Chapter 16
Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty
प्रशस्य तु प्रशस्तव्याम् सीताम् ताम् हरि पुम्गवः
गुण अभिरामम् रामम् च पुनः चिन्ता
परो अभवत्
praśasya tu praśastavyām sītām tām hari pumgavaḥ
guṇa abhirāmam rāmam ca punaḥ cintā
paro abhavat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The best among vanaras praising that Seetha who is fit to be praised, and also praising Sri Rama pleasing with His virtues, became immersed in thought again.
स मुहूर्तम् इव ध्यात्वा बाष्प पर्याकुलेक्षणः
सीताम् आश्रित्य तेजस्वी हनुमान् विललाप
ह
sa muhūrtam iva dhyātvā bāṣpa paryākulekṣaṇaḥ
sītām āśritya tejasvī hanumān vilalāpa
ha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That Hanuma the radiant one thinking for a moment, cried about Seetha and became with eyes tormented with tears.
मान्या गुरु विनीतस्य लक्ष्मणस्य गुरु प्रिया
यदि सीता अपि दुह्ख आर्ता कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः
mānyā guru vinītasya lakṣmaṇasya guru priyā
yadi sītā api duhkha ārtā kālo hi duratikramaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Respectable to Lakshmana, instructed by teachers, Seetha is also dear to teachers; if She is stricken with grief, destiny is indeed difficult to withstand."
रामस्य व्यवसायज्ञा लक्ष्मणस्य च धीमतः
न अत्यर्थम् क्षुभ्यते देवी गन्गा इव जलद
आगमे
rāmasya vyavasāyajñā lakṣmaṇasya ca dhīmataḥ
na atyartham kṣubhyate devī gangā iva jalada
āgame
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Knowing the effort of Sri Rama and of sagacious Lakshmana, Seetha is not worried a lot, like Ganga in the rainy season."
तुल्य शील वयो वृत्ताम् तुल्य अभिजन लक्षणाम्
राघवो अर्हति वैदेहीम् तम् च इयम् असित
ईक्षणा
tulya śīla vayo vṛttām tulya abhijana lakṣaṇām
rāghavo arhati vaidehīm tam ca iyam asita
īkṣaṇā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Sri Rama is suited to Seetha with Her well matched character, age and conduct; with well matched pedigree and characteristics this black-eyed Seetha is also suited to Him."
ताम् दृष्ट्वा नव हेम आभाम् लोक कान्ताम् इव श्रियम्
जगाम मनसा रामम् वचनम् च इदम्
अब्रवीत्
tām dṛṣṭvā nava hema ābhām loka kāntām iva śriyam
jagāma manasā rāmam vacanam ca idam
abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing that Seetha with the radiance of new gold, like the goddess Laksmi, delightful to the world, Hanuma went by heart to Sri Rama spoke these words also.
अस्या हेतोर् विशाल अक्ष्या हतो वाली महा बलः
रावण प्रतिमो वीर्ये कबन्धः च निपातितः
asyā hetor viśāla akṣyā hato vālī mahā balaḥ
rāvaṇa pratimo vīrye kabandhaḥ ca nipātitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"For the sake of this Seetha, the wide eyed one, Vali of great strength has been killed, Kabanda also equalling Ravana in strength has been felled."
विराधः च हतः सम्ख्ये राक्षसो भीम विक्रमः
वने रामेण विक्रम्य महा इन्द्रेण इव
शम्बरः
virādhaḥ ca hataḥ samkhye rākṣaso bhīma vikramaḥ
vane rāmeṇa vikramya mahā indreṇa iva
śambaraḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"In the forest during war Virada of horrible prowess has been killed by Rama by valour, like Sambara by Mahendra."
चतुर् दश सहस्राणि रक्षसाम् भीम कर्मणाम्
निहतानि जन स्थाने शरैर् अग्नि शिख उपमैः
catur daśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasām bhīma karmaṇām
nihatāni jana sthāne śarair agni śikha upamaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"At Janastaana fourteen thousands of rakshasas of terrible deed have been killed by arrows equalling tongues of fires."
करः च निहतः सम्ख्ये त्रिशिराः च निपातितः
दूषणः च महा तेजा रामेण विदित आत्मना
karaḥ ca nihataḥ samkhye triśirāḥ ca nipātitaḥ
dūṣaṇaḥ ca mahā tejā rāmeṇa vidita ātmanā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By Rama with a famed mind, Khara has been killed, Trisira also has been fell down, Duushana with great glory also has been killed in war."
ऐश्वर्यम् वानराणाम् च दुर्लभम् वालि पालितम्
अस्या निमित्ते सुग्रीवः प्राप्तवान् लोक सत्कृतम्
aiśvaryam vānarāṇām ca durlabham vāli pālitam
asyā nimitte sugrīvaḥ prāptavān loka satkṛtam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"For Her sake Sugreeva obtained wealth of vanaras ruled by Vali difficult to be obtained and worshiped by the world."
सागरः च मया क्रान्तः श्रीमान् नद नदी पतिः
अस्या हेतोर् विशाल अक्ष्याः पुरी च इयम्
निरीक्षिता
sāgaraḥ ca mayā krāntaḥ śrīmān nada nadī patiḥ
asyā hetor viśāla akṣyāḥ purī ca iyam
nirīkṣitā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"For the sake of Her, with wide eyes, the ocean, lord of rivers and streams, has been crossed by me; this city also has been explored."
यदि रामः समुद्रान्ताम् मेदिनीम् परिवर्तयेत्
अस्याः कृते जगत् च अपि युक्तम् इति एव मे
मतिः
yadi rāmaḥ samudrāntām medinīm parivartayet
asyāḥ kṛte jagat ca api yuktam iti eva me
matiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"If Sri Rama for Her sake turns upside down the earth with the ocean at the end, and the entire universe it is fair, this is my opinion."
राज्यम् वा त्रिषु लोकेषु सीता वा जनक आत्मजा
त्रैलोक्य राज्यम् सकलम् सीताया न आप्नुयात्
कलाम्
rājyam vā triṣu lokeṣu sītā vā janaka ātmajā
trailokya rājyam sakalam sītāyā na āpnuyāt
kalām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Among three worlds, if it is a choice between kingdom or Seetha, the daughter of Janaka, all the kingdom of three worlds will not approach a sixteenth part of Seetha."
इयम् सा धर्म शीलस्य जनकस्य महात्मनः
सुता मैथिलराजस्य सीता भर्तृदृढ व्रता
iyam sā dharma śīlasya janakasya mahātmanaḥ
sutā maithilarājasya sītā bhartṛdṛḍha vratā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This She is that Seetha, the daughter of king Janaka of Mithila, the great soul, and noble one with a firm resolution towards husband."
उत्थिता मेदिनीम् भित्त्वा क्षेत्रे हल मुख क्षते
पद्म रेणु निभैः कीर्णा शुभैः केदार
पांसुभिः
utthitā medinīm bhittvā kṣetre hala mukha kṣate
padma reṇu nibhaiḥ kīrṇā śubhaiḥ kedāra
pāṃsubhiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"While a field was being ploughed She rose up splitting the earth covered by auspicious dust of field equalling pollen."
विक्रान्तस्य आर्य शीलस्य सम्युगेषु अनिवर्तिनः
स्नुषा दशरथस्य एषा ज्येष्ठा राज्ञो यशस्विनी
vikrāntasya ārya śīlasya samyugeṣu anivartinaḥ
snuṣā daśarathasya eṣā jyeṣṭhā rājño yaśasvinī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"She is the famed eldest daughter-in-law of king Dasaratha the valorous one, not turning back in the battle."
धर्मज्ञस्य कृतज्ञस्य रामस्य विदित आत्मनः
इयम् सा दयिता भार्या राक्षसी वशम् आगता
dharmajñasya kṛtajñasya rāmasya vidita ātmanaḥ
iyam sā dayitā bhāryā rākṣasī vaśam āgatā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This She the dear wife of Rama the righteous one, grateful one, knower of Self has obtained capture of demonesses."
सर्वान् भोगान् परित्यज्य भर्तृ स्नेह बलात् कृता
अचिन्तयित्वा दुह्खानि प्रविष्टा निर्जनम्
वनम्
sarvān bhogān parityajya bhartṛ sneha balāt kṛtā
acintayitvā duhkhāni praviṣṭā nirjanam
vanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Whoever Seetha abandoning all comforts, forced by the love towards husband not thinking about sorrows, entering forest unpopulated with humans, being happy with fruits and roots, devoted to the service of Her husband, even in forest is getting great happiness like in a palace, the one with golden limbs, always with a smiling talk, not suited to misfortunes - that this Seetha is bearing all this suffering."
इमाम् तु शील सम्पन्नाम् द्रष्टुम् इच्चति राघवः
रावणेन प्रमथिताम् प्रपाम् इव पिपासितः
imām tu śīla sampannām draṣṭum iccati rāghavaḥ
rāvaṇena pramathitām prapām iva pipāsitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Sri Rama likes to see this Seetha who is endowed with excellent character and tormented by Ravana, like a thirsty one for a place where water is available freely."
अस्या नूनम् पुनर् लाभाद् राघवः प्रीतिम् एष्यति
राजा राज्य परिभ्रष्टः पुनः प्राप्य इव
मेदिनीम्
asyā nūnam punar lābhād rāghavaḥ prītim eṣyati
rājā rājya paribhraṣṭaḥ punaḥ prāpya iva
medinīm
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By Her gain again Sri Rama definitely will get happiness like a king who lost kingdom getting back the land."
काम भोगैः परित्यक्ता हीना बन्धु जनेन च
धारयति आत्मनो देहम् तत् समागम कान्क्षिणी
kāma bhogaiḥ parityaktā hīnā bandhu janena ca
dhārayati ātmano deham tat samāgama kānkṣiṇī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Left by coveted enjoyments, lacking relatives also Seetha is keeping body desirous of meeting with Sri Rama."
न एषा पश्यति राक्षस्यो न इमान् पुष्प फल द्रुमान्
एकस्थ हृदया नूनम् रामम् एव अनुपश्यति
na eṣā paśyati rākṣasyo na imān puṣpa phala drumān
ekastha hṛdayā nūnam rāmam eva anupaśyati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"She is not seeing demonesses, not flowers, fruits or trees and with a single heart is meditating only on Sri Rama - this is sure."
भर्ता नाम परम् नार्या भूषणम् भूषणाद् अपि
एषा हि रहिता तेन शोभन अर्हा न शोभते
bhartā nāma param nāryā bhūṣaṇam bhūṣaṇād api
eṣā hi rahitā tena śobhana arhā na śobhate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Husband is indeed the greatest adornment for a woman greater than jewellery; this Seetha though deserving of decoration, is not looking charming without Sri Rama."
दुष्करम् कुरुते रामो हीनो यद् अनया प्रभुः
धारयति आत्मनो देहम् न दुह्खेन अवसीदति
duṣkaram kurute rāmo hīno yad anayā prabhuḥ
dhārayati ātmano deham na duhkhena avasīdati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Sri Rama although bereft of Her that Lord Rama is doing an impossible task by retaining His body and not being depressed by sorrow."
इमाम् असित केश अन्ताम् शत पत्र निभ ईक्षणाम्
सुख अर्हाम् दुःखिताम् ज्ँआत्वा मम अपि
व्यथितम् मनः
imām asita keśa antām śata patra nibha īkṣaṇām
sukha arhām duḥkhitām j~ātvā mama api
vyathitam manaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Knowing Her with black ended hairs, with lotus like eyes, deserving of comforts, and in sorrow, my mind also is gloomy."
क्षिति क्षमा पुष्कर सम्निभ अक्षी
या रक्षिता राघव लक्ष्मणाभ्याम्
सा राक्षसीभिर्
विकृत ईक्षणाभिः
सम्रक्ष्यते सम्प्रति वृक्ष मूले
kṣiti kṣamā puṣkara samnibha akṣī
yā rakṣitā rāghava lakṣmaṇābhyām
sā rākṣasībhir
vikṛta īkṣaṇābhiḥ
samrakṣyate samprati vṛkṣa mūle
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Whoever Seetha with earth-like patience, with eyes resembling lotuses, was protected by Sri Rama and Lakshmana, that Seetha now is being guarded by ogresses with crooked eyes at the base of a tree."
हिम हत नलिनी इव नष्ट शोभा
व्यसन परम्परया निपीड्यमाना
सह चर रहिता
इव चक्र वाकी
जनक सुता कृपणाम् दशाम् प्रपन्ना
hima hata nalinī iva naṣṭa śobhā
vyasana paramparayā nipīḍyamānā
saha cara rahitā
iva cakra vākī
janaka sutā kṛpaṇām daśām prapannā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"With lost glory like a lotus plant hit by snow, being tormented by a series of calamities, Seetha obtained a pitiable condition like a chakravaka bird without a companion."
अस्या हि पुष्प अवनत अग्र शाखाः
शोकम् दृढम् वै जनयति अशोकाः
हिम व्यपायेन
च शीतरश्मिः
रभ्युत्थितो न एक सहस्र रश्मिः
asyā hi puṣpa avanata agra śākhāḥ
śokam dṛḍham vai janayati aśokāḥ
hima vyapāyena
ca śītaraśmiḥ
rabhyutthito na eka sahasra raśmiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Ashoka trees with bent branches due to flowers are giving rise to gloom a lot to Her; Due to melting of snow the risen up moon also with thousands of rays is causing grief."
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे षोडशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye sundarakāṇḍe ṣoḍaśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The mighty one, the best among vanaras, quick one, Hanuma thus observed the subject: "This is Seetha!" - thus with a firm mind sat at that tree, leaning against it.