Sita's Suspicion and Hanuman's Reassurance

Shloka 1 (sundara.34.1)

तस्यास्तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा हनूमान् हरिपुंगवः । दुःखाद् दुःखाभिभूतायाः सान्त्वमुत्तरमब्रवीत् ॥ 34.1 ॥

tasyāstad vacanaṃ śrutvā hanūmān haripuṃgavaḥ | duḥkhād duḥkhābhibhūtāyāḥ sāntvamuttaramabravīt || 34.1 ||

Hearing her words, Hanuman, foremost of monkeys, gave a comforting reply to her who was overwhelmed by grief upon grief.

Shloka 2 (sundara.34.2)

अहं रामस्य संदेशाद् देवि दूतस्तवागतः । वैदेहि कुशली रामः स त्वां कौशलमब्रवीत् ॥ 34.2 ॥

ahaṃ rāmasya saṃdeśād devi dūtastavāgataḥ | vaidehi kuśalī rāmaḥ sa tvāṃ kauśalamabravīt || 34.2 ||

"O queen, I have come to you as a messenger by Rama's command. O Vaidehi, Rama is well, and he has asked after your welfare."

Shloka 3 (sundara.34.3)

यो ब्राह्ममस्त्रं वेदांश्च वेद वेदविदां वरः । स त्वां दाशरथी रामो देवि कौशलमब्रवीत् ॥ 34.3 ॥

yo brāhmamastraṃ vedāṃśca veda vedavidāṃ varaḥ | sa tvāṃ dāśarathī rāmo devi kauśalamabravīt || 34.3 ||

"He who knows the Brahma-weapon and the Vedas, foremost among the knowers of the Veda -- that Rama, son of Dasharatha, O queen, has asked after your welfare."

Shloka 4 (sundara.34.4)

लक्ष्मणश्च महातेजा भर्तुस्तेऽनुचरः प्रियः । कृतवाञ्छोकसंतप्तः शिरसा तेऽभिवादनम् ॥ 34.4 ॥

lakṣmaṇaśca mahātejā bhartuste'nucaraḥ priyaḥ | kṛtavāñchokasaṃtaptaḥ śirasā te'bhivādanam || 34.4 ||

"And Lakshmana too, of great splendour, your husband's beloved follower, though scorched by grief, has offered you salutation with bowed head."

Shloka 5 (sundara.34.5)

सा तयोः कुशलं देवी निशम्य नरसिंहयोः । प्रतिसंहृष्टसर्वांगी हनूमन्तमथाब्रवीत् ॥ 34.5 ॥

sā tayoḥ kuśalaṃ devī niśamya narasiṃhayoḥ | pratisaṃhṛṣṭasarvāṃgī hanūmantamathābravīt || 34.5 ||

That queen, hearing of the welfare of those two lions among men, her whole body thrilling with joy, then spoke to Hanuman:

Shloka 6 (sundara.34.6)

कल्याणी बत गाथेयं लौकिकी प्रतिभाति मा । एति जीवन्तमानन्दो नरं वर्षशतादपि ॥ 34.6 ॥

kalyāṇī bata gātheyaṃ laukikī pratibhāti mā | eti jīvantamānando naraṃ varṣaśatādapi || 34.6 ||

"Truly this saying current in the world now seems auspicious to me: joy comes to a man who lives on, even if only after a hundred years."

Shloka 7 (sundara.34.7)

तयोः समागमे तस्मिन् प्रीतिरुत्पादिताद्भुता । परस्परेण चालापं विश्वस्तौ तौ प्रचक्रतुः ॥ 34.7 ॥

tayoḥ samāgame tasmin prītirutpāditādbhutā | paraspareṇa cālāpaṃ viśvastau tau pracakratuḥ || 34.7 ||

In that meeting of theirs a wondrous affection sprang up, and, trusting one another, the two began to converse.

Shloka 8 (sundara.34.8)

तस्यास्तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः । सीतायाः शोकतप्तायाः समीपमुपचक्रमे ॥ 34.8 ॥

tasyāstad vacanaṃ śrutvā hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ | sītāyāḥ śokataptāyāḥ samīpamupacakrame || 34.8 ||

Hearing that word of hers, Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, began to draw nearer to Sita, who was scorched by grief.

Shloka 9 (sundara.34.9)

यथा यथा समीपं स हनूमानुपसर्पति । तथा तथा रावणं सा तं सीता परिशङ्कते ॥ 34.9 ॥

yathā yathā samīpaṃ sa hanūmānupasarpati | tathā tathā rāvaṇaṃ sā taṃ sītā pariśaṅkate || 34.9 ||

But the closer Hanuman drew near to her, the more Sita began to suspect him of being Ravana.

Shloka 10 (sundara.34.10)

अहो धिग् धिक्कृतमिदं कथितं हि यदस्य मे । रूपान्तरमुपागम्य स एवायं हि रावणः ॥ 34.10 ॥

aho dhig dhikkṛtamidaṃ kathitaṃ hi yadasya me | rūpāntaramupāgamya sa evāyaṃ hi rāvaṇaḥ || 34.10 ||

"Ah, shame, shame on this that I have told him! Having assumed another form, this is that very Ravana indeed."

Shloka 11 (sundara.34.11)

तामशोकस्य शाखां तु विमुक्त्वा शोककर्शिता । तस्यामेवानवद्याङ्गी धरण्यां समुपाविशत् ॥ 34.11 ॥

tāmaśokasya śākhāṃ tu vimuktvā śokakarśitā | tasyāmevānavadyāṅgī dharaṇyāṃ samupāviśat || 34.11 ||

Then she, emaciated with grief, of faultless limbs, letting go of that branch of the Ashoka tree, sat down there upon the ground.

Shloka 12 (sundara.34.12)

अवन्दत महाबाहुस्ततस्तां जनकात्मजाम् । सा चैनं भयसंत्रस्ता भूयो नैनमुदैक्षत ॥ 34.12 ॥

avandata mahābāhustatastāṃ janakātmajām | sā cainaṃ bhayasaṃtrastā bhūyo nainamudaikṣata || 34.12 ||

Then the mighty-armed one saluted that daughter of Janaka; but she, terrified with fear, did not look at him again.

Shloka 13 (sundara.34.13)

तं दृष्ट्वा वन्दमानं च सीता शशिनिभानना । अब्रवीद् दीर्घमुच्छ्वस्य वानरं मधुरस्वरा ॥ 34.13 ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā vandamānaṃ ca sītā śaśinibhānanā | abravīd dīrghamucchvasya vānaraṃ madhurasvarā || 34.13 ||

Seeing him thus saluting her, Sita, whose face was like the moon, heaving a long sigh, spoke to the monkey in her sweet voice:

Shloka 14 (sundara.34.14)

मायां प्रविष्टो मायावी यदि त्वं रावणः स्वयम् । उत्पादयसि मे भूयः संतापं तन्न शोभनम् ॥ 34.14 ॥

māyāṃ praviṣṭo māyāvī yadi tvaṃ rāvaṇaḥ svayam | utpādayasi me bhūyaḥ saṃtāpaṃ tanna śobhanam || 34.14 ||

"If you, having entered upon illusion, are yourself Ravana the deceiver, then you cause me further anguish -- and that is not fitting."

Shloka 15 (sundara.34.15)

स्वं परित्यज्य रूपं यः परिव्राजकरूपवान् । जनस्थाने मया दृष्टस्त्वं स एव हि रावणः ॥ 34.15 ॥

svaṃ parityajya rūpaṃ yaḥ parivrājakarūpavān | janasthāne mayā dṛṣṭastvaṃ sa eva hi rāvaṇaḥ || 34.15 ||

"He who, forsaking his own form, took on the guise of a wandering mendicant -- whom I saw at Janasthana -- you are that very Ravana."

Shloka 16 (sundara.34.16)

उपवासकृशां दीनां कामरूप निशाचर । संतापयसि मां भूयः संतापं तन्न शोभनम् ॥ 34.16 ॥

upavāsakṛśāṃ dīnāṃ kāmarūpa niśācara | saṃtāpayasi māṃ bhūyaḥ saṃtāpaṃ tanna śobhanam || 34.16 ||

"O night-roamer who takes any form at will, you torment me again -- wasted by fasting and wretched as I am -- and that torment is not fitting."

Shloka 17 (sundara.34.17)

अथवा नैतदेवं हि यन्मया परिशङ्कितम् । मनसो हि मम प्रीतिरुत्पन्ना तव दर्शनात् ॥ 34.17 ॥

athavā naitadevaṃ hi yanmayā pariśaṅkitam | manaso hi mama prītirutpannā tava darśanāt || 34.17 ||

"Or perhaps it is not so, this thing I have suspected -- for indeed a joy has arisen in my mind at the very sight of you."

Shloka 18 (sundara.34.18)

यदि रामस्य दूतस्त्वमागतो भद्रमस्तु ते । पृच्छामि त्वां हरिश्रेष्ठ प्रिया रामकथा हि मे ॥ 34.18 ॥

yadi rāmasya dūtastvamāgato bhadramastu te | pṛcchāmi tvāṃ hariśreṣṭha priyā rāmakathā hi me || 34.18 ||

"If you have come as Rama's messenger, may good befall you! I ask you, O best of monkeys, for the story of Rama is dear to me indeed."

Shloka 19 (sundara.34.19)

गुणान् रामस्य कथय प्रियस्य मम वानर । चित्तं हरसि मे सौम्य नदीकूलं यथा रयः ॥ 34.19 ॥

guṇān rāmasya kathaya priyasya mama vānara | cittaṃ harasi me saumya nadīkūlaṃ yathā rayaḥ || 34.19 ||

"Tell me of the virtues of my beloved Rama, O monkey. O gentle one, you steal away my heart, as a swift current wears away a river's bank."

Shloka 20 (sundara.34.20)

अहो स्वप्नस्य सुखता याहमेव चिराहृता । प्रेषितं नाम पश्यामि राघवेण वनौकसम् ॥ 34.20 ॥

aho svapnasya sukhatā yāhameva cirāhṛtā | preṣitaṃ nāma paśyāmi rāghaveṇa vanaukasam || 34.20 ||

"Ah, what sweetness in this dream -- that I, carried off so long ago, now behold a forest-dweller truly sent by Raghava!"

Shloka 21 (sundara.34.21)

स्वप्नेऽपि यद्यहं वीरं राघवं सहलक्ष्मणम् । पश्येयं नावसीदेयं स्वप्नोऽपि मम मत्सरी ॥ 34.21 ॥

svapne'pi yadyahaṃ vīraṃ rāghavaṃ sahalakṣmaṇam | paśyeyaṃ nāvasīdeyaṃ svapno'pi mama matsarī || 34.21 ||

"If even in a dream I could see the hero Raghava together with Lakshmana, I would not grieve -- but even my dreams are envious of me."

Shloka 22 (sundara.34.22)

नाहं स्वप्नमिमं मन्ये स्वप्ने दृष्ट्वा हि वानरम् । न शक्योऽभ्युदयः प्राप्तुं प्राप्तश्चाभ्युदयो मम ॥ 34.22 ॥

nāhaṃ svapnamimaṃ manye svapne dṛṣṭvā hi vānaram | na śakyo'bhyudayaḥ prāptuṃ prāptaścābhyudayo mama || 34.22 ||

"I do not think this a dream, for having seen a monkey in a dream, no prosperity could follow -- yet prosperity has indeed come to me."

Shloka 23 (sundara.34.23)

किं नु स्याच्चित्तमोहोऽयं भवेद् वातगतिस्त्वियम् । उन्मादजो विकारो वा स्यादयं मृगतृष्णिका ॥ 34.23 ॥

kiṃ nu syāccittamoho'yaṃ bhaved vātagatistviyam | unmādajo vikāro vā syādayaṃ mṛgatṛṣṇikā || 34.23 ||

"Can this perhaps be some delusion of the mind, or a disturbance of the vital wind? Or is it a disorder born of madness, or merely a mirage?"

Shloka 24 (sundara.34.24)

अथवा नायमुन्मादो मोहोऽप्युन्मादलक्षणः । सम्बुध्ये चाहमात्मानमिमं चापि वनौकसम् ॥ 34.24 ॥

athavā nāyamunmādo moho'pyunmādalakṣaṇaḥ | sambudhye cāhamātmānamimaṃ cāpi vanaukasam || 34.24 ||

"Or rather, this is not madness, nor even a delusion marked by madness's signs -- for I am fully aware both of myself and of this forest-dweller."

Shloka 25 (sundara.34.25)

इत्येवं बहुधा सीता सम्प्रधार्य बलाबलम् । रक्षसां कामरूपत्वान्मेने तं राक्षसाधिपम् ॥ 34.25 ॥

ityevaṃ bahudhā sītā sampradhārya balābalam | rakṣasāṃ kāmarūpatvānmene taṃ rākṣasādhipam || 34.25 ||

Thus, in many ways, Sita weighed the strength and weakness of her doubt, and, since Rakshasas can assume any form at will, she took him to be the lord of the Rakshasas.

Shloka 26 (sundara.34.26)

एतां बुद्धिं तदा कृत्वा सीता सा तनुमध्यमा । न प्रतिव्याजहाराथ वानरं जनकात्मजा ॥ 34.26 ॥

etāṃ buddhiṃ tadā kṛtvā sītā sā tanumadhyamā | na prativyājahārātha vānaraṃ janakātmajā || 34.26 ||

Having thus made up her mind, that slender-waisted Sita, daughter of Janaka, then made no reply to the monkey.

Shloka 27 (sundara.34.27)

सीताया निश्चितं बुद्ध्वा हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः । श्रोत्रानुकूलैर्वचनैस्तदा तां सम्प्रहर्षयन् ॥ 34.27 ॥

sītāyā niścitaṃ buddhvā hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ | śrotrānukūlairvacanaistadā tāṃ sampraharṣayan || 34.27 ||

Understanding Sita's determination, Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, then began to gladden her with words pleasing to the ear:

Shloka 28 (sundara.34.28)

आदित्य इव तेजस्वी लोककान्तः शशी यथा । राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवो वैश्रवणो यथा ॥ 34.28 ॥

āditya iva tejasvī lokakāntaḥ śaśī yathā | rājā sarvasya lokasya devo vaiśravaṇo yathā || 34.28 ||

"Radiant as the sun, beloved of the world as the moon, sovereign over the whole world as the god Vaishravana [Kubera],"

Shloka 29 (sundara.34.29)

विक्रमेणोपपन्नश्च यथा विष्णुर्महायशाः । सत्यवादी मधुरवाग् देवो वाचस्पतिर्यथा ॥ 34.29 ॥

vikrameṇopapannaśca yathā viṣṇurmahāyaśāḥ | satyavādī madhuravāg devo vācaspatiryathā || 34.29 ||

"Endowed with valour like the greatly renowned Vishnu, a speaker of truth, sweet of speech like the god Vachaspati [Brihaspati],"

Shloka 30 (sundara.34.30)

रूपवान् सुभगः श्रीमान् कंदर्प इव मूर्तिमान् । स्थानक्रोधे प्रहर्ता च श्रेष्ठो लोके महारथः ॥ 34.30 ॥

rūpavān subhagaḥ śrīmān kaṃdarpa iva mūrtimān | sthānakrodhe prahartā ca śreṣṭho loke mahārathaḥ || 34.30 ||

"Handsome, fortunate, glorious, as if Kamadeva himself embodied -- one who strikes only when wrath is truly called for, foremost in the world, a great chariot-warrior."

Shloka 31 (sundara.34.31)

बाहुच्छायामवष्टब्धो यस्य लोको महात्मनः । अपक्रम्याश्रमपदान्मृगरूपेण राघवम् ॥ 34.31 ॥

bāhucchāyāmavaṣṭabdho yasya loko mahātmanaḥ | apakramyāśramapadānmṛgarūpeṇa rāghavam || 34.31 ||

"The whole world rests sheltered beneath the shade of that great-souled one's arms. Having lured Raghava away from the hermitage in the guise of a deer,"

Shloka 32 (sundara.34.32)

शून्ये येनापनीतासि तस्य द्रक्ष्यसि तत्फलम् । अचिराद् रावणं संख्ये यो वधिष्यति वीर्यवान् ॥ 34.32 ॥

śūnye yenāpanītāsi tasya drakṣyasi tatphalam | acirād rāvaṇaṃ saṃkhye yo vadhiṣyati vīryavān || 34.32 ||

"-- he by whom you were carried off from that empty hermitage will soon see the fruit of it; that valorous Rama will slay Ravana in battle before long."

Shloka 33 (sundara.34.33)

क्रोधप्रमुक्तैरिषुभिर्ज्वलद्भिरिव पावकैः । तेनाहं प्रेषितो दूतस्त्वत्सकाशमिहागतः ॥ 34.33 ॥

krodhapramuktairiṣubhirjvaladbhiriva pāvakaiḥ | tenāhaṃ preṣito dūtastvatsakāśamihāgataḥ || 34.33 ||

"-- with arrows released in wrath, blazing like fire itself. By him I have been sent as a messenger, and I have come here into your presence."

Shloka 34 (sundara.34.34)

त्वद्वियोगेन दुःखार्तः स त्वां कौशलमब्रवीत् । लक्ष्मणश्च महातेजाः सुमित्रानन्दवर्धनः ॥ 34.34 ॥

tvadviyogena duḥkhārtaḥ sa tvāṃ kauśalamabravīt | lakṣmaṇaśca mahātejāḥ sumitrānandavardhanaḥ || 34.34 ||

"He, tormented with grief at separation from you, has asked after your welfare. And Lakshmana too, of great splendour, who increases Sumitra's joy,"

Shloka 35 (sundara.34.35)

अभिवाद्य महाबाहुः स त्वां कौशलमब्रवीत् । रामस्य च सखा देवि सुग्रीवो नाम वानरः ॥ 34.35 ॥

abhivādya mahābāhuḥ sa tvāṃ kauśalamabravīt | rāmasya ca sakhā devi sugrīvo nāma vānaraḥ || 34.35 ||

"-- that mighty-armed one, having offered you salutation, has asked after your welfare. And, O queen, Rama's friend, the monkey named Sugriva,"

Shloka 36 (sundara.34.36)

राजा वानरमुख्यानां स त्वां कौशलमब्रवीत् । नित्यं स्मरति ते रामः ससुग्रीवः सलक्ष्मणः ॥ 34.36 ॥

rājā vānaramukhyānāṃ sa tvāṃ kauśalamabravīt | nityaṃ smarati te rāmaḥ sasugrīvaḥ salakṣmaṇaḥ || 34.36 ||

"-- king of the foremost monkeys, has also asked after your welfare. Rama, together with Sugriva and Lakshmana, remembers you always."

Shloka 37 (sundara.34.37)

दिष्ट्या जीवसि वैदेहि राक्षसीवशमागता । नचिराद् द्रक्ष्यसे रामं लक्ष्मणं च महारथम् ॥ 34.37 ॥

diṣṭyā jīvasi vaidehi rākṣasīvaśamāgatā | nacirād drakṣyase rāmaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ ca mahāratham || 34.37 ||

"By good fortune you still live, O Vaidehi, though fallen into the power of the Rakshasa women. Before long you shall see Rama, and Lakshmana the great chariot-warrior,"

Shloka 38 (sundara.34.38)

मध्ये वानरकोटीनां सुग्रीवं चामितौजसम् । अहं सुग्रीवसचिवो हनूमान् नाम वानरः ॥ 34.38 ॥

madhye vānarakoṭīnāṃ sugrīvaṃ cāmitaujasam | ahaṃ sugrīvasacivo hanūmān nāma vānaraḥ || 34.38 ||

"-- and Sugriva of boundless might, amidst crores of monkeys. I am a monkey named Hanuman, minister of Sugriva."

Shloka 39 (sundara.34.39)

प्रविष्टो नगरीं लङ्कां लङ्घयित्वा महोदधिम् । कृत्वा मूर्ध्नि पदन्यासं रावणस्य दुरात्मनः ॥ 34.39 ॥

praviṣṭo nagarīṃ laṅkāṃ laṅghayitvā mahodadhim | kṛtvā mūrdhni padanyāsaṃ rāvaṇasya durātmanaḥ || 34.39 ||

"I entered the city of Lanka, having leapt across the great ocean, and having set the print of my foot upon the very head of the evil-souled Ravana --"

Shloka 40 (sundara.34.40)

त्वां द्रष्टुमुपयातोऽहं समाश्रित्य पराक्रमम् । नाहमस्मि तथा देवि यथा मामवगच्छसि । विशङ्का त्यज्यतामेषा श्रद्धत्स्व वदतो मम ॥ 34.40 ॥

tvāṃ draṣṭumupayāto'haṃ samāśritya parākramam | nāhamasmi tathā devi yathā māmavagacchasi | viśaṅkā tyajyatāmeṣā śraddhatsva vadato mama || 34.40 ||

"-- relying on my own strength I have come to see you. I am not what you take me to be, O queen; abandon this suspicion, and place your trust in what I say."