||om tat sat||
विमानुत्तु सुसंक्रम्य प्राकारं हरियूथपः।
हनुमान्वेगवानासीत् यथा विद्युद्घनांतरे॥1||
स॥ हरियूथपः विमानात् सुसंक्रम्य प्राकारं वेगवान् यथा विद्युत् घनांतरे आसीत्॥
The Vanara leader speedily jumped from the aerial chariot to the boundary wall in a flash like a lightning.

Sundarakanda
Sarga 13

The Vanara leader speedily jumped from the aerial chariot to the boundary wall in a flash like a lightning.

Not having been able to see Sita, going around the palace of Ravana Hanuman said the following to himself.

'To do what pleases Rama I went around Lanka searching for Sita thoroughly. Still I could not see Vaidehi of beautiful limbs. I searched waterbodies, tanks, lakes, similarly streams rivers along the woods, all places difficult to reach, mountains and all over Lanka, but I could not see Sita. The king of birds Sampati told us that Sita is in Ravana's palace. But I cannot find her'.

'Could it be that Sita, the daughter of Janaka dejected and helpless succumbed to the evil intentions of Ravana? When Ravana was flying at high speed out of fear of Rama's arrows while bringing Sita, could she have been dropped in the middle? While being carried away on the path travelled by Siddhas, I think the noble lady with a broken, heart seeing the ocean, fell down out of fear. With Ravana's speedy flight and being held by the pressure of his arms I think she might have given up her life. As he was flying higher and higher, the daughter of Janaka wriggling hard to extricate herself might have fallen in the ocean. While protecting her chastity, the pious Sita distanced from close ones might have been eaten up by Ravana. Or else Sita the pious lady with black eyes might have been eaten up by the cruel wives of Ravana'.

'The poor lady with face like a full moon, with eyes like lotus petals always meditating on Rama may have attained death. Vaidehi, the princess of Mithila while crying 'Oh Rama O Lakshmana O Ayodhya", might have given up her life. Or else I think in Ravana's palace she might have been imprisoned like a bird myna in the cage and surely crying. The daughter of Janaka, wife of Rama, the lady with beautiful waist and eyes like lotus petals, how could she come under Ravana's control? Whether Rama's dear wife, the daughter of Janaka, is lost or irrecoverable or dead , reporting the same to Rama is not proper. Informing the same is improper. Not informing is also not proper. What to do for me is difficult. In this regard when the things take such a turn what is proper?'.

Hanuman deliberated once again.

'Without seeing Sita if I go to the city of the Vanara king then what is my accomplishment. This effort of crossing of the ocean, entering Lanka, seeing the Rakshasas would all be futile. What will Sugriva or the assembled Vanaras or the two sons of Dasaratha say once I reach Kishkindha. After reaching If I tell Rama the unpleasant news that Sita was not seen by me then he will give up his life. After hearing the harsh dreadful cruel sharp words about Sita which can scorch the senses, Rama will not live. Seeing him, who has given up his life, and in that painful state the wise Lakshmana will not survive. Hearing that the two brothers are dead even Bharata will not survive. Seeing Bharata too dead Shatrughna will not survive. Then seeing the death of their sons mothers Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi will not survive. There is no doubt'.

'Grateful, truthful Sugriva, the leader of Vanaras, seeing Rama lost , will then give up his life. Grieved on account of husband's death, distressed, unhappy, tormented Ruma will give up her life. Troubled by the death of Vali, grieving Tara too will not live on hearing the death of the King. With the death of his parents and the loss of Sugriva, how will prince Angada keep his life? Vanaras overpowered with grief over their king will hit their heads with their palms and fists. Reared by the illustrious Vanara king with respect, good words and gifts , the Vanaras too will give up their life. Vanara chiefs will not get together to enjoy sports in the forests or mountains or caves again. Troubled by the happenings related to the king the Vanaras along with wives and sons, the counselors, will fall down from the peaks, plains and uneven grounds. Vanaras will perish by poison or hanging or fire or entering into a fast or using a weapon'.

'I think my going (there without seeing Sita) will result in the destruction of Ikshwakus and the destruction of Vanaras and there will be a great hue and cry. So I will not go to Kishkindha. I am not seeing Sugriva without Maithili. By my not going and staying here, the righteous and great warriors will survive on hope. The high souled Vanaras too will survive. Not having seen Sita, with food available to hand and mouth and strictly living on fruits, roots and water, living on the land near the sea coast I will live like a hermit. Having made a pyre I will lit the same with fire sticks and enter. Or seated here I will fast unto death. Then wild beasts and crows will eat me. If I do not see Janaki I will enter water. This way of giving up life is suggested by great Rishis I think. Not having seen Sita, this long night which started well, lovely, glorious and famous is now wasted. Strictly sitting under a tree I will become an ascetic. Without seeing Sita that black-eyed one I will not go back from here. If I go back from here without seeing Sita the Vanaras along with Angada will die'.

'Death has many sins. By living one will see auspicious events. So I will keep my life, for a living one happiness is certain'.

Thus the best of Vanaras having thought in many ways, holding his sorrow in the mind could not reach the other end of his grief.

He continued thinking.

'I will kill the ten headed Ravana. Dead Sita's desire will be fulfilled. That will be a fitting reply. Or else carrying him across the ocean I shall offer him to Rama like a bull offered to Siva. The Vanara unable to find Sita with a mind overcome with grief started again thinking further. Till I see Sita, the famous wife of Rama, I will keep searching in Lanka again and again. If I had brought Rama based on Samapati's words, unable to see Sita, Rama would have burnt all Vanaras. With limited food, controlling my senses I will stay here. For my fault, those Vanaras shall not perish'.

'This Ashoka grove seen with tall trees has not been searched by me. I will go here. After offering salutations to Vasus, Adityas, and Ashwins I will proceed to increase the sorrow for the Rakshasas. After defeating all Rakshasas, as an offering to the ascetic, I will give Rama to her'. Thus overpowered by worries for a while, Hanuman, the brilliant son of wind god got up after reflecting. 'Salutations to Rama along with Lakshmana. Salutations to the divine lady the daughter of Janaka. Salutations to Rudra Indra Yama and Vayu. Salutations to Sun Moon and Maruts'.

That Maruti having offered salutations to all, including Sugriva, then looking in all directions moved towards the Ashoka grove. That Vanara, the son of wind god, having entered the auspicious looking Ashoka grove started thinking. 'This Ashoka grove with many trees, surely guarded by many Rakshasas is carefully tended. It must be sacred.The Rakshasa guards posted here are protecting the trees. Divinity part of all beings is not creating agitation. In the interest of Rama's wishes as well as for protecting myself from Ravana, I have made myself small'.

'May gods here along with all the legions of Rishis give me success. May the Svayambhu Brahma, Devas , Agni, Vayu , Indra who is invoked in all sacrifices, the one holding Pasa, Varuna, Soma, Aditya, the two Aswins, Marut all of them give me success. May the Lords of all beings and quarters help me to succeed. May those whom I could not see also bring me success'.

'That noble lady with high nose, white teeth, with pleasing smile, with eyes like lotus petals, who appears like a pleasant moon , when will I see her? How will I see the frail, gentle, and suffering lady, abducted by a mean sinner and a man of cruel deeds who is endowed with dreadful look.'

Thus Hanuman entered Ashoka Grove thinking about Sita.

Thus ends Sarga 13 of Sundarakanda in Valmiki Ramayana , which is the very first poem of Sanskrit literature.

||om tat sat||
नमोsस्तु रामाय सलक्ष्मणायै
देव्यै च तस्यै जनकात्मजायै।
नमोsस्तु रुद्रेंद्रयमानिलेभ्यो
नमोsस्तु चंद्रार्क मरुद्गणेभ्यः॥59||
स॥ स लक्ष्मणाय रामाय नमः अस्तु। देव्यै तस्यै जनकात्मजायै च । रुद्रेंद्रयमानिलेभ्यो रुद्र इंद्र यम अनिलः एतेभ्यो नमः अस्तु। चन्द्रार्कमरुत् गणेभ्यः नमः अस्तु॥
Salutations to Rama along with Lakshmana. Salutations to the divine lady the daughter of Janaka. Salutations to Rudra Indra Yama and Vayu. Salutations to Sun Moon and Maruts.
||om tat sat||