सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः — Hanumān’s Return, Roar of Success, and the Announcement “Sītā Seen”
सुन्दरकाण्ड
Sarga 57 narrates Hanumān’s return flight from Laṅkā toward the northern shore, rendered through a sustained astronomical-oceanic simile: the sky becomes an ‘ocean’ with Moon and Sun as lotuses and waterfowl, constellations as aquatic life, clouds as shoreline vegetation, and wind-made billows as waves. Hanumān repeatedly appears and disappears within cloud-masses, likened to the Moon veiled and revealed. His roar—compared to thunder—signals success even before visual contact, prompting the waiting vānaras to shift from dejection to eager anticipation. Jāmbavān infers accomplishment from the quality of the sound, articulating an evidentiary logic: such a triumphant nāda would not arise from failure. Hanumān lands on Mahendra mountain, is received with offerings and salutations, and then delivers the decisive, compressed report: “dṛṣṭā sītā”—Sītā has been seen—followed by brief descriptive markers of her condition in Aśokavanikā under rākṣasī guard. The sarga closes with communal rejoicing and readiness to hear the full operational account of Laṅkā, Sītā, and Rāvaṇa.
Verse 5.57.1
स चन्द्रकुमुदं रम्यं सार्ककारण्डवं शुभम्।तिष्यश्रवणकादम्बमभ्रशैवालशाद्वलम्।।।।पुनर्वसुमहामीनं लोहिताङ्गमहाग्रहम्।ऐरावतमहाद्वीपं स्वातिहंसविलोलितम्।।।।वातसङ्घातजातोर्मि चन्द्रांशुशिशिराम्बुमत्।भुजङ्गयक्षगन्धर्वप्रबुद्धकमलोत्पलम्।।।।हनुमान्मारुतगतिर्महानौरिव सागरम्।अपारमपरिश्रान्तः पुप्लुवे गगनार्णवम् ।।।।
Hanumān, swift as the Wind and unwearied, leapt across the boundless sky-ocean like a great ship crossing the sea: the moon shone like a white lotus, the sun like a waterfowl; auspicious stars like swans; clouds like floating weeds and grassy banks; constellations and planets like fish and crocodiles; and radiant hosts like fully blossomed lotuses and utpala lilies.
Verse 5.57.2
स चन्द्रकुमुदं रम्यं सार्ककारण्डवं शुभम्।तिष्यश्रवणकादम्बमभ्रशैवालशाद्वलम्।।5.57.1।।पुनर्वसुमहामीनं लोहिताङ्गमहाग्रहम्।ऐरावतमहाद्वीपं स्वातिहंसविलोलितम्।।5.57.2।।वातसङ्घातजातोर्मि चन्द्रांशुशिशिराम्बुमत्।भुजङ्गयक्षगन्धर्वप्रबुद्धकमलोत्पलम्।।5.57.3।।हनुमान्मारुतगतिर्महानौरिव सागरम्।अपारमपरिश्रान्तः पुप्लुवे गगनार्णवम् ।।5.57.4।।
Hanumān, swift as the Wind and tireless, leapt through the sky as though it were an ocean crossed by a mighty ship: the moon like a white lotus, the sun like a waterfowl; auspicious stars like swans; clouds like water-weeds and green banks; Punarvasu like a great fish, Mars like a huge crocodile, Airāvata like a vast island, and Svātī like a gliding swan. Its billows rose from gusting winds, its waters were cool as moonbeams, and its lotuses awoke like nāgas, yakṣas, and gandharvas.
Verse 5.57.3
स चन्द्रकुमुदं रम्यं सार्ककारण्डवं शुभम्।तिष्यश्रवणकादम्बमभ्रशैवालशाद्वलम्।।5.57.1।।पुनर्वसुमहामीनं लोहिताङ्गमहाग्रहम्।ऐरावतमहाद्वीपं स्वातिहंसविलोलितम्।।5.57.2।।वातसङ्घातजातोर्मि चन्द्रांशुशिशिराम्बुमत्।भुजङ्गयक्षगन्धर्वप्रबुद्धकमलोत्पलम्।।5.57.3।।हनुमान्मारुतगतिर्महानौरिव सागरम्।अपारमपरिश्रान्तः पुप्लुवे गगनार्णवम् ।।5.57.4।।
Across that “ocean of sky” Hanumān—swift as the wind—leapt on without weariness, as a great ship crosses the sea. The heavens seemed like waters cooled by moonbeams, with billows raised by gusting winds, and with Nāgas, Yakṣas, and Gandharvas like fully awakened lotuses and water-lilies.
Verse 5.57.4
स चन्द्रकुमुदं रम्यं सार्ककारण्डवं शुभम्।तिष्यश्रवणकादम्बमभ्रशैवालशाद्वलम्।।5.57.1।।पुनर्वसुमहामीनं लोहिताङ्गमहाग्रहम्।ऐरावतमहाद्वीपं स्वातिहंसविलोलितम्।।5.57.2।।वातसङ्घातजातोर्मि चन्द्रांशुशिशिराम्बुमत्।भुजङ्गयक्षगन्धर्वप्रबुद्धकमलोत्पलम्।।5.57.3।।हनुमान्मारुतगतिर्महानौरिव सागरम्।अपारमपरिश्रान्तः पुप्लुवे गगनार्णवम् ।।5.57.4।।
Hanumān, swift as the Wind and tireless, crossed the boundless sky-ocean, like a great ship traversing the sea.
Verse 5.57.5
ग्रसमान इवाकाशं ताराधिपमिवोल्लिखन्।हरन्निव सनक्षत्रं गगनं सार्कमण्डलम्।।।।मारुतस्यात्मजः श्रीमान्कपिर्व्योमचरो महान्।हनुमान्मेघजालानि विकर्षन्निव गच्छति।।।।
That glorious Hanumān—the great monkey, son of Māruta, moving through the sky—went on as though swallowing space, as though grazing the moon, as though seizing the star-filled heavens with the sun’s orb, and as though drawing along banks of clouds.
Verse 5.57.6
ग्रसमान इवाकाशं ताराधिपमिवोल्लिखन्।हरन्निव सनक्षत्रं गगनं सार्कमण्डलम्।।5.57.5।।मारुतस्यात्मजः श्रीमान्कपिर्व्योमचरो महान्।हनुमान्मेघजालानि विकर्षन्निव गच्छति।।5.57.6।।
Hanumān, the illustrious son of Māruta—the great Vānara who ranges the sky—sped on as though swallowing space itself, drawing the tangled banks of clouds behind him.
Verse 5.57.7
पाण्डुरारुणवर्णानि नीलमाञ्जिष्ठकानि च।हरितारुणवर्णानि महाभ्राणि चकाशिरे।।।।
The great clouds shone in many hues—pale and ruddy, blue and deep red, and greenish-red—brilliantly displaying their colors.
Verse 5.57.8
प्रविशन्नभ्रजालानि निष्पतंश्च पुनः पुनः।प्रच्छन्नश्च प्रकाशश्च चन्द्रमा इव लक्ष्यते।।।।
Again and again he entered the banks of clouds and emerged once more—now hidden, now shining—so that he appeared like the moon.
Verse 5.57.9
विविधाभ्रघनापन्नगोचरो धवलाम्बरः।दृश्यादृश्यतनुर्वीरस्तदा चन्द्रायतेऽम्बरे।।।।
Moving through dense and varied cloud-masses in the bright-white sky, the hero—his body appearing and vanishing—then looked like the moon in the heavens.
Verse 5.57.10
तार्क्ष्यायमाणो गगने बभासे वायुनन्दनः।दारयन्मेघबृन्दानि निष्पतंश्च पुनः पुनः।।।।नदन्नादेन महता मेघस्वनमहास्वनः।
The son of the Wind shone in the sky like Garuḍa, cleaving through clusters of clouds—vanishing and reappearing again and again—while roaring with a mighty sound like thunderclouds.
Verse 5.57.11
प्रवरान्राक्षसान् हत्वा नाम विश्राव्य चात्मनः।।।।आकुलां नगरीं कृत्वा व्यथयित्वा च रावणम्।अर्दयित्वा बलं घोरं वैदेहीमभिवाद्य च।।।।आजगाम महातेजाः पुनर्मध्येन सागरम्।
Having slain the foremost Rākṣasas and spread the renown of his own name, having thrown the city into turmoil and pained Rāvaṇa by crushing his dreadful host, the mighty Hanumān bowed to Vaidehī and once more set forth across the mid-ocean.
Verse 5.57.12
प्रवरान्राक्षसान् हत्वा नाम विश्राव्य चात्मनः।।5.57.11।।आकुलां नगरीं कृत्वा व्यथयित्वा च रावणम्।अर्दयित्वा बलं घोरं वैदेहीमभिवाद्य च।।5.57.12।।आजगाम महातेजाः पुनर्मध्येन सागरम्।
Having slain the foremost Rākṣasas and spread the fame of his own name, having thrown the city into confusion and distressed Rāvaṇa by crushing his dreadful forces, the radiant Hanumān saluted Vaidehī and proceeded again across the mid-ocean.
Verse 5.57.13
पर्वतेन्द्रं सुनाभं च समुपस्पृश्य वीर्यवान्।।।।ज्यामुक्त इव नाराचो महावेगोऽभ्युपागतः।
The mighty one brushed past the lordly mountain Sunābha, and then surged forward with tremendous speed, like an arrow released from the bowstring.
Verse 5.57.14
स किञ्चिदनुसम्प्राप्तः समालोक्य महागिरिम्।।।।महेन्द्रं मेघसङ्काशं ननाद हरिपुङ्गवः।
Drawing a little nearer and beholding the great mountain Mahendra, cloud-like in form, that foremost of monkeys let out a triumphant roar.
Verse 5.57.15
स पूरयामास कपिर्दिशो दश समन्ततः।।।।नदन्नादेन महता मेघस्वनमहास्वनः।
Roaring with a mighty sound like the thunder of storm-clouds, the monkey filled all ten directions on every side.
Verse 5.57.16
स तं देशमनुप्राप्तः सुहृद्धर्शनलालसः।।।।ननाद हरिशार्दूलो लाङ्गूलं चाप्यकम्पयत्।
Reaching that place, longing to behold his friends, the tiger among the vānaras roared aloud and shook his tail as well.
Verse 5.57.17
तस्य नानद्यमानस्य सुपर्णचरिते पथि।।।।फलतीवास्य घोषेण गगनं सार्कमण्डलम्।
As he roared along the path once trodden by Suparṇa (Garuḍa), the sky—together with the sun’s orb—seemed, by that sound, as though it would split apart.
Verse 5.57.18
ये तु तत्रोत्तरे तीरे समुद्रस्य महाबलाः।।।।पूर्वं संविष्ठिताश्शूरा वायुपुत्रदिदृक्षवः।महतो वातनुन्नस्य तोयदस्येव गर्जितम्।।।।शुश्रुवुस्ते तदा घोषमूरुवेगं हनूमतः।
Then those brave, mighty vānaras, already waiting on the ocean’s northern shore and yearning to behold Vāyu’s son, heard Hanumān’s roar—like the thunder of a great rain-cloud driven by wind—born of the tremendous speed and force of his rushing thighs.
Verse 5.57.19
ये तु तत्रोत्तरे तीरे समुद्रस्य महाबलाः।।5.57.18।।पूर्वं संविष्ठिताश्शूरा वायुपुत्रदिदृक्षवः।महतो वातनुन्नस्य तोयदस्येव गर्जितम्।।5.57.19।।शुश्रुवुस्ते तदा घोषमूरुवेगं हनूमतः।
Those mighty, heroic vānaras, already stationed on the ocean’s northern bank and longing to behold Vāyu’s son, heard at that moment Hanumān’s great roar—like the thunder of a wind-driven rain-cloud—born of the force and speed of his rushing limbs.
Verse 5.57.20
ते दीनमनसस्सर्वे शुश्रुवुः काननौकसः।।।।वानरेन्द्रस्य निर्घोषं पर्जन्यनिनदोपमम्।
All those forest-dwelling vānaras, heavy at heart, heard the mighty roar of their lord—like the rumbling of thunderclouds.
Verse 5.57.21
निशम्य नदतो नादं वानरास्ते समन्ततः।।।।बभूवुरुत्सुकास्सर्वे सुहृद्धर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः।
Hearing that resounding cry, the vānaras all around grew eager, longing to behold their friend.
Verse 5.57.22
जाम्बवान् स हरिश्रेष्ठः प्रीतिसंहृष्टमानसः।।।।उपामन्त्र्य हरीन् सर्वानिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।
Then Jāmbavān, foremost among the vānaras, his heart uplifted with joy, summoned all the monkeys and spoke these words.
Verse 5.57.23
सर्वथा कृतकार्योऽसौ हनुमान्नात्र संशयः।।।।न ह्यस्याकृतकार्यस्य नाद एवंविधो भवेत्।
“Hanumān has surely accomplished his task—there is no doubt. For if his work were unfinished, such a cry as this would not arise from him.”
Verse 5.57.24
तस्य बाहूरुवेगं च निनादं च महात्मनः।।।।निशम्य हरयो हृष्टाः समुत्पेतुस्ततस्ततः।
Hearing the great-souled one’s rushing force—of arms and thighs—and his resounding cry, the vānaras, delighted, sprang up here and there in joy.
Verse 5.57.25
ते नगाग्रान्नगाग्राणि शिखराच्छिखराणि च।।।।प्रहृष्टाः समपद्यन्त हनूमन्तं दिदृक्षवः।
Rejoicing and eager to behold Hanumān, they sprang from treetop to treetop, and from mountain-peak to mountain-peak.
Verse 5.57.26
ते प्रीताः पादपाग्रेषु गृह्य शाखाः सुविष्ठिताः।।।।वासांसीव प्रशाखाश्च समाविध्यन्त वानराः।
Delighted, the vānaras took their places on the treetops, grasped the branches, and shook the spreading boughs as though waving garments in welcome.
Verse 5.57.27
गिरिगह्वरसंलीनो यथा गर्जति मारुतः।।।।एवं जगर्ज बलवान् हनुमान्मारुतात्मजः।
Like the wind thundering when confined within mountain caverns, so roared mighty Hanumān, the son of the Wind-god.
Verse 5.57.28
तमभ्रघनसङ्काशमापतन्तं महाकपिम्।।।।दृष्ट्वा ते वानरास्सर्वे तस्थुः प्राञ्जलयस्तदा।
Seeing that great monkey rushing in, resembling a dense mass of cloud, all the vānaras then stood with folded hands.
Verse 5.57.29
ततस्तु वेगवांस्तस्य गिरेर्गिरिनिभः कपिः।।।।निपपात महेन्द्रस्य शिखरे पादपाकुले।
Then that swift monkey, mountain-like in form, descended upon the tree-filled summit of Mount Mahendra.
Verse 5.57.30
हर्षेणापूर्यमाणोऽसौ रम्ये पर्वतनिर्झरे।।।।छिन्नपक्ष इवाऽकाशात्पपात धरणीधरः।
Filled with joy, he dropped from the sky onto the bank of a lovely mountain stream—like a wing-shorn mountain falling down from the heavens.
Verse 5.57.31
ततस्ते प्रीतमनसस्सर्वे वानरपुङ्गवाः।।।।हनुमन्तं महात्मानं परिवार्योपतस्थिरे।परिवार्य च ते सर्वे परां प्रीतिमुपागताः।।।।
Then all the Vānara leaders, glad at heart, gathered around great-souled Hanumān and stood by him; and thus surrounding him, they were filled with the highest delight.
Verse 5.57.32
ततस्ते प्रीतमनसस्सर्वे वानरपुङ्गवाः।।5.57.31।।हनुमन्तं महात्मानं परिवार्योपतस्थिरे।परिवार्य च ते सर्वे परां प्रीतिमुपागताः।।5.57.32।।
Then all the Vānara leaders, joyful at heart, surrounded great-souled Hanumān and stood by him; and, gathered around him, they attained supreme happiness.
Verse 5.57.33
प्रहृष्टवदना स्सर्वे तमरोगमुपागतम्।उपायनानि चादाय मूलानि च फलानि च।।।।प्रत्यर्चयन् हरिश्रेष्ठं हरयो मारुतात्मजम्।
All the Vānaras, their faces bright with joy, seeing him returned unharmed, honored the Wind-god’s son—foremost among monkeys—offering gifts, roots, and fruits.
Verse 5.57.34
हनुमांस्तु गुरून् वृद्धाञ्जाम्बवत्प्रमुखांस्तदा।।।।कुमारमङ्गदं चैव सोऽवन्दत महाकपिः।
Then Hanumān, that great monkey, bowed to the elders and teachers—Jāmbavān at their head—and also saluted the young prince Aṅgada.
Verse 5.57.35
स ताभ्यां पूजितः पूज्यः कपिभिश्च प्रसादितः।।।।दृष्टा सीतेति विक्रान्त स्संक्षेपेण न्यवेदयत्।
Honored by those leaders and gladdened also by the Vānaras, the valiant Hanumān reported succinctly: “Sītā has been seen.”
Verse 5.57.36
निषसाद च हस्तेन गृहीत्वा वालिनस्सुतम्।।।।रमणीये वनोद्देशे महेन्द्रस्य गिरेस्तदा।
Then, taking Vāli’s son by the hand, he sat down in a lovely wooded spot on Mount Mahendra.
Verse 5.57.37
हनुमानब्रवीद्धृष्टस्तदा तान्वानरर्षभान्।।।।अशोकवनिकासंस्था दृष्टा सा जनकात्मजा।रक्षमाणा सुघोराभी राक्षसीभिरनिन्दिता।।।।एकवेणीधरा बाला रामदर्शनलालसा।उपवासपरिश्रान्ता जटिला मलिना कृशा।।।।
Then Hanumān, delighted, spoke to those bull-like leaders among the vānaras: “I saw Janaka’s daughter Sītā in the Aśoka grove—blameless, yet guarded by very dreadful rākṣasīs. With a single braid, young and longing to see Rāma, she is worn down by fasting—hair matted, body soiled, and grown thin.”
Verse 5.57.38
हनुमानब्रवीद्धृष्टस्तदा तान्वानरर्षभान्।।5.57.37।।अशोकवनिकासंस्था दृष्टा सा जनकात्मजा।रक्षमाणा सुघोराभी राक्षसीभिरनिन्दिता।।5.57.38।।एकवेणीधरा बाला रामदर्शनलालसा।उपवासपरिश्रान्ता जटिला मलिना कृशा।।5.57.39।।
Hanumān reiterated his report: Sītā, Janaka’s daughter, was seen in the Aśoka grove—blameless, yet guarded by terrifying rākṣasīs.
Verse 5.57.39
हनुमानब्रवीद्धृष्टस्तदा तान्वानरर्षभान्।।5.57.37।।अशोकवनिकासंस्था दृष्टा सा जनकात्मजा।रक्षमाणा सुघोराभी राक्षसीभिरनिन्दिता।।5.57.38।।एकवेणीधरा बाला रामदर्शनलालसा।उपवासपरिश्रान्ता जटिला मलिना कृशा।।5.57.39।।
She wore a single braid; still young, she yearned to behold Rāma. Worn out by fasting, with matted hair, soiled and thin—such was her condition.
Verse 5.57.40
ततो दृष्टेति वचनं महार्थममृतोपमम्।निशम्य मारुतेस्सर्वे मुदिता वानराभवन्।।।।
Then, hearing Māruti’s words—“She has been seen”—so weighty and nectar-like, all the vānaras became joyful.
Verse 5.57.41
क्ष्वेलन्त्यन्ये नदन्त्यन्ये गर्जन्त्यन्ये महाबलाः।चक्रुः किलकिलामन्ये प्रतिगर्जन्ति चापरे।।।।
Some mighty vānaras howled, others chattered, others roared; some raised shrill cries, and others answered back with echoing roars.
Verse 5.57.42
केचिदुच्छ्रितलाङ्गूलाः प्रहृष्टाः कपिकुञ्जराः।आयताञ्चितदीर्घाणि लाङ्गूलानि प्रविव्यधुः।।।।
Some elephant-like monkeys, thrilled with joy, lifted their tails high and struck the ground with their long, fine tails.
Verse 5.57.43
अपरे च हनूमन्तं वानरा वारणोपमम्।आप्लुत्य गिरिशृङ्गेभ्यस्संस्पृशन्ति स्म हर्षिताः।।।।
Others, rejoicing, leapt down from the mountain peaks and embraced Hanumān, elephant-like in might.
Verse 5.57.44
उक्तवाक्यं हनूमन्तमङ्गदस्तमथाब्रवीत्।सर्वेषां हरिवीराणां मध्ये वचनमुत्तमम्।।।।
Then Aṅgada addressed Hanumān, after his words had been spoken; and, in the midst of all the monkey-heroes, he uttered an excellent reply.
Verse 5.57.45
सत्त्वे वीर्ये न ते कश्चित्समो वानर विद्यते।यदवप्लुत्य विस्तीर्णं सागरं पुनरागतः।।।।
O Vānara, none equals you in strength and valor, for you leapt across the vast ocean and returned again.
Verse 5.57.46
अहो स्वामिनि ते भक्तिरहो वीर्यमहो धृतिः।दिष्ट्या दृष्टा त्वया देवी रामपत्नी यशस्विनी।।।।दिष्ट्या त्यक्ष्यति काकुत्स्थ श्शोकं सीतावियोगजम्।
Ah—how great is your devotion to your lord; ah—your valor and your steadfast courage! By good fortune you have seen the illustrious queen, Rāma’s wife. By that same good fortune, the Kakutstha will cast off the grief born of separation from Sītā.
Verse 5.57.47
ततोऽङ्गदं हनूमन्तं जाम्बवन्तं च वानराः।।।।परिवार्य प्रमुदिता भेजिरे विपुलाश्शिलाः।
Then the vānaras, delighted, gathered around Aṅgada, Hanumān, and Jāmbavān, and in their joy took their places upon the broad rocks.
Verse 5.57.48
श्रोतुकामास्समुद्रस्य लङ्घनं वानरोत्तमाः।।।।दर्शनं चापि लङ्कायास्सीताया रावणस्य च।तस्थुः प्राञ्जलयस्सर्वे हनुमद्वचनोन्मुखाः।।।।
Eager to hear of the leaping across the ocean, and also of the sight of Laṅkā—of Sītā and of Rāvaṇa— all the foremost vānaras stood with folded hands, their minds fixed upon Hanumān’s words.
Verse 5.57.49
श्रोतुकामास्समुद्रस्य लङ्घनं वानरोत्तमाः।।5.57.48।।दर्शनं चापि लङ्कायास्सीताया रावणस्य च।तस्थुः प्राञ्जलयस्सर्वे हनुमद्वचनोन्मुखाः।।5.57.49।।
Eager to hear of the ocean-crossing and of what was seen in Laṅkā—Sītā and also Rāvaṇa—all the foremost vānaras stood with folded hands, intent upon Hanumān’s words.
Verse 5.57.50
तस्थौ तत्राङ्गदः श्रीमान् वानरैर्बहुभिर्वृतः।उपास्यमानो विबुधैर्दिवि देवपतिर्यथा।।।।
There stood the splendid Aṅgada, surrounded by many vānaras, attended like the lord of the gods in heaven, served by the celestials.
Verse 5.57.51
हनूमता कीर्तिमता यशस्विना तथाङ्गदेनाङ्गदबद्धबाहुना।मुदा तदाऽध्यासितमुन्नतं महन्महीधराग्रं ज्वलितं श्रियाभवत्।।।।
Then the lofty, great mountain-peak, joyfully occupied by the famed Hanumān and by the renowned Aṅgada—his arms adorned with armlets—shone with splendor.