Summary
Hanuma leaps from the coast of Lanka and touches Mount Mainaka, which he came across in the way. He advances further and roars at the top of his voice at the Mount Mahendra, so as to bring jubilation to the monkeys awaiting his return there. Jambavanta tells the monkeys, who moved by jumps with joy on hearing Jambavanta, that Hanuma has returned successfully, from his expedition as way evident from his jubilant roar. Having greeted Jambavanta, Angada and others on alighting on the summit of Mount Mahendra, Hanuma narrates to them briefly the story of his discovery of Seetha. Applauding Hanuma, prince Angada, who was eager to hear the story, sits down on a rock along with all others.
Chapter [Sarga] 57 in Detail
sacandra kumudam ramyam saarka kaarandavam shubham |
tishya shravana kadambam abhra shaivala shaadvalam || 5-57-1
punarvasu mahaamiinam lohita anga mahaagraham |
airaavata mahaadviipam svaatii hamsa viloditam || 5-57-2
vaata samghaata jaata uurmim candra amshu shishira ambumat |
bhujamga yaksha gandharva prabuddha kamala utpalam || 5-57-3
hanumaan maarutagatirmahaanauriva saagaram |
apaaramaparishraantah pupluve gaganaarnavam || 5-57-4
Hanuma, with a rush equal to that of wind, without a fatigue, leapt across the boundless sea looking analogous to sky, like a large ship crossing the ocean. In that pleasant and auspicious sky-like sea, shone the moon as a white water-like sea, shone having the constellations known by the names of Pushya and Shravana as swans, the clouds as its duck-weeds; the twin constellations the Punarvasus as its large fish, the planet Mars as its large alligator, a large island as Airavata (Indra's elephant), graced with a swan in the form of the constellation, Swati, having gales as its waves, the moon beams as its cool water and with the Nagas, Yakshas and Gandharvas as its full blown lotuses and water-lilies.
graasamaana iva aakaasham taaraa adhipam iva aalikhan |
harann iva sanakshatram gaganam saarka mandalam || 5-57-5
maarutasya aalayam shriimaan kapih vyoma caro mahaan |
hanuumaan megha jaalaani vikarshann iva gacchati || 5-57-6
While moving in the sky, the illustrious Hanuma, the son of wind-god and the great monkey, appeared as if swallowing the sky, scratching the moon and carrying off the sky with its stars and the disc of the sun and was going as though dragging asunder, a mass of clouds.
paandura aruna varnaani niila maanjishthakaani ca |
harita aruna varnaani mahaaabhraani cakaashire || 5-57-7
Dense clouds, with white and red colors, blue and yellow colors as also green and reddish brown colors shone brightly in the sky.
pravishann abhra jaalaani nishkraman ca punah punah |
pracchannah ca prakaashah ca candramaa iva lakshyate || 5-57-8
Time and again, entering and coming out of the clusters of clouds, Hanuma appeared like the moon becoming visible and invisible again and again.
vividhaabhraaghanaasannagocharo dhavalaambarah |
drishyaadrishyatanurviirastadaa chandrayate.ambare || 5-57-9
The heroic Hanuma, who was clad in white clothes, having found his way into various kinds of dense clouds (and emerging again) and having his personality becoming visible and invisible, shone like the moon in the sky.
taarksyaayamaano gagane babhaase vaayunandanah |
daarayanmeghabrindaani nispatamshcha punah punah || 5-57-10
Tearing asunder [into parts] the clusters of clouds again and again as also emerging from them and roaring with a big noise, Hanuma the son of wind-god, making a thunderous great sound, shone flying like Garuda the eagle, in the sky.
nadan naadena mahataa megha svana mahaasvanah |
pravaraan raaksasaan hatvaa naama vishraavya chaatmanah || 5-57-11
aakulaam nagatiim kritvaa vyathayitvaa cha raavanam |
ardayitvaa balam ghoram vaidehiimabhivaadya cha || 5-57-12
aajagaama mahaatejaah punah madhyena saagaram |
Killing the foremost of demons, becoming famous by is name, making Lanka perplexed, causing anguish to Ravana by tormenting his terrible army, and bidding his adieu to Seetha, Hanuma returned by flying over the middle of the sea.
parvata indram sunaabham ca samupasprishya viiryavaan || 5-57-13
jyaa mukta iva naaraaco mahaavego abhyupaagatah |
Touching Mount Mainaka, the victorious Hanuma came with a great speed resembling an iron arrow discharged from a bow-string.
sa kimcit anusampraaptah samaalokya mahaagirim || 5-57-14
mahaaindra megha samkaasham nanaada hari pumgavah |
Approaching a bit near and observing Mount Mahendra, the great mountain looking like a dense cloud, that Hanuma made a loud noise.
sa puurayaamaasa kapirdisho dasha samantatah || 5-57-15
nadannadeva mahataa meghasvanamahaasvanah |
Emitting a great roar, that Hanuma, whole loud noise resembled the rumbling of a cloud, filled the whole space in all directions with the noise.
sa tam deshamanupraaptah suhriddarshanalaalasah || 5-57-16
nanaada harishaarduulo laanguulam chaapyakampayat |
Having reached that place, Hanuma who was ardently desirous of seeing his friends, roared and waved his tail.
tasya naanadyamaanasya suparnacharite pathi || 5-57-17
phalatiivaasya ghosena gaganam saarkamandalam |
The sky, with the disc of the sun, began to crack as it were, due to his roar, even as he repeatedly roared on the path of the sky as followed by Garuda, the eagle endowed with charming wings.
ye tu tatrottare tiire samudrasya mahaabalaah | 5-57-18
puurvam samvisthitaah shuuraa vaayuputradidriksavah |
mahato vaatanunnasya toyadasyeva garjitam || 5-57-19
shushruvuste tadaa ghosamuuruvegam hanuumatah |
Those mighty heroes who were waiting already on the northern shore of the sea, with an eagerness to see Hanuma, heard there at that time, the sound produced by the sweeping motion of Hanuma's thighs, which resembled the roar of a huge cloud propelled by the wind.
te diinamanasah sarve shushruvuh kaananaukasah || 5-57-20
vaanarendrasya nirghosam parjanyaninadopamam |
All those monkeys, who were distressed in mind (for not having heard the news of Seetha hitherto), heard Hanuma's roar similar to the roar of a rumbling cloud.
nishamya nadato naadam vaanaraah te samantatah || 5-57-21
babhuuvuh utsukaah sarve suhrit darshana kaankshinah |
Hearing that roar of Hanuma, who was making the sound, all those monkeys stationed there in all directions, became anxiously desirous of seeing their friend.
jaambavaan sa hari shreshthah priiti samhrishta maanasah || 5-57-22
upaamantrya hariin sarvaan idam vacanam abraviit |
The Jambavan, the foremost among the monkeys and bears, with his mind thrilled with joy, having summoned all the monkeys, spoke the following words:
sarvathaa krita kaaryo asau hanuumaan na atra samshayah || 5-57-23
na hi asya akrita kaaryasya naada evam vidho bhavet |
"This Hanuma has accomplished his assignment in all ways. His sound will not indeed be like this, if he has not fulfilled his task. There is not doubt in this matter."
tasyaa baahu uuru vegam ca ninaadam ca mahaatmanah || 5-57-24
nishamya harayo hrishtaah samutpetuh tatah tatah |
Hearing the sound of the dashing movement of the high souled Hanuma's arms and thighs, the monkeys moved by jumps with joy from their respective places.
te naga agraan naga agraani shikharaat shikharaani ca || 5-57-25
prahrishtaah samapadyanta hanuumantam didrikshavah |
Those monkeys with joy, longing to see Hanuma, took off from the top of one tree to the tops of other trees as also from one mountain-summit to the other summits.
te priitaah paadapa agreshu grihya shaakhaah supushpitaah || 5-57-26
vaasaamsi iva prakaashaani samaavidhyanta vaanaraah |
Those monkeys, grasping the boughs at the tops of trees, and standing there firmly, joyously waved the twigs, as if they are their raiments.
girigahvarasamliino yathaa garjati maarutah || 5-57-27
evam jagarja balavaan hanumaanmaarutaatamajah |
The mighty, Hanuma the son of wind-god, roared as though the wind roars while it enters the caves of mountains.
tam abhra ghana samkaasham aapatantam mahaakapim || 5-57-28
drishtvaa te vaanaraah sarve tasthuh praanjalayah tadaa |
Seeing that Hanuma then rushing like a dense cloud, all those monkeys stood there, joining their palms in salutation.
tatah tu vegavaan tasya gireh giri nibhah kapih || 5-57-29
nipapaata mahaaindrasya shikhare paadapa aakule |
The swift Hanuma, looking like a mountain, then descended on the summit of that Mount Mahendra, thick with trees.
harsenaapuuryamaano.asau ramye parvatanirghare || 5-57-30
chinnapaksa ivaakaashaatpapaata dharaniidharah |
Hanuma like a mountain with its wings torn off, thrilled with joy, fell from the sky into a charming mountain-torrent.
tatah te priita manasah sarve vaanara pumgavaah || 5-57-31
hanuumantam mahaatmaanam parivaarya upatasthire |
parivaarya ca te sarve paraam priitim upaagataah || 5-57-32
Then, all the foremost of those monkeys, with their pleasing hearts, stood surrounding the high-souled Hanuma. Having encircled Hanuma, all of them obtained a supreme joy.
prahrishta vadanaah sarve tam arogam upaagatam |
upaayanaani ca aadaaya muulaani ca phalaani ca || 5-57-33
pratyarcayan hari shreshtham harayo maaruta aatmajam |
All those monkeys with their delightful faces, taking roots and fruits as their presents, honored Hanuma, the foremost among the monkeys, who came back hale and healthy.
hanuumaan tu guruun vriddhaan jaambavat pramukhaan tadaa || 5-57-34
kumaaram angadam caiva so avandata mahaakapih |
Then, Hanuma the excellent one among the monkeys, on his part, offered his salutation to venerable persons and elders like Jambavanta in the first place, as also Angada, the prince.
sa taabhyaam puujitah puujyah kapibhih ca prasaaditah || 5-57-35
drishtaa devii iti vikraantah samkshepena nyavedayat |
Jambavanta and Angada honored that victorious and venerable Hanuma. The other monkeys also made him gracious. Hanuma informed them briefly that he had seen Seetha.
nishasaada ca hastena grihiitvaa vaalinah sutam || 5-57-36
ramaniiye vana uddeshe mahaaindrasya gireh tadaa |
Then, seizing the hand of Angada, Vali's son, Hanuma sat down at a distinct spot in the charming forest of Mount Mahendra.
hanuumaan abraviidt hrishtah tadaa taan vaanara rishabhaan || 5-57-37
ashoka vanikaa samsthaa drishtaa saa janaka aatmajaa |
rakshyamaanaa sughoraabhii raakshasiibhih aninditaa || 5-57-38
eka venii dharaa baalaa raama darshana laalasaa |
upavaasa parishraantaa malinaa jatilaa krishaa || 5-57-39
Then, the pleased Hanuma spoke the following words to those excellent monkeys: "I saw that Seetha, the daughter of Janaka, who was staying in Ashoka garden, guarded unblemished by highly dreadful female-demons and wearing a single braid, young woman, as she was, longing to see Rama, thoroughly fatigued due to her fasting, with her hair twisted together, wearing soiled clothes and looking emaciated."
tato drishtaa iti vacanam mahaaartham amrita upamam || 5-57-40
nishamya maaruteh sarve muditaa vaanaraa bhavan |
Hearing from Hanuma that important and nectar like word to the effect that Seetha had been seen all the monkeys became delighted.
kshvedanti anye nadanti anye garjanti anye mahaabalaah |
cakruh kila kilaam anye pratigarjanti ca apare || 5-57-41
Some mighty monkeys made a lion's roar. Some were making a sound of approbation. Some were making a sound of thunder. Some others produced cries expressing joy. Some others were roaring in return.
kecit ucchrita laanguulaah prahrishtaah kapi kunjaraah |
ancita aayata diirghaani laanguulaani pravivyadhuh || 5-57-42
Some eminent monkeys, with joy and with their tails lifted up, waved their distended curved tails.
apare tu hanuumantam vaanaraa vaarana upamam |
aaplutya giri shringebhyah samsprishanti sma harshitaah || 5-57-43
Descending from the mountain-tops; some other monkeys, with delight, fondling [caringly] touched Hanuma who resembled an elephant.
ukta vaakyam hanuumantam angadah tu tadaa abraviit |
sarveshaam hari viiraanaam madhye vaacam anuttamaam || 5-57-44
After hearing the words of Hanuma, Angada spoke the following excellent words in the midst of those eminent monkeys.
sattve viirye na te kashcit samo vaanara vidyate |
yat avaplutya vistiirnam saagaram punah aagatah || 5-57-45
"O Hanuma! Since you returned here crossing the extensive ocean, none stands equal to you in strength and prowess."
aho svaamini te bhaktiraho viiryamaho dhritih |
dishtyaa drishtaa tvayaa devii raama patnii yashasvinii || 5-57-46
dishtyaa tyakshyati kaakutsthah shokam siitaa viyogajam |
"What amazing is your devotion to the Lord! What a wonderful prowess! What a surprising courage! By our good fortune, you saw the illustrious Seetha, Rama's consort. Thank heaven! Rama can give up his sorrow born out of Seetha's separation."
tato angadam hanuumantam jaambavantam ca vaanaraah || 5-57-47
parivaarya pramuditaa bhejire vipulaah shilaah |
Very much delighted, the monkeys then sat on extensive flat rocks encircling Angada, Hanuma and Jambavan.
shrotu kaamaah samudrasya langhanam vaanara uttamaah || 5-57-48
darshanam ca api lankaayaah siitaayaa raavanasya ca |
tasthuh praanjalayah sarve hanuumat vadana unmukhaah || 5-57-49
Longing to hear about crossing of ocean and the seeing of Lanka, Seetha and Ravana, all those excellent monkeys waited with their joined palms, in anticipation of Hanuma's words.
tasthau tatra angadah shriimaan vaanaraih bahubhih vritah |
upaasyamaano vibudhaih divi deva patih yathaa || 5-57-50
The auspicious Angada encircled by many monkeys there, waited like Indra the lord of celestials, who was waited upon by celestials in heaven.
hanuumataa kiirtimataa yashasvinaa |
tathaa angadena angada baddha baahunaa |
mudaa tadaa adhyaasitam unnatam mahan |
mahii dhara agram jvalitam shriyaa abhavat || 5-57-51
The high and large summit of the mountain, on which were seated then with delight, the illustrious Hanuma and the famous Angada, with bracelets worn on his upper arms, stood blazed with splendor.
ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye sundarakaande saptapajnchashah sargah
Thus completes 57th Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate