Shloka 8

समुद्रलङ्घनारम्भः

Commencement of the Ocean-Crossing

Devanagari script

स सूर्याय महेन्द्राय पवनाय स्वयंभुवे।भूतेभ्यश्चाञ्जलिं कृत्वा चकार गमने मतिम्।।।।

Transliteration

sa sūryāya mahendrāya pavanāya svayaṃbhuve | bhūtebhyaś cāñjaliṃ kṛtvā cakāra gamane matim ||

Translation

Nachdem er mit gefalteten Händen ehrfürchtige Verehrung dargebracht hatte dem Sonnengott, Mahendra (Indra), dem Windgott, Svayaṃbhū (Brahmā) und den Scharen der Wesen, fasste er den Entschluss aufzubrechen.

Word by Word

• añjalim: salutation (folded hands)
• añjalim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• prāṅ-mukhaḥ: facing east
• prāṅ-mukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāṅ (अव्यय/दिक्शब्द) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि = ‘प्राङ् मुखं यस्य’ (whose face is eastward)

• kurvan: doing, offering
• kurvan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) शतृ
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषणम् = ‘कुर्वन्’ (doing)

• pavanāya: to the Wind-god
• pavanāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• ātma-yonaye: to his progenitor (father)
• ātma-yonaye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + yoni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः = ‘आत्मनः योनिः’ (source/father)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तरवाचक

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चय/हेतुवाचक (indeed/for)

• vavṛdhe: grew
• vavṛdhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛdh (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपदम्; अर्थः ‘वर्धितवान्/वृद्धिं गतः’ (grew)

• gantum: to go
• gantum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु) तुमुन् (infinitive)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (Infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थक = ‘गन्तुम्’ (to go)

• dakṣiṇaḥ: auspicious/steady
• dakṣiṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषणम् (also ‘skilful/auspicious’)

• dakṣiṇām: southern
• dakṣiṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; दिक्-विशेषणम्

• diśam: direction
• diśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

Offering salutations with folded palms to the Sun-god, to Mahendra, lord of the gods, to the wind-god, to the Creator Brahma and to all the attendants of lord Siva, made up his mind to proceed (to Lanka).

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Sūrya
• Mahendra (Indra)
• Svayaṃbhū (Brahmā)
• Bhūtas (attendant beings)

FAQs

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

Dharma is humility and right alignment: before undertaking a perilous task, Hanumān honors divine order and seeks auspiciousness, showing that power should be guided by reverence and propriety.

What is the narrative situation?

Immediately before setting out for Laṅkā, Hanumān offers salutations to major deities and spiritual hosts, then fixes his intention to go.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (humility) joined with niścaya (firm resolve): he bows first, then acts decisively.