Hanuman Recounts Rama's Story to Sita

Shloka 1 (sundara.31.1)

एवं बहुविधां चिन्तां चिन्तयित्वा महामतिः । संश्रवे मधुरं वाक्यं वैदेह्या व्याजहार ह ॥ 31.1 ॥

evaṃ bahuvidhāṃ cintāṃ cintayitvā mahāmatiḥ | saṃśrave madhuraṃ vākyaṃ vaidehyā vyājahāra ha || 31.1 ||

Having thus reflected in many ways, the wise Hanuman spoke sweet words within Vaidehi's hearing.

Shloka 2 (sundara.31.2)

राजा दशरथो नाम रथकुञ्जरवाजिमान् । पुण्यशीलो महाकीर्तिरिक्ष्वाकूणां महायशाः ॥ 31.2 ॥

rājā daśaratho nāma rathakuñjaravājimān | puṇyaśīlo mahākīrtirikṣvākūṇāṃ mahāyaśāḥ || 31.2 ||

There was a king named Dasharatha, master of chariots, elephants and horses; virtuous in conduct, of great renown, and most glorious among the Ikshvakus.

Shloka 3 (sundara.31.3)

राजर्षीणां गुणश्रेष्ठस्तपसा चर्षिभिः समः । चक्रवर्तिकुले जातः पुरंदरसमो बले ॥ 31.3 ॥

rājarṣīṇāṃ guṇaśreṣṭhastapasā carṣibhiḥ samaḥ | cakravartikule jātaḥ puraṃdarasamo bale || 31.3 ||

Foremost in virtue among royal sages, equal to the sages in austerity, born into a lineage of universal emperors, and equal to Indra in might.

Shloka 4 (sundara.31.4)

अहिंसारतिरक्षुद्रो घृणी सत्यपराक्रमः । मुख्यस्येक्ष्वाकुवंशस्य लक्ष्मीवाँल्लक्ष्मिवर्धनः ॥ 31.4 ॥

ahiṃsāratirakṣudro ghṛṇī satyaparākramaḥ | mukhyasyekṣvākuvaṃśasya lakṣmīvāṁllakṣmivardhanaḥ || 31.4 ||

Devoted to non-violence, never mean, compassionate, of true valour -- foremost of the Ikshvaku line, himself prosperous and one who increased that lineage's prosperity.

Shloka 5 (sundara.31.5)

पार्थिवव्यञ्जनैर्युक्तः पृथुश्रीः पार्थिवर्षभः । पृथिव्यां चतुरन्तायां विश्रुतः सुखदः सुखी ॥ 31.5 ॥

pārthivavyañjanairyuktaḥ pṛthuśrīḥ pārthivarṣabhaḥ | pṛthivyāṃ caturantāyāṃ viśrutaḥ sukhadaḥ sukhī || 31.5 ||

Endowed with every mark of royalty, of vast splendour, foremost of kings -- renowned throughout the earth bounded by the four oceans, giver of happiness and himself happy.

Shloka 6 (sundara.31.6)

तस्य पुत्रः प्रियो ज्येष्ठस्ताराधिपनिभाननः । रामो नाम विशेषज्ञः श्रेष्ठः सर्वधनुष्मताम् ॥ 31.6 ॥

tasya putraḥ priyo jyeṣṭhastārādhipanibhānanaḥ | rāmo nāma viśeṣajñaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ sarvadhanuṣmatām || 31.6 ||

His beloved eldest son, with a face like the moon, was named Rama -- discerning, and foremost among all wielders of the bow.

Shloka 7 (sundara.31.7)

रक्षिता स्वस्य वृत्तस्य स्वजनस्यापि रक्षिता । रक्षिता जीवलोकस्य धर्मस्य च परंतपः ॥ 31.7 ॥

rakṣitā svasya vṛttasya svajanasyāpi rakṣitā | rakṣitā jīvalokasya dharmasya ca paraṃtapaḥ || 31.7 ||

Protector of his own way of life, and protector too of his own kinsfolk; protector of the world of living beings and of dharma -- a scorcher of his foes.

Shloka 8 (sundara.31.8)

तस्य सत्याभिसंधस्य वृद्धस्य वचनात् पितुः । सभार्यः सह च भ्रात्रा वीरः प्रव्रजितो वनम् ॥ 31.8 ॥

tasya satyābhisaṃdhasya vṛddhasya vacanāt pituḥ | sabhāryaḥ saha ca bhrātrā vīraḥ pravrajito vanam || 31.8 ||

By the word of his aged father, true to his pledge, that hero went forth into the forest together with his wife and brother.

Shloka 9 (sundara.31.9)

तेन तत्र महारण्ये मृगयां परिधावता । राक्षसा निहताः शूरा बहवः कामरूपिणः ॥ 31.9 ॥

tena tatra mahāraṇye mṛgayāṃ paridhāvatā | rākṣasā nihatāḥ śūrā bahavaḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ || 31.9 ||

There in the great forest, ranging about in the chase, he slew many valiant Rakshasas who could assume any form at will.

Shloka 10 (sundara.31.10)

जनस्थानवधं श्रुत्वा निहतौ खरदूषणौ । ततस्त्वमर्षापहृता जानकी रावणेन तु ॥ 31.10 ॥

janasthānavadhaṃ śrutvā nihatau kharadūṣaṇau | tatastvamarṣāpahṛtā jānakī rāvaṇena tu || 31.10 ||

Hearing of the slaughter at Janasthana, and that Khara and Dushana had been slain, Ravana then, in wrath, carried off Janaki.

Shloka 11 (sundara.31.11)

वञ्चयित्वा वने रामं मृगरूपेण मायया । स मार्गमाणस्तां देवीं रामः सीतामनिन्दिताम् ॥ 31.11 ॥

vañcayitvā vane rāmaṃ mṛgarūpeṇa māyayā | sa mārgamāṇastāṃ devīṃ rāmaḥ sītāmaninditām || 31.11 ||

Having deceived Rama in the forest by illusion, in the form of a deer -- that Rama, searching for that irreproachable lady Sita,

Shloka 12 (sundara.31.12)

आससाद वने मित्रं सुग्रीवं नाम वानरम् । ततः स वालिनं हत्वा रामः परपुरंजयः ॥ 31.12 ॥

āsasāda vane mitraṃ sugrīvaṃ nāma vānaram | tataḥ sa vālinaṃ hatvā rāmaḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ || 31.12 ||

found in the forest a friend, a monkey named Sugriva. Then that Rama, conqueror of enemy cities, having slain Vali,

Shloka 13 (sundara.31.13)

आयच्छत् कपिराज्यं तु सुग्रीवाय महात्मने । सुग्रीवेणाभिसंदिष्टा हरयः कामरूपिणः ॥ 31.13 ॥

āyacchat kapirājyaṃ tu sugrīvāya mahātmane | sugrīveṇābhisaṃdiṣṭā harayaḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ || 31.13 ||

bestowed the kingdom of the monkeys upon the great-souled Sugriva. Commanded by Sugriva, monkeys capable of assuming any form at will,

Shloka 14 (sundara.31.14)

दिक्षु सर्वासु तां देवीं विचिन्वन्तः सहस्रशः । अहं सम्पातिवचनाच्छतयोजनमायतम् ॥ 31.14 ॥

dikṣu sarvāsu tāṃ devīṃ vicinvantaḥ sahasraśaḥ | ahaṃ sampātivacanācchatayojanamāyatam || 31.14 ||

in their thousands are searching for that lady in every direction. On the word of Sampati, I -- crossing an expanse a hundred yojanas broad --

Shloka 15 (sundara.31.15)

तस्या हेतोर्विशालाक्ष्याः समुद्रं वेगवान् प्लुतः । यथारूपां यथावर्णां यथालक्ष्मवतीं च ताम् ॥ 31.15 ॥

tasyā hetorviśālākṣyāḥ samudraṃ vegavān plutaḥ | yathārūpāṃ yathāvarṇāṃ yathālakṣmavatīṃ ca tām || 31.15 ||

leapt swiftly across the ocean for the sake of that wide-eyed lady -- her, of just such form, such complexion, and such auspicious marks,

Shloka 16 (sundara.31.16)

अश्रौषं राघवस्याहं सेयमासादिता मया । विररामैवमुक्त्वा स वाचं वानरपुंगवः ॥ 31.16 ॥

aśrauṣaṃ rāghavasyāhaṃ seyamāsāditā mayā | virarāmaivamuktvā sa vācaṃ vānarapuṃgavaḥ || 31.16 ||

as I had heard described by Raghava -- this very lady has now been found by me." Having spoken thus, that foremost of monkeys fell silent.

Shloka 17 (sundara.31.17)

जानकी चापि तच्छ्रुत्वा विस्मयं परमं गता । ततः सा वक्रकेशान्ता सुकेशी केशसंवृतम् । उन्नम्य वदनं भीरुः शिंशपामन्ववैक्षत ॥ 31.17 ॥

jānakī cāpi tacchrutvā vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatā | tataḥ sā vakrakeśāntā sukeśī keśasaṃvṛtam | unnamya vadanaṃ bhīruḥ śiṃśapāmanvavaikṣata || 31.17 ||

Janaki too, hearing this, was filled with the greatest wonder. Then she, whose hair-ends curled, of lovely tresses, timid by nature, raised her face -- veiled by her own hair -- and gazed intently towards the Shimshapa tree.

Shloka 18 (sundara.31.18)

निशम्य सीता वचनं कपेश्च दिशश्च सर्वाः प्रदिशश्च वीक्ष्य । स्वयं प्रहर्षं परमं जगाम सर्वात्मना राममनुस्मरन्ती ॥ 31.18 ॥

niśamya sītā vacanaṃ kapeśca diśaśca sarvāḥ pradiśaśca vīkṣya | svayaṃ praharṣaṃ paramaṃ jagāma sarvātmanā rāmamanusmarantī || 31.18 ||

Hearing the monkey's words, and looking about at all the directions and quarters, Sita herself was filled with the greatest joy, remembering Rama with her whole being.

Shloka 19 (sundara.31.19)

सा तिर्यगूर्ध्वं च तथा ह्यधस्तान् निरीक्षमाणा तमचिन्त्यबुद्धिम् । ददर्श पिंगाधिपतेरमात्यं वातात्मजं सूर्यमिवोदयस्थम् ॥ 31.19 ॥

sā tiryagūrdhvaṃ ca tathā hyadhastān nirīkṣamāṇā tamacintyabuddhim | dadarśa piṃgādhipateramātyaṃ vātātmajaṃ sūryamivodayastham || 31.19 ||

Looking sideways, upward, and also downward, she beheld him of unimaginable intelligence -- the minister of the lord of the tawny monkeys, the son of the Wind-god -- like the sun risen over the horizon.