Valmiki Ramayana · Sundara Kanda · Sarga 5
हंसो यथा राजतपञ्जरस्थः सिंहो यथा मन्दरकन्दरस्थः। वीरो यथा गर्वितकुञ्जरस्थ चन्द्रोऽपि बभ्राज तथाम्बरस्थः
haṃso yathā rājatapañjarasthaḥ siṃho yathā mandarakandarasthaḥ| vīro yathā garvitakuñjarastha candro'pi babhrāja tathāmbarasthaḥ
'Like a swan in a cage of silver, like a lion in a cave of Mandara mountain, like a hero on a proud, intoxicated elephant, the Moon shone in the sky.
— M.N. Dutt (1891)
Commentary
Hanuman reflects on his situation through a series of similes: like a swan in a silver cage, like a lion in a mountain cave. Each image captures a different aspect of his position — confined by circumstance but not diminished. His power remains intact.
हंसपञ्जर