Sundara Kanda · Sarga 57 of 68 · 53 verses
The Return to Mahendra
Tireless, Hanuman swims the ocean of the sky, whose lotuses are the nagas, yakshas and gandharvas, whose lilies are the moon, whose ducks the sun, whose fish and islands are the stars and Airavata. He seems to swallow the sky and graze the moon, to drag the clouds along; passing in and out of clouds of every colour, he appears and disappears like the moon. Touching Mount Sunabha (Mainaka) on his way, he shoots on like an arrow from a bowstring. Seeing Mahendra, he roars, filling the ten directions, and lashes his tail.
The monkeys waiting anxiously on the northern shore hear the roar and the rush of his thighs like a storm cloud. Jambavan, overjoyed, tells them: “Hanuman has certainly succeeded; he would not roar like that otherwise.” The monkeys leap from peak to peak, wave their clothes from the treetops, and stand with joined palms as he lands on Mahendra’s wooded summit like a winged mountain. They crowd round him with roots and fruits, cheering and chattering. Hanuman bows to the elders led by Jambavan and to Prince Angada and tells them briefly: “I have seen the queen.” Sitting with Angada’s hand in his, he describes Sita in the Ashoka grove, guarded by fearsome rakshasis, wearing a single braid, thin from fasting, soiled, longing to see Rama. The monkeys roar, shriek and lash their tails with joy; some leap up just to touch him.
Angada praises him before them all: no one equals him in courage and strength; he has given them all their lives back; by his grace they will go to Rama with their mission accomplished. What devotion to his master, what valour, what steadiness! Then the monkeys sit on great rocks around Angada, Hanuman and Jambavan, their palms joined, eager to hear about the leap, Lanka, Sita and Ravana, and the mountain top shines with their glory.
Press › to begin with verse 1.
आप्लुत्य च महावेगः पक्षवानिव पर्वतः । भुजङ्गयक्षगन्धर्वप्रबुद्धकमलोत्पलम् ॥ १ ॥
Leaping up with great speed, like a winged mountain, into the ocean of the sky, whose opened lotuses and lilies were the serpents, yakshas and gandharvas,
Commentary on the whole sarga
The Return to Mahendra 1 min read.
Read the commentary
स चन्द्रकुमुदं रम्यं सार्ककारण्डवं शुभम् । तिष्यश्रवणकादम्बमभ्रशैवलशाद्वलम् ॥ २ ॥
whose lilies were the moon, lovely, whose karandava ducks were the sun, auspicious, whose geese were Tishya and Shravana, whose moss and grass were the clouds,
पुनर्वसुमहामीनं लोहिताङ्गमहाग्रहम् । ऐरावतमहाद्वीपं स्वातीहंसविलासितम् ॥ ३ ॥
whose great fish was Punarvasu, whose great crocodile was Mars, whose great island was Airavata, made lovely by the swan Svati,
वातसंघातजालोर्मिचन्द्रांशुशिशिराम्बुमत् । हनूमानपरिश्रान्तः पुप्लुवे गगनार्णवम् ॥ ४ ॥
whose waves were the masses of wind, whose cool water was the moonbeams: tireless Hanuman swam across that ocean of the sky.
ग्रसमान इवाकाशं ताराधिपमिवोल्लिखन् । हरन्निव सनक्षत्रं गगनं सार्कमण्डलम् ॥ ५ ॥
As if swallowing the sky, as if grazing the lord of stars, as if carrying off the heavens with their stars and the sun’s disc,
अपारमपरिश्रान्तश्चाम्बुधिं समगाहत । हनूमान् मेघजालानि विकर्षन्निव गच्छति ॥ ६ ॥
tireless, he plunged across that shoreless ocean. Hanuman went as if dragging the masses of clouds along.
पाण्डुरारुणवर्णानि नीलमाञ्जिष्ठकानि च । हरितारुणवर्णानि महाभ्राणि चकाशिरे ॥ ७ ॥
Great clouds shone, pale and red, blue and madder-coloured, green and red.
प्रविशन्नभ्रजालानि निष्क्रमंश्च पुनः पुनः । प्रकाशश्चाप्रकाशश्च चन्द्रमा इव दृश्यते ॥ ८ ॥
Entering the masses of cloud and coming out again and again, he was seen now bright, now dark, like the moon.
विविधाभ्रघनापन्नगोचरो धवलाम्बरः । दृश्यादृश्यतनुर्वीरस्तथा चन्द्रायतेऽम्बरे ॥ ९ ॥
Moving among dense clouds of many kinds, in white clothing, his body now visible, now invisible, the hero looked like the moon in the sky.
तार्क्ष््यायमाणो गगने स बभौ वायुनन्दनः । दारयन् मेघवृन्दानि निष्पतंश्च पुनः पुनः ॥ १० ॥
The son of the Wind shone in the sky like Tarkshya, tearing through the masses of cloud and coming out again and again,
नदन् नादेन महता मेघस्वनमहास्वनः । प्रवरान् राक्षसान् हत्वा नाम विश्राव्य चात्मनः ॥ ११ ॥
roaring with a great roar, a great sound like the thunder of clouds. Having killed the leading rakshasas, proclaimed his own name,
आकुलां नगरीं कृत्वा व्यथयित्वा च रावणम् । अर्दयित्वा महावीरान् वैदेहीमभिवाद्य च ॥ १२ ॥
thrown the city into turmoil, troubled Ravana, harried great heroes and bowed to Vaidehi,
आजगाम महातेजाः पुनर्मध्येन सागरम् । पर्वतेन्द्रं सुनाभं च समुपस्पृश्य वीर्यवान् ॥ १३ ॥
the radiant one came back across the middle of the ocean. Touching on the way Sunabha, lord of mountains, the valiant one
ज्यामुक्त इव नाराचो महावेगोऽभ्युपागमत् । स किंचिदारात् सम्प्राप्तः समालोक्य महागिरिम् ॥ १४ ॥
came on with great speed like an iron arrow released from a bowstring. Coming a little nearer and seeing the great mountain,
महेन्द्रं मेघसंकाशं ननाद स महाकपिः । स पूरयामास कपिर्दिशो दश समन्ततः ॥ १५ ॥
Mahendra, like a cloud, the great monkey roared. The monkey filled the ten directions on every side,
नदन् नादेन महता मेघस्वनमहास्वनः । स तं देशमनुप्राप्तः सुहृद्दर्शनलालसः ॥ १६ ॥
roaring with a great roar, a great sound like the thunder of clouds. Reaching that region, longing to see his friends,
ननाद सुमहानादं लाङ्गूलं चाप्यकम्पयत् । तस्य नानद्यमानस्य सुपर्णाचरिते पथि ॥ १७ ॥
he roared a very great roar and shook his tail. As he roared again and again on the path travelled by Suparna,
फलतीवास्य घोषेण गगनं सार्कमण्डलम् । ये तु तत्रोत्तरे कूले समुद्रस्य महाबलाः ॥ १८ ॥
the sky with the sun’s disc seemed to split with his noise. The mighty heroes who were there on the northern shore of the ocean,
पूर्वं संविष्ठिताः शूरा वायुपुत्रदिदृक्षवः । महतो वायुनुन्नस्य तोयदस्येव निःस्वनम् । शुश्रुवुस्ते तदा घोषमूरुवेगं हनूमतः ॥ १९ ॥
waiting before, eager to see the son of the Wind, heard then the noise of the rush of Hanuman’s thighs, like the sound of a great cloud driven by the wind.
ते दीनमनसः सर्वे शुश्रुवुः काननौकसः । वानरेन्द्रस्य निर्घोषं पर्जन्यनिनदोपमम् ॥ २० ॥
All those forest-dwellers, downcast, heard the roar of the monkey lord, like the thunder of the rain god.
निशम्य नदतो नादं वानरास्ते समन्ततः । बभूवुरुत्सुकाः सर्वे सुहृद्दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः ॥ २१ ॥
Hearing him roaring, the monkeys on every side all grew eager, longing to see their friend.
जाम्बवान् स हरिश्रेष्ठः प्रीतिसंहृष्टमानसः । उपामन्त्र्य हरीन् सर्वानिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ २२ ॥
Jambavan, best of monkeys, his heart thrilled with joy, called all the monkeys together and said this:
सर्वथा कृतकार्योऽसौ हनूमान् नात्र संशयः । न ह्यस्याकृतकार्यस्य नाद एवंविधो भवेत् ॥ २३ ॥
“Hanuman has succeeded in every way, no doubt of it; a roar like this could not come from one who had not succeeded.”
तस्य बाहूरुवेगं च निनादं च महात्मनः । निशम्य हरयो हृष्टाः समुत्पेतुर्यतस्ततः ॥ २४ ॥
Hearing the rush of that great soul’s arms and thighs and his roar, the monkeys leapt up joyfully here and there.
ते नगाग्रान्नगाग्राणि शिखराच्छिखराणि च । प्रहृष्टाः समपद्यन्त हनूमन्तं दिदृक्षवः ॥ २५ ॥
From treetop to treetop and from peak to peak they went, delighted, eager to see Hanuman.
ते प्रीताः पादपाग्रेषु गृह्य शाखामवस्थिताः । वासांसि च प्रकाशानि समाविध्यन्त वानराः ॥ २६ ॥
Pleased, the monkeys stood on the treetops holding the branches, and waved their bright clothes.
गिरिगह्वरसंलीनो यथा गर्जति मारुतः । एवं जगर्ज बलवान् हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ॥ २७ ॥
As the wind roars hidden in a mountain cave, so mighty Hanuman, son of the Wind, roared.
तमभ्रघनसंकाशमापतन्तं महाकपिम् । दृष्ट्वा ते वानराः सर्वे तस्थुः प्राञ्जलयस्तदा ॥ २८ ॥
Seeing that great monkey coming down like a mass of cloud, all the monkeys stood then with joined palms.
ततस्तु वेगवान् वीरो गिरेर्गिरिनिभः कपिः । निपपात गिरेस्तस्य शिखरे पादपाकुले ॥ २९ ॥
Then the swift hero, the monkey like a mountain, fell from the sky onto the summit of that mountain, thick with trees.
हर्षेणापूर्यमाणोऽसौ रम्ये पर्वतनिर्झरे । छिन्नपक्ष इवाकाशात् पपात धरणीधरः ॥ ३० ॥
Filled with joy, he came down by a lovely mountain stream, like a mountain with its wings cut falling from the sky.
ततस्ते प्रीतमनसः सर्वे वानरपुङ्गवाः । हनूमन्तं महात्मानं परिवार्योपतस्थिरे ॥ ३१ ॥
Then all those bulls among monkeys, glad at heart, surrounded great-souled Hanuman and attended on him.
परिवार्य च ते सर्वे परां प्रीतिमुपागताः । प्रहृष्टवदनाः सर्वे तमागतमुपागमन् ॥ ३२ ॥
Surrounding him, they were all overjoyed; with delighted faces they all came up to him who had come.
उपायनानि चादाय मूलानि च फलानि च । प्रत्यर्चयन् हरिश्रेष्ठं हरयो मारुतात्मजम् ॥ ३३ ॥
Bringing gifts, roots and fruits, the monkeys honoured the best of monkeys, the son of the Wind.
विनेदुर्मुदिताः केचित् केचित् किलकिलां तथा । हृष्टाः पादपशाखाश्च आनिन्युर्वानरर्षभाः ॥ ३४ ॥
Some cried out with delight, some chattered; overjoyed, the bulls among monkeys brought branches of trees.
हनूमांस्तु गुरून् वृद्धाञ्जाम्बवत्प्रमुखांस्तदा । कुमारमङ्गदं चैव सोऽवन्दत महाकपिः ॥ ३५ ॥
And Hanuman, the great monkey, then bowed to the elders and teachers led by Jambavan, and to Prince Angada.
स ताभ्यां पूजितः पूज्यः कपिभिश्च प्रसादितः । दृष्टा देवीति विक्रान्तः संक्षेपेण न्यवेदयत् ॥ ३६ ॥
Honoured by those two, the honourable one, gratified by the monkeys, the valiant one reported briefly: “I have seen the queen.”
निषसाद च हस्तेन गृहीत्वा वालिनः सुतम् । रमणीये वनोद्देशे महेन्द्रस्य गिरेस्तदा ॥ ३७ ॥
And he sat down, taking the hand of Vali’s son, in a lovely spot in the woods of Mount Mahendra.
हनूमानब्रवीत् पृष्टस्तदा तान् वानरर्षभान् । अशोकवनिकासंस्था दृष्टा सा जनकात्मजा ॥ ३८ ॥
Asked, Hanuman then told those bulls among monkeys: “I have seen Janaka’s daughter, staying in the Ashoka grove,
रक्ष्यमाणा सुघोराभी राक्षसीभिरनिन्दिता । एकवेणीधरा बाला रामदर्शनलालसा ॥ ३९ ॥
“guarded by very terrible rakshasis, the blameless young woman wearing a single braid, longing to see Rama,
उपवासपरिश्रान्ता मलिना जटिला कृशा । ततो दृष्टेति वचनं महार्थममृतोपमम् ॥ ४० ॥
“worn out by fasting, soiled, with matted hair, thin.” Then, hearing the words of the son of the Wind, “I have seen her,” of great meaning, like nectar,
निशम्य मारुतेः सर्वे मुदिता वानराभवन् । क्ष्वेडन्त्यन्ये नदन्त्यन्ये गर्जन्त्यन्ये महाबलाः ॥ ४१ ॥
all the monkeys were delighted. Some shrieked, others shouted, others, mighty ones, bellowed;
चक्रुः किलकिलामन्ये प्रतिगर्जन्ति चापरे । केचिदुच्छ्रितलाङ्गूलाः प्रहृष्टाः कपिकुञ्जराः ॥ ४२ ॥
others chattered, others roared back; some elephants among monkeys, overjoyed, raised their tails,
आयताञ्चितदीर्घाणि लाङ्गूलानि प्रविव्यधुः । अपरे तु हनूमन्तं श्रीमन्तं वानरोत्तमम् ॥ ४३ ॥
and lashed their long, curving tails. Others, delighted, leapt onto the mountain peaks and touched the glorious Hanuman, best of monkeys.
आप्लुत्य गिरिशृङ्गेषु संस्पृशन्ति स्म हर्षिताः । उक्तवाक्यं हनूमन्तमङ्गदस्तु तदाब्रवीत् ॥ ४४ ॥
When Hanuman had spoken, Angada then said,
सर्वेषां हरिवीराणां मध्ये वाचमनुत्तमाम् । सत्त्वे वीर्ये न ते कश्चित् समो वानर विद्यते ॥ ४५ ॥
in the middle of all the monkey heroes, these supreme words: “In courage and valour, monkey, there is no one equal to you,
यदवप्लुत्य विस्तीर्णं सागरं पुनरागतः । जीवितस्य प्रदाता नस्त्वमेको वानरोत्तम ॥ ४६ ॥
“since you have leapt across the wide ocean and come back again. You alone are the giver of our lives, best of monkeys.
त्वत्प्रसादात् समेष्यामः सिद्धार्था राघवेण ह । अहो स्वामिनि ते भक्तिरहो वीर्यमहो धृतिः ॥ ४७ ॥
“By your grace we will meet Raghava with our purpose achieved. Ah, your devotion to your master! Ah, your valour! Ah, your steadfastness!
दिष्ट्या दृष्टा त्वया देवी रामपत्नी यशस्विनी । दिष्ट्या त्यक्ष्यति काकुत्स्थः शोकं सीतावियोगजम् ॥ ४८ ॥
“By good fortune you have seen the queen, Rama’s glorious wife. By good fortune Kakutstha will give up the grief born of separation from Sita.”
ततोऽङ्गदं हनूमन्तं जाम्बवन्तं च वानराः । परिवार्य प्रमुदिता भेजिरे विपुलाः शिलाः ॥ ४९ ॥
Then the monkeys, delighted, surrounding Angada, Hanuman and Jambavan, sat on wide rocks.
उपविष्टा गिरेस्तस्य शिलासु विपुलासु ते । श्रोतुकामाः समुद्रस्य लङ्घनं वानरोत्तमाः ॥ ५० ॥
Seated on the wide rocks of that mountain, the best of monkeys, wanting to hear about the leap across the ocean,
दर्शनं चापि लङ्कायाः सीताया रावणस्य च । तस्थुः प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे हनूमद्वदनोन्मुखाः ॥ ५१ ॥
and the sight of Lanka, of Sita and of Ravana, all stood with joined palms, their faces turned to Hanuman’s face.
तस्थौ तत्राङ्गदः श्रीमान् वानरैर्बहुभिर्वृतः । उपास्यमानो विबुधैर्दिवि देवपतिर्यथा ॥ ५२ ॥
Glorious Angada sat there surrounded by many monkeys, attended like the lord of the gods in heaven by the gods.
हनूमता कीर्तिमता यशस्विना तथाङ्गदेनाङ्गदनद्धबाहुना । मुदा तदाध्यासितमुन्नतं मह- न्महीधराग्रं ज्वलितं श्रियाभवत् ॥ ५३ ॥
Occupied joyfully by famous, glorious Hanuman and by Angada, his arms bound with armlets, the high, great mountain top blazed with splendour.