Chapter 15
Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty
स वीक्षमाणः तत्रस्थो मार्गमाणः च मैथिलीम्
अवेक्षमाणः च महीम् सर्वाम् ताम् अन्ववैक्षत
sa vīkṣamāṇaḥ tatrastho mārgamāṇaḥ ca maithilīm
avekṣamāṇaḥ ca mahīm sarvām tām anvavaikṣata
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That Hanuma being there, seeing and searching for Seetha, observing all that land, explored the garden.
सन्तान कलताभिः च पादपैर् उपशोभिताम्
दिव्य गन्ध रस उपेताम् सर्वतः समलम्कृताम्
santāna kalatābhiḥ ca pādapair upaśobhitām
divya gandha rasa upetām sarvataḥ samalamkṛtām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That Hanuma being there observed closely that Ashoka garden shone by Santanaka creepers, Santana trees with heavenly aroma and juice, well decorated in all directions equalling the garden of Nandana, surrounded by animals and birds, congested with mansions and palaces, resounded with the notes of cuckoos, decorated with wells having golden water lilies, lotuses and with many chairs and carpets; with many sub-terrain houses, beautiful trees, with trees with flowers of all seasons and with fruit, with the radiance of raising sun, by the glory of ashoka trees in bloom, as though radiant as though being made to be with branches without leaves, by hundreds of birds perching again and again, Ashoka trees with wonderful flowers as head decoration, with flowers spread till the roots destroying leaves, with weight of groups of flowers as touching the earth with karnolaara trees; in blossom with Kimkusa trees in full blossom.
स देशः प्रभया तेषाम् प्रदीप्त इव सर्वतः
पुम्नागाः सप्त पर्णाः च चम्पक उद्दालकाः
तथा
sa deśaḥ prabhayā teṣām pradīpta iva sarvataḥ
pumnāgāḥ sapta parṇāḥ ca campaka uddālakāḥ
tathā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
By the radiance of those trees that region was as though lit in all directions. Punnaaga trees with flatted roots and in full blossom, Saptaparna trees Campaka and Uddalaka trees were shining.
शात कुम्भ निभाः केचित् केचिद् अग्नि शिख उपमाः
śāta kumbha nibhāḥ kecit kecid agni śikha upamāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
There in that garden of Ashoka there were thousands of Ashoka trees some equalling gold, some equalling fire, some equalling the precious stone Niila and Anjana.
नन्दनम् विविध उद्यानम् चित्रम् चैत्ररथम् यथा
nandanam vividha udyānam citram caitraratham yathā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Like the garden of Nandana, a celestial garden, wonderful like Caitraratham, a garden of Kubera, surpassing all, unfathomable, an excellent one, a beautiful one consisting of glory together with flowers like clusters of stars, like a second sky wonderful with flowers, like hundreds of diamonds, like a second ocean with flowers of all seasons, spread with trees having the smell of honey, beautiful with groups of animals of various sounds, diffused with many smells with an auspicious soul pleasing smell.
शैल इन्द्रम् इव गन्ध आढ्यम् द्वितीयम् गन्ध मादनम्
अशोक वनिकायाम् तु तस्याम्
वानर पुम्गवः
śaila indram iva gandha āḍhyam dvitīyam gandha mādanam
aśoka vanikāyām tu tasyām
vānara pumgavaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That monkey warrior Hanuma saw not far away in that Ashoka garden, in the middle, a lofty temple filled with fragrance like a second Gandhamadana Mountain, standing by a thousand pillars, white like Mount Kailaasa with stairs made of corals with platforms made of refined gold as though radiant with glory, clear and because of being tall as though scraping the sky.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter Hanuma saw Seetha wearing a soiled garment, surrounded by rakshasa women, emaciated due to fasting, looking miserable, sighing again and again, like the pure crescent moon at the beginning of a bright fortnight.
मन्द प्रख्यायमानेन रूपेण रुचिर प्रभाम्
पिनद्धाम् धूम जालेन शिखाम् इव विभावसोः
manda prakhyāyamānena rūpeṇa rucira prabhām
pinaddhām dhūma jālena śikhām iva vibhāvasoḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
With a form that slowly came out like a tongue of fire, of beautiful radiance covered by smoke.
पीतेन एकेन सम्वीताम् क्लिष्टेन उत्तम वाससा
सपन्काम् अनलम्काराम् विपद्माम् इव पद्मिनीम्
pītena ekena samvītām kliṣṭena uttama vāsasā
sapankām analamkārām vipadmām iva padminīm
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Covered by a single best cloth of yellow colour, which was wrinkled, without any decorations like a lotus plant without lotuses, together with mud.
व्रीडिताम् दुह्ख सम्तप्ताम् परिम्लानाम् तपस्विनीम्
ग्रहेण अन्गारकेण एव पीडिताम् इव
रोहिणीम्
vrīḍitām duhkha samtaptām parimlānām tapasvinīm
graheṇa angārakeṇa eva pīḍitām iva
rohiṇīm
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Bashful, tortured by sorrow worn out in a pitiable condition like the constellation Rohini, pressed by the planet mars.
अश्रु पूर्ण मुखीम् दीनाम् कृशाम् अननशेन च
शोक ध्यान पराम् दीनाम् नित्यम् दुह्ख
परायणाम्
aśru pūrṇa mukhīm dīnām kṛśām ananaśena ca
śoka dhyāna parām dīnām nityam duhkha
parāyaṇām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
With a face full of tears in a pitiable condition, emaciated due to not taking food, immersed in thought with gloom, always in a pitiable state, surrendering to sorrow.
प्रियम् जनम् अपश्यन्तीम् पश्यन्तीम् राक्षसी गणम्
स्व गणेन मृगीम् हीनाम् श्व गण अभिवृताम्
इव
priyam janam apaśyantīm paśyantīm rākṣasī gaṇam
sva gaṇena mṛgīm hīnām śva gaṇa abhivṛtām
iva
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Not seeing dear people, seeing groups of demonesses, like a female deer loosing her own herd surrounded by group of hounds.
नील नाग आभया वेण्या जघनम् गतया एकया
नीलया नीरदापाये वनराज्या महीमिव
nīla nāga ābhayā veṇyā jaghanam gatayā ekayā
nīlayā nīradāpāye vanarājyā mahīmiva
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
With a braid with the radiance of a single black serpent reaching hinder part, like the earth with dark green groups of trees during the end of rainy season, deserving of comforts, tormented by grief, not accustomed to calamities.
ताम् समीक्ष्य विशाल अक्षीम् अधिकम् मलिनाम् कृशाम्
tām samīkṣya viśāla akṣīm adhikam malinām kṛśām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Observing that woman with wide eyes, very untidy, emaciated, Hanuma thought that this is indeed Seetha on logical grounds.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, while being abducted by that rakshasa with the ability to assume desired form in whatever way, She was seen, this woman has the same form.
पूर्ण चन्द्र आननाम् सुभ्रूम् चारु वृत्त पयो धराम्
pūrṇa candra ānanām subhrūm cāru vṛtta payo dharām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hanuma saw Seetha with a face like full moon, with beautiful eyebrows, with graceful rounded breasts, by the radiance making all directions without darkness, goddess like with black hair, with lips like bimba fruit, with a good waist, very firm, with eyes like lotus petals, like Rati the consort of god of love.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
As the light of full moon, dear to all world, like an ascetic woman leading austere life sitting on bare ground with a good body.
निःश्वास बहुलाम् भीरुम् भुजग इन्द्र वधूम् इव
niḥśvāsa bahulām bhīrum bhujaga indra vadhūm iva
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Sighing a lot like the consort of lord of serpents in fright, not radiant by sorrow which was great and extensive.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hanuma saw Her like a tongue of fire mixed with column of smoke, like an intellect together with doubts, like a cast away treasure.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Like shattered faith, like frustrated hope, like success together with obstacles, like an impure mind.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Like fame that has fallen down by a false scandal, tortured by the obstruction caused to Rama, emaciated due to the abduction by Ravana.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
With eyes like those of a young doe full of tears, with black and oblique eye-brows, with a cheerless countenance, seeing there and there, being helpless, sighing again and again.
मल पन्क धराम् दीनाम् मण्डन अर्हाम् अमण्डिताम्
प्रभाम् नक्षत्र राजस्य काल मेघैः
इव आवृताम्
mala panka dharām dīnām maṇḍana arhām amaṇḍitām
prabhām nakṣatra rājasya kāla meghaiḥ
iva āvṛtām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Wearing a coat of dust, pitiable one, although suited for decorations undecorated, like the radiance of the moon, the lord of stars, covered by black clouds.
तस्य संदिदिहे बुद्धिः मुहुः सीताम् निरीक्ष्य तु
आम्नायानाम् अयोगेन विद्याम् प्रशिथिलाम्
इव
tasya saṃdidihe buddhiḥ muhuḥ sītām nirīkṣya tu
āmnāyānām ayogena vidyām praśithilām
iva
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing Seetha like knowledge in ruin for want of repeated study, that Hanuma's mind got repeatedly doubtful.
दुह्खेन बुबुधे सीताम् हनुमान् अनलम्कृताम्
संस्कारेण यथा हीनाम् वाचम् अर्थ अन्तरम्
गताम्
duhkhena bubudhe sītām hanumān analamkṛtām
saṃskāreṇa yathā hīnām vācam artha antaram
gatām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hanuma recognized with great sorrow Seetha not decorated, like a sentence which got a different meaning being devoid of culture.
ताम् समीक्ष्य विशाल अक्षीम् राज पुत्रीम् अनिन्दिताम्
तर्कयाम् आस सीता इति कारणैः उपपादयन्
tām samīkṣya viśāla akṣīm rāja putrīm aninditām
tarkayām āsa sītā iti kāraṇaiḥ upapādayan
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing that princess, the wide eyed one, blameless one, Hanuma reasoned her to be Seetha for the following reasons.
वैदेह्या यानि च अन्गेषु तदा रामो अन्वकीर्तयत्
तानि आभरण जालानि गात्र शोभीनि
अलक्षयत्
vaidehyā yāni ca angeṣu tadā rāmo anvakīrtayat
tāni ābharaṇa jālāni gātra śobhīni
alakṣayat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then Hanuma saw whatever groups of jewellery of Seetha on various parts Rama spoke, those charming Her limbs, well made earrings, well fitting Svadamstras and ornaments wonderful with diamonds on the limbs of Her hands, belonging to body for long time, blackened and making marks on body.
तानि एव एतानि मन्ये अहम् यानि रामो अन्वकीर्तयत्
tāni eva etāni manye aham yāni rāmo anvakīrtayat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I think all these to be same about which Rama spoke; among them whatever have been worn out those I will not see; whatever jewels of Her are not worn out these are they - no doubt."
पीतम् कनक पट्ट आभम् स्रस्तम् तद् वसनम् शुभम्
उत्तरीयम् नग आसक्तम् तदा दृष्टम्
प्लवम् गमैः
pītam kanaka paṭṭa ābham srastam tad vasanam śubham
uttarīyam naga āsaktam tadā dṛṣṭam
plavam gamaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That upper garment yellow with a shine like a golden plate, auspicious one, being dropped had been seen caught in a tree then by vanaras.
भूषणानि च मुख्यानि दृष्टानि धरणी तले
अनया एव अपविद्धानि स्वनवन्ति महान्ति
च
bhūṣaṇāni ca mukhyāni dṛṣṭāni dharaṇī tale
anayā eva apaviddhāni svanavanti mahānti
ca
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Dropped on the earth by Her, ornaments also great and important, those making sound have been seen."
इदम् चिर गृहीतत्वाद् वसनम् क्लिष्टवत्तरम्
तथा हि नूनम् तद् वर्णम् तथा श्रीमद्
यथा इतरत्
idam cira gṛhītatvād vasanam kliṣṭavattaram
tathā hi nūnam tad varṇam tathā śrīmad
yathā itarat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This cloth being worn for a long time has worn out a lot, even then definitely it is of the same colour, like the other upper garment; in the same way this is glorious."
इयम् कनक वर्ण अन्गी रामस्य महिषी प्रिया
प्रनष्टा अपि सती यस्य मनसो न प्रणश्यति
iyam kanaka varṇa angī rāmasya mahiṣī priyā
pranaṣṭā api satī yasya manaso na praṇaśyati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This She of golden colour is indeed Rama's dear wife; who ever Seetha the chaste one, even though not seen, is not gone from Rama's heart."
इयम् सा यत् कृते रामः चतुर्भिः परितप्यते
कारुण्येन आनृशंस्येन शोकेन मदनेन
च
iyam sā yat kṛte rāmaḥ caturbhiḥ paritapyate
kāruṇyena ānṛśaṃsyena śokena madanena
ca
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This is She for whose sake Rama tormented in four ways from compassion from pity from grief from love; (thinking that) a woman has disappeared from compassion, depending on him from pity, wife has been lost from grief, a dear one from love."
अस्या देव्या यथा रूपम् अन्ग प्रत्यन्ग सौष्ठवम्
रामस्य च यथा रूपम् तस्य इयम्
असित ईक्षणा
asyā devyā yathā rūpam anga pratyanga sauṣṭhavam
rāmasya ca yathā rūpam tasya iyam
asita īkṣaṇā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"In whatever way is this lady's appearance, elegance of major and minor limbs, in the same way is Rama's. In whatever way His appearance, in the same way is this black-eyed one's appearance."
अस्या देव्या मनः तस्मिम्ः तस्य च अस्याम् प्रतिष्ठितम्
तेन इयम् स च धर्म आत्मा
मुहूर्तम् अपि जीवति
asyā devyā manaḥ tasmimḥ tasya ca asyām pratiṣṭhitam
tena iyam sa ca dharma ātmā
muhūrtam api jīvati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This lady's heart is in Rama, His heart is firmly in Her, for that reason She and that noble Rama are able to live even for a moment."
दुष्करम् कुरुते रामो इमाम् मत्त काशिनीम्
सीताम् विना महा बाहुः मुहूर्तम् अपि जीवति
duṣkaram kurute rāmo imām matta kāśinīm
sītām vinā mahā bāhuḥ muhūrtam api jīvati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Lord Rama losing Her has done an impossible task in that He still preserved His body, in that He did not die from grief."
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे पञ्चदशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye sundarakāṇḍe pañcadaśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hanuma, then seeing Seetha became happy thus and went by mind to Rama and also praised that Lord.
