Sundara Kanda, Sarga 34

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा हनुमान्हरिपुङ्गवः। दुःखाद्दुःखाभिभूताया स्सान्त्वमुत्तरमब्रवीत्।।5.34.1।।

tasyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā hanumānharipuṅgavaḥ| duḥkhādduḥkhābhibhūtāyā ssāntvamuttaramabravīt

Hearing the words of Sita who was overwhelmed with grief, the monkey leader Hanuman felt sad and thus spoke comforting her:

अहं रामस्य सन्देशाद्देवि दूतस्तवागतः। वैदेहि कुशली रामस्त्वां च कौशलमब्रवीत्।।5.34.2।।

ahaṃ rāmasya sandeśāddevi dūtastavāgataḥ| vaidehi kuśalī rāmastvāṃ ca kauśalamabravīt

"By the command of Rama I am here as a messenger. He is keeping well. He is well and wishes you well.

यो ब्रह्ममस्त्रं वेदांश्च वेद वेदविदांवरः। स त्वां दाशरथी रामो देवि कौशलमब्रवीत्।।5.34.3।।

yo brahmamastraṃ vedāṃśca veda vedavidāṃvaraḥ| sa tvāṃ dāśarathī rāmo devi kauśalamabravīt

"O godlike lady Rama, son of Dasaratha, master of the Vedas, wielder of Brahmastra wishes you well.

लक्ष्मणश्च महातेजा भर्तुस्तेऽनुचरः प्रियः। कृतवान्शोकसन्तप्तश्शिरसा तेऽभिवादनम्।।5.34.4।।

lakṣmaṇaśca mahātejā bhartuste'nucaraḥ priyaḥ| kṛtavānśokasantaptaśśirasā te'bhivādanam

"The mighty Lakshmana too, a dear brother and follower of your husband is immersed in grief, and sends salutations to you."

सा तयोः कुशलं देवी निशम्य नरसिंहयोः। प्रीतिसंहृष्टसर्वाङ्गी हनुमन्तमथाब्रवीत्।।5.34.5।।

sā tayoḥ kuśalaṃ devī niśamya narasiṃhayoḥ| prītisaṃhṛṣṭasarvāṅgī hanumantamathābravīt

On hearing the wellbeing of Rama and Lakshman, lions among men, Sita experienced thrill all over her body. She then spoke to Hanuman:

कल्याणी बत गाथेयं लौकिकी प्रतिभाति मा। एति जीवन्तमानन्दो नरं वर्षशतादपि।।5.34.6।।

kalyāṇī bata gātheyaṃ laukikī pratibhāti mā| eti jīvantamānando naraṃ varṣaśatādapi

"The adage that 'joy comes to a living being even though it be at the end of a hundred years' is popular. It appears true in my case".

तया समागते तस्मिन्प्रीतिरुत्पादिताऽद्भुता। परस्परेण चालापं विश्वस्तौ तौ प्रचक्रतुः।।5.34.7।।

tayā samāgate tasminprītirutpāditā'dbhutā| paraspareṇa cālāpaṃ viśvastau tau pracakratuḥ

Hanuman thus created a sense of wonderful joy in her as they came together. Both of them started to converse restoring confidence in each other.

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा हनुमान्हरियूथपः। सीतायाश्शोकदीनायास्समीपमुपचक्रमे।।5.34.8।।

tasyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā hanumānhariyūthapaḥ| sītāyāśśokadīnāyāssamīpamupacakrame

Hearing the reply of Sita, who was crying piteously, stricken with grief, the monkey leader, Hanuman moved close to her.

यथा यथा समीपं स हनुमानुपसर्पति। तथा तथा रावणं सा तं सीता परिशङ्कते।।5.34.9।।

yathā yathā samīpaṃ sa hanumānupasarpati| tathā tathā rāvaṇaṃ sā taṃ sītā pariśaṅkate

As Hanuman started slowly drawing close, Sita suspected he might be Ravana.

अहो धिग्दुष्कृतमिदं कथितं हि यदस्य मे। रूपान्तरमुपागम्य स एवायं हि रावणः।।5.34.10।।

aho dhigduṣkṛtamidaṃ kathitaṃ hi yadasya me| rūpāntaramupāgamya sa evāyaṃ hi rāvaṇaḥ

"Ohshame on me. I have told him my story which should not have been said. This is verily Ravana come in a disguise".

तामशोकस्य शाखां सा विमुक्त्वा शोककर्शिता। तस्यामेवानवद्याङ्गी धरण्यां समुपाविशत्।।5.34.11।।

tāmaśokasya śākhāṃ sā vimuktvā śokakarśitā| tasyāmevānavadyāṅgī dharaṇyāṃ samupāviśat

So saying Sita of flawless limbs, emaciated with grief, left the branch of Ashoka tree held by her and squatted on the ground.

हनुमानपि दुःखार्तां तां दृष्ट्वा भयमोहिताम्। अवन्दत महाबाहुस्ततस्तां जनकात्मजाम्।।5.34.12।। सा चैनं भयवित्रस्ता भूयो नैवाभ्युदैक्षत।

hanumānapi duḥkhārtāṃ tāṃ dṛṣṭvā bhayamohitām| avandata mahābāhustatastāṃ janakātmajām sā cainaṃ bhayavitrastā bhūyo naivābhyudaikṣata|

The longarmed Hanuman saw Sita, who was stricken with grief and deluded with fear. He prostrated to her. But out of fear she did not look at him.

तं दृष्ट्वा वन्दमानं तु सीता शशिनिभानना।।5.34.13।। अब्रवीद्धीर्घमुच्छवस्य वानरं मधुरस्वरा।

taṃ dṛṣṭvā vandamānaṃ tu sītā śaśinibhānanā abravīddhīrghamucchavasya vānaraṃ madhurasvarā|

On seeing the vanara prostrated, the moonfaced lady, sighed deeply and spoke to him in a sweet voice:

मायां प्रविष्टो मायावी यदि त्वं रावणस्स्वयम्।।5.34.14।। उत्पादयसि मे भूयस्सन्तापं तन्न शोभनम्।

māyāṃ praviṣṭo māyāvī yadi tvaṃ rāvaṇassvayam utpādayasi me bhūyassantāpaṃ tanna śobhanam|

"If you are that trickster Ravana who appears incognito before me, it is not good for you. You are causing grief again.

स्वं परित्यज्य रूपं यः परिव्राजकरूपध्रुत्। जनस्थाने मया दृष्टस्त्वं स एवासि रावणः।।5.34.15।।

svaṃ parityajya rūpaṃ yaḥ parivrājakarūpadhrut| janasthāne mayā dṛṣṭastvaṃ sa evāsi rāvaṇaḥ

"You are the same Ravana who took the guise of a mendicant, giving up your real form and came to Janasthana.

उपवासकृशां दीनां कामरूप निशाचर। सन्तापयसि मां भूयस्सन्तप्तां तन्न शोभनम्।।5.34.16।।

upavāsakṛśāṃ dīnāṃ kāmarūpa niśācara| santāpayasi māṃ bhūyassantaptāṃ tanna śobhanam

"Oh you are one who can assume any form at will. You are a nightstalker. It is not good for you to cause pain to me who is already emaciated through fasting, who is pitiable and who is already afflicted.

अथवा नैतदेवं हि यन्मया परिशङ्कितम्।।5.34.17।। मनसो हि मम प्रीतिरुत्पन्ना तव दर्शनात्।

athavā naitadevaṃ hi yanmayā pariśaṅkitam manaso hi mama prītirutpannā tava darśanāt|

"May be my suspicion is not correct Because I am experiencing pleasure in my mind in your presence.

यदि रामस्य दूतस्त्वमागतो भद्रमस्तु ते।।5.34.18।। पृच्छामि त्वां हरिश्रेष्ठ प्रिया रामकथा हि मे।

yadi rāmasya dūtastvamāgato bhadramastu te pṛcchāmi tvāṃ hariśreṣṭha priyā rāmakathā hi me|

"O great vanara, If on the other hand you have come here as Rama's messenger I wish you well. I love Rama's story. Tell me.

गुणान्रामस्य कथय प्रियस्य मम वानर।।5.34.19।। चित्तं हरसि मे सौम्य नदीकूलं यथा रयः।

guṇānrāmasya kathaya priyasya mama vānara cittaṃ harasi me saumya nadīkūlaṃ yathā rayaḥ|

"O vanara Rama's virtues are dear to me to hear. O gentle one just as the current of the river wears away its banks, my mind is lured by your presence.

अहो स्वप्नस्य सुखता याहमेवं चिराहृता।।5.34.20।। प्रेषितं नाम पश्यामि राघवेण वनौकसम्।

aho svapnasya sukhatā yāhamevaṃ cirāhṛtā preṣitaṃ nāma paśyāmi rāghaveṇa vanaukasam|

"Oh I have been seeing the person sent by Rama in my dream for a long time. This is a pleasant dream to me.

स्वप्नेऽपि यद्यहं वीरं राघवं सहलक्ष्मणम्।।5.34.21।। पश्येयं नावसीदेयं स्वप्नोऽपि मम मत्सरी।

svapne'pi yadyahaṃ vīraṃ rāghavaṃ sahalakṣmaṇam paśyeyaṃ nāvasīdeyaṃ svapno'pi mama matsarī|

"Even if I can see the heroic Rama together with Lakshmana in my dream my pain will be gone. Even the dream is inimical to me (I cannot sleep and thus cannot dream.)

नाहं स्वप्नमिमं मन्ये स्वप्ने दृष्ट्वा हि वानरम्।।5.34.22।। न शक्योऽभ्युदयः प्राप्तुं प्राप्तश्चाभ्युदयो मम।

nāhaṃ svapnamimaṃ manye svapne dṛṣṭvā hi vānaram na śakyo'bhyudayaḥ prāptuṃ prāptaścābhyudayo mama|

"I do not think it is a dream. Pleasure cannot be experienced by seeing a vanara in a dream. I experience pleasure now (seeing a monkey in a dream is a bad omen).

किन्नु स्याचित्तमोहोऽयं भवेद्वातगतिस्त्वियम्।।5.34.23।। उन्मादजो विकारो वा स्यादियं मृगतृष्णिका।

kinnu syācittamoho'yaṃ bhavedvātagatistviyam unmādajo vikāro vā syādiyaṃ mṛgatṛṣṇikā|

"Can this be a delusion of my mind or a mental imbalance (resulting in movement of the mind in the body). Is it a malady born of my madness? Or is it a mirage?

अथवा नायमुन्मादो मोहोऽप्युन्मादलक्षणः।।5.34.24।। सम्बुध्ये चाहमात्मानमियं चापि वनौकसम्।

athavā nāyamunmādo moho'pyunmādalakṣaṇaḥ sambudhye cāhamātmānamiyaṃ cāpi vanaukasam|

"No, this cannot be insanity. nor even delusion. But I recognise this vanara well"

इत्येवं बहुधा सीता सम्प्रधार्य बलाबलम्।।5.34.25।। रक्षसां कामरूपत्वान्मेने तं राक्षसाधिपम्।

ityevaṃ bahudhā sītā sampradhārya balābalam rakṣasāṃ kāmarūpatvānmene taṃ rākṣasādhipam|

Considering the strength and weakness of demons in that manner Sita thought that Hanuman was none other than the king of demons who can asume any form at will.

एतां बुद्धिं तदा कृत्वा सीता सा तनुमध्यमा।।5.34.26।। न प्रतिव्याजहाराथ वानरं जनकात्मजा।

etāṃ buddhiṃ tadā kṛtvā sītā sā tanumadhyamā na prativyājahārātha vānaraṃ janakātmajā|

Having entertained such thoughts, Sita, the lady with a fairwaist, daughter of Janaka, did not respond to the vanara.

सीतायाश्चिन्तितं बुद्ध्वा हनुमान्मारुतात्मजः।।5.34.27।। श्रोत्रानुकूलैर्वचनैस्तदा तां संप्रहर्षयत्।

sītāyāścintitaṃ buddhvā hanumānmārutātmajaḥ śrotrānukūlairvacanaistadā tāṃ saṃpraharṣayat|

Hanuman, son of the Windgod understood what was going on in Sita's mind and spoke pleasing words that brought joy in her.

आदित्य इव तेजस्वी लोककान्तश्शशी यथा।।5.34.28।। राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवो वैश्रवणो यथा। विक्रमेणोपपन्नश्च यथा विष्णुर्महायशाः।।5.34.29।।

āditya iva tejasvī lokakāntaśśaśī yathā rājā sarvasya lokasya devo vaiśravaṇo yathā| vikrameṇopapannaśca yathā viṣṇurmahāyaśāḥ

"Rama is glorious as the Sun, brings delight to the whole world like the Moon, is the king of kings like Vaisravana, and renowned like Visnu endowed with valour.

आदित्य इव तेजस्वी लोककान्तश्शशी यथा।।5.34.28।। राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवो वैश्रवणो यथा। विक्रमेणोपपन्नश्च यथा विष्णुर्महायशाः।।5.34.29।।

āditya iva tejasvī lokakāntaśśaśī yathā rājā sarvasya lokasya devo vaiśravaṇo yathā| vikrameṇopapannaśca yathā viṣṇurmahāyaśāḥ

"Rama is glorious as the Sun, brings delight to the whole world like the Moon, is the king of kings like Vaisravana, and renowned like Visnu endowed with valour.

सत्यवादी मधुरवाग्देवो वाचस्पतिर्यथा। रूपवान्सुभग श्रीमान् कन्दर्प इव मूर्तिमान्।।5.34.30।।

satyavādī madhuravāgdevo vācaspatiryathā| rūpavānsubhaga śrīmān kandarpa iva mūrtimān

"He is truthful in speech like Brihaspati, prosperous (like Kubera), sweettongued, handsome, graceful like Kamadeva.

स्थानक्रोधः प्रहर्ता च श्रेष्ठो लोके महारथः। बाहुच्छायामवष्टब्धो यस्य लोको महात्मनः।।5.34.31।।

sthānakrodhaḥ prahartā ca śreṣṭho loke mahārathaḥ| bāhucchāyāmavaṣṭabdho yasya loko mahātmanaḥ

"He shows anger to one who deserves it, he is the foremost charioteer of the world and he is a great self under the shadow of whose shoulders the whole world takes refuge.

अपकृष्याश्रमपदान्मृगरूपेण राघवम्। शून्ये येनापनीतासि तस्य द्रक्ष्यसि यत्फलम्।।5.34.32।।

apakṛṣyāśramapadānmṛgarūpeṇa rāghavam| śūnye yenāpanītāsi tasya drakṣyasi yatphalam

"You will see the consequences of the action of Ravana who abducted you deceitfully in the form of deer when Rama was away from the hermitage.

न चिराद्रावणं संख्ये यो वधिष्यति वीर्यवान्। रोषप्रमुक्तैरिषुभिर्ज्वलद्भिरिव पावकैः।।5.34.33।। तेनाहं प्रेषितो दूत स्त्वत्सकाशमिहागतः। त्वद्वियोगेन दुःखार्त स्स त्वां कौशलमब्रवीत्।।5.34.34।।

na cirādrāvaṇaṃ saṃkhye yo vadhiṣyati vīryavān| roṣapramuktairiṣubhirjvaladbhiriva pāvakaiḥ tenāhaṃ preṣito dūta stvatsakāśamihāgataḥ| tvadviyogena duḥkhārta ssa tvāṃ kauśalamabravīt

"Heroic Rama will soon release many scorching, fiery arrows in anger and kill Ravana. I seek your permission as an envoy of Rama. Filled with grief by your separation, he has made inquiries about your welfare.

न चिराद्रावणं संख्ये यो वधिष्यति वीर्यवान्। रोषप्रमुक्तैरिषुभिर्ज्वलद्भिरिव पावकैः।।5.34.33।। तेनाहं प्रेषितो दूत स्त्वत्सकाशमिहागतः। त्वद्वियोगेन दुःखार्त स्स त्वां कौशलमब्रवीत्।।5.34.34।।

na cirādrāvaṇaṃ saṃkhye yo vadhiṣyati vīryavān| roṣapramuktairiṣubhirjvaladbhiriva pāvakaiḥ tenāhaṃ preṣito dūta stvatsakāśamihāgataḥ| tvadviyogena duḥkhārta ssa tvāṃ kauśalamabravīt

"Heroic Rama will soon release many scorching, fiery arrows in anger and kill Ravana. I seek your permission as an envoy of Rama. Filled with grief by your separation, he has made inquiries about your welfare.

लक्ष्मणश्च महातेजास्सुमित्रानन्दवर्धनः। अभिवाद्य महाबाहुस्स त्वां कौशलमब्रवीत्।।5.34.35।।

lakṣmaṇaśca mahātejāssumitrānandavardhanaḥ| abhivādya mahābāhussa tvāṃ kauśalamabravīt

"The brilliant, longarmed Lakshmana, delight of Sumitra enquires about your welfare and offers salutations to you.

रामस्य च सखा देवि सुग्रीवो नाम वानरः। राजा वानरमुख्यानां स त्वां कौशलमब्रवीत्।।5.34.36।।

rāmasya ca sakhā devi sugrīvo nāma vānaraḥ| rājā vānaramukhyānāṃ sa tvāṃ kauśalamabravīt

"O goddess like lady Rama's friend Sugriva, king of vanara chieftans inquires about your wellbeing.

नित्यं स्मरति रामस्त्वां ससुग्रीव स्सलक्ष्मणः। दिष्ट्या जीवसि वैदेहि राक्षसीवशमागता।।5.34.37।।

nityaṃ smarati rāmastvāṃ sasugrīva ssalakṣmaṇaḥ| diṣṭyā jīvasi vaidehi rākṣasīvaśamāgatā

"O Vaidehi Rama, Lakshmana and Sugriva always remember you. Luckily you are alive even though you are under the clutches of shedemons.

नचिराद्द्रक्ष्यसे रामं लक्ष्मणं च महाबलम्। मध्ये वानरकोटीनां सुग्रीवं चामितौजसम्।।5.34.38।।

nacirāddrakṣyase rāmaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ ca mahābalam| madhye vānarakoṭīnāṃ sugrīvaṃ cāmitaujasam

"Very soon you will see mighty Rama, Lakshmana and Sugriva of unlimited prowess surrounded by crores of vanaras.

अहं सुग्रीवसचिवो हनुमान्नाम वानरः। प्रविष्टो नगरीं लङ्कां लङ्घयित्वा महोदधिम्।।5.34.39।।

ahaṃ sugrīvasacivo hanumānnāma vānaraḥ| praviṣṭo nagarīṃ laṅkāṃ laṅghayitvā mahodadhim

"I am Sugriva's minister known as Hanuman, a vanara who entered the city of Lanka after leaping over the great ocean.

कृत्वा मूर्ध्नि पदन्यासं रावणस्य दुरात्मनः। त्वां द्रष्टुमुपयातोऽहं समाश्रित्य पराक्रमम्।।5.34.40।।

kṛtvā mūrdhni padanyāsaṃ rāvaṇasya durātmanaḥ| tvāṃ draṣṭumupayāto'haṃ samāśritya parākramam

"Setting my foot with my valour on the head of the cruelminded Ravana, using my valour, I came here to see you.

नाहमस्मि तथा देवि यथा मामवगच्छसि। विशङ्का त्यज्यतामेषा श्रद्धत्स्व वदतो मम।।5.34.41।।

nāhamasmi tathā devi yathā māmavagacchasi| viśaṅkā tyajyatāmeṣā śraddhatsva vadato mama

"O goddesslike lady I am not a deceitful person as you suppose me to be. Shake off your suspicion as I speak to you and trust me." इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे चतुस्त्रिंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the thirtyfourth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.