Sundarakanda Complete with Links.Pdf
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|| om tat sat || || om Sri Raamaaya namah || Complete Sundarakanda from Valmiki Ramayanam. A chapter wise aggregation of the meaning of all slokas. A publication of Athato Foundation. a Kasarabada Trust || om tat sat || ________________________________________________________________ 1 This is a publication of Athato Foundation, a Kasarabada Trust, 7061 Prestige Shantiniketan, Hoodi-ITPL Road, Mahadevapura Post, Bangalore 560048, India. All copy rights with the Athato Foundation unless otherwise specified. Not for sale Private circulation only First Edition October 2017 Silver Springs, Md. 2 Contents Foreword 5 In Praise of Hanuman 7 A brief Chapter wise summary 12 Sarga 1 - Hanuman’s leap across the ocean 15 Sarga 2 - Hanuman enters Lanka at night 25 Sarga 3 - Hanuman overcomes Lankini 28 Sarga 4 - Hanuman’s search in Lanka 31 Sarga 5 - Hanuman’s search in Lanka 34 Sarga 6 - Hanuman’s search in Lanka 37 Sarga 7 - Hanuman sees Pushpaka Vimana 40 Sarga 8 - Description of Pushpaka Vimana 42 Sarga 9 - Hanuman enters Ravana’s palace 44 Sarga 10- Hanuman sees Mandodari and thinks she is Sita 48 Sarga 11- Hanuman in the Banquet hall 51 Sarga 12- Hanuman’s grief 54 Sarga 13- Hanuman at a loss then sees Ashoka grove 56 Sarga 14- Hanuman enters Ashoka grove 60 Sarga 15- Hanuman sees Sita 63 Sarga 16- Hanuman in distress seeing Sita 67 Sarga 17- Hanuman sees the Rakshasa women guarding Sita 69 Sarga 18- Ravana enters Ashoka grove 72 Sarga 19- Sita’s distress on seeing Ravana 74 Sarga 20- Ravana proposes 76 Sarga 21- Sita turns down Ravana 79 Sarga 22- Ravana’s ultimatum 81 Sarga 23- Rakshasa women pursue Sita on behalf of Ravana 84 Sarga 24- Rakshasa women threaten Sita 86 Sarga 25- Sita’s response to threats 89 Sarga 26- Sita’s despair and resolution to give up life 91 Sarga 27- Trijata’s dream 94 Sarga 28- Sita’s wailing 97 Sarga 29- Good omens 99 Sarga 30- Hanuman’s resolve 101 Sarga 31- Hanuman sings Rama’s story 104 Sarga 32- Sita perplexed 106 Sarga 33- Hanuman speaks to Sita 108 Sarga 34- Sita’s doubts 110 Sarga 35- Hanuman’s eloquence on Rama and his mission 113 Sarga 36- Hanuman gives Rama’s signet ring to Sita 118 Sarga 37- Hanuman’s offer- Sita’s doubts about Hanuman’s Capabilities 121 Sarga 38- Story of the crow 125 Sarga 39- Sita’s misgivings and Hanuman’s reassurance 129 Sarga 40- Hanuman takes leave to go back 132 3 Sarga 41- Destruction of Ashoka grove 134 Sarga 42- Kinkara’s killed & Jaya mantra 136 Sarga 43- Hanuman’s proclamation 139 Sarga 44- Jambumali killed 141 Sarga 45- Sons of the minister killed 143 Sarga 46- Five generals killed 145 Sarga 47- Prince Aksha killed 148 Sarga 48- Infdrajit captures Hanuman using Brahma Astra 151 Sarga 49- Hanuman sees Ravana in his court 155 Sarga 50 - Ordered by Ravana Prahasta questions Hanuman 157 Sarga 51- Hanuman’s advice to Ravana 159 Sarga 52- Vibhishana pleads 162 Sarga 53- Hanuman’s tail set on fire & Sita’s prayers 164 Sarga 54- Lanka set on fire 167 Sarga 55- Hanuman’s fears 170 Sarga 56- Hanuman takes leave of Sita and the leaps to Northern shores 172 Sarga 57- Hanuman reaches the northern shores 174 Sarga 58- Hanuman recounts his trip to Lanka 177 Sarga 59- Hanuman’s plan of action 184 Sarga 60 Angada’s proposal – Jambavan’s direction 186 Sarga 61- Vanaras in Madhuvan 187 Sarga 62- Dadhimukha pushed back 189 Sarga 63- Sugriva asks Dadhimukha to tell the Vanaras to report back 191 Sarga 64- Hanuman reports to Rama that Sita is safe 193 Sarga 65- Hanuman gives Sita’s Chudamani 196 Sarga 66- Rama’s sorrow 199 Sarga 67- Hanuman narrates conversations with Sita 200 Sarga 68- Hanuman tells Rama that he restored confidence of Sita 203 Epilogue 205 The End 206 4 Foreword Sundarakanda is part of Valmiki Ramayana. Valimiki Ramayana is the earliest epic in a poetic form in Sanskrit. It is known as “Adi kavya”, the first poem. The very first sloka in Sanskrit literature, supposedly uttered by Valmiki, is part of Ramayana. Valmiki taken aback by the beauty and simplicity of the first sloka repeats it to himself and his disciples. He uses the same form to write the epic story of Rama called Ramayana at the prodding of Brahma who also gives Valmiki an unlimited insight into the story of Rama. Ramayana is truly written in a very simple style that makes the meanings easily understood if one is a student of Sanskrit. Most of the Indian languages are derivatives of Sanskrit. Some languages even if they are not derivatives, have absorbed most or all of the Sanskrit words into their language as is the case with Telugu and even Kannada. Proficiency in Sanskrit derivatives or languages which absorbed Sanskrit, is enough to understand the gist of a sloka even if one is not a student of Sanskrit. Sundarakanda forms the central part of Ramayana. According to many it is heart of Ramayana. Sundarakanda has a folklore associated with it from time immemorial. All the modern commentaries including those brought out by the western scholars refer to it. Reading or recitation of Sundarakanda has been on par with similar recitation of holy books like Gita. It has been a daily parayana item in many a hindu household. Miracles have been attributed to such parayana. It is more probable that the spirit of Sundarakanda, more specifically the spirit of Hanuman in pursuing the goals against all odds, is absorbed in the process of ‘parayana’. That spirit is probably what made the miracles happen. In any case Hanuman remains the central hero of Sundarakanda. Infact the tittle “Sundarakanda” is assumed to be based on the name “Sundara” associated with Hanuman. Sundarakanda can be taken to mean the exploits of Sundara or Hanuman. As per tradition, when ever one wishes for some “fruit”, one undertakes Sundarakanda parayana. In our case the Sundarakanda parayana is in the form of re-writing all the Sanskrit slokas in a prose order to make the meaning more easily self evident and then writing the meanings for all the slokas. Sundarakanda has nearly three thousand slokas in the sixty-eight Sargas or chapters. In addition to writing the prose order and meanings in English, we have an added twist of writing the Sanskrit text in multiple languages Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati and Devanagari facilitating reading of Slokas in one’s own language. Thus, one has the option of Sanskrit text presented in Devanagari, Telugu, Kannada, and Gujarati with English Translation. These are available in kasarabada.org web site. This presentation of chapterwise summary of Sundarakanda is based on essentially aggregating the meanings of all the translated slokas. This has been a huge task. The fact that we could undertake the same and complete the same in a time bound form is itself the “fruit” we wished for. That we have aggregated the meanings of all the slokas has the charm that we are in fact reading ‘complete Sundarakanda’ which is faithful to its original form albeit in a 5 different language. But it also suffers from the difficulties that result in such true translations. There will be innumerable repetitions. There will be innumerable descriptions which defy easy translation as well as understanding without added historical or contextual notes. We have left both of them, namely the repetitions and difficult translations in place as they are, in the spirit of being faithful to the original text Our foray into the ocean of Sundarakanda is actually much older than this effort. This being a favorite book of our parents, as per their wish and with their active guidance we have brought out a “Samkshipta Sundarakanda”, which is shortened form of Sundarakanda. In Samkshipta Sundarakanda, the nearly three thousand slokas of Sundarakanda have been condensed to about three hundred slokas, while retaining the flow of the story. It has been brought out as a book in Telugu and English. It has been an experience that energized us to do more and more. The current effort is a direct result of that energy. ||om tat sat || 6 Om Sriram IN PRAISE OF HANUMAN HANUMASTUTI "Vikrantastvam samardhastvam" says Sita "Kritam Hanumata karyam" says Sri Rama "Tvayyeva Hanumanasti balam buddhi parakramah" says Sugriva Such is the awe-inspiring part played by Hanuman! From the time, he steps into the story counselling Sugriva not to be concerned about the two Naras - Rama and Lakshmana -who entered their area, to the time he takes leave of Sri Rama as a confirmed Ramabhaktha, devotee of Sri Rama, his exploits are surely mind boggling and in fact more so in Sundarakanda. No wonder that the popular adage goes: 'Sundare Sundara Kapih', (In Sundara kanda beautiful is Hanuman). That refrain also summarizes the inner beauty of Hanuman with all the accomplishments that beautify his character in Sundarakanda. In the very first meeting with Sri Rama, whom he approaches in the guise of a recluse, Sri Rama instantly recognizes the greatness of Hanuman. Sri Rama says to Lakshmana: "To converse in the way he (Hanuman) does is impossible, unless he studied Rigveda thoroughly, memorized Yajurveda along with meanings, and acquired knowledge of Samaveda. Surely the entire range of Crammer has been studied by him in many ways, as is clear from the fact that nothing has been wrongly worded, even though he has voluminously spoken a great deal!" The very first impressions so created by Hanuman is maintained throughout the great epic -- Ramayana -- as reflected in his marvelous articulation either in addressing others or himself (or in fact the reader!).