The Sundara Kanda - Rai Bahadur Lala Baij Nath

 CHAPTER III
(Hanuman’s Visit to Sita)

1. "I shall leave this body by hanging myself. What is the use of my living here in the midst of these Rakshasas?

2. "My hair is long enough to serve as a hanging rope."

3. Thus seeing Janaki resolved upon hanging herself, Hanumana who was of a diminutive body, after some consideration, slowly said as follows in order to make her hear it.

4 – 5 . "Born in the family of Ikshwaku, was the great Raja Dasratha, the lord of Ayodhya. He had four sons known throughout the world, equal to the gods and possessed of all good qualities. They were Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughana.

6. "The eldest son Rama went to the Dandaka forest accompanied with his brother Lakshmana and his wife Sita by the command of his father.

7 – 8. "That great soul lived on the banks of the Gautami in Panchavati. Thence the highly virtuous Sita, daughter of Janaka, was carried off by Ravana the evil minded, during the absence of Rama.

9. "Then Rama greatly distressed went about searching for Janaki when in the way he saw Jatayusha, the king of the birds, lying on the ground. Having sent him off to heaven, he came to the Rishyamuka hill.

10. "Rama the knower of self (atma), then made friends with Sugriva. Having killed the powerful Bali, the ravisher of Sugriva’s wife, he installed him in the kingdom and did the work of his friend.

11. "Then Sugriva, the lord of the monkeys, having collected monkeys sent them in all directions for the purpose of searching Sita.

12 – 13. "I am one of those monkeys and a minister of Sugriva. Having at the bidding of Sampati Speedily crossed the ocean which extends to a hundred yojanas, I came to the city of Lanka in search of the good Janaki.

14 – 15. "Gradually I reached the Asoka Vana, where searching for Janaki I have found her under the Shinshapa tree, sunk in grief and sorrow. Having seen the queen, consort of Rama, I have achieved my object." Having said so, the son of the wind god, who was great amongst men of wisdom, became silent.

16. Hearing all this in due order, Sita became astonished. "Have I heard this in the heavens uttered by the wind.

17. "Is it a dream or an illusion of my own mind or is it true. I know I have no sleep on account of grief, how can it be an illusion.

18. "Whoever has said this, which is like nectar unto my ears, let that great soul and the speaker of such dear words show himself to me."

Note: Valmiki describes the state of mind of Sita on hearing this speech of Hanumana thus:– Is it a dream that I have dreamt. It cannot be a dream as on account of grief I cannot sleep. Always thinking of Rama, Rama in my mind and uttering his name I hear the story like his story. Suffering from love for him having given my heart entirely to him, always thinking of him, I see and hear like it. Sundara Kanda, Chapter 32. This illustrates the principle of Dharana (concentration) one of the limbs of Yoga.

19 – 20 Having heard those words of Janaki Hanumana slowly descended from the tree and stood before her. Of the size of a sparrow, with a red face and yellow monkey body he slowly prostrated himself before Sita and with folded hands stood before her.

Note: In the Valmiki there is nothing about Hanumana having appeared before Sita in such a diminutive form.

21. Seeing him, Janaki got frightened and thought Ravana had come to allure her by illusion under the disguise of a monkey.

22 – 23. Thus thinking she hung down her head and remained silent. Then Hanumana said to Sita, " O queen, I am not what thou suspectest me to be. O mother, do thou leave off thy suspicion regarding me. I am the slave of Rama, the supreme self and the lord of Kosala.

24. "O, thou giver of good, I am the minister of Sugriva, the lord of the monkeys. I am, O good lady, the son of Vayu, the life of all".

25 – 26. Hearing this, Janaki said to Hanumana who was standing before her with folded hands, "How can there be any companionship between monkeys and men, when thou sayest that thou art the slave of Ramachandra." The son of the wind who was standing in front of Janaki was pleased and replied as follows:

27 – 29. "Rama of great intelligence came to the Rishyamuka hill at the suggestion of Savari. Sugriva saw Rama and Lakshmana as he was sitting on the Rishyamuka hill. Terrified, he sent me to Rama to know his mind. Assuming the disguise of a Brahmacharin I went to Rama. Knowing the purity of his intention, I placed both of them (Rama and Lakshmana) upon my shoulders, took them to Sugriva, and made them friends.

30 – 32. "Sugriva’s wife had been abducted by Bali. Him the best of Raghus killed by one shot of his arrow and installed Sugriva in the kingship of the monkeys. He then highly powerful monkeys possessed of bravery to all the quarters of the earth to search for you.

33. "Seeing me going, Rama told me respectfully ‘Upon thee, O son of the wind, this work of mine wholly depends. Do thou inform Sita of mine and Lakshmana’s welfare.

34. "For the purpose of recognition do thou give to Sita this good and beautiful ring of mine which bears the letters of my name."

35. "So saying he gave me this ring from his finger. I have brought it carefully, do thou, O lady, see this ring." So saying the son of the wind gave unto the queen (Sita) the ring and having bowed unto her stood at a distance with folded hands.

37. Seeing that ring bearing the name of Rama, Sita became over joyed and placing it upon her head shed tears of joy.

38. "O monkey, thou art the giver of life to me. Thou art possessed of intelligence and art a devotee of Raghava and the doer of what is dear to him, hence there is confidence in thee on the part of Rama.

39. "If it were not so, how could he have sent any other person to me. O Hanumana, thou hast seen all my sorrows and the like.

40. "Do thou tell Rama of all, by which he may feel pity for me. My life is only of two months’ duration. O good man.

41. "If Rama does not come, the monster will eat me up.

42 – 43. "If, therefore, accompanied with the lord of the monkeys and their generals by his side, the lord Rama comes speedily and after killing Ravana and all his sons and army in battle, releases me, then his prowess will be what is expected of him. Do thou, O brave Hanumana, say that by which Rama may give me liberty after killing the ten-faced Ravana. Do thou take steps to have this done and thus earn merit through speech."

44 – 45. Hanumana said to her. " O goddess, from what I have seen, Rama together with Lakshmana as well as Sugriva and his army shall soon come and having killed the ten-faced Ravana by force shall carry thee to Ayodhya. There is no doubt in this."

46 – 47. Unto him Janaki said: "How shall Rama of unfathomable mind cross the ocean with monkeys and come here."

48. Hanumana said "those best of men shall mount my shoulders and come. Sugriva and his army shall come by path of the welkin in a moment having crossed the big ocean. He shall burn the hosts of Rakshasas for thy sake.

49. "There is no doubt in this. Do thou, O lady, give me leave, as I am in a hurry to go.

50. "In order to see Rama together with his brother, I am in a hurry to leave. O queen, give me some token through which Rama may have faith on me. I am anxious to go there."

51 – 52. Then after a little consideration, Sita of eyes like the lotus, took off her head ornament which was tied to her hair and gave it to Hanumana, saying "with this, Rama together with Lakshmana shall have faith in thee."

53. "For the purpose of recognition I shall, O thou of good resolves, tell thee something more. In days gone by once upon a time on the Chitrakuta hill, Rama had placed his head into my lap and gone to sleep.

54. "The son of Indra assuming the form of a crow came there and repeatedly tore my toe with his beak and wings and made it bleed for the purpose of eating its flesh.

55. "Then Rama woke up and seeing the wound in my feet said, ‘O good lady, what vile wretch has done this evil to thee.’

56. "So saying he saw a crow in front running towards me repeatedly, with his mouth, nails and beak full of blood and got very angry.

57. "Taking up a piece of straw he applied to it the Brahmastra as it was burning threw it at the crow in sport.

58. "Terrified the crow ran about all the worlds wandering here and there. But he could not be protected by Indra, Brahma and the rest.

59 – 60. "Then affrightened he fell at the feet of Rama, the ocean of mercy. Seeing him seeking refuge, Rama said. ‘This weapon of mine is unfailing. Having given up one of thy eyes do thou go away from here. The crow then gave his left eye. With such prowess why does Raghava now show indifference towards me."

61 – 62. Hearing these words of Sita, Hanumana said to her. "O queen, if the best of Raghus knew thee to be here, he would reduce this Lanka made by the Rakshasas to ashes in a moment."

63. Janaki then said to Hanumana "how shalt thou, my child, fight with the asuras. All the monkeys are of very small bodies like thyself."

64. Hearing this speech of Sita, Hanumana showed her his former shape like the Meru and the Mandara mountains and a terror to the hosts of Rakshasas.

65. Seeing Hanumana like a great mountain, Sita was greatly pleased and said to that elephant amongst the monkeys.

66. "O thou great being, thou art capable of achieving success. The Rakshasa women shall see thee, do thou go, may thy path be happy."

67. Being hungry the monkey said, "having seen thee, I shall now have my meal out of the fruits of these trees in thy sight."

68. "Very well." Janaki saying so, the monkey ate the fruits. Then despatched by her he went a little way and having prostrated himself before her he thought in his mind –

69. "Having come for the purpose of doing the work of his master, if a messenger goes away without doing something more which is not opposed to the work in hand, he is a low person,

70. "Therefore, after doing something more and having seen Ravana and talked to him, I shall go to see Rama."

71. Having resolved thus that very powerful monkey uprooted the trees of the grove and made the Asoka Vana bereft of trees in a moment.

72 – 73. With the exception of the tree under which Sita was living, he made the whole of the grove treeless. As he was thus uprooting the grove the Rakshasi women enquired of Janaki. "Who is this greatly powerful being in the shape of a monkey."

74. Janaki said, "You alone can know the illusions spread by Rakshasas. Troubled with grief I do not know this being."

75. Thus addressed the Rakshasi women troubled with fear, informed Ravana of all that Hanumana had done.

76. "O king some great being, bearing the form of a monkey, having talked to Sita, has uprooted all the trees of the Asoka Vana in a moment and broken the palace temple.

77. "Having killed all the guards of the palace he is sitting there." Having heard this uprooting of his grove with great displeasure, the king of the Rakshasas speedily got up and sent ten lacs of servants.

78. Sitting in the lower storey of the broken temple – palace, Hanumana who was like a mountain took an iron pillar for his weapon.

79 – 80. Shaking his tail a little, with his face red and with a terrific appearance, he saw the great host of the Rakshasa pouring in. He then made a roar like that of a lion, hearing which they became greatly stupified.

81. On seeing Hanumana, who was of a terrific appearance, the killer of all the Rakshasas, the Rakshasas attacked him with weapons of various descriptions.

82. Then having got up, Hanumana took up a club and ground them down in a moment like an elephant crushing so many gnats.

83. Hearing of the death of his servants, Ravana became wild with anger and despatched five of his generals who were very proud of their prowess in battle.

84. Hanumana killed all of them with iron pillar. Then Ravana angrily sent seven sons of his ministers.

85. As they came up the lord of the monkeys killed them as he did the others in a moment with his iron pillar.

86. Sitting in his former place he remained waiting for the coming of the Rakshasas. Then Aksha, the powerful and brave son of Ravana went forth.

87. Seeing him coming up the powerful Hanumana ran up to him, club in hand, in the welkin and there struck him on the head with his club.

88. Having killed Aksha he destroyed all the army to a man.

89. Hearing of the death of the prince the lord of the Rakshasas, wild with anger, said to the conqueror of Indra.

90. "Son, I am going there where the enemy, the killer of my son, is, Having killed him or bound him. I shall bring him to thee."

Note: In the Valmiki Ramayana, Ravana never offered to fight Hanumana. On the contrary he tells Indarjit to go appealing to achieve merit in the fight (Sundarkand Chapter 48)

91. Indarjit said to his father. "O thou of great intelligence, leave off thy sorrow. When I am here, why art thou saying these sorrowful words?

92. "Having bound the monkey with the Brahmic noose I shall bring him to thee." So saying mounted his car and surrounded with many Rakshasas that great and brave warrior went to the place where the son of the wind was.

93. Then bearing a great roar, and lifting up a pillar the brave son of the wind ran towards Indarjit like Garuda in the sky.

94 – 95. Then as he was roaming about in the welkin he pierced first Hanumana with his arrows, then his head with eight shafts, and his heart and feet with six and his tail with one shaft.

96 – 97. Having thus broken him down he made a roar like that of a lion. Then with great joy Hanumana of great strength taking up a pillar killed his charioteer and his horses and broke his car to pieces.

97–98. Then Meghnada of great strength speedily took up another car and taking up Brahmastra and binding the bull of monkeys with it brought him in the presence of the king of the Rakshasas.

99 – 100. By the remembrance of Rama’s name people having broken through the bonds of avidya and karma go to that abode which is resplendent like a crore of suns, keeping the lotus feet of that Rama ever in the lotus, his heart, the son of the Wind, was always free of bonds. What are other bonds or karma nooses to him?

© "The Adhyatma Ramayana" by Rai Bahadur Lala Baij Nath, published by Oriental Books, 54, Rani Jhansi Road, New Delhi 110 055. Part II of this article appeared in Splendour, January, 2004 issue.

<< Back