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|| om tat sat||

Sundarakanda
Sarga 12.

( with word meanings summary and commentary)

Tika Traya summarizes the Sarga in the following words; citra gr̥ha nikuñjādi nānā sthānē anviṣya aprāpya aprāpta sītā darśanō hanamān tadā rāvaṇēna pramāpaṇādi sambhāvyākr̥takāryatayā svayatna vaiphalyaṁ manvānaḥ sugrīva darśanādiṣu nirviṇṇō'pi nirvēdasya anarthapādakatvaṁ vicintya anirvēdaśyaiva phalōpādakatvaṁ niścinvan punarapi anvēṣṭhuṁ ārabhatē| anviṣṭhākhilapradēśō'pyalabhdasītā darśanaḥ punaśca viṣīdati| iti|| Tika Traya says, having searched in all places and not having found Sita, analyzing all possibilities of Ravana as the cause, realizing his own failure to find Sita makes it difficult to face the King Sugriva etc, realizing the danger of becoming dispirited, realizing the importance of being positive, Hanuma starts his search again. Again having gone through all places and not finding Sita, Hanuma again becomes sad. That is the brief summary of the twelfth Sarga

Though not as brief, the story of the twelfth Sarga can be summarized as follows.

In search for Sita, Hanuman, the son of Vayu , goes through the inner harem of Ravana . But "na cēva tāṁ paśyati" meaning , he was unable to see her. Then Hanuman goes into a deep thought. "I am unable to find Sita", "dhr̥vaṁ hi sītā mriyatē" - meaning that "certainly she might have been dead". But he does not think it is right to go back to Kishkindha. He says to himself - "na mē asti sugrīva samīpagā gatiḥ"- ""should not go near Sugriva" . Thinking further he wonders if his effort has been wasted. "vr̥thā jātō mama śramaḥ"- "My effort has become a waste"

His thinking continues and he wonders. What he can share with the rest of the Vanaras and Jambavan? Realizing that his thinking is going in a gloomy direction, Hanuman recollects a general truth saying, "keeping the gloomy spirits at bay is essential for prosperity and critical for happiness. It is needed to carry on with all affairs at all times. It brings success to any endeavor that a man takes up."

Applying that general truth in his case for the current task on hand, Hanuman decides that he should put forth his best effort and search for Sita again. But unable to see Sita his mind was filled with sorrow.
Hanuman then goes into a deep thought.

That is the story of the twelfth Sarga.

Now we go through the Slokas with meanings and summary

||Sloka 12.01||

sa tasya madhyē bhavanasya mārutiḥ
latāgr̥haṁ ścitragahānniśāgr̥hān|
jagāma sītāṁ pratidarśanōtsukō
na caiva tāṁ paśyati cārudarśanām||12.01||

sa|| saḥ mārutiḥ tasya bhavanasya madhyē sītāṁ prati darśanōtsukaḥ latā gr̥hān citragr̥hān niśāgr̥hān jagāma| cārudarśanām tāṁ na paśyati ēva ||

Rama Tika says- tasya rāvaṇasya bhavanasya madhyē saṁsthitō hanumān sītāṁ prati darśanōtsukaḥ san latāgr̥hān latā chcāditavēśmāni citra gr̥hān anēka vidha citralikhita bhavanāni niśāgr̥hān rātri nivāsa yōgya bhavanāni ca jagāma| sītāṁ ca naiva paśyati||

||Sloka meanings||.

sītāṁ prati darśanōtsukaḥ - anxious to see Sita
saḥ mārutiḥ - that Maruti
tasya bhavanasya madhyē -
in the middle of those palace complex
latā gr̥hān citragr̥hān niśāgr̥hān jagāma -
went to the houses of creepers, picture galleries, night places
cārudarśanām tāṁ na paśyati ēva-
But he could not find the beautiful lady Sita.

||Sloka summary||

That Maruti anxious to see Sita went to the houses of creepers, picture galleries, night places in the middle of those palace complex. But he could not find the beautiful lady Sita. ||12.01||

||Sloka 12.02||

sa ciṁtayāmāsa tatō mahākapiḥ
priyāmapaśyan raghunaṁdanasya tām|
dhruvaṁ hi sītā mriyatē yathā namē
vicinvatōdarśana mēti maithilī||12.02||

sa|| tataḥ mahākapiḥ raghunandanasya priyām tām apaśyan ciṁtayāmāsa | maithilī vicinvataḥ mē yathā darśanam na upaiti sītā dhruvam mriyatē||

||Sloka meanings||

tataḥ mahākapiḥ -
then the great Vanara
raghunandanasya priyām -
beloved of Rama started
tām apaśyan ciṁtayāmāsa -
unable to see (her) started thinking
maithilī vicinvataḥ -
while searching for Mythili
yathā mē darśanam na upaiti -
I am unable to find her.
sītā dhruvam mriyatē -
she might surely be dead

||Sloka summary||

"Then the great Vanara unable to see the beloved of Rama started thinking. "While searching for Mythili I am unable to find her. She might surely be dead."||12.02||

||Sloka 12.03||

sā rākṣasānāṁ pravarēṇa jānakī
svaśīlasaṁrakṣaṇa tatparā satī|
anēna nūnaṁ prati duṣṭa karmaṇā
hatā bhavēt āryapathē parē sthitā||12.03||

sa|| sā jānakī parē āryapathē sthitā svaśīlasaṁrakṣaṇatatparā satī prati duṣṭakarmaṇā anēna rākṣasānāṁ pravarēṇa hatā bhavēt nūnaṁ||

||Sloka meanings||

sā jānakī parē āryapathē sthitā -
that Janaki the follower of noble path
svaśīlasaṁrakṣaṇatatparā satī -
focused on protecting her chastity
prati duṣṭakarmaṇā anēna rākṣasānāṁ pravarēṇa -
by him the evil mind of best of Rakshasas
hatā bhavēt nūnaṁ -
surely must have been killed.

||Sloka summary||

"That Janaki the follower of noble path who wishes to protect her chastity surely must have been killed by him the evil minded king of Rakshasas." ||12.03||

||Sloka 12.04||

virūpa rūpā vikr̥tā vivarcasō
mahānanā dīrghavirūpa darśanāḥ|
samīkṣya sā rākṣasarājayōṣitō
bhayādvinaṣṭā janakēśvarātmajā||12.04||

sa|| (tām) virūparūpāḥ vikr̥tāḥ vivarcasaḥ mahānanāḥ dīrghavirūpa darśanāḥ rākṣasarāja yōṣitaḥ samīkṣya sā janakēśvarātmajā bhayāt vinaṣṭā||

||Sloka meanings||

virūparūpāḥ vikr̥tāḥ vivarcasaḥ -
ugly distorted dull women ,
mahānanāḥ dīrghavirūpa darśanāḥ -
with huge faces, tall and with deformed looks
rākṣasarāja yōṣitaḥ samīkṣya -
looking at women of the Rakshasa King
sā janakēśvarātmajā bhayāt vinaṣṭā -
that daughter of king Janaka may have died out of fear

||Sloka summary||

"Looking at the women of the Rakshasa king, who are ugly, distorted, dull, with huge faces, tall and deformed, that daughter of king Janaka may have died out of fear."||12.04||

||Sloka 12.05||

sītāṁ adr̥ṣṭvāhyanavāpya pauruṣam
vihr̥tya kālaṁ saha vānaraiściram|
na mē'sti sugrīva samīpagā gatiḥ
sutīkṣṇa daṁḍō balavāṁśca vānaraḥ||12.05||

sa|| sītāṁ adr̥ṣṭvā pauruṣaṁ anavāpya vānaraiḥ saha ciraṁ kālaṁ vihr̥tya sugrīva samīpagā gatiḥ nāsti | vānaraḥ (sugrīvaḥ) sutīkṣṇadaṇḍaḥ balavāṁśca||

Rama Tika says- vānaraiḥ saha cirakālaṁ vihr̥tya sītām adr̥ṣṭvā ata ēva pauruṣaṁ puruṣa kāryaṁ anavāpya aprāpya sugrīva samīpagā sugrīva samīpa prāpikā namē gatī mārgaḥ nāsti tatra hētuḥ vānaraḥ sugrīvaḥ tīkṣṇa daṇḍaḥ balavān ca|

Govindaraja adds the following in his Tika - pauruṣaṁ śatr̥viṣaya parākramam | ciraṁ kālaṁ vihr̥tya atikramya ityarthaḥ| It means that the time given for the Vanaras has expired, hence Hanuman says he cannot go back without seeing Sita. That is the comment of Govindaraja

||Sloka meanings||

sītāṁ adr̥ṣṭvā -
without seeing Sita
pauruṣaṁ anavāpya -
without achieving he pride of achievement
vānaraiḥ saha ciraṁ kālaṁ vihr̥tya -
having passed time with Vanaras
sugrīva samīpagā gatiḥ nāsti -
not possible to go near Sugriva.
vānaraḥ (sugrīvaḥ) sutīkṣṇadaṇḍaḥ balavāṁśca -
that Vanara (Sugriva) punishes severely and is powerful.

||Sloka summary||

Without seeing Sita , searching for whom is the pride of achievement, having passed the time limit it is not possible to go to Sugriva. That Sugriva punishes severely and is powerful.||12.05|| .

||Sloka 12.06||

dr̥ṣṭamaṁtaḥ puraṁ sarvaṁ dr̥ṣṭvā rāvaṇayōṣitāḥ |
na sītā dr̥śyatē sādhvī vr̥thājātō mama śramaḥ||12.06||

sa|| sarvaṁ aṁtaḥ puraṁ dr̥ṣṭaṁ| rāvaṇayōṣitāḥ dr̥ṣṭā| sādhvī sītā nadr̥śyatē|mama śramaḥ vr̥thā jātaḥ||

||Sloka meanings||

sarvaṁ aṁtaḥ puraṁ dr̥ṣṭaṁ -
all of the harem has been seen
rāvaṇayōṣitāḥ dr̥ṣṭā -
Ravana women were seen
sādhvī sītā nadr̥śyatē -
pious Sita is not seen
mama śramaḥ vr̥thā jātaḥ -
my effort has gone waste

||Sloka summary||

All the harem has been seen. All the Ravana women were seen. Pious Sita is not seen. My effort has gone waste. ||12.06||

||Sloka 12.07||

kiṁnu māṁ vānarāssarvē gataṁ vakṣyaṁti saṁgatāḥ|
gatvā tatra tvayā vīra kiṁ kr̥taṁ tadvadasya naḥ ||12.07||

sa|| gataṁ māṁ saṁgatāḥ sarvē vānarāḥ kiṁ nu vakṣyaṁti |vīra tatra gatvā tvayā kiṁ kr̥taṁ | tat naḥ vadasva||

||Sloka meanings||

gataṁ māṁ saṁgatāḥ -
once I go back together (meeting me)
sarvē vānarāḥ kiṁ nu vakṣyaṁti -
what will Vanaras say
vīra tatra gatvā tvayā kiṁ kr̥taṁ-
'valiant one ! what have you done after going there?
tat naḥ vadasva -
that you tell us

||Sloka summary||

"Once I go back what will Vanaras say ? 'Valiant one ! what have you done after going there? That you tell us." ||12.07||

||Sloka 12.08||

adr̥ṣṭvā kiṁ pravakṣyāmi tāṁ ahaṁ janakātmajām|
dhruvaṁ prāyamupaiṣyaṁti kālasya vyativartanē||12.08||

sa|| kālasya vyativartanē tāṁ janakātmajāṁ adr̥ṣṭvā kiṁ pravakṣyāmi | dhr̥vaṁ prāyaṁ upaiṣyaṁti||

||Sloka meanings||

kālasya vyativartanē -
having exceeded the time limit
tāṁ janakātmajāṁ adr̥ṣṭvā -
not having seen the daughter of Janaka
kiṁ pravakṣyāmi - what can I say?
dhr̥vaṁ prāyaṁ upaiṣyaṁti -
they will surely sit and wait unto death

||Sloka summary||

"Not having seen the daughter of Janaka what can I say? Having exceeded the time limit, they will surely sit and wait unto death." ||12.08||

||Sloka 12.09||

kiṁ vā vakṣyati vr̥ddhaśca jāṁbavān aṁgadaśca saḥ|
gataṁ pāraṁ samudrasya vānarāśca samāgatāḥ||12.09||

sa|| samudrasya pāraṁ gataṁ (māṁ) vr̥ddhaḥ jāmbavān kiṁ vā vakṣyati | saḥ aṁgadaḥ ca | samāgataḥ vānarāśca|

||Sloka meanings||

samudrasya pāraṁ gataṁ (māṁ)-
Once I cross the sea
vr̥ddhaḥ jāmbavān kiṁ vā vakṣyati -
what will the elder Jambavan say?
saḥ aṁgadaḥ ca samāgataḥ vānarāśca-
Angada and other Vanaras too

||Sloka summary||

"Once I cross the sea what will the elder Jambavan say. What will Angada and other Vanaras who gather say." ||12.09||

||Sloka 12.10||

anirvēda śśriyōmūlaṁ anirvēdaḥ paraṁ sukham|
anirvēdō hi satataṁ sarvārthēṣu pravartakaḥ||12.10||

sa|| anirvēdaḥ śriyaḥ mūlaṁ anirvēdaḥ paraṁ sukhaṁ anirvēdaḥ satatām sarvārthēṣu pravartakaḥ hi

||Sloka meanings||

anirvēdaḥ śriyaḥ mūlaṁ -
Being free from despair is the cause of prosperity
anirvēdaḥ paraṁ sukhaṁ -
Being free from despair leads to ultimate happiness.
anirvēdaḥ satatām -
one free from despair , will always
sarvārthēṣu pravartakaḥ hi -
prevails in achieving all objectives
prayatnamulalōnū saphaluḍu agunu

||Sloka summary||

"Being free from despair is the cause of prosperity. Being free from despair leads to ultimate happiness. one free from despair always prevails in achieving all objectives."||12.10||

||Sloka 12.11||

karōtisaphalaṁ jaṁtōḥ karma yat tat karōti saḥ|
tasmāt anirvēdakr̥taṁ yatnaṁ cēṣṭē'hamuttamam ||12.11||
bhūyastāvat vicēṣyāmi dēśān rāvaṇapālitān|

sa|| yat karma karōti jaṁtōḥ tat saphalaṁ karōti saḥ| tasmāt ahaṁ anirvēdakr̥taṁ uttamam prayatnaṁ cēṣṭē |bhūyaḥ adr̥ṣṭavān rāvaṇapālitān dēśān vicēṣṭāmi tāvat||

Rama Tika says - sō'nirvēdaḥ yat karma jantuḥ karōti tat jantōḥ karma saphalaṁ karōti|

Govindaraja says - ciraṁ nirvēdaṁ kāryahāniḥ syāt iti matvā anirvēdam avalambatē - anirvēda iti|anirvēdaḥ utsāhaḥ tatkr̥taṁ tat prayuktaṁ yatnaṁ cēṣṭē karōmi ityarthaḥ| yat karōti janturiti siddham | jantōḥ sabandhī tatsarvaṁ karma saḥ anirvēda ēva saphalaṁ karōti iti anvayaḥ|

||Sloka meanings||

yat karma karōti jaṁtōḥ -
action performed by a being (free from despair)
tat (anirvēdam) saphalaṁ karōti -
always bears fruit
tasmāt ahaṁ - hence I
anirvēdakr̥taṁ uttamam prayatnaṁ cēṣṭē -
free from despair I will do my best efforts
bhūyaḥ adr̥ṣṭavān -
all places not seen before
rāvaṇapālitān dēśān vicēṣṭāmi-
will see in this land ruled by Ravana

||Sloka summary||

"Action performed by a being free from despair always bears fruit. Therefore without despairing I will do my best efforts. I will look at all places not seen in this land ruled by Ravana." ||12.11||

Here Hanuman who was moving towards despair in his search, being unable to find Sita, remembers a common saying. That being free from despair is the cause of prosperity. Being free from despair leads to ultimate happiness. one free from despair always prevails in achieving all objectives

Remembering this and applying it himself , he decides to proceed with the search without despairing.

This is an example of Hanuma's single minded focus.

||Sloka 12.12,13||

apānaśālā vicitāḥ tathā puṣpagr̥hāṇi ca||12.12||
citraśālāśca vicitā bhūyaḥ krīḍā gr̥hāṇi ca|
niṣkuṭāntara rathyāśca vimānāni ca sarvaśaḥ||12.13||

sa||pānaśālāḥ vicitāḥ |tathā puṣphagr̥hāṇi ca | citraśālāśca vicitāḥ |bhūyaḥ krīḍāgr̥hāṇi ca|niṣkuṭāntara rathyāśca| vimānāni ca| sarvaśaḥ||

||Sloka meanings||

pānaśālāḥ vicitāḥ -
drinking places have been seen
tathā puṣphagr̥hāṇi ca -
garden houses too
citraśālāśca vicitāḥ -
picture galleries too have been seen.
bhūyaḥ krīḍāgr̥hāṇi ca -
again the play houses too
niṣkuṭāntara rathyāśca -
paths through the gardens and mansions were seen
vimānāni ca -
chariot Pushpaka too
sarvaśaḥ -
all places have been seen

||Sloka summary||

"The drinking places are visited. The garden houses too. The picture galleries too. Again all the play houses too. The paths through the gardens and mansions were searched. Everywhere including the chariot Pushpaka were searched." ||12.12,13||

||Sloka 12.14,||

iti saṁcitya bhūyō'pi vicētu mupacakramē|
bhūmigr̥hāṁ ścaitya gr̥hān gr̥hātigr̥hakānapi||12.14||

sa|| iti saṁcitya bhūmi gr̥hān caitya gr̥hān gr̥hātigr̥hakānapi bhūyaḥ api vicētuṁ upacakramē||

Rama Tika says- āpānaśālāprabhr̥tayō mayā vicitāḥ| ataḥ anyatra vicētavyam iti arthaḥ| iti saṁcitya vicētuṁ upakramē| tatra niṣkūṭāntara raththyāḥ gr̥hārāma vīthyāḥ bhūmi gr̥hāḥ bhuvō'ntarālē nirmita bhavanāni, gr̥hāt gr̥hakāḥ gr̥hō'parividyamānagr̥hān iti katakaḥ|

||Sloka meanings||

iti saṁcitya -
having thought as above
bhūmi gr̥hān caitya gr̥hān -
underground houses, temples
gr̥hātigr̥hakānapi -
the houses within houses
bhūyaḥ api vicētuṁ upacakramē -
again started searching

||Sloka summary||

"Having thought as above he again started searching the underground houses, temples, the houses within houses." ||12.14||

||Sloka 12.15,16||

utpatan niṣpataṁ ścāpi tiṣṭhan gaccan punaḥ punaḥ|
apāvr̥ṇvaṁśca dvārāṇi kavāṭānyavaghāṭayan||12.15||

praviśan niṣpataṁ ścāpi prapatan utpatatan api|
sarvamapyavakāśaṁ sa vicacāra mahākapiḥ||12.16||

sa|| saḥ mahākapiḥ punaḥ punaḥ utpatan niṣpataṁścāpi tiṣṭhan gacchan dvārāṇi apāvr̥ṇvan kavāṭāni avaghāṭayan praviśan niṣpataṁścāpi prapatan utpatannapi sarvaṁ api avakāśam vicacāra||

||Sloka meanings||

saḥ mahākapiḥ -
The great Vanara
punaḥ punaḥ utpatan niṣpataṁścāpi -
again and again going up and down
tiṣṭhan gacchan dvārāṇi apāvr̥ṇvan -
stopping for some time and moving, opening doors
kavāṭāni avaghāṭayan -
crossing the doors
praviśan niṣpataṁścāpi -
entering, and exiting
prapatan utpatannapi -
jumping up and down
sarvaṁ api avakāśam vicacāra -
moved about wherever there was scope

||Sloka summary||

"The great Vanara searched again going up and down, stopping for some time and moving, opening and closing doors by crossing, entering, and exiting , jumping up and down. He searched wherever there was scope for search." ||12.15,16||

||Sloka 12.17||

caturaṁguḷamātrō'pi nāvakāśa ssavidyatē|
rāvaṇāṁtaḥpurē tasmin yaṁ kapirnajagāma saḥ||12.17||

sa|| tasmin rāvaṇāṁtaḥpurē saḥ kapiḥ yaṁ na jagāma saḥ avakāśaḥ caturaṁguḷamātrō'pi na vidyatē||

||Sloka meanings||

tasmin rāvaṇāṁtaḥpurē -
in that Ravana's harem
saḥ kapiḥ yaṁ na jagāma -
the places he did not go
saḥ avakāśaḥ -
that space
caturaṁguḷamātrō'pi na vidyatē -
was not even four fingers wide

||Sloka summary||

"In that inner palaces of Ravana's harem he did not leave space of even four fingers. He went through." ||12.17||

||Sloka 12.18||

prākārāntararathyāśca vēdikāścaitya saṁśrayāḥ|
dīrghikāḥ puṣkariṇyaśca sarvaṁ tē nāvalōkitam||12.18||

sa|| prākārāntararathyāśca caityasaṁśrayāḥ vēdikāḥ dīrghikāḥ puṣkariṇaśca sarvam tēna avalōkitam||

||Sloka meanings||

prākārāntararathyāśca-
the lanes inside the boundaries,
vēdikāścaitya saṁśrayāḥ -
around the temples, the pandals,
dīrghikāḥ puṣkariṇaśca -
the wells and ponds.
sarvam tēna avalōkitam -
all of them were searched by him

||Sloka summary||

"He went through the lanes inside the boundaries, around the temples, the pandals, the wells and ponds. He searched all of them." ||12.18||

||Sloka 12.19||

rākṣasyō vividhākārā virūpā vikr̥tāstathā|
dr̥ṣṭā hanumatā tatra natu sā janakātmajā ||19||

sa|| tatra hanumatā vividhākārāḥ vikr̥tāḥ virūpāḥ rākṣasyaḥ dr̥ṣṭā | sā janakātmajā na tu||

||Sloka meanings||

tatra hanumatā rākṣasyaḥ vividhākārāḥ -
there Hanuman saw Rakshasas of different types
vikr̥tāḥ virūpāḥ -
ugly and deformed.
dr̥ṣṭā - saw
sā janakātmajā na tu -
did not see the daughter of Janaka

||Sloka summary||

There Hanuman saw Rakshasas of different types ugly and deformed. But he did not see the daughter of Janaka ||12.19||

||Sloka 12.20||

rūpēṇā pratimā lōkē varā vidhyādharastriyaḥ|
dr̥ṣṭā hanumatā tatra natu rāghavanandinī||20||

sa|| hanumatā tatra lōkē rūpēṇa apratimā varāḥ vidhyādharastriyaḥ dr̥ṣṭā| na tu rāghavanandinī|

||Sloka meanings||

tatra lōkē rūpēṇa apratimā -
there matchless beauty of the world
varāḥ vidhyādharastriyaḥ dr̥ṣṭā -
best Vidyadharas women were seen
na tu rāghavanandinī -
but not the daughter of Janaka

||Sloka summary||

"Hanuman saw Vidyadharas women who are of matchless beauty, but not the daughter of Janaka". ||12.20||

||Sloka 12.21||

nāgakanyā varārōhāḥ pūrṇacaṁdranibhānanāḥ|
dr̥ṣṭā hanumatā tatra natu sītā sumadhyamā||12.21||

sa|| hanumatā tatra varārōhāḥ pūrṇacaṁdra nibhānanāḥ nāgakanyāḥ dr̥ṣṭā| na tu sumadhyamā sītā||

||Sloka meanings||

varārōhāḥ pūrṇacaṁdra nibhānanāḥ -
very lovely women with moon like faces
nāgakanyāḥ dr̥ṣṭā -
daughters of Nagas were seen
na tu sumadhyamā sītā -
but not see Sita with slender waist

||Sloka summary||

"Hanuman saw lovely Naga women with moon like faces, but he did not see Sita with slender waist". ||12.21||

||Sloka 12.22||

pramadhya rākṣasēṁdrēṇa dēvakanyā balāddr̥tāḥ|
dr̥ṣṭā hanumatā tatra natu sā janakanandinī||12.22||

sa||rākṣasēṁdrēṇa pramathya balāt hr̥tāḥ nāgakanyāḥ tatra hanumatā dr̥ṣṭā| na tu sā janakanaṁdinī||

||Sloka meanings||.

rākṣasēṁdrēṇa pramathya -
defeated by the king of Rakshasas
balāt hr̥tāḥ nāgakanyāḥ -
Naga women brought by force
tatra hanumatā dr̥ṣṭā -
there Hanuman saw
na tu sā janakanaṁdinī -
but not Sita

||Sloka summary||

"Hanuman saw the Naga women forcibly taken away after defeating them. But not Sita."||12.22||

||Sloka 12.23||

sō'paśyaṁ stāṁ mahābāhuḥ paśyaṁ ścānyā varastriyaḥ|
viṣasāda muhurthīmān hanumānmārutātmajaḥ||12.23||

sa|| mahābāhuḥ dhīmān mārutātmajaḥ saḥ hanumān tām ( sītāṁ ) apaśyan anyāḥ varastriyaḥ paśyan muhuḥ viṣasāda||

||Sloka meanings||

mahābāhuḥ dhīmān mārutātmajaḥ -
the great armed Vanara, son of wind god
saḥ hanumān tām ( sītāṁ ) apaśyan -
Hanuman, not being able to see Sita
anyāḥ varastriyaḥ paśyan -
seeing other great women
muhuḥ viṣasāda -
again despondent

||Sloka summary||

"Hanuman, the great armed Vanara not being able to see Sita while seeing other great women was again despondent." ||12.23||

||Sloka 12.24||

udyōgaṁ vānarēṁdrāṇāṁ plavanaṁ sāgarasya ca|
vyarthaṁ vīkṣyānilasutaḥ ciṁtāṁ punarupāgamat||12.24||

sa|| anilasutaḥ tāṁ vīkṣya vānarēṁdrāṇām udyōgam sāgarasya ca plavanaṁ ca vyartham (iti cintayāmāsa)| saḥ punaḥ cintām upāgamat||

||Sloka meanings||

anilasutaḥ tāṁ vīkṣya -
Hanuman looking at them
vānarēṁdrāṇām udyōgam -
task assigned by the king of Vanaras
sāgarasya ca plavanaṁ vyartham -
the effort of crossing the sea is wasted
saḥ punaḥ cintām upāgamat -
again he started to brood

||Sloka summary||

"Looking at them, task assigned by the king of Vanaras was lost, the son of wind god felt that the effort of crossing the sea are wasted. Again he started to brood." ||12.24||

||Sloka 12.25||

avatīrya vimānācca hanumān mārutātmajaḥ |
ciṁtāmupajagāmā tha śōkōpahatacētanaḥ||25||

sa|| atha mārutātmajaḥ hanumān vimānāt avatīrya śōkōpahatacētanaḥ ciṁtāṁ upajagāma||

||Sloka meanings||

atha mārutātmajaḥ hanumān -
then Hanuman the son of wind god
vimānāt avatīrya -
got down from the chariot
śōkōpahatacētanaḥ -
with a mind stricken with grief
ciṁtāṁ upajagāma -
started to think

||Sloka summary||

"Then with a mind stricken with grief, the Hanuman got down from the chariot and started to think." ||12.25||

The twelfth Sarga ends with this Sloka

The high point of this Sarga is when he loses his heart on being unable to find Sita and wonders , "vr̥thā jātō mama śrama". That his effort of crossing the ocean has become a waste. But he quickly rouses himself by resorting to an old maxim

The general maxim is that to achieve success in any given task one must work with enthusiasm. That is also the message we hear in this Sarga through Hanuman. .

anirvēdaḥ śriyōmūlaṁ anirvēdaḥ paraṁ sukhaṁ|
anirvēdō hi satataṁ sarvārthēṣu pravartakaḥ||

"Being free from despair is the cause of prosperity. Being free from despair leads to ultimate happiness. Being free from despair is needed to carry on with all affairs at all times."

Here we have interesting commentaries from Tika Traya.

Govinda Tika says - ciraṁ nirvēdaṁ kāryahāniḥ syāt iti matvā anirvēdamavalambatē - anirvēda iti| anirvēda utsāhaḥ tatkr̥taṁ tatprayuktaṁ yat cēṣṭē karōmītyarthaḥ| anirvēda ēva saphalaṁ karōti ityarthaḥ| "Thinking that being distressed for long is damaging he decides to be 'without distress'. It means that 'That action without distress and with enthusiasm is what I will do'. Being without distress only make the being successful"

Ramayana tilaka says: - utsāhasya saṁpattimūlakatvaṁ upapādayan āha - anirvēda iti| To emphasize that enthusiasm is at the root of wealth fortune he said this Aniverda etc"

In Valmiki Ramayan , we hear the general truths of that period and many of them may also be valid today.
The thought about being free from despair or having enthusiasm is one such. Having remembered the maxim , Hanuman tries to apply it for himself says the following.

"karōti saphalaṁ jaṁtōḥ karma yat karōti saḥ|
tasmāt anirvēda kr̥taṁ yatnaṁcēṣṭēhamuttamaṁ"||

" That enthusiasm or being free of distress makes the actions of the beings successful. Therefore, I shall put forth my best effort without feeling despondent. 

Then Hanuma gets on with the search.

The point being made is that even if the effort is not successful , one should not give up and pursue again with renewed enthusiasm". Just as we pursue the goals in normal life in spite of many failures, one should also pursue search for "Self" in spite of many obstacles.

Among thousands of seekers only few achieve the goal of "Self-realization". That search faces innumerable obstacles. Disheartened by the obstacle many give up. Only a few will continue towards the goal in spite of those obstacles. In the search for Self-one has to overcome those obstacles. . Overcome them with vigor and enthusiasm and an unwavering mind. It is not something one overcomes with diffidence .

That is the point conveyed in this Sarga.

ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē ādikāvyē vālmīkīyē
caturviṁśat sahasrikāyāṁ saṁhitāyām
śrīmatsuṁdarakāṁḍē dvādaśassargaḥ||

thus ends the 12th Sarga of Sundarakanda.

||om tat sat||

updated 23/10/2022 0555