Hanuman's Certainty That This Is Sita

Shloka 1 (sundara.16.1)

प्रशस्य तु प्रशस्तव्यां सीतां तां हरिपुंगवः । गुणाभिरामं रामं च पुनश्चिन्तापरोऽभवत् ॥ 16.1 ॥

praśasya tu praśastavyāṃ sītāṃ tāṃ haripuṃgavaḥ | guṇābhirāmaṃ rāmaṃ ca punaścintāparo'bhavat ||

Having praised that Sita, so worthy of praise, and Rama too, charming with his virtues, the bull among vanaras fell once more into deep thought.

Shloka 2 (sundara.16.2)

स मुहूर्तमिव ध्यात्वा बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः । सीतामाश्रित्य तेजस्वी हनूमान् विललाप ह ॥ 16.2 ॥

sa muhūrtam iva dhyātvā bāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇaḥ | sītām āśritya tejasvī hanūmān vilalāpa ha ||

Having pondered for a moment, the radiant Hanuman, his eyes clouded with tears, began to lament over Sita's plight.

Shloka 3 (sundara.16.3)

मान्या गुरुविनीतस्य लक्ष्मणस्य गुरुप्रिया । यदि सीता हि दुःखार्ता कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः ॥ 16.3 ॥

mānyā guruvinītasya lakṣmaṇasya gurupriyā | yadi sītā hi duḥkhārtā kālo hi duratikramaḥ ||

She who is honored by Lakshmana, so respectful to his elders, and dear to those elders too -- if this very Sita is now tormented by grief, it is because destiny is truly hard to overcome.

Shloka 4 (sundara.16.4)

रामस्य व्यवसायज्ञा लक्ष्मणस्य च धीमतः । नात्यर्थं क्षुभ्यते देवी गंगेव जलदागमे ॥ 16.4 ॥

rāmasya vyavasāyajñā lakṣmaṇasya ca dhīmataḥ | nātyarthaṃ kṣubhyate devī gaṃgeva jaladāgame ||

Knowing the resolve and effort of Rama and of wise Lakshmana, the queen is not thrown into excessive turmoil, like the Ganga at the onset of the rains.

Shloka 5 (sundara.16.5)

तुल्यशीलवयोवृत्तां तुल्याभिजनलक्षणाम् । राघवोऽर्हति वैदेहीं तं चेयमसितेक्षणा ॥ 16.5 ॥

tulyaśīlavayovṛttāṃ tulyābhijanalakṣaṇām | rāghavo'rhati vaidehīṃ taṃ ceyam asitekṣaṇā ||

Raghava is worthy of Vaidehi, whose character, age, and conduct match his own, whose lineage and marks are equally matched -- and this dark-eyed one is equally worthy of him.

Shloka 6 (sundara.16.6)

तां दृष्ट्वा नवहेमाभां लोककान्तामिव श्रियम् । जगाम मनसा रामं वचनं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥ 16.6 ॥

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā navahemābhāṃ lokakāntām iva śriyam | jagāma manasā rāmaṃ vacanaṃ cedam abravīt ||

Seeing her, radiant like fresh gold, like Shri herself, enchanting to the world, his mind flew to Rama, and he spoke these words:

Shloka 7 (sundara.16.7)

अस्या हेतोर्विशालाक्ष्या हतो वाली महाबलः । रावणप्रतिमो वीर्ये कबन्धश्च निपातितः ॥ 16.7 ॥

asyā hetor viśālākṣyā hato vālī mahābalaḥ | rāvaṇapratimo vīrye kabandhaśca nipātitaḥ ||

"For the sake of this wide-eyed one, mighty Vali was slain, and Kabandha too, who equaled Ravana in valor, was struck down.

Shloka 8 (sundara.16.8)

विराधश्च हतः संख्ये राक्षसो भीमविक्रमः । वने रामेण विक्रम्य महेन्द्रेणेव शम्बरः ॥ 16.8 ॥

virādhaśca hataḥ saṃkhye rākṣaso bhīmavikramaḥ | vane rāmeṇa vikramya mahendreṇeva śambaraḥ ||

And Viradha, the rakshasa of terrible might, was slain in battle in the forest by Rama's valor, as Shambara was slain by mighty Indra.

Shloka 9 (sundara.16.9)

चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम् । निहतानि जनस्थाने शरैरग्निशिखोपमैः ॥ 16.9 ॥

caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasāṃ bhīmakarmaṇām | nihatāni janasthāne śarair agniśikhopamaiḥ ||

Fourteen thousand rakshasas of terrible deeds were slain at Janasthana by arrows resembling tongues of flame.

Shloka 10 (sundara.16.10)

खरश्च निहतः संख्ये त्रिशिराश्च निपातितः । दूषणश्च महातेजा रामेण विदितात्मना ॥ 16.10 ॥

kharaśca nihataḥ saṃkhye triśirāśca nipātitaḥ | dūṣaṇaśca mahātejā rāmeṇa viditātmanā ||

Khara was slain in battle, Trishira too was struck down, and the mighty Dushana was killed by Rama, ever aware of himself.

Shloka 11 (sundara.16.11)

ऐश्वर्यं वानराणां च दुर्लभं वालिपालितम् । अस्या निमित्ते सुग्रीवः प्राप्तवाँल्लोकविश्रुतः ॥ 16.11 ॥

aiśvaryaṃ vānarāṇāṃ ca durlabhaṃ vālipālitam | asyā nimitte sugrīvaḥ prāptavām̐l lokaviśrutaḥ ||

For her sake, Sugriva, renowned throughout the worlds, obtained the sovereignty over the vanaras once ruled by Vali -- a rare fortune indeed.

Shloka 12 (sundara.16.12)

सागरश्च मयाऽऽक्रान्तः श्रीमान् नदनदीपतिः । अस्या हेतोर्विशालाक्ष्याः पुरी चेयं निरीक्षिता ॥ 16.12 ॥

sāgaraśca mayā''krāntaḥ śrīmān nadanadīpatiḥ | asyā hetor viśālākṣyāḥ purī ceyaṃ nirīkṣitā ||

For the sake of this wide-eyed one, I crossed the glorious ocean, lord of rivers and streams, and I have now looked upon this city.

Shloka 13 (sundara.16.13)

यदि रामः समुद्रान्तां मेदिनीं परिवर्तयेत् । अस्याः कृते जगच्चापि युक्तमित्येव मे मतिः ॥ 16.13 ॥

yadi rāmaḥ samudrāntāṃ medinīṃ parivartayet | asyāḥ kṛte jagaccāpi yuktam ity eva me matiḥ ||

If Rama were to overturn the whole earth bounded by the ocean for her sake, or give up the entire world for her, it would still be fitting -- such is my judgment.

Shloka 14 (sundara.16.14)

राज्यं वा त्रिषु लोकेषु सीता वा जनकात्मजा । त्रैलोक्यराज्यं सकलं सीताया नाप्नुयात् कलाम् ॥ 16.14 ॥

rājyaṃ vā triṣu lokeṣu sītā vā janakātmajā | trailokyarājyaṃ sakalaṃ sītāyā nāpnuyāt kalām ||

Were one to choose between sovereignty over the three worlds and Sita, daughter of Janaka -- the entire kingdom of the three worlds would not equal a sixteenth part of Sita.

Shloka 15 (sundara.16.15)

इयं सा धर्मशीलस्य जनकस्य महात्मनः । सुता मैथिलराजस्य सीता भर्तृदृढव्रता ॥ 16.15 ॥

iyaṃ sā dharmaśīlasya janakasya mahātmanaḥ | sutā maithilarājasya sītā bhartṛdṛḍhavratā ||

This is that very Sita -- daughter of the righteous, great-souled Janaka, king of Mithila -- she who holds firm her vow of devotion to her husband.

Shloka 16 (sundara.16.16)

उत्थिता मेदिनीं भित्त्वा क्षेत्रे हलमुखक्षते । पद्मरेणुनिभैः कीर्णा शुभैः केदारपांसुभिः ॥ 16.16 ॥

utthitā medinīṃ bhittvā kṣetre halamukhakṣate | padmareṇunibhaiḥ kīrṇā śubhaiḥ kedārapāṃsubhiḥ ||

She arose, splitting open the earth in a field furrowed by the plough's edge, covered with the auspicious dust of the tilled soil, like pollen of the lotus.

Shloka 17 (sundara.16.17)

विक्रान्तस्यार्यशीलस्य संयुगेष्वनिवर्तिनः । स्नुषा दशरथस्यैषा ज्येष्ठा राज्ञो यशस्विनी ॥ 16.17 ॥

vikrāntasyāryaśīlasya saṃyugeṣv anivartinaḥ | snuṣā daśarathasyaiṣā jyeṣṭhā rājño yaśasvinī ||

She is the eldest, glorious daughter-in-law of King Dasharatha -- that valiant, noble-natured king who never turned back in battle.

Shloka 18 (sundara.16.18)

धर्मज्ञस्य कृतज्ञस्य रामस्य विदितात्मनः । इयं सा दयिता भार्या राक्षसीवशमागता ॥ 16.18 ॥

dharmajñasya kṛtajñasya rāmasya viditātmanaḥ | iyaṃ sā dayitā bhāryā rākṣasīvaśam āgatā ||

This is the beloved wife of Rama -- knower of dharma, grateful, ever aware of himself -- who has now fallen into the power of the rakshasis.

Shloka 19 (sundara.16.19)

सर्वान् भोगान् परित्यज्य भर्तृस्नेहबलात् कृता । अचिन्तयित्वा कष्टानि प्रविष्टा निर्जनं वनम् ॥ 16.19 ॥

sarvān bhogān parityajya bhartṛsnehabalāt kṛtā | acintayitvā kaṣṭāni praviṣṭā nirjanaṃ vanam ||

Renouncing every comfort, compelled by the strength of her love for her husband, she entered the deserted forest without a thought for its hardships.

Shloka 20 (sundara.16.20)

संतुष्टा फलमूलेन भर्तृशुश्रूषणापरा । या परां भजते प्रीतिं वनेऽपि भवने यथा ॥ 16.20 ॥

santuṣṭā phalamūlena bhartṛśuśrūṣaṇāparā | yā parāṃ bhajate prītiṃ vane'pi bhavane yathā ||

Content with fruits and roots, devoted to serving her husband, she finds the same supreme joy in the forest as she would in a palace.

Shloka 21 (sundara.16.21)

सेयं कनकवर्णांगी नित्यं सुस्मितभाषिणी । सहते यातनामेतामनर्थानामभागिनी ॥ 16.21 ॥

seyaṃ kanakavarṇāṅgī nityaṃ susmitabhāṣiṇī | sahate yātanām etām anarthānām abhāginī ||

She, of golden complexion, ever smiling in speech, undeserving of any misfortune, now endures this very torment.

Shloka 22 (sundara.16.22)

इमां तु शीलसम्पन्नां द्रष्टुमिच्छति राघवः । रावणेन प्रमथितां प्रपामिव पिपासितः ॥ 16.22 ॥

imāṃ tu śīlasampannāṃ draṣṭum icchati rāghavaḥ | rāvaṇena pramathitāṃ prapām iva pipāsitaḥ ||

Raghava longs to see this woman of noble character, tormented by Ravana, as a thirsty man longs for a watering place.

Shloka 23 (sundara.16.23)

अस्या नूनं पुनर्लाभाद् राघवः प्रीतिमेष्यति । राजा राज्यपरिभ्रष्टः पुनः प्राप्येव मेदिनीम् ॥ 16.23 ॥

asyā nūnaṃ punarlābhād rāghavaḥ prītim eṣyati | rājā rājyaparibhraṣṭaḥ punaḥ prāpyeva medinīm ||

On regaining her, Raghava will surely feel the joy of a king, once cast out of his kingdom, who has won back his realm.

Shloka 24 (sundara.16.24)

कामभोगैः परित्यक्ता हीना बन्धुजनेन च । धारयत्यात्मनो देहं तत्समागमकाङ्क्षिणी ॥ 16.24 ॥

kāmabhogaiḥ parityaktā hīnā bandhujanena ca | dhārayaty ātmano dehaṃ tatsamāgamakāṅkṣiṇī ||

Bereft of every pleasure, deprived of her kinsfolk, she yet sustains her body, longing only for reunion with him.

Shloka 25 (sundara.16.25)

नैषा पश्यति राक्षस्यो नेमान् पुष्पफलद्रुमान् । एकस्थहृदया नूनं राममेवानुपश्यति ॥ 16.25 ॥

naiṣā paśyati rākṣasyo nemān puṣpaphaladrumān | ekasthahṛdayā nūnaṃ rāmam evānupaśyati ||

She sees neither the rakshasis nor these trees laden with flowers and fruit; with her heart fixed on him alone, she beholds only Rama in her mind.

Shloka 26 (sundara.16.26)

भर्ता नाम परं नार्याः शोभनं भूषणादपि । एषा हि रहिता तेन शोभनार्हा न शोभते ॥ 16.26 ॥

bhartā nāma paraṃ nāryāḥ śobhanaṃ bhūṣaṇād api | eṣā hi rahitā tena śobhanārhā na śobhate ||

A husband is a woman's finest ornament, greater even than jewelry; deprived of him, she -- though worthy of adornment -- does not shine.

Shloka 27 (sundara.16.27)

दुष्करं कुरुते रामो हीनो यदनया प्रभुः । धारयत्यात्मनो देहं न दुःखेनावसीदति ॥ 16.27 ॥

duṣkaraṃ kurute rāmo hīno yad anayā prabhuḥ | dhārayaty ātmano dehaṃ na duḥkhenāvasīdati ||

Lord Rama too, separated from her, does something exceedingly hard -- he sustains his own body and does not sink beneath his grief.

Shloka 28 (sundara.16.28)

इमामसितकेशान्तां शतपत्रनिभेक्षणाम् । सुखार्हां दुःखितां ज्ञात्वा ममापि व्यथितं मनः ॥ 16.28 ॥

imām asitakeśāntāṃ śatapatranibhekṣaṇām | sukhārhāṃ duḥkhitāṃ jñātvā mamāpi vyathitaṃ manaḥ ||

Seeing this woman of dark hair and eyes like lotus petals, one who deserves happiness, now sunk in sorrow, my own heart too is stricken with grief.

Shloka 29 (sundara.16.29)

क्षितिक्षमा पुष्करसंनिभेक्षणा या रक्षिता राघवलक्ष्मणाभ्याम् । सा राक्षसीभिर्विकृतेक्षणाभिः संरक्ष्यते सम्प्रति वृक्षमूले ॥ 16.29 ॥

kṣitikṣamā puṣkarasaṃnibhekṣaṇā yā rakṣitā rāghavalakṣmaṇābhyām | sā rākṣasībhir vikṛtekṣaṇābhiḥ saṃrakṣyate samprati vṛkṣamūle ||

She who is as patient as the earth, whose eyes are like lotuses, who was once guarded by Raghava and Lakshmana, is now kept under watch at the foot of a tree by rakshasis with distorted eyes.

Shloka 30 (sundara.16.30)

हिमहतनलिनीव नष्टशोभा व्यसनपरम्परया निपीड्यमाना । सहचररहितेव चक्रवाकी जनकसुता कृपणां दशां प्रपन्ना ॥ 16.30 ॥

himahatanalinīva naṣṭaśobhā vyasanaparamparayā nipīḍyamānā | sahacararahiteva cakravākī janakasutā kṛpaṇāṃ daśāṃ prapannā ||

Like a lotus-pond struck by frost, her beauty lost, crushed under a chain of misfortunes, like a ruddy-goose bereft of her mate, the daughter of Janaka has fallen into a pitiable state.

Shloka 31 (sundara.16.31)

अस्या हि पुष्पावनताग्रशाखाः शोकं दृढं वै जनयन्त्यशोकाः । हिमव्यपायेन च शीतरश्मि- रभ्युत्थितो नैकसहस्ररश्मिः ॥ 16.31 ॥

asyā hi puṣpāvanatāgraśākhāḥ śokaṃ dṛḍhaṃ vai janayanty aśokāḥ | himavyapāyena ca śītaraśmir abhyutthito naikasahasraraśmiḥ ||

Even these ashoka trees, their branches bent low with blossoms, give her only deep sorrow; and now, as the frost recedes, the cool-rayed moon, newly risen with its thousand beams, torments her as well.

Shloka 32 (sundara.16.32)

इत्येवमर्थं कपिरन्ववेक्ष्य सीतेयमित्येव तु जातबुद्धिः । संश्रित्य तस्मिन् निषसाद वृक्षे बली हरीणामृषभस्तरस्वी ॥ 16.32 ॥

ity evam arthaṃ kapir anvavekṣya sīteyam ity eva tu jātabuddhiḥ | saṃśritya tasmin niṣasāda vṛkṣe balī harīṇām ṛṣabhas tarasvī ||

Having reflected thus, the mighty, swift bull among vanaras became certain in his mind -- 'this is indeed Sita' -- and, resting against that very tree, he settled upon it.