Valmiki Ramayana - November 24

November 24 - Sarga 68 of Sundara Kanda. Sundara Kanda concludes 🙏 

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I missed mentioning in yesterday's blogpost that Hanuman narrates this:

"Sri Rama, Devi Sita spoke, in a plaintive voice, "Oh Hanuman, how blessed are you to be able to fly back and be with Sri Rama and Lakshmana so quickly!" "

Then I said to her:

पृष्टमारोह मे देवि क्षिप्रं जनकनन्दिनि     ॥

यावत्ते दर्शयाम्यद्य ससुग्रीवं सलक्ष्मणम्  ।

राघवं च महाभागे भर्तारमसिताक्षणे       ॥

"Oh Devi Sita, just now, please climb onto my back. Quick! I shall indeed take you into the presence of Sri Rama at once, sitting in the company of King Sugriva and Lakshmana! You will be with your husband, oh lady with the beautiful dove-dark eyes!"

 "Oh Sri Rama, to this the Devi replied thus: "Oh great vanara! This is not Dharmic. I shall not of my own accord touch your back or climb on it. Earlier, when I was lifted away by Ravana forcibly, I was helpless and did not touch him of my own accord. Please go at once to the brothers, valiant princes Sri Rama and Lakshmana, and give them my plaintive message to come at once and rescue me."

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Hanuman concludes his narration of Devi Sita's message:

"Sri Rama, having gained much affection and confidence in me as your emissary, Devi Sita repeated her request to be conveyed-

एवं बहुविधं वाच्यो रामो दाशरथिस्त्वया ।

यथा मां प्राप्प्नुयाच्छीघ्रं हत्वा रावणमाहवे ॥

"Please convey in multiple ways to Dasharathi Sri Rama my words. Whatever it takes, please let him do to come here and get me out of here after slaying Ravana in battle."

Hanuman narrates how Devi Sita was loath to let him leave for Kishkindha, fearing that she will be plunged into gloom and untoward events may prevent her from staying alive to see him again, let alone have the reunion with Sri Rama.  

Again, Sita raised a very pertinent doubt. 

"Hanuman, you are equal to the Wind-god and so could cross over the ocean. But verily, only the Wind-god or Garuda or you can accomplish this incredible feat of flying here over the ocean. How indeed will the brothers Sri Rama and Lakshmana make it here? How will the other vanaras under Sugriva come here for the battle? No doubt you alone are sufficient to slay all these rakshasas and take me back, but that will not adduce to Sri Rama's repute and honour."

"One more thing, Hanuman! Sri Rama should not come and steal me away from here the way that despicable Ravana abducted me in the forest in Sri Rama's absence."

बलैस्तु सङ्कुलां कृत्वा लङ्कां परबलार्दनः     ।

मां नयेद्यदि काकुत्स्थस्तत्तस्य सदृशं भवेत्  ॥ 

"If the destroyer of enemies, Sri Rama, comes here and fills Lanka with his mighty army, and then rescues me and takes me back, then it will be fitting for the reputation of the Kakutstha Sri Rama."

"Oh Hanuman, find a way to make this happen."

Hanuman responded to Devi Sita:

"Oh Queen Sita, know that the lord of all vanaras and bears, King Sugriva, has taken an oath for the mission of recovering you. He is one of immense strength. Mighty vanaras who are tough and travel at the speed of thought are under his command. They can traverse up, down, sideways into skies and the netherworld without hindrance. They can accomplish any task without difficulty. They have gone around the world many times."

मद्विशिष्टाश्च तुल्याश्च सन्ति तत्र वनौकसः  ।

मत्तः प्रत्यवरः कश्चिन्नास्ति सुग्रीवसन्निधौ  ॥

अहं तावदिह प्राप्तः किं पुनस्ते महाबलाः   ।

नहि प्रकृष्टाः प्रेष्यन्ते प्रेष्यन्ते हीतरे जनाः    ॥

मम पृष्टगतौ तौ च चन्द्रसूर्याविवोदितौ     ।

त्वत्सकाशं महाभागे नृसिंहावागमिष्यतः   ॥

"Oh Devi Sita, please be confident that there are many vanaras better than me and my equals too. There is verily no one inferior to me in King Sugriva's army.

"The fact that I was able to come over here should remove any doubt about the other vanara heroes. Indeed, the best ones are never sent on a mission like this, it is always someone else.

"Riding on my back, the two great heroes, leonine in their valour, Sri Rama and Lakshmana, will rise like the sun and the moon, will soon arrive in your presence, oh great lady!"

"Oh Devi Sita, you shall see soon Sri Rama crowned as the King in Ayodhya, with you by his side."

Hanuman concludes his narration, "Oh Sri Rama, Devi Sita, who is as much distressed as you are,  was relieved and at ease after hearing my words."

Thus ends the Beautiful Chapter of Sundara Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana.

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॥        श्रीरामजयम्        ॥