Sri Valmiki Ramayanam - Sundara Kanda (book 5) Sarga 65 to 68

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

( Translation and Commentary by Scholar, 

 Sreeman Brahmasree Desiraju Hanumantharao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasree K M K Murthy ji )

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

Book V : Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty

Chapter [Sarga] 65

Introduction

Angada, Hanuma and other monkeys approach Rama, Lakshmana and Sugreeva at Mount Prasravana. When monkeys start narrating the news of Seetha, Rama asks further details of Seetha. Then, the monkeys request Hanuma to explain the occurrences to Rama in detail. Then, Hanuma appraises Rama of Seetha's presence at the foot of a Simsupa tree in the midst of female-demons. After narrating the incidents related by her and delivering to Rama the jewel for the head, earlier handed-over by Seetha as a token, Hanuma conveys her message to Rama.

tataH prasravaNam shailam te gatvaa citra kaananam |
praNamya shirasaa raamam lakShmaNam ca mahaabalam || 5-65-1
yuva raajam puraH kR^itya sugriivam abhivaadya ca |
pravR^ittam atha siitaayaaH pravaktum upacakramuH || 5-65-2

1, 2. puraH kR^itya yuva raajan= keeping Angada the prince, in their front; te= those monkeys; tataH= then; gatvaa= going; prasravaNam shailam= to Mount Prasravana; chitra kaananam- with forests of variegated appearance; praNamya= offering their salutation; shirasaa= by bowing their heads; raamam= to Rama; mahaabalam lakSmaNamcha= and the mighty Lakshmana; abhivaadya cha= and respectfully saluting; sugriivam= Sugreeva; atha= and then; upachakramaH= started; pravaktum= to narrate; pravR^ittim= the news; siitaayaaH= of Seetha.

Keeping Angada the prince in their forefront those monkeys, on reaching Mount Prasravana having forests of variegated appearance, offered their salutation by bowing their heads in reverence to Rama and the mighty Lakshmana, greeting Sugreeva respectfully. Then, they started narrating the news of Seetha.

raavaNa antaH pure rodham raakShasiibhiH ca tarjanam |
raame samanuraagam ca yaH ca api samayaH kR^itaH || 5-65-3
etat aakhyaanti te sarve harayo raama samnidhau |

3. sarve= all; te harayaH= those monkeys; aakhyaanti= were narrating; raame samnidhau= in the presence of Rama; etat= all this; rodham= about restraining (Seetha); raavaNa antaH pure= in Ravana's gynaecium; raakShasiibhiH= by the female-demons; tarjanam cha= frightening her; samanuraagamcha= and her complete affection; raame= towards Rama; yaH ayam samayaH kR^itaH= and the time-limit (two months) given by Ravana.

Those monkeys started to narrate, in the presence of Rama, about, the female-demons, and frightening Seetha in Ravana's gynaecium, her complete affection towards Rama and the time-limit of two months given by Ravana.

vaidehiim akShataam shrutvaa raamaH tu uttaram abraviit || 5-65-4
kva siitaa vartate devii katham ca mayi vartate |
etan me sarvam aakhyaata vaidehiim prati vaanaraaH || 5-65-5

4, 5. shrutvaa= hearing vaidehiim= of Seetha; akShataam= being alive; raamatu= Rama on his part; uttaram abraviit= replied; kva= where; vartate= is; devii siitaa= Seetha, the princess?; katham= how; vartate= is she disposed; mayi= towards me? vaanaraaH= O monkeys!; aakhyaata= tell; me= me; sarvam= all; etat= this; vaidehiim prati= about Seetha.

Hearing of Seetha being alive, Rama on his part replied, "Where is Seetha, the princess? How is she disposed towards me? O monkeys! Tell me all that about Seetha."

raamasya gaditam shrutva harayo raama samnidhau |
codayanti hanuumantam siitaa vR^itta anta kovidam || 5-65-6

6. shrutvaa= hearing; gaditam= the words; raamasya= of Rama; harayaH= the monkeys; chodayanti hanumantam= urged Hanuma to tell; raama sannidhau= in the presence of Rama; siitaa vR^itta anta kovidam= (since) Hanuma knows all the incidents about Seetha.

Hearing the words of Rama, the monkeys urged Hanuma to tell, in the presence of Rama, all the incidents because he knew them better, about Seetha.

shrutvaa tu vacanam teShaam hanuumaan maaruta aatmajaH |
praNamya shirasaa devyai siitaayai taam disham prati || 5-65-7
uvaaca vaakyam vaakyaj~naH siitaayaa darshanam yathaa |

7. shrutvaa= hearing; teShaam vachanam= their words; vaakyajJNaH= eloquent; hanumaan= Hanuma; maarutaatmajaH= the son of wind-god; praNamya= saluting; shirasaa= with his head; taam disham prati= towards that direction; devyai siitaayai= of Seetha, the princess; uvaacha= spoke; vaakyam= (the following) words; yathaa siitaayaaH darshanam= how Seetha's seeing occurred.

Hearing the words of those monkeys, the eloquent Hanuma, the son of wind-god saluting towards the direction of the Seetha the princess by bowing his head, spoke the following words, explaining how he saw Seetha.

samudram langhayitvaa aham shata yojanam aayatam || 5-65-8
agacCham jaanakiim siitaam maargamaaNo didR^ikShayaa |

8. didR^ikSayaa= with a wish to see Seetha; aham= I; aagachchham= went; laN^ghayitvaa= crossing; samudram= the ocean; shata yojanam aayatam= of a width of one hundred Yojanas; maargamaaNaH= searching; siitaam= Seetha; jaanakiim= the daughter of Janaka.

"Having gone across the ocean, a hundred Yojanas wide, I reached the southern shore looking in search of Seetha, Janaka's daughter, with a wish to see her."

tatra lankaa iti nagarii raavaNasya duraatmanaH || 5-65-9
dakShiNasya samudrasya tiire vasati dakShiNe |

9. tatra= there; dakSiNa tiire= at the southern shore; dakSiNasya samudrasya= of the southern ocean; vasati= there is; nagarii= a city; laNketi= called Lanka; duraatmanaH raavaNasya= of the evil-minded Ravana.

"There at the southern shore of the southern ocean, there is city called Lanka of the evil-minded Ravana."

tatra dR^iShTaa mayaa siitaa raavaNa antaH pure satii || 5-65-10
samnyasya tvayi jiivantii raamaa raama mano ratham |

10. raama= O, Rama!; tatra= there; dR^iSTaa= it was seen; mayaa= by me; raavaNaantaH pure= in Ravana's gynaecium; siitaa= Seetha; raamaa= the lady; satii= and the virtuous wife; jiivantii= living; samnyasya= placing; mano ratham= heart's desire; tvayi= in you.

"O Rama! There, living in Ravana's gynaecium in the city, I saw the lady Seetha, your virtuous wife, centering here heart's desire in you."

dR^iShTaa me raakShasii madhye tarjyamaanaa muhuH muhuH || 5-65-11
raakShasiibhiH viruupaabhii rakShitaa pramadaa vane |

11. pramadaavane= In the pleasure-garden; (that Seetha); dR^iSTaa= was seen; me= by me; raakSasiimadhye= in the midst of female demons; rakSitaa= guarded; viruupaabhiH= by ugly-faced; raakSabhiH= female-demon; tarjyamaanaa= and threatened; muhuH muhuH= again and again (by them).

"In that pleasure garden, I saw Seetha sitting in the midst of female demons, guarded by those ugly-faced female-demons as also time and again being threatened by them."

duhkham aapadyate devii tava aduhkha ucitaa satii || 5-65-12
raavaNa antaH pure ruddhvaa raakShasiibhiH surakShitaa |
eka veNii dharaa diinaa tvayi cintaa paraayaNaa || 5-65-13
adhaH shayyaa vivarNa angii padminii iva hima aagame |
raavaNaat vinivR^itta arthaa martavya kR^ita nishcayaa || 5-65-14
devii kathamcit kaakutstha tvan manaa maargitaa mayaa |

12, 13, 14. viira= O hero!; tvayaa sukhocitaa devii= Seetha, who deserves to live happily with you; aapadyate= is obtaining; duHkham= grief; kaakutthsa= O Rama!; kathamchit= somehow; maargitaa= searched through; mayaa= by me; devii= that princess; ekveNiidharaa= wearing a single plait (as a mark of desolation); diinaa= miserable; tvayi chintaaparaayaNaa= remaining absorbed in your thought; adaH shayyaa= reposing n the floor; vivarNaaNgii= having discoloured limbs; padminiiva= like a louts; himaagame= in the winter-season; vinivR^ittaarthaa= turning back the wish; raavaNaat= from Ravana; martavyakR^ita nishchayaa= having determined to die; tvanmanaaH= and thinking of you.

"O hero! Seetha, who deserves to live happily with you, is obtaining grief. O Rama! I somehow searched that princess, Seetha wearing a single plait (as a as a mark of desolation), looking miserable, remaining absorbed in your thought, reposing on the floor, having discoloured limbs like a lotus in winter, turning back the wish from Ravana, having determined to die, but thinking of you alone."

ikShvaaku vamsha vikhyaatim shanaiH kiirtayata anagha || 5-65-15
sa mayaa nara shaarduula vishvaasam upapaaditaa |

15. anagha= O faultless; narashaarduula= tiger among men!; saa= that Seetha; upapaaditaa= was established; vishvaasam= confidence; mayaa= by me; shanaiH kiirtayataa= in slowly mentioning; ikSvaaku kula vikhyaatim= the fame of Ikshvaku dynasty.

"O faultless tiger among men! Seetha established confidence in me, after I slowly described to her the fame of Ikshvaku dynasty."

tataH sambhaaShitaa devii sarvam artham ca darshitaa || 5-65-16
raama sugriiva sakhyam ca shrutvaa priitim upaagataa |
niyataH samudaacaaro bhaktiH ca asyaaH tathaa tvayi || 5-65-17

16, 17. tataH= thereafter; devii= Seetha the princess; sambhaaSitaa= was spoken; darshitaa= and explained; sarvam artham= about all the significance (of my arrival); shrutvaa= on hearing; raama sugriivasakhyam= about the friendship between Rama and Sugreeva; upaagataa= she obtained; priitim= satisfaction; asyaaH= her; samudaachaaraH= right practice of conduct; niyataH= is constant; tathaa= and; bhaktishcha= her devotion; tvayi= in you, is also constant.

"Thereafter, I spoke and explained to Seetha, about the entire significance of my arrival there. On hearing about the alliance between Rama and Sugreeva, she was quite pleased. Her morality as well as her devotion in you are steadfast."

evam mayaa mahaabhaagaa dR^iShTaa janaka nandinii |
ugreNa tapasaa yuktaa tvat bhaktyaa puruSha R^iShabha || 5-65-18

18. puruSarSabha= O foremost of men!; mahaabhaagaa= the illustrious; janakanandinii= Seetha; dR^ShiTaa= was seen; evam= thus; mayaa= by me; (Seetha) yuktaa ugreNa tapasaa= was endowed with severe penance; tvadbhaktyaa= and devotion towards you.

"O, the foremost of men! I thus saw that illustrious Seetha, endowed with severe penance and devotion towards you."

abhij~naanam ca me dattam yathaa vR^ittam tava antike |
citra kuuTe mahaapraaj~na vaayasam prati raaghava || 5-65-19

19. raaghava= O Rama; mahaapraajJNa= of great intelligence!; abhijJNaanam= a token of remembrance; dattam= was given; me= to me; yathaa vR^ittam= a previous event; vaayasam prati= about a crow; tava antike= at your vicinity; chitrakuuTe= in Mount Chitrakuta.

"O Rama, of great intelligence! To me, she gave as a token of remembrance, a previous event of a crow occurred at your vicinity in Mount Chitrakuta."

vij~naapyaH ca nara vyaaghro raamo vaayu suta tvayaa |
akhilena iha yat dR^iShTam iti maam aaha jaanakii || 5-65-20

20. jaanakii= Seetha; saha= spoke; maam= to me; iti= saying; vaayusut= "O Hanuma!; raamaH= Rama; nara vyaaghraH= the foremost of men; vijJNaapya= is to be informed; akhilena= all; yat= of which; dR^iShTam= seen; tvayaa= by you; iha= here."

"Seetha spoke to me saying, 'O Hanuma! Inform Rama, the foremost among men, all that you have seen here."

ayam ca asmai pradaatavyam yatnaat suparirakShitam |
bruvataa vacanaani evam sugriivasya upashR^iNvataH || 5-65-21

21. sugriivasya= (while) Sugreeva; upashR^iNvataH= is hearing; bruvataa= and while you are telling; vachanaani= the words; evam= in this way; ayam cha= (let) this jewel; suparikShitaH yatnaat= well-guarded deliberately; pradaatavyaH ayam cha= be given; asmai= to this Rama.

"While Sugreeva is hearing nearby and while you are telling the words in this way, let this jewel, which is deliberately well-guarded, be given to Rama."

eSha cuuDaa maNiH shriimaan mayaa te yatna rakShitaH |
manaH shilaayaaH tikalaH tam smarasva iti ca abraviit || 5-65-22
tvayaa praaSTe timke tam kila smartumarhasi |

22. eSaH= this; shriimaan= beautiful; chuuDaa maNiH= jewel for the head; suparirakSitaH= has been well-guarded; mayaa= by me; arhasi= you ought; smartum= to recall; niveshitaH kila tilakaH= a mark indeed painted; tvayaa= by you (by a slip); gaN^Dapaarshve= on the curve of my cheek; orange-red; tilake= when my former mark on my forehead; praNaShTe= got effaced.

"This beautiful jewel for the head has been well-guarded by me. You also ought to recall a mark indeed painted by you (by slip) on the curve of my cheek with powder of an orange-red rock, when my former mark on my forehead got effaced."

eSha niryaatitaH shriimaan mayaa te vaari sambhavaH || 5-65-23
etam dR^iShTvaa pramodiShye vyasane tvaam iva anagha |

23. eSaH shriimaan= this beautiful jewel; vaari sambhavaH= which has its origin in sea-water; niryaatitaH= has been sent; te= to you; dR^iSTvaa= seeing; etam= this vyasahe= in my grief; pramodiShye= I am feeling happy; tvaaniiva= as though I am seeing you.

"This beautiful jewel, which has its origin in sea-water, has been sent to you. Seeing this in my grief, I am feeling always happy as though I am seeing you."

jiivitam dhaarayiShyaami maasam dasharatha aatmaja || 5-65-24
uurdhvam maasaan na jiiveyam rakShasaam vasham aagataa |

24. dasharaatmaja= O Rama!; dhaarayiShyaami= I shall be sustaining; jiivitam= my life; maasam= for a mouth; aagataa= having come into; vasham= the control; rakShasaam= of demons; na jiivayam= I cannot survive; uurdhvam= above; maasaat= one month.

"O Rama! I shall be sustaining my life for a month. Having come into the control of demons, I cannot survive beyond one month."

iti maam abraviit siitaa kR^isha angii dharma caariNii || 5-65-25
raavaNa antaH pure ruddhaa mR^igii iva utphulla locanaa |

25. siitaa= Seetha; kR^isha aNgii= with her emaciated body; dharma chaariNii= practising virtue; ruddhaa= confined; raavaNaantaH pure= in Ravana's gynaceium; utphulla lochanaa= with her wide-open eyes; mR^igiiva= like that of a doe; abraviit= spoke; iti= as following; maam= to me.

"Seetha, with her emaciated body, practicing virtue, confined in Ravana's gynaecium and with her wide-open eyes like that of a doe, spoke to me the following words:

etat eva mayaa aakhyaatam sarvam raaghava yat yathaa || 5-65-26
sarvathaa saagara jale samtaaraH pravidhiiyataam |

26. raaghava= O Rama!; etat= this; sarvam eva= exactly in its entirety; khyaatam= has been narrated; mayaa= by me; yat yathaa= as it occurred; samtaaraH pravidhiiyataam= let a bridge by constructed; sarvathaa= by all means; saagara jale= in the waters of the ocean.

"O Rama! I have narrated to you whatever has occurred, in its entirety. Let a bridge be constructed, by all means, across the waters of the ocean."

tau jaata aashvaasau raaja putrau viditvaa |
tac ca abhij~naanam raaghavaaya pradaaya |
devyaa ca aakhyaatam sarvam eva aanupuurvyaat |
vaacaa sampuurNam vaayu putraH shashamsa || 5-65-27

27. viditvaa= coming to know; tau raaja putrau= that the two princes, Rama and Lakshmana; jaata aashvaasau= have become confident; pradaaya= and having given; tat abhijJNaanam= that token of remembrance; raaghavaaya= to Rama; vaayu putraH= Hanuma; shashamsa= apprised; vaachaa= in words; sampuurNam= completely; anupuurvyaat= in regular succession; sarvameva= all that; aakhyaatam= was conveyed; devyaa= by Seetha the princess.

Coming to know that the two princes, Rama and Lakshmana have become confident and having given that token of remembrance to Rama, Hanuma apprised completely in so many words, in regular succession, all that was conveyed by Seetha, the princess.

ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakaaNDe paJNchaSaSTitamaH sargaH

Thus completes 65th Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book V : Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty

Chapter [Sarga] 66

Introduction

Rama, presses the jewel for the head, dispatched by Seetha on his bosom and speaks to Sugreeva, telling him that by seeing that excellent jewel he obtains the sight of Seetha, her father and father-in-law. Rama urges Hanuma, to repeat the words spoken by Seetha.

evam ukto hanumataa raamo dasharatha aatmajaH |
tam maNim hR^idaye kR^itvaa praruroda salakShmaNaH || 5-66-1

1. evam= thus; uktaH= spoken; hanumataa= by Hanuma; raamaH= Rama; dasharatha aatmajaH= the son of Dasaratha; salakSmaNaH= having Lakshmana by his side; kR^itvaa= pressing; tam maNim= that jewel; hR^idaye= on his bosom; prarurodaH= began to weep.

Hearing the words of Hanuma, Rama the son of Dasaratha, having Lakshmana by his side, pressing that jewel on his bosom, began to weep.

tam tu dR^iShTvaa maNi shreShTham raaghavaH shoka karshitaH |
netraabhyaam ashru puurNaabhyaam sugriivam idam abraviit || 5-66-2

2. dR^iSTvaa= seeing; tam maNi shreSTham= that excellent jewel; raaghavaH= Rama; shoka karshitaH= emaciated with grief; netraabhyaam= with his eyes; ashru puurNaabhyaam= filled with tears; abraviit= spoke; idam= these words; sugriivam= to Sugreeva.

Seeing that excellent jewel, Rama emaciated with grief, having his eyes filled with tears, spoke to Sugreeva as follows:

yathaiva dhenuH sravati snehaat vatsasya vatsalaa |
tathaa mama api hR^idayam maNi ratnasya darshanaat || 5-66-3

3. yathiava= even as; dhenuH= a cow; vatsalaa= who is affectionate towards her offspring; sravati= gushed forth milk (from her teats); snehaat= due to her love; vastasya= at the very sight of her calf; mama hR^idayam api tathaa= so does my through the sight; maNi ratnasya= of the excellent jewel.

"Even as a cow, who is affectionate towards her offspring, gushes forth the milk (from her teats) due to her love at the very sight of her calf, so does my heart too melt through the sight of this excellent jewel."

maNi ratnam idam dattam vaidehyaaH shvashureNa me |
vadhuu kaale yathaa baddham adhikam muurdhni shobhate || 5-66-4

4. idam= this; maNi ratnam= excellent jewel; dattam= was presented; me shvashureNa= by my father-in-law; vaidehyaaH= to Seetha; vadhuu kaale= when she had become a bride; aabaddham= and was tied; muurdhni= to her head; yathaa= in such a way (as it looked); adhikam shobhate= additionally beautifying.

"This excellent jewel was presented by my father-in-law to Seetha when she had become a bride and was tied to her head in such a way that it looked additionally beautifying."

ayam hi jala sambhuuto maNiH pravara puujitaH |
yaj~ne parama tuShTena dattaH shakreNa dhiimataa || 5-66-5

5. ayam maNiH= this jewel; jala sambhuutaH= which was born in water; sajjana puujitaH= and recommended by the good; dattaH= had been presented (to him); dhiimataa shakreNa= by the intelligent Indra the lord of celestials; parama tuShTena= who was highly pleased; yaJNe= in Yajna sacrificial rite.

"The jewel, which was found in the waters and recommended by the good, had been presented to him earlier by the intelligent Indra the lord of celestials, who was highly pleased in Yajna, a sacrificial rite (intended to propitiate him)."

imam dR^iShTvaa maNi shreShTham tathaa taatasya darshanam |
adya asmi avagataH saumya vaidehasya tathaa vibhoH || 5-66-6

6. saumya= O gentle Sugreeva!; dR^iShTva= seeing; imam maNi shreShTham= excellent jewel; adya= now; avagataH asmi= I am considering it; yathaa tathaa= as surely as; darshanam= obtaining the sight; taatasya= of my father; tathaa= and; vaidehasya= of Janaka; vibhoH= the king of Videha.

"O gentle Sugreeva! Seeing now this excellent jewel, I am considering it as surely as obtaining the sight of my father as well as Janaka, the king of Videha."

ayam hi shobhate tasyaaH priyaayaa muurdhni me maNiH |
asya darshanena aham praaptaam taam iva cintaye || 5-66-7

7. ayam maNiH= this jewel; shobhate hi= indeed looks splendid; muurdhni= on the head; me priyaayaaH= of my beloved; darshanena= by seeing; asya= this; adya= now; chintaye= I am considering; praaptaamiva= as if I obtained, taam= her.

"This jewel indeed looks splendid on the head of my beloved Seetha. By seeing this now, I am considering as though I obtained the sight of Seetha herself."

kim aaha siitaa vaidehii bruuhi saumya punaH punaH |
pipaasum iva toyena sincantii vaakya vaariNaa || 5-66-8

8. saumya= O gentle one!; bruuhi punaH punaH= repeat again and again; kim= what; siitaa= Seetha; vaidehii= the daughter of king of Videha; aaha= said to you; siNchanti= sprinkling (me); vaakya vaariNaa= with water of words; toyena iva= like offering water; pipaasum= to a thirsty person.

"O gentle one! Repeat again and again, what Seetha the daughter of Videha's king said to you, sprinkling me with your stream of words, like offering water to a thirsty person."

itaH tu kim duhkhataram yat imam vaari sambhavam |
maNim pashyaami saumitre vaidehiim aagatam vinaa || 5-66-9

9. saumitre= O Lakshmana!; kim= what; duHkhataram= could be more painful; itaH= than (the fact); yat pashyaami= that I am seeing; imam maNim= this jewel; vaari sambhavam= found in waters; aagatam vinaa= without the arrival; vaidehiim= of Seetha?

"O Lakshmana! What could be more painful than the fact that I am seeing this jewel found in waters, without the arrival of Seetha?"

ciram jiivati vaidehii yadi maasam dhariShyati |
kShaNam saumya na jiiveyam vinaa taam asita iikShaNaam || 5-66-10

10. saumya= O gentle one!; vaidehii dhariSyati yadi= if Seetha can survive; maasam= for a month; chiram jiivati= it means she is surviving for long!; saumya= O gentle one!; taam asita iikShaNaam vinaa= without that Seetha with her dark eyes na jiiveyam= I cannot survive; kShaNaam= for even a moment.

"O gentle one! If Seetha can survive for a month, it means that she is surviving for long. O gentle one! Without that black-eyed Seetha, I cannot survive for even a moment."

naya maam api tam desham yatra dR^iShTaa mama priyaa |
na tiShTheyam kShaNam api pravR^ittim upalabhya ca || 5-66-11

11. naya= take; maam api= me too; tam desham= to that place; yatra= where; mama priyaa= my beloved Seetha; dR^iSTaa= has been seen. na tiShTheyam= I cannot halt; kShaNam api= even for a moment; upalabhya cha pravR^ittim= after getting the news (of her whereabouts).

"Take me too to that place where my beloved Seetha has been seen. I cannot halt even for a moment, after receiving the news of her location."

katham saa mama sushroNi bhiiru bhiiruH satii tadaa |
bhaya aavahaanaam ghoraaNaam madhye tiShThati rakShasaam || 5-66-12

12. katham= how; mama satii sushroNii= does my virtuous wife, Seetha with charming limbs; bhiiru bhiiruH= who is very shy; tiShThati= stay; sadaa= all the time; rakShasaam= with demons; bhaya aavahaanaam= who are terrific; ghoraaNaam= and cruel?

"How does Seetha, my virtuous wife with her charming limbs, who is very shy, stay all the time with demons who are terrific and cruel?"

shaaradaH timira unmukho nuunam candra iva ambudaiH |
aavR^itam vadanam tasyaa na viraajati raakShasaiH || 5-66-13

13. tasyaaH= her; vadanam= countenance; nuunam= surely; shaaradaH chandraH iva= like autumnal moon; timira unmukhaH= (though) liberated of darkness; aavR^itam ambudaiH= but screened by clouds; na viraajati= does not shine; saampratam= at present.

"Her countenance, surely like automnal moon, though liberated of darkness, but screened by clouds, does not shine at present."

kim aaha siitaa hanuman tattvataH kathayasva me |
etena khalu jiiviShye bheShajena aaturo yathaa || 5-66-14

14. hanumaan= O Hanuma!; kim siitaa aaha= what did Seetha tell? kathaya= tell; me= me; adya= now; tattvataH= in truth; jiiviSye khalu=I shall surely survive; etena= (by hearing) this; aaturaH iva= like a sick man(survives); bheSajena yathaa= as with a medicine.

"O Hanuma! Tell me now, correctly what Seetha told you. I shall surely survive, by hearing her words, even as a sick man would with the help of a medicine."

madhuraa madhura aalaapaa kim aaha mama bhaaminii |
mat vihiinaa varaaarohaa hanuman kathayasva me || 5-66-15

15. kathayasva= tell; me= me; kim= what; mama bhaaminii= my beautiful consort; madhuraa= who is sweet-natured; madhura aalaapaa= who utters sweet words; varaarohanaa= having fine hips; mat vihiinaa= and has been separated from me; aaha= said to you.

"Tell me, what my beautiful consort, who is sweet-natured, and who utters sweet words, having fine hips and has been separated from me, said to you."

tyaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakaaNDe SaTSaSTitamaH sargaH

Thus completes 66th Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book V : Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty

Chapter [Sarga] 67

Introduction

Hanuma narrates at length an incident connected with a crow that occured during the sojourn of Seetha with Rama at Chitrakuta, which was related by Seetha by way of a token of remembrance. Seetha then describes her miserable state to Hanuma and requests him to ask Rama, Lakshmana and Sugreeva to came to Lanka to destroy Ravana together with his army. Hanuma consoles Seetha, saying that Rama and Lakshmana would reduce Lanka to ashes and take her back to Ayodhya. When Hanuma further requests Seetha to give a token of remembrance to be handed over to Rama, she gives him a jewel for the head as a token.

evam uktaH tu hanumaan raaghaveNa mahaatmanaa |
siitaayaa bhaaShitam sarvam nyavedayata raaghave || 5-67-1

1. evam= thus; uktaH= spoken; mahaatmanaa= by the high-souled; raaghaveNa= Rama; hanumaan= Hanuma; nyavedayata= reported; raaghave= to Rama; sarvam= all; bhaaSitam= the words; siitaayaaH= of Seetha.

Hearing the words of the high-souled Rama, Hanuma reported to Rama, all the words spoken by Seetha.

vam uktavatii devii jaanakii puruSha R^iShabha |
puurva vR^ittam abhij~naanam citra kuuTe yathaa tatham || 5-67-2

2. puruSarSabha= O Rama the foremost of men!; jaanakii= Seetha; devii= the princess; uktavatii= spoke; yathaa tatham= a detailed account of an event; puurvavR^ittam= that occured previously; chitrakuuTe= in Mount chitrakuta; abhiJNaanam= as a token of recollection.

"O Rama the foremost of men! Seetha, the princess, spoke a detailed account of an event which occurred long ago in Mount Chitrakuta, as a token of recollection."

sukha suptaa tvayaa saardham jaanakii puurvam utthitaa |
vaayasaH sahasaa utpatya viraraada stana antare || 5-67-3

3. jaanakii= Seetha; sukha suptaa= who slept happily; tvayaa saartham= with you; utthitaa= got up; puurvam= before you; vaayasaH= a crow; utpatya= coming down; sahasaa= quickly; vidadaara= tore the flesh; stanaantare= at an area in the midst of her breasts (with its beak).

"Seetha, who slept happily by your side (at one instance) got up before you. A crow coming down quickly, tore her flesh at an area in the midst of her breasts (with its beak)."

paryaayeNa ca suptaH tvam devi anke bharata agraja |
punaH ca kila pakShii sa devyaa janayati vyathaam || 5-67-4

4. bharata agraja= O Rama!; tvam= you; suptaH= slept; paryaayeNa= in your turn; devi anke= on the lap of the princes; saH pakSii= that crow; punaH ca= again; janayati kila vyathaam= began to torment; devyaaH= the princess.

"O Rama! You slept in your turn on the lap of the princess. That crow again began to torment the princess."

punaH punarupaagamya viraraada bhR^isham kila |
tataH tvam bodhitaH tasyaaH shoNitena samukShitaH || 5-67-5

5. upaagamya= coming near; punaH punaH= again and again; vidadaarakila= it tore (her breast); bhR^isham= severely; tataH= thereafter; samukSitah= dampened; tasyaaH shoNitena= by her blood; tvam= you; bodhitaH kila= were awakened (by her).

"Coming near again and again, it tore her breast severely. Dampened by her blood, you then were awakened by her."

vaayasena ca tena eva satatam baadhyamaanayaa |
bodhitaH kila devyaaH tvam sukha suptaH param tapa || 5-67-6

6. param tapa= O tormentator of enemies!; devyaa= by Seetha the princess; baadhyamaanayaa= who was being tormented; satatam= ceaselessly; te vaayasenaiva= by that crow; tvam= you; sukhasuptaH= who were sleeping happily; bodhitaH kila= were awakened.

"O tormentator of enemies! Though lying happily asleep, you were awakened by Seetha the princess, who was being ceaselessly tormented by the crow."

taam tu dR^iShTvaa mahaabaaho raaditaam ca stana antare |
aashii viSha iva kruddho nihshvasann abhyabhaaShathaaH || 5-67-7

7. mahaabaaho= O Rama with long arms! dR^iSTvaa= seeing; taam= her; daaritaam= who was lacerated; stana antare= at the midst of her breasts; kruddhaH= you were enraged; nishvasann aashii visha iva= like a hissing snake; abhyabhaaSathaaH= spoke (to her as follows):

"O long-armed Rama! Seeing her, who was lacerated at the midst of her breasts, you were enraged like a hissing snake and spoke to her as follows."

nakha agraiH kena te bhiiru daaritam tu stana antaram |
kaH kriiDati saroSheNa panca vaktreNa bhoginaa || 5-67-8

8. bhiiru= O bashful one!; kena= by whom; te stana antaram= was your mid-area of your breasts; daaritam= lacerated; nakha agraiH= with nail-points?; kaH kriiDati= who is playing; saroSeNa= with an angry; pancha vaktreNa= five-hooded; bhoginaa= serpent?

" 'O bashful Seetha! By whom was the middle of your breasts lacerated with nail-points? Who is playing with an angry five-hooded serpent?"

niriikShamaaNaH sahasaa vaayasam samavaikShataaH |
nakhaiH sarudhiraiH tiikShNaiH maam eva abhimukham sthitam || 5-67-9

9. niriikSamaaNaH= looking around; samavaikShataaH= you saw; sahasaa= suddenly; vaayasam= a crew; sthitam= which perched; taameva abhimukham= in front of her; tiikSNaiH nakhaiH= with its sharp nails; sarudhiraiH= stained with blood.

"Looking around, you suddenly saw a crow, which perched in front of Seetha, with its sharp nails stained with blood."

sutaH kila sa shakrasya vaayasaH patataam varaH |
dharaa antara caraH shiighram pavanasya gatau samaH || 5-67-10

10. saH vaayasaH= that crow; varaH= the foremost; patataam= among the birds; shakrasya putraH kila= was indeed the son of Indra the lord of celestials; dhara antara caraH= dwelling in the middle of the mountains; samaH= and equal; shiighram gatau= in speed; pavanasya= to wind.

"That crow, foremost of the birds was indeed the son of Indra the lord of celestials; dwelling in the middle of the mountains and equal in speed to the wind."

tataH tasmin mahaabaaho kopa samvartita iikShaNaH |
vaayase tvam kR^itvaaH kruuraam matim matimataam vara || 5-67-11

11. mahaabaaho= O great armed one!; matimataam vara= O excellent among the wise! Kopa samvarta iikShaNaH= with your eyes rolling with anger; tvam= you; tataH= then; kR^ithaaH= harboured; kruuraam= a cruel; matim= intention; tasmin vaayase= against that crow.

"O great armed Rama, the excellent among the wise! With your eyes rolling with anger, you then harboured a cruel intention against that crow."

sa darbham samstaraat gR^ihya brahma astreNa nyayojayaH |
pradiipta iva kaala agniH jajvaala abhimukhaH khagam || 5-67-12

12. gR^ihya= taking; darbham= a blade of grass; samstaraat= from you bed of the sacred grass; ayojayaH= you charged it; braahma astreNa= with the potency of Brahma missile; saH diiptaH= that flaming blade; jajvaala= blazed forth; kaala agniH iva= like the fire of universal dissolution; khagam abhimukhaH= with its end facing that bird.

"Taking a blade of grass from your bed of the sacred grass, you charged it with the potency of Brahma missile. That flaming blade blazed forth like the fire of universal dissolution, with its end facing the bird."

kSiptavaamstvam pradiiptam darbham tam vaayasam prati |
tataH tu vaayasam diiptaH sa darbho anujagaama ha || 5-67-13

13. tvam= you; kSiptavaan= hurled; tam pradiiptam darbham= that flaming blade of grass; vaayasam prati= towards the crow; tataH= then; saH diiptaH darbhaH= that flaming blade of grass; anujagaama= followed; vaayasam= the crow.

"You hurled that flaming blade of grass towards the crow. Then that flaming blade of grass for its part followed the crow."

sa pitraa ca parityaktaH suraiH sarvaiH maharShibhiH |
triin lokaan samparikramya traataaram na adhigacChati || 5-67-14

14. partiyaktaH= forsaken; suraisH ca= by all the celestials; pitraa ca= its father, Indra; sa maharSibhiH= and the sages also; saH= (that crows) na adhigacchati= did not find; traataaram= a protector; samparikramya= after going round; triin lokaan= the three worlds (heave, earth and the lower regions).

"Forsaken by all the celestials, Indra, its father and the sages too, that crow did not find a protector even after going round all the three worlds (heaven, earth and the lower regions)."

punarevaagatastrastastvatsakaashamarimdama |
sa tam nipatitam bhuumau sharaNyaH sharaNaa gatam || 5-67-15
vadha arham api kaakutstha kR^ipayaa paripaalayaH |

15. arindama= O destroyer of enemies!; trastaH= frightened; (the crow); aagataH= came; tvatsakaasham= to your presence; punareva= once again; vadhaarham api= though fit to be killed; saH kaakutthsaH= that Rama; sharaNyaH= affording shelter; paryapaalayaH= protected; kR^ipanaa= with mercy; tam= to that crow; nipatitam= which had fallen; bhuumau= flat on the ground; sharaNaagatam= and who sought your protection.

"O destroyer of enemies! Being frightened the crow came to your presence once again and sough your protection. Though fit to be killed, you on your part, affording shelter, in mercy to the crow, protected that crow which had fallen flat on the ground."

mogham astram na shakyam tu kartum iti eva raaghava || 5-67-16
bhavaamstasyakSi kaakasya hinasti sma sa dakSiNam |

16. raaghava= O Rama!; ityeva= because; na shakyam= it is not possible; kartum= to make; astram= the missile; mogham= a waste; bhavaan= you; hinanti sma= destroyed; dakSinam akSi= the right eye; kaakasya= of the cow.

'O Rama! Since it is not possible to make the missile a waste, you destroyed the right eye of the crow."

raama tvaam sa namaH kR^itvaa raaj~no dasharathasya ca || 5-67-17
visR^iShTaH tu tadaa kaakaH pratipede kham aalayam |

14. partiyaktaH= forsaken; suraisH ca= by all the celestials; pitraa ca= its father, Indra; sa maharSibhiH= and the sages also; saH= (that crows) na adhigacchati= did not find; traataaram= a protector; samparikramya= after going round; triin lokaan= the three worlds (heave, earth and the lower regions).

"O Rama! Then, that crow, having been discharged by you, went back to its own habitation, after offering salutation to you and to king Dasaratha."

evam astravidaam shreShThaH sattvavaan shiilavaan api || 5-67-18
kim artham astram rakShahsu na yojayasi raaghava |

18. raaghava= O Rama!; kim artham= why; na yojayasi= are you not employing; astram= the missile; evam= thus; rakShassu= on the demons; shreSThaH api= though foremost; astravidaam= among the wielders courageous; shiilavaan= and possessed of good disposition.

"O Rama! Why are you not employing the same type of a missile on the demons, though you are the foremost among the wielders of missiles, though courageous and possessed of good disposition?"

na naagaa na api gandharvaa na asuraa na marut gaNaaH || 5-67-19
na cha sarve raNe shaktaa raamam pratisamaasitum |

19. naagaaH= Nagas the celestials serpents; na shaktaaH= are not capable; na gandharvaaH api= Nor even Gandharvas the celestial musicians; na marut gaNaaH= nor the troops of maruts, the na sarve= nor all of them put together; pratisamaasitum= of fighting; raamam prati= against Rama; raNe= in battle.

"Neither the Nagas the celestials serpents nor even Gandharvas the celestial musicians nor the demons nor the troop of Maruts the host of gods, nor all of them joined together are capable of fighting with Rama."

tasya viiryavataH kaccin mayi yadi asti sambhramaH || 5-67-20
kShipram sunishitaiH baaNaiH hanyataam yudhi raavaNaH |

20. yadi= If; viiryavataH tasya= to that powerful Rama; sambhramaH asti= there is eagerness; mayi= in my matter; hanyataam raavaNaH= let Ravana, be killed; yudhi= in battle; kShipram= quickly; sunishitaiH baaNaiH= with very sharp arrows.

"If that powerful Rama is eager to save me, let him kill Ravana in battle quickly with his exceptionally sharp arrows."

bhraatuH aadesham aadaaya lakShmaNo vaa param tapaH || 5-67-21
sa kim artham nara varo na maam rakShati raaghavaH |

21. kim artham= why; saH lakSmaNo vaa= even that Lakshmana; param tapaH= the annihilator of adversaries; naravaraH= the foremost among men; raaghavaH= born in Raghu dynasty; na rakShati= is not saving; maam= me; aaJNaaya= with permission; aadesham= (by way of) an order; bhraatuH= of Rama his brother?

"Why even that Lakshmana, the annihilator of adversaries and the foremost of men born in Raghu dynasty is not saving me, by taking orders from Rama his brother?"

shaktau tau puruSha vyaaghrau vaayv agni sama tejasau || 5-67-22
suraaNaam api durdharShau kim artham maam upekShataH |

22. kim artham= wherefore; tau shaktau= those two competent brothers, Rama and Lakshmana; vaayv agni sama tejasau= having their splendour similar to that of wind and fire; puruSa vyaaghrau= and the excellent among men; durdharSau.api= even though they can conquer; suraaNaam= the celestials; upekSataH= are ignoring; maam= me?

"Wherefore those two competent brothers Rama and Lakshmana, with their splendour equal to that of air and fire, and excellent among men, even though they can conquer the celestials, are ignoring me?"

mama eva duShkR^itam kimcin mahat asti na samshayaH || 5-67-23
samarthau sahitau yan maam na apekShete param tapau |

23. kimchit= some; mahat= great; duSkR^itam= impure act; asti= was there; mamaiva= on my part; na samshayaH= there is no doubt; yat= for which reason; tau= those two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana; param tapau= who torment the enemies; samarthaavapi= eventhough capable; na avekSate= are not paying attention; maam= to me.

"There is no doubt that I had done some big impure act, for which reason those two brothers Rama and Lakshmana, who torment the enemies, even though capable, are not paying attention to me."

vaidehyaa vacanam shrutvaa karuNam saashru bhaaShitam || 5-67-24
punaH api aham aaryaam taam idam vacanam abruvam |

24. shrutvaa= hearing; karuNam= the miserable; vachanam= words; vaidehyaaH= of Seetha; saashru bhaaSitam= spoken with tears; aham= I; punaH api= again; abruvam= spoke; taam aaryaam= to that venerable Seetha; idam vachanam= the following words:

Hearing the miserable words of Seetha spoken with tears, I again spoke to that venerable Seetha the following words:

tvat shoka vimukho raamo devi satyena te shape || 5-67-25
raame duhkha abhibhuute ca lakShmaNaH paritapyate |

25. devi= O Seetha the princess!; raamaH= Rama; tvat shoka vimukhaH= has grown indifferent because of grief born of separation from you; shape= I swear; te= to you; satyena= truly; raame= Rama; duhkha abhibhuute= being overcome with grief; lakSmaNaH cha= Lakshmana too; paritapyate= is feeling pain.

" 'O Seetha the princess! Rama has grown indifferent because of grief born of separation from you. I swear it to you truly. Rama, being overwhelmed with grief, Lakshmana too is feeling pain."

kathamcit bhavatii dR^iShTaa na kaalaH parishocitum || 5-67-26
asminmuhuurtam duhkhaanaam antam drakShyasi bhaamini |

26. anindite= O faultless one!; bhavatii= you dR^iSTaa= have been seen; kathamchit= somehow; na kaalam= this is not time; devitum= to lament; drakSyasi= you will see; antam= the end; duhkhaanaam= of your sorrows; imam muhuurtam= during this very moment.

" 'O faultless one! You can give now, a token of recollection, which Rama can recognize and which can beget happiness to him."

taav ubhau nara shaarduulau raaja putraav arim damau || 5-67-27
tvat darshana kR^ita utsaahau lankaam bhasmii kariShyataH |

27. ubhau tau raja putrau= those two princes; nara shaarduulau= the foremost among men; aninditau= and the faultless ones; tavat darshana kR^ita utsaahau= who are eager to see you; laN^kaam bhasmii kariSyataH= can reduce Lanka to ashes.

" 'Those two princes, the foremost among men and the faultless ones are eager to see you. They can reduce Lanka to ashes'."

hatvaa ca samare raudram raavaNam saha baandhavam || 5-67-28
raaghavaH tvaam mahaabaahuH svaam puriim nayate dhruvam |

28. varaarohe= O lady with charming hips!; hatvaa cha= killing; rondram= the terrific; raavaNam= Ravana; saha baandhavam= together with his relatives; samare= in battle; raaghavaH= Rama; nayate= will take; tvaam= you; svaam puriim= to his City of Ayodhya; dhruvam= It is certain.

" 'O lady with charming hips! Killing the terrific Ravana together with his relatives in battle, Rama will certainly take you to his City of Ayodhya'."

yat tu raamo vijaaniiyaat abhij~naanam anindite || 5-67-29
priiti samjananam tasya pradaatum tattvam arhasi |

29. anindite= O faultless one!; tvam= you; arhasi= ought; daatum= to give; iha= now; abhiJNaanam= a token of recollection; yat= which; raamaH= Rama; vijaaniiyaat= can recognize; priiti samjananam= and which can beget happiness; tasya= to him.

" 'O faultless one! You can give now, a token of recollection, which Rama can recognize and which can beget happiness to him."

saa abhiviikShya dishaH sarvaa veNi udgrathanam uttamam || 5-67-30
muktvaa vastraat dadau mahyam maNim etam mahaabala |

30. mahaabala= O mighty Rama!; abhiviikSya= having surveyed; sarvaaH= all; dishaH= the directions; muktvaa= and untying; vastraat= from the end of her garment; etam uttamam maNim= this excellent jewel; veNudgrathitam= which was being strung together in her hair; saa= the Seetha; dadau= gave it; mahyam= to me.

"O mighty Rama! Having surveyed all the directions and having untied from the end of her garment, this excellent jewel which was being strung together in her hair that Seetha gave it to me."

pratigR^ihya maNim divyam tava heto raghu uttama || 5-67-31
shirasaa sampraNamya enaam aham aagamane tvare |

31. raghuudvaha= O Rama!; pratigR^ihya= taking; divyam maNim= that wonderful jewel; tava hetoH= for your sake; praNamya= and offering my salutation; shirasaa= by bowing my head; aaryaam taam= to that venerable Seetha; aham= I; tvare= was seized with a haste; aagamane= to come back.

"O Rama! Taking that wonderful jewel for your sake from her, and offering my salutation by bowing my head to that venerable Seetha, I was seized with a haste to come back."

gamane ca kR^ita utsaaham avekShya vara varNinii || 5-67-32
vivardhamaanam ca hi maam uvaaca janaka aatmajaa |

32. avekSya= seeing; maam= me; kR^ita utsaaham= who was in a hurry; gamane= to come back; vivardhamaanam cha= and augmenting my body abundantly; jaanaka atmajaa= Seetha; varavarNinii= having a beautiful complexion; uvaacha= spoke.

"Seeing me who was in a hurry to come back and augmenting my body abundantly, Seetha having a beautiful complexion spoke to me."

ashru puurNa mukhii diinaa baaShpa samdigdha bhaaShiNii || 5-67-33
mamotpatanasambraantaa shokavegasamaahataa |

33. ashru puurNa mukhii= with her eyes filled with tears; diinaa= looking miserable; baSpa samdigdha bhaaSiNii= with ambiguous words coming out of her choked throat; mama utpatana sambhraantaa= bewildered as she was that I was going to fly away; (she spoke to me as follows); shokavega samaahataa= afflicted with a gush a grief.

"With her eyes filled with tears, looking miserable, with her words ambiguously coming out of her coked throat, bewildered as she was, at the though of my flying away and afflicted with a gush of grief; (she spoke to me as follows):

hanuman simha samkaashau taav ubhau raama lakShmaNau || 5-67-34
sugriivam ca saha amaatyam sarvaan bruuyaa anaamayam |

34. hanumaan= O Hanuma!; bruuyaaH= ask; tau ubhau raama lakSmaNau= those two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana; sugriivam cha= Sugreeva; saha amaatyam= together with his ministers; sarvaan= and all others; anaamayam= about their well-being.

"O Hanuma! Inquire those two brothers Rama and Lakshmana looking like lions, Sugreeva together with his ministers and all others about their welfare."

yathaa ca sa mahaabaahuH maam taarayati raaghavaH |
asmaat duhkha ambu samrodhaat tat samaadhaatum arhasi || 5-67-35
imam ca tiivram mama shoka vegam |
rakShobhiH ebhiH paribhartsanam ca |
bruuyaaH tu raamasya gataH samiipam |
shivaH ca te adhvaa astu hari praviira || 5-67-36
etat tava aaryaa nR^ipa raaja simha |
siitaa vacaH praaha viShaada puurvam |
etac ca buddhvaa gaditam mayaa tvam |
shraddhatsva siitaam kushalaam samagraam || 5-67-37

35. tvam= you; arhasi= ought; samaadhaatum= to clear up difficulties; saH mahaabaahuH ramaH= for that mighty armed Rama; yathaa taarayati= so that he can help me to cross; asmaat= this; duHkhaambusamrodhaat= ocean of sorrow; haripraviira= O best of heroes among monkeys!; gataH= having one; raamasya samiipam= to the vicinity of Rama; bruuyaaH= tell; mama= my; imam= this; tiivram= horrible; shokavegam= gush of grief; paribhartsanamcha= and the threatening; ebhiH rakSobhiH= by these female-demons; adhvaa= (let) your trave; astu= be; shivaH= happy; nR^iparaaja simha= O illustrious prince, the protector of men!; aaryaa= the venerable; siitaa= Seetha; viSaadapuurvam= filled with sorrow; aaha= spoke; tava= to you; etatvachaH= these words; buddhvaa= understanding; etat= this matter; yatitam= spoken mayaa by me; shraddhatsva= believe; siitaam= Seetha; samagraam= is completely; kushalaam= safe.

" 'You ought to clear up difficulties for that mighty armed Rama, so that he can help me to cross this ocean of sorrow. O best of heroes among monkeys! Approaching Rama, tell this horrible gush of my grief and the threats of these female-demons. Have a happy journey!' "O illustrious princes, the protector of men! The venerable Seetha filled with sorrow spoke these words to be conveyed to you. Comprehending this matter spoken by me, believe that Seetha is completely safe."

ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sumdarakaaNDe sptaSaSTitamaH sargaH

Thus completes 67th Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book V : Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty

Chapter [Sarga] 68

Introduction

Hanuma informs Rama how Seetha expressed her grave doubt as to how monkeys and bears can leap across a vast sea, as well as her appeal to Rama to destroy Ravana along with his entire army in Lanka and take her back to Ayodhya. Hanuma further informs Rama, how he resolved her doubt by explaining the prowess of the troops of monkeys and bears, commanded by Sugreeva as also how he brought solace and peace to her from her worries.

atha aham uttaram devyaa punaH uktaH sasambhramam |
tava snehaan nara vyaaghra sauhaaryaat anumaanya ca || 5-68-1

1. naravyaaghra= O the excellent among men!; atha= thereafter; anumaanya= having shown respect for me; tava snehaat= out of affection; sauhaardraat= and good-heartedness; tava= for you; aham= I; sasambhramam= who was in a haste (to go); uktaH= was spoken to; punaH= again; devyaa= by Seetha the princess; uttaram= about the future.

"O excellent among men! Having shown respect for me out of her affection and good-heartedness for you, I, who was in a haste to go, was spoken to again by Seetha the princess about the further course of action."

evam bahu vidham vaacyo raamo daasharathiH tvayaa |
yathaa maam aapnuyaat shiighram hatvaa raavaNam aahave || 5-68-2

2. raamaH= Rama; daasharathiH= the son of Dasaratha; vaachyaH= is to be informed; evam= thus; tvayaa= by you; bahuvidham= in several ways; shiighram hatvaa= for quickly killing; raavaNam= Ravana; aahave= in battle; yathaa tathaa= and as to how; maam aapnuyaat= he can get me back.

"Rama, the son of Dasaratha, is to be informed by you thus in several ways, for quickly killing Ravana in battle and also as to how he can get me back."

yadi vaa manyase viira vasa ekaa aham arim dama |
kasmimshcit samvR^ite deshe vishraantaH shvo gamiShyasi || 5-68-3

3. viira= O hero; arimdama= the annihilator of enemies!; manyase yadi= if you deem it fit; vasa= stay; ekaaham= for a day; samvR^ite deshe= in a secret place; gamiSyasi= you can go; shvaH= tomorrow; vishraantaH= after taking rest.

" 'O hero the annihilator of enemies! If you deem it fit, stay for a day in a secret place. You can go tomorrow after taking rest'."

mama ca api alpa bhaagyaayaaH saamnidhyaat tava vaanara |
asya shoka vipaakasya muhuurtam syaat vimokShaNam || 5-68-4

4. viiryavan= O the valiant one! tava saamnidhyaat= because of your presence; asya mama shoka vipaakasya vimokSaNam= the termination of my full-flown grief; syaat= may proceed; muhuurtam= for a while.

"'O the valiant one! Because of your presence, the termination of my full-blown grief may continue for a while'."

gate hi tvayi vikraante punaH aagamanaaya vai |
praaNaanaam api samdeho mama syaan na atra samshayaH || 5-68-5

5. tvayi= (when) you; vikraante= the courageous one; gate= go; punaraagamanaaya= for coming back; syaat= there is; sandehaH= an uncertainity; mama praaNaamapi= even to my life; na sandehaH= there is no doubt; atra= about this.

"'When you, the courageous one, have actually left to come back, there will be a danger even to my life. There is no doubt about this'."

tava adarshanajaH shoko bhuuyo maam paritaapayet |
duhkhaat duhkha paraabhuutaam durgataam duhkha bhaaginiim || 5-68-6

6. paraabhuutaam= being overcome; duHkhaat= from one sorrow; duHkham= after another sorrow; durgataam= being miserable; duHkha bhaaginiim= being overcome with grief; shokaH= sorrow; adarshanajaH= born of your disappearance; paritaapayet= will torment me; bhuuyaH= further.

"'The sorrow born of your disappearance will further torment me, who is overtaken by one sorrow after another, miserable and doomed to grief as I am'."

ayam tu viira samdehaH tiShThati iva mama agrataH |
sumahaan tvat sahaayeShu hari R^ikSheShu asamshayaH || 5-68-7

7. hariishvara= O best among monkeys; viira= the valiant one! haryR^ikSeSu= in the matter of monkeys and bears; tvatsahayeSu= who are helpmates to you; ayam= this; sumahaan= a very grave; sandeshaH= doubt; tiSThatiiva= stands; agrataH= before me.

"'O best among the monkeys! O valiant one! In the matter of monkeys and bears who are your helpmates, this very grave doubt stands before me'."

katham nu khalu duShpaaram tariShyanti mahaaudadhim |
taani hari R^ikSha sainyaani tau vaa nara vara aatmajau || 5-68-8

8. kathamnu= how; khalu= indeed; taani= those; haryR^ikSasainyaani= troops of monkeys and bears; tau naravaraatmajau vaa= or those two princes; tariSyanti= can cross; duSpaaram= the insurmountable; mahodadhim= great ocean?

"'How indeed can those troops of monkeys and bears or Rama and Lakshmana can cross that great insurmountable ocean?'"

trayaaNaam eva bhuutaanaam saagarasya asya langhane |
shaktiH syaat vainateyasya vaayoH vaa tava vaa anagha || 5-68-9

9. trayaaNaam= only three; bhuutaanaam= beings; vainateyasyavaa= viz. Garuda the eagle; tava vaa= or yourself; maarutasyavaa= or the wind-god; syaat= have; shaktiH= the capacity; laN^ghane= in crossing; asya= of this; saagarasya= ocean.

"'Three beings viz. Garuda the eagle, or yourself or the wind-god only have the capacity of crossing this ocean'."

tat asmin kaarya niyoge viira evam duratikrame |
kim pashyasi samaadhaanam bruuhi kaaryavidaam vara || 5-68-10

10. viira= O valiant monkey!; tat= that is why; kim= what; samaadhaanam= strategy; pashyasi= are you visualizing; asmin kaarya niryoga= to fulfill this act; duratikrame= which is so difficult to accomplish; evam= thus?; tvam= you; varaH his= are indeed excellent; kaaryavidaam= of those who know how to accomplish any work.

"'O valiant monkey! That is why, what strategy are you visualizing to fulfill this act, which is so difficult to accomplish thus? You are indeed excellent of those who know how to accomplish any work'."

kaamam asya tvam eva ekaH kaaryasya parisaadhane ||
paryaaptaH para viiraghna yashasyaH te bala udayaH || 5-68-11

11. para viiraghna= O Hanuma the annihilator of strong enemies!; tvam= you; eka eva= as one alone; paryaaptaH kaamam= are accomplisher of desires; parisaadhane= of fulfilling; asya kaaryasya= this task; te= your; phalodayaH= fulfillment of result; yashasyaH= is famous.

"O Hanuma the annihilator of hostile enemies! You, as one alone, are capable of fulfilling this task. Your act of fulfilling this task your act of fulfilling the result is well-known."

balaiH samagraiH yadi maam hatvaa raavaNam aahave |
vijayii svaam puriim raamo nayet tat syaat yashaH karam || 5-68-12

12. tat= it; syaat= would; yashaH karam= result in his glory; yadi raamaH= if Rama; hatvaa= after killing; raavaNam= Ravana; samagraiH balaiH= along with his entire army; vijayii= and being victorious; nayet= takes; maam= me; svaam puriim= to his city.

""It would result in his glory, if Rama, after killing Ravana along with his entire army, takes me to his city in his victory'."

yathaa aham tasya viirasya vanaat upadhinaa hR^itaa |
rakShasaa tat bhayaat eva tathaa na arhati raaghavaH || 5-68-13

13. raaghavaH= Rama; naarhati= ought not; (to take me back); tadbhayaadeva= by fearing that Ravana; yathaa tathaa= in the same manner as; aham= I; hR^itaa= was taken away; vanaat= from the forest; rakSasaa= by Ravana the demon; upadhinaa= by a cheating; viirasya= of the heroic Rama.

"'Rama ought not to take me back for fear that Ravana, in the same manner as Ravana the demon took me away from the forest in the absence of Rama by cheating that heroic Rama."

balaiH tu samkulaam kR^itvaa lankaam para bala ardanaH |
maam nayet yadi kaakutsthaH tat tasya sadR^isham bhavet || 5-68-14

14. yadi kaakutsthsaH= If Rama; para bala ardanaH= the destroyer of army of adversaries; kR^itvaa= making; laN^kaam= Lanka; samkulaam= filled; sharaiH= with arrows; maam nayet= takes me home; tat= that; sadR^isham bhavet= will be worthy; tasya= of him.

If Rama, the destroyer of rival army, fills the entire Lanka with arrows and takes me home, it will be quite worthy of him."

tat yathaa tasya vikraantam anuruupam mahaatmanaH |
bhavati aahava shuurasya tathaa tvam upapaadaya || 5-68-15

15. tat= for that reason; tvam= you; upapaadaya= act; yathaa= in such a way; tathaa= that; mahaatmanaH= the high-souled Rama; aahava shuurasya= valiant in battle; bhavet= may exhibit; vikraantam= the prowess; anurumpam= worthy; tasya= of him.

"For that reason, you act in such a way, that the high-souled Rama, valiant in battle, exhibits the prowess befitting of him."

tat artha upahitam vaakyam prashritam hetu samhitam |
nishamya aham tataH sheSham vaakyam uttaram abruvam || 5-68-16

16. nishamya= hearing; tat= that; vaakyam= appeal (of Seetha); arthopahitam= that was somewhat good in fits meaning; prashritam= courteous; hetu samhitam= and furnished with reasons; aham= I; abruvam= spoke; tataH= then; vaakyam= (the following) words; sheSham= remaining; uttaram= as a reply.

"Hearing that appeal (of Seetha), that was somewhat good in its meaning, courteous and duly furnished with reasons, I gave then my remaining reply (as follows):

devi hari R^ikSha sainyaanaam iishvaraH plavataam varaH |
sugriivaH sattva sampannaH tava arthe kR^ita nishcayaH || 5-68-17

17. devi= O Seetha the princess!; sugriivaH= Sugreeva; iishvaraH= the lord; vaanara bhalluka sainyaanaam= of the armies of monkeys and bears; plavatam varaH= excellent among the monkeys; sattva sampannaH= and endowed with strength; kR^ita nishchayaH= is firmly determined; tva arthe= in your cause.

"'O Seetha the princess! Sugreeva, the lord of the troops of monkeys and bears, excellent among the monkeys and endowed with strength, is firmly determined to rescue you."

tasya vikrama sampannaaH sattvavanto mahaabalaaH |
manaH samkalpa sampaataa nideshe harayaH sthitaaH || 5-68-18
yeShaam na upari na adhastaan na tiryak sajjate gatiH |
na ca karmasu siidanti mahatsv amita tejasaH || 5-68-19

18, 19. harayaH= the monkeys; vikrama sampannaaH= endowed with prowess sattvavantaH= perseverance; mahaabalaaH= great strength; manaH samkalpa sampaataaH= and who can rush to any place as they wish; sthitaaH= are intensely committed; tasya= to Sugreeva's command; yeSaam= whose; gatiH= movement; upari= on the sky; adhastaat= or on the ground; na sajjate= has no hindrance; na= has no hindrance; tiryak = (even) horizontally; (those monkeys); amita tejasaH= are not indolent; mahatsu karmasu= (to perform) great tasks.

"So many monkeys, endowed with prowess, perseverance great strength and who can rush to any place as they wish, are intensely committed to Sugreeva's command. There is no hindrance to their movement either in the sky or the ground or in a horizontal region between the sky and the ground. Those monkeys with unlimited splendour are not indolent in performing any great task."

asakR^it taiH mahaabhaagaiH vaanaraiH bala samyutaiH |
pradakShiNii kR^itaa bhuumiH vaayu maarga anusaaribhiH || 5-68-20

20. taiH mahaabhagaiH vaanaraiH= by those illustrious monkeys; bala darpitaiH= proud of their strength; vaayumaargaanusaaribhiH= and who follow the path of wind; bhuumiH= the earth; pradakSiNii kR^itaa= was circumambulated.

"Those illustrious monkeys, proud of their strength and following the path of wind, circumambulated the entire earth several times."

mat vishiShTaaH ca tulyaaH ca santi tatra vana okasaH |
mattaH pratyavaraH kashcin na asti sugriiva samnidhau || 5-68-21
aham taavat iha praaptaH kim punaH te mahaabalaaH |
na hi prakR^iShTaaH preShyante preShyante hi itare janaaH || 5-68-22

21, 22. tatra= in them; vana okasaH= (some of) the monkeys; madvishiSTaashcha= are superior to me; tulyaashcha= and some even equal to me; santi= are there; kashchit naasti= no one; sugriiva sannidhau= in the vicinity of Sugreeva; pratyavaraH= is inferior; mattaH= to me; aham taavat= I myself; anupraaptaH= has come; iha= here; kim punaH= why to talk; te= about them; mahaabalaaH= who are mighty?; prakR^iSTaaH= the superior ones; na preSyante hi= are not sent (for errands); itare= other; janaaH= persons; preShyante hi= are indeed sent.

"'In them, some of the monkeys are superior to me and some are even equal to me. No one in the vicinity of Sugreeva is inferior to me. When I have arrived here, why to talk about those mighty ones? Generally, superior ones are not sent for errands. Only others are indeed sent'."

tat alam paritaapena devi manyuH vyapaitu te |
eka utpaatena te lankaam eShyanti hari yuuthapaaH || 5-68-23

23. devi= O Seetha the princess!; tat= that is why; alam= enough; paritaapena= of your lamentation; te shokaH= (Let) your sorrow; vyapaitu= be removed; te= those; hari yuuthapaaH= leaders of monkeys; eSyanti= will reach; laN^kaam= Lanka; eka utpaatena= by one single leap.

"'O Seetha the princess! Enough of your lamentation. Take away your sorrow. Those leaders of monkeys will reach Lanka by one single leap'."

mama pR^iShTha gatau tau ca candra suuryaav iva uditau |
tvat sakaasham mahaabhaage nR^i simhaav aagamiShyataH || 5-68-24

24. tau nR^isimhau= those two lions among men; Rama and sakaasham too; mahaasattvau= of great strength; mama pR^iSTha gatau= sitting on my shoulders; aagamiSyataH= can come; tvat sakaasham= to you; uditau chandra suuryaav iva= like the rising sun and the moon.

"Rama and Lakshmana, those two lions among men, also of great strength, ascending on my shoulders, can come to you, like the rising sun and the moon."

arighnam simha samkaasham kShipram drakShyasi raaghavam |
lakShmaNam ca dhanuSh paaNim lankaa dvaaram upasthitam || 5-68-25

25. raaghavam= Rama; arighnam= the annihilator of enemies; simha samkaasham= similar to a lion; lakSmaNam cha= and Lakshmana; dhanuS paaNim= wielding or bow in his hand; kSipram= will soon; upaasthitam= approach; laN^kaa dvaaram= the entrance gate of Lanka; drakSyasi= and you will see (them).

"Rama, the annihilator of enemies, similar to a lion, and Lakshmana wielding a bow in his hand, will surely approach the entrance-gate of Lanka and you will see them soon."

nakha damShTra aayudhaan viiraan simha shaarduula vikramaan |
vaanaraan vaanara indra aabhaan kShipram drakShyasi samgataan || 5-68-26

26. drakSyasi= you can see; kSipram= soon; viiraan vaanaraan= the valiant monkeys; nakha damSTra aayudhaan= with their claws and tusks as weapons; simha shaarduula vikramam= having the prowess of lions and tigers; vaaraNendra bhaan= looking like lordly elephants; samgataan= coming together.

"'You can see soon those valiant monkeys, with their claws and tusks as weapons, having the prowess of lions and tigers and looking like lordly elephants, coming here together'."

shaila ambudan nikaashaanaam lankaa malaya saanuShu |
nardataam kapi mukhyaanaam aciraat shoShyase svanam || 5-68-27

27. shroSyasi= you will hear; achiraat= within a short time; svanam= the sound; kapi mukhyanaam= of the excellent of monkeys; nardataam= resonating; laN^kaa malaya saanuSu= on the mountain-peaks of Mount Malayaa in Lanka; shail ambudan nikaashaanaam= like mountains and clouds.

"'You will hear within a short time, the clamour of the excellent of monkeys resonating like a mountains and clouds, on the peaks of Mount Malaya in Lanka'."

nivR^itta vana vaasam ca tvayaa saardham arim damam |
abhiShiktam ayodhyaayaam kShipram drakShyasi raaghavam || 5-68-28

28. drakSyasi= you will see; raaghavam= Rama; arim damam= the annihilator of enemies; nivR^itta vana vaasam= returned from his exile; abhiShiktam= and getting; anointed to the crown; ayodhyayaam= in Ayodhya; tvayaa saridham= along with you; kShipram= soon.

"'You will see Rama, the annihilator of enemies, returning from exile, and getting anointed to the crown in Ayodhya, along with you soon'."

Verse Locator

tato mayaa vaagbhiH adiina bhaaShiNii |
shivaabhiH iShTaabhiH abhiprasaaditaa |
jagaama shaantim mama maithila aatmajaa |
tava api shokena tathaa abhipiiDitaa || 5-68-29

29. tataH= thereafter; tava shokena api= though tormented with thought of your sorrow too; abhipiiDitaa= the tormented; maithila aatmajaa= Seetha; abhiprasaadita= was soothened; mayaa= by me; adiina bhaaShiNii= through comforting words spoken; mama vaagbhiH= and by my words; shiivaabhiH= which were well disposed; iSTaabhiH= and agreeable; jagaama= obtained; shaantim= peace of mind.

"Thereafter, soothened by me with comforting, well-disposed and agreeable words, Seetha, though tormented with thought of your grief, obtained peace of mind."

ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakaaNDe aSTaSaSTitamaH sargaH

Thus completes 68th Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Sree Valmiki Ramayana

courtesy from

Sree Brahmasri Desiraju Hanumanta Rao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasri K M K Murthy ji

 I Humbly bow to the  lotus feet of both of them

for the collection