Sundarakanda Sarga 56: Commencement of the Return Flight (Full Text & Meaning) 

Summary of Sarga 56

| Detail | Total Shlokas: 51 | Primary Characters: Hanumān & Sītā | Key Events: Sītā-Hanūmad-Saṃvādaḥ (Conversation between Sita and Hanuman), Ariṣṭādrirōhaṇam (Ascent of Mt. Arishta), Pratiprayāṇam (Commencement of return) | Location: Ashoka Vatika and Mount Ariṣṭa, Lanka | 

Section 1: Final Conversation with Sītā Devi (Shlokas 1–13)

tatastu śiṅśupāmūlē jānakīṅ paryupasthitām | abhivādyābravīddiṣṭyā paśyāmi tvāmihākṣatām || 1

Then Hanuman, having approached Janaki who was present at the foot of the Śiṁśupa tree, saluted her and said, 'O mata, by good fortune, I see you here unharmed.' (1)

tatastaṅ prasthitaṅ sītā vīkṣamāṇā punaḥ punaḥ | bhartṛsnēhānvitaṅ vākyaṅ hanumantamabhāṣata || 2

As Hanuman was about to leave, Sītā, looking at him again and again, spoke words filled with the love for her husband. (2)

yadi tvam manyasē tāta vasaikāhamihānagha | kvacit susaṁvr̥tē dēśē viśrāṁtaḥ śvōgamiṣyasi || 3

"O sinless one (Anagha), if you think it proper, dear son (Tāta), stay here for one day in some well-concealed place. Having rested, you may then depart tomorrow." (3)

mama caivālpabhāgyāyāḥ sānnidhyāt tava vānara | śōkasyāsyāpramēyasya muhūrtaṁ syāsapi kṣayaḥ || 4

"And by your presence, O Hanuman, the immeasurable sorrow of this unfortunate one (me) might find a moment's peace." (4)

gatē hi hariśārdūla punaḥ saṁprāptayē tvayi | prāṇēṣvapi na viśvāsō mama vānarapuṁgava || 5

"O vānarapuṁgava, I doubt that I will survive until you return after meeting Sri Rama." (5)

adarśanaṁ ca tē vīra bhūyō māṁ dārayiṣyati | duḥkhāt duḥkhataraṁ prāptāṁ durmanaḥ śōkakarśitāṁ || 6

"O Hanuman, your absence will tear me apart once more—me, who is already emaciated by grief, whose mind is troubled, and who will fall into a state even more miserable than my present suffering." (6)

ayaṁ ca nīra saṁdēhaḥ tiṣṭhatīva mamāgrataḥ | sumahatsu sahāyēṣu haryr̥kṣēṣu mahābalaḥ || 7 

kathaṁ nu khalu duṣpāraṁ saṁtariṣyaṁti sāgaram | tāni haryr̥kṣasainyāni tau va naranatātmajau || 8

"And this doubt now stands clearly before me: How indeed will the mighty armies of monkeys and bears (Vanaras), with their powerful allies, cross this ocean which is so difficult to traverse? Or how will Rama and Lakshmana, themselves cross it?" (7 - 8)

trayānāmēva bhūtānāṁ sāgaraśyāpi laṁghanē | śaktissyādvainatēyasya tava vā mārutasya vā || 9

"Only three beings possess the power to leap across the ocean: Vainateya (Garuda), or you (Hanuman), or Māruta (the God of Wind)." (9)

tadatra kāryanirmaṁdhē samutpannē durāsadē | kiṁ paśyasi samādhānaṁ tvaṁ hi kāryaviśāradaḥ || 10

"Therefore, in this difficult deliberation concerning the task that has arisen, what solution do you see? For you are indeed an expert in the matter." (10)

kāmamasya tvamēvaikaḥ kāryasya parisādhanē | paryāptaḥ paravīraghna yaśasyastē balōdayaḥ || 11

"O destroyer of enemy heroes (paravīraghna), you alone are fully capable of accomplishing this task, and the greatness of your strength brings you glory." (11)

śaraistu saṅkulāṅ kṛtvā laṅkāṅ parabalārdanaḥ | māṅ nayēdyadi kākutsthastattasya sadṛśaṅ bhavēt || 12

"If the descendant of Kakutstha (Rama), the destroyer of enemy armies, were to take me away only after making Lanka dense with his arrows, that would be an action truly worthy of him." (12)

tadyathā tasya vikrāntamanurūpaṅ mahātmanaḥ | bhavatyāhavaśūrasya tathā tvamupapādaya || 13

"Therefore, you must plan the next steps and report the situation in a way that is fitting for the valor and heroism of that great-souled one (Rama), the warrior valiant in battle." (13)

Section 3: Ascent of Mount Ariṣṭa (Shlokas 22–38)

ēvamāśvāsya vaidēhīṅ hanumān mārutātmajaḥ | gamanāya matiṅ kṛtvā vaidēhīmabhyavādayat || 22

Having thus comforted Vaidehi (Sita), Hanuman resolved to depart and offered his salutations to her. (22)

rākṣasān pravarān hatvā nāma viśrāvya cātmanaḥ | samāśvāsya ca vaidēhīṁ darśayitvā paraṁ balam || 23 

nagarīmākulāṁ kr̥tvā paṁcayitvā ca rāvaṇam | darśayitvā balaṁ ghōraṁ vaidēhī mabhivādya ca || 24 

pratigaṁtuṁ manaścakrē punarmadhyēna sāgaram | tatassa kapiśārdūlaḥ svāmisandarśanōtsukaḥ || 25

Having slain the foremost Rakshasas, proclaimed his name, comforted Sita, shown his strength, and thrown the city into confusion, Hanuman resolved to return across the ocean, eager to see his master. (23 - 25)

ārurōha giriśrēṣṭhamariṣṭamarimardanaḥ | tuṅgapadmakajuṣṭābhirnīlābhirvanarājibhiḥ || 26

The enemy-destroyer Hanuman ascended the great mountain, the best of peaks (Ariṣṭa), which was adorned with lofty blue forest ranges. (26)

sōttarīyamivāmbhōdaiḥ śṛṅgāntaravilambibhiḥ | bōdhyamānamiva prītyā divākarakaraiśśubhaiḥ || 27 

unmiṣantamivōddhūtaiḥ lōcanairiva dhātubhiḥ | tōyaughananissvanairmandraiḥ prādhītamiva parvatam || 28

It appeared as though it were wrapped in an upper garment by the clouds and being awakened by the sun's rays. Its glittering minerals made it look as if it were opening its eyes, while the resounding waters seemed to teach it. (27 - 28)

pragītamiva vispaṣṭairnānāprasravaṇasvanaiḥ | dēvadārubhiratyuccaiḥ ūrdhvabāhumiva sthitam || 29 

prapātajalanirghōṣaiḥ prākruṣṭamiva sarvataḥ | vēpamānamiva śyāmaiḥ kampamānaiśśaradvanaiḥ || 30

With the sound of its springs, the mountain was as if singing. It stood with uplifted arms of Deodar trees and seemed to cry out with its cataracts. (29 - 30)

vēṇubhirmārutōddhūtaiḥ kūjantamiva kīcakaiḥ | niśśvasantamivāmarṣāt ghōrairāśīviṣōttamaiḥ || 31 

nīhārakṛtagambhīrairdhyāyantamiva gahvaraiḥ | mēghapādanibhaiḥ pādaiḥ prakrāntamiva sarvataḥ || 32

The hollow bamboos sounded like humming, while venomous serpents made it seem as if the mountain were sighing. It appeared to be meditating in its misty caves and striding everywhere with its lower slopes. (31 - 32)

jṛṅmbhamāṇamivā.kāśē śikharairabhramālibhiḥ | kūṭaiśca bahudhā kīrṇaiśśōbhitaṅ bahukandaraiḥ || 33 sālatālāśvakarṇaiśca vaṅśaiśca bahubhirvṛtam | latāvitānairvitataiḥ puṣpavadbhiralaṅkṛtam || 34

Its peaks made it seem as if it were stretching into the sky. It was adorned with many caves and covered with Sāla, Tāla, and Aśvakarṇa trees and flowering creepers. (33 - 34)

nānāmṛgagaṇākīrṇaṅ dhātuniṣyandabhūṣitam | bahuprasravaṇōpētaṅ śilāsañcayasaṅkaṭam || 35 

maharṣiyakṣagandharvakinnarōragasēvitam | latāpādapasaṅghātaṅ siṅhādhyuṣitakandaram || 36

It was crowded with wild animals, minerals, and waterfalls, and frequented by sages, Yakshas, and celestial beings. (35 - 36)

vyāghrasaṅghasamākīrṅaṅ svādumūlaphaladrumam | tamārurōha hanumān parvataṅ pavanātmajaḥ | rāmadarśanaśīghrēṇa praharṣēṇābhicōditaḥ || 37

Hanuman, driven by joy and the urgency to see Rama, ascended that mountain crowded with tigers and fruit-bearing trees. (37)

tēna pādatalākrāntā ramyēṣu girisānuṣu | saghōṣāssamaśīryanta śilāścūrṇīkṛtāstataḥ || 38

Under the intense pressure of Hanuman's feet, the stones shattered with a loud sound and were crushed into powder. (38)