||Sundarakanda ||

|| Sarga 37||(Summary in English)

 

||om tat sat||
सीता तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पूर्णचंद्र निभानना।
हनूमंत मुवाचेदं धर्मार्थसहितं वचः॥1||
स॥ सीता पूर्णचंद्र निभानना धर्मार्थसहितं तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा हनुमंतं इदं वचः उवाच॥
Sita who has a face like that of the moon, having heard the words full of righteousness, spoke as follows.

||om tat sat||

Sundarakanda
Sarga 37

Sita who has a face like that of the moon, having heard the words full of righteousness, spoke as follows.

'Oh Vanara, the words you said that Rama is not thinking of any other thing and that he is immersed in sorrow, are like nectar mixed with poison. Death will snatch a man with a rope whether he is in great fortune or drowning in adversity. Oh best of Vanaras, surely it is not possible to overcome fate. See how Rama, Lakshmana and myself are afflicted by sorrows'.

'Raghava suffered like the one getting drowned in a ship wreck. When will he reach the shore of the ocean of grief? When will he kill these Rakshasas, Ravana, and uproot Lanka? When will he see me?'

'There is a time limit of one year. Before it is completed you must inform him. I am alive till that time only. Oh Vanara in the time limit set by the wicked Ravana, this is the tenth month. Only two months are remaining. Brother Vibhishana made efforts to advise my restoration. Such thought has not been agreed to. Ravana does not like to return me. Having fallen into the trap of time, Ravana is in search of death in a war. Oh Vanara, the eldest daughter of Vibhishana by name Nala sent by her mother told this to me'.

'Oh best of Vanaras, my husband will reach this place soon no doubt about that. My conscience tells me of Rama's many virtues. Oh Vanara, Raghava is endowed with perseverance, manliness, prowess, kindness, gratitude, competence, and power. Who is the enemy that will not tremble before the one who on his own, without his brother, killed fourteen thousand Rakshasas in Janasthana. Oh bull among men! He will not be shaken by sorrow. Like Puloma daughter of Indra I know his powers. Oh Vanara, valiant Rama will dry up the sea of enemy forces with his volleys of dazzling arrows, like the Sun will dry up the sea'.

While she was speaking freely about Rama, tormented by sorrow her eyes filled with tears. Then Vanara spoke to her.

'Raghava, on hearing my words will soon come here leading a huge army of Vanaras and bears. Oh beautiful lady, today itself I will redeem you from your grief. Oh Blameless lady you climb on my back. Keeping you on my back I will cross the ocean. I have the power to lift the whole of Lanka along with Ravana. Maithili, like the sacred fire carries the oblation to Indra, I will carry you to the one on the Prasravana mountain today. Vaidehi, you will see Rama together with Lakshmana making all out efforts in killing Rakshasas like Vishnu killed Daityas. Rama staying in the ashram will be enthused in seeing you like the Indra seated on the king of elephants. Oh divine lady, climb on my back, do not be reluctant. Like Moon joining Rohini, you can unite with Rama. Climbing on my back you can cross the sky and ocean conversing with Moon and the flaming Sun. Oh beautiful lady, it is not possible for any of the inhabitants of Lanka to speedily follow me while I carry you from this place. Vaidehi, just as I reached here, similarly taking you on my back I will go across the sky. I have no doubt'.

Maithili, hearing those wonderful words of the best of Vanaras, was delighted experiencing joy and said the following. 'Hanuman, how do you intend to carry me to such a distant place? This is truly your monkey nature. Oh bull among Vanaras, with your small body how will you take me to the lord of men and my husband?'

The illustrious Hanuman, son of wind god hearing those words of Sita saw a new insult hurled at him. The black eyed lady is not aware of my powers. Therefore let Vaidehi see the form I can assume of my free will. Thinking thus Hanuman, the best of fliers and crusher of enemies started showing his real form to Vaidehi.

The wise bull among Vanaras, getting down from the tree started growing in size to increase the confidence of Sita. The best of Vanaras glowing like a blazing fire appeared like mount Meru or Mandara. Then he stood in front of Sita. Resembling a mountain in size, with red face, powerful, with teeth and nails strong like diamonds, looking fearsome spoke to Vaidehi.

'I have the power to carry whole of Lanka filled with mountains and gardens, forts ramparts and gateways along with its king. Oh divine lady, enough of unworthy doubts. Be stable with your intellect. Oh Vaidehi, rid Rama and Lakshmana of their sorrow'.

The wide eyed lady, with eyes like lotus petals, the daughter of Janaka, seeing the fearsome form of the son of wind god spoke as follows.

'Oh great Vanara, I have understood your power and strength. The speed like that of wind, the brilliance like that of the fire is astonishing and splendid. Oh best of Vanaras, how can an ordinary person be capable of reaching this shore of the immeasurable ocean. I know that you have the power to carry me on the journey. After planning carefully the great people will surely achieve success. Oh sinless one, best of Vanaras, It is not proper for me to come with you. Your speed like that of the wind will render me unconscious. When you go over the sea speedily, out of fear I may fall off from your back. Falling in to the sea filled with crocodiles I will be helpless and immediately be good for the aquatic animals'.

'Oh destroyer of foes, it is not possible for me to go with you. When you are burdened with a woman doubtlessly you will have a concern too. Seeing me while being carried away, the fearsome Rakshasas ordered by the evil Ravana will follow you. Oh hero, being surrounded by those warriors and carrying me, you too will have a concern. In the sky there will be many armed Rakshasas, and you will be without weapons. How can you fight and protect me too? Oh best of Vanaras, while you are battling those who do wicked deeds, out of fear I may fall off your back. Oh best of Vanaras, the fearsome massive powerful Rakshasa may somehow win over you in the fight'.

'Or else while you are engaged in the fight when you turn your attention away I may fall down. While I fall down the sinful Rakshasas may take me away. From your hands they may take me away or cut me to pieces. The success or defeat in a war is seen as uncertain. Oh best of Vanaras, in case I am caught by Rakshasas and intimidated and die, then all your effort would be waste too'.

'You may be able to kill all the Rakshasas. But by that act of your killing Rakshasas Rama's fame will be diminished. Or else the Rakshasas having brought me back will conceal me in a place which neither Raghava nor you will know. So for my sake the effort you started will be a waste. Rama coming along with you will be great. Oh powerful one, the survival of Rama, his brothers, your kings relatives and yourself is dependent on my survival. Both of them immersed in sorrow, and with hopes lost, and all the Vanaras too will give up their lives'.

'Oh best of Vanaras, devoted to my husband I cannot touch the body of any other person. I had body contact with Ravana when I was forcefully brought, as I had no control on myself. Without my husband what can I do. If Rama along with his relations kills Ravana along with all his relations here and takes me from here that will be proper'.

'I have heard and seen the valor of the great one who is a crusher of enemies in the war. There is no one equal to Ram in Devas, Gandharvas, Bhujangas, and Rakshasas. The wielder of powerful bow, endowed with great strength, is equal to Vasava in strength. He is like a blazing fire whipped by wind. Who can withstand the power of Rama along with Lakshmana. Oh chief of Vanaras, who can withstand Rama along with Lakshmana, who are steady like the intoxicated elephants supporting the quarters , whose rays of arrows resemble the rays of the Sun at the time of deluge .

'Oh best of Vanaras, bring him along with Lakshmana and the army of Vanaras here quickly. Oh chief of Vanaras, delight me who is immersed in sorrow thinking of Rama'.
Thus ends Sarga thirty seven of Sundarakanda in Ramayana the first ever poem composed in Sanskrit by the first poet Sage Valmiki

||om tat sat||
स मे हरिश्रेष्ठ स लक्ष्मणं पतिं सयूथपं क्षिप्र मिहोपपादय।
चिराय रामं प्रति शोककर्शिताम् कुरुष्व मां वानरमुख्य हर्षितां॥66||
स॥ हरिश्रेष्ठ सः सलक्ष्मणं सयूथपं पतिं क्षिप्रं इह उपपादय । वानरमुख्य रामं प्रति चिराय शोककर्शितां मां हर्षितां कुरुष्व॥
'Oh best of Vanaras, bring him along with Lakshmana and the army of Vanaras here quickly. Oh chief of Vanaras, delight me who is immersed in sorrow thinking of Rama'.
||om tat sat||

Corrected 30/10/20