Sundara Kanda · Sarga 36 of 68 · 47 verses
Rama’s Ring
To make her trust him completely, Hanuman gives Sita a ring engraved with Rama’s name, which Rama himself gave him as a token. Taking it and gazing at the ornament from her husband’s hand, Janaki is as glad as if Rama himself had come; her face shines like the moon freed from Rahu. Shy and delighted, she praises Hanuman: he is brave, able and wise, to have assailed the rakshasas’ city alone and turned the hundred-league ocean into a cow’s hoofprint. Rama would not have sent him without testing him.
Then her questions pour out. If Rama is well, why does he not burn the earth in his anger? Is he not shaken, not grieving? Does he do what must be done next, use all the means of policy, make allies, honour the gods, and also act for himself? Has his love for her faded with the separation? Will Bharata send an army, Sugriva come with his monkeys, Lakshmana scatter the rakshasas? Will she soon see Ravana killed? Is his golden, lotus-fragrant face withering without her? She will live only as long as she hears news of him.
Hanuman answers: Rama does not know she is here, or he would already have come, as Indra came for Shachi. As soon as he hears, he will come with an army of monkeys and bears, bridge the ocean with arrows and empty Lanka of rakshasas; not even Death or the gods could stop him. Hanuman swears by the mountains Mandara, Malaya, Vindhya and Meru that she will see Rama’s face soon. Rama eats no meat and drinks no wine, eating only simple forest food at the fifth mealtime; he does not even brush off the insects on his body, so lost is he in thought of her; he cannot sleep, and wakes calling “Sita”. Hearing this, Sita’s grief at her own suffering is lifted, but she grieves now with Rama’s grief, like an autumn night with the moon still half-veiled by cloud.
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भूय एव महातेजा हनूमान् पवनात्मजः । अब्रवीत् प्रश्रितं वाक्यं सीताप्रत्ययकारणात् ॥ १ ॥
Again radiant Hanuman, son of the Wind, spoke courteous words, to win Sita’s trust:
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वानरोऽहं महाभागे दूतो रामस्य धीमतः । रामनामाङ्कितं चेदं पश्य देव्यङ्गुलीयकम् ॥ २ ॥
“I am a monkey, fortunate lady, messenger of wise Rama. And see, goddess, this ring marked with Rama’s name,
प्रत्ययार्थं तवानीतं तेन दत्तं महात्मना । समाश्वसिहि भद्रं ते क्षीणदुःखफला ह्यसि ॥ ३ ॥
“given by that great soul and brought for your trust. Take comfort, bless you; you are one whose fruit of sorrow is ending.”
गृहीत्वा प्रेक्षमाणा सा भर्तुः करविभूषितम् । भर्तारमिव सम्प्राप्तं जानकी मुदिताभवत् ॥ ४ ॥
Taking it and gazing at the ornament of her husband’s hand, Janaki was as glad as if her husband had come.
चारु तद् वदनं तस्यास्ताम्रशुक्लायतेक्षणम् । बभूव हर्षोदग्रं च राहुमुक्त इवोडुराट् ॥ ५ ॥
Her lovely face, with long eyes coppery and white, became bright with joy, like the king of stars released by Rahu.
ततः सा ह्रीमती बाला भर्तुः संदेशहर्षिता । परितुष्टा प्रियं कृत्वा प्रशशंस महाकपिम् ॥ ६ ॥
Then the modest young woman, delighted by her husband’s message, gratified, praised the great monkey, honouring him:
विक्रान्तस्त्वं समर्थस्त्वं प्राज्ञस्त्वं वानरोत्तम । येनेदं राक्षसपदं त्वयैकेन प्रधर्षितम् ॥ ७ ॥
“You are valiant, you are able, you are wise, best of monkeys, since you alone have assailed this seat of the rakshasas.
शतयोजनविस्तीर्णः सागरो मकरालयः । विक्रमश्लाघनीयेन क्रमता गोष्पदीकृतः ॥ ८ ॥
“The ocean, a hundred leagues wide, home of sea monsters, you, praiseworthy in valour, have made into a cow’s hoofprint as you crossed.
नहि त्वां प्राकृतं मन्ये वानरं वानरर्षभ । यस्य ते नास्ति संत्रासो रावणादपि सम्भ्रमः ॥ ९ ॥
“I do not think you an ordinary monkey, bull among monkeys, you who have no fear, no alarm even of Ravana.
अर्हसे च कपिश्रेष्ठ मया समभिभाषितुम् । यद्यसि प्रेषितस्तेन रामेण विदितात्मना ॥ १० ॥
“And you deserve to be spoken to by me, best of monkeys, if you have been sent by Rama, who knows himself.
प्रेषयिष्यति दुर्धर्षो रामो नह्यपरीक्षितम् । पराक्रममविज्ञाय मत्सकाशं विशेषतः ॥ ११ ॥
“Unassailable Rama would not send one untested, without knowing his valour, especially into my presence.
दिष्ट्या च कुशली रामो धर्मात्मा सत्यसंगरः । लक्ष्मणश्च महातेजाः सुमित्रानन्दवर्धनः ॥ १२ ॥
“And by good fortune righteous Rama, true to his promise, is well, and radiant Lakshmana, who increases Sumitra’s joy.
कुशली यदि काकुत्स्थः किं न सागरमेखलाम् । महीं दहति कोपेन युगान्ताग्निरिवोत्थितः ॥ १३ ॥
“If Kakutstha is well, why does he not burn the sea-girdled earth in his anger, like the fire risen at the end of an age?
अथवा शक्तिमन्तौ तौ सुराणामपि निग्रहे । ममैव तु न दुःखानामस्ति मन्ये विपर्ययः ॥ १४ ॥
“Or those two are able to restrain even the gods; it is rather, I think, that there is no end to my sorrows.
कच्चिन्न व्यथते रामः कच्चिन्न परितप्यते । उत्तराणि च कार्याणि कुरुते पुरुषोत्तमः ॥ १५ ॥
“I hope Rama is not distressed? I hope he is not tormented? And does the best of men do what must be done next?
कच्चिन्न दीनः सम्भ्रान्तः कार्येषु च न मुह्यति । कच्चित् पुरुषकार्याणि कुरुते नृपतेः सुतः ॥ १६ ॥
“I hope he is not dejected or confused, or bewildered in his tasks? I hope the king’s son does a man’s duties?
द्विविधं त्रिविधोपायमुपायमपि सेवते । विजिगीषुः सुहृत् कच्चिन्मित्रेषु च परंतपः ॥ १७ ॥
“I hope he uses the twofold means, and the threefold, and every means, wanting victory, friendly toward his friends, scorcher of foes?
कच्चिन्मित्राणि लभतेऽमित्रैश्चाप्यभिगम्यते । कच्चित् कल्याणमित्रश्च मित्रैश्चापि पुरस्कृतः ॥ १८ ॥
“I hope he gains friends, and is approached even by enemies? I hope he has good friends, and is honoured by his friends?
कच्चिदाशास्ति देवानां प्रसादं पार्थिवात्मजः । कच्चित् पुरुषकारं च दैवं च प्रतिपद्यते ॥ १९ ॥
“I hope the king’s son hopes for the favour of the gods? I hope he relies on both human effort and fate?
कच्चिन्न विगतस्नेहो विवासान्मयि राघवः । कच्चिन्मां व्यसनादस्मान्मोक्षयिष्यति राघवः ॥ २० ॥
“I hope Raghava’s love for me has not gone because of my absence? I hope Raghava will free me from this disaster?
सुखानामुचितो नित्यमसुखानामनूचितः । दुःखमुत्तरमासाद्य कच्चिद् रामो न सीदति ॥ २१ ॥
“Always used to happiness and never to unhappiness, having met sorrow upon sorrow, I hope Rama does not lose heart?
कौसल्यायास्तथा कच्चित् सुमित्रायास्तथैव च । अभीक्ष्णं श्रूयते कच्चित् कुशलं भरतस्य च ॥ २२ ॥
“I hope news of Kausalya’s welfare, and Sumitra’s, and Bharata’s, is often heard?
मन्निमित्तेन मानार्हः कच्चिच्छोकेन राघवः । कच्चिन्नान्यमना रामः कच्चिन्मां तारयिष्यति ॥ २३ ॥
“I hope Raghava, who deserves honour, is not overwhelmed with grief on my account? I hope Rama’s mind is not on something else? I hope he will rescue me?
कच्चिदक्षौहिणीं भीमां भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः । ध्वजिनीं मन्त्रिभिर्गुप्तां प्रेषयिष्यति मत्कृते ॥ २४ ॥
“I hope Bharata, who loves his brother, will send for my sake a terrible army division, with its banners, guarded by ministers?
वानराधिपतिः श्रीमान् सुग्रीवः कच्चिदेष्यति । मत्कृते हरिभिर्वीरैर्वृतो दन्तनखायुधैः ॥ २५ ॥
“I hope glorious Sugriva, lord of the monkeys, will come for my sake, surrounded by heroic monkeys whose weapons are teeth and claws?
कच्चिच्च लक्ष्मणः शूरः सुमित्रानन्दवर्धनः । अस्त्रविच्छरजालेन राक्षसान् विधमिष्यति ॥ २६ ॥
“I hope heroic Lakshmana, who increases Sumitra’s joy, master of weapons, will scatter the rakshasas with his net of arrows?
रौद्रेण कच्चिदस्त्रेण रामेण निहतं रणे । द्रक्ष्याम्यल्पेन कालेन रावणं ससुहृज्जनम् ॥ २७ ॥
“I hope that in a short time I will see Ravana killed in battle by Rama with a fierce weapon, together with his friends?
कच्चिन्न तद्धेमसमानवर्णं तस्याननं पद्मसमानगन्धि । मया विना शुष्यति शोकदीनं जलक्षये पद्ममिवातपेन ॥ २८ ॥
“I hope that face of his, the colour of gold, with the fragrance of a lotus, is not withering without me, wretched with grief, like a lotus in the sun when the water is gone?
धर्मापदेशात् त्यजतः स्वराज्यं मां चाप्यरण्यं नयतः पदातेः । नासीद् यथा यस्य न भीर्न शोकः कच्चित् स धैर्यं हृदये करोति ॥ २९ ॥
“He who gave up his own kingdom on the plea of dharma, who led me on foot into the forest, who felt neither fear nor grief: I hope he keeps courage in his heart?
न चास्य माता न पिता न चान्यः स्नेहाद् विशिष्टोऽस्ति मया समो वा । तावद्ध्यहं दूत जिजीविषेयं यावत् प्रवृत्तिं शृणुयां प्रियस्य ॥ ३० ॥
“Neither his mother nor his father nor anyone else is dearer to him than I, or even equal to me. I want to live, messenger, only as long as I may hear news of my beloved.”
इतीव देवी वचनं महार्थं तं वानरेन्द्रं मधुरार्थमुक्त्वा । श्रोतुं पुनस्तस्य वचोऽभिरामं रामार्थयुक्तं विरराम रामा ॥ ३१ ॥
Having spoken these words, rich in meaning and sweet, to that lord of monkeys, the lovely goddess fell silent, wanting to hear again his delightful words about Rama.
सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा मारुतिर्भीमविक्रमः । शिरस्यञ्जलिमाधाय वाक्यमुत्तरमब्रवीत् ॥ ३२ ॥
Hearing Sita’s words, the son of the Wind, of terrible valour, placing his joined palms on his head, gave this answer:
न त्वामिहस्थां जानीते रामः कमललोचनः । तेन त्वां नानयत्याशु शचीमिव पुरंदरः ॥ ३३ ॥
“Lotus-eyed Rama does not know that you are here. That is why he does not bring you away quickly, as Purandara brought Shachi.
श्रुत्वैव च वचो मह्यं क्षिप्रमेष्यति राघवः । चमूं प्रकर्षन् महतीं हर्यृक्षगणसंयुताम् ॥ ३४ ॥
“As soon as he hears my words, Raghava will come quickly, leading a great army full of bands of monkeys and bears.
विष्टम्भयित्वा बाणौघैरक्षोभ्यं वरुणालयम् । करिष्यति पुरीं लङ्कां काकुत्स्थः शान्तराक्षसाम् ॥ ३५ ॥
“Having checked with floods of arrows the unshakeable home of Varuna, Kakutstha will make the city of Lanka empty of rakshasas.
तत्र यद्यन्तरा मृत्युर्यदि देवा महासुराः । स्थास्यन्ति पथि रामस्य स तानपि वधिष्यति ॥ ३६ ॥
“If Death himself, or the gods, or great asuras stand in Rama’s way, he will kill them too.
तवादर्शनजेनार्ये शोकेन परिपूरितः । न शर्म लभते रामः सिंहार्दित इव द्विपः ॥ ३७ ॥
“Filled with grief born of not seeing you, noble lady, Rama finds no peace, like an elephant attacked by a lion.
मन्दरेण च ते देवि शपे मूलफलेन च । मलयेन च विन्ध्येन मेरुणा दर्दुरेण च ॥ ३८ ॥
“I swear to you, goddess, by Mandara, by roots and fruits, by Malaya and Vindhya, by Meru and Dardura,
यथा सुनयनं वल्गु बिम्बोष्ठं चारुकुण्डलम् । मुखं द्रक्ष्यसि रामस्य पूर्णचन्द्रमिवोदितम् ॥ ३९ ॥
“that you will see Rama’s face, with its lovely eyes, handsome, with bimba lips and fine earrings, like the full moon risen.
क्षिप्रं द्रक्ष्यसि वैदेहि रामं प्रस्रवणे गिरौ । शतक्रतुमिवासीनं नागपृष्ठस्य मूर्धनि ॥ ४० ॥
“Soon, Vaidehi, you will see Rama on Mount Prasravana, like Shatakratu seated on the back of the king of elephants.
न मांसं राघवो भुङ्क्ते न चैव मधु सेवते । वन्यं सुविहितं नित्यं भक्तमश्नाति पञ्चमम् ॥ ४१ ॥
“Raghava eats no meat and takes no wine; he always eats simple forest food, properly prepared, at the fifth mealtime.
नैव दंशान् न मशकान् न कीटान् न सरीसृपान् । राघवोऽपनयेद् गात्रात् त्वद्गतेनान्तरात्मना ॥ ४२ ॥
“Raghava does not brush off gadflies, mosquitoes, insects or creeping things from his body, his inner self being fixed on you.
नित्यं ध्यानपरो रामो नित्यं शोकपरायणः । नान्यच्चिन्तयते किंचित् स तु कामवशं गतः ॥ ४३ ॥
“Rama is always lost in thought, always given over to grief; he thinks of nothing else, having come under the power of love.
अनिद्रः सततं रामः सुप्तोऽपि च नरोत्तमः । सीतेति मधुरां वाणीं व्याहरन् प्रतिबुध्यते ॥ ४४ ॥
“Rama is always sleepless; and if the best of men sleeps, he wakes uttering the sweet word ‘Sita’.
दृष्ट्वा फलं वा पुष्पं वा यच्चान्यत् स्त्रीमनोहरम् । बहुशो हा प्रियेत्येवं श्वसंस्त्वामभिभाषते ॥ ४५ ॥
“Seeing a fruit or a flower or anything else that delights a woman, he often sighs and calls to you: ‘Ah, my love!’
स देवि नित्यं परितप्यमान- स्त्वामेव सीतेत्यभिभाषमाणः । धृतव्रतो राजसुतो महात्मा तवैव लाभाय कृतप्रयत्नः ॥ ४६ ॥
“That great-souled prince, goddess, always burning, calling only to you, ‘Sita’, keeps his vows and strives only to win you back.”
सा रामसंकीर्तनवीतशोका रामस्य शोकेन समानशोका । शरन्मुखेनाम्बुदशेषचन्द्रा निशेव वैदेहसुता बभूव ॥ ४७ ॥
Her grief lifted by the praise of Rama, yet grieving equally with Rama’s grief, Vaideha’s daughter became like a night at the beginning of autumn, with the moon still veiled by the last of the clouds.