Sundara Kanda, Sarga 39

Meaning

Having parted with her jewel, Sītā then spoke to Hanumān forthwith as follows: “This token is fully known to Śrī Rāma in its reality. (1)

Meaning

“Seeing the jewel, the heroic Śrī Rāma for his part will surely call to mind three individuals all at once, viz., my mother, King Daśaratha and myself as it was given as a dowry to me by my mother in the presence of my father-in-law. (2)

Meaning

“Goaded further by extraordinary zeal, O jewel among monkeys, consider carefully what is to be done next for giving impetus to this work of rescuing me. (3)

Meaning

“You alone are capable of bringing this task to completion, O jewel among monkeys ! Please consider what effort might bring my misfortunes to an end. (4)

Meaning

“Remaining active, therefore, O Hanumān, pray, terminate my suffering.” Giving his assurance in the words “Be it so”, and making obeisance to Sītā, a princess of the Videha territory, with his head bent low, Hanumān, son of the wind-god, of redoubtable prowess made ready to depart. Perceiving Hanumān, sprung from the loins of the wind-god, fully prepared to leave, Sītā, a princess of Mithila, spoke as follows in a voice choked with tears: “Communicate my welfare to Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa together, O Hanumān ! Nay, make a report in consonance with righteousness regarding my welfare, O jewel among monkeys, to Sugrīva and his ministers, as also to all elderly monkeys. (5—8)

Meaning

“You ought to make efforts to see that the mighty-armed scion of Raghu delivers me from this ocean of sorrow. (9)

Meaning

“My case should be put by you in such a way, O Hanumān, that the illustrious Śrī Rāma may find me alive. Reap the virtue of rendering help to me by your words. (10)

Meaning

“The effort of Śrī Rāma (son of Daśaratha), who is ever full of determination to recover me, will be intensified on hearing the words uttered by me. (11)

Meaning

“Only after hearing from you the words conveying my message, the heroic Śrī Rāma will duly set his heart on exhibiting his valour.” (12)

Meaning

Placing his joined palms above his head on hearing the aforesaid appeal of Sītā, Hanumān, sprung from the loins of the wind-god, made the following reply: (13)

Meaning

“Surrounded by the foremost of monkeys and bears, Śrī Rāma (a scion of Kakutstha), who, having conquered his enemies on the field of battle, will completely drive away your grief, will soon make his appearance here. (14)

Meaning

“I know of none among mortals, demons or gods, who would dare stand before him while he is shooting arrows. (15)

Meaning

“Indeed he would be able to withstand in combat even the sun-god, Indra (the rain-god), Yama (the god of retribution), son of the sun-god, particularly for your sake. (16)

Meaning

“Śrī Rāma can conquer the earth bounded by the ocean. Hence Śrī Rāma’s victory in your cause is certain, O daughter of Janaka !” (17)

Meaning

Hearing the aforesaid reply of Hanumān, which was reasonable, truthful and beautifully worded, the daughter of Janaka held him in great estimation and proceeded to speak as follows : (18)

Meaning

Gazing again and again on Hanumān, who had then made ready to depart, Sītā uttered the following respectful words, expressive of her husband’s affection for her, actuated as she was with goodwill for him: (19)

Meaning

“If you deem fit, O hero, halt for a day, O tamer of foes! Resting in some covered place, you may leave tomorrow. (20)

Meaning

“Due to your presence, O Hanumān, I shall be rid for a while, unfortunate as I am, of this violent grief. (21)

Meaning

“For, if after that there is any doubt about your return, O tiger among monkeys, there is uncertainty of my survival too: there is no doubt about it. (22)

Meaning

“Grief born of your absence, O monkey, will torment me further, burning me, as it were, seized as I already am with agony after agony. (23)

Meaning

“Nay, this very great doubt ever stands before me as it were about your associate monkeys and bears, O heroic lord of monkeys, as to how on earth those hordes of monkeys and bears, or, for that matter, those two princes will actually be able to cross the vast sea, which is so difficult to cross. (24-25)

Meaning

“The capacity to cross the sea in this world exists in three created beings only, viz., Garuḍa (son of Vinatā), the wind-god and yourself. (26)

Meaning

“What means do you perceive, O hero, for the accomplishment of this task, which is so very hard to get through? For, you are the foremost of those who know how to accomplish a task. (27)

Meaning

“Although you are definitely equal to the accomplishment of this task of rescuing me single-handed, O destroyer of hostile warriors, the attainment of success in that case will redound to your own glory rather than to that of Śrī Rāma. (28)

Meaning

“If, on the other hand, conquering Rāvaṇa on the battlefield with the help of all his forces, Śrī Rāma returns victorious in combat to his own capital, that indeed would be worthy of him. (29)

Meaning

“If, overrunning Laṅkā with his forces, Śrī Rāma (a scion of Kakutstha) the scourge of hostile forces, for his part, takes me back from Laṅkā, that alone would be worthy of him. (30)

Meaning

“Therefore, act you in such a way that the exalted soul, valiant in combat, may exhibit prowess worthy of him.” (31)

Meaning

Hearing the aforesaid utterance of Sītā, which was full of significance, polite and logical, Hanumān made the following final reply: (32)

Meaning

“The lord of the monkey and bear hordes and the foremost of monkeys, Sugrīva, who is richly endowed with truthfulness, is determined to liberate you, O godlike lady ! (33)

Meaning

“Surrounded by crores of monkeys, O princess of the Videha territory, that destroyer of ogres will make his appearance soon. (34)

Meaning

“Monkeys, who are richly endowed with valour, full of courage and extraordinarily mighty, nay, who can leap to any distance according to their mental resolve, whose course is impeded neither upwards nor downwards nor to their right or left, who never lose heart even in great undertakings and are endowed with extraordinary energy, remain standing at Sugrīva’s beck and call. (35-36)

Meaning

“The earth including the oceans and mountains has been circumambulated by them clockwise more than once following the aerial path, endowed as they are with extraordinary energy. (37)

Meaning

“There exist in that army monkeys who are my equals and even superior to me. None is inferior to me in the company of Sugrīva. (38)

Meaning

“When I have arrived here, how easily can they arrive, who are endowed with extraordinary might ! Surely these superior ones are not sent on errands, only the inferior ones are so sent. (39)

Meaning

“Therefore, have done with sorrowing, O godlike lady ! Let your grief disappear. In a single bound those leaders of monkey hordes will reach Laṅkā. (40)

Meaning

“Nay, like the sun and the moon appearing on the horizon, those two lions among men, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, followed by large multitudes, will arrive in your presence mounted on my back. (41)

Meaning

“Arriving together, those two heroic jewels among men will undoubtedly blow away Laṅkā with their shafts. (42)

Meaning

“Making short work of Rāvaṇa alongwith his hordes, Śrī Rāma, the delight of the Raghus, will return to his own city Ayodhyā, taking you with him, O lady of excellent limbs ! (43)

Meaning

“Therefore, take heart and bide you your time. May good betide you ! Before long you shall be able to see Śrī Rāma shining bright like fire. (44)

Meaning

“Nay, when Rāvaṇa, the lord of ogres, is slain with his sons, ministers and kinsfolk, you shall be re-united with Śrī Rāma as Rohiṇī (a consort of the moon god presiding over a constellation of the same name) is with the moon-god. (45)

Meaning

“Soon you shall see the end of your grief, O godlike princess of Mithilā ! Nay, you will also see Rāvaṇa killed by Śrī Rāma by force of superior might.” (46)

Meaning

Having comforted Sītā, a princess of the Videha territory, as above, and making up his mind to depart, Hanumān, sprung from the loins of the wind-god, spoke to Sītā once more as follows : (47)

Meaning

“You shall soon behold the celebrated Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu), the destroyer of his foes, who has subdued his soul, as also Lakṣmaṇa, arrived at the gate of Laṅkā, bow in hand. (48)

Meaning

“At no distant date you shall also see gathered together valiant monkeys endowed with the prowess of lions and tigers, nay looking like lordly elephants and using their nails and teeth as weapons. (49)

Meaning

“You shall see, O noble lady, numerous companies of the foremost of monkeys, looking like mountains or clouds and thundering on the peaks of the Malaya mountain in Laṅkā. (50)

Meaning

“Hit in his vulnerable parts by the formidable darts of Love, the aforesaid Śrī Rāma for his part knows no more rest than an elephant hurt by a lion. (51)

Meaning

“Weep no more, O godlike lady ! Let there be no fear from grief to your mind. You shall be re-united with your husband in the same way as Śaci, the consort of Indra, was with Indra, O charming lady ! (52)

Meaning

“Who else is superior to Śrī Rāma and who is a match for Lakṣmaṇa, son of Sumitrā? Those two brothers, who resemble fire and the wind, are your support. (53)

Meaning

“You shall not stay long in this most fearful land inhabited by ogres, O godlike lady ! The advent of your darling will not take long. Pray, have patience only till the moment of my meeting with Śrī Rāma.”(54)