|| om tat sat||

Sundarakanda
Sarga 34

Tattvadipika
"आनंदः नरं एति"

Saying "भार्या रामस्य धीमतः',
Sita gave her introduction.
Saying "ततः त्यक्ष्यामि जीवितं",
Sita elaborated her position.

Hearing those words of Sita,
who is overwhelmed with sadness,
Hanuman spoke words of consolation in his reply.

'Oh Devi! I am Rama's messenger.
I came here in search of you on his orders.
Oh Vaidehi! Rama who is well, is enquiring your about welfare.
The one who knows all Vedas,
who knows Brahma astra and Vedas too,
who is a son of Dasaratha,
that Rama asks about your welfare.
Your husband's follower,
the very mighty Lakshmana immersed in grief,
bowing his head offers salutations to you'.

Then Sita experiencing joy all over her limbs,
hearing the welfare of the two lions among men spoke to Hanuma; 
'The popular adage that,
" the human being who lives hundred years gets happiness",
That adage appears to me as auspicious'.

That adage is as follows.
"एति जीवन्ति मानंदो नरं वर्ष शतादपि"
" the human being who lives hundred years finds happiness"

That is just not an adage.
It is also a spiritual truth.
That is what Appalacharyulu garu says.
The thought is as follows.

Bliss is Brahman.
Jiva separated from Brahman is lost in world of sorrows.
Separated Jiva goes through many cycles of birth and rebirth.
After many such cycles his focus moves towards spirituality.
With spirituality he experiences the Bliss.
That 'Bliss' is Brahman.
Experiencing the bliss is attaining Brahman.
Attaining Brahman is the true completion of life cycle.
Thus, life cycle is not a cycle of birth and death.
The life cycle is complete only when one experiences Brahman.
Thus, the life cycle truly ends with bliss.

Thus, Appalacharyulu garu says
the Jiva separated from Brahman,
reuniting Brahma is the completion of Life cycle.
That is the hundred years of Life cycle.

Thus, the true meaning of the adage,
"achieving happiness if one completes life cycle of Hundred years"
is about man experiencing Brahman, if he is at it.

That life cycle always ends in delight.
That is also why in the Hindu tradition,
the great epics and dramas
which replicate worldly life, always conclude in happiness.

There is another thought says Appalacharyulu garu.
The man did not attain happiness or delight.
"आनंदः नरं एति"
"Bliss envelops the man"
The Jiva or man did not attain the Bhagavan
When the man turns his mind towards spirituality,
becomes obsessed with spiritual matters,
Bhagavan out of love envelops him.
The bliss or experiencing of Brahman happens.

Does everybody experience Brahman?
How does that happen?
After how many years one experiences Brahman?
The answers to all these questions are thus embedded in the adage.
"एति जीवन्ति मानंदो नरं वर्ष शतादपि"

As the meeting of Sita and Hanuma progressed,
wonderful joy was felt.
Hanuma was happy that his search succeeded.
Sita was happy in being able to talk to Rama's messenger.
Both felt confidence in each other and conversed.
Hanuman the best among Vanaras moved near Sita,
who is stricken with grief.
As Hanuman slowly moved towards her,
doubts again spring in Sita's mind.
Sita suspected he might be Ravana.

She said to herself
"Oh! If this is that Ravana who is in disguise,
then I told him what should not have been told".
That lady with flawless limbs,
who is emaciated and in grief,
left the branch of the Ashoka tree held by her,
and squatted down on the ground.

Seeing that lady, daughter of Janaka,
who is immersed in sorrow and filled with fear,
Hanuman prostrated.
Sita was trembling with fear did not even look at him.
Then that moon-faced lady Sita, breathing deeply,
spoke softly to the Vanara who bowed down to her.

'If you are the trickster Ravana himself and entered here in disguise,
then you are again causing grief.
That is not good.
You are the same Ravana I saw in Janasthana,
who giving up his own form, disguised himself as a mendicant.
Oh, Vile night being!
I am already in sorrow,
I am in a pitiable condition, and emaciated due to fasting,
You are again making me sorrowful.
That is not good'.

"Or this may only be my suspicion.
Because after seeing you joy is generated in my mind.
If you are Rama's messenger may all be well with you.
Oh, best of Vanaras! I am asking you tell me the story of Rama.
Oh, Vanara tell my dear Rama's virtues,
Oh, Gentle one! Like the currents in the riverbank, you are luring my mind".

"गुणान् रामस्य कथय" means "Tell me Rama's virtues"
This is an invitation to Hanuma to sing about Rama's virtues.
That is one thing Hanuma does every time he gets chance".

Sita continues with her concerns;

"Oh, the joy of a dream,
I have been seeing the Vanara sent by Raghava in that way only.
If I can see heroic Raghava along with Lakshmana, even in a dream,
I will not be despondent.
Even a dream is inimical to me".

"I do not think this is a dream.
Seeing a Vanara in dream you cannot get happy tidings.
But I am experiencing happiness.
May be this is a delusion of the mind.
This may be mental imbalance.
It may have developed out of madness or change.
This could be a mirage too.
This is not insanity or nor is it delusion, a sign of in insanity.
I am myself recognizing this Vanara".

Thus, Sita in many ways weighs the strength and weakness of her thoughts.
After thinking for a while,
Sita decided that he is indeed the king of Rakshasas.
The Rakshasa, who can take any form.
Then that slender waisted daughter of Janaka,
having entertained these thoughts, did not respond to the Vanara.
Then Hanuman, the son of wind God,
having understood Sita's thoughts,
spoke pleasing words about Rama that brought joy.

Singing about Rama is his joy.

Hanuma starts off saying,
आदित्य इव तेजश्वी लोककान्तः शशी यथा।
राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवो वैश्रवणो यथा॥
This starting point is a high praise.
This is almost like the well-known Stuti
"राजाधिराजाय प्रसह्य साहिने नमो वयंवैश्रवणाय कूर्महे..,"
and it flows.

Hanuman said,
"He is Glorious like the Sun.
Brings delight to the whole world like the Moon.
King of kings like Vaisravana.
Renowned like Vishnu endowed with valour.
Truthful in speech like Brihaspati.
Handsome, graceful, prosperous personification like Kamadeva".

Hanuma continues.

"He shows anger to the right persons and punishes too.
He is foremost among charioteers.
A great self under the shadow of whose shoulders the world takes refuge.
Such Raghava, has been deceived by Ravana.
And from the unprotected Ashrama you were brought.
The result of that deceitful action you will see.
The heroic one will soon kill Ravana in war,
with burning arrows released in great anger.
I am the messenger sent by him standing in your presence.
He has made enquiries about your well-being".

"तेनाहं प्रेषितो दूतः"
"Sent by him I am his messenger."
To reduce Sita's concern Hanuma had to use the power of Rama.
He was a messenger sent by Rama.
He says that.

Hanuma continues.

'Lakshmana, the brilliant long armed one,
the delight of Sumitra,
offering salutations asks about your well-being.
Oh Devi! Rama's friend, Vanara by name Sugriva,
King of Vanaras asks about your well-being'.

'Oh Vaidehi! Rama along with Lakshmana and Sugriva always thinks about you.
Though fallen into the hands of Rakshasis you are alive by our fortune.
You will soon see mighty Rama along with Lakshmana
and Sugriva of unlimited prowess surrounded by crores of Vanaras'.

'I am the minister of Sugriva.
Vanara by name Hanuman.
Crossing the great ocean, I have entered the city of Lanka.
Stepping on the head of the vile Ravana,
using my valour, I have come to see you.
Oh, Devi I am not what you are thinking.
Leave those doubts as I speak to you and trust me'.

Saying "नाहमस्मि तथा देवी",
that he is not that Ravana,
Saying "तेनाहं प्रेषितो.." ,
that he has been sent by Rama as a messenger,
Singing praises of Rama, "आदित्य इव तेजश्वी",
Hanuma tries to assure Sita,
and bring peace to her troubled mind,
which is locked in a whirlpool of doubts.

Thus, ends the thirty fourth Sarga of Sundarakanda in Ramayana.

|| om tat sat||
|| This is what we understood from Tattva Dipika of Shri Bhashyam, Appalacharyulu garu"||
|| om tat sat||