|| om tat sat||
Sundarakanda
Sarga 5
Tattvadipika.
"रराज चन्द्रो भगवान् शशाङ्कः".

Sarga five has the most lyrical slokas.
With the full moon shining the poet was eloquent in his descriptions.
The Sarga is about Hanuman's continued search for Sita in Lanka .

In that city of Lanka,
Hanuman saw Rakshasas full of riches.
He saw Rakshasas who are intoxicated.
He saw Rakshasas who are bantering with each other.
Similarly Hanuman saw women who were sleeping with their husbands.
He saw happy women, angry women, women with pretty faces.
He saw women who are waiting for their loved ones, and so on .
But he did not find pious Sita longing for her husband.
He was unable to see her though he was searching for a long time.
Then Hanuman for a moment felt dejected.

That is the summary of Sarga 5.

Sundarakanda started with,
"ततो रावण नीतायाः सीतायाः शतृकर्षणः".
That is a search for Sita separated from Rama.
We also heard that it is also a search for "Self or Jivatma".
That "Self" to be united for with "Paramatman".
That is the continuing story of Sundarakanda in play.

From the point of view of searching for "Self",there are a few points to be noted in this Sarga.

At the end of second Sarga, poet says
"चन्द्रोऽपि साचिव्य मिवास्य कुर्वन्".
That Moon was shining as though he was aiding in Hanuman's search for Sita.
In this Sarga that Moon has been described in many wonderful lines of beautiful poetry.

Describing Moon ,
Valmiki refers to him as " Bhagavan Shashanka".
"रराज चन्द्रो भगवान् शशाङ्कः".
In another sloka Valmiki refers to the night as Bhagavan Pradoshaha."
"स्वर्गप्रकाशो भगवान् प्रदोषः"
The moon who was spreading his rays brightening everything,
who was thus aiding the search for Sita is indeed a "Bhagavan".
Because he was helping the cause.
The knowledge that helps in understanding "Self" and
the knowledge that helps in realizing "Self" is auspicious.
The knowledge that directs you towards the normal pursuits,
the knowledge that pushes towards actions in search of fruits,
that knowledge is inauspicious.

Here the Moon aiding the search of Sita is "Bhagavan"
Similarly the night that comes in aid of the search for Sita is " Bhagavan"
That night, as well as that life, that comes in aid of the search for Sita, is indeed a form of Bhagavan"

That night is auspicious.
Indeed when one is in pursuit of a task,
all those that aid him are like the Supreme being himself who is making it happen.
Valmiki by calling Moon and the night "Bhagavan" makes that point abundantly clear.

Another point to be noted is that Sundarakanda has three parts
- Search
- Darsanam
- Destroying the enemies

Hanuma searches for Sita, has her Darshan, and kills the Rakshasas tormenting her.
Let us continue the analogy of the search,
The Jiva also searches for Atman.
Realizes Atman,.
And destroys the sins that block the path for realization of Atman.

Upanishads say in one word,-
" सो अन्वेष्टव्यः" -
meaning "सः अन्वेष्टव्यः" -
meaning that " he is fit for enquiry".

Who is fit for enquiry?
That bhagavan is a fit subject for enquiry
It means that search for the Supreme being is indeed an eminent subject.

So is the case for search of "Atman"

In this search for Sita,
Valmiki describes Hanuman as looking at Rakshasa women.
Hanuma was looking at their faces , their eyes and the jewels they are wearing so on.
Searching for Sita he has no option but look at the ladies.
Poet seems intent on making us ask what is in a face?

Those who are bound for self realization or
bound for realization of the God will have peace reigning on their faces and in their eyes.
When that peace is reigning in their faces, then their grasping power increases.
When that grasping power increases the realization of Self is on the horizon.
When one truly seeks Bhagavan, there is a spark in the eyes like a blooming flower.

The spark in the eye is an indicator of knowledge.
When the knowledge is that of Supreme being,
the eye adds undefinable piece of beauty to the face.

The two attributes equanimity and restraint are like jewels to the body.

The Seeker should have the three attributes.
Peace reigning in their faces.
The knowledge of Bhagavan reflected in their eyes,
The attributes of equanimity and restraint.
One with these three attributes is accepted by the gurus as a seeker.

One more thing.
In the last line of the Sarga we hear
"बभूव दुःखाभिहतश्चिरस्य"
that Hanuman is hit by grief and
was for a moment slowed down in his search of Sita.
Hanuma saw many beautiful ones.
His mind was enamoured.
But realizing that he is unable to Sita made him feel dejected.

In the search for "Self" too one would have many wonderful experiences.

But the one in search of self realization is never stopped or diverted by such wonderful experiences.
They continue their search for "Self"
Instead of delighting at the sight of other women or other wonderful sights ,
one would become more sorry that they did not succeed in their search for "Self" and would be dejected.

Hanuman's dejection is a similar one.

||om tat sat||
||This is what we understood from Shri Bhashyam Appalaacharyulu garu's Tattvadipika ||
|| om tat sat||