Valmiki Ramayana 5.1.61 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 61

समुद्रलङ्घनारम्भः

Commencement of the Ocean-Crossing

Devanagari script

लाङ्गूलं च समाविद्धं प्लवमानस्य शोभते।।।।अम्बरे वायुपुत्रस्य शक्रध्वज इवोच्छ्रितम्।

Transliteration

lāṅgūlaṃ ca samāviddhaṃ plavamānasya śobhate |

ambare vāyuputrasya śakradhvaja ivocchritam ||

Translation

ਜਦੋਂ ਵਾਯੁਪੁੱਤਰ ਹਨੁਮਾਨ ਆਕਾਸ਼ ਵਿੱਚ ਉੱਡ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ, ਤਦ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਉੱਚੀ ਚੁੱਕੀ ਹੋਈ ਅਤੇ ਗੁੰਝਲਦਾਰ ਪੂੰਛ ਇੰਦਰ ਦੇ ਉੱਚੇ ਲਹਿਰਾਉਂਦੇ ਧਵਜ ਵਾਂਗ ਚਮਕਦੀ ਸ਼ੋਭਦੀ ਸੀ।

Word by Word

• लाङ्गूलम्: tail
• लाङ्गूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाङ्गूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• समाविद्धम्: fastened/affixed
• समाविद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-विद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agreeing with लाङ्गूलम्

• प्लवमानस्य: of (him) flying/leaping
• प्लवमानस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्लु (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; Genitive singular qualifying वायुपुत्रस्य

• शोभते: shines/looks splendid
• शोभते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अम्बरे: in the sky
• अम्बरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Neuter, Locative, Singular

• वायुपुत्रस्य: of the son of the Wind-god
• वायुपुत्रस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): वायोः पुत्रः; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• शक्रध्वजः: Indra's banner/flagstaff
• शक्रध्वजः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: शक्रस्य ध्वजः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• उच्छ्रितम्: raised/lofted
• उच्छ्रितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-श्रि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agreeing with लाङ्गूलम्

Context

As the son of the Wind-god was flying through the sky, his coiled up tail looked splendid like the banner installed at the festival in honour of Indra (on the fifteenth day of the month of Bhadrapada).

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Vāyu (Wind-god)
• Śakra/Indra
• dhvaja (banner/flag)
• ambara (sky)

FAQs

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

Dharma upholds rightful sovereignty: Indra’s banner imagery frames Hanumān’s mission as aligned with cosmic justice against adharma in Laṅkā.

What is the narrative situation?

In mid-air, Hanumān’s raised tail is likened to a divine standard, emphasizing the grandeur of his leap.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dhvaja-like steadfastness—unfaltering courage and loyalty displayed openly, inspiring confidence.