Chapter 34
Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty
तस्याः तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा हनूमान् हरि यूथपः
दुह्खात् दुह्ख अभिभूतायाः सान्तम् उत्तरम्
अब्रवीत्
tasyāḥ tat vacanam śrutvā hanūmān hari yūthapaḥ
duhkhāt duhkha abhibhūtāyāḥ sāntam uttaram
abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing those words of Seetha who was overthrown from one grief to another, Hanuma the best of monkeys gave the following reply in a kindly and affectionate manner.
अहम् रामस्य संदेशात् देवि दूतः तव आगतः
वैदेहि कुशली रामः त्वाम् च कौशलम् अब्रवीत्
aham rāmasya saṃdeśāt devi dūtaḥ tava āgataḥ
vaidehi kuśalī rāmaḥ tvām ca kauśalam abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O Seetha the daughter of the king of Videha Kingdom! I have come here as your messenger on Rama's directions. The virtuous Rama enquired about your welfare too."
यो ब्राह्मम् अस्त्रम् वेदान् च वेद वेदविदाम् वरः
स त्वाम् दाशरथी रामो देवि कौशलम्
अब्रवीत्
yo brāhmam astram vedān ca veda vedavidām varaḥ
sa tvām dāśarathī rāmo devi kauśalam
abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O Divine Lady! Rama the son of Dasaratha, who is excellent among the knowers of Veda and who knows Brahma's missile (a mythical weapon which deals infallible destruction) and Vedas the sacred knowledge, enquired about your welfare."
लक्ष्मणः च महातेजा भर्तुः ते अनुचरः प्रियः
कृतवान् शोक सम्तप्तः शिरसा ते अभिवादनम्
lakṣmaṇaḥ ca mahātejā bhartuḥ te anucaraḥ priyaḥ
kṛtavān śoka samtaptaḥ śirasā te abhivādanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Also the greatly splendourous Lakshmana, the favourite brother and the follower of your husband, himself tormented with grief, performed salutation to you by bowing his head."
सा तयोः कुशलम् देवी निशम्य नर सिम्हयोः
प्रीति सम्हृष्ट सर्व अन्गी हनूमान्तम् अथ
अब्रवीत्
sā tayoḥ kuśalam devī niśamya nara simhayoḥ
prīti samhṛṣṭa sarva angī hanūmāntam atha
abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing that news of welfare of Rama and Lakshmana the excellent of men, the divine lady, with all her limbs thrilled with joy, spoke to Hanuma (as follows):
कल्याणी बत गथा इयम् लौकिकी प्रतिभाति मे
एहि जीवन्तम् आनदो नरम् वर्ष शतात् अपि
kalyāṇī bata gathā iyam laukikī pratibhāti me
ehi jīvantam ānado naram varṣa śatāt api
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'Joy rushes to surviving man even though (it be) as the end of a hundred years' - this popular adage appears true and and auspicious for me."
तयोः समागमे तस्मिन् प्रीतिः उत्पादिता अद्भुता
परस्परेण च आलापम् विश्वस्तौ तौ प्रचक्रतुः
tayoḥ samāgame tasmin prītiḥ utpāditā adbhutā
paraspareṇa ca ālāpam viśvastau tau pracakratuḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seetha showed wonderful friendly disposition towards Hanuma who approached her. Both of them also conversed with each other in full confidence.
तस्याः तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा हनूमान् हरि यूथपः
सीतायाः शोक दीनायाः समीपम् उपचक्रमे
tasyāḥ tat vacanam śrutvā hanūmān hari yūthapaḥ
sītāyāḥ śoka dīnāyāḥ samīpam upacakrame
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing that reply of Seetha who was afflicted with grief, Hanuma the army-chief of monkeys endeavoured to draw nearer to her.
यथा यथा समीपम् स हनूमान् उपसर्पति
तथा तथा रावणम् सा तम् सीता परिशन्कते
yathā yathā samīpam sa hanūmān upasarpati
tathā tathā rāvaṇam sā tam sītā pariśankate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
In as much as that Hanuma drew nearer to her, in the same way, that Seetha suspected him as Ravana.
अहो धिग् धिग् कृतम् इदम् कथितम् हि यत् अस्य मे
रूप अन्तरम् उपागम्य स एव अयम् हि
रावणः
aho dhig dhig kṛtam idam kathitam hi yat asya me
rūpa antaram upāgamya sa eva ayam hi
rāvaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O shame! It was my guilt to tell him all this to him. He is indeed that Ravana, who obtained another guise."
ताम् अशोकस्य शाखाम् सा विमुक्त्वा शोक कर्शिता
तस्याम् एव अनवद्य अन्गी धरण्याम् समुपाविशत्
tām aśokasya śākhām sā vimuktvā śoka karśitā
tasyām eva anavadya angī dharaṇyām samupāviśat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That Seetha, having faultless limbs, leaving that branch of Ashoka tree and as emaciated with grief, sat down on that ground itself.
हनुमानपि दुःखार्तां तां दृष्ट्वा भयमोहिताम्
अवन्दत महाबाहुः ततः ताम् जनक आत्मजाम्
hanumānapi duḥkhārtāṃ tāṃ dṛṣṭvā bhayamohitām
avandata mahābāhuḥ tataḥ tām janaka ātmajām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing Seetha afflicted with grief and deluded with fear, the great armed Hanuma also then simply saluted her. She too, trembling with fear, did not look towards him again.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seetha, with her countenance resembling the moon, seeing Hanuma saluting her, had a deep sigh and spoke to Hanuma in a sweet-sounding voice (as follows)
मायाम् प्रविष्टो मायावी यदि त्वम् रावणः स्वयम्
māyām praviṣṭo māyāvī yadi tvam rāvaṇaḥ svayam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"If you are Ravana, who made use of an illusive guise and yourself a conjurer, you are causing me a further agony. It is no good."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
'You are indeed the same Ravana, who, abandoning your real form, appeared to me in the guise of a vagrant religious mendicant in Janasthana."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O demon who can assume any form at your will! It is no good that again you are causing agony to me, emaciated because of fasting and feeling very miserable."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Otherwise, whatever is suspected by me is not indeed true because in my mind, a pleasurable sensation indeed occurred by reason of your audience."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"If you have come as Rama's messenger, may you be blessed! O the best of monkeys! Rama's anecdote is very pleasurable for me. Hence, I am requesting you to narrate it."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O monkey! Narrate the qualities of my beloved Rama. O gentle one! You are eroding my mind as a rapid course of stream erodes a river bank."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I, who was taken away long ago, is seeing a monkey sent by Rama in this way. Alas! How delightful this dream is!'
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"If I have seen the eminent Rama together with Lakshmana, I would not have disheartened. In my case, even my dream is wicked!"
न अहम् स्वप्नम् इमम् मन्ये स्वप्ने दृष्ट्वा हि वानरम्
na aham svapnam imam manye svapne dṛṣṭvā hi vānaram
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I do not deem it as a dream. Seeing a monkey in a dream does not bring about prosperity But prosperity has come to me!"
किम् नु स्याच् चित्त मोहो अयम् भवेत् वात गतिः तु इयम्
kim nu syāc citta moho ayam bhavet vāta gatiḥ tu iyam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"How possibly is it a delusion of my mind? Is it an impending course of flatulence or changing mental condition of madness? Is it a looming mirage?"
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Otherwise, it is neither madness nor even a delusion, which is a symptom of madness. Because I am knowing about myself as also about this monkey."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thus deliberating upon the strengths and weaknesses in several ways, Seetha finally imagined him to be Ravana, as demons can change their forms at will.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, that slender waisted Seetha, the daughter of Janaka, thus having made up her mind, did not reply in return anything further to Hanuman.
सीतायाः चिन्तितम् बुद्ध्वा हनूमान् मारुत आत्मजः
sītāyāḥ cintitam buddhvā hanūmān māruta ātmajaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Understanding the contemplation of Seetha, Hanuma the son of wind-god then brought about a great joy in her with his words most favourable to her ears (as follows):
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Rama has a great splendour like that of the sun. He is pleasing to all like the moon. As Kubera the Lord of wealth, he is a lord to the entire world. Like Vishnu, he is greatly renowned and endowed with valour."
सत्य वादी मधुर वाग् देवो वाचस्पतिः यथा
रूपवान् सुभगः श्रीमान् कन्दर्प इव मूर्तिमान्
satya vādī madhura vāg devo vācaspatiḥ yathā
rūpavān subhagaḥ śrīmān kandarpa iva mūrtimān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Rama is a speaker of truth. Like Lord Brihaspati, he has a sweet voice. He is a handsome man, possessing good fortune and a royal dignity. He is a personified Manmadha, the lord of love."
स्थान क्रोध प्रहर्ता च श्रेष्ठो लोके महारथः
बाहुच् चायाम् अवष्टब्धो यस्य लोको महात्मनः
sthāna krodha prahartā ca śreṣṭho loke mahārathaḥ
bāhuc cāyām avaṣṭabdho yasya loko mahātmanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Rama gets anger only at right time. He strikes a befitting person at a right time. He is an excellent chariot-warrior. The world is resting under the shelter of arms of this high souled man."
अपकृश्ष्य आश्रम पदान् मृग रूपेण राघवम्
शून्ये येन अपनीता असि तस्य द्रक्ष्यसि यत्
फलम्
apakṛśṣya āśrama padān mṛga rūpeṇa rāghavam
śūnye yena apanītā asi tasya drakṣyasi yat
phalam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Showing an illusory antelope, Ravana detracted Rama and took you away from a deserted hermitage. You will see later, the consequence Ravana will get for this act."
नचिरात् रावणम् सम्ख्ये यो वधिष्यति वीर्यवान्
रोष प्रमुक्तैः इषुभिः ज्वलद्भिः इव
पावकैः
nacirāt rāvaṇam samkhye yo vadhiṣyati vīryavān
roṣa pramuktaiḥ iṣubhiḥ jvaladbhiḥ iva
pāvakaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Which valiant Rama with arrows strongly shining like sparkles released with anger, by the same Rama I was sent here as a messenger and I arrived at your presence. That Rama, agonised by your separation wishes to enquire of your welfare."
लक्ष्मणः च महातेजाः सुमित्र आनन्द वर्धनः
अभिवाद्य महाबाहुः सो अपि कौशलम् अब्रवीत्
lakṣmaṇaḥ ca mahātejāḥ sumitra ānanda vardhanaḥ
abhivādya mahābāhuḥ so api kauśalam abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"That long-armed Lakshmana too, having a great splendour and who augments the happiness of Sumitra his mother, saluted you and enquired about your welfare."
रामस्य च सखा देवि सुग्रीवो नाम वानरः
राजा वानर मुख्यानाम् स त्वाम् कौशलम् अब्रवीत्
rāmasya ca sakhā devi sugrīvo nāma vānaraḥ
rājā vānara mukhyānām sa tvām kauśalam abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O princess! That monkey called Sugreeva, a companion of Rama and the king of the excellent monkeys, asked about your welfare."
नित्यम् स्मरति रामः त्वाम् ससुग्रीवः सलक्ष्मणः
दिष्ट्या जीवसि वैदेहि राक्षसी वशम्
आगता
nityam smarati rāmaḥ tvām sasugrīvaḥ salakṣmaṇaḥ
diṣṭyā jīvasi vaidehi rākṣasī vaśam
āgatā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Rama, together with Sugreeva and Lakshmana, is always recollecting you. O Seetha! Eventhough coming into the control female-demons, you are somehow surviving by your good luck!"
नचिरात् द्रक्ष्यसे रामम् लक्ष्मणम् च महारथम्
मध्ये वानर कोटीनाम् सुग्रीवम् च अमित
ओजसम्
nacirāt drakṣyase rāmam lakṣmaṇam ca mahāratham
madhye vānara koṭīnām sugrīvam ca amita
ojasam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Within a few days, you will see Rama, the mighty Lakshmana and the highly splendorous Sugreeva, in the presence of crores of monkeys."
अहम् सुग्रीव सचिवो हनूमान् नाम वानरः
प्रविष्टो नगरीम् लन्काम् लन्घयित्वा महाउदधिम्
aham sugrīva sacivo hanūmān nāma vānaraḥ
praviṣṭo nagarīm lankām langhayitvā mahāudadhim
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I am a monkey, the minister of Sugreeva, called Hanuma. I entered the city of Lanka, by traversing the great ocean."
कृत्वा मूर्ध्नि पद न्यासम् रावणस्य दुरात्मनः
त्वाम् द्रष्टुम् उपयातो अहम् समाश्रित्य पराक्रमम्
kṛtvā mūrdhni pada nyāsam rāvaṇasya durātmanaḥ
tvām draṣṭum upayāto aham samāśritya parākramam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Asserting my strength and putting down my feet on the head of the evil minded Ravana, I have come to see you."
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे चतुस्त्रिंशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye sundarakāṇḍe catustriṃśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O Princess! I am not so, as you comprehend me (as Ravana). Let your suspicion be given up. Believe me as I say it."