Shloka 5.1.192

समुद्रलङ्घनारम्भः — Commencement of the Ocean-Crossing

Devanagari script

स तस्या विवृते वक्त्रे वज्रसंहननः कपिः।संक्षिप्य मुहुरात्मानं निष्पपात महाबलः।।।।

Transliteration

sa tasyā vivṛte vaktre vajrasaṃhananaḥ kapiḥ |

saṃkṣipya muhur ātmānaṃ niṣpapāta mahābalaḥ ||

Translation

When her mouth gaped wide, the mighty monkey—hard as a thunderbolt—suddenly made his body small again and sprang into it.

Context

Hanuman, the vanara whose physique was as hard as thunderbolt suddenly contracted once again and entered her opened mouth.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Siṃhikā

FAQs

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

Dharma may require skillful means (upāya): courage joined to strategy, not reckless force, to protect a righteous objective.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān uses size-shifting tactically—contracting himself to enter Siṃhikā’s open mouth as part of defeating her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dākṣya (dexterity/skill) and dhṛti (steadfast nerve) under immediate threat.