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.

© "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.

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