|| om tat sat||

Sundarakanda
Sarga 39

Tattvadipika
'त्वं अस्मिन् कार्य निर्योगे प्रमाणं"

The Sarga starts with ...
'मणिं दत्त्वा ततः सीता हनूमन्तमथाब्रवीत्।' (39.1)
'Having given the "Chudamani', Sita then spoke to Hanuman.

Having given the jewel,
Sita explains its importance.
'This ornament is known to Rama very well.
Seeing the jewel, Rama will remember the three
namely his mother, myself and the King Dasaratha'.

Ever focused on the further course of action,
Sita continues her thoughts on further actions.
Sita moves on saying,
'अस्मिन् कार्य समारम्भे प्रचिन्तय यदुत्तरम्'. (39.3)
'in beginning this work, think of what is appropriate'.
Sita asks Hanuma to do what is necessary.
Sita does not stop there.
She says,

'त्वं अस्मिन् कार्य निर्योगे प्रमाणं हरिसत्तम |'
'हनुमन् यत्न मास्थाय दुःखक्षयकरो भव'||
'For this work to be done, you are the one, Oh best of Vanaras '.
'making all the efforts become the reducer of sorrow.'

The statement of Sita, that for this to be done,
'you are the authority or the principal one', is a remarkably high praise.
'प्रमाणं' means measure, proof, authority etc.,

Sita is telling Hanuma.
'You think of all actions necessary',
including all actions to be done by Rama.
Actions necessary for destroying her sorrow!
She tells Hanuma to be the one to destroy her sorrow.
The belief in Hanuma is total.
She is not asking him to go back and simply inform Rama.
She is asking Hanuma to take the initiative,
She is virtually asking Hanuma to lead Rama towards the actions.
She says this again and again.

The Sloka,
'त्वं अस्मिन् कार्य निर्योगे प्रमाणं हरिसत्तम
हनुमन् यत्न मास्थाय दुःखक्षयकरो भव',
spoken by Sita, is a Mantra.

When we sing the Sloka,
it is as though we are saying this to Hanuma.
'Oh, best of Vanaras, you are the best one for this to be done.
please do everything and become the reducer of sorrow for us.

It is said that we should recite this prayer to Hanuma,
It is a plea to Hanuma to rescue or destroy our sorrows.

Hearing those words,
saying 'तथेति', and vowing to take necessary action,
Hanuma bows his head and gets ready to return.

But Sita is not done.
Having understood "ज्ञात्वा", that he is ready to go,
Sita speaks again.

' Hanuman! Communicate my welfare to Rama and Lakshmana,
as also Sugriva along with all his ministers and other Vanaras.
Oh, best of Vanaras convey this in a righteous manner.
You may tell Rama in a way that he can help me cross the ocean of sorrow and save me'.

'Oh Hanuman! tell in a way that
the famed Rama will save me when I am alive,
then you will acquire fame'.

'The words spoken by you with excitement,
Dasarathi's manliness will be increased hearing those words.
Oh Vira! hearing the words of my message from you,
Rama will surely make the valiant efforts.

These words of Sita leave no doubts.
There is no doubt about the capability of Hanuma.
She says,
यथा स च महाबाहुः मां तारयति राघव।
अस्मात् दुःखाम्बुसंरोधात् त्वं समाधातुमर्हसि॥'
'From this sea of sorrow, how Raghava may save me - that you can put together'.
Words of Sita leave no doubts about her expectations from Hanuma.
She adds more.
"तत् तथा हनुमन् वाच्यं वाचा "
Sita tells Hanuma, say those words in a way that 'make Rama save me' etc.

Sita goes on.
Hanuma is to speak in way that Rama's pride is roused.
'वर्धिष्यते दाशरथेः पौरुषं'
Sita is putting her trust in Hanuma to do everything.
She is using words like "दाशरथेः पौरुषं",
as though the pride needs to be roused.

Hanuman's answers are steady.
Hanuman responds again, bowing his head.
He tells Sita that Rama will come and rescue her.

Hanuma says as follows:
'The Kakutstha, surrounded by the best of Vanaras and bears, will come here soon.
Defeating the enemies in the war he will relieve you of your sorrows.
I do not see any one among the humans, Asuras and Devas
who can face arrows of Rama.
In the war for your sake,
he can defeat even the Sun, rain god, Vaivasvata or Yama.
He deserves to rule the whole earth like a king.
Oh Janaki! Rama's victory is for your benefit only.'

Janaki hearing those truthful, proper and good words about Rama speaks again.
She tells Hanuma to rest for a day at a safe place and then leave.
She tells him that her life will be in danger till he comes back.
Having said this Sita's mind again goes back to actions required'.

She had a doubt.
'अयं च वीर सन्देहः
तिष्ठतीति ममाग्रतः '
'Oh, Vira a great doubt dwells in my mind.'
What is that doubt?
'Only three have the capability to cross this ocean
namely you, Vainateya or the wind god'.
So how will all other Vanaras and bears along with Rama and Lakshmana cross the ocean.
What is the plan of action so all of them may cross the ocean?

First, she knows that this can be accomplished by Hanuma alone.
But then all the fame of bringing back Sita goes to Hanuma.
This is not the course of action she wanted.
She wanted Hanuma to see that Rama comes to Lanka,
then defeat Ravana and take her back.
Now, the doubt is about how will all of them cross the ocean.
That was on her mind.

She pours out her doubts and her wishes, again.

' Oh hero! In order to achieve this very difficult task,
what means do you see?
You are the best among those who are capable.
Oh, slayer of enemies! Only you can accomplish this task.
The fruit of this accomplishment is yours.
In this war if Rama emerges victorious winning over Ravana
and takes me home, that is worthy of him.
The slayer of enemies, Kakutstha,
if he fills the entire Lanka with his arrows and saves me
then that will be worthy of him.
You propose a way of achieving that victory
which is worthy of the great self, the hero of the war'.

We can hear Sita loud and clear.
Sita's plea in simple words
'Oh, Vira you know the actions required to be done by Rama.
Oh, Hanuma you get them done by Rama'

Hanuma is up to the task in clearing Sita's doubts

'Devi, the lord of the army of Vanaras,
the foremost among the Vanaras,
Sugriva is determined to accomplish the task for your sake.
Oh Vaidehi! Sugriva along with thousands of crores of Vanaras will reach Lanka.
They will destroy all the Rakshasas'.

Sita's question was on the others in Sugriva's army.
Hanuma answers that too.

'Powerful virtuous mighty Vanaras,
who can leap with speed of mind, are at his command.
Their movement cannot be impeded upwards, downwards or horizontally.
Being brilliant they do not fail in any given task'.

'Very enthusiastic following the aerial path,
they repeatedly go around the earth with all its oceans.
In the Sugriva's court, there are Vanaras
who are better than me and equal to me.
There is none who is inferior to me.
I have reached this place,
so, the other more powerful ones too will.
Oh Devi! The best ones are not sent out for these tasks
only the other ordinary ones will be sent.'

That was a humble Hanuma speaking.

In the very beginning of the conversation with Sita (Sarga 35),
Hanuma's goal was to increase Sita's confidence.
He recounts Rama's capabilities, not unknown to Sita.
He recounts the friendship of Sugriva and Rama.
He also tells Sita that he leaped across the hundred Yojana wide ocean.
Finally, he tells his own antecedents, thus his own capabilities.
He describes himself as
'वायुदेव प्रभवो समः'। (Sarga 35)
'Equal in strength to Vayu'.

But now he is trying to remove doubts of Sita on other in the army.

He says, in Sugriva's army,
'मत्तः प्रत्यवरः नास्ति'।
There is none in Sugriva's court who is inferior to him.
He places himself as one of the humble soldiers of Sugriva!
'Oh Devi! The best ones are not sent out for such tasks
only the other ordinary ones will be sent.'

He, Hanuma the ordinary one, could reach Lanka.
So why worry about others!
So, all doubts are squashed!

Hanuma continues.

'Oh Devi! Enough of this sorrow.
Give up your sorrow.
The Vanara army will reach Lanka in one jump.
Both the great men, who are like lion among men,
sitting on my back, looking like the Sun and the moon, will come to your presence.
Then Rama and Lakshmana, the two heroes and the best among men
will destroy city of Lanka with their arrows'.
'The scion of Raghu,
Raghava having killed Ravana along with his tribe,
will return with you to his city.
That you be rest assured.
Let auspicious things happen.
You may count your time.
You will soon see Rama burning like fire.
With the lord of Rakshasas killed along with his sons and relatives,
you will reunite with Rama,
like Rohini uniting with Moon'.
'Oh Devi! You will soon go to the other shore of sorrow.
Soon you will see Ravana killed by Rama'.

Having assured her and getting ready to go,
Hanuma speaks again.

'Very soon you would see the accomplished slayer of foes,
the accomplished wielder of bow,
Rama along with Lakshmana at the door of Lanka'.

'You will soon see heroes,
who use teeth and nails as their weapons,
who resemble tigers and lions in valor,
who also resemble well-bred elephants'.

'Oh, noble lady you will see roaring Vanara chiefs
who resemble the clouds roaring and hovering over the mountain peaks around Lanka'.

' Rama is tormented by the dreadful arrows of god of love
which pierced into vitals like an elephant hit by lion.
He has no happiness in life.
Oh Devi! Do not weep in sorrow.
Let your mind be not unpleasant.
You have a great husband, just as Sachi has her Lord in Indra.
Who is superior to Rama?
Who is equal to Lakshmana?
Both the brothers are like fire and wind.
They are your refuge'.

'Noble lady you will not stay any longer in this dreadful place
which is a stronghold of Rakshasas.
Your beloved is coming very soon.
For this period bear with me'.

Hanuma asks,
'रामात् विशिष्ठः कोऽन्योऽस्ति
कश्चित् सौमित्रिणासमः।'
'Who is better than Rama?
Who is an equal of Lakshmana?'
Sita too knows that.

With these special words of assurance.
Asking her to bear till he goes and conveys the message to Rama,
Hanuma tells Sita again, that Rama will come as soon as he tells him.
By saying all this, Hanuma creates an aura of assurance,
and he provides a moment of peace,
for that sorrowing Sita.

That is also the mystic of Sundarakanda.
Peace for a mind beset with many problems.
That peace is also provided to readers of Sundarakanda too.

Hanuma recounts this moment later in the last Sloka of Sundarakanda,
'जगाम शांतिं मममैथिलात्मज',
'provided peace to Sita, sorrowing in separation'.

Thus, the Sarga 39 comes to an end.

|| om tat sat||
That is what we understood from the Tattvadipika of Sribhashyam Appalacharyulu garu.
||om tat sat||