Chapter 33

Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty

VERSE 1

सो।अवतीर्य द्रुमात्तस्माद्विद्रुमप्रतिमाननः
विनीतवेषः कृपणः प्रणिपत्योपसृत्य च

so|avatīrya drumāttasmādvidrumapratimānanaḥ
vinītaveṣaḥ kṛpaṇaḥ praṇipatyopasṛtya ca

SYNONYMS

2| saḥ hanumān: that Hanuma | vidruma prati māna naḥ: with coral-coloured countenance | mahā tejā: very bright | mārutātmajaḥ: and the so of wind-god | vinīta veṣaḥ: with a humble look | kṛpaṇaḥ: and feeble | upasṛtya: approached | tām sītām: that Seetha | praṇipatya: offered his salutation | ādhāya: by keeping | aṅjalim: his joined palms | śirasi: on his head | abravīt: and spoke | madhurayā: sweet | girā: words. |

TRANSLATION

That Hanuma, with coral-coloured face, very bright, the son of wind-god, wearing a humble and feeble look, approached Seetha by stepping down from the tree and offered her his salutation by keeping his joined palms on his head and spoke the following sweet words:

VERSE 3

का नु पद्म पलाश अक्षी क्लिष्ट कौशेय वासिनी
द्रुमस्य शाखाम् आलम्ब्य तिष्ठसि त्वम् अनिन्दिता

kā nu padma palāśa akṣī kliṣṭa kauśeya vāsinī
drumasya śākhām ālambya tiṣṭhasi tvam aninditā

SYNONYMS

padma palāśakṣi: O Lady with your eyes resembling lotus leaves! | kliṣṭa kauśaya vāsini: wearing worn-out sila cloth | anindita: O the irreproachable one! tiSThasi = you have stood aalambya = taking by the hand | śākhām: a branch | drumasya: of the tree | kānu: who are you? |

TRANSLATION

"O Lady with your eyes resembling lotus leaves, wearing a worn out silken cloth! O, the irreproachable one! You have stood, holding by the hand a branch of the tree who are you?"

VERSE 4

किम् अर्थम् तव नेत्राभ्याम् वारि स्रवति शोकजम्
पुण्डरीक पलाशाभ्याम् विप्रकीर्णम् इव
उदकम्

kim artham tava netrābhyām vāri sravati śokajam
puṇḍarīka palāśābhyām viprakīrṇam iva
udakam

SYNONYMS

vāri śokajam: tears of sorrow | sravati: are gushing down | tava: from you | netrābhyām: eyes | udakam: as water | viprakirṇam: scattered down | puṇḍarīka palāśābhyām: from two lotus petals | kimartham: why? |

TRANSLATION

"Tears of sorrow are gushing down from your eyes, as water is scattered down from two lotus-petals. Why?"

VERSE 5

सुराणाम् असुराणाम् च नाग गन्धर्व रक्षसाम्
यक्षाणाम् किम्नराणाम् च का त्वम् भवसि शोभने

surāṇām asurāṇām ca nāga gandharva rakṣasām
yakṣāṇām kimnarāṇām ca kā tvam bhavasi śobhane

SYNONYMS

śobhane: O auspicious lady! | : In whom | tvam: are you | bhavasi: born | surāṇām: whether in celestials | asurāṇām vā: or in ogres | nāga gandharvarakṣasām: or in serpent-demons or in celestial musicians or in demons | yakṣāṇām: or in semi-divine being | kimnarāṇām: or in mythical beings. |

TRANSLATION

"O auspicious lady! In whom are you born-whether in celestials or in ogres or in serpent-demons or in celestial musicians or in demons or in semi-divine beings or in mythical beings?"

VERSE 6

का त्वम् भवसि रुद्राणाम् मरुताम् वा वर आनने
वसूनाम् वा वर आरोहे देवता प्रतिभासि
मे

kā tvam bhavasi rudrāṇām marutām vā vara ānane
vasūnām vā vara ārohe devatā pratibhāsi
me

SYNONYMS

varānane: O Lovely faced woman! | : who | bhavasi: are | rudrāṇām: among eleven Rudras | marutām vā: or among Maruts the storm-gods | vasūnām: or among eight Vasus | varārohe: O handsome lady with fine hips! | me: to me | pratibhāsi: you appear | devatā: as a deity. |

TRANSLATION

"O lovely-faced woman! Who are you among eleven Rudras who bestow strength, or among Maruts the storm-gods or among eight Vasus the beneficent gods? O Handsome lady with fine hips! You appear to me as a deity."

VERSE 7

किम् नु चन्द्रमसा हीना पतिता विबुध आलयात्
रोहिणी ज्योतिषाम् श्रेष्ठा श्रेष्ठा सर्व गुण
अन्विता

kim nu candramasā hīnā patitā vibudha ālayāt
rohiṇī jyotiṣām śreṣṭhā śreṣṭhā sarva guṇa
anvitā

SYNONYMS

rohiṇīkimvā: Are you Rohini | śreṣṭha sarva guṇānvitā: endowed with all excellent qualities | patitā: fallen | vibudhālayāt: from heaven | hīnā: left behind | candramasā: by moon | śreṣṭhā: excellent | jyotiṣām: among stars. |

TRANSLATION

"Are you Rohini, endowed with all the best qualities, fallen from heaven, left behind by moon and excellent among stars."

VERSE 8

कोपात् वा यदि वा मोहात् भर्तारम् असित ईक्षणा

kopāt vā yadi vā mohāt bhartāram asita īkṣaṇā

SYNONYMS

asitekṣaṇe: O dark eyed lady! | tvam nāsi: are you not | kalyāṇī: the auspicious | arundhati: Arundhati | kopayitvā: who irritated | vasiṣṭham: the sage Vasishta | bhartāram: her husband | kopādvā yadivā: either by anger. |

TRANSLATION

"O dark-eyed lady! Are you not the auspicious Arundhati, who irritated her husband, Vasishta the sage either by anger or by error?"

VERSE 9

को नु पुत्रः पिता भ्रात भर्ता वा ते सुमध्यमे

ko nu putraḥ pitā bhrāta bhartā vā te sumadhyame

SYNONYMS

sumadhyame: O the slender waisted lady! | tvam: you | anuśocasi: seem to be lamenting | gatam: (about someone) who has gone | asmāt: from thus | lokāt: world | amum lokam: to the other world | te: your | pitā: father | bhrātā: brother | bhartā vā: or your husband? |

TRANSLATION

"O the slender waisted lady! You seem to be lamenting over someone who died is he your son, or father or brother or husband."

VERSE 10

रोदनादतिनिःश्वासाद्भूमिसंस्पर्शनादपि

rodanādatiniḥśvāsādbhūmisaṃsparśanādapi

SYNONYMS

rodanāt: for you lamenting | atiniḥ śvāsāt: for you long sighs | bhūmi sam sparśanādapi: also for your touching of the earth | samjñāvadharaṇāt: for holding the signs | rājñaḥ: of a king | aham: I | na manye: do not think | tvām: you | devīm: as a divine woman. |

TRANSLATION

"You are lamenting. You are sighing a lot. You are touching the earth. You have royal insignia in you. According to these things, I do not consider you as a divine woman."

VERSE 11

व्यञ्जनानि हि ते यानि लक्षणानि च लक्षये

vyañjanāni hi te yāni lakṣaṇāni ca lakṣaye

SYNONYMS

yāni: which | vyaṅjanāni: marks on your person | te lakṣaṇāmca: and your form | lakṣaye: I see | me: to me | matā: (your are) believed to be | mahiṣī: a queen | bhūmipālasya: of an emperor | rāja kanyāca: and a king's daughter. |

TRANSLATION

"Based on the marks on your person and your bodily characteristics, I believe you to be a queen of an emperor and the daughter of a king."

VERSE 12

रावणेन जन स्थानात् बलात् अपहृता यदि

rāvaṇena jana sthānāt balāt apahṛtā yadi

SYNONYMS

asi yadi tvam: If you | sītā: are Seetha | apahṛtā: stolen | balāt: by force | rāvaṇena: by Ravana | janasthānāt: from Janasthana | ācakṣya: tell | tat: it | mama: to me | pṛcchataḥ: who is asking | bhadram te: if you please." |

TRANSLATION

"If you are Seetha stolen per force by Ravana from Janasthana, tell it to me who is asking if you please!"

VERSE 13

यथा हि तव वैदैन्यम् रूपम् चाप्यतिमानुषम्

yathā hi tava vaidainyam rūpam cāpyatimānuṣam

SYNONYMS

yathā: according to | tava: your | dainyam: miserable state | rūpam ca: the (beautiful) figure | atimānuṣam: which is super-human | veṣaḥ: your costume | anvitaḥ: endowed with | tapasā: austerity | dhruvam: surely | tvam: you are | rāma mahiṣī: Rama's wife." |

TRANSLATION

"According to your miserable state, the super-human beautiful figure and your costume endowed with austerity, surely you are Rama's wife."

VERSE 14

सा तस्य वचनम् श्रुत्वा राम कीर्तन हर्षिता

sā tasya vacanam śrutvā rāma kīrtana harṣitā

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing | tasya: his | vacanam: words | sā vaidehī: that Seetha | rāma kīrthana harṣitā: was delighted of Rama's mention | uvāca: and spoke | vākyam: (the following) words | hanumantam: to Hanuma | drumāśritam: who was dwelling on a tree. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing his words, Seetha was delighted of Rama's mention and spoke the following words to Hanuma, who was dwelling on a tree.

VERSE 15

पृथिव्यां राजसिंहानां मुख्यस्य विदितात्मनः

pṛthivyāṃ rājasiṃhānāṃ mukhyasya viditātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

aham: I | snuṣā: am the daughter-in-law | daśarathasya: of Dasaratha | mukhyasya: the eminent | rāja simhānām: among the excellent kings | pṛthi vyām: on earth | viditātmanaḥ: who understands the nature of the spirit | śatrusainya pratāpinaḥ: and who torments the army of the adversary. |

TRANSLATION

"I am the daughter-in-law of Dasaratha, eminent among the excellent kings on earth, who understands the nature of the spirit and who torments the army of the adversary."

VERSE 16

दुहिता जनकस्य अहम् वैदेहस्य महात्मनः

duhitā janakasya aham vaidehasya mahātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

aham: I | duhitā: am the daughter | janakasya: of Janaka | vaidehasya: the king of Videha kingdom | mahātmanaḥ: having a noble nature | nāmnā: by name | bhāryā: and wife | rāmasya: of Rama | dhīmataḥ: the wise man. |

TRANSLATION

"I am the daughter of the noble-natured Janaka, the king of Videha kingdom. I am know.

VERSE 17

समा द्वादश तत्र अहम् राघवस्य निवेशने

samā dvādaśa tatra aham rāghavasya niveśane

SYNONYMS

aham: I | tatra: there | rāghavasya: in Rama's | niveśane: house | dvādaśa: for twelve | samāḥ: years | bhuñānā: enjoying | bhogān: the worldly pleasures | mānuṣān: belonging to mankind | sarvakāma samṛddhinī: and fulfilling all the desires. |

TRANSLATION

"I stayed in Rama's house there for twelve years, enjoying the worldly pleasures belonging to human kind and fulfilling all my desires."

VERSE 18

ततः त्रयोदशे वर्षे राज्येन इक्ष्वाकु नन्दनम्

tataḥ trayodaśe varṣe rājyena ikṣvāku nandanam

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | trayodaśe varṣe: in the thirteenth year | rājā: the king Dasaratha | sopādhyāyaḥ: along with his preceptors | pracakrame: started | abhiṣecayitum: to | rājyena: of | ikṣvākunandanam: to Rama |

TRANSLATION

"Thereafter, in the thirteenth year, King Dasaratha along with his preceptors started to perform anointment of the kingdom to Rama, a celebrity of Ikshvaku dynasty."

VERSE 19

तस्मिन् सम्भ्रियमाणे तु राघवस्य अभिषेचने

tasmin sambhriyamāṇe tu rāghavasya abhiṣecane

SYNONYMS

tasmin: (While) that | abhiṣecane: anointment | rāghavasya: of Rama | sambhriyamāṇe: was being arranged | devī: a queen | kaikeyī nāma: called Kaikeyi | abravīt: spoke | vacanam: the (following) words | bhartāram: to Dasaratha |

TRANSLATION

"While that anointment of Rama was being arranged, a queen called Kaikeyi spoke the following words to Dasaratha, her husband.

VERSE 20

न पिबेयम् न खादेयम् प्रत्यहम् मम भोजनम्

na pibeyam na khādeyam pratyaham mama bhojanam

SYNONYMS

rāmaḥ yadi abhiṣicyate: If Rama gets anointed | na pibeyam: I shall not drink water | na khādeyam: I shall not eat | mama: my | bhojanam: food | pratyaham: daily | eṣaḥ: this is | antaḥ: the end | me: to my | jīvitasya: life. |

TRANSLATION

"If Rama gets anointed for the kingdom, from now onwards, I shall neither drink water nor take my food daily. This is the end to my life."

VERSE 21

यत् तत् उक्तम् त्वया वाक्यम् प्रीत्या नृपति सत्तम

yat tat uktam tvayā vākyam prītyā nṛpati sattama

SYNONYMS

nṛpatisattama: O the excellent king! | yat: which | tat vākyam: that word | uktam: was uttered | tvayā: by you | prītyā: with affection | tat yadi: and if that | na kāryam: for waste | rāghavaḥ: (let) Rama | gaccatu: go | vanam: to the forest. |

TRANSLATION

"O the excellent king! If that word of pledge was uttered affectionately by you and if it is not going to be a waste, let Rama go to the forest."

VERSE 22

स राजा सत्य वाग् देव्या वर दानम् अनुस्मरन्

sa rājā satya vāg devyā vara dānam anusmaran

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing | krūram: the cruel | apriyam: and the disagreeable | vacanam: words | kaikeyyāḥ: of Kaikeyi | anusmaram: and recollecting | varadānam: the boon given | devyāḥ: to the queen | saḥ rājā: that king | satyarāk: who was true to his word | mumoha: became unconscious. |

TRANSLATION

"Hearing the cruel and the disagreeable words of Kaikeyi and recollecting the boon given to the queen, King Dasaratha who was true to his word, fell unconscious.

VERSE 23

ततः तु स्थविरो राजा सत्य धर्मे व्यवस्थितः

tataḥ tu sthaviro rājā satya dharme vyavasthitaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | sthaviraḥ: the aged | rājā: king | vyavasthitaḥ: who was firmly established | satye: in truth | dharme: and righteousness | rudan: while weeping | ayācat: asked for | rājyam: the kingdom | yaśasvinam: from his illustrious | jyeṣṭham: eldest | putram: son. |

TRANSLATION

"Then, the aged king, who was firmly established in truth and righteousness, regretfully asked his illustrious eldest son to give back the kingdom, which he bestowed him earlier."

VERSE 24

स पितुः वचनम् श्रीमान् अभिषेकात् परम् प्रियम्

sa pituḥ vacanam śrīmān abhiṣekāt param priyam

SYNONYMS

śrīmān: the glorious | saḥ: that Rama | pūrvam: first | āsādya: admitted | pituḥ: his father's | vacanam: words | manasā: in mind | param priyam: more dearer | abhiṣekāt: than his anointment to the kingdom | pratigṛhītavān: and accepted (them) | vācā: with his word. |

TRANSLATION

"That glorious Rama first admitted his father's words in mind, considering them more dearer than his anointment to the kingdom and accepted them with his word."

VERSE 25

दद्यान् न प्रतिगृह्णीयान् न ब्रूयत् किंचित् अप्रियम्

dadyān na pratigṛhṇīyān na brūyat kiṃcit apriyam

SYNONYMS

rāmaḥ: Rama | satya parākramaḥ: the truly courageous man | dadyāt: (always) gives (to others) na pratigR^ihNiiyaat = and does not take (from others) | na brūyāt: (He) does not speak | kimcit: even a little | apriyam: of disagreeable word | api jīvita hetorvā: even for the cause of his life. |

TRANSLATION

"The truly courageous Rama always gives anything to others and does not take anything from others. He does not speak just a little of a disagreeable word even for the cause of his life."

VERSE 26

स विहाय उत्तरीयाणि महाअर्हाणि महायशाः

sa vihāya uttarīyāṇi mahāarhāṇi mahāyaśāḥ

SYNONYMS

vihāya: leaving behind | mahārhāṇi: greatly valuable | uttarīyāṇi: outer garments | saḥ: that Rama | mahāyaśāḥ: the highly illustrious one | visṛjya: gave up | rājyam: his kingdom | manasā: intentionally | samādiśat: (and) assigned | mām: me | jananyai: to his mother. |

TRANSLATION

"Leaving behind his greatly valuable outer garments and wearing garments made of bark, that highly illustrious Rama gave up his kingdom willingly and assigned me to his mother."

VERSE 27

सा अहम् तस्य अग्रतः तूर्णम् प्रस्थिता वन चारिणी

sā aham tasya agrataḥ tūrṇam prasthitā vana cāriṇī

SYNONYMS

hīnāyāḥ: bereft | tena: of him | vāsaḥ: dwelling | svarge'pi: even in heaven | na rocate hi: does not indeed give pleasure | sā aham: I | vana cāriṇī: (decided) to proceed to the forest | tūrṇam: and soon | prasthitā: was ready to start | agrataḥ: (even) ahead | tasya: of that Rama. |

TRANSLATION

"To me bereft of him, residing even in heaven does not indeed give pleasure. I, as such, decided to proceed to the forest and soon was ready to start even ahead of Rama."

VERSE 28

प्राग् एव तु महाभागः सौमित्रिः मित्र नन्दनः

prāg eva tu mahābhāgaḥ saumitriḥ mitra nandanaḥ

SYNONYMS

saumitriḥ: Lakshmana | mahābhāgaḥ: the illustrious man | mitra nandanaḥ: the rejoice of his friends | anuyātrārthe: for the purpose of following | pūrvajasya: of his elder brother | alamkṛtaḥ: adorned | prāgeva: even before (me). |

TRANSLATION

"Adorned with clothes of bark, the illustrious Lakshmana, the rejoice of his friends, got ready to follow his elder brother even before (me)."

VERSE 29

ते वयम् भर्तुः आदेशम् बहु मान्य दृढ व्रताः

te vayam bhartuḥ ādeśam bahu mānya dṛḍha vratāḥ

SYNONYMS

bahumānya: obeying respectfully | ādeśam: the command | bhartuḥ: of Lord Dasaratha | vayam: we | te: as such | dṛḍhavratāḥ: firm in our resolution | praviṣṭāḥ: smaH = entered | vanam: the forest | adṛṣṭam: not seen | purā: before | gambhīra darśanam: with its deep and profound appearance. |

TRANSLATION

"Obeying respectfully the command of Lord Dasaratha, we as such with a firm resolution, entered the forest, which we have never seen before and which was deep and profound in appearance."

VERSE 30

वसतो दण्डक अरण्ये तस्य अहम् अमित ओजसः

vasato daṇḍaka araṇye tasya aham amita ojasaḥ

SYNONYMS

aham: I | bhāryā: the wife | tasya: of Rama | amitaujasaḥ: of great vigour | vasataḥ: dwelling | daṅḍakāraṇya: in the forest of Dandaka | apahṛtā: was taken away | rāvaṇena: by Ravana | rakṣasā durātmanā: the evil-minded demon. |

TRANSLATION

While Rama of great vigour was dwelling in the forest of Dandaka, the evil-minded demon, Ravana took me, Rama's wife, away."

VERSE 31

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे त्रयस्त्रिंशः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye sundarakāṇḍe trayastriṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

me: to me | dvau: two | māsau: months | jīvitānugrahaḥ: of favour of survived | kṛtaḥ: have been given | tena: by him | tataḥ: for that reason | ūrdhvam: after | dvābhyām: two | māsābhyām: months | tyakṣyāmi: I shall give up | jīvitam: my life. |

TRANSLATION

"A period of two months of survival-benefit has been given to me by him. For that reason, after the said two months, I shall give up my life."