Sundarakanda Chapter 51

Hanuman advises Ravana to return Sita !

Chapter 51:

Summary : Hanuman starts by conveying the best wishes of Sugriva the King of Vanaras on whose behalf he is giving the message. Then he recounts the story of SriRama and the friendship of SriRama and Sugriva . He tells Ravana that no body can face the might of SriRama and Lakshmana. He praises Ravana's own efforts and the boon he acquired through penance of being free of death from Devas, Gandharvas etc. Hanuman tellingly reveals that Sugriva being a Vanara belongs none of those groups. SriRama too is only Human. Then he tells Ravana that he cannot escape death at the hands of Srirama !!

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Sundarakanda

Chapter 51

तं समीक्ष्य महासत्त्वं सत्त्ववान् हरिसत्तमः।
वाक्यमर्थवदव्यग्रः तमुवाच दशाननम् ॥

Valorous and powerful Hanuman spoke meaningful words facing Ravana without fear.

अहं सुग्रीव संदेशात् इहप्राप्त स्तवालयम् ।
राक्षसेंद्र हरीशस्त्वां भ्राता कुशलमब्रवीत् ॥
भ्रातुः शृणु समादेशं सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः।
धर्मार्थोपहितं वाक्यं इह चामुत्र च क्षमम् ॥

"I have come to the city of Lamka with the message from Sugriva, the king of Vanaras wishing your welfare like a brother. He asks about your welfare. Please hear this message from Sugriva who is like a brother to you. This is a message of right conduct. This is beneficial in this and the other world too".

राजा दशरथो नाम रथ कुङिरवाजिमान् ।
पितेव बंधुः लोकस्य सुरेश्वर समद्युतिः ॥
ज्येष्ठस्तस्य महाबाहुः पुत्रः प्रियकरः प्रभुः ।
पितुर्निदेशान्निष्क्रांतः प्रविष्टो दंडकावनम् ॥
लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्राता सीताया चापि भार्यया।
रामोनाम महातेजा धर्म्यं पन्थानमाश्रितः ॥

There is a king by name Dasaratha . He has armies of chariots , horses and elephants. He is like a father for all. He has lustre equalling Indra. His eldest son is SriRama who is well built and is dear to all . He is also very powerful and follows righteous conduct .That SriRama along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana entered the forest of Dandaka leaving the kingdom as per the wishes of his father.

तस्य भार्या वने नष्टा सीता पतिमनुव्रता ।
वैदेहास्य सुता राज्ञो जनकस्य महात्मनः ॥
स मार्गमाणास्तं देवीं राजपुत्रस्सहानुजः ।
ऋष्यमूक मनुप्राप्तः सुग्रीवेण समागतः॥
तस्यतेन प्रतिज्ञातं सीतायाः परिमार्गणम् ।
सुग्रीवस्यापि रामेण हरिराज्यं निवेदितम् ॥

His wife Sita too is very virtuous. She is the daughter of Janaka the king of Videha. She has been kidnapped in the forest of Dandaka. That prince along with his brother Lakshmana reached Rishyamuka mountains in search of Sita.There they met Sugriva and they exchanged promisses, Sugriva to search for Sita and Rama to make Sugriva the king of Vanaras .

स सीता मार्गणे व्यग्रः सुग्रीव सत्यसंगरः ।
हरीन् संप्रेषयामास दिशस्सर्वा हरीश्वरः ॥
अहं तु हनुमान्नाम मारुतस्यौरसस्सुतः ।
सीतायास्तु कृते तूर्णं शतयोजनमायतम् ॥
समुद्रं लंघयित्वैव तां दिदृक्षुरिहागतः ।
भ्रमता च मया दृष्टा गृहे ते जनकात्मजा ॥

Sugriva the king of Vanaras and a stickler to truth sent his Vanaras in all directions in search of Sita. My name is Hanuman. I crossed the hundred Yojana long sea and entered Lanka in search of Sita. While moving about in search of Sita I found here here.

कश्च लक्ष्मणमुक्तानां रामकोपानुवर्तिनम् ।
शरणामग्रतः स्थातुं शक्तोदेवासुरेष्वपि ॥
न चापि त्रिषु लोकेषु राजन् विद्येत कश्चन।
राघवस्य व्यलीकं यः कृत्वा सुखमवाप्नुयात्॥
तत् त्रिकालहितं वाक्यं धर्म्यमर्थानुबंधि च।
मन्यस्व नरदेवाय जानकी प्रतिदीयताम् ॥

None among the Devas or Asuras can stand the force of the arrows of Rama and Lakshmana released in anger. O King ! There will be no peace or happiness for any body committing acts of ill will against Sriram the embodiment of righteousness. So please listen to these words which are meaningful and are meant for your welfare. Please restore Sita to Srirama who is like a God among the human beings.

तपस्संतापलब्धस्ते योयं धर्म परिग्रहः ।
न स नाशयितुं न्याय्य आत्मप्राण परिग्रहः॥

You too following right conduct performed severe penance. As a result obtained boons protecting your life against death . Do not lose the results of that penance wilfully.

सुग्रीवो नहिदेवोयं नासुरो न च राक्षसः ।
न दानवो न गंधर्वो न यक्षो न च पन्नगः॥
मानुषो राघवो राजन् सुग्रीवश्च हरीश्वरः।
तस्मात् प्राणपरित्राणं कथं राजन् करिष्यसि ॥

Sugriva does not belong to the groups of Devas, Asuras, Gandharvas, Nagas , Pannagas , or Rakshasas ! He is a Vanara and SriRama is a human being. Hence O King ! how can you save your life against these two.

सत्यं राक्षस राजेंद्र शृणुष्व वचनं मम ।
रामदासस्य दूतस्य वानरस्य विशेषतः ॥

O King I am a servant of Srirama and his messenger. I am a Vanara. Please listen to my words carefully. I am telling the truth.

ब्रह्म स्वयंभूश्चतुराननो वा
रुद्रस्त्रिनेत्र स्त्रिपुरांतको वा ।
इंद्रो महेंद्र स्सुरनायको वा
त्रातुं न शक्ता युधि रामवध्यम् ॥

One whose death is ordained through SriRama , neither Brahma the self born with four faces , nor Rudra the three eyed one who demolished Tripurantaka , nor Mahendra or Indra the Lord of celestials can offer protection.

स सौष्ठवोपेतमदीनवादिनः
कपेर्निशम्या प्रतिमोप्रियं वचः ।
दशाननः कोप विवृत्त लोचनः
समादिशत् तस्य वधं महाकपेः ॥

Hearing the unpalatable yet thoughtful words of advise from the fearless Hanuman , Ravan very much angered ordered that Hanuman be killed..

Thus ends chapter 51 of Sundarakanda

om tat sat .