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

|| om tat sat||

Sundarakanda
Sarga 17
(with meanings and summary)

The story of 17th Sarga can be summarized as follows.

As Hanuman is perched on the Simsupa tree to see Sita, the blemish less moon who has been lending a helping hand, rose up in the clear skies as if with his clear light and cool rays he wanted to serve the son of wind god.

Then Hanuman looked at Sita. She was surrounded by many Rakshasa women. Women of many different and terrifying forms. Hanuman saw the fawn eyed lady covered with soiled and crushed clothes. He saw Sita with a face showing pathos, but not dejected by virtue of her husband's prowess.
He saw the lady with black eyes, protected by her own noble character. Seeing Maithili the tolerant lady, with shining limbs, shining though she is devoid of ornaments, Hanuman felt immeasurable joy. Seeing the lady with intoxicating eyes Hanuman shed tears of joy. He paid obeisance to Rama too.

Delighted on being able to see Sita, having paid obeisance to Rama and Lakshmana Hanuman covered himself in the tree.

That is the summary of Sarga 17.
Now we go through the meanings of the Slokas

||Sloka 17.01||

ततः कुमुदषण्डाबो निर्मलो निर्मलं स्वयं।
प्रजगाम नभश्चन्द्रो हंसो नीलमिवोदकम्॥17.01||

स॥ ततः कुमुदषण्डाभः स्वयं निर्मलः चन्द्रः निर्मलं नभः जगाम यथा हंसः नीलं उदकं इव॥

॥Sloka meanings||

ततः कुमुदषण्डाभः -
then shining like a bed of lilies
स्वयं निर्मलः चन्द्रः -
blemish less Moon being himself clear,
निर्मलं नभः जगाम -
rose up in the clear skies
यथा हंसः नीलं उदकं इव -
like a swan swimming through blue waters

||Sloka summary||

"Then the blemish less Moon being himself clear, shining like a bed of lilies, rose up in the clear skies like a swan swimming through blue waters." ||17.01||

||Sloka 17.02||

साचिव्य मिव कुर्वन् स प्रभया निर्मलप्रभः
चन्द्रमा रश्मिभिः शीतैः सिषेवे पवनात्मजम्॥17.02||

स॥निर्मलप्रभः सः चंद्रमा स प्रभया रश्मिभिः शीतैः पवनात्मजं साचिव्यं कुर्वन् शिषेवे |

||Sloka meanings||

निर्मलप्रभः सः चंद्रमा -
that moon spreading clear light
स प्रभया रश्मिभिः शीतैः -
with his cool rays and his brightness
पवनात्मजं साचिव्यं कुर्वन् -
to minister the son of wind god
शिषेवे - served

||Sloka summary||

"The moon was spreading clear light as if he wanted to serve the son of wind god, with his clear light and cool rays." ||17.02||

The Sarga as already stated starts with the description of the Moon.

We heard about moon on two other occasions. In the Sarga 2 saying, "चंद्रोपिसाचिव्य मिवास्य कुर्वन्' (2-57), we hear about the rising moon "उत्तिष्टतेनैक सहस्ररश्मिः". Then again in Sarga 5 saying, "मध्यंगतं अंशुमंतं"(5-1), we hear about the moon in the middle part of the sky. Here saying "प्रजगाम नभश्चंद्रो"(17-1), we hear about Moon on the western skies. It is as though the Moon is right behind Hanuma, acting as though he is Hanuma's associate in the search .

||Sloka 17.03||

स ददर्श ततस्सीतां पूर्णचन्द्र निभाननाम्।
शोकभारैरिव न्यस्तां भारैर्नावमिवाम्भसि॥17.03||

स॥ततः पूर्णचन्द्र निभाननाम् अंभसि न्यस्ताम् भारैः नावं इव शोकभारैः ( न्यस्ताम्) सीतां सः ददर्श॥

॥Sloka meanings||

पूर्णचन्द्र निभाननाम् -
one whose face is like the full moon
अंभसि न्यस्ताम् भारैः नावं इव-
like a heavy boat sinking in the ocean
शोकभारैः न्यस्ताम् सीतां -
one who is carrying heavy burden of sorrow
सः ददर्श - that Hanuman saw

||Sloka summary||

"Then Hanuman looked at Sita whose face is like the full moon, who is carrying heavy burden of sorrow much like a heavy boat sinking in the ocean." ||17.03||

||Sloka 17.04||

दिदृक्षमाणो वैदेहीं हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः।
स ददर्शा विदूरस्था राक्षसीः घोरदर्शनाः॥17.04||

स॥वैदेहीं दिदृक्षमाणः हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः सः विदूरस्था घोरदर्शना राक्षसीः ददर्श॥

॥Sloka meanings||

वैदेहीं दिदृक्षमाणः -
( while) looking at Vaidehi
हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः -
Hanuman , the son of Vayu
विदूरस्था - not too far
घोरदर्शना राक्षसीः-
hideous looking Rakshasa women
ददर्श - saw .

||Sloka summary||

Hanuman who was looking at Vaidehi, also saw Rakshasa women of dreadful appearance not too far from there .||17.04||

In the following thirteen Slokas we hear the descriptions of Rakshasis guarding Sita

||Sloka 17.05,7||

एकाक्षीं एककर्णां च कर्ण प्रवरणां तथा।
अकर्णां शंकुकर्णां च मस्तकोछ्छ्वासनाशिकाम्॥17.05||
अतिकायोत्तमाङ्गी च तनुदीर्घशिरोधरां।
ध्वस्थकेशीं तथा్ऽकेशीम् केशकम्बळधारिणीम्॥17.06||
लम्बकर्णललाटं च लम्बोदरपयोधराम्।
लम्बोष्टीं चुबुकोष्टीं च लम्बस्यां लम्बजानुकाम्॥17.07||

स॥ एकाक्षीं एक कर्णां तथा कर्णप्रवरणां अकर्णां शंकुकर्णाम् मस्तक उच्छ्वासनाशिकाम् (ददर्श)|| तनु दीर्घशिरो धराम् अतिकाय उत्तमाङ्गीं ध्वस्त केशीं तथा अकेशीं केशकम्बल धारिणीं ददर्श॥ लम्ब कर्ण ललाटं च लम्बउदर पयोधराम् लम्बोष्टीं चुबुकोष्टीं लम्बस्यां लम्बजानुकाम् ददर्श॥

॥Sloka meanings||

एकाक्षीं एक कर्णां तथा कर्णप्रवरणां -
with one eye , with ears covering the body,
अकर्णां शंकुकर्णाम् -
without ears, with pointed ears
मस्तक उच्छ्वासनाशिकाम् -
those breathing through the nose on their head
तनु दीर्घशिरो धराम् -
one having thin and long neck
अतिकाय उत्तमाङ्गीं -
one with big body, one with excellent limbs
ध्वस्त केशीं तथा अकेशीं -
one whose hair has receded, one without hair
केशकम्बल धारिणीं -
one who has hair all over like a blanket
लम्बकर्णललाटं च -
one having long ears
लम्बउदर पयोधराम् -
long stomach and drooping breasts
लम्बोष्टीं चुबुकोष्टीं -
one with drooping lips, one with lips extending to chin
लम्बस्यां लम्बजानुकाम् ददर्श -
one with long face, one with long knees, he saw

||Sloka summary||

"He saw Rakshasa women with one ear, with ears covering the body, without ears, with pointed ears, and those breathing through the nose on their head. He saw Rakshasa women having thin and long neck, Rakshasis whose hair has been scattered, Rakshasis with no hair, Rakshasa women with hair blanketing all over. He saw some Rakshasa women with ears hanging from the forehead. Some had drooping stomachs. Some had drooping breasts. Some had drooping big lips. Some had lips extending up to chin. Some had long faces and some had long knees." ||17.05- 07||

||Sloka 17.08 -10||

ह्रस्वां दीर्घां तथा कुब्जां विकटां वामनां तथा।
कराळां भुग्नवक्त्रां च पिङ्गाक्षीं विकृताननाम्॥17.08||
विकृताः पिङ्गळाः काळीः क्रोधनाः कलहप्रियाः।
कालायस महाशूल कूटमुद्गर धारिणीः॥17.09||
वराह मृग शार्दूल महिषाज शिवामुखीः।
गजोष्ट्र हयपादीश्च निखातशिरसो पराः॥17.10||

स॥ ह्रस्वां दीर्घां तथा कुब्जां विकटां वामनां तथा कराळां भुघ्नवक्त्रां पिंगाक्षीं विकृताननाम् ददर्श || विकृताः पिंगळाः कालीः क्रोधनाः कलहप्रियाः कालायस महाशूल कूटमुद्गर धारिणीः ||वराह मृग शार्दूल महिषाज शिवामुखीः गज उष्ट्र हय पादीः अपराः निखात शिरसः ||

||Sloka meanings||

ह्रस्वां दीर्घां तथा कुब्जां -
Some are short. Some are tall. Some are like hunchbacks
विकटां वामनां तथा -
Some have ugly looks. Some are dwarfs
कराळां भुघ्नवक्त्रां पिंगाक्षीं -
Some have gaping mouths and some have distorted faces, some have brown eyes
विकृताननाम् -
Some have distorted eyes
विकृताः पिंगळाः कालीः -
Some have distorted form. Some are of brown color. Some are black
क्रोधनाः कलहप्रियाः -
Some are angry looking. Some are quarrelsome.
कालायस महाशूल कूटमुद्गर धारिणीः-
Some are holding spears, mallets and hammers.
वराह मृग शार्दूल महिषाज शिवामुखीः -
Some have the face of a boar, deer, goat, buffalo, jackal
गज उष्ट्र हय पादीः -
Some have feet like an elephant, camel, or horse.
अपराः निखात शिरसः -
Others had head shrunk on to the trunk

||Sloka summary||

"Some are short. Some are tall. Some are like hunchbacks. Some have ugly looks. Some are dwarfs. Some have gaping mouths and some have distorted faces. Some have brown eyes. Some have distorted eyes. Some have distorted form. Some are of brown color. Some are black. Some are angry looking. Some are quarrelsome. Some are holding spears, mallets and hammers. Some have the face of a boar, deer, buffalo, jackal. Some have feet like an elephant, camel, or horse. Others had head shrunk on to the trunk." ||17.08 -10||

||Sloka 17.11,12||

एकहस्तैकपादाश्च खरकर्ण्यश्वकर्णिकाः।
गोकर्णी हस्तिकर्णीच हरिकर्णी स्तथापरा॥17.11||
अनासा अतिनासाश्च तिर्यज्ञ्नास विनासिकाः।
गजसन्निभनासाश्च ललाटोच्छ्वासनासिकाः॥17.12||

स॥ एक हस्त एकपादाः च खरकर्ण अश्वकर्णिकाः गोकर्णी हस्तिकर्णी च तथा अपरा हरिकर्णी च ददर्श॥ अनासा अतिनासाः च तिर्यज्ञासा विनासिकाः गजसन्निभ नासाः च ललाटउच्छ्वासनासिकाः च ||

||Sloka meanings||

एक हस्त एकपादाः -
some had only one hand, some had one leg.
खरकर्ण अश्वकर्णिकाः -
some have the ears of a donkey, some had ears of a horse.
गोकर्णी हस्तिकर्णी च -
some had the ears of a cow, some had ears of an elephant
तथा अपरा हरिकर्णी च -
others had ears like that of a monkey
अनासा अतिनासाः च -
some without nose, some are with a big nose
तिर्यज्ञासा विनासिकाः -
Some are with a crooked nose. Some are with a nose without nostrils
गजसन्निभ नासाः च -
some are with a nose like that of an elephant
ललाटउच्छ्वासनासिकाः च-
some are with a nose on the forehead
(ददर्श - saw)

||Sloka summary||

"He saw some Rakshasa women with one hand. Some had one leg. Some have the ears of a donkey. Some had ears of a horse. Some had the ears of a cow. Some had ears of an elephant and others had ears like that of a monkey. Some without nose. Some are with a big nose. Some are with a crooked nose. Some are with a nose without nostrils. Some are with a nose like that of an elephant and some are with a nose on the forehead". ||17.11,12||

||Sloka 17.13,14||

हस्तिपादा महपादा गोपादाः पादचूळिकाः।
अतिमात्र शिरोग्रीवा अतिमात्रकुचोदरी॥17.13||
अतिमात्रास्यनेत्राश्च दीर्घजिह्वा नखास्तथा।
अजामुखीः हस्तिमुखीः गोमुखीः सूकरीमुखीः॥17.14||

स॥ हस्तिपादाः महापादाः गोपादाः पादचूळिकाः च अतिमात्रशिरोग्रीवाः अतिमात्रकुचोदरीः च॥अतिमात्रास्यनेत्राः च दीर्घजिह्वा नखाः तथा अजामुखीः हस्तिमुखीः गोमुखीः सूकरीमुखीः च ||

||Sloka meanings||

हस्तिपादाः महापादाः गोपादाः -
with feet of an elephant, with huge feet, feet of a cow
पादचूळिकाः च -
some with hair grown on the feet
अतिमात्रशिरोग्रीवाः -
some have a huge head and neck
अतिमात्रकुचोदरीः च -
some have huge breasts and stomachs
अतिमात्रास्यनेत्राः च -
some have huge mouths and eyes
दीर्घजिह्वा नखाः तथा -
some have long tongues, similarly long nails.
अजामुखीः हस्तिमुखीः -
some had the face of a goat, some had face of an elephant,
गोमुखीः सूकरीमुखीः च -
some had face of a cow, some had face of a pig (चूचॆनु)

||Sloka summary||

"Some are with the feet of an elephant. Some are with huge feet. Some are with the feet of a cow. Some with hair grown on the feet. Some have a huge head and neck. Some have huge breasts and stomachs. Some have huge mouths and eyes. Some have long tongues, similarly long nails. And some had the face of a goat. Some have the face of an elephant and yet some others are had the face of a pig." ||17.13,14||

||Sloka 17.15||

हयोष्ट्र खरवक्त्राश्च राक्षसीर्घोरदर्शनाः।
शूलमुद्गर हस्ताश्च क्रोधनाः कलहप्रियाः॥17.15||

स॥ हय उष्ट्र खर वक्त्राः च घोर दर्शनाः राक्षसीः शूलं उद्गर हस्ताः च क्रोधनाः कलहप्रियाः च ददर्श॥

॥Sloka meanings||

हय उष्ट्र खर वक्त्राः च-
Some have the face of a horse, camel or a donkey.
घोर दर्शनाः राक्षसीः -
some are with a terrifying form
शूलं उद्गर हस्ताः -
some were holding tridents and crow bars in their hands
क्रोधनाः कलहप्रियाः च -
some are looking angry and some are looking ready for a quarrel.
ददर्श - saw

||Sloka summary||

"Some have the face of a horse, camel or a donkey. Some are with a terrifying form. Some were holding tridents and crow bars in their hands. Some are looking angry and some are looking ready for a quarrel." ||17.15||

||Sloka 17.16,17||

कराळा धूम्रकेशीश्च राक्षसीर्विकृताननाः।
पिबन्तीस्सततं पानं सदा मांस सुरा प्रियाः॥17.16||
मांस शोणितदिग्धाङ्गी मांसशोणितभोजनाः।
ता ददर्श कपिश्रेष्ठो रोमहर्षणदर्शनाः॥17.17||
स्कन्धवन्त मुपासीनाः परिवार्य वनस्पतिम्।

स॥ कराळाः धूम्रकेशीः च विकृताननाः च सततं पानं पिबन्तीः राक्षसीः मांस सुरा प्रियाः ददर्श॥ मांस शोणीत दिग्धाङ्गीः मांसशोणित भोजनाः रोमहर्षण दर्शनाः स्कंधवंतं वनस्पतिं परिवार्य उपासीनाः तां कपिश्रेष्ठः ददर्श॥

॥Sloka meanings||.

कराळाः धूम्रकेशीः-
some have gaping mouths. Some have smoke colored hair.
विकृताननाः च -
some hideous eyes and faces
सततं पानं पिबन्तीः राक्षसीः -
some were always drinking
मांस सुरा प्रियाः -
some who love meat and drinks
मांस शोणीत दिग्धाङ्गीः -
some others whose bodies were smeared with flesh and blood
मांसशोणित भोजनाः -
some who feed on flesh and blood,
रोमहर्षण दर्शनाः -
some whose look creates horripilation,
स्कंधवंतं वनस्पतिं परिवार्य -
around the massive trunk of the tree
उपासीनाः तां कपिश्रेष्ठः ददर्श -
Hanuman saw them sitting.

||Sloka summary||

Some have gaping mouths. Some have smoke colored hair. Some hideous faces. Some were always drinking. Hanuman saw some Rakshasis who love meat and drinks. He also saw some others whose bodies were smeared with flesh and blood , some who feed on flesh and blood, some whose look creates horripilation, and some seated around the massive trunk of the tree.||17.16,17||

in the prceding Slokas we hear about all the Rakshasis guarding Sita.

Their names, which are virtually their descriptions, tells us about them. They are several of them and several types. एकाक्षि, एक कर्ण, अकर्ण, शंखुकर्ण, लंबकर्ण, अतिकाय, ध्वस्त केशि, केशकंबळधारिणि, लंबोदर, लंबोष्टि, लंबास्य, लंबजानुक . What does these names tell us? These are manifestations of the Rajo Tamo Gunas.

||Sloka 17.18,20||

तस्याधस्ताच्च तां देवीं राजपुत्रीं अनिंदिताम्॥17.18||
लक्षयामास लक्ष्मीवान् हनुमान् जनकात्मजाम्।

स॥ लक्ष्मीवान् हनुमान् तस्य अधस्तात् राजपुत्रीं जनकात्मजाम् अनंदितां तां देवीं लक्षयामास॥

Govindaraja says - लक्ष्मीवान् सीतादर्शन जनित शोभायुक्तः

||Sloka meanings||

लक्ष्मीवान् हनुमान् -
richly endowed Hanuman
तस्य अधस्तात् - under that tree
अनिंदितां राजपुत्रीं जनकात्मजाम् -
blameless princess the daughter of Janaka
तां देवीं लक्षयामास -
saw that lady

||Sloka summary||

The richly endowed Hanuman saw the daughter of Janaka, the blameless princess Sita sitting under that tree||17.18||

Here Hanuma is addressed as लक्ष्मीवान्! Why? Govindaraja says- सीतादर्शन जनित शोभायुक्तः; because of his having been able to see Sita, he was shining auspiciously..

||Sloka 17.19||

निष्प्रभां शोकसंतप्तां मलसंकुलमूर्धजाम्॥17.19||
क्षीणपुण्यां च्युतां भूमौ तारां निपतितामिव।

स॥ निष्प्रभां शोकसंतप्तां मलसंकुलमूर्धजाम् क्षीण पुण्यां च्युतां भूमौ निपातितां तारां इव॥

॥Sloka meanings||

निष्प्रभां शोकसंतप्तां -
shorn of luster, drenched in sorrow
मलसंकुलमूर्धजाम् -
disheveled and dusty
क्षीण पुण्यां तारां इव च्युतां भूमौ -
looking like a star having lost its merits
च्युतां भूमौ निपातितां - slipped and fallen on the earth

||Sloka summary||

The lady shorn of luster, drenched in sorrow, disheveled and dusty was looking like a star having lost merits and fallen on the earth ||17.19||

||Sloka 17.20||

चारित्र व्यपदेशाढ्यां भर्तृदर्शनदुर्गताम्॥17.20||
भूषणैरुत्तमार्हीनां भर्तृवात्सल्यभूषणाम्

स॥ चारित्रव्यपदेशाड्यां भर्तृदर्शनदुर्गतां उत्तमैः भूषणैः हीनां भर्तृवात्सल्य भूषणाम्॥

॥Sloka meanings||

चारित्रव्यपदेशाड्यां -
lady having a high history for her chastity
भर्तृदर्शनदुर्गतां -
being in the unfortunate state of not able to see her husband
उत्तमैः भूषणैः हीनां -
devoid of excellent ornaments
भर्तृवात्सल्य भूषणाम् -
ornamented with husband's love

||Sloka summary||

"Hanuman saw the lady having a high history for her chastity, being in the unfortunate state of not able to see her husband, devoid of excellent ornaments, ornamented with husbands love."||17.20||

||Sloka 17.21||

राक्षसाधिपसंरुद्धां बंधुभिश्च विनाकृताम्॥17.21||
वियूधां सिंहसंरुद्धां बद्धां गजवधूमिव।

स॥ बंधुभिः विना राक्षसाधिप संरुद्धां च कृतं वियूधां सिंहसंरुद्धां बद्धां गजवधूं इव॥

॥Sloka meanings||

बंधुभिः विना -
separated from her people
राक्षसाधिप संरुद्धां च -
under the control of the king of demons
कृतं वियूधां गजवधूं इव सिंह संरुद्धां -
like a female elephant separated from the herd,
बद्धां सिंह संरुद्धां -
fettered and surrounded by lions

||Sloka summary||

"Separated from her people and under the control of the king of demons, she was like an elephant separated from the herd, fettered and surrounded by lions." ||17.21||

||Sloka 17.22||

चन्द्ररेखां पयोदान्ते शारदभ्रैरिवावृताम्॥17.22||
क्लिष्टरूपां असंस्पर्शा दयुक्ता मिव वल्लकीम्।

स॥ पयोदांते शारदभ्रैः आवृतं चंद्ररेखां इव असंस्पर्शात् क्लिष्टरूपां अयुक्तां वल्लकीं इव॥

Rama Tika says- असंस्पर्शात् पति स्पर्शराहित्यात् क्लिष्टरूपं; अयुक्तां वादकहीनां वल्लकीं वीणां इव ;

॥Sloka meanings||

चंद्ररेखां इव -
like a crescent moon
पयोदांते शारदभ्रैः आवृतं -
covered by autumnal clouds at the end of rainy season
असंस्पर्शात् क्लिष्टरूपां -
looking haggard being out of touch (with her husband)
अयुक्तां वल्लकीं इव - like an unused lute

||Sloka summary||

Rama Tika says - असंस्पर्शात् पति स्पर्शराहित्यात् क्लिष्टरूपं; अयुक्तां वादकहीनां वल्लकीं वीणां इव ;

"She was like the crescent moon covered by autumnal clouds at the end of rainy season , being untouched with a faint form like an unused lute." ||17.22||

||Sloka 17.23,24||

सीतां भर्तृवशे युक्तां अयुक्तां राक्षसी वशे॥17.23||
अशोककवनिका मध्ये शोकसागरमाप्लुताम्।

स॥ भर्तृवशे युक्तां राक्षसीवसे अयुक्तां अशोककवनिका मध्ये शोकसागरं आप्लुताम् (सीतां ददर्श)||

||Sloka meanings||

भर्तृवशे युक्तां -
deserves to be under power of her husband
राक्षसीवसे अयुक्तां -
inappropriate under the vigil of Rakshasa women
अशोककवनिका मध्ये -
in the middle of the Ashoka grove
शोकसागरं आप्लुताम् -
drowning under a sea of sorrows

||Sloka summary||

"Sita, who deserves to be under power of her husband and inappropriate under the vigil of Rakshasa women, who is in the middle of the Ashoka grove, is drowning under a sea of sorrows." ||17.23||

||Sloka 17.24||

ताभिः परिवृतां तत्र सग्रह मिव रोहिणीम्॥17.24||
ददर्श हनुमान् देवीं लतामकुसुमामिव।

स॥ तत्र सग्रहां रोहिणीं इव ताभिः परिवृतां आकुसुमां लतां इव देवीं हनुमान् ददर्श॥

॥Sloka meanings||

तत्र सग्रहां रोहिणीं इव - like Rohini surrounded by planets.
ताभिः परिवृतां - surrounded by those Rakshasa women
आकुसुमां लतां इव - like a creeper without blossoms
देवीं हनुमान् ददर्श - that lady was seen by Hanuman

||Sloka summary||

"Hanuman saw her, surrounded by those Rakshasa women, looking like Rohini surrounded by planets. She was looking like creeper without blossoms."||17.24||

||Sloka 17.25,26,27||

सा मलेन दिग्धाङ्गी वपुषा चाप्यलञ्कृता॥17.25||
मृणाळी पञ्कदिग्धेन विभाति न विभाति च।

स॥ मलेन दिग्धांगी वपुषा चापि अलंकृता सा पंकदिग्धा मृणालीव विभाति न विभाति च॥

॥Sloka meanings||

मलेन दिग्धांगी वपुषा चापि -
though with all her limbs smeared with dirt though
अलंकृता सा -
she was looking decorated
पंकदिग्धा मृणालीव -
like lotus smeared with mud
विभाति न विभाति च -
shines and does not shine also

||Sloka summary||

"Smeared with dirt though her body looked decorated, she looked like the lotus fiber of a lotus smeared with bud shining yet not shining too."||17.25||

||Sloka 17.26||

मलिनेनतु वस्त्रेण परिक्लिष्टेन भामिनीम्॥17.26||
संवृतां मृग शाबाक्षीं ददर्श हनुमान् कपिः।

स॥ कपिः हनुमान् परिक्लिष्टेन मलिनेन वस्त्रेण संवृतां भामिनीं मृग शाबाक्षीं ददर्श॥

॥Sloka meanings||

कपिः हनुमान् -
the Vanara Hanuman
परिक्लिष्टेन मलिनेन वस्त्रेण संवृतां-
covered with soiled and crushed clothes.
भामिनीं मृग शाबाक्षीं ददर्श - saw the fawn eyed lady

||Sloka summary||

"Hanuman saw the fawn eyed lady covered with soiled and crushed clothes." ||17.26||

||Sloka 17.27||

तां देवीं दीनवदनां अदीनां भर्तृतेजसा॥17.27||
रक्षितां स्वेन शीलेन सीतां असितलोचनाम्।

स॥ दीनवदनां भर्तृतेजसा अदीनां अशितलोचनाम् स्वेन शीलेन रक्षितां तां सीतां ददर्श॥

॥Sloka meanings||

दीनवदनां -
with a face showing pathos
भर्तृतेजसा अदीनां -
not dejected by virtue of her husband's prowess
अशितलोचनाम् -
lady with black eyes,
स्वेन शीलेन रक्षितां -
protected by her own noble character
तां सीतां ददर्श -
Hanuman saw that Sita

||Sloka summary||

"He saw Sita with a face showing pathos, but not dejected by virtue of her husband's prowess. He saw the lady with black eyes, protected by her own noble character." ||17.27||

||Sloka 17.28||

तां दृष्ट्वा हनुमान् सीतां मृगशाबनिभेक्षणाम्॥17.28||
मृग कन्यामिव त्रस्तां वीक्षमाणां समन्ततः।

स॥ तां मृग शाब निभेक्षणाम् सीतां दृष्ट्वा हनुमान् त्रस्तां वीक्षमाणां मृग कन्यां इव (मन्ये)||

||Sloka meanings||

तां मृग शाब निभेक्षणाम् -
one who has eyes like that a fawn
सीतां दृष्ट्वा -
seeing Sita
मृग कन्यां इव -
like a female deer
त्रस्तां वीक्षमाणां -
frightened and looking all around.
हनुमान् (मन्ये) -
Hanuman thought

||Sloka summary||

Seeing Sita who has eyes like that a fawn , Hanuman thought she was looking frightened like a female deer looking all around. ||17.28||

||Sloka 17.29||

दहन्तीमिव निश्श्वासैः वृक्षान् पल्लवधारिणः॥17.29||
संघातमिव शोकानां दुख स्योर्मि मिवोत्थितां।

स॥ सा निःश्वासैः वृक्षान् पल्लवधारिणः दहंतीं इव शोकानां संघातमिव शोकानां दुःखस्य इवोत्थितां ऊर्मिं इव तां हनुमतः मन्ये॥

॥Sloka meanings||

तां हनुमतः मन्ये- Hanuman thought that she
सा निःश्वासैः - with her breathing
पल्लवधारिणः वृक्षान् दहंतीं इव -
burning the blossoms of the trees
शोकानां संघातमिव -
like a mass of sorrow
शोकानां दुःखस्य इवोत्थितां ऊर्मिं इव -
like a rising wave of sorrow

||Sloka summary||

"Hanuman thought that she is burning the blossoms of the trees with her hot breaths, she was looking like a mass of sorrow and like a rising wave of sorrow." ||17.29||

||Sloka 17.30||

तां क्षमां सुविभक्तांगीं विनाभरणशोभिनीम्॥17.30||
प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे मारुतिः प्रेक्ष्य मैथिलीम्।

स॥ तां क्षमां सुविभक्तांगीं विनाभरणशोभिनीं मैथिलीम् प्रेक्ष्य मारुतिः अतुलं प्रहर्षं लेभे॥

॥Sloka meanings||

क्षमां सुविभक्तांगीं -
tolerant lady, with shining limbs
विनाभरणशोभिनीं -
shining through she is devoid of ornaments
तां मैथिलीम् प्रेक्ष्य -
seeing that Maithili
मारुतिः अतुलं प्रहर्षं लेभे -
Hanuman felt immeasurable joy

||Sloka summary||

"Seeing Maithili the tolerant lady, with shining limbs, shining through she is devoid of ornaments, Hanuman felt immeasurable joy." ||17.30||

||Sloka 17.31||

हर्षजानि च सोऽश्रूणि तां दृष्ट्वामदिरेक्षणाम्।
मुमुचे हनुमां स्तत्र नमश्चक्रे च राघवं ||17.31||

स॥ तां मदिरेक्षणां तत्र दृष्ट्वा हर्षजानि अश्रूणि मुमुचे | राघवं च नमः चक्रे ||

||Sloka meanings||

तां मदिरेक्षणां -
lady with intoxicating eyes
तत्र दृष्ट्वा - seeing
हर्षजानि अश्रूणि मुमुचे - shed tears of joy
राघवं च नमः चक्रे - paid obeisance to Rama too.

||Sloka summary||

"Seeing the lady with intoxicating eyes Hanuman shed tears of joy. He paid obeisance to Rama too." ||17.31||

||Sloka 17.32||

नमस्कृत्वाच रामाय लक्ष्मणाय च वीर्यवान्।
सीतादर्शनसंहृष्टो हनुमान् संवृतोऽभवत्॥17.32||

स॥ सीता दर्शन संहृष्टः वीर्यवान् रामाय लक्ष्मणाय च नमस्कृत्वा हनुमान् संवृतो अभवत् ||

||Sloka meanings||

सीता दर्शन संहृष्टः -
delighted on being able to see Sita
वीर्यवान् रामाय लक्ष्मणाय च नमस्कृत्वा -
having paid obeisance to Rama and Lakshmana
हनुमान् संवृतो अभवत् -
Hanuman covered himself

||Sloka summary||

Delighted on being able to see Sita, having paid obeisance to Rama and Lakshmana Hanuman covered himself (in the tree). ||17.32||

The Slokas of the seventeenth Sarga ends with this description of Hanuman pleased with 'darshan" of Sita

Another thougth that gets highlighted through this Sarga is realization of Brahman or Supreme being.

Realization goes through four stages.
श्रवणं( hearing about Supreme being)
मनन ( thinking of supreme being ) ,
ध्यान ( meditating on the supreme being) ,
दर्शन ( being in the presence of Supreme being).

Vanaras and Hanuma hear from Sampati that Sita is in Lanka. That is "Sravana". That was heard in Kishkindha Kanda.

In Sundarakanda we go through the other three stages of Manana, Dhyana and Darshana stages.

(1) Hanuma starts on a mission to enter Lanka and search for Sita. This stage starting under skies with full moon, with Moon himself seemingly helping as we heard in the Sarga 2 is "Manana" Daasa.

(2) Then Hanuma goes through the search He comes across many things . Without letting his focus waver, Hanuma continues the search for Sita. There we hear saying "मध्यंगतं", we hear about Moon right at the midpoint on the sky. Here like the disciple following the teacher's direction and focusing on the thing to be focused Hanuma continues the search. This is Dhyana Dasha.

(3) There after Hanuma enters the Ashoka Van and gets to see Sita. Here saying "प्रजगाम नभः चंद्रो", we hear that Moon has reached the other end. This is Darshana Dasha .

In these three stages the knowledge will gradually become clearer. In Manana Dasha the knowledge is clear and one moves towards the goal. In Dhyana Dasha the knowledge is clearer and there is a focus .Meditation is very focused. In Darshana Dasha one has the most clarity and the realization happens. .

As Hanuma goes through the night with Moon acting like a minister, Hanuman reaches the final stage of being able to see Sita.

Many similes have been used in describing States are all special for Sita.
स्मृति, सिद्धि, आश, बुद्धि, कीर्ति, पूज, विद्य, वाक् , अग्निशिख. विद्य, वाक्, कीर्ति etc are names of Lakshmi .

Seeing that Sita, Hanuma was delighted in his heart. In that delight he pays obeisance to Rama.. His joy overflowed on account being able to see Sita. He sheds tears of joy.

This is the joy of being in the presence of Supreme being. And Hanuma is called "Lakshmivan. "And he certainly is. Govindaraja says- सीतादर्शन जनित शोभायुक्तः. Hanuman is shining because of his having been able to see Sita.

This is the main thought of Sarga 17.

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये वाल्मीकीये
चतुर्विंशत् सहस्रिकायां संहितायाम्
श्रीमत्सुंदरकांडे सप्तदशस्सर्गः॥

॥om tat sat||