Sundara Kanda 16

Hanuma is grief stricken seeing the plight of Seetha, in that garden being surrounded by ogresses. He becomes firm in mind that She is indeed Seetha, based on Her auspicious bodily marks.

prashasya tu prashastavyaam siitaam taam hari pumgavaH |
guNa abhiraamam raamam ca punaH cintaa paro abhavat || 5-16-1

The best among vanaras praising that Seetha who is fit to be praised, and also praising Sri Rama who is full of Good virtues, became immersed in thought again.

sa muhuurtam iva dhyaatvaa baaSpa paryaakulekSaNaH |
siitaam aashritya tejasvii hanumaan vilalaapa ha || 5-16-2

That Hanuma, the radiant one, thinking for a moment with eyes tormented with tears, cried about Seetha.

maanyaa guru viniitasya lakSmaNasya guru priyaa |
yadi siitaa api duhkha aartaa kaalo hi duratikramaH || 5-16-3

Hanuma thought that if Seetha , one who is respected by the Lakshmana who is trained by Gurus like Vashishta, is stricken with grief, then destiny is indeed difficult to withstand.”

raamasya vyavasaayaj~naa lakSmaNasya ca dhiimataH |
na atyartham kSubhyate devii gangaa iva jalada aagame || 5-16-4

 “Knowing the effort of Sri Rama and of sagacious Lakshmana, Seetha is not worried a lot, like Ganga in the rainy season.”

Two aspects helps those who are in the path of self realization. They are :

1.      The determination of the God to protect those who seek Him.

2.      The knowledgeable Sages/Gurus

Rama said –

SAKRIDEVA PRAPANNAYA TAVAASMEETI CA YAACHATE

ABHAYAM SARVA  BHOOTEBHYO  DADAAMYE TAT DVRATAM MAMA

Rama said it is his Vrita to protect those whos says they belong to Him. This statement of God is the protector for all of us. In Dandakaranya, during Aranya vaasa, when Rama promised the sages to protect their Yagna the demons, Mother Seetha tries to stop Rama saying that He has no animosity with demons hence he should not kill them. Rama said then that –

Apahyam jeevitham jahyam tvaam va seethe sa lakshmanaam

Nathu pratignaam samshritya braahmanebhyo visheshataha  (Aranya Kanda 10-19)

To keep the word given to those who sought his help, if required I will sacrifice my life, seetha, or even Lakshmana. This determination of the God is the protector of all the Jivas.

The saga of sagacious Lakshmana is the surrendering principle for us. When Rama wanted to go behind the deceitful deer on Seeta’s request, Lakshmana said that deer is not the real deer and it is indeed Maareecha. Then, when Seetha was lost, Lakshmana has consoled Rama and encouraged and helped Rama in the Search for Seetha without loosing heart. This nature of Lakshmana is the guiding torch for us in pursuing our effort to reach God.

God is comp assionate to protect those who surrender to Him. When God ignores those who surrenders to Him due to individuals karmic deeds,  Acharya / guru interferes and reminds Him his Nature.

tulya shiila vayo vR^ittaam tulya abhijana lakSaNaam |
raaghavo arhati vaidehiim tam ca iyam asita iikSaNaa || 5-16-5

 “Sri Rama is suited to Seetha with Her well matched character (shiila), age (vayo) and conduct (Vrittam) ; with well matched pedigree (abhijana – family history) and characteristics this black-eyed Seetha is also suited to Him.”

To be a suitable match, the bride and bride groom should have 4 equal qualities – Character, age, conduct and pedigree. Seetha and Rama have these qualities equivalent to each other.

Rama has protected a crow , an eagle (Jatayu), a villager (Guha), a forest lady (Shabari) and even a demon (Vibhishana) when they surrendered unto Him.Seetha protects those who are eligible for it even if they don’t surrender to Her. She  protected the demons who trouble her in Lanka.  Hence the character of Seetha and Rama is equal.

When Rama was 24 years old, Seetha was 18 years (according to Valmiki Ramayan). This is supposed to be ideal age for the couples.

When they are separated, they were worried abou t the other much than themselves.

Rama belongs to Ikshvaaku dynasty and Seetha was from Videeha dynasty.

Their physical beauty is also suitable to each other.

After describing above for equivalent characters of Rama and Seetha, Valmiki has described an additional quality of Seetha – Asithekshana (black-eyed).

In Sundara Kanda,  Seetha was described with the beuty of eyes and smile on various occassions – ASITHEKSHANA, VISHAALAKSHI & SHUCHISMITA.

Seetha has never got angry on demons surrounding her in Ashokavana. Alsc She was always compassionate towards Ravana and adviced him to surrender to Rama. Her eye never showed the anger. She always showed compassion in her eyes. This was an additional quality of mother Seetha.

taam dR^iST vaa nava hema aabhaam loka kaantaam iva sh.riyam |
jagaama manasaa raamam vacanam ca idam abraviit || 5-16-6

Seeing that Seetha with the radiance of new gold, like the goddess Laksmi, delightful to the world, Hanuma went by heart to Sri Rama spoke these words also.

asyaa hetor vishaala akSyaa hato vaalii mahaa balaH |
raavaNa pratimo viirye kabandhaH ca nipaatitaH || 5-16-7

 “For the sake of this Seetha, the wide eyed one, Vali of great strength has been killed, Kabanda also equalling Ravana in strength has been felled.”

viraadhaH ca hataH samkhye raakSaso bhiima vikramaH |
vane raameNa vikramya mahaa indreNa iva shambaraH || 5-16-8

 “In the forest during war Virada of horrible prowess has been killed by Rama by valour, like Sambara by Mahendra.”

catur dasha sahasraaNi rakSasaam bhiima karmaNaam |
nihataani jana sthaane sharair agni shikha upamaiH || 5-16-9

 “At Janastaana fourteen thousands of rakshasas of terrible deed have been killed by arrows equalling tongues of fires.”

karaH ca nihataH samkhye trishiraaH ca nipaatitaH |
duuSaNaH ca mahaa tejaa raameNa vidita aatmanaa || 5-16-10

 “By Rama with a famed mind, Khara has been killed, Trisira also has been fell down, Duushana with great glory also has been killed in war.”

aishvaryam vaanaraaNaam ca durlabham vaali paalitam |
asyaa nimitte sugriivaH praaptavaan loka satkR^itam || 5-16-11

 “For Her sake Sugreeva obtained wealth of vanaras ruled by Vali difficult to be obtained and worshiped by the world.”

saagaraH ca mayaa kraantaH shriimaan nada nadii patiH |
asyaa hetor vishaala akSyaaH purii ca iyam niriikSitaa || 5-16-12

 “For the sake of Her, with wide eyes, the ocean, lord of rivers and streams, has been crossed by me; this city also has been explored.”

yadi raamaH samudraantaam mediniim parivartayet |
asyaaH kR^ite jagat ca api yuktam iti eva me matiH || 5-16-13

 “If Sri Rama for Her sake turns upside down the earth with the ocean at the end, and the entire universe it is fair, this is my opinion.”

raajyam vaa triSu lokeSu siitaa vaa janaka aatmajaa |
trailokya raajyam sakalam siitaayaa na aapnuyaat kalaam || 5-16-14

 “Among three worlds, if it is a choice between kingdom or Seetha, the daughter of Janaka, all the kingdom of three worlds will not approach a sixteenth part of Seetha.”

iyam saa dharma shiilasya janakasya mahaatmanaH |
sutaa maithilaraajasya siitaa bhartR^idR^iDha vrataa || 5-16-15

 “This She is that Seetha, the daughter of king Janaka of Mithila, the great soul, and noble one with a firm resolution towards husband.”

utthitaa mediniim bhittvaa kSetre hala mukha kSate |
padma reNu nibhaiH kiirNaa shubhaiH kedaara paamsubhiH || 5-16-16

 “While a field was being ploughed She rose up splitting the earth covered by auspicious dust of field equalling pollen.”

vikraantasya aarya shiilasya samyugeSu anivartinaH |
snuSaa dasharathasya eSaa jyeSThaa raaj~no yashasvinii || 5-16-17

 “She is the famed eldest daughter-in-law of king Dasaratha the valorous one, not turning back in the battle.”

dharmaj~nasya kR^itaj~nasya raamasya vidita aatmanaH |
iyam saa dayitaa bhaaryaa raakSasii vasham aagataa || 5-16-18

 “This She the dear wife of Rama the righteous one, grateful one, knower of Self has obtained capture of demonesses.”

sarvaan bhogaan parityajya bhartR^i sneha balaat kR^itaa |
acintayitvaa duhkhaani praviSTaa nirjanam vanam || 5-16-19
samtuSTaa phala muulena bhartR^i shushruuSaNaa paraa |
yaa paraam bhajate priitim vane api bhavane yathaa || 5-16-20
saa iyam kanaka varNa angii nityam susmita bhaaSiNii |
sahate yaatanaam etaam anarthaanaam abhaaginii || 5-16-21

 “Whoever Seetha abandoning all comforts, forced by the love towards husband not thinking about sorrows, entering forest unpopulated with humans, being happy with fruits and roots, devoted to the service of Her husband, even in forest is getting great happiness like in a palace, the one with golden limbs, always with a smiling talk, not suited to misfortunes - that this Seetha is bearing all this suffering.”

imaam tu shiila sampannaam draSTum icchati raaghavaH |
raavaNena pramathitaam prapaam iva pipaasitaH || 5-16-22

 “Sri Rama likes to see this Seetha who is endowed with excellent character and tormented by Ravana, like a thirsty one for a place where water is available freely.”

asyaa nuunam punar laabhaad raaghavaH priitim eSyati |
raajaa raajya paribhraSTaH punaH praapya iva mediniim || 5-16-23

 “By Her gain again Sri Rama definitely will get happiness like a king who lost kingdom getting back the land.”

kaama bhogaiH parityaktaa hiinaa bandhu janena ca |
dhaarayati aatmano deham tat samaagama kaankSiNii || 5-16-24

 “Left by coveted enjoyments, lacking relatives also Seetha is keeping body desirous of meeting with Sri Rama.”

na eSaa pashyati raakSasyo na imaan puSpa phala drumaan |
ekastha hR^idayaa nuunam raamam eva anupashyati || 5-16-25

 “She is not seeing demonesses, not flowers, fruits or trees and with a single heart is meditating only on Sri Rama - this is sure.”

This is the Meditation Stage.

Seetha is in Ashoka garden. This is the stage when there will be no sorrow. She was bonded in the Ashoka garden. She is meditating on the only one- Rama. She is interested in reaching only one – Rama. In that stage there are no worries and sorrows. Externally one may appear to be bonded in such stage but there is no feeling of sadness. Only in such a phase one is eligible for God realization.

bhartaa naama param naaryaa bhuuSaNam bhuuSaNaad api |
eSaa hi rahitaa tena shobhana arhaa na shobhate || 5-16-26

 “Husband is indeed the greatest adornment for a woman greater than jewellery; this Seetha though deserving of decoration, is not looking charming without Sri Rama.”

duSkaram kurute raamo hiino yad anayaa prabhuH |
dhaarayati aatmano deham na duhkhena avasiidati || 5-16-27

 “Sri Rama although bereft of Her that Lord Rama is doing an impossible task by retaining His body and not being depressed by sorrow.”

imaam asita kesha antaam shata patra nibha iikSaNaam |
sukha arhaam duHkhitaam j~aatvaa mama api vyathitam manaH || 5-16-28

 “Knowing Her with black ended hairs, with lotus like eyes, deserving of comforts, and in sorrow, my mind also is gloomy.”

kSiti kSamaa puSkara samnibha akSii |
yaa rakSitaa raaghava lakSmaNaabhyaam |
saa raakSasiibhir vikR^ita iikSaNaabhiH |
samrakSyate samprati vR^ikSa muule || 5-16-29

 “Whoever Seetha with earth-like patience, with eyes resembling lotuses, was protected by Sri Rama and Lakshmana, that Seetha now is being guarded by ogresses with crooked eyes at the base of a tree.”

hima hata nalinii iva naSTa shobhaa |
vyasana paramparayaa nipiiDyamaanaa |
saha cara rahitaa iva cakra vaakii |
janaka sutaa kR^ipaNaam dashaam prapannaa || 5-16-30

 “With lost glory like a lotus plant hit by snow, being tormented by a series of calamities, Seetha obtained a pitiable condition like a chakravaka bird without a companion.”

asyaa hi puSpa avanata agra shaakhaaH |
shokam dR^iDham vai janayati ashokaaH |
hima vyapaayena ca shiitarashmiH |
rabhyutthito na eka sahasra rashmiH || 5-16-31

 “Ashoka trees with bent branches due to flowers are giving rise to gloom a lot to Her; Due to melting of snow the risen up moon also with thousands of rays is causing grief.”

iti evam artham kapir anvavekSya |
siitaa iyam iti eva niviSTa buddhiH |
samshritya tasmin niSasaada vR^ikSe |
balii hariiNaam R^iSabhaH tarasvii || 5-16-32

The mighty one, the best among vanaras, quick one, Hanuma thus observed the subject: “This is Seetha!” - thus with a firm mind sat at that tree, leaning against it.

 ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakaaNDe SoDashaH sargaH

Thus completes 16th Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.