--- title: "Sundara Kanda, Sarga 16" canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/sundara-kanda/sarga-16" lang: "en" --- # Sundara Kanda, Sarga 16 > प्रशस्य तु प्रशस्तव्यां सीतां तां हरिपुंगवः। > गुणाभिरामं रामं च पुनश्चिन्तापरोऽभवत्॥ १॥ Having admired the aforesaid Sītā, who was worth admiring, as well as Śrī Rāma, who was pleasing by virtue of his excellences, Hanumān for his part became absorbed in thought once more. (1) > स मुहूर्तमिव ध्यात्वा बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः। > सीतामाश्रित्य तेजस्वी हनूमान् विललाप ह॥ २॥ Reflecting awhile, the celebrated and glorious Hanumān, whose eyes got bedimmed with tears, started lamenting about Sītā as follows: (2) > मान्या गुरुविनीतस्य लक्ष्मणस्य गुरुप्रिया। > यदि सीता हि दुःखार्ता कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः॥ ३॥ ‘If even Sītā, who deserves all honour and is the beloved consort of Śrī Rāma, the eldest brother of Lakṣmaṇa, who had been instructed in good morals by his elders, is stricken with sorrow, indeed it is difficult to withstand the force of destiny. (3) > रामस्य व्यवसायज्ञा लक्ष्मणस्य च धीमतः। > नात्यर्थं क्षुभ्यते देवी गंगेव जलदागमे॥ ४॥ ‘Conscious as she is of the prowess of Śrī Rāma as well as of the sagacious Lakṣmaṇa, the godlike lady does not feel much agitated any more than the holy Gaṅgā at the approach of the monsoon. (4) > तुल्यशीलवयोवृत्तां तुल्याभिजनलक्षणाम्। > राघवोऽर्हति वैदेहीं तं चेयमसितेक्षणा॥ ५॥ ‘Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, is worthy of Sītā, a princess of the Videha territory, whose character, age and conduct are well-matched with his and whose pedigree and bodily marks too are on a par with his; and this dark-eyed lady too is worthy of Śrī Rāma.’ (5) > तां दृष्ट्वा नवहेमाभां लोककान्तामिव श्रियम्। > जगाम मनसा रामं वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्॥ ६॥ Perceiving the aforesaid lady, who looked quite young and shone like gold and who resembled Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, coveted by the whole world, Hanumān sought the presence of Śrī Rāma with his mind and said to himself as follows: (6) > अस्या हेतोर्विशालाक्ष्या हतो वाली महाबलः। > रावणप्रतिमो वीर्ये कबन्धश्च निपातितः॥ ७॥ ‘For the sake of this large-eyed lady was killed Vāli; Kabandha as well, who was equal to Rāvaṇa in valour, was disposed of. (7) > विराधश्च हतः संख्ये राक्षसो भीमविक्रमः। > वने रामेण विक्रम्य महेन्द्रेणेव शम्बरः॥ ८॥ ‘The ogre Virādha too of redoubtable prowess was got rid of in combat by Śrī Rāma by showing his valour even as the demon Śambara was killed by the mighty Indra. (8) > चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम्। > निहतानि जनस्थाने शरैरग्निशिखोपमैः॥ ९॥ ‘Fourteen thousand ogres of terrible deeds were made short work of in Janasthāna by means of arrows resembling tongues of fire. (9) > खरश्च निहतः संख्ये त्रिशिराश्च निपातितः। > दूषणश्च महातेजा रामेण विदितात्मना॥ १०॥ ‘Khara too was slain on the field of battle and so was Trisirā brought low as also Dūṣaṇa, endowed with extraordinary energy, by Śrī Rāma, who has realized the Self. (10) > ऐश्वर्यं वानराणां च दुर्लभं वालिपालितम्। > अस्या निमित्ते सुग्रीवः प्राप्तवाँल्लोकविश्रुतः॥ ११॥ ‘Nay, on account of her Sugrīva, who is well-known throughout the world, attained the lordship of monkeys which was difficult to acquire, guarded as it was by Vāli. (11) > सागरश्च मयाऽऽक्रान्तः श्रीमान् नदनदीपतिः। > अस्या हेतोर्विशालाक्ष्याः पुरी चेयं निरीक्षिता॥ १२॥ ‘Nay, for the sake of this large-eyed lady has the mighty sea, the lord of rivers and streams, been crossed by me and this city of Laṅkā explored. (12) > यदि रामः समुद्रान्तां मेदिनीं परिवर्तयेत्। > अस्याः कृते जगच्चापि युक्तमित्येव मे मतिः॥ १३॥ ‘If for her sake Śrī Rāma turned the earth bounded by the oceans upside down, or even the universe, it would be justifiable: such is my belief. (13) > राज्यं वा त्रिषु लोकेषु सीता वा जनकात्मजा। > त्रैलोक्यराज्यं सकलं सीताया नाप्नुयात् कलाम्॥ १४॥ ‘If sovereignty over all the three worlds, on the one hand, and Sītā, daughter of King Janaka, on the other, were put on the scales, the integral sovereignty of the three worlds would not approach even a fraction of Sītā. (14) > इयं सा धर्मशीलस्य जनकस्य महात्मनः। > सुता मैथिलराजस्य सीता भर्तृदृढव्रता॥ १५॥ ‘She is no other than the celebrated Sītā, daughter of Janaka, the virtuous and high-souled king of Mithilā, unswerving in her vow of devotion to her lord. (15) > उत्थिता मेदिनीं भित्त्वा क्षेत्रे हलमुखक्षते। > पद्मरेणुनिभैः कीर्णा शुभैः केदारपांसुभिः॥ १६॥ ‘While a field was being furrowed with a ploughshare, she rose splitting open the earth, and covered with the dust of the field, which gleamed like pollen. (16) > विक्रान्तस्यार्यशीलस्य संयुगेष्वनिवर्तिनः। > स्नुषा दशरथस्यैषा ज्येष्ठा राज्ञो यशस्विनी॥ १७॥ ‘She is the illustrious and senior most daughter-in-law of the valiant King Daśaratha of noble disposition, who never turned his back on the field of battle. (17) > धर्मज्ञस्य कृतज्ञस्य रामस्य विदितात्मनः। > इयं सा दयिता भार्या राक्षसीवशमागता॥ १८॥ ‘Fallen under the sway of ogresses, she is the beloved consort of Śrī Rāma, who knows what is right, is conscious of services rendered to him and is a knower of the Self. (18) > सर्वान् भोगान् परित्यज्य भर्तृस्नेहबलात् कृता। > अचिन्तयित्वा कष्टानि प्रविष्टा निर्जनं वनम्॥ १९॥ ‘Completely renouncing all enjoyments and not minding hardships, she entered the lonely forest, overcome as she was by love for her husband. (19) > संतुष्टा फलमूलेन भर्तृशुश्रूषणापरा। > या परां भजते प्रीतिं वनेऽपि भवने यथा॥ २०॥ > सेयं कनकवर्णांगी नित्यं सुस्मितभाषिणी। > सहते यातनामेतामनर्थानामभागिनी॥ २१॥ ‘That very Sītā of golden limbs, ever given to speaking with a sweet smile and undeserving of woes—who, contented as she was with fruit and roots alone and devoted to the service of her husband, experienced the same degree of supreme felicity in the forest as in her own royal abode—is undergoing this suffering here ! (20-21) > इमां तु शीलसम्पन्नां द्रष्टुमिच्छति राघवः। > रावणेन प्रमथितां प्रपामिव पिपासितः॥ २२॥ ‘Like a thirsty man yearning to find a place where water is freely distributed to passers-by, Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) for his part longs to see this lady, rich in chastity, though tormented by Rāvaṇa. (22) > अस्या नूनं पुनर्लाभाद् राघवः प्रीतिमेष्यति। > राजा राज्यपरिभ्रष्टः पुनः प्राप्येव मेदिनीम्॥ २३॥ ‘Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, will surely derive joy through recovery of her even as a king, deprived of his throne, on regaining the land. (23) > कामभोगैः परित्यक्ता हीना बन्धुजनेन च। > धारयत्यात्मनो देहं तत्समागमकाङ्क्षिणी॥ २४॥ ‘Deprived of all coveted enjoyments and bereft of her kinsfolk, she preserves her body, desirous as she is of meeting him. (24) > नैषा पश्यति राक्षस्यो नेमान् पुष्पफलद्रुमान्। > एकस्थहृदया नूनं राममेवानुपश्यति॥ २५॥ ‘She neither sees the ogresses around her nor these trees laden with flowers and fruit. With her heart centred on one object only, she undoubtedly beholds Śrī Rāma alone all the time. (25) > भर्ता नाम परं नार्याः शोभनं भूषणादपि। > एषा हि रहिता तेन शोभनार्हा न शोभते॥ २६॥ ‘Indeed, the husband is the greatest adornment for a woman, greater even than an ornament. Hence, though deserving of decoration, she no longer looks charming, bereft as she is of her husband. (26) > दुष्करं कुरुते रामो हीनो यदनया प्रभुः। > धारयत्यात्मनो देहं न दुःखेनावसीदति॥ २७॥ ‘Lord Śrī Rāma is really doing something great in that he is preserving his body even though bereft of her, and does not faint through grief. (27) > इमामसितकेशान्तां शतपत्रनिभेक्षणाम्। > सुखार्हां दुःखितां ज्ञात्वा ममापि व्यथितं मनः॥ २८॥ ‘My mind too is seized with anguish on finding this lady with dark long hanging hair and lotus-like eyes afflicted, though deserving of happiness. (28) > क्षितिक्षमा पुष्करसंनिभेक्षणा > या रक्षिता राघवलक्ष्मणाभ्याम्। > सा राक्षसीभिर्विकृतेक्षणाभिः > संरक्ष्यते सम्प्रति वृक्षमूले॥ २९॥ ‘She, who is forbearing as the earth and whose eyes resemble a pair of lotuses and who was protected by Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) and Lakṣmaṇa, is now being strongly guarded at the foot of a tree by ogresses with deformed eyes. (29) > हिमहतनलिनीव नष्टशोभा > व्यसनपरम्परया निपीड्यमाना। > सहचररहितेव चक्रवाकी > जनकसुता कृपणां दशां प्रपन्ना॥ ३०॥ ‘Deprived of her charms like a lotus plant blasted by frost, being sore oppressed as she is by a series of misfortunes, Sītā, Janaka’s daughter, has been reduced to a pitiable plight like a female Cakrawāka (red goose) bereft of her mate. (30) > अस्या हि पुष्पावनताग्रशाखाः > शोकं दृढं वै जनयन्त्यशोकाः। > हिमव्यपायेन च शीतरश्मि- > रभ्युत्थितो नैकसहस्ररश्मिः॥ ३१॥ ‘Indeed, the Aśoka trees with the ends of their boughs bent under the weight of their blossom, actually cause immense grief to her; while due to the close of winter marked by the advent of spring, the moon with its cool rays has grown fierce like the myriad-rayed sun.’ (31) > इत्येवमर्थं कपिरन्ववेक्ष्य > सीतेयमित्येव तु जातबुद्धिः। > संश्रित्य तस्मिन् निषसाद वृक्षे > बली हरीणामृषभस्तरस्वी॥ ३२॥ Duly considering his interest, the mighty Hanumān the foremost of monkeys, who was full of impetuosity, and who for his part felt convinced that she was Sītā, remained firmly seated on that tree. (32) Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana --- Source: Gita Press, Gorakhpur editions. Buy the book: https://gitapress.org/product/sri-ramcharitmanas-special-edition Ramayana.com, a free, ad-free project of Ved Vyas Foundation.