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|| om tat sat||
Sundarakanda
Sarga 7
atha saptamassargaḥ

This Sarga is about riches of Ravana. In the end it is also about Sundara of Sundarakanda

We see and hear about the palace complex and riches of Ravana. The riches were "dēvaiśca sarvaiḥ supūjitāni "- cherished by even Gods. The riches were "svabalārjitāni", won by his own prowess. They were "dōṣaiḥ parivarjitāni "- without blemishes. His palace was of "apratirūparūpaṁ " matchless beauty. And it reflected ātmabalānurūpaṁ - his own might. Hanuman also sees a glowing "puṣpāhvayaṁ nāma mahāvimānaṁ" - a great aerial car by name Pushpaka. Seeing all these Hanuman was "saviśmayaḥ" filled with wonder.

But Hanuman going in search of Sita could not find Sita, who was "patiguṇavēganirjitām " - won over by the rich attributes of her husband, who was "supūjitām " a well-respected one. Unable to find Sita, Hanuman,"bahuvidhātmanaḥ " who can pursue many thoughts, "kr̥tātmanaḥ" who has achieved set goals , became "ati duḥkhitaṁ manaḥ " very agitated in his mind.

That is the summary of Sarga 7.

Now we go through the word meanings and the summaries of all Slokas
.

||Sloka 7.01||

sa vēśmajālaṁ balavān dadarśa
vyāsakta vaiḍhūryasuvarṇajālam|
yathāmahatprāvr̥ṣi mēghajālam
vidutpinaddhaṁ savihaṅgajālam||7.01||

sa||balavān saḥ hanumān vyāsakta vaiḍhūryasuvarṇajālaṁ savihaṅgajālaṁ vēśmajālaṁ prāvr̥ṣi vidyutpinaddham mahat mēghajālaṁ iva dadarśa ||

Rama Tika says- balavān sa hanumān vyāsaktāni khacitāni vaiḍhūryāṇi yēṣu tānyēva suvarṇa jālāni svarṇamaya gavākṣāṇi yasmin savihaṅgajālaṁ vihaṅga samūhitaṁ vēśma jālaṁ gr̥hasamūhaṁ vidyut pinaddhaṁ prāvr̥ṣi mēghajālamiva dadarśa

||Sloka meanings||

balavān saḥ hanumān -
that mighty Hanuman (saw)
savihaṅgajālaṁ vēśmajālaṁ -
group of mansions with flocks of birds
vyāsakta vaiḍhūryasuvarṇajālaṁ-
(with) golden lattices encrusted with Vaidhurya
vidyut pinaddhaṁ prāvr̥ṣi mēghajālamiva -
like a group of clouds with streaks of lightning in the rainy season
dadarśa - saw

||Sloka summary||

The mighty Hanuman saw the group of mansions, having golden lattices encrusted with Vaidhurya and with flocks of birds, looking like a group of clouds with streaks of lightning in the rainy season. ||7.01||

||Sloka 7.02||

nivēśanānāṁ vividhāścaśālāḥ
pradhānaśaṅkhāyudhacāpaśālāḥ|
manōharāścāpipunarviśālāḥ
dadarśa vēśmādriṣu candraśālāḥ||7.02||

sa||(saḥ hanumān) pradhānaśaṅkhāyuthacāpaśālāḥ vividhāḥ śālāḥ nivēśanānām dadarśa|punaḥ vēśmādriṣu manōharāḥ viśālāḥ candraśālāḥ ca dadarśa||

Rama Tika says- pradhānaiḥ śaṅkhāyudhacāpaiḥ śālantē śōbhantē tāḥ nivēśanānāṁ gr̥hāṇāṁ vividhāḥ śālāḥ āvāntaragr̥hāṇi manōharāḥ viśālāśca vēśmādriṣu adrisadr̥śa vēśmasu candraśālāḥ śirōgr̥hāṇi candrakāntamaṇisaṁbaddhāvāntara gr̥hāṇi vā punaḥ dadarśa|

||Sloka meanings||

pradhānaśaṅkhāyuthacāpaśālāḥ -
places for keeping storing valuable conches, weapons and bows
vividhāḥ śālāḥ nivēśanānām dadarśa -
many places in those mansions
punaḥ vēśmādriṣu manōharāḥ -
also in those mansions delightful
viśālāḥ candraśālāḥ ca dadarśa -
spacious terraces open to skies (for seeing moon)

||Sloka summary||

"There Hanuman saw several places for storing valuable conches, weapons and bows among those mansions, again he saw delightful and spacious terraces open to the skies on top of those houses.||7.02||

||Sloka 7.03||

gr̥hāṇi nānāvasurājitāni
dēvāsuraiścāpi supūjitāni|
sarvaiśca dōṣaiḥ parivarjitāni
kapirdadarśa svabalārjitāni||7.03||

sa|| (saḥ mahā) kapiḥ (tat) gr̥hāṇi sarvaiśca dēvāḥ asuraiḥ cāpi supūjitāni svabalārjitāni dōṣaiḥ parivarjitāni nānāvasurājitāni dadarśa||

Rama Tika says- nānāvasubhiḥ anēka vidha dhanaiḥ rājitāni dēvāḥ asurairapi supūjitāni āti praśaṁsitāni sva balārjitāni kubērātprāptāni gr̥hāṇi kapiḥ dadarśa|

||Sloka meanings||

sarvaiśca dēvāḥ āsuraiḥ cāpi supūjitāni -
cherished by gods and demons alike
svabalārjitāni dōṣaiḥ parivarjitāni -
blemish less and won by his own might ,
nānāvasurājitāni -
many types of treasures
kapiḥ (tat) gr̥hāṇi dadarśa -
the Vanara saw in those mansions

||Sloka summary||

"The Vanara saw in those mansions many types of treasures, cherished by gods and demons alike, which were blemish less and won by his own might." ||7.03||

||Sloka 7.04||

tāni prayatnābhisamāhitāni ||
mayēva sākṣādiva nirmitāni|
mahītalē sarva guṇōttarāṇi
dadarśa laṅkādhipatērgr̥hāṇi||7.04||

sa|| prayatnābhi samāhitāni sarvaguṇōttarāṇi laṁkādhipatēḥ gr̥hāṇi sākṣāt mayēva nirmitāni bhavanāni iva hanumān dadarśa||

Rama Tika says- prayatnēna abhisamāhitāni caturdikṣu kramēṇa saṁnivēśitāni mayēna sākṣāt nirmitāni iva viśvakarmaṇā nirmitatvēpi anēka māyāmayatvān mayanirmita sadr̥śāni ityarthaḥ, sarvaguṇōttarāṇi sarvaguṇaiḥ śrēṣṭhāni gr̥hāṇī dadarśa|

||Sloka meanings||

prayatnābhi samāhitāni - Built with great care and effort
sarvaguṇōttarāṇi laṁkādhipatēḥ gr̥hāṇi -
the excellent mansions of the king of Lanka
sākṣāt mayēva nirmitāni bhavanāni iva -
looked like the mansions built by Maya
hanumān dadarśa - Hanuman saw

||Sloka summary||

"Built with great care and effort, the excellent mansions of the king of Lanka looked like the mansions built by Maya ( the divine architect) himself." ||7.04||

||Sloka 7.05||

tatō dadarśōcchritamēgharūpam
manōharaṁ kāñcanacārurūpam|
rakṣō'dhipa syātmabalānurūpam
gr̥hōttamaṁ hyapratirūparūpam||7.05||

sa|| (tat) rakṣōdhipasya uttamam gr̥ham dadarśa | (tat gr̥ham) manōharaṁ kāṁcanacārurūpaṁ apratirūparūpaṁ rakṣōdhipasya ātmabalānurūpaṁ asti| tat gr̥haṁ ucchritamēgharūpaṁ iva asti||

||Sloka meanings||

manōharaṁ kāṁcanacārurūpaṁ -
captivating , with the splendor of gold
apratirūparūpaṁ - matchless
rakṣōdhipasya ātmabalānurūpaṁ -
worthy of the might of the Rakshasa king
ucchritamēgharūpaṁ iva - like towering cloud
uttamam gr̥ham dadarśa - magnificent palace he saw

||Sloka summary||

"Hanuman saw a magnificent palace like a towering cloud, matchless, captivating , with the splendor of gold, worthy of the might of the Rakshasa king." ||7.06||

||Sloka 7.06||

mahītalē svargamiva prakīrṇam
śriyājvalantaṁ bahuratna kīrṇam|
nānātarūṇāṁ kusumāvakīrṇam
girērivāgraṁ rajasāvakīrṇam||7.06||

sa|| śriyā jvalantaṁ bahuratna kīrṇam (tat gr̥ham) mahītalē prakīrṇam svargamiva (asti)| nānātarūṇāṁ kusumāvakīrṇaṁ rajasā girēḥ agraṁ iva (tat gr̥ham asti)||

Rama Tika says- mahītalē prakīrṇam patitaṁ svargamiva; kumāvakīrṇaṁ kusumaiḥ vyāptaṁ;rajasāvakīrṇaṁ rajasā puṣpāṇāṁ iti śēṣaḥ|

Govindaraja says - tadantarvarti puṣpakavimānaṁ darsayati- aṁṭē ika hanuma ā bhavanamula madhyalō nunna puṣpaka vimānamucūcucunnāḍu

||Sloka meanings||

śriyā jvalantaṁ bahuratna kīrṇam -
glittering with many gems and riches
mahītalē svargamiva prakīrṇam-
looking like the heaven fallen on the earth
nānātarūṇāṁ kusumāvakīrṇam-
full of flowers from many trees
girērivāgraṁ rajasāvakīrṇam -
looked like the top of a mountain full of flowers
( Hanuma saw the arial vehicle)

||Sloka summary||

"Glittering with gems and riches that mansion was like heaven fallen on the earth. Covered with flowers of all kinds of trees, that mansion looked like a mountain top covered with flowers" . ||7.06||

||Sloka 7.07||

nārīpravēkairiva dīpyamānam
taṭidbhi-rambhōdava darcyamānam|
haṁsapravēkairiva vāhyamānam
śriyāyutaṁ khē sukr̥tāṁ vimānam||7.07||

sa|| tat sukr̥tāṁ vimānam arcamānam nārīpravēkaiḥ śriyā yutaṁ (asti)| ambhōdavat dīpyamānaṁ taṭidbhiḥ iva asti| khē haṁsapravaikaiḥ vāhyamānam iva asti||

||Sloka meanings||

tat vimānam - aerial chariot
sukr̥tāṁ - Royal
nārīpravēkairiva dīpyamānam - lit up by resplendent women
taṭidbhi-rambhōdava darcyamānam -
rain cloud with lightning , worthy of worship
haṁsapravēkairiva khē vāhyamānam -
as if drawn by swans in the sky

||Sloka summary||

That royal aerial chariot auspicious and worthy of worship was filled with resplendent women. It was like the rain clouds lit with lightning. It was as if drawn by swans in the sky. ||7.07||

||Sloka 7.08||

yathā nagāgraṁ bahudhātucitram
yathā nabhaśca grahacandracitram|
dadarśayuktīkr̥ta mēghacitram
vimānaratnaṁ bahuratna citram||7.08||

sa|| tat vimānaratnaṁ bahuratna citraṁ asti| (tat vimānam) yathā bahudhātucitram nagāgraṁ iva yathā yuktīkr̥ta mēghacitraṁ iva yathā nabhaśca grahacandra citraṁ iva asti ||

||Sloka meanings||

vimānaratnaṁ bahuratna citram -
best of aerial chariots was colorful on account of being encrusted with gems .
bahudhātucitram nagāgraṁ iva -
like a mountain peak which was colorful because of many the minerals embedded in the mountain
yuktīkr̥ta mēghacitraṁ-
like a mass of colorful clouds.
nabhaśca grahacandra citraṁ iva-
like the sky which was looking colorful with planets and Moon

||Sloka summary||

"That best of aerial chariots was colorful on account of gems encrusted. It was like a mountain peak which was colorful because of many the minerals embedded in the mountain. It was like a mass of colorful clouds. It was like the sky which was looking colorful with planets and Moon."||7.08||

||Sloka 7.09||

mahīkr̥tā parvatarājipūrṇā
śailāḥ kr̥tā vr̥kṣavitānapūrṇā|
vr̥kṣāḥ kr̥tā puṣpavitānapūrṇāḥ
puṣpaṁ kr̥taṁ kēsara patra pūrṇam||7.09||

sa|| yatra parvata rāji pūrṇā mahī (citrī) kr̥tā | yatra vr̥kṣa vitānapūrṇā śailāḥ (citrī) kr̥tā | yatra vr̥kṣāḥ puṣpavitānapūrṇā (iva citrī ) kr̥tā | yatra puṣpam kēsarapatrapūrṇam citrīkr̥tā | (tat vimānaṁ hanumān dadarśa) ||

Rama Tika says- yatra vimānē mahī sthiti bhūmiḥ parvatarājipūrṇā kr̥tā nirmita parvataiḥ pūritētyarthaḥ, śailāstu vr̥kṣavitānaiḥ tarusamūhaiḥ pūrṇāḥ kr̥tāḥ ; puṣpaṁ ca kēsara patrābhyāṁ pūrṇa kr̥tam|

||Sloka meanings||

parvata rāji pūrṇā mahī (citrī) kr̥tā-
earth was drawn filled with mountain ranges
vr̥kṣa vitānapūrṇā śailāḥ (citrī) kr̥tā -
mountains were drawn with canopy of trees
vr̥kṣāḥ kr̥tā puṣpavitānapūrṇāḥ -
the trees were drawn filled with lovely flowers.
puṣpaṁ kr̥taṁ kēsara patra pūrṇam-
The flowers were drawn filled with petals and filaments.

||Sloka summary||

The earth was drawn filled with mountain ranges. The mountains were drawn with canopy of trees, the trees were drawn filled with lovely flowers. The flowers were drawn filled with petals and filaments.||7.09||

||Sloka 7.10||

kr̥tāni vēśmānica pāṇḍurāṇi
tathā supuṣpāṇyapi puṣkarāṇi|
punaśca padmāni sa kēsarāṇi
dhanyāni citrāṇi tathā vanāni||7.10||

sa|| yasmin pāṁḍurāṇi vēśmāni ca (citrī) kr̥tāni | tathaiva yasmin puṣpāṇi saha puṣkarāṇi (citrīkr̥tāni)| punaḥ yasmin kēsarāṇi saḥ padmāni (citrī kr̥tāni) | yasmin dhanyāni vanāni citrāṇi citrīkr̥tāni (tat vimānam dadarśa)||

Rama Tika says- yasmin pāṇḍurāṇi vēśmāni kr̥tāni; supuṣpāḥ śōbhanapuṣpha viśiṣṭhāḥ puṣkariṇyaḥ sarasyaḥ kr̥tāḥ sakēśarāṇi padmāni kr̥tāni;citrāṇi sarōvarāṇi varasarōyuktāni vanāni kr̥tāni|

||Sloka meanings||

vēśmānica pāṇḍurāṇi kr̥tāni -
mansions were drawn in white color.
tathā supuṣpāṇyapi puṣkarāṇi -
similarly ponds were drawn with flowers.
punaśca padmāni sa kēsarāṇi -
flowers were drawn again with petals.
dhanyāni citrāṇi tathā vanāni -
similarly paintings of complete gardens were drawn

||Sloka summary||

"The mansions were drawn in white color. The ponds were drawn with flowers. The flowers were drawn again with petals. Similarly paintings of complete gardens were drawn."||7.10||

||Sloka 7.11||

puṣpāhvayaṁ nāma virājamānaṁ
ratnaprabhābhiśca vivartha mānam|
vēśmōttamānā mapi cōccamānam
mahākapistatra mahāvimānam||7.11||

sa|| mahākapiḥ tatra puṣpāhvayaṁ nāma virājamānaṁ mahā vimānaṁ (dadarśa)| tat vimānaṁ ratna prabhābhiḥ ca vivardhamānaṁ | tat vimānaṁ vēśmōttamānāṁ api uccyamānaṁ asti|

||Sloka meanings||

mahākapiḥ tatra - great Vanara (saw)
puṣpāhvayaṁ nāma mahā vimānaṁ -
great aerial car going by the name of Pushpaka
virājamānaṁ -
splendid indeed
ratnaprabhābhiśca vivartha mānam -
glowing with glitter of gems.
vēśmōttamānā mapi cōccamānam -
taller than the magnificent mansions.

||Sloka summary||

The great Vanara saw an aerial car going by the name of Pushpaka. That aerial car was glowing with the glitter of gems. That aerial was taller than the magnificent mansions.||7.11||

||Sloka 7.12||

kr̥tāśca vaiḍhūryamayā vihaṅgāḥ
rūpyapravāḷaiśca tathā vihaṅgāḥ|
citrāśca nānāvasubhirbhujaṅgāḥ
jātyānurūpāsturagā śśubhāṅgāḥ||7.12||

sa|| vaiḍhūryamayāḥ vihaṅgāḥ kr̥tāḥ | tathaiva rūpyapravāḷaiśca kr̥tāḥ vihaṅgāḥ | citrāḥ bhujaṅgāḥ nānāvasubhiḥ kr̥tāḥ | turaṁgāḥ jātyānurūpāḥ śubhāṅgāḥ api kr̥tāḥ||

Rama Tika says- 'tasmin vimānē vaiḍhūryamayāḥ vihaṅgāḥ kr̥tāḥ; rūpyapravālaiśca vihaṅgāḥ kr̥tāḥ;nānā vasubhiḥ anēka vidha maṇibhiḥ citrāḥ bhujaṅgāḥ kr̥tāḥ ; anurūpāḥ vimāna sthiti yōgyāḥ jātyā śōbhanajātyōpalakṣitāḥ śubhāṅgāḥ turagāḥ aśvāḥ kr̥tāḥ'|

||Sloka meanings||

vaiḍhūryamayāḥ vihaṅgāḥ kr̥tāḥ -
birds were made of Vaidhuryas
tathaiva rūpyapravāḷaiśca vihaṅgāḥ (kr̥tāḥ) -
Similarly the birds were made of silver and corals.
citrāḥ bhujaṅgāḥ nānāvasubhiḥ kr̥tāḥ -
Colorful serpents were made with gems.
jātyānurūpāḥ śubhāṅgāḥ turaṁgāḥ api kr̥tāḥ-
Well bred horses too with auspicious limbs were drawn.

||Sloka summary||

The birds were made of Vaidhuryas. Similarly the birds were made of silver and corals. Colorful serpents were made with gems. Well bred horses with auspicious limbs were drawn.||7.12||

||Sloka 7.13||

pravāḷajāmbūnadapuṣpapakṣāḥ
salīla māvarjitajihmapakṣāḥ|
kāmasya sākṣādiva bhānti pakṣāḥ
kr̥tāvihaṅgā ssumukhāssupakṣāḥ||7.13||

sa|| vihaṅgāḥ supakṣāḥ pravālajāmbūnada puṣpapakṣāḥ sa līlaṁ āvarjitajihma pakṣāḥ kr̥tāḥ| sā vihaṅgāḥ sākṣāt kāmasya pakṣāḥ iva bhānti||

Rama Tika says - pravālaiḥ jāmbūnada puṣpaiśca yuktāḥ pakṣāḥ yēṣāṁ ata ēva supakṣāḥ ;śōbhanapakṣaviśiṣṭhāḥ salīlaṁ līlāpūrvakam āvarjitāḥ śilpāviśēṣēṇa makṣikādi varjana kriyā viśiṣṭhāḥ jihmapakṣāḥ yēṣāṁ tē sunukhāḥ vihaṅgāḥ kr̥tāḥ ;ata ēva tēṣāṁ pakṣāḥ kāmasya kāmāśrayībhūtamanasaḥ pakṣāḥ pragrahītāra iva bhānti| tat pakṣa darśana mātrēṇa vimānē sthitiḥ pratīyata ityarthaḥ||

||Sloka meanings||

vihaṅgāḥ supakṣāḥ-
Birds having beautiful wings
pravālajāmbūnada puṣpapakṣāḥ-
wings engraved in corals and gold
sa līlaṁ āvarjitajihma pakṣāḥ kr̥tāḥ -
wings sportively bent were drawn
sā vihaṅgāḥ sākṣāt -
The birds (wings) were as if
kāmasya pakṣāḥ iva bhānti -
looking like wings of the cupid, the god of love

||Sloka summary||

Birds having beautiful wings, with wings engraved in corals and gold, with artificial wings sportively bent were drawn. The birds (wings) were as if they were wings of the cupid, the god of love.||7.13||

||Sloka 7.14||

niyujyamānāstu gajāssuhastāḥ
sa kēsarāścōtpalapattrahastāḥ|
babhūva dēvī ca kr̥tā suhastā
lakṣmīstathā padmini padmahastā||7.14||

sa|| lakṣmīḥ padminī padmahastā suhastā ca sakēsarāśca dēvī ca kr̥tā babhūva| tathā utpalapatrahastāḥ niyujyamānāḥ gajāḥ astu ||

Rama Tika says - padmini padma viśiṣṭhē vimāna sarasi utpala patra hastāḥ ata ēva sakēśarāḥ gajā niyujyamānāḥ nirmitā babhūvuḥ; padmahastā padmayukta karā;ata ēva suhastā;śōbhanahasta viśiṣṭhāḥ dēvīḥ ati prakāśaviśiṣṭhā lakṣmīḥ kr̥tā nirmitā babhūva; babhūvēti vacana vipariṇāmēna pūrvānvayaḥ api|

||Sloka meanings||

padminī padmahastā suhastā lakṣmīḥ kr̥tā -
Lakshmi having beautiful hands holding lotus in the lotus pond was made
sakēsarāśca - lotus with its filaments
tathā gajāḥ niyujyamānāḥ - similarly elephants were seen
utpalapatrahastāḥ - holding lotuses with their trunks

||Sloka summary||

Goddess Lakshmi in a lotus pond holding lotus with filaments in her hands was seen. Elephants carrying blue lotuses with their trunks as offerings to the Goddess were seen too. ||7.14||

||Sloka 7.15||

itīva tadgr̥hamabhigamya śōbhanam
saviśmayō nagamiva cāru śōbhanam|
punaśca tatparamasugandhi sundaram
himātyayē nagamiva cārukandaram||7.15||

sa|| hanumān itīva śōbhanam cāruśōbhanam nagamiva tat gr̥haṁ abhigamya savismayaḥ bhavati|| (tataḥ) punaśca tat (gr̥haṁ) himātyayē nagamiva paramasugandhi sundaram cārukandaraṁ dadarśa||

Rama Tika says - itīva ēvaṁ prakāraṁ cārukandaram cāru gr̥ham;nagamiva parvata miva;cāru darśanam tadgr̥ham abhigamya savismayaḥ bhabhūva iti śēṣaḥ| himātyayē vasantē paramasugandhi cāru kandaram nagamiva vr̥kṣamiva kandarō'tra kōṭaraḥ| punaścābhigamya savismayō abhūt iti śēṣaḥ |

||Sloka meanings||

itīva śōbhanam cāruśōbhanam nagamiva-
thus auspicious and beautiful palace appearing like a mountain
tat gr̥haṁ abhigamya sa vismayaḥ bhavati -
having reached that palace he was wonder struck
paramasugandhi sundaram cārukandaraṁ -
with beautiful caves full of wonderful fragrances
sugaṁdhamulatō suṁdaramaina guhalu kala
punaśca tat again (entered) that palace
himātyayē nagamiva -
looking like a mountain at the end of winter

||Sloka summary||

Thus Hanuman reached the auspicious and beautiful palace appearing like a mountain and was wonder struck. Again he saw the palace as a mountain in spring time with beautiful caves filled with wonderful fragrance. ||7.15||

||Sloka 7.16||

tataḥ sa tāṁ kapirabhipatya pūjitāṁ
caran purīṁ daśamukhabāhunirjitām |
adr̥śyatāṁ janakasutāṁ supūjitām
suduḥkhitaḥ patiguṇavēganirjitām||7.16||

sa|| tataḥ sa kapiḥ daśamukhabāhunirjitām pūjitāṁ tāṁ purīṁ abhipatya caran patiguṇavēgavarjitāṁ supūjitāṁ tāṁ janakasutāṁ adr̥śyatāṁ suduḥkhitaḥ babhūva||

rāma tilakalō - daśamukhabāhu nirjitām rāvaṇēna vaśīkr̥tāṁ iti; pūjitāṁ atipraśaṁsā viśiṣṭhāṁpurīṁ abhipatya prāpya
caran sītānvēṣaṇārthaṁitaḥ tataḥ vicaran san ; supūjitāṁ mahātmābhiḥ ati praśaṁśitāṁ ; suduḥkhitāṁ viyōgaduḥkhaṁ prāptam; patiguṇa vēga nirjitām patiguṇānāṁ samādhikarahitavātsalyādīnāṁ vēgēna smaraṇa janita udvēgēna nirjitāṁ janakasutāṁ adr̥śya adr̥ṣṭvā duḥkhitō abhavat ||

||Sloka meanings||

daśamukhabāhupālitāṁ pūjitāṁ -
ruled by the ten headed king and worshipped by all
tāṁ purīṁ abhipatya caran -
reaching that city and moving about
adr̥śyatāṁ janakasutāṁ supūjitām -
unable to find venerable daughter of Janaka
patiguṇavēganirjitām-
wone over by her husband's virtuous conduct
tataḥ sa kapiḥ suduḥkhitaḥ babhūva-
that Vanara was deeply sorrowful

||Sloka summary||

Then that Hanuman having reached and going about that city ruled by the ten headed king in search of Sita was deeply grieved not being able to see the venerable daughter of Janaka.||7.16||

||Sloka 7.17||

tatastadā bahuvidhabhāvitātmanaḥ
kr̥tātmanō janakasutāṁ suvartmanaḥ|
apaśyatō'bhava datiduḥkhitaṁ manaḥ
sucakṣuṣaḥ pravicaratō mahātmanaḥ||7.17||

sa|| tataḥ janakasutāṁ apaśyataḥ bahuvidhabhāvitātmanaḥ kr̥tātmanaḥ sucakṣuṣaḥ suvartmanaḥ mahātmanaḥ manaḥ atiduḥkhitaṁ abhavat ||

Rama tilaka says - bahuvidhabhāvitātmanō nānāprakārēṇa sarva jagat pūjita svabhāvasya; svabhāvavācyātma śabdaḥ; kr̥tātmanō śikṣitāṁtaḥ karaṇasya; suvartmanaḥ śōbhana nīti mārga vartinaḥ; sucakṣuṣaḥ śr̥ti smr̥ti nyāya rūpa cakṣuḥ sahitasya;||

||Sloka meanings||

tataḥ janakasutāṁ pravicarataḥ apaśyataḥ -
unable to find Sita in his search
bahuvidhabhāvitātmanaḥ kr̥tātmanaḥ -
thinking of many things, the one capable of achieving anything
sucakṣuṣaḥ suvartmanaḥ mahātmanaḥ -
one with foresight, one who follows righteous path , and great soul
manaḥ atiduḥkhitaṁ abhavat -
mind was filled with sorrow

||Sloka summary||

"Then being unable to see Sita, with many thoughts on his mind Hanuman the one capable of achieving anything, the one with foresight, who always follows right path became very agitated." ||7.17||

Unable to find Sita, the poet Valmiki says Hanuman,"bahuvidhātmanaḥ " who can pursue many thoughts, "kr̥tātmanaḥ" who has achieved set goals , became "ati duḥkhitaṁ manaḥ " very agitated in his mind.

What is the post trying to convey?

When one sees beautiful sights, one is surely delighted by the visible external beauty, and is filled with wonder at the spectacle. With that delight one may follow the path of delight in worldly affairs. That is like following the path of "Pleasant", one of the two paths articulated by Yama to Nachiketa in Kathopanishad. The two paths are of "Good (śrēyas)" Vs "Pleasant ( prēyas)". As articulated by Yama in teaching Nachiketa, the one in search of "Self" will continue to follow the path of "Good". They are after the eternal happiness in the realization of "Self".

Similarly Hanuman here in search of Sita, while delighted momentarily seeing the sights in Lanka, he is full of grief at not being able to see Sita. His ultimate delight is in completion of his search of Sita or "Self".

The poet Valmiki having described the Pushpaka in so many wonderful ways, refers to dejected Hanuman in glorious terms. Each of the epithets used being rich in meaning. The poet Valmiki describes " suduḥkhitaḥ" a deeply grieving Hanuman.

Hanuman is described as:

- bahuvidha bhāvitātmaḥ - bahuvidhaṁ yathā bhavati tathā ciṁtitātmanaḥ One who can contemplate the way it happens in many ways. The one who can contemplate on "Self" in many ways.

- kr̥tātmaḥ - śikṣitāntaḥkaraṇasya, means one with a disciplined mental faculty. One , who was successful in attaining Self. When Mainaka asks him to stop and take rest on him, Hanuman says , "pratijñā ca mayā dattā na sthātavyamihāṁtarē". He says that he has taken a vow not to stop mid-way in his search. That is the commitment.

- suvartmaḥ - śōbhanamārgāvalambinaḥ one who is follower of rightful conduct. We see this in the very first Sloka of Sundarakanda. It is said Hanuman followed the path which is "cāraṇā caritē pathi". Which also means path trodden by Masters. Hanuman followed well-trodden traditional path. Before undertaking his leap across the ocean, Hanuman following the rightful path, paid obeisance to Sun god and others, as if to emphasize that act of following rightful traditions.

- sucakṣuḥ- sucakṣuḥ śrutismr̥tinyāyarūpacakṣuḥ sahitasya ; One who has good or auspicious eyes. Hanuman is the one who knows that the "Self" is different from the "Body complex", Thus he has those eyes which can look inward towards his "Self". Hanuman after landing in Lanka, standing on the Trikuta mountain looks at the city of Lanka glowing like the city of Gods, which is also a city of worldly enjoyment, as though he was looking at the "Body complex" which is again a place for all worldly enjoyment.
.
When it is said suṁdarē suṁdarō kapiḥ; These descriptors describe that Sundara, the Hanuman in Sundarakanda. That is why it is also called Sundarakanda.

With this note, the seventh Sarga of Sundarakanda comes to an end.

ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē ādikāvyē vālmīkīyē
caturviṁśat sahasrikāyāṁ saṁhitāyām
śrīmatsuṁdarakāṁḍē saptamassargaḥ||
|| ōm tat sat||

 

|| om tat sat||