---
title: "Sundara Kanda, Sarga 34"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/sundara-kanda/sarga-34"
lang: "en"
---

# Sundara Kanda, Sarga 34

> तस्यास्तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा हनूमान् हरिपुंगवः।  
> दुःखाद् दुःखाभिभूतायाः सान्त्वमुत्तरमब्रवीत्॥ १॥

Hearing the aforesaid speech of Sītā, who was overwhelmed with sorrow after sorrow, Hanumān, the foremost of monkeys, uttered the following reassuring reply : (1)

> अहं रामस्य संदेशाद् देवि दूतस्तवागतः।  
> वैदेहि कुशली रामः स त्वां कौशलमब्रवीत्॥ २॥

“I have sought your presence, O godlike lady, as an envoy carrying a message sent by Śrī Rāma. Śrī Rāma, O princess of the Videha territory, is doing well. He has communicated his own welfare to you. (2)

> यो ब्राह्ममस्त्रं वेदांश्च वेद वेदविदां वरः।  
> स त्वां दाशरथी रामो देवि कौशलमब्रवीत्॥ ३॥

“Nay, Śrī Rāma, the celebrated son of Daśaratha, and the foremost of the knowers of Veda, who knows the use of the mystic missile presided over by Brahmā, the creator, as well as the import of the Vedas, O godlike lady, has also inquired of you about your own welfare. (3)

> लक्ष्मणश्च महातेजा भर्तुस्तेऽनुचरः प्रियः।  
> कृतवाञ्छोकसंतप्तः शिरसा तेऽभिवादनम्॥ ४॥

“Endowed with extraordinary energy, Lakṣamaṇa too, a beloved servant of your husband, has saluted you with his head bent low, tormented as he is with grief.” (4)

> सा तयोः कुशलं देवी निशम्य नरसिंहयोः।  
> प्रतिसंहृष्टसर्वांगी हनूमन्तमथाब्रवीत्॥ ५॥

Thrilled all over her body to hear about the welfare of those two lions among men, that godlike lady now replied as follows to Hanumān : (5)

> कल्याणी बत गाथेयं लौकिकी प्रतिभाति मा।  
> एति जीवन्तमानन्दो नरं वर्षशतादपि॥ ६॥

“Ah, the following popular adage that ‘joy comes to a surviving man, even though it be at the end of a hundred years’, appears true to me.” (6)

> तयोः समागमे तस्मिन् प्रीतिरुत्पादिताद्भुता।  
> परस्परेण चालापं विश्वस्तौ तौ प्रचक्रतुः॥ ७॥

Consequent on that meeting of Hanumān and Sītā, a strange delight came over them. And restored to confidence, the two began to converse with one another. (7)

> तस्यास्तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः।  
> सीतायाः शोकतप्तायाः समीपमुपचक्रमे॥ ८॥

Hearing the aforesaid reply of Sītā, who was stricken with grief, Hanumān, son of the wind-god, endeavoured to draw nearer to her. (8)

> यथा यथा समीपं स हनूमानुपसर्पति।  
> तथा तथा रावणं सा तं सीता परिशङ्कते॥ ९॥

The nearer did the celebrated Hanumān draw to her, the more did that Sītā suspect him to be Rāvaṇa. (9)

> अहो धिग् धिक्कृतमिदं कथितं हि यदस्य मे।  
> रूपान्तरमुपागम्य स एवायं हि रावणः॥ १०॥

She said to herself : ‘Oh, shame ! What a pity that I held all this converse with him. Indeed, he is the same Rāvaṇa, who has come here assuming another guise.’ (10)

> तामशोकस्य शाखां तु विमुक्त्वा शोककर्शिता।  
> तस्यामेवानवद्याङ्गी धरण्यां समुपाविशत्॥ ११॥

Letting go that branch of the Aśoka tree, Sītā, for her part, of faultless limbs, sank down on that very spot on which she stood, exhausted as she was from grief. (11)

> अवन्दत महाबाहुस्ततस्तां जनकात्मजाम्।  
> सा चैनं भयसंत्रस्ता भूयो नैनमुदैक्षत॥ १२॥

Thereupon Hanumān of mighty arms saluted the aforesaid daughter of Janaka. Sore stricken as she was with fear, Sītā, however, no longer raised her eyes to him. (12)

> तं दृष्ट्वा वन्दमानं च सीता शशिनिभानना।  
> अब्रवीद् दीर्घमुच्छ्वस्य वानरं मधुरस्वरा॥ १३॥

Drawing a deep audible breath on seeing him while bowing down to her, Sītā, however, whose countenance resembled the full moon, spoke to Hanumān in sweet accents as follows : (13)

> मायां प्रविष्टो मायावी यदि त्वं रावणः स्वयम्।  
> उत्पादयसि मे भूयः संतापं तन्न शोभनम्॥ १४॥

“If you are Rāvaṇa himself, given to conjuring tricks and, having entered a deceitful form, are causing agony to me once more, it is not good. (14)

> स्वं परित्यज्य रूपं यः परिव्राजकरूपवान्।  
> जनस्थाने मया दृष्टस्त्वं स एव हि रावणः॥ १५॥

“Surely you are the same Rāvaṇa, who, having assumed the guise of a vagrant recluse, abandoning your native form, were seen by me in Janasthāna. (15)

> उपवासकृशां दीनां कामरूप निशाचर।  
> संतापयसि मां भूयः संतापं तन्न शोभनम्॥ १६॥

“It is not right, O ranger of the night, able to change form at will, that you should once more torment me, emaciated through fasting and miserable as I am. (16)

> अथवा नैतदेवं हि यन्मया परिशङ्कितम्।  
> मनसो हि मम प्रीतिरुत्पन्ना तव दर्शनात्॥ १७॥

“Or, that which is feared by me may not at all be true; for delight has sprung up in my heart at your sight. (17)

> यदि रामस्य दूतस्त्वमागतो भद्रमस्तु ते।  
> पृच्छामि त्वां हरिश्रेष्ठ प्रिया रामकथा हि मे॥ १८॥

“If, on the other hand, you have really come as a messenger of Śrī Rāma, may good betide you. In that case I make inquiries of you about Śrī Rāma; for talk about Śrī Rāma is pleasing to me, O jewel among the monkeys ! (18)

> गुणान् रामस्य कथय प्रियस्य मम वानर।  
> चित्तं हरसि मे सौम्य नदीकूलं यथा रयः॥ १९॥

“Recount the virtues of my beloved Śrī Rāma, O gentle monkey ! Even as the current of a river wears away its bank, you are luring my mind with the prospect of delighting me with the news of Śrī Rāma. (19)

> अहो स्वप्नस्य सुखता याहमेव चिराहृता।  
> प्रेषितं नाम पश्यामि राघवेण वनौकसम्॥ २०॥

“Oh the sweetness of the dream presented to me, in which the selfsame I, who was borne away by Rāvaṇa long since, see with my own eyes a monkey sent by Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu ! (20)

> स्वप्नेऽपि यद्यहं वीरं राघवं सहलक्ष्मणम्।  
> पश्येयं नावसीदेयं स्वप्नोऽपि मम मत्सरी॥ २१॥

“If I could see the heroic Śrī Rāma accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa, even in a dream, I would not feel disheartened; but even a dream is proving niggardly in my case. (21)

> नाहं स्वप्नमिमं मन्ये स्वप्ने दृष्ट्वा हि वानरम्।  
> न शक्योऽभ्युदयः प्राप्तुं प्राप्तश्चाभ्युदयो मम॥ २२॥

“I do not believe this to be a dream; for good fortune cannot be attained on seeing a monkey in a dream; while placidity of mind, which is a harbinger of good fortune, has been attained by me. (22)

> किं नु स्याच्चित्तमोहोऽयं भवेद् वातगतिस्त्वियम्।  
> उन्मादजो विकारो वा स्यादयं मृगतृष्णिका॥ २३॥

“Can this meeting of mine with a monkey be a delusion of my mind? Or, it may be a delusion caused by my being possessed by a ghost (clothed with an aerial body). Or, again, it may be a malady born of insanity or it may only be an optic illusion. (23)

> अथवा नायमुन्मादो मोहोऽप्युन्मादलक्षणः।  
> सम्बुध्ये चाहमात्मानमिमं चापि वनौकसम्॥ २४॥

“Or this may not be a case of insanity, nor even delusion showing symptoms similar to those of insanity; for I am conscious of my own self as well as of this monkey.” (24)

> इत्येवं बहुधा सीता सम्प्रधार्य बलाबलम्।  
> रक्षसां कामरूपत्वान्मेने तं राक्षसाधिपम्॥ २५॥

Having thus duly considered in many ways the strength of ogres and the weakness of monkeys, who cannot be expected to leap across a vast sea, and also considering the fact that the ogres are able to change their form at will, Sītā concluded Hanumān to be Rāvaṇa, the suzerain ruler of ogres. (25)

> एतां बुद्धिं तदा कृत्वा सीता सा तनुमध्यमा।  
> न प्रतिव्याजहाराथ वानरं जनकात्मजा॥ २६॥

Having arrived at this conclusion at that time, that lady of slender waist, Sītā, Janaka’s daughter, did not speak any more to the monkey, Hanumān. (26)

> सीताया निश्चितं बुद्ध्वा हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः।  
> श्रोत्रानुकूलैर्वचनैस्तदा तां सम्प्रहर्षयन्॥ २७॥

Coming to know the decision of Sītā, Hanumān, sprung from the loins of the wind-god, spoke as follows bringing exessive joy to her with his words, which were delightful to the ear: (27)

> आदित्य इव तेजस्वी लोककान्तः शशी यथा।  
> राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवो वैश्रवणो यथा॥ २८॥

“Glorious as the sun, nay, beloved of the world as the moon, Śrī Rāma brings delight to the entire universe by bestowing riches and food grains on all as the god Kubera, son of Sage Viśravā. (28)

> विक्रमेणोपपन्नश्च यथा विष्णुर्महायशाः।  
> सत्यवादी मधुरवाग् देवो वाचस्पतिर्यथा॥ २९॥

“He is endowed with prowess like the highly illustrious Lord Viṣṇu and utters truthful and sweet words like the celestial sage Bṛhaspati. (29)

> रूपवान् सुभगः श्रीमान् कंदर्प इव मूर्तिमान्।  
> स्थानक्रोधे प्रहर्ता च श्रेष्ठो लोके महारथः॥ ३०॥

“He is rich in comeliness, graceful and full of splendour as Love-incarnate. He punishes only him who deserves anger and is the foremost chariot-warrior in the world.(30)

> बाहुच्छायामवष्टब्धो यस्य लोको महात्मनः।  
> अपक्रम्याश्रमपदान्मृगरूपेण राघवम्॥ ३१॥  
> शून्ये येनापनीतासि तस्य द्रक्ष्यसि तत्फलम्।  
> अचिराद् रावणं संख्ये यो वधिष्यति वीर्यवान्॥ ३२॥  
> क्रोधप्रमुक्तैरिषुभिर्ज्वलद्भिरिव पावकैः।  
> तेनाहं प्रेषितो दूतस्त्वत्सकाशमिहागतः॥ ३३॥

“The whole world depends on the protection of the arms of that exalted soul. You will see for yourself the consequence of the sinful act of Rāvaṇa, by whom you were borne away in a state of utter desolation after diverting Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, from the site of his hermitage through an ogre disguised as a deer. I have sought your presence here as an envoy despatched by that powerful prince, who will before long kill Rāvaṇa in a combat with his shafts, resembling blazing flames and shot in anger. (31—33)

> त्वद्वियोगेन दुःखार्तः स त्वां कौशलमब्रवीत्।  
> लक्ष्मणश्च महातेजाः सुमित्रानन्दवर्धनः॥ ३४॥  
> अभिवाद्य महाबाहुः स त्वां कौशलमब्रवीत्।  
> रामस्य च सखा देवि सुग्रीवो नाम वानरः॥ ३५॥  
> राजा वानरमुख्यानां स त्वां कौशलमब्रवीत्।  
> नित्यं स्मरति ते रामः ससुग्रीवः सलक्ष्मणः॥ ३६॥

“Stricken with agony caused by separation from you, he has made inquiries of you about your welfare. Greeting you, the mighty-armed and celebrated Lakṣmaṇa, the enhancer of Sumitrā’s joy, who is endowed with extraordinary energy, has also made inquiries of you about your welfare. Śrī Rāma’s friend, the celebrated monkey, named Sugrīva, the ruler of the foremost of monkeys, has also made inquiries of you about your welfare, O godlike lady ! Śrī Rāma, along with Sugrīva and Lakṣmaṇa, always remember you. (34—36)

> दिष्ट्या जीवसि वैदेहि राक्षसीवशमागता।  
> नचिराद् द्रक्ष्यसे रामं लक्ष्मणं च महारथम्॥ ३७॥  
> मध्ये वानरकोटीनां सुग्रीवं चामितौजसम्।  
> अहं सुग्रीवसचिवो हनूमान् नाम वानरः॥ ३८॥

“By good luck, O princess of the Videha territory, you survive, though fallen into the clutches of ogresses. Before long you will see Śrī Rāma and the great chariot-warrior, Lakṣmaṇa, as also Sugrīva of immeasurable strength in the midst of crores of other monkeys. I am a monkey named Hanumān, a minister of Sugrīva. (37-38)

> प्रविष्टो नगरीं लङ्कां लङ्घयित्वा महोदधिम्।  
> कृत्वा मूर्ध्नि पदन्यासं रावणस्य दुरात्मनः॥ ३९॥

“Having leapt across the vast sea dividing the mainland from Laṅkā, I penetrated deep into the city of Laṅkā, setting my foot, as it were, on the head of the evil-minded Rāvaṇa. (39)

> त्वां द्रष्टुमुपयातोऽहं समाश्रित्य पराक्रमम्।  
> नाहमस्मि तथा देवि यथा मामवगच्छसि।  
> विशङ्का त्यज्यतामेषा श्रद्धत्स्व वदतो मम॥ ४०॥

“Relying on my own prowess I have come to see you. I am not what you suppose me to be, O godlike lady ! Let this misgiving be shaken off and, pray, believe my words as I speak.” (40)

Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana

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