--- title: "Sundara Kanda, Sarga 67" canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/sundara-kanda/sarga-67" lang: "en" --- # Sundara Kanda, Sarga 67 > एवमुक्तस्तु हनुमान् राघवेण महात्मना। > सीताया भाषितं सर्वं न्यवेदयत राघवे॥ १॥ Urged in the foregoing words by the high-souled Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, Hanumān for his part repeated as follows to Śrī Rāma all that was said by Sītā : (1) > इदमुक्तवती देवी जानकी पुरुषर्षभ। > पूर्ववृत्तमभिज्ञानं चित्रकूटे यथातथम्॥ २॥ “The godlike lady Sītā related as follows, even as it had occurred, O jewel among men, an incident that had taken place at Citrakūṭa in the past. (2) > सुखसुप्ता त्वया सार्धं जानकी पूर्वमुत्थिता। > वायसः सहसोत्पत्य विददार स्तनान्तरम्॥ ३॥ “Having slept happily at your side on one occasion, Sītā, daughter of Janaka, got up before you, when, coming down suddenly, a crow tore the flesh of her breast with its beak. (3) > पर्यायेण च सुप्तस्त्वं देव्यङ्के भरताग्रज। > पुनश्च किल पक्षी स देव्या जनयति व्यथा॥ ४॥ “You then lay asleep on the lap of the godlike lady, O elder brother of Bharata! And once more did that bird actually begin to torment the godlike lady. (4) > ततः पुनरुपागम्य विददार भृशं किल। > ततस्त्वं बोधितस्तस्याः शोणितेन समुक्षितः॥ ५॥ “Coming near once more indeed, it forthwith cruelly tore her breast. Bathed in blood that began to flow from her breast, you were awakened then by her. (5) > वायसेन च तेनैवं सततं बाध्यमानया। > बोधितः किल देव्या त्वं सुखसुप्तः परंतप॥ ६॥ “Though lying happily asleep, O tormentor of foes, you were actually awakened by the godlike lady, who was being ceaselessly tormented by that crow as aforesaid. (6) > तां च दृष्ट्वा महाबाहो दारितां च स्तनान्तरे। > आशीविष इव क्रुद्धस्ततो वाक्यं त्वमूचिवान्॥ ७॥ “Nay, enraged like a venomous serpent on seeing her lacerated in the breast, O mighty-armed prince, you for your part thereupon put the following question to her : (7) > नखाग्रैः केन ते भीरु दारितं वै स्तनान्तरम्। > कः क्रीडति सरोषेण पञ्चवक्त्रेण भोगिना॥ ८॥ ‘By whom has the flesh of your breast been actually torn with the ends of his nails, O tender one? Who is playing with an angry five-hooded serpent?’ (8) > निरीक्षमाणः सहसा वायसं समुदैक्षथाः। > नखैः सरुधिरैस्तीक्ष्णैस्तामेवाभिमुखं स्थितम्॥ ९॥ “Casting your eyes around, you suddenly observed a crow with its sharp talons stained with blood, perched just in front of Sītā. (9) > सुतः किल स शक्रस्य वायसः पततां वरः। > धरान्तरगतः शीघ्रं पवनस्य गतौ समः॥ १०॥ “Indeed, that crow was no other than Jayanta, son of Indra, and was the foremost of birds. Vying as he did with the wind in swift motion, he had his abode in the subterranean regions. (10) > ततस्तस्मिन् महाबाहो कोपसंवर्तितेक्षणः। > वायसे त्वं व्यधाः क्रूरां मतिं मतिमतां वर॥ ११॥ “With your eyes rolling through anger, O mighty-armed prince, you then thought of punishing that crow, O jewel among the wise! (11) > स दर्भसंस्तराद् गृह्य ब्रह्मास्त्रेण न्ययोजयः। > स दीप्त इव कालाग्निर्जज्वालाभिमुखं खगम्॥ १२॥ “Snatching a blade from your bed of the sacred Kuśa grass, you as such charged it with the potency of a mystic missile presided over by Brahmā, the creator. The blade blazed forth like the flaming fire of universal destruction with its end facing the bird. (12) > स त्वं प्रदीप्तं चिक्षेप दर्भं तं वायसं प्रति। > ततस्तु वायसं दीप्तः स दर्भोऽनुजगाम ह॥ १३॥ “You then hurled that blazing blade of the sacred Kuśa grass at the crow. Thereupon that flaming blade of Kuśa grass for its part actually pursued the crow. (13) > भीतैश्च सम्परित्यक्तः सुरैः सर्वैश्च वायसः। > त्रीँल्लोकान् सम्परिक्रम्य त्रातारं नाधिगच्छति॥ १४॥ “The crow, however, was forsaken by all the gods, who were seized with fear of you, and did not find a protector even after ranging all the three worlds (heaven, earth and the intermediate region). (14) > पुनरप्यागतस्तत्र त्वत्सकाशमरिंदम। > त्वं तं निपतितं भूमौ शरण्यः शरणागतम्॥ १५॥ > वधार्हमपि काकुत्स्थ कृपया परिपालयः। > मोघमस्त्रं न शक्यं तु कर्तुमित्येव राघव॥ १६॥ > भवांस्तस्याक्षि काकस्य हिनस्ति स्म स दक्षिणम्। > राम त्वां स नमस्कृत्य राज्ञो दशरथस्य च॥ १७॥ > विसृष्टस्तु तदा काकः प्रतिपेदे स्वमालयम्। > एवमस्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठः सत्त्ववाञ्छीलवानपि॥ १८॥ > किमर्थमस्त्रं रक्षःसु न योजयसि राघव। > न दानवा न गन्धर्वा नासुरा न मरुद्गणाः॥ १९॥ > तव राम रणे शक्तास्तथा प्रतिसमासितुम्। > तव वीर्यवतः कश्चिन्मयि यद्यस्ति सम्भ्रमः॥ २०॥ > क्षिप्रं सुनिशितैर्बाणैर्हन्यतां युधि रावणः। > भ्रातुरादेशमाज्ञाय लक्ष्मणो वा परंतपः॥ २१॥ > स किमर्थं नरवरो न मां रक्षति राघवः। > शक्तौ तौ पुरुषव्याघ्रौ वाय्वग्निसमतेजसौ॥ २२॥ > सुराणामपि दुर्धर्षौ किमर्थं मामुपेक्षतः। > ममैव दुष्कृतं किंचिन्महदस्ति न संशयः॥ २३॥ > समर्थौ सहितौ यन्मां न रक्षेते परंतपौ। > वैदेह्या वचनं श्रुत्वा करुणं साधुभाषितम्॥ २४॥ > पुनरप्यहमार्यां तामिदं वचनमब्रुवम्। > त्वच्छोकविमुखो रामो देवि सत्येन ते शपे॥ २५॥ “The crow at long last sought your presence once more at Citrakūṭa, O tamer of foes ! Fit as you are to afford protection to those seeking it, you for your part afforded shelter in your mercy to the crow, who sought your protection and had fallen flat on the ground, even though he deserved death, O scion of Kakutstha ! You, as such, however, destroyed the right eye of that crow only because it was not possible to render the missile ineffectual, O scion of Raghu ! Having saluted you as well as King Daśaratha (in heaven, who had obviously sent him back to Śrī Rāma to seek his forgiveness), the crow for his part, when spared by you, returned forthwith to his abode. Says Sītā: “ ‘You are in this way the foremost of those skilled in the use of mystic missiles, full of courage and endowed with an amiable disposition. Wherefore then do you not direct your missiles against the ogres, O scion of Raghu? Neither giants nor Gandharvas (celestial musicians) nor demons nor the troops of wind-gods are able to withstand you in combat any more than that crow, O Rāma ! If there exists any regard for me in your mind, powerful as you are, let Rāvaṇa be killed on the field of battle with exceptionally sharp arrows without delay. Or, knowing as he does the behest of his elder brother, why does Lakṣmaṇa, a scion of Raghu, the foremost among men and the scourge of his foes, not come forward to rescue me? Wherefore do those two powerful tigers among men, who vie with the wind-god and the god of fire in energy and are difficult to overcome even for gods, disregard me? No doubt there is some great sin committed by myself due to which Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, the two scourges of their foes, though powerful and living together, fail to protect me.’ Hearing the plaintive and gently-worded invocation of Sītā, I once more addressed the following words to that noble lady : ‘I swear to you by my truthfulness that Śrī Rāma has grown indifferent to everything because of grief born of separation from you, O godlike lady ! (15—25) > रामे दुःखाभिभूते च लक्ष्मणः परितप्यते। > कथंचिद् भवती दृष्टा न कालः परिशोचितुम्॥ २६॥ “ ‘Śrī Rāma being overwhelmed with agony, Lakṣmaṇa too is feeling afflicted. Somehow you have been discovered. Hence this is not the time for you to lament. (26) > अस्मिन् मुहूर्ते दुःखानामन्तं द्रक्ष्यसि भामिनि। > तावुभौ नरशार्दूलौ राजपुत्रौ परंतपौ॥ २७॥ > त्वद्दर्शनकृतोत्साहौ लङ्कां भस्मीकरिष्यतः। > हत्वा च समरे रौद्रं रावणं सहबान्धवम्॥ २८॥ > राघवस्त्वां वरारोहे स्वपुरीं नयिता ध्रुवम्। > यत् तु रामो विजानीयादभिज्ञानमनिन्दिते॥ २९॥ > प्रीतिसंजननं तस्य प्रदातुं तत् त्वमर्हसि। > साभिवीक्ष्य दिशः सर्वा वेण्युद्ग्रथनमुत्तमम्॥ ३०॥ > मुक्त्वा वस्त्राद् ददौ मह्यं मणिमेतं महाबल। > प्रतिगृह्य मणिं दोर्भ्यां तव हेतो रघुप्रिय॥ ३१॥ > शिरसा सम्प्रणम्यैनामहमागमने त्वरे। > गमने च कृतोत्साहमवेक्ष्य वरवर्णिनी॥ ३२॥ > विवर्धमानं च हि मामुवाच जनकात्मजा। > अश्रुपूर्णमुखी दीना बाष्पगद्गदभाषिणी॥ ३३॥ “ ‘You will see the end of your woes during this very hour, O lovely lady ! Striving for your sight, both the aforesaid princes, who are tigers among men and the scourge of their foes, will reduce Laṅkā to ashes. Nay, having made short work on the field of battle of the violent Rāvaṇa with his kinsfolk, Śrī Rāma will surely take you back to his city Ayodhyā, O lady of excellent limbs! You, for your part, ought to make over to me a token which Śrī Rāma may easily recognize and which may fully bring delight to him, O irreproachable lady !’ Surveying all the four quarters and untying from the end of her garment this excellent jewel fit for being strung together with her braid, she handed it over to me, O prince endowed with extraordinary might ! Taking the jewel in my hands for being delivered to you, O prince, beloved of the Raghus, and saluting her most respectfully with my head bent low, I was seized with a hurry to return. Nay, perceiving me eager to depart and, therefore, expanding my body to immense proportions, poor Sītā, daughter of Janaka, of excellent complexion, spoke to me in faltering accents, her throat being choked with sobs and her face bathed in tears. (27—33) > ममोत्पतनसम्भ्रान्ता शोकवेगसमाहता। > मामुवाच ततः सीता सभाग्योऽसि महाकपे॥ ३४॥ > यद् द्रक्ष्यसि महाबाहुं रामं कमललोचनम्। > लक्ष्मणं च महाबाहुं देवरं मे यशस्विनम्॥ ३५॥ “Getting unnerved at the thought of my springing up to cross the ocean and smitten with the vehemence of grief, Sītā then said to me, ‘Fortunate you are, O Hanumān, in that you will be able to see the mighty-armed Śrī Rāma with lotus-like eyes, as also the mighty-armed Lakṣmaṇa, my illustrious brother-in-law.’ (34-35) > सीतयाप्येवमुक्तोऽहमब्रुवं मैथिलीं तथा। > पृष्ठमारोह मे देवि क्षिप्रं जनकनन्दिनि॥ ३६॥ > यावत्ते दर्शयाम्यद्य ससुग्रीवं सलक्ष्मणम्। > राघवं च महाभागे भर्तारमसितेक्षणे॥ ३७॥ “Spoken to as aforesaid, I likewise said to Sītā, a princess of Mithilā, ‘Get on my back quickly, O godlike lady, the delight of Janaka, and continue there till I show you this very day Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, your spouse, accompanied by Sugrīva and Lakṣmaṇa, O highly blessed lady of dark eyes!’ (36-37) > साब्रवीन्मां ततो देवी नैष धर्मो महाकपे। > यत्ते पृष्ठं सिषेवेऽहं स्ववशा हरिपुङ्गव॥ ३८॥ “Thereupon that godlike lady replied to me as follows : ‘It will not be virtuous on my part, O Hanumān, if I get on your back even when I have control over my own self, O bull among monkeys ! (38) > पुरा च यदहं वीर स्पृष्टा गात्रेषु रक्षसा। > तत्राहं किं करिष्यामि कालेनोपनिपीडिता॥ ३९॥ “ ‘Even though I was touched the other day by the ogre Rāvaṇa all over my limbs while being borne away from Janasthāna, O gallant monkey, I could not help it, helpless as I was due to my evil destiny. (39) > गच्छ त्वं कपिशार्दूल यत्र तौ नृपतेः सुतौ। > इत्येवं सा समाभाष्य भूयः संदेष्टुमास्थिता॥ ४०॥ “ ‘Therefore, proceed you, O tiger among monkeys, to where those two princes, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, are.’ Having confidently spoken thus, Sītā proceeded to give the following further message: (40) > हनूमन् सिंहसंकाशौ तावुभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। > सुग्रीवं च सहामात्यं सर्वान् ब्रूया अनामयम्॥ ४१॥ “ ‘Inquire, O Hanumān, on my behalf after the welfare of both the aforesaid lion-like princes, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, as also of Sugrīva including his ministers and all the rest. (41) > यथा च स महाबाहुर्मां तारयति राघवः। > अस्माद्दुःखाम्बुसंरोधात् तत् त्वमाख्यातुमर्हसि॥ ४२॥ “ ‘You ought to deliver my message in such a way that the celebrated Śrī Rāma of mighty arms may deliver me from this ocean of misery. (42) > इदं च तीव्रं मम शोकवेगं > रक्षोभिरेभिः परिभर्त्सनं च। > ब्रूयास्तु रामस्य गतः समीपं > शिवश्च तेऽध्वास्तु हरिप्रवीर॥ ४३॥ “ ‘Seeking the presence of Śrī Rāma, O foremost hero among monkeys, speak to him for your part of the poignant vehemence of my grief as also of my being threatened by these ogres. And may your journey be happy !’ (43) > एतत् तवार्या नृप संयता सा > सीता वचः प्राह विषादपूर्वम्। > एतच्च बुद्ध्वा गदितं यथा त्वं > श्रद्धत्स्व सीतां कुशलां समग्राम्॥ ४४॥ “This is the message which that noble and self-restrained lady, Sītā, gave for you with despondency, O protector of men ! Nay, pondering this statement of mine in its true perspective, believe Sītā, the foremost of all devoted wives, to be well.” (44) 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.