Chapter 36
Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty
भूय एव महातेजा हनूमान् मारुत आत्मजः
अब्रवीत् प्रश्रितम् वाक्यम् सीता प्रत्यय कारणात्
bhūya eva mahātejā hanūmān māruta ātmajaḥ
abravīt praśritam vākyam sītā pratyaya kāraṇāt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hanuma, the highly energetic son of wind-god, with an inducement to obtain confidence from Seetha, again modestly spoke the following words:
वानरो अहम् महाभागे दूतो रामस्य धीमतः
राम नाम अन्कितम् च इदम् पश्य देवि अन्गुलीयकम्
vānaro aham mahābhāge dūto rāmasya dhīmataḥ
rāma nāma ankitam ca idam paśya devi angulīyakam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O illustrious lady! I am a monkey and a messenger of the wise Rama. O princess! Look at this ring too, marked with Rama's name."
प्रत्ययार्थम् तवानीतम् तेन दत्तम् महात्मना
समाश्वसिहि भद्रम् ते क्षीण दुह्ख फला हि असि
pratyayārtham tavānītam tena dattam mahātmanā
samāśvasihi bhadram te kṣīṇa duhkha phalā hi asi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I brought this ring given by the high souled Rama, for the purpose of gaining your confidence. Get consoled indeed. Happiness to you! You are now free from the object of your grief."
गृहीत्वा प्रेक्षमाणा सा भर्तुः कर विभूषणम्
भर्तारम् इव सम्प्राप्ता जानकी मुदिता अभवत्
gṛhītvā prekṣamāṇā sā bhartuḥ kara vibhūṣaṇam
bhartāram iva samprāptā jānakī muditā abhavat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I brought this ring given by the high souled Rama, for the purpose of gaining your confidence. Get consoled indeed. Happiness to you! You are now free from the object of your grief."
चारु तत् वदनम् तस्याः ताम्र शुक्ल आयत ईक्षणम्
अशोभत विशालाक्ष्या राहु मुक्त इव उडु राट्
cāru tat vadanam tasyāḥ tāmra śukla āyata īkṣaṇam
aśobhata viśālākṣyā rāhu mukta iva uḍu rāṭ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The countenance of that large-eyed Seetha, which appeared charming with red and white eyes shone like a moon the king of stars liberated by Rahu the demon. Then, that young Seetha, gladdened by the message of her husband, became shy and message of her husband, became shy and well-pleased. Uttering delightful words, she praised Hanuma the great monkey (as follows):
विक्रान्तः त्वम् समर्थः त्वम् प्राज्ञः त्वम् वानर उत्तम
येन इदम् राक्षस पदम् त्वया एकेन प्रधर्षितम्
vikrāntaḥ tvam samarthaḥ tvam prājñaḥ tvam vānara uttama
yena idam rākṣasa padam tvayā ekena pradharṣitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O Hanuma the best of monkeys! You have singly overpowered this place infested by demons. You are valiant. You are competent. You are intelligent."
शत योजन विस्तीर्णः सागरो मकर आलयः
विक्रम श्लाघनीयेन क्रमता गोष्पदी कृतः
śata yojana vistīrṇaḥ sāgaro makara ālayaḥ
vikrama ślāghanīyena kramatā goṣpadī kṛtaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You, with an acclaimable gallantry, crossed the ocean having a width of one hundred Yojanas and an asylum of crocodiles, making it as a small puddle."
न हि त्वाम् प्राकृतम् मन्ये वनरम् वनर ऋषभ
यस्य ते न अस्ति सम्त्रासो रावणान् न अपि सम्भ्रमः
na hi tvām prākṛtam manye vanaram vanara ṛṣabha
yasya te na asti samtrāso rāvaṇān na api sambhramaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O excellent of monkeys! For you there is no fear nor even bewilderment from Ravana. Hence, I do not consider you as an ordinary monkey."
अर्हसे च कपि श्रेष्ठ मया समभिभाषितुम्
यदि असि प्रेषितः तेन रामेण विदित आत्मना
arhase ca kapi śreṣṭha mayā samabhibhāṣitum
yadi asi preṣitaḥ tena rāmeṇa vidita ātmanā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O the best of monkeys! If you are sent by that Rama, who knows the nature of his self, you are worthy of talking to me well."
प्रेषयिष्यति दुर्धर्षो रामो न हि अपरीक्षितम्
पराक्रमम् अविज्ञाय मत् सकाशम् विशेषतः
preṣayiṣyati durdharṣo rāmo na hi aparīkṣitam
parākramam avijñāya mat sakāśam viśeṣataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The indomitable Rama must not have sent you indeed, especially to me, without knowing your enterprise and without testing you in advance."
दिष्ट्या च कुशली रामो धर्म आत्मा धर्म वत्सलः
लक्ष्मणः च महातेजाः सुमित्र आनन्द वर्धनः
diṣṭyā ca kuśalī rāmo dharma ātmā dharma vatsalaḥ
lakṣmaṇaḥ ca mahātejāḥ sumitra ānanda vardhanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Rama the righteous man who is true to his promise and Lakshmana of great splendour who enriches the joy of Sumitra are fortunately safe."
कुशली यदि काकुत्स्थः किम् नु सागर मेखलाम्
महीम् दहति कोपेन युग अन्त अग्निः इव उत्थितः
kuśalī yadi kākutsthaḥ kim nu sāgara mekhalām
mahīm dahati kopena yuga anta agniḥ iva utthitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"If Rama is safe, with his anger why is he not scorching the earth with ocean as its belt, like rising fire at the end of the world?"
अथवा शक्तिमन्तौ तौ सुराणाम् अपि निग्रहे
मम एव तु न दुह्खानाम् अस्ति मन्ये विपर्ययः
athavā śaktimantau tau surāṇām api nigrahe
mama eva tu na duhkhānām asti manye viparyayaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Otherwise, Rama and Lakshmana are capable of holding down even the celestials. But I think there is no end indeed to my troubles."
कच्चिच् च व्यथते रामः कच्चिन् न परिपत्यते
उत्तराणि च कार्याणि कुरुते पुरुष उत्तमः
kaccic ca vyathate rāmaḥ kaccin na paripatyate
uttarāṇi ca kāryāṇi kurute puruṣa uttamaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Is not Rama getting perturbed? Is he not tormented with grief? Is Rama the best of men now doing the right acts to annihilate the enemies?"
कच्चिन् न दीनः सम्भ्रान्तः कार्येषु च न मुह्यति
कच्चिन् पुरुष कार्याणि कुरुते नृपतेः सुतः
kaccin na dīnaḥ sambhrāntaḥ kāryeṣu ca na muhyati
kaccin puruṣa kāryāṇi kurute nṛpateḥ sutaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Is Rama the prince miserable and confused? Is he even mistaken in his actions? I hope he is doing all acts which require human effort."
द्विविधम् त्रिविध उपायम् उपायम् अपि सेवते
विजिगीषुः सुहृत् कच्चिन् मित्रेषु च परम् तपः
dvividham trividha upāyam upāyam api sevate
vijigīṣuḥ suhṛt kaccin mitreṣu ca param tapaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Is Rama the annihilator of enemies as per necessity resorting to the two strategies viz., conciliatory and partaking approaches and even the three strategies viz., partaking, sowing dissension and open assault? Is he kind-hearted towards friends, with a wish to conquer the enemies?"
कच्चिन् मित्राणि लभते मित्रैः च अपि अभिगम्यते
कच्चित् कल्याण मित्रः च मित्रैः च अपि पुरः कृतः
kaccin mitrāṇi labhate mitraiḥ ca api abhigamyate
kaccit kalyāṇa mitraḥ ca mitraiḥ ca api puraḥ kṛtaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Is he getting friends? Has he been approached for friendship by others? I hope he is having good friends and even so honoured by them."
कच्चित् आशास्ति देवानाम् प्रसादम् पार्थिव आत्मजः
कच्चित् पुरुष कारम् च दैवम् च प्रतिपद्यते
kaccit āśāsti devānām prasādam pārthiva ātmajaḥ
kaccit puruṣa kāram ca daivam ca pratipadyate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Is Rama the prince wishing the grace of the gods? Is he equally aware of the role of human endeavour and the role of fate?"
कच्चिन् न विगत स्नेहो विवासान् मयि राघवः
कच्चिन् माम् व्यसनात् अस्मान् मोक्षयिष्यति वानरः
kaccin na vigata sneho vivāsān mayi rāghavaḥ
kaccin mām vyasanāt asmān mokṣayiṣyati vānaraḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O Hanuma! Is Rama not losing affection in me because of my staying away from home? Will he release me from this evil predicament?"
सुखानाम् उचितो नित्यम् असुखानाम् अनूचितः
दुह्खम् उत्तरम् आसाद्य कच्चित् रामो न सीदति
sukhānām ucito nityam asukhānām anūcitaḥ
duhkham uttaram āsādya kaccit rāmo na sīdati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Is Rama, who is habituated always to pleasures and not habituated to pains, not sinking into despondency by now getting this great pain?"
कौसल्यायाः तथा कच्चित् सुमित्रायाः तथैव च
अभीक्ष्णम् श्रूयते कच्चित् कुशलम् भरतस्य च
kausalyāyāḥ tathā kaccit sumitrāyāḥ tathaiva ca
abhīkṣṇam śrūyate kaccit kuśalam bharatasya ca
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Are you constantly hearing the news of safety of Kausalya, Sumitra and Bharata?"
मन् निमित्तेन मान अर्हः कच्चित् शोकेन राघवः
कच्चिन् न अन्य मना रामः कच्चिन् माम् तारयिष्यति
man nimittena māna arhaḥ kaccit śokena rāghavaḥ
kaccin na anya manā rāmaḥ kaccin mām tārayiṣyati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Is Rama worthy of honour, suffering from pain just because of me? Will he liberate me from my sorrow, without fixing his mind on something else?"
कच्चित् अक्षाउहिणीम् भीमाम् भरतो भ्रातृ वत्सलः
ध्वजिनीम् मन्त्रिभिः गुप्ताम् प्रेषयिष्यति मत् कृते
kaccit akṣāuhiṇīm bhīmām bharato bhrātṛ vatsalaḥ
dhvajinīm mantribhiḥ guptām preṣayiṣyati mat kṛte
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I hope Bharata, having a brotherly affection, will send for my sake, an army furnished with banners, guarded by the ministers, consisting of ten anikinis (21870 elephants, 21870 chariots, 65610 horses and 109350 foot soldiers) which were terrific in appearance."
वानर अधिपतिः श्रीमान् सुग्रीवः कच्चित् एष्यति
मत् कृते हरिभिः वीरैः वृतो दन्त नख आयुधैः
vānara adhipatiḥ śrīmān sugrīvaḥ kaccit eṣyati
mat kṛte haribhiḥ vīraiḥ vṛto danta nakha āyudhaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The glorious Sugreeva the lord of monkeys will indeed come for my sake along with his valiant monkeys, who have their tusks and nails as their weapons."
कच्चिच् च लक्ष्मणः शूरः सुमित्रा आनन्द वर्धनः
अस्त्रवित् शर जालेन राक्षसान् विधमिष्यति
kaccic ca lakṣmaṇaḥ śūraḥ sumitrā ānanda vardhanaḥ
astravit śara jālena rākṣasān vidhamiṣyati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Lakshmana, the strong man, who augments the joy of Sumitra and who is an expert in weaponry, will indeed destroy the demons by the multitude of his arrows."
रौद्रेण कच्चित् अस्त्रेण रामेण निहतम् रणे
द्रक्ष्यामि अल्पेन कालेन रावणम् ससुहृज् जनम्
raudreṇa kaccit astreṇa rāmeṇa nihatam raṇe
drakṣyāmi alpena kālena rāvaṇam sasuhṛj janam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Within a short time, I hope see Ravana killed along with his companions in the battle-field by terrific weapons burning brightly."
कच्चिन् न तद्त् हेम समान वर्णम्
तस्य आननम् पद्म समान गन्धि
मया विना शुष्यति शोक दीनम्
जल क्षये पद्मम् इव आतपेन
kaccin na tadt hema samāna varṇam
tasya ānanam padma samāna gandhi
mayā vinā śuṣyati śoka dīnam
jala kṣaye padmam iva ātapena
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"That face of Rama with its golden and with the fragrance of a lotus may be looking miserable as bereft of me and getting dehydrated too. I hope it is not parched by the sun, like a louts."
धर्म अपदेशात् त्यजतः च राज्याम्
माम् च अपि अरण्यम् नयतः पदातिम्
न आसीत् व्यथा यस्य न भीः न शोकः
कच्चित् स धैर्यम् हृदये करोति
dharma apadeśāt tyajataḥ ca rājyām
mām ca api araṇyam nayataḥ padātim
na āsīt vyathā yasya na bhīḥ na śokaḥ
kaccit sa dhairyam hṛdaye karoti
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Which Rama left the kingdom as an indication of his righteousness and to whom there was neither disturbance nor fear nor sorrow even while taking me to the forest by foot, I hope that the same Rama is maintaining boldness in his heart."
न च अस्य माता न पिता न च अन्यः न
स्नेहात् विशिष्टो अस्ति मया समो वा
तावद्त् हि अहम् दूत जिजीविषेयम्
यावत् प्रवृत्तिम् शृणुयाम् प्रियस्य
na ca asya mātā na pitā na ca anyaḥ na
snehāt viśiṣṭo asti mayā samo vā
tāvadt hi aham dūta jijīviṣeyam
yāvat pravṛttim śṛṇuyām priyasya
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"To Rama, in the matter of affection, neither his mother nor his father nor any body else is equal to or more than me. O Hanuma the messenger! I wish to survive only as long as I hear the activity of my beloved."
इति इव देवी वचनम् महाअर्थम्
तम् वानर इन्द्रम् मधुर अर्थम् उक्त्वा
श्रोतुम् पुनः तस्य वचो अभिरामम्
राम अर्थ युक्तम् विरराम रामा
iti iva devī vacanam mahāartham
tam vānara indram madhura artham uktvā
śrotum punaḥ tasya vaco abhirāmam
rāma artha yuktam virarāma rāmā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Uttering thus those greatly meaningful and sweetly worthwhile words, Seetha the princess further abstained from talking so as to hear Hanuma's delightful words describing the matters pertaining to Rama.
सीताया वचनम् श्रुत्वा मारुतिः भीम विक्रमः
शिरसि अञ्जलिम् आधाय वाक्यम् उत्तरम् अब्रवीत्
sītāyā vacanam śrutvā mārutiḥ bhīma vikramaḥ
śirasi añjalim ādhāya vākyam uttaram abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing Seetha's words, Hanuma of terrific prowess, keeping his joined palms on his head, spoke the following words in reply.
न त्वाम् इहस्थाम् जानीते रामः कमल लोचनः
तेन त्वामिहस्थाम् जानीते रामः कमललोचने
na tvām ihasthām jānīte rāmaḥ kamala locanaḥ
tena tvāmihasthām jānīte rāmaḥ kamalalocane
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O Seetha having lotus eyes! Rama does not know that you are here. For that reason, he did not take you back soon, as Indra the destroyer of strong holds did not take back Sachi, his wife."
श्रुत्वा एव तु वचो मह्यम् क्षिप्रम् एष्यति राघवः
चमूम् प्रकर्षन् महतीम् हरि ऋष्क गण सम्कुलाम्
śrutvā eva tu vaco mahyam kṣipram eṣyati rāghavaḥ
camūm prakarṣan mahatīm hari ṛṣka gaṇa samkulām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Soon after hearing my words, Rama will come soon, drawing forth a large army, consisting of a multitude of monkeys and bears."
विष्टम्भयित्वा बाण ओघैः अक्षोभ्यम् वरुण आलयम्
करिष्यति पुरीम् लन्काम् काकुत्स्थः शान्त राक्षसाम्
viṣṭambhayitvā bāṇa oghaiḥ akṣobhyam varuṇa ālayam
kariṣyati purīm lankām kākutsthaḥ śānta rākṣasām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Rama will paralyze the imperturbable ocean with his flood of arrows and make the City of Lanka extinguished of demons."
तत्र यदि अन्तरा मृत्युः यदि देवाः सह असुराः
स्थास्यन्ति पथि रामस्य स तान् अपि वधिष्यति
tatra yadi antarā mṛtyuḥ yadi devāḥ saha asurāḥ
sthāsyanti pathi rāmasya sa tān api vadhiṣyati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"If the goddess of Death along with demons or celestials stand firmly in the way of Rama at that time, he will kill them also."
तव अदर्शनजेन आर्ये शोकेन स परिप्लुतः
न शर्म लभते रामः सिम्ह अर्दित इव द्विपः
tava adarśanajena ārye śokena sa pariplutaḥ
na śarma labhate rāmaḥ simha ardita iva dvipaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O noble lady! Being full of grief caused by your non-appearance, that Rama is not obtaining happiness, like an elephant tornmented by a lion."
दर्दरेण च ते देवि शपे मूल फलेन च
मलयेन च विन्ध्येन मेरुणा मन्दरेण च
dardareṇa ca te devi śape mūla phalena ca
malayena ca vindhyena meruṇā mandareṇa ca
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O Seetha the princess! I swear and tell you by the mountains Malaya, Vindhya, Meru and Dardura as well as by our staple food of roots and fruits, that you will soon see Rama's face, having good eyes, handsome, having lips with the colour of a bright-red gourd (fruit of Momordica monodelpha) and with its charming look like a rising full moon."
क्षिप्रं द्रक्ष्यसि वैदेहि रामं प्रस्रवणे गिरौ
शतक्रतुमिवासीनं नाकपृष्ठस्य मूर्धनि
kṣipraṃ drakṣyasi vaidehi rāmaṃ prasravaṇe girau
śatakratumivāsīnaṃ nākapṛṣṭhasya mūrdhani
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O Seetha! You will see soon Rama on the Prasravana mountain, like Indra the Lord of celestials seated on the back of Airavata, the chief of elephants."
न मांसं राघवो भुङ्क्ते न चापि मधुसेवते
वन्यं सुविहितं नित्यं भक्तमश्नाति पञ्चमम्
na māṃsaṃ rāghavo bhuṅkte na cāpi madhusevate
vanyaṃ suvihitaṃ nityaṃ bhaktamaśnāti pañcamam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Rama is not eating meat, nor indulging even in spirituous liquor. Everyday, in the evening, he is eating the food existing in the forest, well arranged for him."
न एव दंशान् न मशकान् न कीटान् न सरी सृपान्
राघवो अपनयेत् गत्रात् त्वत् गतेन अन्तः आत्मना
na eva daṃśān na maśakān na kīṭān na sarī sṛpān
rāghavo apanayet gatrāt tvat gatena antaḥ ātmanā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"With his mind wholly devoted to you, Rama is not even driving away forest-flies from his body, nor mosquitoes nor insects nor reptiles from his body."
नित्यम् ध्यान परो रामो नित्यम् शोक परायणः
न अन्यच् चिन्तयते किंचित् स तु काम वशम् गतः
nityam dhyāna paro rāmo nityam śoka parāyaṇaḥ
na anyac cintayate kiṃcit sa tu kāma vaśam gataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Rama always cogitates on something or the other. He is forever engaged in sorrow. He is enamoured with the god of love and thinks of nothing else."
अनिद्रः सततम् रामः सुप्तो अपि च नर उत्तमः
सीतेति मधुराम् वाणीम् व्याहरन् प्रतिबुध्यते
anidraḥ satatam rāmaḥ supto api ca nara uttamaḥ
sīteti madhurām vāṇīm vyāharan pratibudhyate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Rama mostly does not have sleep. Even if that best of men sleeps, he keeps awake uttering sweet words like "lo! Behold! Seetha!"
दृष्ट्वा फलम् वा पुष्पम् वा यच् च अन्यत् स्त्री मनो हरम्
बहुशो हा प्रियेति एवम् श्वसन् त्वाम् अभिभाषते
dṛṣṭvā phalam vā puṣpam vā yac ca anyat strī mano haram
bahuśo hā priyeti evam śvasan tvām abhibhāṣate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"When he happens to see a fruit or a flower or any other beautiful object, he recollects of you and says 'O beloved!' many times and breathes a sigh."
स देवि नित्यम् परितप्यमानः
त्वाम् एव सीतेति अभिभाषमाणः
धृत व्रतो राज सुतो महात्मा
तव एव लाभाय कृत प्रयत्नः
sa devi nityam paritapyamānaḥ
tvām eva sīteti abhibhāṣamāṇaḥ
dhṛta vrato rāja suto mahātmā
tava eva lābhāya kṛta prayatnaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O Seetha the princess! Rama the magnanimous prince is always lamenting, speaking just about you, recollecting "Seetha, Seetha!". Being firm in his vow, he makes effort to find you only."
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye sundarakāṇḍe ṣaṭtriṃśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"That Seetha, who has the same amount of grief as that of Rama, became worn out of her grief upon hearing the adoration of Rama, like a night with the moon obscured by the remnant clouds at the commencement of autumn."