Sundara Kanda · Sarga 37 of 68 · 68 verses
Sita Declines to Go with Hanuman
Sita says his words are nectar mixed with poison: Rama thinks only of her, but he grieves. Fate drags people as if by a rope, through fortune and misfortune alike. When will Rama cross this sea of sorrow, kill Ravana and see her? Let him hurry: this is the tenth month; only two remain of the year Ravana set. Vibhishana has urged his brother to return her, and an old, wise rakshasa named Avindhya has warned him; she heard this from Kala, Vibhishana’s eldest daughter. But Ravana will not listen; Death is seeking him. She trusts Rama will come: he has energy, manliness, courage, kindness, gratitude, valour and power, and he killed fourteen thousand rakshasas alone.
Hanuman offers to carry her home on his back that very day: he is strong enough to carry Lanka itself, Ravana and all. Sita smiles at the idea: how can one so small carry her so far? To convince her, Hanuman leaps down and grows huge as Mount Meru, blazing like fire, and tells her he could carry off all Lanka. Sita acknowledges his power but refuses. His speed might make her faint and fall into the sea; rakshasas would pursue them; burdened with her and unarmed, he could not both fight and protect her; she might be recaptured or killed, and all his effort wasted. Besides, if Hanuman rescued her, Rama’s glory would be diminished. And, out of devotion to her husband, she will not willingly touch any male body but Rama’s; Ravana touched her by force, when she was helpless. It is fitting that Rama himself should kill Ravana and take her home. Let Hanuman bring Rama, Lakshmana and the army quickly.
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सा सीता वचनं श्रुत्वा पूर्णचन्द्रनिभानना । हनूमन्तमुवाचेदं धर्मार्थसहितं वचः ॥ १ ॥
Hearing those words, Sita, her face like the full moon, said to Hanuman these words full of dharma and purpose:
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Sita Declines to Go with Hanuman 1 min read.
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अमृतं विषसम्पृक्तं त्वया वानर भाषितम् । यच्च नान्यमना रामो यच्च शोकपरायणः ॥ २ ॥
“You have spoken nectar mixed with poison, monkey: that Rama’s mind is on nothing else, and that he is given over to grief.
ऐश्वर्ये वा सुविस्तीर्णे व्यसने वा सुदारुणे । रज्ज्वेव पुरुषं बद्ध्वा कृतान्तः परिकर्षति ॥ ३ ॥
“In far-spread fortune or in cruel misfortune, Fate drags a man as if bound with a rope.
विधिर्नूनमसंहार्यः प्राणिनां प्लवगोत्तम । सौमित्रं मां च रामं च व्यसनैः पश्य मोहितान् ॥ ४ ॥
“Surely the course of destiny cannot be turned back for living beings, best of monkeys: see how Saumitri, Rama and I are bewildered by misfortunes.
शोकस्यास्य कथं पारं राघवोऽधिगमिष्यति । प्लवमानः परिक्रान्तो हतनौः सागरे यथा ॥ ५ ॥
“How will Raghava reach the far shore of this grief, like a man swimming in the ocean, exhausted, his boat wrecked?
राक्षसानां वधं कृत्वा सूदयित्वा च रावणम् । लङ्कामुन्मथितां कृत्वा कदा द्रक्ष्यति मां पतिः ॥ ६ ॥
“When will my husband, having slaughtered the rakshasas, killed Ravana and laid Lanka waste, see me?
स वाच्यः संत्वरस्वेति यावदेव न पूर्यते । अयं संवत्सरः कालस्तावद्धि मम जीवितम् ॥ ७ ॥
“Tell him, ‘Hurry’, while this year is not yet completed; for only so long is my life.
वर्तते दशमो मासो द्वौ तु शेषौ प्लवङ्गम । रावणेन नृशंसेन समयो यः कृतो मम ॥ ८ ॥
“This is the tenth month, and two remain, monkey, of the term that cruel Ravana has set for me.
विभीषणेन च भ्रात्रा मम निर्यातनं प्रति । अनुनीतः प्रयत्नेन न च तत् कुरुते मतिम् ॥ ९ ॥
“His brother Vibhishana tried hard to persuade him to give me back, but he does not set his mind to it.
मम प्रतिप्रदानं हि रावणस्य न रोचते । रावणं मार्गते संख्ये मृत्युः कालवशंगतम् ॥ १० ॥
“Giving me back does not please Ravana. Death seeks Ravana in battle, fallen under the power of Time.
ज्येष्ठा कन्या कला नाम विभीषणसुता कपे । तया ममैतदाख्यातं मात्रा प्रहितया स्वयम् ॥ ११ ॥
“Vibhishana’s eldest daughter, monkey, named Kala, told me this, sent by her mother herself.
अविन्ध्यो नाम मेधावी विद्वान् राक्षसपुङ्गवः । धृतिमाञ्छीलवान् वृद्धो रावणस्य सुसम्मतः ॥ १२ ॥
“An intelligent, learned bull among rakshasas named Avindhya, steadfast, virtuous, old, much respected by Ravana,
रामात् क्षयमनुप्राप्तं रक्षसां प्रत्यचोदयत् । न च तस्य स दुष्टात्मा शृणोति वचनं हितम् ॥ १३ ॥
“has warned him of the destruction of the rakshasas coming from Rama; but that evil-souled one does not listen to his good advice.
आशंसेयं हरिश्रेष्ठ क्षिप्रं मां प्राप्स्यते पतिः । अन्तरात्मा हि मे शुद्धस्तस्मिंश्च बहवो गुणाः ॥ १४ ॥
“I hope, best of monkeys, that my husband will soon win me back, for my inner self is pure, and in him there are many virtues.
उत्साहः पौरुषं सत्त्वमानृशंस्यं कृतज्ञता । विक्रमश्च प्रभावश्च सन्ति वानर राघवे ॥ १५ ॥
“Energy, manliness, strength, kindness, gratitude, valour and power are in Raghava, monkey.
चतुर्दश सहस्राणि राक्षसानां जघान यः । जनस्थाने विना भ्रात्रा शत्रुः कस्तस्य नोद्विजेत् ॥ १६ ॥
“He who killed fourteen thousand rakshasas in Janasthana without his brother: what enemy would not tremble before him?
न स शक्यस्तुलयितुं व्यसनैः पुरुषर्षभः । अहं तस्यानुभावज्ञा शक्रस्येव पुलोमजा ॥ १७ ॥
“That bull among men cannot be shaken by misfortunes. I know his might, as Paulomi knows Shakra’s.
शरजालांशुमान् शूरः कपे रामदिवाकरः । शत्रुरक्षोमयं तोयमुपशोषं नयिष्यति ॥ १८ ॥
“The hero, Rama the sun, with his net of arrows for rays, monkey, will dry up the water that is the enemy rakshasas.”
इति संजल्पमानां तां रामार्थे शोककर्शिताम् । अश्रुसम्पूर्णवदनामुवाच हनुमान् कपिः ॥ १९ ॥
As she spoke so for Rama’s sake, worn by grief, her face full of tears, the monkey Hanuman said to her:
श्रुत्वैव च वचो मह्यं क्षिप्रमेष्यति राघवः । चमूं प्रकर्षन् महतीं हर्यृक्षगणसंकुलाम् ॥ २० ॥
“As soon as he hears my words, Raghava will come quickly, leading a great army crowded with bands of monkeys and bears.
अथवा मोचयिष्यामि त्वामद्यैव सराक्षसात् । अस्माद् दुःखादुपारोह मम पृष्ठमनिन्दिते ॥ २१ ॥
“Or I will free you from this sorrow, from the rakshasas, this very day. Climb on my back, blameless one.
त्वां तु पृष्ठगतां कृत्वा संतरिष्यामि सागरम् । शक्तिरस्ति हि मे वोढुं लङ्कामपि सरावणाम् ॥ २२ ॥
“With you on my back I will cross the ocean; I have the strength to carry even Lanka with Ravana.
अहं प्रस्रवणस्थाय राघवायाद्य मैथिलि । प्रापयिष्यामि शक्राय हव्यं हुतमिवानलः ॥ २३ ॥
“Today, Maithili, I will bring you to Raghava on Prasravana, as Fire carries the oblation offered to Shakra.
द्रक्ष्यस्यद्यैव वैदेहि राघवं सहलक्ष्मणम् । व्यवसायसमायुक्तं विष्णुं दैत्यवधे यथा ॥ २४ ॥
“Today you will see Raghava with Lakshmana, Vaidehi, full of resolve, like Vishnu bent on slaying the daityas,
त्वद्दर्शनकृतोत्साहमाश्रमस्थं महाबलम् । पुरंदरमिवासीनं नगराजस्य मूर्धनि ॥ २५ ॥
“mighty, his energy roused by the thought of seeing you, seated at his hermitage like Purandara on the head of the king of mountains.
पृष्ठमारोह मे देवि मा विकाङ्क्षस्व शोभने । योगमन्विच्छ रामेण शशाङ्केनेव रोहिणी ॥ २६ ॥
“Climb on my back, goddess; do not hesitate, lovely one. Seek union with Rama, as Rohini with the moon.
कथयन्तीव शशिना संगमिष्यसि रोहिणी । मत्पृष्ठमधिरोह त्वं तराकाशं महार्णवम् ॥ २७ ॥
“As if talking with the moon, you will meet him like Rohini. Climb on my back and cross the sky and the great ocean.
नहि मे सम्प्रयातस्य त्वामितो नयतोऽङ्गने । अनुगन्तुं गतिं शक्ताः सर्वे लङ्कानिवासिनः ॥ २८ ॥
“When I set out taking you from here, lady, none of those who live in Lanka can follow my course.
यथैवाहमिह प्राप्तस्तथैवाहमसंशयम् । यास्यामि पश्य वैदेहि त्वामुद्यम्य विहायसम् ॥ २९ ॥
“As I came here, so without doubt I will go, Vaidehi: see, carrying you through the sky.”
मैथिली तु हरिश्रेष्ठाच्छ्रुत्वा वचनमद्भुतम् । हर्षविस्मितसर्वाङ्गी हनूमन्तमथाब्रवीत् ॥ ३० ॥
Hearing these marvellous words from the best of monkeys, Maithili, thrilled with joy and wonder in every limb, said to Hanuman:
हनूमन् दूरमध्वानं कथं मां नेतुमिच्छसि । तदेव खलु ते मन्ये कपित्वं हरियूथप ॥ ३१ ॥
“Hanuman, how do you hope to carry me so far? That, surely, I think is just your monkey nature, leader of monkey troops.
कथं चाल्पशरीरस्त्वं मामितो नेतुमिच्छसि । सकाशं मानवेन्द्रस्य भर्तुर्मे प्लवगर्षभ ॥ ३२ ॥
“And how do you, with so small a body, hope to carry me from here to my husband, the lord of men, bull among monkeys?”
सीतायास्तु वचः श्रुत्वा हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः । चिन्तयामास लक्ष्मीवान् नवं परिभवं कृतम् ॥ ३३ ॥
Hearing Sita’s words, glorious Hanuman, son of the Wind, thought it a fresh slight:
न मे जानाति सत्त्वं वा प्रभावं वासितेक्षणा । तस्मात् पश्यतु वैदेही यद् रूपं मम कामतः ॥ ३४ ॥
“The dark-eyed lady does not know my strength or my power. So let Vaidehi see the form I take at will.”
इति संचिन्त्य हनुमांस्तदा प्लवगसत्तमः । दर्शयामास सीतायाः स्वरूपमरिमर्दनः ॥ ३५ ॥
Thinking so, Hanuman, best of monkeys, crusher of enemies, then showed Sita his own form.
स तस्मात् पादपाद् धीमानाप्लुत्य प्लवगर्षभः । ततो वर्धितुमारेभे सीताप्रत्ययकारणात् ॥ ३६ ॥
The wise bull among monkeys leapt down from that tree and began to grow, to win Sita’s trust.
मेरुमन्दरसंकाशो बभौ दीप्तानलप्रभः । अग्रतो व्यवतस्थे च सीताया वानरर्षभः ॥ ३७ ॥
Like Meru or Mandara, shining like a blazing fire, the bull among monkeys stood in front of Sita.
हरिः पर्वतसंकाशस्ताम्रवक्त्रो महाबलः । वज्रदंष्ट्रनखो भीमो वैदेहीमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ ३८ ॥
The monkey, like a mountain, copper-faced, mighty, with teeth and nails like thunderbolts, terrible, said this to Vaidehi:
सपर्वतवनोद्देशां साट्टप्राकारतोरणाम् । लङ्कामिमां सनाथां वा नयितुं शक्तिरस्ति मे ॥ ३९ ॥
“I have the strength to carry off this Lanka, with its mountains, woods, towers, ramparts and gates, and its lord too.
तदवस्थाप्यतां बुद्धिरलं देवि विकाङ्क्षया । विशोकं कुरु वैदेहि राघवं सहलक्ष्मणम् ॥ ४० ॥
“So let your mind be settled; enough of hesitation, goddess. Free Raghava and Lakshmana from grief, Vaidehi.”
तं दृष्ट्वाचलसंकाशमुवाच जनकात्मजा । पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षी मारुतस्यौरसं सुतम् ॥ ४१ ॥
Seeing him like a mountain, the daughter of Janaka, with large eyes like lotus petals, said to the true-born son of the Wind:
तव सत्त्वं बलं चैव विजानामि महाकपे । वायोरिव गतिश्चापि तेजश्चाग्नेरिवाद्भुतम् ॥ ४२ ॥
“I know your strength and might, great monkey, and your speed like the wind’s and your splendour, marvellous like fire’s.
प्राकृतोऽन्यः कथं चेमां भूमिमागन्तुमर्हति । उदधेरप्रमेयस्य पारं वानरयूथप ॥ ४३ ॥
“How could any ordinary one reach this land, the far shore of the immeasurable ocean, leader of monkey troops?
जानामि गमने शक्तिं नयने चापि ते मम । अवश्यं सम्प्रधार्याशु कार्यसिद्धिरिवात्मनः ॥ ४४ ॥
“I know your power to travel and to carry me. Certainly the success of the task must be weighed quickly, as if it were one’s own.
अयुक्तं तु कपिश्रेष्ठ मया गन्तुं त्वया सह । वायुवेगसवेगस्य वेगो मां मोहयेत् तव ॥ ४५ ॥
“But it is not right for me to go with you, best of monkeys. Your speed, equal to the wind’s, might make me faint.
अहमाकाशमासक्ता उपर्युपरि सागरम् । प्रपतेयं हि ते पृष्ठाद् भूयो वेगेन गच्छतः ॥ ४६ ॥
“Clinging in the sky, high above the ocean, I might fall from your back as you rushed on.
पतिता सागरे चाहं तिमिनक्रझषाकुले । भवेयमाशु विवशा यादसामन्नमुत्तमम् ॥ ४७ ॥
“And fallen into the ocean, full of whales, crocodiles and fish, helpless, I would quickly become the finest food for the sea creatures.
न च शक्ष्ये त्वया सार्धं गन्तुं शत्रुविनाशन । कलत्रवति संदेहस्त्वयि स्यादप्यसंशयम् ॥ ४८ ॥
“I cannot go with you, destroyer of enemies. With a wife to carry, there would be danger for you too, no doubt of it.
ह्रियमाणां तु मां दृष्ट्वा राक्षसा भीमविक्रमाः । अनुगच्छेयुरादिष्टा रावणेन दुरात्मना ॥ ४९ ॥
“Seeing me carried off, rakshasas of terrible valour, ordered by evil-souled Ravana, would follow.
तैस्त्वं परिवृतः शूरैः शूलमुद्गरपाणिभिः । भवेस्त्वं संशयं प्राप्तो मया वीर कलत्रवान् ॥ ५० ॥
“Surrounded by those heroes with spears and hammers in their hands, burdened with me, hero, you would be in danger.
सायुधा बहवो व्योम्नि राक्षसास्त्वं निरायुधः । कथं शक्ष्यसि संयातुं मां चैव परिरक्षितुम् ॥ ५१ ॥
“Many armed rakshasas in the sky, and you unarmed: how could you fight and protect me as well?
युध्यमानस्य रक्षोभिस्ततस्तैः क्रूरकर्मभिः । प्रपतेयं हि ते पृष्ठाद् भयार्ता कपिसत्तम ॥ ५२ ॥
“While you were fighting those rakshasas of cruel deeds, I might fall from your back in terror, best of monkeys.
अथ रक्षांसि भीमानि महान्ति बलवन्ति च । कथंचित् साम्पराये त्वां जयेयुः कपिसत्तम ॥ ५३ ॥
“Then the terrible rakshasas, huge and strong, might somehow defeat you in battle, best of monkeys.
अथवा युध्यमानस्य पतेयं विमुखस्य ते । पतितां च गृहीत्वा मां नयेयुः पापराक्षसाः ॥ ५४ ॥
“Or as you fought, turned away, I might fall, and the evil rakshasas might seize me as I fell and take me away.
मां वा हरेयुस्त्वद्धस्ताद् विशसेयुरथापि वा । अनवस्थौ हि दृश्येते युद्धे जयपराजयौ ॥ ५५ ॥
“Or they might snatch me from your hands, or even kill me; for victory and defeat in battle are seen to be uncertain.
अहं वापि विपद्येयं रक्षोभिरभितर्जिता । त्वत्प्रयत्नो हरिश्रेष्ठ भवेन्निष्फल एव तु ॥ ५६ ॥
“Or I might die, threatened by the rakshasas, and your effort, best of monkeys, would be fruitless.
कामं त्वमपि पर्याप्तो निहन्तुं सर्वराक्षसान् । राघवस्य यशो हीयेत् त्वया शस्तैस्तु राक्षसैः ॥ ५७ ॥
“Granted that you are able to kill all the rakshasas; but Raghava’s glory would be diminished if the rakshasas were killed by you.
अथवाऽऽदाय रक्षांसि न्यसेयुः संवृते हि माम् । यत्र ते नाभिजानीयुर्हरयो नापि राघवः ॥ ५८ ॥
“Or the rakshasas might take me and hide me somewhere secret, where neither the monkeys nor Raghava could find me.
आरम्भस्तु मदर्थोऽयं ततस्तव निरर्थकः । त्वया हि सह रामस्य महानागमने गुणः ॥ ५९ ॥
“Then this undertaking of yours for my sake would be fruitless. There is great merit in Rama’s coming with you.
मयि जीवितमायत्तं राघवस्यामितौजसः । भ्रातॄणां च महाबाहो तव राजकुलस्य च ॥ ६० ॥
“On me depends the life of mighty Raghava, of his brothers, mighty-armed one, and of your royal house.
तौ निराशौ मदर्थं च शोकसंतापकर्शितौ । सह सर्वर्क्षहरिभिस्त्यक्ष्यतः प्राणसंग्रहम् ॥ ६१ ॥
“Those two, losing hope for me, worn by grief and sorrow, would give up their lives with all the bears and monkeys.
भर्तुर्भक्तिं पुरस्कृत्य रामादन्यस्य वानर । नाहं स्प्रष्टुं स्वतो गात्रमिच्छेयं वानरोत्तम ॥ ६२ ॥
“Putting devotion to my husband first, monkey, I would not wish of my own will to touch the body of anyone but Rama, best of monkeys.
यदहं गात्रसंस्पर्शं रावणस्य गता बलात् । अनीशा किं करिष्यामि विनाथा विवशा सती ॥ ६३ ॥
“When I came into contact with Ravana’s body, it was by force: powerless, without my protector, helpless, what could I do?
यदि रामो दशग्रीवमिह हत्वा सराक्षसम् । मामितो गृह्य गच्छेत तत् तस्य सदृशं भवेत् ॥ ६४ ॥
“If Rama kills Ten-necked here with his rakshasas and takes me from here and goes, that would be worthy of him.
श्रुताश्च दृष्टा हि मया पराक्रमा महात्मनस्तस्य रणावमर्दिनः । न देवगन्धर्वभुजङ्गराक्षसा भवन्ति रामेण समा हि संयुगे ॥ ६५ ॥
“I have heard of and seen the feats of that great soul who crushes in battle; neither gods, gandharvas, serpents nor rakshasas are Rama’s equals in battle.
समीक्ष्य तं संयति चित्रकार्मुकं महाबलं वासवतुल्यविक्रमम् । सलक्ष्मणं को विषहेत राघवं हुताशनं दीप्तमिवानिलेरितम् ॥ ६६ ॥
“Seeing him in battle with his wonderful bow, mighty, of valour equal to Vasava’s, with Lakshmana, who could withstand Raghava, like a blazing fire fanned by the wind?
सलक्ष्मणं राघवमाजिमर्दनं दिशागजं मत्तमिव व्यवस्थितम् । सहेत को वानरमुख्य संयुगे युगान्तसूर्यप्रतिमं शरार्चिषम् ॥ ६७ ॥
“Who could endure in battle, chief of monkeys, Raghava with Lakshmana, crusher in combat, standing like a rutting elephant of the quarters, like the sun at the end of an age, his arrows its flames?
स मे कपिश्रेष्ठ सलक्ष्मणं प्रियं सयूथपं क्षिप्रमिहोपपादय । चिराय रामं प्रति शोककर्शितां कुरुष्व मां वानरवीर हर्षिताम् ॥ ६८ ॥
“Best of monkeys, bring my beloved Rama here quickly, with Lakshmana and the troop leaders. Make me happy, hero among monkeys, who have long been worn by grief for Rama.”