Sundara Kanda 15

Chapter 15

 Hanuma continues his search in the Ashoka garden for Seetha. He sees an emaciated woman surrounded by demonesses. From Her radiance and manner of clothing etc, Hanuma recognizes Her to be Seetha.

sa viikSamaaNaH tatrastho maargamaaNaH ca maithiliim |
avekSamaaNaH ca mahiim sarvaam taam anvavaikSata || 5-15-1

That Hanuma being there, seeing and searching for Seetha, observing all that land, explored the garden.

santaana kalataabhiH ca paadapair upashobhitaam |
divya gandha rasa upetaam sarvataH samalamkR^itaam || 5-15-2
taam sa nandana samkaashaam mR^iga pakSibhir aavR^itaam |
harmya praasaada sambaadhaam kokila aakula nihsvanaam || 5-15-3
kaancana utpala padmaabhiH vaapiibhiH upashobhitaam |
bahva aasana kuthaa upetaam bahu bhuumi gR^iha aayutaam || 5-15-4
sarva R^itu kusumaiH ramyaiH phalavadbhiH ca paadapaiH |
puSpitaanaam ashokaanaam shriyaa suurya udaya prabhaam || 5-15-5
pradiiptaam iva tatrastho maarutiH samudaikSata |
niSpatra shaakhaam vihagaiH kriyamaaNaam iva asakR^it || 5-15-6
viniSpatadbhiH shatashaH citraiH puSpa avatamsakaiH |
aamuula puSpa nicitair ashokaiH shoka naashanaiH || 5-15-7
puSpa bhaara atibhaaraiH ca spR^ishadbhir iva mediniim |
karNikaaraiH kusumitaiH kimshukaiH ca supuSpitaiH || 5-15-8

That Hanuma being there observed closely that Ashoka garden shone by Santaanaka creepers, Santaana trees with heavenly aroma and juice, well decorated in all directions equalling the garden of Nandana, surrounded by animals and birds, congested with mansions and palaces, resounded with the notes of cuckoos, decorated with wells having golden water lilies, lotuses and with many chairs and carpets; with many sub-terrain houses, beautiful trees, with trees with flowers of all seasons and with fruit, with the radiance of raising sun, by the glory of Ashoka trees in bloom, as though radiant as though being made to be with branches without leaves, by hundreds of birds perching again and again, Ashoka trees with wonderful flowers as head decoration, with flowers spread till the roots destroying leaves, with weight of groups of flowers as touching the earth with karnolaara trees; in blossom with Kimkusa trees in full blossom.

WEDNESDAY

sa deshaH prabhayaa teSaam pradiipta iva sarvataH |
pumnaagaaH sapta parNaaH ca campaka uddaalakaaH tathaa || 5-15-9
vivR^iddha muulaa bahavaH shobhante sma supuSpitaaH |

By the radiance of those trees that region was as though lit in all directions. Punnaaga trees with flatted roots and in full blossom, Saptaparna trees Campaka and Uddalaka trees were shining.

shaata kumbha nibhaaH kecit kecid agni shikha upamaaH || 5-15-10
niila anjana nibhaaH kecit tatra ashokaaH sahasrashaH |

In that garden of Ashoka there were thousands of Ashoka trees some equalling gold, some equalling fire, some equalling the precious stone Niila and Anjana.

nandanam vividha udyaanam citram caitraratham yathaa || 5-15-11
ativR^ittam iva acintyam divyam ramyam shriyaa vR^itam |
dvitiiyam iva ca aakaasham puSpa jyotir gaNa aayutam || 5-15-12
puSpa ratna shataiH citram pancamam saagaram yathaa |
sarva R^itu puSpair nicitam paadapair madhu gandhibhiH || 5-15-13
naanaa ninaadaiH udyaanam ramyam mR^iga gaNair dvijaiH |
aneka gandha pravaham puNya gandham mano ramam || 5-15-14

Like the garden of Nandana, a celestial garden, wonderful like Chaitra Ratham, a garden of Kubera, surpassing all, unfathomable, an excellent one, a beautiful one consisting of glory together with flowers like clusters of stars, like a second sky wonderful with flowers, like hundreds of diamonds, like a second ocean with flowers of all seasons, spread with trees having the smell of honey, beautiful with groups of animals of various sounds, diffused with many smells with an auspicious soul pleasing smell.

THURSDAY

shaila indram iva gandha aaDhyam dvitiiyam gandha maadanam |
ashoka vanikaayaam tu tasyaam vaanara pumgavaH || 5-15-15
sa dadarsha aviduurastham caitya praasaadam uurjitam |
madhye stambha sahasreNa sthitam kailaasa paaNDuram || 5-15-16
pravaala kR^ita sopaanam tapta kaancana vedikam |
muSNantam iva cakSuumSi dyotamaanam iva shriyaa || 5-15-17
vimalam praamshu bhaavatvaad ullikhantam iva ambaram |

That monkey warrior Hanuma saw not far away in that Ashoka garden, in the middle, a lofty temple filled with fragrance like a second Gandhamadana Mountain, standing by a thousand pillars, white like Mount Kailaasa with stairs made of corals with platforms made of refined gold as though radiant with glory, clear and because of being tall as though scraping the sky.

tato malina samviitaam raakSasiibhiH samaavR^itaam || 5-15-18
upavaasa kR^ishaam diinaam nihshvasantiim punaH punaH |
dadarsha shukla pakSa aadau candra rekhaam iva amalaam || 5-15-19

Thereafter Hanuma saw Seetha wearing a soiled garment, surrounded by rakshasa women, emaciated due to fasting, looking miserable, sighing again and again, like the pure crescent moon at the beginning of a bright fortnight.

manda prakhyaayamaanena ruupeNa rucira prabhaam |
pinaddhaam dhuuma jaalena shikhaam iva vibhaavasoH || 5-15-20

With a form that slowly came out like a tongue of fire, of beautiful radiance covered by smoke.

piitena ekena samviitaam kliSTena uttama vaasasaa |
sapankaam analamkaaraam vipadmaam iva padminiim || 5-15-21

Covered by a single best cloth of yellow colour, which was wrinkled, without any decorations like a lotus plant without lotuses, together with mud.

vriiDitaam duhkha samtaptaam parimlaanaam tapasviniim |
graheNa angaarakeNa eva piiDitaam iva rohiNiim || 5-15-22

Bashful, tortured by sorrow worn out in a pitiable condition like the constellation Rohini, pressed by the planet mars.

ashru puurNa mukhiim diinaam kR^ishaam ananashena ca |
shoka dhyaana paraam diinaam nityam duhkha paraayaNaam || 5-15-23

With a face full of tears in a pitiable condition, emaciated due to not taking food, immersed in thought with gloom, always in a pitiable state, surrendering to sorrow.

priyam janam apashyantiim pashyantiim raakSasii gaNam |
sva gaNena mR^igiim hiinaam shva gaNa abhivR^itaam iva || 5-15-24

Not seeing dear people, seeing groups of demonesses, like a female deer loosing her own herd  and surrounded by group of hounds.

niila naaga aabhayaa veNyaa jaghanam gatayaa ekayaa |
niilayaa niiradaapaaye vanaraajyaa mahiimiva || 5-15-25
sukha arhaam duhkha samtaptaam vyasanaanaam akodivaam |

With a braid with the radiance of a single black serpent reaching hinder part, like the earth with dark green groups of trees during the end of rainy season, deserving of comforts, tormented by grief, not accustomed to calamities.

FRIDAY

taam samiikSya vishaala akSiim adhikam malinaam kR^ishaam || 5-15-26
tarkayaam aasa siitaa iti kaaraNaiH upapaadibhiH |

Observing that woman with wide eyes, very untidy, emaciated, Hanuma thought that this is indeed Seetha on logical grounds.

hriyamaaNaa tadaa tena rakSasaa kaama ruupiNaa || 5-15-27
yathaa ruupaa hi dR^iSTaa vai tathaa ruupaa iyam anganaa |

She was see, abducted by that rakshasa  who have  the ability to assume desired form in whatever way they  want, and this woman has the same form as he has seen previously.

puurNa candra aananaam subhruum caaru vR^itta payo dharaam || 5-15-28
kurvantiim prabhayaa deviim sarvaa vitimiraa dishaH |
taam niila keshiim bimba oSThiim sumadhyaam supratiSThitaam || 5-15-29
siitaam padma palaasha akSiim manmathasya ratim yathaa |

Hanuma saw Seetha with a face like full moon, with beautiful eyebrows, with graceful rounded breasts, by the radiance making all directions without darkness, goddess like with black hair, with lips like bimba fruit, with a good waist, very firm, with eyes like lotus petals, like Rati the consort of god of love.

iSTaam sarvasya jagataH puurNa candra prabhaam iva || 5-15-30
bhuumau sutanum aasiinaam niyataam iva taapasiim |

As the light of full moon, dear to all world, like an ascetic woman leading austere life sitting on bare ground with a good body.

niHshvaasa bahulaam bhiirum bhujaga indra vadhuum iva || 5-15-31
shoka jaalena mahataa vitatena na raajatiim |

Sighing a lot like the consort of lord of serpents in fright, not radiant by sorrow which was great and extensive.

samsaktaam dhuuma jaalena shikhaam iva vibhaavasoH || 5-15-32
taam smR^itiim iva samdighdaam R^iddhim nipatitaam iva |

Hanuma saw Her like a tongue of fire mixed with column of smoke, like an intellect together with doubts, like a cast away treasure.

SATURDAY

vihataam iva ca shraddhaam aashaam pratihataam iva || 5-15-33
sa upasargaam yathaa siddhim buddhim sakaluSaam iva |

She appeared as one with shattered faith, like frustrated hope, like success together with obstacles, like an impure mind;

abhuutena apavaadena kiirtim nipatitaam iva || 5-15-34
raama uparodha vyathitaam rakSo haraNa karshitaam |

Like fame that has fallen down by a false scandal, tortured by the obstruction caused to Rama, emaciated due to the abduction by Ravana.

abalaam mR^iga shaava akSiim viikSamaaNaam tataH tataH || 5-15-35
baaSpa ambu pratipuurNena kR^iSNa vaktra akSi pakSmaNaa |
vadanena aprasannena nihshvasantiim punaH punaH || 5-15-36

With eyes like those of a young doe full of tears, with black and oblique eye-brows, with a cheerless countenance, seeing there and there, being helpless, sighing again and again.

mala panka dharaam diinaam maNDana arhaam amaNDitaam |
prabhaam nakSatra raajasya kaala meghaiH iva aavR^itaam || 5-15-37

Wearing a coat of dust, pitiable one, although suited for decorations undecorated, like the radiance of the moon, the lord of stars, covered by black clouds.

tasya samdidihe buddhiH muhuH siitaam niriikSya tu |
aamnaayaanaam ayogena vidyaam prashithilaam iva || 5-15-38

Seeing Seetha like knowledge in ruin for want of repeated study, that Hanuma’s mind got repeatedly doubtful.

duhkhena bubudhe siitaam hanumaan analamkR^itaam |
samskaareNa yathaa hiinaam vaacam artha antaram gataam || 5-15-39

Hanuma recognized with great sorrow undecorated Seetha , like a sentence which got a different meaning being devoid of culture.

SUNDAY

taam samiikSya vishaala akSiim raaja putriim aninditaam |
tarkayaam aasa siitaa iti kaaraNaiH upapaadayan || 5-15-40

Seeing that princess, the wide eyed one, blameless one, Hanuma reasoned her to be Seetha for the following reasons.

vaidehyaa yaani ca angeSu tadaa raamo anvakiirtayat |
taani aabharaNa jaalaani gaatra shobhiini alakSayat || 5-15-41
sukR^itau karNa veSTau ca shva damSTrau ca susamsthitau |
maNi vidruma citraaNi hasteSv aabharaNaani ca || 5-15-42
shyaamaani cira yuktatvaat tathaa samsthaanavanti ca |

Then Hanuma saw whatever groups of jewellery of Seetha, on various parts, indicated by Rama, those charming Her limbs, well made earrings, well fitting Svadamstras and ornaments wonderful with diamonds on the limbs of Her hands, belonging to body for long time, blackened and making marks on body.

taani eva etaani manye aham yaani raamo anvakiirtayat || 5-15-43
tatra yaani avahiinaani taani aham na upalakSaye |
yaani asyaa na avahiinaani taani imaani na samshayaH || 5-15-44

 “I think all these to be same about which Rama spoke; among them whatever have been worn out those I will not see; whatever jewels of Her are not worn out these are they - no doubt.”

piitam kanaka paTTa aabham srastam tad vasanam shubham |
uttariiyam naga aasaktam tadaa dR^iSTam plavam gamaiH || 5-15-45

That upper garment yellow with a shine like a golden plate, auspicious one, being dropped had been seen caught in a tree then by vaanaras (monkeys).

bhuuSaNaani ca mukhyaani dR^iSTaani dharaNii tale |
anayaa eva apaviddhaani svanavanti mahaanti ca || 5-15-46

 “Marks of those great and important ornaments which Seetha drpped on the earth while being taken by Raavana are also seen”.

MONDAY

idam cira gR^ihiitatvaad vasanam kliSTavattaram |
tathaa hi nuunam tad varNam tathaa shriimad yathaa itarat || 5-15-47

 “This cloth being worn for a long time has worn out a lot, even then definitely it is of the same colour, like the other upper garment; in the same way this is glorious.”

iyam kanaka varNa angii raamasya mahiSii priyaa |
pranaSTaa api satii yasya manaso na praNashyati || 5-15-48

 “This She of golden colour is indeed Rama’s dear wife; who is ever  the chaste one, even though not seen with him, is not gone from Rama’s heart.”

iyam saa yat kR^ite raamaH caturbhiH paritapyate |
kaaruNyena aanR^ishamsyena shokena madanena ca || 5-15-49
strii pranaSTaa iti kaaruNyaad aashritaa iti aanR^ishamsyataH |
patnii naSTaa iti shokena priyeti madanena ca || 5-15-50

 “This is She for whose sake Rama tormented in four ways –with compassion,  with pity, with grief, and  with love;

 When a woman is lost, it is the duty of the person who stayed with her till then to search for her and protect. Hence Rama is sorrowful with pity.

Seetha believed Rama is her protector. It is not the kind of Rama to sit idle without trying to liberate her from her abductor.

Rama married Seetha with a promise at Agni (during the marriage) and she was with him helping in all his righteous duties. That Seetha is being abducted now and is not with him now. Hence Rama is grief stridden with compassion.

Rama is sorrowful as he lost his beloved wife.asyaa devyaa yathaa ruupam anga pratyanga sauSThavam |
raamasya ca yathaa ruupam tasya iyam asita iikSaNaa || 5-15-51

 “In whatever way is this lady’s appearance, elegance of major and minor limbs, in the same way is Rama’s. In whatever way His appearance, in the same way is this black-eyed one’s appearance.”

asyaa devyaa manaH tasmimH tasya ca asyaam pratiSThitam |
tena iyam sa ca dharma aatmaa muhuurtam api jiivati || 5-15-52

 “This lady’s heart is in Rama, His heart is firmly in Her, for that reason She and that noble Rama are able to live. Otherwise they would not have lived even for a moment.”

duSkaram kurute raamo imaam matta kaashiniim |
siitaam vinaa mahaa baahuH muhuurtam api jiivati || 5-15-53

 “Lord Rama losing Her still preserved His body. He has done an impossible task and He did not die from grief.”

evam siitaam tadaa dR^iSTvaa hR^iSTaH pavana sambhavaH |
jagaama manasaa raamam prashashamsa ca tam prabhum || 5-15-54

Hanuma, then seeing Seetha became happy by looking at her beauty and thinking of Seetha & Rama’s affection towards each other and thought that Rama is lucky and blessed to have such a beautiful, affectionate and dutiful wife.

ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakaaNDe paJNcadashaH sargaH

Thus completes 15th Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.