Shloka from Sundarakandam to chant daily

 

Sloka 1

யாஹி வைஸ்ரவணே லக்ஷ்மீர் யாசந்த்3ரே ஹரிவாஹநே
ஸா ராவணக்3ருஹே ஸர்வா நித்ய மேவாநபாயிநீ

Yā hi Vaiśravaṇe Lakṣmīḥ yā Candre Harivāhane
Sā Rāvaṇagṛhe sarvā nityaṁ ēvānapāyinī

Translation:

She who once resided with Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera),
She who was with Chandra (the Moon) and with Indra, the bearer of the thunderbolt,
That very Lakṣmī now abides everlastingly, unceasingly,
In the house of Rāvaṇa, in all her fullness.

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Sloka 2

யா ச ராஜ்ஞ: குபே3ரஸ்ய யமஸ்ய வருணஸ்ய ச
தாத்3ருஸீ தத்3விஸிஷ்டா வா ருத்3தீ4 ரக்ஷோக்3ருஹேஷ்விஹ

Yā ca rājñaḥ Kuberasya Yamasya Varuṇasya ca
Tādṛśī tad-viśiṣṭā vā Ruddhiḥ rakṣogṛheṣu iha

Translation:

She who dwelt in the palaces of the kings—Kubera, Yama, and Varuṇa,
Such prosperity—or even greater—is now found here,
In the dwellings of the Rākṣasas (demons).

These two verses from the Sundara Kāṇḍa of the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa describe how the goddess of wealth (Lakṣmī)—symbolising auspiciousness, prosperity, and fortune—resides undeservedly in the house of Rāvaṇa, the demon king of Laṅkā. Sri Hanuman expresses astonishment that such divine grace would dwell in such a sinful abode.

This passage is part of Hanumān’s internal reflection as he surveys Rāvaṇa’s opulent city of Laṅkā. Despite its wicked ruler and unrighteousness, Laṅkā appears rich, magnificent, and thriving. Hanumān marvels at this irony: that Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, who ought to dwell only where dharma (righteousness) reigns—like in the homes of Kubera (god of wealth), Yama (god of death and justice), Varuṇa (god of waters and law)—has taken up residence in the home of adharma itself: the palace of Rāvaṇa.

The underlying moral tension is that prosperity without virtue is transient and deceptive—a theme that recurs throughout Hindu epics. These verses subtly point to the inevitable downfall of Rāvaṇa, for such unmerited wealth cannot endure.

Saints such as Śrī Ādi Śaṅkara proclaimed to the world that, by the grace of Lord Śiva, one may attain immeasurable prosperity—an assertion that holds true even to this day. Chanting this śloka twelve times daily strengthens one’s bhakti towards Lord Śiva and fulfils one’s aspirations for prosperity.