Sundarakanda Sarga 57: Hanumān’s Return to the Vānara Host (Full Text & Meaning) 

Summary of Sarga 57

| Detail | Total Shlokas: 53 | Primary Characters: Hanumān, Jāmbavān, & Angada | Key Events: Hanūmad-Agamanam (Return of Hanuman), Dṛṣṭā Sītā-Ghuṣaṇam (Announcement that Sita is found), Vānara-Pramōdaḥ (Vanara's joy) | Location: Sky and Mount Mahendra | 

Section 1: The Celestial Flight Across the Sky-Ocean (Shlokas 1–13)

āplutya ca mahāvēgaḥ pakṣavāniva parvataḥ | bhujaṁgayakṣagaṁdharvaprabuddhakamalōtpalam || 1 

sa candrakumudaṅ ramyaṅ sārkakāraṇḍavaṅ śubham | tiṣyaśravaṇakādambam abhraśaivālaśādvalam || 2 

punarvasumahāmīnaṅ lōhitāṅgamahāgraham | airāvatamahādvīpaṅ svātihaṅsavilōlitam || 3 

vātasaṅghātajātōrmi candrāṅśuśiśirāmbumat | hanumān mārutagatiḥ mahānauriva sāgaram | apāramapariśrāntaḥ pupluvē gaganārṇavam || 4

Hanuman, moving with immense speed, soared into the sky like a winged mountain, effortlessly traversing the boundless expanse which was likened to a vast ocean. This "sky-ocean" was beautiful with the moon as its white water-lilies and the sun as its ducks, with the Pushya and Shravana stars as Kadamba birds, and the clouds as its moss and grassy fields. Furthermore, the star Punarvasu resembled a great fish, Mars (Lohitanga) a mighty crocodile, and Airavata (Indra's elephant) a massive island, all stirred by the Swati star acting as a swan, possessing waves born from wind gusts and cool waters from the moon's rays, which the son of the Wind God crossed tirelessly, like a great boat sailing across the sea. (1 - 4)

grasamāna ivākāśaṅ tārādhipamivōllikhan | haranniva sanakṣatraṅ gaganaṅ sārkamaṇḍalam || 5 

mārutasyātmajaḥ śrīmānkapirvyōmacarō mahān | hanumān mēghajālāni vikarṣanniva gacchati || 6

The glorious Hanuman, moving through the sky, proceeded as if swallowing the sky; as if scraping past the moon; and as if carrying away the heaven along with the stars and the solar orb—all the while seeming to tear apart the masses of clouds. (5 - 6)

pāṇḍurāruṇavarṇāni nīlamāñjiṣṭhakāni ca | haritāruṇavarṇāni mahābhrāṇi cakāśirē || 7 

praviśannabhrajālāni niṣpataṅśca punaḥ punaḥ | pracchannaśca prakāśaśca candramā iva lakṣyatē || 8

The great clouds shone forth with various colors. As he repeatedly entered and emerged from the masses of clouds, Hanuman appeared like the Moon, sometimes concealed and sometimes visible. (7 - 8)

vividhābhraghanāpannagōcarō dhavalāmbaraḥ | dṛśyādṛśyatanurvīrastadā candrāyatē.mbarē || 9 

tārkṣyāyamāṇō gaganē babhāsē vāyunandanaḥ | dārayanmēgh bṛndāni niṣpataṅśca punaḥ punaḥ || 10

Traversing the dense clouds, the hero became alternately visible and invisible. He shone in the sky appearing like Garuda (Tārkṣya). (9 - 10)

nadannādēna mahatā mēghasvanamahāsvanaḥ | pravarānrākṣasān hatvā nāma viśrāvya cātmanaḥ || 11 

ākulāṅ nagarīṅ kṛtvā vyathayitvā ca rāvaṇam | ardayitvā balaṅ ghōraṅ vaidēhīmabhivādya ca | ājagāma mahātējāḥ punarmadhyēna sāgaram || 12 

parvatēndraṅ sunābhaṅ ca samupaspṛśya vīryavān | jyāmukta iva nārācō mahāvēgō.bhyupāgataḥ || 13

Roaring with a mighty sound after slaying the foremost Rakshasas and destroying their army, Hanuman arrived with tremendous speed, having touched the great mountain Sunabha (Mainaka). (11 - 13)

Section 3: Reunion and the Great News (Shlokas 29–42)

tatastu vēgavāṅstasya girērgirinibhaḥ kapiḥ | nipapāta mahēndrasya śikharē pādapākulē || 29 

harṣēṇāpūryamāṇō.sau ramyē parvatanirjharē | chinnapakṣa ivā.kāśātpapāta dharaṇīdharaḥ || 30

The swift Hanuman descended upon a tree-covered peak of Mahendra mountain, appearing like a mountain whose wings had been severed. (29 - 30)

tatastē prītamanasassarvē vānarapuṅgavāḥ | hanumantaṅ mahātmānaṅ parivāryōpatasthirē || 31 

parivārya ca tē sarvē parāṅ prītimupāgatāḥ | prahṛṣṭavadanā ssarvē tamarōgamupāgatam || 32

All the best of the Vanaras surrounded him with delighted hearts, attaining supreme joy to see him returned unharmed. (31 - 32)

upāyanāni cādāya mūlāni ca phalāni ca | pratyarcayan hariśrēṣṭhaṅ harayō mārutātmajam || 33 

vinēdurmuditāḥ kēcit kēcit kilakilā stathā | hr̥ṣṭāḥ pādapaśākhāśca āninyurvānarṣabhāḥ || 34

The Vanaras honored Hanuman with offerings of roots and fruits. Some roared with delight while others made joyful cries. (33 - 34)

hanumāṅścārayāmāsa gurūn vṛddhāñ jāmbavatpramukhāṅstadā | kumāramaṅgadaṅ caiva sō.vandata mahākapiḥ || 35 

sa tābhyāṅ pūjitaḥ pūjyaḥ kapibhiśca prasāditaḥ | dṛṣṭā sītēti vikrānta ssaṅkṣēpēṇa nyavēdayat || 36

Hanuman respectfully saluted the elders, headed by Jambavan, and Prince Angada. He briefly reported the matter, saying, 'I have seen Sita' (Dṛṣṭā Sītā). (35 - 36)

niṣasāda ca hastēna gṛhītvā vālinassutam | ramaṇīyē vanōddēśē mahēndrasya girēstadā || 37 

hanumānabravīt pṛṣṭaḥ tadā tān vānararṣabhān | aśōkavanikāsaṅsthā dṛṣṭā sā janakātmajā || 38

Holding Angada by the hand, he sat in a lovely spot and told them: 'Sita has been seen in the Ashoka Garden.' (37 - 38)

rakṣamāṇā sughōrābhī rākṣasībhiraninditā | ēkavēṇīdharā bālā rāmadarśanalālasā | upavāsapariśrāntā jaṭilā malinā kṛśā || 39

'She is guarded by fierce Rakshasis, wearing a single braid, yearning for Rama, and emaciated from fasting.' (39)

tatō dṛṣṭēti vacanaṅ mahārthamamṛtōpamam | niśamya mārutēssarvē muditā vānarābhavan || 40 

kṣvēlantyanyē nadantyanyē garjantyanyē mahābalāḥ | cakruḥ kilakilāmanyē pratigarjanti cāparē || 41 

kēciducchritalāṅgūlāḥ prahṛṣṭāḥ kapikuñjarāḥ | āyatāñcitadīrghāṇi lāṅgūlāni pravivyadhuḥ || 42

Hearing 'She has been seen,' the Vanaras became extremely happy, shouting, roaring, and hitting the ground with their long tails in delight. (40 - 42)