Arishta Mountain is the rugged coastal peak from which Hanuman launches his return journey. Its steep height gives him a point of departure above the deep, while the force of his leap briefly turns the mountain itself into part of the action.

Setting and Position

The passage places Arishta Mountain beside the sea: from its heights, Hanuman hears the waves beating against the mountain’s foot. The peak is described as steep, with summits overhanging the deep, making it both a landmark above the shore and the springboard for his journey northward.

Hanuman’s Departure

After scaling the peak, Hanuman looks north and bounds away from it. The departure is not quiet or slight: the mountain trembles under the shock, and its tallest trees are crushed and rent. The landscape registers the scale of the leap, turning Hanuman’s departure into a physical upheaval.

Inhabitants and Narrative Role

The mountain is also a home to beings disturbed by that upheaval. Fierce serpents with flaming tongues are mentioned among the sights of the place, while Yakshas, Kinnar, and Gandharvas flee in fear. In the canto of Hanuman’s return, Arishta Mountain serves as the threshold between the sea crossing and the onward journey: its height enables the leap, and its shaken slopes reveal the force with which he sets out.