Shloka 5.57.4

सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः — Hanumān’s Return, Roar of Success, and the Announcement “Sītā Seen”

Devanagari script

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।।

Transliteration

hanumān mārutagatir mahānāur iva sāgaram | apāram apariśrāntaḥ pupluve gaganārṇavam || 5.57.4 ||

Translation

Hanumān, swift as the Wind and tireless, crossed the boundless sky-ocean, like a great ship traversing the sea.

Context

Hanuman leaped ike the Windgod, unwearied across the sky, as a huge boat crosses an ocean. The ocean was graced with a swan, the sky with constellation of Swati with fullblown lotuses and water lilies, like the nagas, yakshas, and gandharvas gathered together. The Moon in the sky was like a white lotus, the Sun like a waterfowl, the auspicious Tishya and Shravana like the sweetvoiced swans, and the clouds like duckweeds and green grassy spots on the shore. The Punarvasu star was like a large fish and the planet Mars was like a crocodile. Airavata was like the great island. The waves produced by the wind were like cool moonlight in the cold water.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Māruta (Wind-god)
• gagana (sky) as gaganārṇava
• sāgara (ocean, as simile)

FAQs

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

Dharma as dedicated service: extraordinary ability is portrayed as meaningful when used tirelessly for a righteous mission.

What is the narrative situation?

The epic describes Hanumān’s immense traversal—poetically framed as crossing a sky-ocean—during the Laṅkā mission.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya and niṣṭhā (heroic energy and steadfast commitment): he remains unwearied while pursuing Rāma’s cause.