Exhibit 99.906

          CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES OXLEY ACT


I, Clifford E. Lai,  President and Principal  Executive  Officer of The Hyperion
Total Return Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), certify that:

     1.   The  N-CSR  of  the  Fund  (the  "Report")  fully  complies  with  the
          requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act
          of 1934; and

     2.   The  information  contained  in the  Report  fairly  presents,  in all
          material respects,  the financial  condition and results of operations
          of the Fund.

Dated:  August 7, 2003


- ----------------------------
                                   /s/Clifford E. Lai
                                      ------------------------------------
                                      Clifford E. Lai
                                      President and Principal Executive Officer
                                      The Hyperion Total Return Fund, Inc.

A signed  original of this written  statement  required by Section 906, or other
document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that
appears in typed form within the  electronic  version of this written  statement
required by Section  906, has been  provided to The Hyperion  Total Return Fund,
Inc. and will be retained by The Hyperion Total Return Fund,  Inc. and furnished
to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.







          CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES OXLEY ACT


I, Thomas F. Doodian,  Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer of The Hyperion
Total Return Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), certify that:

     1.   The  N-CSR  of  the  Fund  (the  "Report")  fully  complies  with  the
          requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act
          of 1934; and

     2.   The  information  contained  in the  Report  fairly  presents,  in all
          material respects,  the financial  condition and results of operations
          of the Fund.

Dated:  August 7, 2003

                                /s/ Thomas F. Doodian
                                    ----------------------------
                                    Thomas F. Doodian
                                    Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
                                    The Hyperion Total Return Fund, Inc.





A signed  original of this written  statement  required by Section 906, or other
document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that
appears in typed form within the  electronic  version of this written  statement
required by Section  906, has been  provided to The Hyperion  Total Return Fund,
Inc. and will be retained by The Hyperion Total Return Fund,  Inc. and furnished
to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.