Hanuman Relates Sita's Message to Rama

Shloka 1 (sundara.65.1)

ततः प्रस्रवणं शैलं ते गत्वा चित्रकाननम्। प्रणम्य शिरसा रामं लक्ष्मणं च महाबलम् ॥ 65.1 ॥

tataḥ prasravaṇaṃ śailaṃ te gatvā citrakānanam| praṇamya śirasā rāmaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ ca mahābalam || 65.1 ||

Then, having reached Mount Prasravana with its forests of varied beauty, and bowing their heads in salutation to Rama and the mighty Lakshmana,

Shloka 2 (sundara.65.2)

युवराजं पुरस्कृत्य सुग्रीवमभिवाद्य च। प्रवृत्तिमथ सीतायाः प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमुः ॥ 65.2 ॥

yuvarājaṃ puraskṛtya sugrīvamabhivādya ca| pravṛttimatha sītāyāḥ pravaktumupacakramuḥ || 65.2 ||

placing the crown prince Angada in front and greeting Sugriva, they began to relate the news of Sita.

Shloka 3 (sundara.65.3)

रावणान्तःपुरे रोधं राक्षसीभिश्च तर्जनम्। रामे समनुरागं च यथा च नियमः कृतः ॥ 65.3 ॥

rāvaṇāntaḥpure rodhaṃ rākṣasībhiśca tarjanam| rāme samanurāgaṃ ca yathā ca niyamaḥ kṛtaḥ || 65.3 ||

Her confinement in Ravana's inner apartments, the threats of the rakshasis, her devoted love for Rama, and the time-limit that had been fixed --

Shloka 4 (sundara.65.4)

एतदाख्याय ते सर्वं हरयो रामसंनिधौ। वैदेहीमक्षतां श्रुत्वा रामस्तूत्तरमब्रवीत् ॥ 65.4 ॥

etadākhyāya te sarvaṃ harayo rāmasaṃnidhau| vaidehīmakṣatāṃ śrutvā rāmastūttaramabravīt || 65.4 ||

all this they told, in Rama's presence. Hearing that Vaidehi was unharmed, Rama then spoke this reply:

Shloka 5 (sundara.65.5)

क्व सीता वर्तते देवी कथं च मयि वर्तते। एतन्मे सर्वमाख्यात वैदेहीं प्रति वानराः ॥ 65.5 ॥

kva sītā vartate devī kathaṃ ca mayi vartate| etanme sarvamākhyāta vaidehīṃ prati vānarāḥ || 65.5 ||

'Where does the lady Sita dwell? How is she disposed towards me? Tell me all this about Vaidehi, monkeys.'

Shloka 6 (sundara.65.6)

रामस्य गदितं श्रुत्वा हरयो रामसंनिधौ। चोदयन्ति हनूमन्तं सीतावृत्तान्तकोविदम् ॥ 65.6 ॥

rāmasya gaditaṃ śrutvā harayo rāmasaṃnidhau| codayanti hanūmantaṃ sītāvṛttāntakovidam || 65.6 ||

Hearing Rama's words, the monkeys, in Rama's presence, urged forward Hanuman, who was most versed in Sita's whole account.

Shloka 7 (sundara.65.7)

श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तेषां हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः। प्रणम्य शिरसा देव्यै सीतायै तां दिशं प्रति ॥ 65.7 ॥

śrutvā tu vacanaṃ teṣāṃ hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ| praṇamya śirasā devyai sītāyai tāṃ diśaṃ prati || 65.7 ||

Hearing their words, Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, bowed his head in salutation towards that quarter where the lady Sita dwelt,

Shloka 8 (sundara.65.8)

उवाच वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञः सीताया दर्शनं यथा। तं मणिं काञ्चनं दिव्यं दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा ॥ 65.8 ॥

uvāca vākyaṃ vākyajñaḥ sītāyā darśanaṃ yathā| taṃ maṇiṃ kāñcanaṃ divyaṃ dīpyamānaṃ svatejasā || 65.8 ||

and then, skilled in speech, began to tell of how he had seen Sita -- and that divine, golden jewel, blazing with its own radiance,

Shloka 9 (sundara.65.9)

दत्त्वा रामाय हनुमांस्ततः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत्। समुद्रं लङ्घयित्वाहं शतयोजनमायतम् ॥ 65.9 ॥

dattvā rāmāya hanumāṃstataḥ prāñjalirabravīt| samudraṃ laṅghayitvāhaṃ śatayojanamāyatam || 65.9 ||

having given to Rama, Hanuman, with joined palms, said: 'Having crossed the ocean, a hundred yojanas wide,'

Shloka 10 (sundara.65.10)

अगच्छं जानकीं सीतां मार्गमाणो दिदृक्षया। तत्र लङ्केति नगरी रावणस्य दुरात्मनः ॥ 65.10 ॥

agacchaṃ jānakīṃ sītāṃ mārgamāṇo didṛkṣayā| tatra laṅketi nagarī rāvaṇasya durātmanaḥ || 65.10 ||

'I went, searching for Janaki, Sita, with the wish to see her. There, the city named Lanka of the evil-minded Ravana'

Shloka 11 (sundara.65.11)

दक्षिणस्य समुद्रस्य तीरे वसति दक्षिणे। तत्र सीता मया दृष्टा रावणान्तःपुरे सती ॥ 65.11 ॥

dakṣiṇasya samudrasya tīre vasati dakṣiṇe| tatra sītā mayā dṛṣṭā rāvaṇāntaḥpure satī || 65.11 ||

'lies on the southern shore of the southern ocean. There, in Ravana's inner apartments, I saw the virtuous Sita,'

Shloka 12 (sundara.65.12)

त्वयि संन्यस्य जीवन्ती रामा राम मनोरथम्। दृष्टा मे राक्षसीमध्ये तर्ज्यमाना मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ 65.12 ॥

tvayi saṃnyasya jīvantī rāmā rāma manoratham| dṛṣṭā me rākṣasīmadhye tarjyamānā muhurmuhuḥ || 65.12 ||

'living only for the hope of you, her heart set upon you. I saw her amidst the rakshasis, being threatened again and again,'

Shloka 13 (sundara.65.13)

राक्षसीभिर्विरूपाभी रक्षिता प्रमदावने। दुःखमापद्यते देवी त्वया वीर सुखोचिता ॥ 65.13 ॥

rākṣasībhirvirūpābhī rakṣitā pramadāvane| duḥkhamāpadyate devī tvayā vīra sukhocitā || 65.13 ||

'kept by hideous rakshasis in that pleasure-grove. O hero, that lady, deserving of happiness with you, suffers grief.'

Shloka 14 (sundara.65.14)

रावणान्तःपुरे रुद्धा राक्षसीभिः सुरक्षिता। एकवेणीधरा दीना त्वयि चिन्तापरायणा ॥ 65.14 ॥

rāvaṇāntaḥpure ruddhā rākṣasībhiḥ surakṣitā| ekaveṇīdharā dīnā tvayi cintāparāyaṇā || 65.14 ||

'Confined in Ravana's inner apartments, closely guarded by rakshasis, wearing but a single braid, wretched, forever absorbed in thought of you,'

Shloka 15 (sundara.65.15)

अधःशय्या विवर्णाङ्गी पद्मिनीव हिमागमे। रावणाद् विनिवृत्तार्था मर्तव्यकृतनिश्चया ॥ 65.15 ॥

adhaḥśayyā vivarṇāṅgī padminīva himāgame| rāvaṇād vinivṛttārthā martavyakṛtaniścayā || 65.15 ||

'lying on the bare ground, her limbs pale like a lotus in the frost of winter, turned wholly away from Ravana, resolved upon death,'

Shloka 16 (sundara.65.16)

देवी कथंचित् काकुत्स्थ त्वन्मना मार्गिता मया। इक्ष्वाकुवंशविख्यातिं शनैः कीर्तयतानघ ॥ 65.16 ॥

devī kathaṃcit kākutstha tvanmanā mārgitā mayā| ikṣvākuvaṃśavikhyātiṃ śanaiḥ kīrtayatānagha || 65.16 ||

'that lady, O descendant of Kakutstha, her mind fixed on you alone, I somehow found. O sinless one, I softly proclaimed the fame of the Ikshvaku line,'

Shloka 17 (sundara.65.17)

सा मया नरशार्दूल शनैर्विश्वासिता तदा। ततः सम्भाषिता देवी सर्वमर्थं च दर्शिता ॥ 65.17 ॥

sā mayā naraśārdūla śanairviśvāsitā tadā| tataḥ sambhāṣitā devī sarvamarthaṃ ca darśitā || 65.17 ||

'and thus, O tiger among men, by degrees I won her trust. Then I spoke with the lady and disclosed to her the whole matter of my errand.'

Shloka 18 (sundara.65.18)

रामसुग्रीवसख्यं च श्रुत्वा हर्षमुपागता। नियतः समुदाचारो भक्तिश्चास्याः सदा त्वयि ॥ 65.18 ॥

rāmasugrīvasakhyaṃ ca śrutvā harṣamupāgatā| niyataḥ samudācāro bhaktiścāsyāḥ sadā tvayi || 65.18 ||

'Hearing of the friendship between Rama and Sugriva, she was filled with joy. Her conduct is ever disciplined, and her devotion to you is constant.'

Shloka 19 (sundara.65.19)

एवं मया महाभाग दृष्टा जनकनन्दिनी। उग्रेण तपसा युक्ता त्वद्भक्त्या पुरुषर्षभ ॥ 65.19 ॥

evaṃ mayā mahābhāga dṛṣṭā janakanandinī| ugreṇa tapasā yuktā tvadbhaktyā puruṣarṣabha || 65.19 ||

'Thus, O illustrious bull among men, did I see Janaka's daughter, engaged in fierce austerity and full of devotion to you.'

Shloka 20 (sundara.65.20)

अभिज्ञानं च मे दत्तं यथावृत्तं तवान्तिके। चित्रकूटे महाप्राज्ञ वायसं प्रति राघव ॥ 65.20 ॥

abhijñānaṃ ca me dattaṃ yathāvṛttaṃ tavāntike| citrakūṭe mahāprājña vāyasaṃ prati rāghava || 65.20 ||

'O most wise Raghava, as a token of recognition she gave me the account of the crow-incident that once occurred near you at Chitrakuta,'

Shloka 21 (sundara.65.21)

विज्ञाप्यः पुनरप्येष रामो वायुसुत त्वया। अखिलेन यथा दृष्टमिति मामाह जानकी ॥ 65.21 ॥

vijñāpyaḥ punarapyeṣa rāmo vāyusuta tvayā| akhilena yathā dṛṣṭamiti māmāha jānakī || 65.21 ||

'and Janaki said to me: O son of the Wind, this too you should inform Rama once more -- tell him exactly all that you have seen here.'

Shloka 22 (sundara.65.22)

अयं चास्मै प्रदातव्यो यत्नात् सुपरिरक्षितः। ब्रुवता वचनान्येवं सुग्रीवस्योपशृण्वतः ॥ 65.22 ॥

ayaṃ cāsmai pradātavyo yatnāt suparirakṣitaḥ| bruvatā vacanānyevaṃ sugrīvasyopaśṛṇvataḥ || 65.22 ||

'And, while these very words are spoken with Sugriva also listening, this jewel too, which I have guarded with such care, should be given to him.'

Shloka 23 (sundara.65.23)

एष चूडामणिः श्रीमान् मया ते यत्नरक्षितः। मनःशिलायास्तिलकं तत् स्मरस्वेति चाब्रवीत् ॥ 65.23 ॥

eṣa cūḍāmaṇiḥ śrīmān mayā te yatnarakṣitaḥ| manaḥśilāyāstilakaṃ tat smarasveti cābravīt || 65.23 ||

'This splendid crest-jewel have I guarded carefully for you; remember also the mark of red mineral pigment -- so she said.'

Shloka 24 (sundara.65.24)

एष निर्यातितः श्रीमान् मया ते वारिसम्भवः। एनं दृष्ट्वा प्रमोदिष्ये व्यसने त्वामिवानघ ॥ 65.24 ॥

eṣa niryātitaḥ śrīmān mayā te vārisambhavaḥ| enaṃ dṛṣṭvā pramodiṣye vyasane tvāmivānagha || 65.24 ||

'This splendid jewel, born of the ocean's waters, I have sent to you; seeing it, I shall rejoice, O sinless one, in my sorrow, as though seeing you yourself.'

Shloka 25 (sundara.65.25)

जीवितं धारयिष्यामि मासं दशरथात्मज। ऊर्ध्वं मासान्न जीवेयं रक्षसां वशमागता ॥ 65.25 ॥

jīvitaṃ dhārayiṣyāmi māsaṃ daśarathātmaja| ūrdhvaṃ māsānna jīveyaṃ rakṣasāṃ vaśamāgatā || 65.25 ||

'O son of Dasharatha, I shall sustain my life for one month; beyond that month I shall not be able to live, held as I am in the demons' power.'

Shloka 26 (sundara.65.26)

इति मामब्रवीत् सीता कृशाङ्गी धर्मचारिणी। रावणान्तःपुरे रुद्धा मृगीवोत्फुल्ललोचना ॥ 65.26 ॥

iti māmabravīt sītā kṛśāṅgī dharmacāriṇī| rāvaṇāntaḥpure ruddhā mṛgīvotphullalocanā || 65.26 ||

Thus spoke to me Sita, her body wasted, ever true to virtue, confined in Ravana's inner apartments, her eyes wide and startled like a doe's.

Shloka 27 (sundara.65.27)

एतदेव मयाऽऽख्यातं सर्वं राघव यद् यथा। सर्वथा सागरजले संतारः प्रविधीयताम् ॥ 65.27 ॥

etadeva mayā''khyātaṃ sarvaṃ rāghava yad yathā| sarvathā sāgarajale saṃtāraḥ pravidhīyatām || 65.27 ||

'This alone, O Raghava, is all that I have told you, exactly as it happened. Now let a crossing be made, by every means, over the waters of the ocean.'

Shloka 28 (sundara.65.28)

तौ जाताश्वासौ राजपुत्रौ विदित्वा तच्चाभिज्ञानं राघवाय प्रदाय। देव्या चाख्यातं सर्वमेवानुपूर्व्याद् वाचा सम्पूर्णं वायुपुत्रः शशंस ॥ 65.28 ॥

tau jātāśvāsau rājaputrau viditvā taccābhijñānaṃ rāghavāya pradāya| devyā cākhyātaṃ sarvamevānupūrvyād vācā sampūrṇaṃ vāyuputraḥ śaśaṃsa || 65.28 ||

Thus, knowing the two princes were consoled, and having given that token of recognition to Raghava, the son of the Wind-god related in full, in due order, everything that the lady had told him.