kindred spirits within moments, and Vibhishana tells Hanuman where in the city Sita is being held.
Finding Sita
Hanuman reaches the Ashoka grove and finds Sita in sorrow. He shows her Rama’s ring, introduces himself, and offers her comfort and hope. Sita at first doubts what she is seeing, wondering if it is one of Ravana’s illusions, until Hanuman speaks of details about Rama that only a true messenger could know.
The grove and the guards
Hungry, Hanuman eats fruit from the grove and damages the trees. Ravana’s soldiers, and then his son Akshaya Kumar, are sent to stop him, but Hanuman defeats them.
Before Ravana
Meghnad binds Hanuman with the Brahmastra and brings him before Ravana’s court. Unafraid, Hanuman urges Ravana to seek Rama’s shelter. Vibhishana persuades Ravana not to kill an envoy, so Ravana orders Hanuman’s tail set on fire instead.
The burning of Lanka
With his tail alight, Hanuman leaps from roof to roof, setting Lanka on fire. Only Vibhishana’s house is spared. He then returns to Sita, receives her hairpin as a token, and crosses back over the ocean.
Returning to Rama
Hanuman brings Rama news of Sita and hands him the token. Rama embraces him.
Vibhishana’s shelter and the ocean
In Tulsidas’s telling, the story continues: humiliated by Ravana, Vibhishana comes to Rama for shelter, and Rama prepares to cross the ocean. The ocean itself advises how a bridge can be built. In Valmiki’s Ramayana, this part comes after Sundara Kanda, in the Yuddha Kanda.
How Sunderkand is recited
Practices vary by family and region. This is a common approach. If your household or teacher follows a different one, follow that instead.
Prepare
Bathe and wear clean clothes, then sit in a quiet, clean space.
Set up
Light a lamp before an image or murti of Rama and Hanuman.
Offer a prayer
Before reading, offer a prayer to Ganesha, Rama, and Hanuman, and set your intention for the recitation.
Recite
Read at a steady, unhurried pace with clear pronunciation. If you want to follow the meaning, read the translation after each verse.
Close
End with an aarti, share prasad if you have it, and close with a prayer asking forgiveness for any errors.
Many devotees recite Sunderkand on Tuesdays or Saturdays, days associated with Hanuman. A full recitation typically takes a few hours, so it helps to set the time aside in advance. Some households also recite it every day for nine days, or take up a longer cycle of 108 days during a period of difficulty, though a single complete reading is enough for most occasions.
If you are new to the practice, it is fine to start by simply reading the translation attentively, without following every step above. The steps describe a fuller, more traditional approach that you can adopt gradually as it becomes familiar.
Why people recite it
Devotees believe that reciting Sunderkand brings peace of mind, courage, and confidence, and offers support through life’s obstacles. Many recite it before an exam, a journey, or the start of a new undertaking. These are matters of faith and personal experience, not medical or scientific claims.
The story itself also carries lessons: devotion, resourcefulness, humility, and not resting until a task is complete.
Reciting the text aloud, rather than reading it silently, is itself considered part of its value by many devotees, since sound and rhythm are believed to carry meaning of their own in this tradition. This is one reason the nine-day or 108-day recitation cycles that some households follow ask for the text to be spoken, not merely read.
राम काजु कीन्हें बिनु
मोहि कहाँ बिश्राम॥
Questions
Is the English PDF free?
Yes. The PDF on this page is free to download, with no sign-up.
Can I read it on my phone?
Yes. Download the PDF and open it in any PDF app on your phone or tablet.
Does it work offline?
Once the PDF is saved to your device, you can read it without an internet connection.
Which Sunderkand should I choose?
If your family follows Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas, this English translation is the right choice. For the Sanskrit text of Valmiki’s Sundara Kanda, see the Sanskrit PDF.
Which day should I recite it on?
Practices vary. Many people recite it on Tuesdays or Saturdays, but you can choose any day that fits your family’s tradition.
Can I share the PDF?
Yes, with family and friends. It’s best to share a link to this page rather than the file itself, so everyone gets the current version.
Sunderkand PDF in other languages
This page is offered for devotees’ information. Wording and interpretation can vary slightly between editions.