Shloka 50

समुद्रलङ्घनारम्भः

Commencement of the Ocean-Crossing

Devanagari script

सारवन्तोऽथ ये वृक्षा न्यमज्जन् लवणाम्भसि।भयादिव महेन्द्रस्य पर्वता वरुणालये।।।।

Transliteration

sāravanto 'tha ye vṛkṣā nyamajjan lavaṇāmbhasi |

bhayād iva mahendrasya parvatā varuṇālaye ||

Translation

Daraufhin sanken die gewaltigen Bäume in das salzige Meer hinab – wie Berge, die in Varuṇas Wohnstatt versinken, als fürchteten sie Indras Macht.

Word by Word

• sāravantaḥ: resinous/strong (sap-filled)
• sāravantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāravat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; possessive adjective (मतुप्)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Sequential particle (अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय)

• ye: which/that
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• vṛkṣāḥ: trees
• vṛkṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• nyamajjan: sank
• nyamajjan: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√majj (मज्ज् धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Plural; with preverb ni-

• lavaṇāmbhasi: in the salt sea
• lavaṇāmbhasi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lavaṇa-ambhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषः: ‘salt water’ (sea)

• bhayāt: from fear
• bhayāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• iva: as if/like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमार्थक अव्यय)

• mahendrasya: of Mahendra (Indra)
• mahendrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahendra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• parvatāḥ: mountains
• parvatāḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• varuṇālaye: in the ocean
• varuṇālaye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa-ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: varuṇasya ālayaḥ ‘abode of Varuna’ = ocean

Context

Then the huge trees sank into the ocean of salt water even as mountains did, afraid of Indra's (thunderbolt).

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān (implied causal force)
• ocean (Varuṇa’s abode)
• Varuṇa
• Indra (Mahendra)
• trees
• mountains

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma implies recognition of rightful power: the verse uses divine comparisons (Indra, Varuṇa) to frame force as meaningful when aligned with cosmic order, not mere violence.

What is the narrative situation?

In the turbulence caused by Hanumān’s launch and passage, heavy trees are cast down and sink into the sea.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Measured might—Hanumān’s strength is immense, yet it is in the service of truth and duty.