Sanskrit Text in Telugu , Kannada, Gujarati, Devanagari, English

|| om tat sat||

Sundarakanda
Sarga 15
अथ पंचदशस्सर्गः

Tika Traya gives a very brief summary of the Sarga in the following words - "शिंशुपाग्रेऽवस्थिताय सर्वतश्चक्षुषी प्रचारयन् हनुमान् चैत्य प्रासादगतां यथावर्णित गुणावस्थोपलक्षितां ताम् विलोक्य युक्तैः बहुभिः हेतुभिः तस्याः सीतात्वं निर्धारयति" It says, 'seated on the Simsupa tree Hanuma looking around, saw a woman, near the Chaitya palace, who was looking like the one described to him as Sita. Then by reasoning he came to the conclusion that she is indeed Sita'. That is very briefly the story of Sarga 15.

With a little more elaboration the story of Sarga 15 is as follows.

This is the Sarga where finally Hanuman sees Sita

With anticipatory delight permeating all his limbs Hanuman looked around and saw that Ashoka grove, which was well decorated all around having splendid trees with creepers enriched with fine fragrance. It was resembling the Nandana vanam, fit for gods.

It is filled with animals, birds and the sounds of cuckoos. The grove was shining with ponds filled with golden lillies and lotuses. The grove has many seating places having rich coverings as well as many underground homes. It has trees which bloom in all seasons and is full of flowers and fruits. It was glowing with the splendor of the rising Sun,

The best among Vanaras then saw a mansion of thousand pillars,
shining white like Mount Kailash, having stairs paved with corals, having altars of bright molten Gold. Tall, looking as though it is touching the sky, that mansion was looking like Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva, and place fit for gods..

Not far from there Hanuman sees a lady.

A lady wearing soiled clothes, surrounded by Rakshasa women, emaciated due to fasting, sighing again and again, white and thin like the crescent moon at the beginning of a bright fortnight. Looking like the tip of fire engulfed in smoke, she was faintly recognizable in appearance with bright radiance.

Seeing that wide eyed, thin and very much emaciated lady, (Hanuman) started wondering if she is Sita. 'This lady is of the same form as the one taken away by force by that Rakshasa who can take any form'. Seeing that blameless princess of wide eyes, by right signs and reasons Hanuman came to the conclusion that she is indeed Sita.

'This cloth worn long thus is looking crumpled. Even so its color is shining like another fresh cloth. This lady of golden complexion, Rama's beloved queen even though lost ( being carried away) does not disappear from his mind'.

Seeing the black eyed Sita Hanuman thought as follows.

'Her divine charming body with perfect limbs are a match for Rama's form too. Her divine mind is fixed on Rama and his mind is fixed on her. Hence she and righteous Rama are able to survive till this moment'. Hanuman continued his thought about Rama and Sita with growing and glowing respect. The son of wind god seeing Sita, delighted, reached Rama in his mind thus and praised him.

That is what we hear in the fifteenth Sarga

That is the story of Hanuman finally seeing Sita in that Ashoka grove.

Now the Slokas of the fifteenth Sarga with meanings

||Sloka 15.01||

सवीक्षमाणस्तत्रस्थो मार्गमाणश्च मैथिलीम्।
अवेक्षमाणश्च महीं सर्वां तामन्ववेक्षत॥15.01||

स॥ मैथिलीं मार्गमाणः तत्रस्थः वीक्षमाणः तां अवेक्षमाणः च सः हनुमान् सर्वां महीं अवेक्षत॥

॥Sloka meanings||

मैथिलीं मार्गमाणः सः हनुमान् -
Hanuman who was searching for Mythili
तां अवेक्षमाणः - looking out for her
तत्रस्थः वीक्षमाणः - staying there looking out
सर्वां महीं अवेक्षत - looked at all places around.

||Sloka summary||

"Looking out from there, Hanuman who was searching for Mythili surveyed all around that place."||15.01||

Hanuman here is full of anticipatory delight permeating all his limbs. It is as though he is in the final sheath of Ananda Kosa in the search for Self. Now we hear what Hanuma sees sitting on the Simsupa trees hidden within the branches.

||Sloka 15.02||

संतानकलताभिश्च पादपैरुपशोभिताम् |
दिव्यगन्धरसोपेतां सर्वतः समलंकृताम्॥15.02||

स॥संतानकलताभिश्च पादपैः उपशोभिताम् दिव्यगंधरसोपेताम् सर्वतः समलंकृताम् (तां वनिकां मारुतिः समुदैक्षत) ||

||Sloka meanings||

संतानकलताभिश्च - with Santanaka creepers
पादपैः उपशोभिताम् - trees glowing with
दिव्यगंधरसोपेताम् - enriched with fine fragrance.
सर्वतः समलंकृताम् - well decorated all round
( अशोकवाटिकनु चूचॆनु)

||Sloka summary||

"Hanuman saw that well decorated Ashoka grove having splendid trees all around with creepers enriched with fine fragrance." ||15.02||

Over the next seven Slokas we hear the description of Ashoka grove as seen by Hanuma. Rama Tika has an elaboration of the key descriptive words of these Slokas . Rama Tika says - "संतानकेति॥ संतानकाभिः उपशोभिताम् अत एव नन्दनसंकाशां नन्दनवन सदृशीं, वापीभिः उपशोभितां, बहुभिः आसनैः कुथैः महारजस्थिति योग्य कम्बल विशेषैः उपेतां, सर्वर्तु कुसुमैः पादपैः अशोकानां श्रिया च सूर्योदयप्रभाम् असकृत् विनिष्पतत्भिः विहगैः निष्पत्रशाखामिव क्रियमाणां चित्रैः पुष्पावतंसकैः उपलक्षितैः समूलपुष्परचितैः समूलानि मूलसहितानि यानि पुष्पाणि तैः रचितैः, पुष्पभारेण अतिपुष्पधारणेन, अतिभारो येषां तैः मर्दिनीं स्पृशद्भिरिव शोकनाशनैः अशोकैः अशोकविशेषैः प्रदीप्तमिव अशोकवनिकां तत्रस्थः शिंशुपायां स्थितो मारुतिः समुदैक्षत। सप्तं एकान्वयि" ॥

These elaborations are reflected in the meanings of the next seven Slokas.

||Sloka 15.03||

तां स नन्दनसंकाशां मृगपक्षिभि रावृतां।
हर्म्यप्रासाद संभाधां कोकिलाकुलनिस्वनाम्॥ 15.03||

स॥ तां नंदन संकाशं पादपैः उपशोभितम् मृगपक्षिभिः आवृतं कोकिलाकुलनिःश्वनाम् हर्म्यप्रासाद संभादां (तां वनिकां ददर्श) ||

||Sloka meanings||

नंदन संकाशं - resembling the Nandana grove of Indra
पादपैः उपशोभितम् - enchanting with variety of trees
मृगपक्षिभिः आवृतं - filled with animals and birds
कोकिलाकुलनिःश्वनाम् - filled with sounds of cuckoos
हर्म्यप्रासाद संभादां - with many tall mansions.

||Sloka summary||

"Resembling the Nandana grove of Indra, (it is) enchanting with variety of trees, filled with animals and birds , filled with sounds of cuckoos , and tall mansions." || 15.03||

Poet says that Ashoka grove is glowing like Nandana grove, the playground of Gods. Comparing Ashoka grove with the Gods grove, there is a clear hint that this is indeed suitable place for Goddess Sita.

||Sloka 15.04||

काञ्चनोत्पलपद्माभिः वापीभिरुपशोभिताम्।
बह्वासनकुथोपेतां बहुभूमि गृहायुताम्॥15.04||

स॥ (अशोक वनिका) कांचनोत्पलपद्माभिः वापीभिः उपशोभितां बह्वासनकुथोपेतां बहुभूमि गृहायुतम् (अस्ति) ||

||Sloka meanings||

कांचनोत्पलपद्माभिः - with golden lillies and lotuses
वापीभिः उपशोभितां - enchanting with lakes
बह्वासनकुथोपेतां - with couches with rich coverings
बहुभूमि गृहायुतम् - with many underground homes
( Hanuma saw such Ashoka grove)

||Sloka summary||

"Enchanting with lakes with seating places having rich coverings, with many underground homes, have golden lillies and lotuses." ||15.04||

||Sloka 15.05||

सर्वर्तुकुसुमै रम्यां फलवद्भिश्च पादपैः।
पुष्पितानां अशोकानां श्रिया सूर्योदयप्रभाम्॥15.05||
प्रदीप्तमिव तत्रस्थो मारुतिः समुदैक्षत।

स॥ (तत् अशोकवनिका) सर्वर्तुकुसुमैः फलवद्भिः पुष्पितानां अशोकानां पादपैः रम्यां, सूर्योदय प्रभां इव प्रदीप्तं (वनिकाम्) तत्रस्थः मारुतिः समुदैक्षत ||

||Sloka meanings||

सर्वर्तुकुसुमैः फलवद्भिः - with blossoms and fruits of all seasons
पुष्पितानां अशोकानां - Asoka trees with blossoms
सूर्योदय प्रभां इव प्रदीप्तं -
glowing like the splendor of the rising Sun
तत्रस्थः मारुतिः समुदैक्षत - Hanuma who was there saw

||Sloka summary||

"With blossoms and fruits of all seasons, the Asoka trees with blossoms were glowing like the splendor of the rising Sun. Hanuma who was there saw the same." ||15.05||

The grove is full of Ashoka trees which remove sorrow, implying that this grove is a fit place for overcoming the sorrow of not having found Sita in his search

||Sloka 15.06,07||

निष्पत्रशाखां विहगैः क्रियमाना मिवासकृत्॥15.06||
विनिष्पतद्भिः शतशः चित्रैः पुष्पावतंसकैः।
अमूलपुष्पनिचितैः अशोकैः शोकनाशनैः॥15.07||

स॥ असकृत् विनिष्पतद्भिः शतशः विहगैः निष्पत्रशाखां क्रियमाणां इव चित्रैः पुष्पावतंसकैः अमूलपुष्पनिचितैः शोकनाशनैः अशोकैः (अस्ति) ||

||Sloka meanings||

असकृत् विनिष्पतद्भिः शतशः विहगैः -
with branches having no leaves because of often falling flowers and hundreds of birds
निष्पत्रशाखां क्रियमाणां इव चित्रैः -
like a painted picture of a tree without leaves
पुष्पावतंसकैः अमूलपुष्पनिचितैः-
were full of flowers, with blossoms up to the base of the trees.
शोकनाशनैः अशोकैः - Ashoka trees which can remove the grief

||Sloka summary||

"With branches having no leaves because of often falling flowers and hundreds of birds, it was like a painted picture. The Ashoka trees which can remove the grief , were full of flowers, with blossoms up to the base of the trees." ||15.06,07||

||Sloka 15.08||

पुष्पभारातिभारैश्च स्पृशद्भिरिव मेदिनीं।
कर्णिकारैः कुशुमितैः किंशुकैश्च सुपुष्पितैः॥15.08||

स॥ पुष्पभारातिभारैश्चमेदिनीं स्पृशद्भिः इव कुशुमितैः कर्णिकारैः किंशुकैश्च सुपुष्पितैः (तां वनिकां मारुतिः ददर्श)||

||Sloka meanings||

पुष्पभारातिभारैश्चमेदिनीं स्पृशद्भिः इव -
weighed down by the weight of the flowers , it was looking as if they were bending down to touch the ground
कुशुमितैः कर्णिकारैः किंशुकैश्च सुपुष्पितैः -
grove was full with blossoms, fully bloomed Karnikara flowers and Kimsukas

||Sloka summary||

Weighed down by the weight of the flowers , it was looking as if they were bending down to touch the ground. The grove was full with blossoms, fully bloomed Karnikara flowers and Kimsukas

||Sloka 15.09||

स देशः प्रभया तेषां प्रदीप्त इव पर्वतः।
पुन्नगा सप्तवर्णाश्च चम्पकोद्दालकास्तथा॥15.09||
विवृद्धमूला बहवः शोभन्ते स्म सुपुष्पिताः।

स॥ तेषां प्रभया सः देशः सर्वतः प्रदीप्त इव। विवृद्धमूलाः सुपुष्पिताः पुन्नगाः सप्तपर्णस्च तथा चंपकाः उद्दालकाः शोभन्ते स्म॥

॥Sloka meanings||

तेषां प्रभया सः देशः सर्वतः प्रदीप्त इव -
as though all of that place was aflame with the radiance of all those trees
विवृद्धमूलाः सुपुष्पिताः पुन्नगाः -
extending to the roots with blooming Pannagas
सप्तपर्णस्च तथा चंपकाः उद्दालकाः शोभन्ते स्म-
Saptaparnas, Champakas and Uddalakas were shining too
.

||Sloka summary||

"With their radiance all of that place was aflame with blooming Pannagas Saptaparnas, Champakas and Uddalakas."||15.09||

||Sloka 15.10||

शातकुम्भनिभाः केचित् केचिदग्नि शिखोपमाः॥15.10||
नीलाङ्जननिभाः केचित् तत्राऽशोका सहस्रशः।

स॥ तत्र सहस्रशः केचित् शातकुम्भनिभाः केचित् अग्निशिखोपमाः केचित् नीलांजननिभाः अस्ति॥

॥Sloka meanings||

तत्र सहस्रशः - thousands of Ashoka trees
केचित् शातकुम्भनिभाः- some shone like gold,
केचित् अग्निशिखोपमाः - some of which looked like flames of fire
केचित् नीलांजननिभाः अस्ति - some of which are like black collyrium.

||Sloka summary||

"There were thousands of Ashoka trees some of which shone like gold, some of which looked like flames of fire, some of which are like black collyrium. ||15.10||

Tilaka Tika says - नीलाञ्जननिभा इति। एवं उक्त्याऽशोकानां अनेकवर्णपुष्पत्वं सूचितम् । Here while saying black collyrium , the indication is that the grove is full of flowers of all colors.

||Sloka 15.11-12||

नन्दनं विविधोद्यानं चित्रं चैत्ररथं यथा॥15.11||
अतिवृत्त मिवाचिन्त्यं दिव्यं रम्यं श्रिया वृतं।
द्वितीय मिव चाकाशं पुष्पज्योति र्गणायुतम् ||15.12||

स॥ विविध उद्यानम् नंदनं यथा चित्रं चैत्ररथं यथा अतिवृत्तं अचिंत्यं दिव्यं रम्यं श्रिया वृतं पुष्पज्योतिर्गणायुतं द्वितीयं आकाशम् इव॥

In the next four Slokas we hear descriptions of the Ashoka grove Again it worth reading the Tilaka Tika notes.

Tilaka Tika says - विविधोद्यानम् नन्दनमिव नन्दनम् आनन्दकम् चैत्ररथम् कुबेरवनं इव,चित्रं यथेत्युभयान्वयि अतिवृत्तम् उपमानीभूत वन द्वयाभ्यां अधिकम्,
द्वितीयाकाशं इव पुष्परूप ज्योतिर्गणैः आयुतं व्याप्तं, पञ्चमं सागरमिव पुष्परूप अनेक रत्नैश्चित्रम् सर्वेषु ऋतुषु पुष्पाणी येशु तैः पादपैः निचितं व्याप्तं नानानिनदैः अनेकविधनिनाद विशिष्टैः मृगगणद्विजैः, रम्यं गन्धाड्यम् द्वितीयं गन्धमाध्नं इव अनेक गन्ध प्रवहम् अत् एव पुण्यगन्धैः मनोहरम् उद्यानं शुशुभे इति शेषः श्लोकचतुष्टयम् एकान्वयि।

॥Sloka meanings||

विविध उद्यानम् नंदनं यथा -
with different types of gardens resembling Nandana garden of Indra
चित्रं चैत्ररथं यथा -
colorful like Chaitraratha gardens of Kubera
अतिवृत्तं अचिंत्यं दिव्यं रम्यं श्रिया वृतं-
auspicious and beautiful beyond imagination
पुष्पज्योतिर्गणायुतं -
full with groups of luminaries in the form of flowers
द्वितीयं आकाशम् इव -
it was looking like a second sky

||Sloka summary||

"With different types of gardens resembling Nandana forest of Indra, colorful like Chaitraratha gardens of Kubera, surpassing the divine, with radiance of countless varieties of blossoms it was lovely like a ( second) sky delightful surrounded with luminaries in the form of flowers."||15.11,12||

Tilaka Tika says - "विविधोद्यानम् नन्दनम्, यथा नन्दनमाह्लादकम् तद्वत् आह्लादकम्, चैत्र रथं कुबेरवनं यथा चित्रम् तद्विचित्रम् ॥ It says,- 'all the gardens are like Nandana grove of Indra, meaning that all the groves are as enjoyable as Nandana gardens, Chaitra ratham like Kubera's grove, and colorful as the Chaitra garden of Kubera'

||Sloka 15.13-14||

पुष्परत्नशतै श्चित्रं पञ्चमं सागरं यथा |
सर्वर्तुपुष्पैर्निचितं पादपैर्मधुगन्दिभिः॥15.13||
नानानिनादैरुद्यानं रम्यं मृगगणैर्द्विजैः।
अनेक गन्धप्रवहं पुण्यगन्धं मनोरमम्॥15.14||
शैलेंद्रमिव गन्धाढ्यं द्वितीयं गन्धमादनम्।

स॥ पुष्परत्नशतैः चित्रं , पञ्चमं सागरं यथा सर्वऋतुपुष्पैः मधुगन्धिभिः पादपैः , द्विजैः मृग गणैः नानानिनादैः निचितं रम्यं अनेकगन्धप्रवहं गन्धाढ्यं पुण्यगंधं मनोरमम् द्वितीयं गन्धमादनम् शैलेंद्रमिव अस्ति ||

Tilak Tika says- "पञ्चमं सागरमिव पुष्परूप अनेक रत्नैश्चित्रम् सर्वेषु ऋतुषु पुष्पाणी येशु तैः पादपैः निचितं व्याप्तं, नानानिनदैः अनेकविधनिनाद विशिष्टैः मृगगणद्विजैः, रम्यं गन्धाड्यम् द्वितीयं गन्धमाधनं इव अनेक गन्ध प्रवहम् अत् एव पुण्यगन्धैः मनोहरम् उद्यानं शुशुभे इति शेषः श्लोकचतुष्टयम् एकान्वयि।

'पञ्चमं सागरं',- it is implied that there are four oceans around Jambu dwipa, this being similar, it is referred to as the fifth ocean.

||Sloka meanings||

पुष्परत्नशतैः चित्रं -
with hundreds of flowers looking like gems
पञ्चमं सागरं यथा - it is like a fifth Ocean
सर्वऋतुपुष्पैः मधुगन्धिभिः पादपैः -
with flowers that bloom in all seasons and honey scented trees
द्विजैः मृग गणैः नानानिनादैः निचितं-
filled with sounds of birds and deers
अनेकगन्धप्रवहं पुण्यगंधं मनोरमम् -
with various fragrances wafting through the air and pleasing the heart

||Sloka summary||

"With hundreds of flowers looking like gems, it is wonderful like a fifth Ocean. With flowers that bloom in all seasons, honey scented trees , filled with flocks of birds and animals, enchanting with various fragrances pleasing the hearts, the grove was pleasing to the heart." ||15.13,14||

||Sloka 15.15||

शैलेंद्रमिव गन्धाढ्यं द्वितीयं गन्धमादनम्।
अशोकवनिकायां तु तस्यां वानरपुंगवः ||15.15||
सददर्शा विदूरस्थं चैत्यप्रासाद मुच्छ्रितम्।

स॥ सः वानरपुंगवः तस्यां गन्धमाड्यं गन्धमादनम् शैलेंद्रं इव अशोकवनिकायाम् मध्ये अविदूरस्थं उच्छ्रितम् चैत्य प्रासादम् ददर्श॥

॥Sloka meanings||

सः वानरपुंगवः -
the best among Vanaras
तस्यां अशोकवनिकायाम् मध्ये-
in the middle of that Ashoka grove
गन्धमाड्यं गन्धमादनम् शैलेंद्रं इव -
which was highly fragrant like the mount Gandhamadana
अविदूरस्थं उच्छ्रितम् चैत्य प्रासादम् ददर्श -
not far from there he saw a tall temple.

||Sloka summary||

"In the middle of that Ashoka grove, which was highly fragrant like the mount Gandhamadana, the best among Vanaras saw a big tall temple." ||15.15||

||Sloka 15.16,17||

मध्ये स्तम्भ सहस्रेण स्थितं कैलासपाण्डुरम्॥15.16||
प्रवाळाकृत सोपानं तप्तकाञ्चनवेदिकं।
मुष्णन्तमिव चक्षूंषि द्योतमानमिव श्रिया॥15.17||
विमलं प्रांशुभावत्वा दुल्लिखन्त मिवाम्बरम्।

स॥ स्तंभ सहस्रेण स्थितम् कैलासपाण्डुरम् प्रवाळकृतसोपानम् तप्तकांचन वेदिकां चक्षूंसि मुष्णन्तं इव श्रिया द्योतमानं इव विमलं प्रांशुभावत्वात् अंबरं उल्लिखंतमिव॥

॥Sloka meanings||

स्तंभ सहस्रेण स्थितम् - with a thousand pillars
कैलासपाण्डुरम् - white like mount Kailasa
प्रवाळकृतसोपानम् - having stairs paved with corals
तप्तकांचन वेदिकां - having altars of bright molten gold
चक्षूंसि मुष्णन्तं इव श्रिया द्योतमानं -
glowing with brilliance as if stealing the eyes
विमलं प्रांशुभावत्वात् अंबरं उल्लिखंतमिव -
looking white due to its light , it was tall as if touching the sky.

||Sloka summary||

( That tall temple was) with a thousand pillars, white like mount Kailasa, having stairs paved with corals, having altars of bright molten gold, glowing with brilliance as if stealing the eyes, looking white due to its light, it was tall as if touching the sky. ||15.16,17||

||Sloka 15.18,19||

ततो मलिन संवीतां राक्षसीभिः समावृताम्॥15.18||
उपवासकृशां दीनां निश्स्वसन्तीं पुनः पुनः।
ददर्श शुक्लपक्षादौ चन्द्ररेखामिवामलाम्॥15.19||

स॥ ततः मलिनसंवीतां राक्षसीभिः समावृतां उपवासकृशां दीनां पुनः पुनः निःश्वसंतीं शुक्लपाक्षादौ अमलां चन्द्ररेखामिव ( अबलां) तां ददर्श॥

॥Sloka meanings||

ततः मलिनसंवीतां -
wearing soiled clothes
राक्षसीभिः समावृतां -
surrounded by Rakshasa women
उपवासकृशां दीनां -
emaciated due to fasting and looking pitiable,
पुनः पुनः निःश्वसंतीं -
sighing again and again
शुक्लपाक्षादौ अमलां चन्द्ररेखामिव -
white and thin like the crescent moon at the beginning of a bright fortnight
तां ददर्श - saw that lady

||Sloka summary||

"There he saw a woman wearing soiled clothes, surrounded by Rakshasa women, emaciated due to fasting, looking pitiable, sighing again and again, white and thin like the crescent moon at the beginning of a bright fortnight." ||15.18,19||

||Sloka 15.20||

मन्दं प्रख्यायमानेन रूपेण रुचिरप्रभां।
पिनद्धां धूमजालेन शिखामिव विभावसोः॥15.20||

स॥ (सा) मन्दं प्रख्यायमानेन रूपेण धूमजलेन पिनद्धां रुचिरप्रभाम् विभावसोः शिखामिव(अस्ति) ||

Rama Tika says- "रूपेण रुचिर प्रभा यस्या तां धूमजालेन पिनद्धाम् अच्छादितां विभावसूः अग्रे शिखामिव"

||Sloka meanings||

रुचिरप्रभाम् - with bright radiance
मन्दं प्रख्यायमानेन रूपेण -
faintly recognizable in form
धूमजलेन पिनद्धां -
engulfed by a cloud of smoke
विभावसोः शिखामिव -
like the tip of the fire

||Sloka summary||

She was faintly recognizable in appearance with bright radiance, looking like the tip of fire engulfed in smoke

||Sloka 15.21||

पीतेनैकेन संवीतां क्लिष्टेनोत्तमवाससा।
सपङ्कां अनलङ्कारं विपद्मामिव पद्मिनीम् ||15.21||

स॥ पीतेन एकेन उत्तमवाससा संवीतां सपङ्कं अनलङ्कृतां विपद्मां पद्मिनीं इव |

Tilaka Tika says - क्लिष्टेन जीर्णेन, सपङ्कां मलवच्छरीराम्

Rama Tika says - क्लिष्टेन जीर्णतया प्रतीतेन एकेन उत्तमवाससा संवीताम्, अनलङ्काराम् अलङ्कितरहिताम् अत एव विपद्मां पद्मरहितां पद्मिनीं सरसीमिव सपङ्कां मलिनां ।

॥Sloka meanings||

एकेन क्लिष्टेन पीतेन उत्तमवाससा संवीतां -
wearing a single worn out yellow cloth of superior quality,
अनलङ्कारं सपङ्कं-
dusty and unadorned
विपद्मां पद्मिनीं इव -
looking like a lotus pond bereft of lotuses

||Sloka summary||

"With a worn out body ,wearing a single worn out yellow cloth though of superior quality, dusty and unadorned, she was looking like a dusty lotus pond bereft of lotuses". ||15.21||

||Sloka 15.22||

व्रीडितां दुःखसंतप्तां परिम्लानां तपस्विनीम्।
ग्रहेणाङ्गारकेणेव पीडितामिव रोहिणीम्॥15.22||

स॥ व्रीडितां दुःखसंतप्तां परिम्लानां तपस्विनीं अंगारकेण ग्रहेणा पीडितां रोहिणीं इव ( च अस्ति) |

||Sloka meanings||.

व्रीडितां दुःखसंतप्तां -
bashful looking, tormented with agony
परिम्लानां - withered
तपस्विनीं - a woman of penance
अंगारकेण ग्रहेणा पीडितां रोहिणीं इव -
like Rohini troubled by the planet Mars.

||Sloka summary||

"She was bashful looking, tormented with agony, a woman of penance. She was looking like Rohini troubled by the planet Mars." ||15.22||

||Sloka 15.23||

अश्रुपूर्णमुखीं दीनां कृशामनशनेन च।
शोकध्यानपरां दीनां नित्यं दुःखपरायणाम्॥15.23||

स॥ दुःखपरायणाम् अश्रुपूर्णमुखीं दीनां अनशनेन कृशां नित्यं शोकध्यानपरां (तां ददर्श)||

||Sloka meanings||

दुःखपरायणाम् अश्रुपूर्णमुखीं -
Overwhelmed with sorrow and eyes filled with tears
दीनां अनशनेन कृशां -
looking dejected and emaciated by fasting
शोकध्यानपरां -
meditating in grief
(तां ददर्श - अट्टि आमॆनु चूचॆनु)

||Sloka summary||

"(She was) Overwhelmed with sorrow and eyes filled with tears, she was looking dejected and emaciated by fasting, meditating in grief" ||15.23||

||Sloka 15.24||

प्रियं जनमपश्यंतीं पश्यन्तीं राक्षसीगणम्।
स्वगणेन मृगीं हीनां श्वगणाभिवृता मिव॥15.24||

स॥ सा प्रियं जनं अपश्यंतीं राक्षसीगणं पश्यंतीं स्वगणेन हीनां श्वगणाभिवृतां मृगीं इव (अस्ति)||

||Sloka meanings||

प्रियं जनं अपश्यंतीं - not seeing her dear people
राक्षसीगणं पश्यंतीं - seeing only the Rakshasa women
स्वगणेन हीनां - separated from her group
श्वगणाभिवृतां - surrounded by a group of hounds.
मृगीं इव - like a female deer

||Sloka summary||

" Not seeing her dear people, seeing only the Rakshasa women, she was like a female deer surrounded by a group of hounds."||15.24||

||Sloka 15.25||

नीलनागाभयावेण्या जघनं गत यैकया।
नीलया नीरदापाये वनराज्या महीमिव॥15.25||

स॥ सा जघनं गतया नीलनागाभया वेण्या नीरदापाये नीलया वनराज्या महीं इव |

Rama Tika says - नीलनागभया कृष्णसदृश्याजघनं पृष्टान्तदेशं गतया प्राप्तया केशविन्यासाभावेन जटी भूतया वेण्या उपलक्षितां नीरदापाये घनागमे नीलया वनराज्या महीं इव स्थितां सीतां ददर्श।

Tilaka Tika says- पुरोभागीयवेणीद्वयराहित्येन पृष्टलम्बैक्यया वेण्या नीलनागभया नीलसर्प तुल्यया वेण्योपलक्षिताम् अनेन तत् सर्पे अन्यस्य मरणमेवेति सूचितम्। मेघापाये नीलया वनराज्योपलक्षितां महीं इव स्थिताम् ।

॥Sloka meanings||

सा जघनं गतया -
her single braid touching her hips
नीलनागाभया वेण्या -
braid of hair looking like a black serpent
नीरदापाये -
at the end of a rainy season
नीलया वनराज्या महीं इव -
like the earth covered with a range of dark green trees चॆट्लतो

॥Sloka summary||

"With her single braid touching her hips, braid of hair looking like a black serpent, she appeared like the earth covered with a range of dark green trees at the end of a rainy season;" ||15.25||

||Sloka 15.26||

सुखार्हं दुःखसंतप्तां व्यसनानां अकोविदाम्।
तां समीक्ष्य विशालाक्षीं अधिकं मलिनां कृशाम् ||15.26||
तर्कयामास सीतेति कारणैरुपपादिभिः।

स॥ विशालाक्षीं अधिकं मलिनां कृशां तां समीक्ष्य सीता इति तर्कयामास॥

Rama Tika says - सुखार्हं इति। सुखार्हा सुखयोग्यं व्यसनानां दुःखानां अकोविदाम् आवैज्ञात्रीं सदूखसंतप्तां तां सीताम् विलोक्य उपपादिभिः सीताबोधन समर्थैः कारणैः इयं सीतइति तर्कयामास।

॥Sloka meanings||

सुखार्हं दुःखसंतप्तां -
one who deserved to be happy
व्यसनानां अकोविदाम् -
not experienced in sorrows
अधिकं मलिनां कृशां -
very much soiled emaciated
विशालाक्षीं - wide eyed lady
तां समीक्ष्य - seeing her
सीता इति तर्कयामास -
wondered if she is Sita

||Sloka summary||

"Seeing that thin wide eyed and very much emaciated lady, consumed by grief, not experienced in sorrow vices, she was like one who deserved to be happy, Hanuman started wondering if she is Sita."||15.26||

||Sloka 15.27||

ह्रियमाणा तदा तेन रक्षसा कामरूपिणा॥15.27||
यथारूपाहि दृष्टा वै तथा रूपेय मङ्गना।

स॥ इयं अंगना तथारूपा तदा कामरूपिणा तेन रक्षसा ह्रियमाणा यथारूपा दृष्टा इति॥

Rama Tika says- तर्कप्रकारमाह - ह्रियमाणेति॥तेन रावणेन ह्रियमाणा सा सीता तदा हरणसमये यथारूपा दृष्टा यादृग्वेषवर्णादिमत् अनुभूता तथारूफा अयं। इति॥

॥Sloka meanings||

इयं अंगना - this lady
तदा कामरूपिणा रक्षसा तेन -
that Rakshasa who can take any form
ह्रियमाणा - taken away
यथारूपा तथारूपा दृष्टा इति -
the same form is seen as the form seen here

||Sloka summary||

"This lady is of the same form as the one taken away using force by that Rakshasa who can take any form". ||15.27||

"यथारूपा तथारूपा" means that she is now of the same form as the form she was in when she was carried away by Ravana . Hence, she must be Sita is Hanuma's deduction

||Sloka 15.28,29||

पूर्ण चन्द्राननां सुभॄं चारुवृत्तपयोधराम्॥15.28||
कुर्वन्तीं प्रभया देवीं सर्वा वितिमिरा दिशः।
तां नीलकेशीं बिम्बोष्टीं सुमध्याम् सुप्रतिष्टिताम्॥15.29||
सीतां पद्मपलाशाक्षीं मन्मथस्य रतिं यथा।

स॥ पूर्ण चंद्राननां सुभॄं चारुवृत्त पयोधरां सर्वाः दिशां प्रभया वितिमिराः कुर्वतीं देवीं नीलकेशीं बिंबोष्टीं सुमध्यां सुप्रतिष्ठितां पद्मपलाशाक्षीं मन्मथस्य रतीं यथा सीतां (ददर्श) ||

||Sloka meanings||

पूर्ण चंद्राननां - with face like that of a full Moon,
सुभॄं चारुवृत्त पयोधरां -
with shapely eye brows, beautiful breasts,
सर्वाः दिशां प्रभया वितिमिराः -
rendering bright in all directions with her radiance
नीलकेशीं बिंबोष्टीं सुमध्यां -
with black hair, red lips like Bimba fruit, and slender waist
सुप्रतिष्ठितां पद्मपलाशाक्षीं -
eyes like lotus petals and pleasing limbs.
मन्मथस्य रतीं यथा सीतां -
Sita, looking like Rati of Manmatha

||Sloka summary||

"With face like that of a full Moon, with shapely eye brows, beautiful breasts, rendering bright in all directions with her radiance. She was like the queen with black hair, red lips like Bimba fruit, eyes like lotus petals and pleasing limbs. She was like Rati of Manmatha." ||15.28,29||

Govindaraja a says in his Tika that from the Sloka " पूर्ण चन्द्राननां" till the Sloka "विद्यां प्रशिथिलाम् इव", all of that is one long sentence, essentially describing the state of Sita

||Sloka 15.30||

इष्टां सर्वस्य जगतः पूर्णचन्द्र प्रभामिव ||15.30||
भूमौ सुतनुमासीनां नियतामिव तापसीं |

स॥ सा पूर्णचन्द्र प्रभां इव सर्वस्य जगतः इष्टां नियतां तापसीं इव भूमौ आसीनाम् सुतनुं (अस्ति) ||

||Sloka meanings||

सा पूर्णचन्द्र प्रभां इव -
bright like the radiance of full moon
सर्वस्य जगतः इष्टां -
favorite of the whole world.
नियतां तापसीं इव -
austere like an ascetic,
भूमौ आसीनाम् सुतनुं -
sitting on the ground with lovely figure

||Sloka summary||

"She was bright like the radiance of full moon favorite of the whole world. She was austere like an ascetic sitting on the ground with lovely figure. Timid. "||15.30||

Tilaka Tika says - चन्द्रप्रभा सदृशां सर्व आनन्दकारकत्वेन ; the simile with Moons radiance because it is pleasing for all. So is Sita for all beings.

Rama Tika says - मन्मथस्य संबन्धिनीम् रतीं यथा अतिरूपात्वेन तत् सदृशीं सर्वस्य जगतः इष्टां पूज्याम् । Because she is most beautiful hence comparison with Mamatha's wife.

||Sloka 15.31||

निश्स्वासबहुळां भीरुं भुजगेन्द्र वधूमिव ||15.31||
शोकजालेन महता विततेन न राजतीम्।

स॥ सा भीरुं भुजगेन्द्रवधूम् इव निःश्वासबहुळां महता वितनेन शोखजालेन न राजतीं (अस्ति) ||

||Sloka meanings||

सा भीरुं भुजगेन्द्रवधूम् इव -
she, like the timid consort of the serpent Lord
निःश्वासबहुळां -
sighing continuously
महता वितनेन शोखजालेन -
caught in a web of great grief
न राजतीम् -
looking gloomy

||Sloka summary||

"Continuously sighing like the timid (hissing) consort of the serpent Lord, she was looking gloomy caught in web of a great grief." ||15.31||

Tilaka Tika says - भुजगेन्द्रवधू सादृशम् दुष्प्रधृष्यत्वेन रक्षः कुलनाशकत्वेन- Simile with the hissing consort of the king of serpents , is hinting at destruction of the Rakshasa clan.

||Sloka 15.32||

संसक्तां धूमजालेन शिखामिव विभावसोः॥15.32||
तां स्मृतीमिव सन्दिग्धाम् वृद्धिं निपतितामिव।

स॥धूम्रजालेन संसक्तां विभावसौ शिखामिव संदिग्धाम् स्मृतीं इव निपतितं ऋद्धमिव ताम् ( ददर्श)||

Govinda Raja says - ऋद्धिं संपदम् निपतितां क्षीणाम्, Treasure that has deteriorated ;

Rama Tika says- निपतितं ऋद्धमिव भीत्या चौरादिभिः क्क्वचिन्निक्षिप्ताम् ऋद्धिम् - treasure that was hidden by the robbers who were scared of being caught

Rama Tika says - संदिग्धाम् अर्थनिश्चयविषयक संदेह विशिष्टां स्मृतीं स्मृतिं इव; like a Smriti saying which was difficult to state firmly

||Sloka meanings||

धूम्रजालेन संसक्तां -
obscured by a cloud of smoke
विभावसौ शिखामिव -
like a flame of fire obscured
संदिग्धाम् स्मृतीं इव -
like a text of Smriti of doubtful meaning
निपतितं ऋद्धमिव -
like a hidden away treasure
(ताम् ददर्श) - (saw her)

||Sloka summary||

"She was like a flame of fire obscured by a cloud of smoke, like a text of Smriti of doubtful meaning, like a hidden away treasure." ||15.32||

||Sloka 15.33||

विहता मिव च श्रद्धां आशां प्रतिहतामिव॥15.33||
सोपसर्गां यथासिद्धिं बुद्धिं स कलुषामिव।

स॥ विहतामिव श्रद्धां च आशां प्रतिहतां इव सोपसर्गां सिद्धिम् इव सकलुषां बुद्धिमिव ||

Rama Tika says- नास्तिकबुद्ध्या अनादृतां श्रद्धामिव, प्रतिहतां लाभा अभावात् निवृत्ताम् आशां इव, सोपसर्गाम् विघ्नैः संयुक्तां सिद्धिं इव, सकलुषां संशयादिना विशिष्टां बुद्धिं इव। Like faith which was shaken by ignorance, hope lost by likely losses, intellect that was beset with doubts.

||Sloka meanings||

विहतामिव श्रद्धां - like a lost faith
आशां प्रतिहतां इव - a hope obstructed
सोपसर्गां सिद्धिम् इव - success inhibited
सकलुषां बुद्धिमिव - vitiated intellect

||Sloka summary||

"She was like lost faith, a hope obstructed, success inhibited , vitiated intellect."

||Sloka 15.34||

अभूतेनापवादेन कीर्तिं निपतितामिव ||15.34||
रामोपरोधव्यधितां रक्षोहरण कर्शिताम्।

स॥अभूतेन अपवादेन निपतितां कीर्तिमिव रामोपरोधव्यधितां रक्षोहरण कर्शितां (ताम् ददर्श)||

Rama Tika says - "रामोपरोधेन रामसेवा निरोधेन व्यधितां", troubled by the fact of being obstructed from serving Rama

||Sloka meanings||

अभूतेनापवादेन निपतितां कीर्तिमिव -
like a fame soiled by false allegation
रक्षोहरण कर्शितां -
emaciated on account being kidnapped by the Rakshasa
रामोपरोधव्यधितां -
troubled by separation from Rama

||Sloka summary||

"She was like a fame soiled by false allegation, troubled by separation from Rama, emaciated on account being kidnapped by the Rakshasa." ||15.34||

||Sloka 15.35,36||

अबलां मृगशाबाक्षीं वीक्षमाणां तत स्ततः॥15.35||
भाष्पाम्बुपरिपूर्णेन कृष्णवक्राक्षिपक्ष्मणा।
वदनेनाप्रसन्नेन निश्स्वसन्तीं पुनः पुनः॥15.36||

स॥ मृगशाबाक्षीं भाष्पाम्बुपरिपूर्णेन कृष्णवक्राक्षि पक्ष्मणा अप्रसन्नेन वदनेन ततः ततः वीक्षमाणं पुनः पुनः निश्स्वसन्तीं अबलां ||

||Sloka meanings||

मृगशाबाक्षीं - Fawn eyed
भाष्पाम्बुपरिपूर्णेन - with eyes full of tears
कृष्णवक्राक्षि पक्ष्मणा - with black curved eyelashes
अप्रसन्नेन वदनेन - with an unhappy face
ततः ततः वीक्षमाणं - looking here and there
पुनः पुनः निश्स्वसन्तीं अबलां - lady sighing again and again

||Sloka summary||

"Fawn eyed, with an unhappy face, with eyes full of tears with black curved eyelashes sighing again and again she was ( anxiously) looking here and there." ||15.35,36||

||Sloka 15.37||

मलपङ्कधरां दीनां मण्डनार्हां अमण्डिताम्।
प्रभां नक्षत्रराजस्य कालमेघैरिवावृताम्॥15.37||

स॥ मलपङ्कधरां दीनां मण्डनार्हां अमण्डिताम् कालमेघैः आवृतां नक्षत्रराजस्य प्रभां इव॥

॥Sloka meanings||

मलपङ्कधरां दीनां -
covered with dust and looking dejected
मण्डनार्हां अमण्डिताम् -
not adorned though deserved to be adorned
कालमेघैः आवृतां -
covered by black clouds
नक्षत्रराजस्य प्रभां इव -
like the radiance of the king of stars

||Sloka summary||

"She was covered with dust and looking dejected, not adorned though deserved to be adorned, like the radiance of the king of stars, covered by black clouds."||15.37||

||Sloka 15.38||

तस्य संदिदिहे बुद्धिः मुहुः सीतां निरीक्ष्यतु।
आम्नायानां अयोगेन विद्यां प्रशिथिलामिव॥15.38||

स॥ आम्नायानां अयोगेन प्रशिथिलां विद्यां इव सीतां निरीक्ष्य तस्य बुद्धिः तु मुहुः संदिदिहे॥

॥Sloka meanings||

आम्नायानां अयोगेन इव-
like the Vedic knowledge which is not practiced
प्रशिथिलां विद्यां - faded knowledge
सीतां निरीक्ष्य - Looking at Sita
तस्य बुद्धिः तु - his mind also
मुहुः संदिदिहे - wavered again and again

||Sloka summary||

"She was like the Vedic knowledge that faded for want of recitation. Looking at her Hanuman's mind also wavered." ||15.38||

||Sloka 15.39||

दुःखेन बुबुधे सीतां हनुमाननलङ्कृताम्।
संस्कारेण यथा हीनां वाचं अर्थांतरं गतम्॥15.39||

स॥ हनुमान् अनलंकृताम् संस्कारेण हीनं अर्थांतरं गतं वाचं यथा सीतां दुःखेन बुबुधे॥

Tilaka Tika says- दुःख बोध्यत्वे हेतुः - अनलंकृताम् इति। संस्कारेणेति स्नानुलेपादिः अङ्ग संस्कारः। वाचो व्याकरणज्ञानादिजः संस्कारः। देवौ अर्थान्तरगतत्वं देशान्तरगतत्वम् । वाचस्तु विवक्षितार्थात् अन्यार्थ बोधकत्वम् । वाचोऽर्थं यथा व्याकरणाद्याभ्यास दुःखेन व्युत्पत्तिं संपाद्य बुध्यते, तद्वत् सीतां कष्टेन बुबुधे।

Rama Tika says- संस्कारेण यथोचित स्नानादि रूप संस्कृत्या हीनाम्, अत एव अर्थान्तर गतां वाचं इव अनलंकृतां सीताम् दुःखेन बुबुधे।

॥Sloka meanings||

अनलंकृताम् सीतां - Sita devoid of decoration
संस्कारेण हीनं - by lack of practice
अर्थांतरं गतं वाचं - like the word changing its meaning
हनुमान् दुःखेन बुबुधे - Hanuma recognized with difficulty

||Sloka summary||

"Hanuman with difficulty recognized Sita devoid of decoration like the difficulty in recognizing a word that lost its meaning for want of usage." ||15.39||

||Sloka 15.40||

तां समीक्ष्य विशालाक्षीं राजपुत्रीं अनिंदिताम्।
तर्कयामास सीतेति कारणैरुपपादिभिः॥15.40||

स॥ अनिंदितां राजपुत्रीं विशालाक्षीं समीक्ष्य तां सीता इति कारणैः उपपादिभिः तर्कयामास॥

Rama Tika says - " तां सीतां समीक्ष्य कारणैः हेतुभिः उपपादयन् सन् इयं सीतेति तर्कयामास अनुमानेन निश्चयं चकार" ; meaning that by logical reasoning and right signs Hanuman confirmed his thought that she is indeed Sita.

||Sloka meanings||

अनिंदितां राजपुत्रीं -
blameless princess
विशालाक्षीं समीक्ष्य -
seeing the princess of wide eyes
तां सीता इति - she is indeed Sita.
कारणैः उपपादिभिः तर्कयामास -
by right signs and reasons Hanuman came to the conclusion

||Sloka summary||

"Seeing that blameless princess of wide eyes, by right signs and reasons Hanuman came to the conclusion that she is indeed Sita." ||15.40||

||Sloka 15.41||

वैदेह्या यानि चाङ्गेषु तदा रामोऽन्वकीर्तयत्।
तान् आभरणजालानि गात्रशोभीन्यलक्षयत्॥15.41||

स॥ तदा रामः यानि आभरणजालानि वैदेह्याः अंगेषु अन्वकीर्तयत् गात्रशोभिनि तानि अलक्षयत् ||

||Sloka meanings||

तदा रामः यानि आभरणजालानि -
the ornaments which Rama
वैदेह्याः अंगेषु अन्वकीर्तयत् -
described as being worn by Vaidehi
गात्रशोभिनि तानि अलक्षयत् -
those ornaments adding grace to her were seen

||Sloka summary||

"Hanuman observed that the ornaments which Rama
described as being worn by Vaidehi, those ornaments adding grace to her were seen on Vaidehi." ||15.41||

||Sloka 15.42||

सुकृतौ कर्णवेष्टौ च श्वदंष्ट्रौ च सुसंस्थितौ।
मणिविद्रुम चित्राणि हस्तेष्वाभरणानि च ||15.42||
श्यामानि चिरयुक्तत्वात् तथा संस्थानवंति च।

स॥ सुकृतौ कर्णवेष्टौ सुसंस्थितौ श्वंदष्ट्रौ च हस्तेषु मणिविद्रुम चित्राणि आभरणानि च चिरयुक्तत्वात् श्यामानि संस्थानवंति च ||

||Sloka meanings||

सुकृतौ कर्णवेष्टौ -
well-crafted ear ornaments,
सुसंस्थितौ श्वंदष्ट्रौ च -
properly fitting Svadamshtras
हस्तेषु मणिविद्रुम चित्राणि आभरणानि च -
ornaments on hands wonderfully variegated corals and gems.
चिरयुक्तत्वात् -
due to constant use for long time
श्यामानि संस्थानवंति च -
blackened leaving marks on her body.

||Sloka summary||

"He also observed well-crafted ear ornaments, properly fitting Svadamshtras and on hands wonderfully variegated corals and gems. The ornaments blackened due to constant use have left marks on her body."||15.42||

||Sloka 15.43,44||

तान्ये वैतानि मन्येऽहं यानि रामोऽन्वकीर्तयत्॥15.43||
तत्रया न्यवहीनानि तान्यहं नोपलक्षये |
यान्यस्या नावहीनानि तान् इमानि नसंशयः॥15.44||

स॥यानि रामः अन्वकीर्तयत् तान्येव अहं मन्ये। तत्र यानि अवहीनानि तानि अहं नोपलक्ष्ये |अस्याः यानि न अवहीनानि तानि इमानि संशयः न॥

॥Sloka meanings||

यानि रामः अन्वकीर्तयत् -
those ornaments that Rama has described
तान्येव अहं मन्ये - those are the same ones I think.
तत्र यानि अवहीनानि - those that were dropped
तानि अहं नोपलक्ष्ये - I do not see them
अस्याः यानि न अवहीनानि - the ones that are not dropped
तानि इमानि संशयः न - are these I have no doubt

||Sloka summary||

"Those ornaments that Rama has described are the same ones I think. The ornaments that were dropped are not on her. The ones that are not dropped are these I have no doubt." ||15.43,44||

||Sloka 15.45||

पीतं कनकपट्टाभं स्रस्तं तद्वसनं शुभम्।
उत्तरीयं नगासक्तं तदा द्रष्टुं प्लवङ्गमैः॥15.45||

स॥ पीतं कनकपट्टाभं शुभं उत्तरीयं स्रक्तं नगासक्तं तत् वस्त्रं तदा प्लवङ्गमैः द्रष्टं॥

॥Sloka meanings||

पीतं कनकपट्टाभं -
yellow, shining like gold
शुभं उत्तरीयं -
auspicious upper cloth
स्रक्तं नगासक्तं तत् वस्त्रं -
that garment, slipped and stuck to the trees
तदा प्लवङ्गमैः द्रष्टं -
then seen by the Vanaras

||Sloka summary||

"That auspicious yellow upper cloth shining like gold, slipped from Sita and stuck to the trees, is the one seen by the Vanaras." ||15.45||

||Sloka 15.46||

भूषणानि च मुख्यानि दृष्टानि धरणी तले।
अनयैवापविद्दानि स्वनवन्ति महन्ति च॥15.46||

स॥ नयैव धरणी तले अपविद्धानि स्वनवन्ती महन्ति मुख्यानि भूषणानि च द्रष्टानि॥

॥Sloka meanings||

नयैव धरणी तले अपविद्धानि -
by her alone dropped on the ground
स्वनवन्ती महन्ति मुख्यानि भूषणानि -
those excellent and choicest ornaments dropped making jingling noise
च द्रष्टानि - were seen too

||Sloka summary||

"Those excellent choice ornaments that make jingling noises, which were thrown down on the ground by her were seen too". ||15.46||

||Sloka 15.47||

इदं चिरगृहीतत्वात् व्यसनं क्लिष्टवत्तरम्।
तथाऽपि नूनं तद्वर्णं तथा श्रीमत् यथेतरत्॥15.47||

स॥ इदं वसनं चिरगृहीतत्वात् क्लिष्टवत्तरम् तथापि नूनं तद्वर्णं इतरत् यथा तथा श्रीमत्॥

॥Sloka meanings||

इदं वसनं चिरगृहीतत्वात् - this cloth worn too long,
क्लिष्टवत्तरम् तथापि - crumpled. then
नूनं तद्वर्णं - Surely its color
इतरत् यथा तथा श्रीमत्- shining like another fresh cloth

||Sloka summary||

"This cloth worn long, thus is looking crumpled. Even so its color is shining like another fresh cloth."||15.48||

||Sloka 15.48||

इयं कनकवर्णाङ्गी रामस्य महिषी प्रिया |
प्रणष्टाऽपि सती याऽस्य मनसो न प्रणस्यति॥15.48||

स॥ इयं कनकवर्णाङ्गी रामस्य प्रिया महिषी सती या प्रणष्टापि अस्य मनसः नप्रणस्यति ||

||Sloka meanings||

इयं कनकवर्णाङ्गी - This lady of golden complexion
रामस्य प्रिया महिषी सती - Rama's beloved queen
या प्रणष्टापि - though lost ( being carried away)
अस्य मनसः न प्रणस्यति - does not disappear from his mind

||Sloka summary||

". This lady of golden complexion, Rama's beloved queen even though lost ( being carried away) does not disappear from his mind".

||Sloka 15.49,50||

इयं सा यत्कृते रामश्चतुर्भिः परितप्यते।
कारुण्ये नानृशंस्येन शोकेन मदनेन च॥15.49||
स्त्री प्रणष्टेति कारुण्यात् आश्रितेत्यानृशंस्यतः।
पत्नी नष्टेति शोकेन प्रियेति मदनेन च॥15.50||

स॥ यत् कृते रामः प्रणष्टा स्त्री इति कारुण्यात् आश्रितेति अनृशंस्यतः नष्टा पत्नी इति शोकेन प्रिया इति मदनेन कारुण्येन आनृशंस्येन शोकेन मदनेन चतुर्भिः परितप्यते सा इयं॥

॥Sloka meanings||

प्रणष्टा स्त्री इति कारुण्यात् -
lost with compassion because she is woman,
आश्रितेति अनृशंस्यतः -
because of gentleness for one who took refuge
नष्टा पत्नी इति शोकेन -
sorrow because she is his wife
प्रिया इति मदनेन -
passion because she is his love".
कारुण्येन आनृशंस्येन शोकेन मदनेन -
compassion, gentleness, sorrow and passion
चतुर्भिः परितप्यते -
thus with fourfold concerns Rama is suffering

||Sloka summary||

" Rama is lost with compassion because she is woman, because of gentleness for one who took refuge, sorrow because she is his wife, passion because she is his love, thus with fourfold concerns Rama is suffering

||Sloka 15.51||

अस्या देव्या यथा रूपं अङ्गप्रत्यङ्ग सौष्टवम्।
रामस्य च यथारूपं तस्येय मसितेक्षणा॥15.51||

स॥ अस्याः देव्याः रूपं अङ्गप्रत्यङ्गसौष्टवं यथा च तस्य रूपं यथा इयं असितेक्षणा॥

॥Sloka meanings||

अस्याः देव्याः रूपं - her divine charming form
अङ्गप्रत्यङ्गसौष्टवं यथा - with perfect limbs
तस्य रूपं यथा - a match for Rama's form too
इयं असितेक्षणा - he black eyed Sita too

||Sloka summary||

"The black eyed Sita and her divine charming body with perfect limbs are a match for Rama's form too. ||15.51||

||Sloka 15.52||

अस्या देव्या मनस्तस्मिन् तस्य चास्यां प्रतिष्टितम्।
तेनेयं स च धर्मात्मा मुहूर्तमपि जीवति॥15.52||

स॥ अस्याः देव्याः मनः तस्मिन् तस्य अस्यां प्रतिष्टितं। तेन इयं धर्मात्मा स च मुहूर्तमपि जीवति॥

॥Sloka meanings||

अस्याः देव्याः मनः तस्मिन् -
her divine mind is fixed on Rama
तस्य अस्यां प्रतिष्टितं -
his mind is fixed on her.
तेन इयं धर्मात्मा -
for this reason righteous Rama
स च मुहूर्तमपि जीवति -
she too are able to survive till this moment".

||Sloka summary||

"Her divine mind is fixed on Rama . His mind is fixed on her. For this reason she and righteous Rama are able to survive till this moment". ||15.52||

||Sloka 15.53||

दुष्करं कृतवान् रामो हीनोयदनया प्रभुः।
धारय त्यात्मनो देहं न शोके नावसीदति॥15.53||

स॥ प्रभुः रामः अनया हीनः आत्मनः देहं धारयति इति यत् शोकेन न अवसीदति दुष्करं कृतवान् ||

||Sloka meanings||

प्रभुः रामः अनया हीनः -
Lord Ram in separation from her
आत्मनः देहं धारयति इति -
sustaining himself,
यत् शोकेन न अवसीदति -
without allowing himself to sink and perish
दुष्करं कृतवान् -
accomplished a difficult task

||Sloka summary||

"Lord Rama has accomplished a difficult task in sustaining himself, without allowing himself to sink and perish during separation from her"||15.54|

||Sloka 15.54||

दुष्करंकुरुते रामो य इमां मत्तकासिनीम्।
सीतां विना महाबाहुः मुहूर्तमपि जीवति॥15.54||

स॥ यः इमाम् सीतां मत्तकाशिनीं विना मुहूर्तमपि जीवति महाबाहुः रामः दुष्करं कुरुते॥

॥Sloka meanings||

यः इमाम् सीतां -
this Sita
मत्तकाशिनीं विना -
without the lady of intoxicating luster
मुहूर्तमपि जीवति -
live even for a moment
महाबाहुः रामः दुष्करं कुरुते -
indeed a difficult task accomplished by strong armed Rama.||

||Sloka summary||

"That without Sita, a lady of intoxicating luster , he is able to live even for a moment is indeed a difficult task accomplished by strong armed Rama".||15.54||

||Sloka 15.55||

एवं सीतां तदा दृष्ट्वा हृष्टः पवन संभवः।
जगाम मनसा रामं प्रशशंस च तं प्रभुम्॥15.55||

स॥ पवनसंभवः तदा सीतां दृष्ट्वा एवं हृष्टः मनसा रामं जगां तां प्रभुं प्रशशंस च॥

॥Sloka meanings||

पवनसंभवः तदा सीतां दृष्ट्वा -
the son of wind god seeing Sita
हृष्टः - delighted
मनसा रामं जगां - reached Rama in his mind
तां प्रभुं प्रशशंस च - praised that Lord

||Sloka summary||

"The son of wind god seeing Sita , delighted , reached Rama in his mind thus and praised that lord."||15.55||

Thus on finding Sita, Hanuma was delighted thinking about both Rama and Sita.

This is also the last sloka of the fifteenth Sarga

Thus Sarga 15 is the story of Hanuman finally seeing Sita in that Ashoka grove.

Throughout Sundarakanda, Sita is seen three forms.

(1) As Lakshmi the consort of the Lord of Lords

(2) She has taken the form of Sita and appeared on earth as Janaka's daughter. She is worshipped by Hanuman as Sita.

(३) She is the universal mother. As the universal mother she is arbiter between the Paramatman and Jivatman , and is the one who unites the two .

She is the one indirectly helps in making the friendship between Vibhishana and Rama

Even though Ravana does not hear, she makes her attempt to tell Ravana to make friendship with Rama

Acting like a common being , she shows how one in separation from the Paramatman should strive to reach Paramatman..

Even as part of the outer shell of the story , she shows how a virtuous woman acts in separation from her husband .

Thus we see Sita in many different forms

We must also see the messages she give in her different forms.

Thus ends Sarga 15 of Sundarakanda

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये वाल्मीकीये
चतुर्विंशत्सहस्रिकायां संहितायाम्
श्रीमत्सुंदरकांडे पंचदशस्सर्गः॥

॥om tat sat ||