Sundara Kanda 13

Chapter 13

In this chapter Hanuma starts to search for Seetha overcoming the depression. He begins to go towards Ashoka garden to continue his search.

vimaanaat tu susamkramya praakaaram hari yuuthapaH |
hanuumaan vegavaan aasiid yathaa vidyud ghana antare || 5-13-1

Hanuma the leader of Vanaras crossed from pushpaka toward the fort wall and became with speed like lighting in the middle of a cloud.

samparikramya hanumaan raavaNasya niveshanaan |
adR^iSTvaa jaanakiim siitaam abraviid vacanam kapiH || 5-13-2

The simian Hanuma went far from the house of Ravana and not seeing Seetha, the daughter of King Janaka, said these words:

bhuuyiSTham loDitaa lankaa raamasya carataa priyam |
na hi pashyaami vaidehiim siitaam sarva anga shobhanaam || 5-13-3

 “The city of Lanka has been mostly explored by me attempting for the pleasure of Rama. But I am unable to see Seetha, beautiful in all limbs, and the daughter of Videha.”

palvalaani taTaakaani saraamsi saritaH tathaa |
nadyo anuupavana antaaH ca durgaaH ca dharaNii dharaaH || 5-13-4
loDitaa vasudhaa sarvaa na ca pashyaami jaanakiim |

 “All earth consisting of pools, ponds, lakes and streams, rivers and forest areas filled with water, mountains difficult of access have been explored but I did not see Seetha.”

iha sampaatinaa siitaa raavaNasya niveshane || 5-13-5
aakhyaataa gR^idhra raajena na ca pashyaami taam aham |

 “It has been said by the eagle King Sampati that Seetha is here in the house of Ravana. I am unable to see her.”

kim nu siitaa atha vaidehii maithilii janaka aatmajaa || 5-13-6
upatiSTheta vivashaa raavaNam duSTa caariNam |

 “Otherwise Seetha belonging to Videha born in Mithila and daughter of king Janaka - Can she be helplessly together with the evil minded Ravana.”

kSipram utpatato manye siitaam aadaaya rakSasaH || 5-13-7
bibhyato raama baaNaanaam antaraa patitaa bhavet |

 “I think while Ravana fearing Rama’s arrows flew quickly carrying Seetha, she might have fallen down in the middle of the journey.”

athavaa hriyamaaNaayaaH pathi siddha niSevite || 5-13-8
manye patitam aaryaayaa hR^idayam prekSya saagaram |

 “Or I think the heart of the noble Seetha being stolen in the path served by Siddhas must have sunk at the site of the ocean.”

raavaNasya uuru vegena bhujaabhyaam piiDitena ca || 5-13-9
tayaa manye vishaala akSyaa tyaktam jiivitam aaryayaa |

 “I think due to great speed of Ravana and due to the torture of Ravana’s shoulders the life has been given up by that noble one with wide eyes.”

upari upari vaa nuunam saagaram kramataH tadaa || 5-13-10
viveSTamaanaa patitaa samudre janaka aatmajaa |

 “Then while being flown upon the surface of the ocean, Seetha definitely fell down in the ocean while wriggling.”

WEDNESDAY

aaho kSudreNa ca anena rakSantii shiilam aatmanaH || 5-13-11
abandhur bhakSitaa siitaa raavaNena tapasvinii |

 “Or has the austere Seetha been eaten by this Ravana, the evil minded one while she was protecting her chastity without any relatives near her.”

athavaa raakSasa indrasya patniibhir asita iikSaNaa || 5-13-12
aduSTaa duSTa bhaavaabhir bhakSitaa saa bhaviSyati |

 “Otherwise not being evil with black eyes, She may have been eaten by the wives of Ravana with evil thoughts.”

sampuurNa candra pratimam padma patra nibha iikSaNam || 5-13-13
raamasya dhyaayatii vaktram pancatvam kR^ipaNaa gataa |

 “The pitiable Seetha equaling full moon, with eyes equaling lotus petals must have obtained death while meditating upon Rama’s face.”

haa raama lakSmaNa iti eva haa ayodhyeti ca maithilii || 5-13-14
vilapya bahu vaidehii nyasta dehaa bhaviSyati |

 “The daughter of Videha, Seetha. ‘O Rama!’ ‘O Lakshmana!’ ‘O Ayodhya!’, thus weeping greatly may have given up her body.”

athavaa nihitaa manye raavaNasya niveshane || 5-13-15
nuunam laalapyate mandam panjarasthaa iva shaarikaa |

 “I think otherwise being put in the house of Ravana Seetha is definitely crying like a caged myna.”

janakasya kule jaataa raama patnii sumadhyamaa || 5-13-16
katham utpala patra akSii raavaNasya vasham vrajet |

 “How can the daughter of King Janaka, Rama’s wife Seetha with a beautiful waist, with eyes like black lotus petals obtain Ravana’s capture.”

vinaSTaa vaa pranaSTaa vaa mR^itaa vaa janaka aatmajaa || 5-13-17
raamasya priya bhaaryasya na nivedayitum kSamam |

 “It is not fair to let know Rama who has a dear wife if Seetha is lost or is not to be seen or has died.”

nivedyamaane doSaH syaad doSaH syaad anivedane || 5-13-18
katham nu khalu kartavyam viSamam pratibhaati me |

 “To be let known becomes an error; not to let know becomes an error how to perform the duty? To me this seems dire situation.”

asminn evam gate karye praapta kaalam kSamam ca kim || 5-13-19
bhaved iti matim bhuuyo hanumaan pravicaarayan |

 “This task while it goes this way the time is approaching. What becomes appropriate” thus Hanuma thought again this view point.

THURDAY

yadi siitaam adR^iSTvaa aham vaanara indra puriim itaH || 5-13-20
gamiSyaami tataH ko me puruSa artho bhaviSyati |

 “what avail will this effort be if I go towards Sugreeva’s city from here without seeing Seetha?”

mama idam langhanam vyartham saagarasya bhaviSyati || 5-13-21
praveshaH civa lankaayaa raakSasaanaam ca darshanam |

"My crossing of the ocean, entering the city of Lanka the site of rakshasas - all this will become waste."

kim vaa vakSyati sugriivo harayo va samaagataaH || 5-13-22
kiSkindhaam samanupraaptau tau vaa dasharatha aatmajau |

 “On reaching Kishkindha what would Sugreeva or Vanaras say or what would those sons of Dasharatha say?”

gatvaa tu yadi kaakutstham vakSyaami param apriyam || 5-13-23
na dR^iSTaa iti mayaa siitaa tataH tyakSyanti jiivitam |

 “After going there,  if I say a very unpleasant word ‘Seetha has not been seen’ by me thereafter Rama will give up life.”

paruSam daaruNam kruuram tiikSNam indriya taapanam || 5-13-24
siitaa nimittam durvaakyam shrutvaa sa na bhaviSyati |

 “Hearing bad word belonging to Seetha that is harsh, horrible, cruel, sharp, sense agonizing, He will not exist.”

tam tu kR^icchra gatam dR^iSTvaa pancatva gata maanasam || 5-13-25
bhR^isha anurakto medhaavii na bhaviSyati lakSmaNaH |

 “Seeing that Rama being with troubles, being with a heart towards death, Lakshmana, one with great love and an intellectual will not exist.”

vinaSTau bhraatarau shrutvaa bharato api mariSyati || 5-13-26
bharatam ca mR^itam dR^iSTvaa shatrughno na bhaviSyati |

 “Hearing brothers to be dead, Bharata also will die. Seeing the dead Bharata, Shatrughana also will not exist.”

putraan mR^itaan samiikSya atha na bhaviSyanti maataraH || 5-13-27
kausalyaa ca sumitraa ca kaikeyii ca na samshayaH |

 “Thereafter seeing sons to be dead the mothers Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi will not exist - there is no doubt.”

kR^itaj~naH satya samdhaH ca sugriivaH plavaga adhipaH || 5-13-28
raamam tathaa gatam dR^iSTvaa tataH tyakSyanti jiivitam |

 “Grateful, true to pledge Sugreeva, the leader of Vanaras, seeing Rama die in that way will give up life thereafter.”

durmanaa vyathitaa diinaa niraanandaa tapasvinii || 5-13-29
piiDitaa bhartR^i shokena rumaa tyakSyati jiivitam |

 “Being tortured by the sorrow of husband, made sad by a gloomy heart, disconsolate without happiness, to be pitied, Ruma will give up life.”

vaalijena tu duhkhena piiDitaa shoka karshitaa || 5-13-30
pancatva gamane raaj~naH taaraa api na bhaviSyati |

 “Being distressed from the sorrow of Vali, being emaciated from grief, Tara also will not exist while the king Sugreeva is obtaining death.”

maataa pitror vinaashena sugriiva vyasanena ca || 5-13-31
kumaaro api angadaH kasmaad dhaarayiSyati jiivitam |

 “ Why the young Angada  will retain life after the death of mother and father, from the grief of Sugreeva ?”

bhartR^ijena tu shokena abhibhuutaa vana okasaH || 5-13-32
shiraamsi abhihaniSyanti talair muSTibhir eva ca |

 “Vanaras being rejected by the sorrow due to the death of their lord will strike their heads with palms and fists.”

saantvena anupradaanena maanena ca yashasvinaa || 5-13-33
laalitaaH kapi raajena praaNaamH tyakSyanti vaanaraaH |

 “Vanaras loved by the famous king Sugreeva through good words, through small gifts, through respect will give up lives.”

na vaneSu na shaileSu na nirodheSu vaa punaH || 5-13-34
kriiDaam anubhaviSyanti sametya kapi kunjaraaH |

 “Best among Vanaras will not enjoy together sport in forest, not on mountains, not again in covered places.”

saputra daaraaH saamaatyaa bhartR^i vyasana piiDitaaH || 5-13-35
shaila agrebhyaH patiSyanti sametya viSameSu ca |

 “Together with wife and children and together with ministers being tortured by grief of their lord, they will fall down from top of mountains on to flat lands and on to rugged lands.”

viSam udbandhanam vaa api pravesham jvalanasya vaa || 5-13-36
upavaasam atho shastram pracariSyanti vaanaraaH |

 “Vanaras will opt death by taking poison or getting hanged or entering fire or fasting or a weapon.”

FRIDAY

ghoram aarodanam manye gate mayi bhaviSyati || 5-13-37
ikSvaaku kula naashaH ca naashaH caiva vana okasaam |

 “While I am going I think about the destruction of Ikshvaaku dynasty and destruction of Vanaras and there will be a terrible wail.”

so aham na eva gamiSyaami kiSkindhaam nagariim itaH || 5-13-38
na hi shakSyaami aham draSTum sugriivam maithiliim vinaa |

 “I will not go from here to the Kishkindha city. I am not capable to see Sugreeva without information about Seetha.”

mayi agacchati ca ihasthe dharma aatmaanau mahaa rathau || 5-13-39
aashayaa tau dhariSyete vanaraaH ca manasvinaH |

 “If I do not go from here,  those two great warriors Rama and Lakshmana,  the virtuous ones, will live by hope. Vanaras  who are agile also will live.”

hasta aadaano mukha aadaano niyato vR^ikSa muulikaH || 5-13-40
vaanaprastho bhaviSyaami adR^iSTvaa janaka aatmajaam |
saagara anuupaje deshe bahu muula phala udake || 5-13-41

 “Without seeing Seetha,  I will become a hermit living on trees and herbs at a region near ocean which has many roots, fruits and much water,  subsisting on whatever falls on hand, whatever comes to mouth, being self restrained.”

citaam kR^itvaa pravekSyaami samiddham araNii sutam |
upaviSTasya vaa samyag linginam saadhayiSyataH || 5-13-42
shariiram bhakSayiSyanti vaayasaaH shvaapadaani ca |

 “Or I will enter glowing fire after making a funeral pile or while performing fasting onto death my body will be eaten by crows and by beasts of prey.”

idam api R^iSibhir dR^iSTam niryaaNam iti me matiH || 5-13-43
samyag aapaH pravekSyaami na cet pashyaami jaanakiim |

 “This is my opinion if I do not see Seetha, I will enter  water. It is not a mistake – I heard that  even sages give up life in this way”

sujaata muulaa subhagaa kiirti maalaa yashasvinii || 5-13-44
prabhagnaa cira raatrii iyam mama siitaam apashyataH |

 “ This night started pleasantly and auspiciously. It was pleasant with full moon. This night will be glorified as the night on which Hanuma has entered the lanka in search ofSeetha. This night is being wasted without me locating Seetha.”

taapaso vaa bhaviSyaami niyato vR^ikSa muulikaH || 5-13-45
na itaH pratigamiSyaami taam adR^iSTvaa asita iikSaNaam |

 “I will become a hermit who is self restrained resorting to trees and herbs, I will not go from here not seeing Seetha with black eyes.”

yadi itaH pratigacchaami siitaam anadhigamya taam || 5-13-46
angadaH sahitaiH sarvair vaanarair na bhaviSyati |

 “If I go back from here without knowing that Seetha, there will not be Angada together with all those Vanaras.”

vinaashe bahavo doSaa jiivan praapnoti bhadrakam || 5-13-47
tasmaat praaNaan dhariSyaami dhruvo jiivati samgamaH |

 “There are lots of blemishes in dying; one who is alive sees auspicious things. For that reason I will keep my life. It is definite for the meeting of people who are alive.”

evam bahu vidham duhkham manasaa dhaarayan muhuH || 5-13-48
na adhyagacchat tadaa paaram shokasya kapi kunjaraH |

Hanuma  thus thinking in various ways, became  sorrowful.

SATURDAY

raavaNam vaa vadhiSyaami dashagriivam mahaa balam || 5-13-49
kaamam astu hR^itaa siitaa pratyaaciirNam bhaviSyati |

 “Otherwise I will kill Ravana with ten heads, with great prowess. Whatever happened to the stolen Seetha, this will be revenge to that.”

athavaa enam samutkSipya upari upari saagaram || 5-13-50
raamaaya upahariSyaami pashum pashu pater iva |

 “Otherwise carrying this Ravana over the surface of ocean I will take him to Rama like an animal to the lord of animals.”

iti cintaa samaapannaH siitaam anadhigamya taam || 5-13-51
dhyaana shokaa pariita aatmaa cintayaam aasa vaanaraH |

Hanuma not seeing that Seetha thus begetting sorrow, thought with a mind cluttered with thoughts and sorrow.

yaavat siitaam na pashyaami raama patniim yashasviniim || 5-13-52
taavad etaam puriim lankaam vicinomi punaH punaH |

 “I  will search Lanka again and again till I see Seetha, the wife of Sri Rama, one with fame.”

sampaati vacanaac ca api raamam yadi aanayaami aham || 5-13-53
apashyan raaghavo bhaaryaam nirdahet sarva vaanaraan |

 “Based on words of Sampati if I bring Sri Rama here, then Sri Rama  not seeing wife will burn all Vanaras.”

iha eva niyata aahaaro vatsyaami niyata indriyaH || 5-13-54
na mat kR^ite vinashyeyuH sarve te nara vaanaraaH |

 “I will live here with limited food and with restrained senses. By my deed those men and vanaras - let they not be destroyed.”

ashoka vanikaa ca api mahatii iyam mahaa drumaa || 5-13-55
imaam abhigamiSyaami na hi iyam vicitaa mayaa |

 “Then the Ashoka garden with great trees is being seen. Hanuma thought that this  has not been searched by me. I will search this garden”

SUNDAY

vasuun rudraamH tathaa aadityaan ashvinau maruto api ca || 5-13-56
namaH kR^itvaa gamiSyaami rakSasaam shoka vardhanaH |

 “Saluting the eight Vasus, Rudras and Adityas, the two Aswinis, seven Maruts, I will go to increase the grief of Rakshasas.”

jitvaa tu raakSasaan deviim ikSvaaku kula nandiniim || 5-13-57
sampradaasyaami raamaayaa yathaa siddhim tapasvine |

 “ As a fruit of austerity I will kill the raasshaas and offer them to Seetha, who gives happiness to Ikshvaaku dynasty and to Sri Rama, an ascetic.”

sa muhuurtam iva dhyaatvaa cintaa vigrathita indriyaH || 5-13-58
udatiSThan mahaa baahur hanuumaan maaruta aatmajaH |

The gloried son of Vayu that Hanuma got up with his senses tied by grief -  and prayed.

namo astu raamaaya salakSmaNaaya |
devyai ca tasyai janaka aatmajaayai |
namo astu rudra indra yama anilebhyo |
namo astu candra arka marud gaNebhyaH || 5-13-59

 “Let there be salutations to Sri Rama together with Lakshmana, also to that, who is divine let there be salutations. To Rudra, Indra, Yama and Vaayu let there be salutations.”

The above verse is auspicious and one should chant this daily. This is chanted as an important prayer  before chanting Ramayana.

Earlier while starting from Mahendra hill (at the start of the search), Hanuma has offered salutations to Sun, Indra, Brahma and Vaayu. Now, he saluted Rama, Seetha and Lakshmana first, followed by other Gods.

Those who are blessed by God, devotees of God and the  Godess can only get the self-realization and there after will get the ever blissful place at the lotus feet of God.

Offering prayers to other Gods apart from the Paramathma is essential for the purification of the mind. However, one should be blessed by God to get the self-realization.

When we offer prayer to God, it should be done in the association with devotees and mother Godess. Hanuma has followed this rule now.

In his initial prayer (first chapter), Hanuma has not prayed with NAMAH word. Now he used NAMAHA three times.

Mother Seetha is incarnation of Godess Lakshmi. She never lived without Narayan. To exemplify the nature of the  Athma (soul), she enacted like Jiva.  Hanuma realized, he can not search for one who is alwaysin association of God. He realized that he is not the doer and showed his dependency on God.

            MAH = mine ;   Na= does not belong to;   NAMAHA= It is not mine

Hanuma has expressed that he is not the doer and is just performing according to HIS order, and bowed to the Lord. Then only mother Seetha has revealed her presence.  Hanuma has  realized that he can see mother Seetha, who is incarnation of mother Lakshmi, only with her blessings, and prayed –

NAMOSTU  DEVYAICHA JANAKAATMAJAAYAI ……

The meaning of the word DEVI is the one who is radiating / glorified / acting.

Showing up or not showing up is her action. She is radiating and all pervading. She can radiate others. She can not be seen by others without she revealing herself. Hence she is called JANAKAATMAJAH. It does not mean she is the daughter of Janaka.  It means that one who revealed herself to Janaka (She revealed herself to Janaka while he was plughing the land).

Thus, Hanuma expressed that Oh! Mother, Janaka had not plougher the land with a desire to see you. You have blessed him with your presence. Similarly, please do bless me with your appearance. Thus praying, Hanuma proceeded further.

sa tebhyaH tu  namaH kR^itvaa sugriivaaya ca maarutiH |
dishaH sarvaaH samaalokya ashoka vanikaam prati || 5-13-60

That Hanuma saluting to all those and also to Sugreeva, observing all directions went towards Ashoka garden.

sa gatvaa manasaa puurvam ashoka vanikaam shubhaam |
uttaram cintayaam aasa vaanaro maaruta aatmajaH || 5-13-61

The son of Vayu, that Vanara , the auspicious one pondered about the  task to be done before going towards Ashoka Garden.

dhruvam tu rakSo bahulaa bhaviSyati vana aakulaa |
ashoka vanikaa cintyaa sarva samskaara samskR^itaa || 5-13-62

 “The Ashoka garden definitely will be with many rakshasas, filled with trees, adorned with various cultures and sacred.”

rakSiNaH ca atra vihitaa nuunam rakSanti paadapaan |
bhagavaan api sarva aatmaa na atikSobham pravaayati || 5-13-63
samkSipto ayam mayaa aatmaa ca raama arthe raavaNasya ca |

 “There definitely guards will be protecting trees. The omnipresent Lord Vayu also will be blowing by without force there. For the the success of  Sri Rama’s task and to avoid Ravana I will reduce my body.”

MONDAY

Now Hanuma is praying other Gods, seeking their help to locate mother Seetha ….

siddhim me samvidhaasyanti devaaH sarSi gaNaaH tv iha || 5-13-64
brahmaa svayambhuur bhagavaan devaaH caiva dishantu me |
siddhim agniH ca vaayuH ca puru huutaH ca vajradhR^it || 5-13-65
varuNaH paasha hastaH ca soma aadityai tathaiva ca |
ashvinau ca mahaatmaanau marutaH sarva eva ca || 5-13-66
siddhim sarvaaNi bhuutaani bhuutaanaam caiva yaH prabhuH |
daasyanti mama ye ca anye adR^iSTaaH pathi gocaraaH || 5-13-67

 “Devas together with ascetics will make success to me here, self born Brahma the divine one and devas and Agni and Vaayu, Devendra wearing the weapon of Vajra and Varuna with Pasha in hand and also the Sun and the moon and the aswinis. The great ones Maruts and Eshwara may give me success. Whoever is the lord of all living creatures among all living beings others who being unseen exist in the path may give success to me.”

tad unnasam paaNDura dantam avraNam |
shuci smitam padma palaasha locanam |
drakSye tad aaryaa vadanam kadaa nv aham |
prasanna taaraa adhipa tulya darshanam || 5-13-68

 “When will I see that noble face with a high nose, with white teeth without any injuries, with a bright smile, with eyes resembling lotus petals,  with sight equaling the splendor of clear full moon?”

kSudreNa paapena nR^ishamsa karmaNaa |
sudaaruNa alaamkR^ita veSa dhaariNaa|
bala abhibhuutaa abalaa tapasvinii |
katham nu me dR^iSTa pathe adya saa bhavet || 5-13-69

 “How that powerless Seetha, a helpless one, forcefully taken away by the mean vile Ravana with a cruel action, with a horribly decorated form will fall in the range of my sight today.”

 Thus praying, Hanuma is ready to enter into Ashoka garden.

ityaarshhe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakaaNDe trayodashaH sargaH

Thus, this is the 13th chapter in Sundara Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.