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|| om tat sat||
Sundarakanda
Sarga 17
(with meanings and summary)

First we go through the 17th Sarga in brief.

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||

tataḥ kumudaṣaṇḍābō nirmalō nirmalaṁ svayaṁ|
prajagāma nabhaścandrō haṁsō nīlamivōdakam||17.01||

sa|| tataḥ kumudaṣaṇḍābhaḥ svayaṁ nirmalaḥ candraḥ nirmalaṁ nabhaḥ jagāma yathā haṁsaḥ nīlaṁ udakaṁ iva||

||Sloka meanings||

tataḥ kumudaṣaṇḍābhaḥ -
then shining like a bed of lilies
svayaṁ nirmalaḥ candraḥ -
blemish less Moon being himself clear,
nirmalaṁ nabhaḥ jagāma -
rose up in the clear skies
yathā haṁsaḥ nīlaṁ udakaṁ iva -
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||

sācivya miva kurvan sa prabhayā nirmalaprabhaḥ
candramā raśmibhiḥ śītaiḥ siṣēvē pavanātmajam||17.02||

sa||nirmalaprabhaḥ saḥ caṁdramā sa prabhayā raśmibhiḥ śītaiḥ pavanātmajaṁ sācivyaṁ kurvan śiṣēvē |

||Sloka meanings||

nirmalaprabhaḥ saḥ caṁdramā -
that moon spreading clear light
sa prabhayā raśmibhiḥ śītaiḥ -
with his cool rays and his brightness
pavanātmajaṁ sācivyaṁ kurvan -
to minister the son of wind god
śiṣēvē - 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, "caṁdrōpisācivya mivāsya kurvan' (2-57), we hear about the rising moon "uttiṣṭatēnaika sahasraraśmiḥ". Then again in Sarga 5 saying, "madhyaṁgataṁ aṁśumaṁtaṁ"(5-1), we hear about the moon in the middle part of the sky. Here saying "prajagāma nabhaścaṁdrō"(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||

sa dadarśa tatassītāṁ pūrṇacandra nibhānanām|
śōkabhārairiva nyastāṁ bhārairnāvamivāmbhasi||17.03||

sa||tataḥ pūrṇacandra nibhānanām aṁbhasi nyastām bhāraiḥ nāvaṁ iva śōkabhāraiḥ ( nyastām) sītāṁ saḥ dadarśa||

||Sloka meanings||

pūrṇacandra nibhānanām -
one whose face is like the full moon
aṁbhasi nyastām bhāraiḥ nāvaṁ iva-
like a heavy boat sinking in the ocean
śōkabhāraiḥ nyastām sītāṁ -
one who is carrying heavy burden of sorrow
saḥ dadarśa - 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||

didr̥kṣamāṇō vaidēhīṁ hanumān mārutātmajaḥ|
sa dadarśā vidūrasthā rākṣasīḥ ghōradarśanāḥ||17.04||

sa||vaidēhīṁ didr̥kṣamāṇaḥ hanumān mārutātmajaḥ saḥ vidūrasthā ghōradarśanā rākṣasīḥ dadarśa||

||Sloka meanings||

vaidēhīṁ didr̥kṣamāṇaḥ -
( while) looking at Vaidehi
hanumān mārutātmajaḥ -
Hanuman , the son of Vayu
vidūrasthā - not too far
ghōradarśanā rākṣasīḥ-
hideous looking Rakshasa women
dadarśa - 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||

ēkākṣīṁ ēkakarṇāṁ ca karṇa pravaraṇāṁ tathā|
akarṇāṁ śaṁkukarṇāṁ ca mastakōchchvāsanāśikām||17.05||
atikāyōttamāṅgī ca tanudīrghaśirōdharāṁ|
dhvasthakēśīṁ tathā్'kēśīm kēśakambaḷadhāriṇīm||17.06||
lambakarṇalalāṭaṁ ca lambōdarapayōdharām|
lambōṣṭīṁ cubukōṣṭīṁ ca lambasyāṁ lambajānukām||17.07||

sa|| ēkākṣīṁ ēka karṇāṁ tathā karṇapravaraṇāṁ akarṇāṁ śaṁkukarṇām mastaka ucchvāsanāśikām (dadarśa)|| tanu dīrghaśirō dharām atikāya uttamāṅgīṁ dhvasta kēśīṁ tathā akēśīṁ kēśakambala dhāriṇīṁ dadarśa|| lamba karṇa lalāṭaṁ ca lamba:udara payōdharām lambōṣṭīṁ cubukōṣṭīṁ lambasyāṁ lambajānukām dadarśa||

||Sloka meanings||

ēkākṣīṁ ēka karṇāṁ tathā karṇapravaraṇāṁ -
with one eye , with ears covering the body,
akarṇāṁ śaṁkukarṇām -
without ears, with pointed ears
mastaka ucchvāsanāśikām -
those breathing through the nose on their head
tanu dīrghaśirō dharām -
one having thin and long neck
atikāya uttamāṅgīṁ -
one with big body, one with excellent limbs
dhvasta kēśīṁ tathā akēśīṁ -
one whose hair has receded, one without hair
kēśakambala dhāriṇīṁ -
one who has hair all over like a blanket
lambakarṇalalāṭaṁ ca -
one having long ears
lamba:udara payōdharām -
long stomach and drooping breasts
lambōṣṭīṁ cubukōṣṭīṁ -
one with drooping lips, one with lips extending to chin
lambasyāṁ lambajānukām dadarśa -
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||

hrasvāṁ dīrghāṁ tathā kubjāṁ vikaṭāṁ vāmanāṁ tathā|
karāḷāṁ bhugnavaktrāṁ ca piṅgākṣīṁ vikr̥tānanām||17.08||
vikr̥tāḥ piṅgaḷāḥ kāḷīḥ krōdhanāḥ kalahapriyāḥ|
kālāyasa mahāśūla kūṭamudgara dhāriṇīḥ||17.09||
varāha mr̥ga śārdūla mahiṣāja śivāmukhīḥ|
gajōṣṭra hayapādīśca nikhātaśirasō parāḥ||17.10||

sa|| hrasvāṁ dīrghāṁ tathā kubjāṁ vikaṭāṁ vāmanāṁ tathā karāḷāṁ bhughnavaktrāṁ piṁgākṣīṁ vikr̥tānanām dadarśa || vikr̥tāḥ piṁgaḷāḥ kālīḥ krōdhanāḥ kalahapriyāḥ kālāyasa mahāśūla kūṭamudgara dhāriṇīḥ ||varāha mr̥ga śārdūla mahiṣāja śivāmukhīḥ gaja uṣṭra haya pādīḥ aparāḥ nikhāta śirasaḥ ||

||Sloka meanings||

hrasvāṁ dīrghāṁ tathā kubjāṁ -
Some are short. Some are tall. Some are like hunchbacks
vikaṭāṁ vāmanāṁ tathā -
Some have ugly looks. Some are dwarfs
karāḷāṁ bhughnavaktrāṁ piṁgākṣīṁ -
Some have gaping mouths and some have distorted faces, some have brown eyes
vikr̥tānanām -
Some have distorted eyes
vikr̥tāḥ piṁgaḷāḥ kālīḥ -
Some have distorted form. Some are of brown color. Some are black
krōdhanāḥ kalahapriyāḥ -
Some are angry looking. Some are quarrelsome.
kālāyasa mahāśūla kūṭamudgara dhāriṇīḥ-
Some are holding spears, mallets and hammers.
varāha mr̥ga śārdūla mahiṣāja śivāmukhīḥ -
Some have the face of a boar, deer, goat, buffalo, jackal
gaja uṣṭra haya pādīḥ -
Some have feet like an elephant, camel, or horse.
aparāḥ nikhāta śirasaḥ -
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||

ēkahastaikapādāśca kharakarṇyaśvakarṇikāḥ|
gōkarṇī hastikarṇīca harikarṇī stathāparā||17.11||
anāsā atināsāśca tiryajñnāsa vināsikāḥ|
gajasannibhanāsāśca lalāṭōcchvāsanāsikāḥ||17.12||

sa|| ēka hasta ēkapādāḥ ca kharakarṇa aśvakarṇikāḥ gōkarṇī hastikarṇī ca tathā aparā harikarṇī ca dadarśa|| anāsā atināsāḥ ca tiryajñāsā vināsikāḥ gajasannibha nāsāḥ ca lalāṭa:ucchvāsanāsikāḥ ca ||

||Sloka meanings||

ēka hasta ēkapādāḥ -
some had only one hand, some had one leg.
kharakarṇa aśvakarṇikāḥ -
some have the ears of a donkey, some had ears of a horse.
gōkarṇī hastikarṇī ca -
some had the ears of a cow, some had ears of an elephant
tathā aparā harikarṇī ca -
others had ears like that of a monkey
anāsā atināsāḥ ca -
some without nose, some are with a big nose
tiryajñāsā vināsikāḥ -
Some are with a crooked nose. Some are with a nose without nostrils
gajasannibha nāsāḥ ca -
some are with a nose like that of an elephant
lalāṭa:ucchvāsanāsikāḥ ca-
some are with a nose on the forehead
(dadarśa - 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||

hastipādā mahapādā gōpādāḥ pādacūḷikāḥ|
atimātra śirōgrīvā atimātrakucōdarī||17.13||
atimātrāsyanētrāśca dīrghajihvā nakhāstathā|
ajāmukhīḥ hastimukhīḥ gōmukhīḥ sūkarīmukhīḥ||17.14||

sa|| hastipādāḥ mahāpādāḥ gōpādāḥ pādacūḷikāḥ ca atimātraśirōgrīvāḥ atimātrakucōdarīḥ ca||atimātrāsyanētrāḥ ca dīrghajihvā nakhāḥ tathā ajāmukhīḥ hastimukhīḥ gōmukhīḥ sūkarīmukhīḥ ca ||

||Sloka meanings||

hastipādāḥ mahāpādāḥ gōpādāḥ -
with feet of an elephant, with huge feet, feet of a cow
pādacūḷikāḥ ca -
some with hair grown on the feet
atimātraśirōgrīvāḥ -
some have a huge head and neck
atimātrakucōdarīḥ ca -
some have huge breasts and stomachs
atimātrāsyanētrāḥ ca -
some have huge mouths and eyes
dīrghajihvā nakhāḥ tathā -
some have long tongues, similarly long nails.
ajāmukhīḥ hastimukhīḥ -
some had the face of a goat, some had face of an elephant,
gōmukhīḥ sūkarīmukhīḥ ca -
some had face of a cow, some had face of a pig (cūcenu)

||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||

hayōṣṭra kharavaktrāśca rākṣasīrghōradarśanāḥ|
śūlamudgara hastāśca krōdhanāḥ kalahapriyāḥ||17.15||

sa|| haya uṣṭra khara vaktrāḥ ca ghōra darśanāḥ rākṣasīḥ śūlaṁ udgara hastāḥ ca krōdhanāḥ kalahapriyāḥ ca dadarśa||

||Sloka meanings||

haya uṣṭra khara vaktrāḥ ca-
Some have the face of a horse, camel or a donkey.
ghōra darśanāḥ rākṣasīḥ -
some are with a terrifying form
śūlaṁ udgara hastāḥ -
some were holding tridents and crow bars in their hands
krōdhanāḥ kalahapriyāḥ ca -
some are looking angry and some are looking ready for a quarrel.
dadarśa - 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||

karāḷā dhūmrakēśīśca rākṣasīrvikr̥tānanāḥ|
pibantīssatataṁ pānaṁ sadā māṁsa surā priyāḥ||17.16||
māṁsa śōṇitadigdhāṅgī māṁsaśōṇitabhōjanāḥ|
tā dadarśa kapiśrēṣṭhō rōmaharṣaṇadarśanāḥ||17.17||
skandhavanta mupāsīnāḥ parivārya vanaspatim|

sa|| karāḷāḥ dhūmrakēśīḥ ca vikr̥tānanāḥ ca satataṁ pānaṁ pibantīḥ rākṣasīḥ māṁsa surā priyāḥ dadarśa|| māṁsa śōṇīta digdhāṅgīḥ māṁsaśōṇita bhōjanāḥ rōmaharṣaṇa darśanāḥ skaṁdhavaṁtaṁ vanaspatiṁ parivārya upāsīnāḥ tāṁ kapiśrēṣṭhaḥ dadarśa||

||Sloka meanings||.

karāḷāḥ dhūmrakēśīḥ-
some have gaping mouths. Some have smoke colored hair.
vikr̥tānanāḥ ca -
some hideous eyes and faces
satataṁ pānaṁ pibantīḥ rākṣasīḥ -
some were always drinking
māṁsa surā priyāḥ -
some who love meat and drinks
māṁsa śōṇīta digdhāṅgīḥ -
some others whose bodies were smeared with flesh and blood
māṁsaśōṇita bhōjanāḥ -
some who feed on flesh and blood,
rōmaharṣaṇa darśanāḥ -
some whose look creates horripilation,
skaṁdhavaṁtaṁ vanaspatiṁ parivārya -
around the massive trunk of the tree
upāsīnāḥ tāṁ kapiśrēṣṭhaḥ dadarśa -
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. ēkākṣi, ēka karṇa, akarṇa, śaṁkhukarṇa, laṁbakarṇa, atikāya, dhvasta kēśi, kēśakaṁbaḷadhāriṇi, laṁbōdara, laṁbōṣṭi, laṁbāsya, laṁbajānuka . What does these names tell us? These are manifestations of the Rajo Tamo Gunas.

||Sloka 17.18,20||

tasyādhastācca tāṁ dēvīṁ rājaputrīṁ aniṁditām||17.18||
lakṣayāmāsa lakṣmīvān hanumān janakātmajām|

sa|| lakṣmīvān hanumān tasya adhastāt rājaputrīṁ janakātmajām anaṁditāṁ tāṁ dēvīṁ lakṣayāmāsa||

Govindaraja says - lakṣmīvān sītādarśana janita śōbhāyuktaḥ

||Sloka meanings||

lakṣmīvān hanumān -
richly endowed Hanuman
tasya adhastāt - under that tree
aniṁditāṁ rājaputrīṁ janakātmajām -
blameless princess the daughter of Janaka
tāṁ dēvīṁ lakṣayāmāsa -
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 lakṣmīvān! Why? Govindaraja says- sītādarśana janita śōbhāyuktaḥ; because of his having been able to see Sita, he was shining auspiciously..

||Sloka 17.19||

niṣprabhāṁ śōkasaṁtaptāṁ malasaṁkulamūrdhajām||17.19||
kṣīṇapuṇyāṁ cyutāṁ bhūmau tārāṁ nipatitāmiva|

sa|| niṣprabhāṁ śōkasaṁtaptāṁ malasaṁkulamūrdhajām kṣīṇa puṇyāṁ cyutāṁ bhūmau nipātitāṁ tārāṁ iva||

||Sloka meanings||

niṣprabhāṁ śōkasaṁtaptāṁ -
shorn of luster, drenched in sorrow
malasaṁkulamūrdhajām -
disheveled and dusty
kṣīṇa puṇyāṁ tārāṁ iva cyutāṁ bhūmau -
looking like a star having lost its merits
cyutāṁ bhūmau nipātitāṁ - 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||

cāritra vyapadēśāḍhyāṁ bhartr̥darśanadurgatām||17.20||
bhūṣaṇairuttamārhīnāṁ bhartr̥vātsalyabhūṣaṇām

sa|| cāritravyapadēśāḍyāṁ bhartr̥darśanadurgatāṁ uttamaiḥ bhūṣaṇaiḥ hīnāṁ bhartr̥vātsalya bhūṣaṇām||

||Sloka meanings||

cāritravyapadēśāḍyāṁ -
lady having a high history for her chastity
bhartr̥darśanadurgatāṁ -
being in the unfortunate state of not able to see her husband
uttamaiḥ bhūṣaṇaiḥ hīnāṁ -
devoid of excellent ornaments
bhartr̥vātsalya bhūṣaṇām -
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||

rākṣasādhipasaṁruddhāṁ baṁdhubhiśca vinākr̥tām||17.21||
viyūdhāṁ siṁhasaṁruddhāṁ baddhāṁ gajavadhūmiva|

sa|| baṁdhubhiḥ vinā rākṣasādhipa saṁruddhāṁ ca kr̥taṁ viyūdhāṁ siṁhasaṁruddhāṁ baddhāṁ gajavadhūṁ iva||

||Sloka meanings||

baṁdhubhiḥ vinā -
separated from her people
rākṣasādhipa saṁruddhāṁ ca -
under the control of the king of demons
kr̥taṁ viyūdhāṁ gajavadhūṁ iva siṁha saṁruddhāṁ -
like a female elephant separated from the herd,
baddhāṁ siṁha saṁruddhāṁ -
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||

candrarēkhāṁ payōdāntē śāradabhrairivāvr̥tām||17.22||
kliṣṭarūpāṁ asaṁsparśā dayuktā miva vallakīm|

sa|| payōdāṁtē śāradabhraiḥ āvr̥taṁ caṁdrarēkhāṁ iva asaṁsparśāt kliṣṭarūpāṁ ayuktāṁ vallakīṁ iva||

Rama Tika says- asaṁsparśāt pati sparśarāhityāt kliṣṭarūpaṁ; ayuktāṁ vādakahīnāṁ vallakīṁ vīṇāṁ iva ;

||Sloka meanings||

caṁdrarēkhāṁ iva -
like a crescent moon
payōdāṁtē śāradabhraiḥ āvr̥taṁ -
covered by autumnal clouds at the end of rainy season
asaṁsparśāt kliṣṭarūpāṁ -
looking haggard being out of touch (with her husband)
ayuktāṁ vallakīṁ iva - like an unused lute

||Sloka summary||

Rama Tika says - asaṁsparśāt pati sparśarāhityāt kliṣṭarūpaṁ; ayuktāṁ vādakahīnāṁ vallakīṁ vīṇāṁ iva ;

"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||

sītāṁ bhartr̥vaśē yuktāṁ ayuktāṁ rākṣasī vaśē||17.23||
aśōkakavanikā madhyē śōkasāgaramāplutām|

sa|| bhartr̥vaśē yuktāṁ rākṣasīvasē ayuktāṁ aśōkakavanikā madhyē śōkasāgaraṁ āplutām (sītāṁ dadarśa)||

||Sloka meanings||

bhartr̥vaśē yuktāṁ -
deserves to be under power of her husband
rākṣasīvasē ayuktāṁ -
inappropriate under the vigil of Rakshasa women
aśōkakavanikā madhyē -
in the middle of the Ashoka grove
śōkasāgaraṁ āplutām -
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||

tābhiḥ parivr̥tāṁ tatra sagraha miva rōhiṇīm||17.24||
dadarśa hanumān dēvīṁ latāmakusumāmiva|

sa|| tatra sagrahāṁ rōhiṇīṁ iva tābhiḥ parivr̥tāṁ ākusumāṁ latāṁ iva dēvīṁ hanumān dadarśa||

||Sloka meanings||

tatra sagrahāṁ rōhiṇīṁ iva - like Rohini surrounded by planets.
tābhiḥ parivr̥tāṁ - surrounded by those Rakshasa women
ākusumāṁ latāṁ iva - like a creeper without blossoms
dēvīṁ hanumān dadarśa - 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||

sā malēna digdhāṅgī vapuṣā cāpyalañkr̥tā||17.25||
mr̥ṇāḷī pañkadigdhēna vibhāti na vibhāti ca|

sa|| malēna digdhāṁgī vapuṣā cāpi alaṁkr̥tā sā paṁkadigdhā mr̥ṇālīva vibhāti na vibhāti ca||

||Sloka meanings||

malēna digdhāṁgī vapuṣā cāpi -
though with all her limbs smeared with dirt though
alaṁkr̥tā sā -
she was looking decorated
paṁkadigdhā mr̥ṇālīva -
like lotus smeared with mud
vibhāti na vibhāti ca -
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||

malinēnatu vastrēṇa parikliṣṭēna bhāminīm||17.26||
saṁvr̥tāṁ mr̥ga śābākṣīṁ dadarśa hanumān kapiḥ|

sa|| kapiḥ hanumān parikliṣṭēna malinēna vastrēṇa saṁvr̥tāṁ bhāminīṁ mr̥ga śābākṣīṁ dadarśa||

||Sloka meanings||

kapiḥ hanumān -
the Vanara Hanuman
parikliṣṭēna malinēna vastrēṇa saṁvr̥tāṁ-
covered with soiled and crushed clothes.
bhāminīṁ mr̥ga śābākṣīṁ dadarśa - saw the fawn eyed lady

||Sloka summary||

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

||Sloka 17.27||

tāṁ dēvīṁ dīnavadanāṁ adīnāṁ bhartr̥tējasā||17.27||
rakṣitāṁ svēna śīlēna sītāṁ asitalōcanām|

sa|| dīnavadanāṁ bhartr̥tējasā adīnāṁ aśitalōcanām svēna śīlēna rakṣitāṁ tāṁ sītāṁ dadarśa||

||Sloka meanings||

dīnavadanāṁ -
with a face showing pathos
bhartr̥tējasā adīnāṁ -
not dejected by virtue of her husband's prowess
aśitalōcanām -
lady with black eyes,
svēna śīlēna rakṣitāṁ -
protected by her own noble character
tāṁ sītāṁ dadarśa -
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||

tāṁ dr̥ṣṭvā hanumān sītāṁ mr̥gaśābanibhēkṣaṇām||17.28||
mr̥ga kanyāmiva trastāṁ vīkṣamāṇāṁ samantataḥ|

sa|| tāṁ mr̥ga śāba nibhēkṣaṇām sītāṁ dr̥ṣṭvā hanumān trastāṁ vīkṣamāṇāṁ mr̥ga kanyāṁ iva (manyē)||

||Sloka meanings||

tāṁ mr̥ga śāba nibhēkṣaṇām -
one who has eyes like that a fawn
sītāṁ dr̥ṣṭvā -
seeing Sita
mr̥ga kanyāṁ iva -
like a female deer
trastāṁ vīkṣamāṇāṁ -
frightened and looking all around.
hanumān (manyē) -
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||

dahantīmiva niśśvāsaiḥ vr̥kṣān pallavadhāriṇaḥ||17.29||
saṁghātamiva śōkānāṁ dukha syōrmi mivōtthitāṁ|

sa|| sā niḥśvāsaiḥ vr̥kṣān pallavadhāriṇaḥ dahaṁtīṁ iva śōkānāṁ saṁghātamiva śōkānāṁ duḥkhasya ivōtthitāṁ ūrmiṁ iva tāṁ hanumataḥ manyē||

||Sloka meanings||

tāṁ hanumataḥ manyē- Hanuman thought that she
sā niḥśvāsaiḥ - with her breathing
pallavadhāriṇaḥ vr̥kṣān dahaṁtīṁ iva -
burning the blossoms of the trees
śōkānāṁ saṁghātamiva -
like a mass of sorrow
śōkānāṁ duḥkhasya ivōtthitāṁ ūrmiṁ iva -
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||

tāṁ kṣamāṁ suvibhaktāṁgīṁ vinābharaṇaśōbhinīm||17.30||
praharṣamatulaṁ lēbhē mārutiḥ prēkṣya maithilīm|

sa|| tāṁ kṣamāṁ suvibhaktāṁgīṁ vinābharaṇaśōbhinīṁ maithilīm prēkṣya mārutiḥ atulaṁ praharṣaṁ lēbhē||

||Sloka meanings||

kṣamāṁ suvibhaktāṁgīṁ -
tolerant lady, with shining limbs
vinābharaṇaśōbhinīṁ -
shining through she is devoid of ornaments
tāṁ maithilīm prēkṣya -
seeing that Maithili
mārutiḥ atulaṁ praharṣaṁ lēbhē -
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||

harṣajāni ca sō'śrūṇi tāṁ dr̥ṣṭvāmadirēkṣaṇām|
mumucē hanumāṁ statra namaścakrē ca rāghavaṁ ||17.31||

sa|| tāṁ madirēkṣaṇāṁ tatra dr̥ṣṭvā harṣajāni aśrūṇi mumucē | rāghavaṁ ca namaḥ cakrē ||

||Sloka meanings||

tāṁ madirēkṣaṇāṁ -
lady with intoxicating eyes
tatra dr̥ṣṭvā - seeing
harṣajāni aśrūṇi mumucē - shed tears of joy
rāghavaṁ ca namaḥ cakrē - 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||

namaskr̥tvāca rāmāya lakṣmaṇāya ca vīryavān|
sītādarśanasaṁhr̥ṣṭō hanumān saṁvr̥tō'bhavat||17.32||

sa|| sītā darśana saṁhr̥ṣṭaḥ vīryavān rāmāya lakṣmaṇāya ca namaskr̥tvā hanumān saṁvr̥tō abhavat ||

||Sloka meanings||

sītā darśana saṁhr̥ṣṭaḥ -
delighted on being able to see Sita
vīryavān rāmāya lakṣmaṇāya ca namaskr̥tvā -
having paid obeisance to Rama and Lakshmana
hanumān saṁvr̥tō abhavat -
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.
śravaṇaṁ( hearing about Supreme being)
manana ( thinking of supreme being ) ,
dhyāna ( meditating on the supreme being) ,
darśana ( 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 "madhyaṁgataṁ", 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 "prajagāma nabhaḥ caṁdrō", 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.
smr̥ti, siddhi, āśa, buddhi, kīrti, pūja, vidya, vāk , agniśikha. vidya, vāk, kīrti 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- sītādarśana janita śōbhāyuktaḥ. Hanuman is shining because of his having been able to see Sita.

This is the main thought of Sarga 17.

ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē ādikāvyē vālmīkīyē
caturviṁśat sahasrikāyāṁ saṁhitāyām
śrīmatsuṁdarakāṁḍē saptadaśassargaḥ||

||om tat sat||