|| om tat sat||

Sundarakanda
Sarga 59

Tattvadipika
"तत्सर्वं उपपद्यताम्"

Sundarakanda
Sarga 59

Tattvadipika
"तत्सर्वं उपपद्यताम्"

The fifty eighth Sarga ended with the line.
"अत्र यन् अकृतं शेषं तत्सर्वं क्रियताम् इति"
"whatever is left to be done, that is to be completed"

This Sarga starts with the line,
एतदाख्याय तत् सर्वं हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः।
भूयः परिचक्राम वचनं वक्तुमुत्तरम्॥

"एतदाख्याय तत् सर्वं"(59.1),
means "having told all that".
All that is about what happened in Lanka.
That also included the concluding prayer
to decide about actions left to be accomplished.

Having told all that,
"भूयः" means again
"समुपचक्राम"
means "starts to tell" again.

That means apparently there is something more,
Hanuma wants to say that now.

He says
"स फलो राघवोद्योगः" (59.2)
Rama's purpose has been fulfilled.
But there is something more.

Hanuma says "शीलमासाद्य सीतायाः"
observing Sita's devotion to Rama,
"मम च प्रवणं मनः"
"my mind is filled with her"
Filled with what?
Filled with devotion!

The search for Sita, is part of an agreement.
Rama delivered Vanaras their kingdom.
And Vanaras went in search of Sita,
who is the wife of Rama.
It is a simple equation and as per agreement.

Hanuman also says that in his message to Ravana.
"तस्य साहाय्य मस्माभिः कार्यं सर्वात्मन त्विह"(58.137)
Helping Rama is the Vanara's duty.

In fact, in Kishkindha Kanda
seeing Rama in separation
Hanuma wondered why Rama is in such distress over a lady.
Then after seeing Sita first time,
Hanuma's respect for Rama grows.

Observing Sita's sorrows,
hearing her words
Hanuma's respect for Sita grows.
We hear Hanuma talking about her devotion to Rama.
We hear him talking about her powers of penance,
which are greater than even flaming fire.
Sita could have destroyed Ravana if she wished to.

Now we see the respect for Sita, transform into devotion.
Hanuma's mind is filled with devotion.
"मम च प्रवणं मनः"

This transformation of Hanuma
is also the story of Sundarakanda.

As we continue to hear Hanuma,
we see once more the other side of Ravana.
That is about the power of penance of Ravana.

Govindaraja in his commentary writes as follows.
॥गो.टि॥ तपस्येत्यादिना॥ तपसा अति प्रवृद्धः इति अन्वयः।
कोपप्रासादाभ्यां सर्वलोकनिग्रह अनुग्रह सामर्थ्यः ।
असौ रावणः सर्वथामहातपः संपन्नः।
अत एव सीतास्पर्शेऽपि न विनाशित इत्यर्थः॥
Ravana reached great heights by penance.
With anger and ability to please,
he had the ability to control the three worlds.
This Ravana is rich with power of penance.
That is Hanuma's conclusion.

That power of penance is the only reason,
Ravana was not destroyed by touching Sita during abduction.
Indirectly this also says as much about the greater power of Sita,
who could have turned Ravana into ashes, if she so wished.

The lines about Ravana, highlighting his positives,
seem to be planted to tell us something.

The stark difference between Rama
who followed the right path through all vicissitudes of life,
like a normal human being,
and Ravana who undeniably had great powers of penance
but adhered to a path of convenience.
These two paths are the same paths,
described in Kathopanishad.
the path of good and the path of convenience.
Yama tells Nachiketa to follow the path of Good,
which is also Rama's path.

Having said all about Sita,
including the dire straits, she is in,
and listing all the Vanara Warriors,
who on their own can battle Lanka
Hanuma says something unexpected.

"न्याय्यं स्म सह वैदेह्या
द्रष्ठुं तौ पार्थिवात्मजौ"। (59.5)
"It is appropriate to meet the two brothers
taking Sita along with us".

That was not Sita's wish.
" तत् तस्य सदृशं" is the line Sita repeated many a time.
Sita told that even in the last moment (Sarga 56).

" तत् तस्य सदृशं" means that,
Rama coming and taking Sita is the most appropriate.
She repeated several times starting from the thirty seventh Sarga.

So, saying "सह वैदेह्या द्रष्ठुं तौ"
which means "along with Sita see the two brothers",
means only one thing.
That is that Hanuma totally forgot Sita's repeated requests

But having said that and
having supported that thought,
detailing all the Vanara warriors
who can accomplish this on their own,
reiterating that Sita must be rescued
Hanuma ends by saying,
"तत्सर्वं उपपद्यताम्"
means "let all that is required to be done shall be done"

These are the final words of Hanuma
while debriefing the Vanaras.
The possibilities left open include,
bringing Sita back and then meeting Rama,
ignoring Sita's request

One more thing

The first sloka in Jayamantram is,
"जयत्यति बलो रामो
लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः
राजा जयति सुग्रीवो
राघवेणाधिपालितः"||

This Sloka is repeated in this Sarga.
Hanuma says, he announced loudly,
that the victory of Rama is certain.
In that context the Sloka is repeated.
Whenever that Sloka is read/sung,
we feel the energy of that Sloka.

With these thoughts on this Sarga
Now we go through the Sarga,
as narrated by Valmiki.

Hanuman, the son of wind god,
having narrated all of this,
again, started to say more.

'Rama's purpose and Sugriva's efforts have borne fruit.
Seeing Sita's devotion to her husband.
my mind is filled with devotion'.

'The king of Rakshasas, rich in asceticism
can burn the whole world with the power of his penance.
Because of the power of his penance
Ravana was not burnt though he touched her limbs

The powers of the devoted wife Sita are such
that she can do what even flaming fire cannot do.
Though Sita was angry, Ravana was not burnt
because ever dutiful Sita will not act without Rama's permission.

'In this task which I have narrated,
with the permission of Jambavan and others,
it is better for us to see the two princes along with Sita.

"I am alone enough to destroy the city of Lanka,
the great army of Rakshasa warriors and even Ravana.
What to speak of doing so with all of you?
who are strong and wise accomplished heroic ones desiring victory'?

'I can kill Ravana along with his army,
including his sons, brothers and followers.
Even if the weapons of Brahma, Indra, Rudra, Vayu, and Varuna are used
I can kill and destroy them in a war'.

'If you permit me,
I will shatter them with my valor.
With ceaseless matchless shower of rocks in a war
even the Devas will die, what to speak of the night creatures!'

'The ocean may exceed its limits,
the mount Mandara may be shaken,
but Jambavan cannot be shaken in a war.

Angada, the heroic son of Vali alone is enough
to destroy all the Rakshasas led by Ravana.

The speed of the thighs of the great soul Panasa
as well as Nila, shatters the mount Mandara,
what to speak of the Rakshasas in a war?

Tell me who among Devas, Asuras, Yakshas, Gandharvas,
Uragas and Pakshis can battle Mainda and Dvivida'.
'The two sons of Ashwini are outstanding
and are the foremost among fighters.
I do not see anyone who can face them in a battle.

With boon given by the creator,
being very proud these two foremost among Vanaras
consumed the nectar of immortality.
Earlier the grand sire has given them
immeasurable invulnerability to honor them.

Vast armies of Suras have been slain by the heroic Vanaras,
armed with the boons given by grandsire.
And they drank the nectar of immortality.

If these two become angry they can destroy Lanka
along with all the elephants, horses, and chariots.
There will be no need for anybody else'.

'I have destroyed Lanka, burning it down to ashes.
Mighty Rama will triumph.
So will mighty Lakshmana.
Protected by Rama Sugriva will triumph.
I am son of wind god and a servant of Rama.
My name is Hanuman.
And I made this known all over Lanka.'

' In the middle of the Ashoka grove of the evil minded Ravana,
the pious lady is sitting under the Simsupa tree
surrounded by Rakshasa women and tormented by sorrow.
Looking pale like moon rays veiled by clouds,
not caring for the glory of Ravana,
she is brooding over Rama only.

The chaste woman of beautiful hips,
Janaki though abducted is wholly devoted to Rama only,
Wearing the same single piece of cloth,
filled with dust, very sorrowful and piteous,
Sita is desirous of only the welfare of her husband.

Sita, who is piteous, is deeply sorrowing.
She is always thinking of her husband.
She is sleeping on the ground.
She is without luster like the lotus on the onset of winter.
She has turned away from Ravana.
She is set on giving up her life.
She is guarded by the Rakshasa women in the Ashik Van
Threatened again and again by ugly looking Rakshasis, she is in deep sorrow

With great difficulty the doe eyed one has been given confidence,
Then all things have been elaborated to her.
The alliance of Rama and Sugriva gave her happiness'.

'That the ten-headed one, though having done harm, is not killed,
That is only because the disciplined lady's high devotion to her husband.
Rama is there as the instrument of killing Ravana'.

'The noble lady is thus absorbed in grief.
Every action that needs to be done is to be proposed'.

Thus, Hanuman ended his extended briefing of his search for Sita

Thus, ends the fifty ninth Sarga of Sundarakanda in Ramayana

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