Sundara Kanda · Sarga 39 of 68 · 54 verses
Sita’s Doubt about the Ocean
Giving him the jewel, Sita tells Hanuman that Rama will know it well; seeing it, he will remember three people: her, his mother, and King Dasharatha. She asks him to think of what must come next and to be the one who ends her sorrow, and to greet Rama, Lakshmana, Sugriva and the elders. Let him tell Rama what will make him rescue her while she still lives. Hanuman promises: Rama will come soon with the best of the monkeys and bears; no one in any world can stand before his arrows, and he would face even the sun, the rain-god or Yama for her.
As he turns to go, Sita, looking at him again and again, asks him to stay a day hidden somewhere and rest; his presence eases her grief, and once he is gone it will burn her again. And she has one great doubt: how will the monkey armies and the two princes cross the ocean? Only Garuda, the Wind and Hanuman can leap it. It would be worthy of Rama to come with his armies, defeat Ravana and take her home himself.
Hanuman reassures her. Sugriva, true to his word, has resolved to help her; he commands millions of monkeys who travel at the speed of thought, up, down and sideways, and have circled the earth many times. Among them there are many equal to or greater than Hanuman, and none less; the best are not sent as messengers, only lesser ones like himself. They will reach Lanka in one leap. He will carry Rama and Lakshmana on his back like the rising sun and moon. Rama, pierced by love, finds no peace; soon she will see him at Lanka’s gate with Lakshmana and the roaring monkey hosts, and be reunited with him as Shachi with Indra. She will not stay long in this terrible place; let her bear only the time it takes him to return.
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मणिं दत्त्वा ततः सीता हनूमन्तमथाब्रवीत् । अभिज्ञानमभिज्ञातमेतद् रामस्य तत्त्वतः ॥ १ ॥
Having given the jewel, Sita then said to Hanuman: “This token is well known to Rama, truly.
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मणिं दृष्ट्वा तु रामो वै त्रयाणां संस्मरिष्यति । वीरो जनन्या मम च राज्ञो दशरथस्य च ॥ २ ॥
“Seeing the jewel, the hero Rama will remember three: my mother, me, and King Dasharatha.
स भूयस्त्वं समुत्साहचोदितो हरिसत्तम । अस्मिन् कार्यसमुत्साहे प्रचिन्तय यदुत्तरम् ॥ ३ ॥
“Spurred on again by great energy, best of monkeys, think about what must come next in this undertaking.
त्वमस्मिन् कार्यनिर्योगे प्रमाणं हरिसत्तम । तस्य चिन्तय यो यत्नो दुःखक्षयकरो भवेत् ॥ ४ ॥
“You are the authority in carrying out this task, best of monkeys. Think of the effort that would end my sorrow.
हनूमन् यत्नमास्थाय दुःखक्षयकरो भव । स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय मारुतिर्भीमविक्रमः ॥ ५ ॥
“Hanuman, make the effort and be the one who ends my sorrow.” Promising “So be it”, the son of the Wind, of terrible valour,
शिरसाऽऽवन्द्य वैदेहीं गमनायोपचक्रमे । ज्ञात्वा सम्प्रस्थितं देवी वानरं पवनात्मजम् ॥ ६ ॥
bowing his head to Vaidehi, began to leave. Knowing the monkey, son of the Wind, was setting out, the goddess
बाष्पगद्गदया वाचा मैथिली वाक्यमब्रवीत् । हनूमन् कुशलं ब्रूयाः सहितौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ ७ ॥
Maithili said in a voice choked with tears: “Hanuman, give my greetings to Rama and Lakshmana together,
सुग्रीवं च सहामात्यं सर्वान् वृद्धांश्च वानरान् । ब्रूयास्त्वं वानरश्रेष्ठ कुशलं धर्मसंहितम् ॥ ८ ॥
“and to Sugriva with his ministers and to all the elder monkeys; give them, best of monkeys, my greetings with due honour.
यथा च स महाबाहुर्मां तारयति राघवः । अस्माद् दुःखाम्बुसंरोधात् त्वं समाधातुमर्हसि ॥ ९ ॥
“And you must arrange it so that mighty-armed Raghava rescues me from this flood of sorrow.
जीवन्तीं मां यथा रामः सम्भावयति कीर्तिमान् । तत् त्वया हनुमन् वाच्यं वाचा धर्ममवाप्नुहि ॥ १० ॥
“Tell glorious Rama what will make him rescue me while I am alive, Hanuman; win merit by your words.
नित्यमुत्साहयुक्तस्य वाचः श्रुत्वा मयेरिताः । वर्धिष्यते दाशरथेः पौरुषं मदवाप्तये ॥ ११ ॥
“Hearing the words I have spoken, the manliness of Dasharatha’s son, always full of energy, will grow for my recovery.
मत्संदेशयुता वाचस्त्वत्तः श्रुत्वैव राघवः । पराक्रमे मतिं वीरो विधिवत् संविधास्यति ॥ १२ ॥
“As soon as he hears from you the words that carry my message, the hero Raghava will set his mind duly on valour.”
सीतायास्तद् वचः श्रुत्वा हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः । शिरस्यञ्जलिमाधाय वाक्यमुत्तरमब्रवीत् ॥ १३ ॥
Hearing Sita’s words, Hanuman, son of the Wind, placing his joined palms on his head, gave this answer:
क्षिप्रमेष्यति काकुत्स्थो हर्यृक्षप्रवरैर्वृतः । यस्ते युधि विजित्यारीन् शोकं व्यपनयिष्यति ॥ १४ ॥
“Kakutstha will come quickly, surrounded by the best of the monkeys and bears; he will conquer his enemies in battle and take away your sorrow.
नहि पश्यामि मर्त्येषु नासुरेषु सुरेषु वा । यस्तस्य वमतो बाणान् स्थातुमुत्सहतेऽग्रतः ॥ १५ ॥
“I see no one among mortals, asuras or gods who could dare to stand before him as he pours out his arrows.
अप्यर्कमपि पर्जन्यमपि वैवस्वतं यमम् । स हि सोढुं रणे शक्तस्तव हेतोर्विशेषतः ॥ १६ ॥
“He could bear in battle the sun, the rain-god, even Yama son of Vivasvat, especially for your sake.
स हि सागरपर्यन्तां महीं साधितुमर्हति । त्वन्निमित्तो हि रामस्य जयो जनकनन्दिनि ॥ १७ ॥
“He is able to subdue the earth to the ocean’s edge; for Rama’s victory is for your sake, daughter of Janaka.”
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा सम्यक् सत्यं सुभाषितम् । जानकी बहु मेने तं वचनं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥ १८ ॥
Hearing his words, well spoken and wholly true, Janaki honoured him greatly and said this.
ततस्तं प्रस्थितं सीता वीक्षमाणा पुनः पुनः । भर्तृस्नेहान्वितं वाक्यं सौहार्दादनुमानयत् ॥ १९ ॥
Then, looking again and again at him as he set out, Sita, out of affection, spoke words full of love for her husband:
यदि वा मन्यसे वीर वसैकाहमरिंदम । कस्मिंश्चित् संवृते देशे विश्रान्तः श्वो गमिष्यसि ॥ २० ॥
“If you think it right, hero, tamer of foes, stay one day; resting in some hidden place, you can go tomorrow.
मम चैवाल्पभाग्यायाः सांनिध्यात् तव वानर । अस्य शोकस्य महतो मुहूर्तं मोक्षणं भवेत् ॥ २१ ॥
“For in your presence, monkey, there may be a moment’s release from this great grief for unlucky me.
ततो हि हरिशार्दूल पुनरागमनाय तु । प्राणानामपि संदेहो मम स्यान्नात्र संशयः ॥ २२ ॥
“And then, tiger among monkeys, until you come back, my very life will be in doubt; there is no doubt of that.
तवादर्शनजः शोको भूयो मां परितापयेत् । दुःखादुःखपरामृष्टां दीपयन्निव वानर ॥ २३ ॥
“Grief born of not seeing you would torment me again, monkey, as if burning one touched by sorrow upon sorrow.
अयं च वीर संदेहस्तिष्ठतीव ममाग्रतः । सुमहांस्त्वत्सहायेषु हर्यृक्षेषु हरीश्वर ॥ २४ ॥
“And this doubt, hero, seems to stand before me, very great, concerning your allies, the monkeys and bears, lord of monkeys:
कथं नु खलु दुष्पारं तरिष्यन्ति महोदधिम् । तानि हर्यृक्षसैन्यानि तौ वा नरवरात्मजौ ॥ २५ ॥
“how will those armies of monkeys and bears, or those two sons of the best of men, cross the great ocean, so hard to cross?
त्रयाणामेव भूतानां सागरस्येह लङ्घने । शक्तिः स्याद् वैनतेयस्य तव वा मारुतस्य वा ॥ २६ ॥
“Only three beings have the power to leap the ocean here: Vinata’s son, you, and the Wind.
तदस्मिन् कार्यनिर्योगे वीरैवं दुरतिक्रमे । किं पश्यसे समाधानं त्वं हि कार्यविदां वरः ॥ २७ ॥
“So in carrying out this task, so hard to overcome, hero, what solution do you see? You are the best of those who know how to act.
काममस्य त्वमेवैकः कार्यस्य परिसाधने । पर्याप्तः परवीरघ्न यशस्यस्ते फलोदयः ॥ २८ ॥
“Granted that you alone are enough to accomplish this task, slayer of enemy heroes, and the outcome would bring you glory;
बलैः समग्रैर्युधि मां रावणं जित्य संयुगे । विजयी स्वपुरं यायात् तत्तस्य सदृशं भवेत् ॥ २९ ॥
“but if, with all his forces, he conquered Ravana in battle and, victorious, took me to his own city, that would be worthy of him.
बलैस्तु संकुलां कृत्वा लङ्कां परबलार्दनः । मां नयेद् यदि काकुत्स्थस्तत् तस्य सदृशं भवेत् ॥ ३० ॥
“If Kakutstha, crusher of enemy armies, filled Lanka with his forces and took me away, that would be worthy of him.
तद्यथा तस्य विक्रान्तमनुरूपं महात्मनः । भवेदाहवशूरस्य तथा त्वमुपपादय ॥ ३१ ॥
“So arrange it in a way that befits the valour of that great soul, the hero in battle.”
तदर्थोपहितं वाक्यं प्रश्रितं हेतुसंहितम् । निशम्य हनुमान् शेषं वाक्यमुत्तरमब्रवीत् ॥ ३२ ॥
Hearing those words, full of purpose, courteous and reasoned, Hanuman gave the remaining answer:
देवि हर्यृक्षसैन्यानामीश्वरः प्लवतां वरः । सुग्रीवः सत्यसम्पन्नस्तवार्थे कृतनिश्चयः ॥ ३३ ॥
“Goddess, Sugriva, lord of the armies of monkeys and bears, best of leapers, rich in truth, is resolved on your cause.
स वानरसहस्राणां कोटीभिरभिसंवृतः । क्षिप्रमेष्यति वैदेहि राक्षसानां निबर्हणः ॥ ३४ ॥
“Surrounded by tens of millions of thousands of monkeys, he will come quickly, Vaidehi, to destroy the rakshasas.
तस्य विक्रमसम्पन्नाः सत्त्ववन्तो महाबलाः । मनःसंकल्पसम्पाता निदेशे हरयः स्थिताः ॥ ३५ ॥
“His monkeys stand ready at his command, full of valour, courage and strength, swift as the will of the mind.
येषां नोपरि नाधस्तान्न तिर्यक् सज्जते गतिः । न च कर्मसु सीदन्ति महत्स्वमिततेजसः ॥ ३६ ॥
“Their course is not checked above, below or across; they of boundless energy do not flinch at great tasks.
असकृत् तैर्महोत्साहैः ससागरधराधरा । प्रदक्षिणीकृता भूमिर्वायुमार्गानुसारिभिः ॥ ३७ ॥
“Again and again those mighty ones, following the path of the wind, have circled the earth with its oceans and mountains.
मद्विशिष्टाश्च तुल्याश्च सन्ति तत्र वनौकसः । मत्तः प्रत्यवरः कश्चिन्नास्ति सुग्रीवसंनिधौ ॥ ३८ ॥
“There are forest-dwellers there superior to me and equal to me; there is no one in Sugriva’s company inferior to me.
अहं तावदिह प्राप्तः किं पुनस्ते महाबलाः । नहि प्रकृष्टाः प्रेष्यन्ते प्रेष्यन्ते हीतरे जनाः ॥ ३९ ॥
“If I have come here, how much more those mighty ones! For the excellent are not sent as messengers; others are sent.
तदलं परितापेन देवि शोको व्यपैतु ते । एकोत्पातेन ते लङ्कामेष्यन्ति हरियूथपाः ॥ ४० ॥
“So enough of anguish, goddess; let your grief go. With one leap the leaders of the monkey troops will reach Lanka.
मम पृष्ठगतौ तौ च चन्द्रसूर्याविवोदितौ । त्वत्सकाशं महासङ्घौ नृसिंहावागमिष्यतः ॥ ४१ ॥
“And those two lions among men, risen like the moon and the sun, will come to you on my back with great hosts.
तौ हि वीरौ नरवरौ सहितौ रामलक्ष्मणौ । आगम्य नगरीं लङ्कां सायकैर्विधमिष्यतः ॥ ४२ ॥
“Those two heroes, best of men, Rama and Lakshmana together, will come to the city of Lanka and scatter it with their arrows.
सगणं रावणं हत्वा राघवो रघुनन्दनः । त्वामादाय वरारोहे स्वपुरीं प्रति यास्यति ॥ ४३ ॥
“Having killed Ravana with his followers, Raghava, delight of the Raghus, will take you and go to his own city, lovely one.
तदाश्वसिहि भद्रं ते भव त्वं कालकाङ्क्षिणी । नचिराद् द्रक्ष्यसे रामं प्रज्वलन्तमिवानलम् ॥ ४४ ॥
“So take comfort, bless you; wait for the time. Before long you will see Rama like a blazing fire.
निहते राक्षसेन्द्रे च सपुत्रामात्यबान्धवे । त्वं समेष्यसि रामेण शशाङ्केनेव रोहिणी ॥ ४५ ॥
“When the king of the rakshasas has been killed with his sons, ministers and kin, you will be united with Rama, as Rohini with the moon.
क्षिप्रं त्वं देवि शोकस्य पारं द्रक्ष्यसि मैथिलि । रावणं चैव रामेण द्रक्ष्यसे निहतं बलात् ॥ ४६ ॥
“Soon, goddess Maithili, you will see the far shore of your grief, and you will see Ravana killed by force by Rama.”
एवमाश्वास्य वैदेहीं हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः । गमनाय मतिं कृत्वा वैदेहीं पुनरब्रवीत् ॥ ४७ ॥
Having comforted Vaidehi so, Hanuman, son of the Wind, resolving to go, spoke again to Vaidehi:
तमरिघ्नं कृतात्मानं क्षिप्रं द्रक्ष्यसि राघवम् । लक्ष्मणं च धनुष्पाणिं लङ्काद्वारमुपागतम् ॥ ४८ ॥
“Soon you will see Raghava, slayer of enemies, who has mastered himself, and Lakshmana bow in hand, arrived at the gate of Lanka.
नखदंष्ट्रायुधान् वीरान् सिंहशार्दूलविक्रमान् । वानरान् वारणेन्द्राभान् क्षिप्रं द्रक्ष्यसि संगतान् ॥ ४९ ॥
“Soon you will see heroic monkeys gathered, whose weapons are nails and teeth, with the valour of lions and tigers, like lordly elephants.
शैलाम्बुदनिकाशानां लङ्कामलयसानुषु । नर्दतां कपिमुख्यानामार्ये यूथान्यनेकशः ॥ ५० ॥
“On the slopes of Lanka’s Malaya hill, noble lady, you will see many troops of chief monkeys like mountains and clouds, roaring.
स तु मर्मणि घोरेण ताडितो मन्मथेषुणा । न शर्म लभते रामः सिंहार्दित इव द्विपः ॥ ५१ ॥
“Struck in his vitals by the terrible arrow of love, Rama finds no peace, like an elephant attacked by a lion.
रुद मा देवि शोकेन मा भूत् ते मनसो भयम् । शचीव भर्त्रा शक्रेण सङ्गमेष्यसि शोभने ॥ ५२ ॥
“Do not weep for grief, goddess; let no fear be in your mind. You will be reunited with your husband, lovely one, as Shachi with Shakra.
रामाद् विशिष्टः कोऽन्योऽस्ति कश्चित् सौमित्रिणा समः । अग्निमारुतकल्पौ तौ भ्रातरौ तव संश्रयौ ॥ ५३ ॥
“Who is greater than Rama? Who is equal to Saumitri? Those two brothers, like fire and wind, are your refuge.
नास्मिंश्चिरं वत्स्यसि देवि देशे रक्षोगणैरध्युषितेऽतिरौद्रे । न ते चिरादागमनं प्रियस्य क्षमस्व मत्संगमकालमात्रम् ॥ ५४ ॥
“You will not live long in this place, goddess, inhabited by hosts of rakshasas, so terrible. Your beloved’s coming will not be long; bear only the time until I reach him.”