DIVINE DIGEST
The first chapter of Sundara Kandam describes Hanuman’s preparedness to cross the ocean in search of Sita Devi. Hanuman’s flight over the ocean is described in detail. Hanuman’s encountering of Mainaka, Surasa and Simhika form important phases of his flight.
ततो रावणनीतायाः सीतायाः शत्रुकर्शनः |
इयेष पदमन्वेष्टुं चारणाचरिते पथि
tatō rāvaṇanītāyāḥ sītāyāḥ śatrukarśanaḥ.
iyēṣa padamanvēṣṭuṅ cāraṇācaritē pathi 1
Hanuman, the destroyer of foes, desired to travel in the sky and find the whereabouts of Sita, who was taken forcibly by Ravana. He followed the path of Charanas and celestial bards.
दुष्करं निष्प्रतिद्वन्द्वं चिकीर्षन् कर्म वानरः |
समुदग्रशिरोग्रीवो गवांपतिरिवाबभौ || 2
duṣkaraṅ niṣpratidvandvaṅ cikīrṣan karma vānaraḥ.
samudagraśirōgrīvō gavāṅpatirivābabhau৷৷
Hanuman, who desired to perform the long journey, which is impossible for anyone, shone like a fierce bull with a stretched neck and a raised head.
अथ वैडूर्यवर्णेषु शाद्वलेषु महाबलः |
धीरः सलिलकल्पेषु विच्चार यथासुखम् || 3
atha vaiḍūryavarṇēṣu śādvalēṣu mahābalaḥ.
dhīraḥ salilakalpēṣu vicacāra yathāsukham৷৷
Mighty Hanuman, confident, courageous, and gifted with power, strength, and perseverance, strolled happily on marshy tracts of grassy land that looked like the colour of vaidurya.
द्विजान् वित्रासयन् धीमानुरसा पादपान् हरन् |
मृगांश्च सुबाहुन्निघ्नन् प्रवृद्ध इव केसरी|| ५-१-४
vijān vitrāsayan dhīmānurasā pādapān haran.
mṛgāṅśca subahūnnighnan pravṛddha iva kēsarī 4
Hanuman treaded like a rampant lion, scaring away the birds, uprooting trees with his breast, and also trampling on many animals.
नीललोहितमाञ्जिष्ठपत्रवर्णैः सितासितैः |
स्वभावविहितैश्चित्रैर्धातुभिः समलंकृतम् 5
कामरूपिभिराविष्टमभीक्ष्णं सपरिच्छिदैः |
यक्षकिन्नरगन्धर्वैर्देवक्ल्पैश्च पन्नगैः
स तस्य गिरिवर्यस्य तले नागवरायुते |
तिष्ठन् कपिवरस्तत्र ह्रदे नाग इवाबभौ 6
nīlalōhitamāṅjiṣṭhapatravarṇaiḥ sitāsitaiḥ.
svabhāvavihitaiścitrairdhātubhiḥ samalaṅkṛtamkāmarūpibhirāviṣṭamabhīkṣṇaṅ saparicchadaiḥ.
yakṣakinnaragandharvairdēvakalpaiśca pannagaiḥ
sa tasya girivaryasya talē nāgavarāyutē.
tiṣṭhan kapivarastatra hradē nāga ivābabhau7
Hanuman shone like an elephant in a lake, standing on the foot of that great mountain named “Mahendra,” where well-bredded, robust elephants are living. The mountain was bright and beautifully decorated with many naturally formed mineral rocks of varied hues, like black, white, red, blue, yellow, and green, and was surrounded by godly serpents and Yakshas, Kinnaras, and Gandharvas who were capable of assuming the desired form together with their families.
स सूर्याय महेन्द्राय पवनाय स्वयंभुवे |
भूतेभ्यश्चाञ्जलिं कृत्वा चकार गमने मतिम् || ५-१-८
sa sūryāya mahēndrāya pavanāya svayaṅbhuvē.
bhūtēbhyaścāñjaliṅ kṛtvā cakāra gamanē matim 8
Hanuman offers salutations with folded palms to the Sun God (Surya), Mahendra,the Lord of Gods, the Wind God (Vayu), the Creator Brahma, and all the attendants of Lord Shiva, and seeks their blessings before deciding to embark on a long journey to Sri Lanka.
– V.V.S. Manian
