November 22 - sargas 64 and 65 of Sundara Kanda.
The vanaras, as instructed, return to submit their mission report to Sugriva, Sri Rama, and Lakshmana.
Hanuman informs Sri Rama that he has met Sita. Sri Rama asks him about Sita's condition and her thoughts and feelings. Hanuman begins to reply.
***
Dadhimukha returns to Madhuvana and first apologizes to Angada, saying that Dadhimukha should be excused for trying to prevent him and the army from enjoying themselves when Angada as the Prince Regent has as much access to Madhuvana as Sugriva and Vali before. He also conveys that King Sugriva has asked Angada and the army to report at once to him.
Angada is delighted to hear this. However, instead of ordering the army to move, he requests the senior vanaras to advise what should be done now.
The senior vanaras are delighted to see the young prince place discretion and deference above authority which he can exercise. They reply that his humility is appreciable and he has not allowed riches or power to turn his head.
तव चेदं सुसदृशं वाक्यं नान्यस्य कस्यचित् ।
सन्नतिर्हि तवाख्याति भविष्यच्छुभयोग्यताम् ॥
"Oh Prince, these words are becoming of you and only you would have exhibited such humility in this situation. It foretells a bright future for you as the king of vanaras."
Since everyone has completely recovered from their excesses of drinking and eating, all are sober and equally happy to return immediately.
Valmiki says that the vanaras again take the aerial route and land very soon in front of King Sugriva.
Sugriva is repeating his assurance to the grief-stricken Sri Rama that all the celebration by vanaras means only one thing - that the supremely capable and intelligent and resourceful Hanuman has successfully met Sita.
Sugriva also counsels Sri Rama not to allow himself to be despondent and recover his spirit quickly for the forthcoming action.
हनूमांश्च माहाबाहुः प्रणम्य शिरसा ततः ।
नियतां अक्षतां देवीं राघवाय न्यवेदयत् ॥
दृष्टा देवीति हनुमद्वदनादमृतोपमम् ।
आकर्ण्य वचनं रामो हर्षमाप सलक्ष्मणः ॥
"Then Hanuman, the mighty-armed one, bowed down reverentially and informed Sri Rama that Devi Sita is keeping herself physically well (which means only that she is still alive). When Hanuman said, "Devi Sita has been seen!", those nectarine words were received with great joy by Sri Rama, along with Lakshmana."
निश्चितार्थं ततस्तस्मिन् सुग्रीवं पवनात्मजे ।
लक्ष्मणः प्रीतिमान् प्रीतं बहुमानादवैक्षत ॥
प्रीत्या च परयोपेतो राघवः परवीरहा ।
बहुमानेन महता हनूमन्तमवैक्षत ॥
"Hearing that Hanuman had succeeded in the mission assigned to him by King Sugriva, a delighted Lakshmana gazed at Hanuman with all respect. Sri Rama, the victor over all enemies, was also supremely delighted and looked at Hanuman with much respect and appreciation of the magnitude of his achievement."
***
On the Prasravana mountain, all the vanaras started to speak simultaneously to Sri Rama, saying how Sita had been located in captivity in Ravana's Ashoka garden, surrounded by cruel rakshasis, and how she was pining for Sri Rama, and the time limit set by Ravana for her.
Sri Rama asked,
क्व सीता वर्तते देवी कथं च मयि वर्तते ।
एतन्मे सर्वमाख्यात वैदेहीं प्रति वानराः ॥
"Oh vanaras, what is the present condition of Devi Sita? How is she disposed towards me? Please tell me everything about Sita."
The vanaras at once turned to Hanuman, asking him to take over and report in detail.
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तेषां हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ।
प्रणम्य शिरसा देव्यै सीतायै तां दिशां प्रति ॥
उवाच वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञः सीताया दर्शनं यथा ।
तं मणिं काञ्चनं दिव्यं दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा ॥
दत्वा रामाय हनुमांस्ततः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत् ।
समुद्रं लङ्घयित्वाहं शतयोजनमायतम् ॥
अगच्छं जानकीं सीतां मार्गमाणो दिदृक्षया ।
तत्र लङ्केति नगरी रावणस्य दुरात्मनः ॥
दक्षिणस्य समुद्रस्य तीरे वसति दक्षिणे ।
तत्र सीता मया दृष्टा रावणान्तःपुरे सती ॥
त्वयि संन्यस्य जीवन्ती रामा राम मनोरथम् ।
दृष्टा मे राक्षसीमध्ये तर्ज्यमाना मुहुर्मुहुः ॥
एकवेणीधरा दीना त्वयि चिन्तापरायणा ।
अधःशय्या विवर्णाङ्गी पद्मिनीव हिमागमे ॥
रावणाद् विनिवृत्तार्था मर्तव्यकृतनिश्चया ।
देवी कथञ्चित् काकुत्स्थ त्वन्मना मार्गिता मया ॥
"Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, heard everyone asking him to narrate the details. He bowed down his head to Devi Sita, turning in her direction (ie. towards Lanka), and began.
"After handing over to Sri Rama reverentially that self-luminous gold and gem ornament Choodamani that Devi Sita had sent to Sri Rama through him, Hanuman, an expert in the choice of words, spoke thus about his meeting with Sita:
"Oh Sri Rama, after leaping across the one-hundred yojana-wide ocean, I went in search of Devi Sita. I then saw there the city of Lanka. It is ruled by that evil Ravana. It lies to the south of the southern ocean. There I saw Sita, held in Ravana's inner quarters.
"Devi Sita, a most wonderful lady, is able to stay alive by placing completely her mind and soul in you. I saw her surrounded by cruel raksasis who constantly torment her.
"With her hair done in a single plait (a sign of woe for a queen), looking miserable, Sita is constantly thinking of you, Sri Rama. She sleeps on the bare ground, and looks quite pale. She looks like a lotus blighted in winter.
"When I met her, she had been given an ultimatum by Ravana. Not one to accede to his remands, Sita had decided to kill herself. I somehow managed to keep her hopeful of her liberation by you and hence she is willing to stay alive."
Hanuman narrates how he won Sita's confidence a little by little after starting a recitation of the glory of the Ikshwaku dynasty. When Sita decided to talk to him, Hanuman told her everything about the alliance between Sri Rama and King Sugriva.
एवं मया महाभागा दृष्टा जनकनन्दिनी । उग्रेण तपसा युक्ता त्वद्भक्त्या पुरुषर्षभ ॥
"Thus, Oh, Sri Rama, was seen the glorious daughter of King Janaka! She has been doing severe penance, totally dedicated in her devotion to you, oh supreme one among all men!"
Hanuman goes on to state how, when he gave Sita Sri Rama's signet ring, she, in turn, told him of the episode of Kakasura in Chitrakuta. And also of the episode when Sri Rama had picked up a lump of coloured earth and lovingly restored on her forehead her tilaka which had come off. She gave Hanuman the Choodamani, saying this would bring many memories to Sri Rama. She had carefully preserved it just to be given to her beloved Sri Rama. She used to gaze at it secretly and have memories of Sri Rama come flooding to her.
***
Sita has sent a clear message to Sri Rama: " I shall not live for more than a month. Please, Sri Rama, come before that deadline and save me." Hanuman concludes that Sri Rama should forthwith make plans to cross over to Lanka.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
