Shloka 5.1.53

समुद्रलङ्घनारम्भः — Commencement of the Ocean-Crossing

Devanagari script

लघुत्वेनोपपन्नं तद्विचित्रं सागरेऽपतत्।द्रुमाणां विविधं पुष्पं कपिवायुसमीरितम्।।।।ताराचितमिवाकाशं प्रबभौ स महार्णवः।

Transliteration

laghutvenopapannaṃ tad vicitraṃ sāgare 'patat |

drumāṇāṃ vividhaṃ puṣpaṃ kapivāyusamīritam ||

tārācitam ivākāśaṃ prababhau sa mahārṇavaḥ ||

Translation

Light and many-colored, the trees’ varied flowers—driven by the wind raised by the monkey’s speed—fell upon the sea; and that great ocean shone like a sky filled with stars.

Context

Driven by the wind caused by Hanuman's speed a variety of flowers fell into the ocean because of their light weight and the ocean looked colourful and bright like the star-spangled sky.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• ocean (mahārṇava/sāgara)
• flowers
• wind caused by Hanumān (kapivāyu)
• stars
• sky

FAQs

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

Dharma is the harmonizing effect of righteous action: even disruptive force (wind, falling flowers) is rendered into beauty when driven by a truthful, duty-bound purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

Flowers swept up by Hanumān’s passage scatter over the ocean, making its surface appear like a starry sky.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Purposeful vigor (vīrya) aligned with satya—power that serves a truthful mission becomes auspicious rather than chaotic.