“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”
Valmiki Ramayana – Sundara Kanda – Chapter 16
Hanuman Grieves for Sita
Summary
Hanuma is grief stricken seeing the plight of Seetha, in that garden being surrounded by ogresses (a female giant that feeds on human beings). He becomes firm in mind that she is indeed Seetha, based on her auspicious bodily marks.
Chapter [Sarga] 16 in Detail
prashasya tu prashastavyaam siitaam taam hari pumgavah |
guna abhiraamam raamam ca punah cintaa paro abhavat || 5-16-1
The best among Vanaras praising that Seetha who is fit to be praised, and also praising Sri Rama pleasing with His virtues, became immersed in thought again.
sa muhuurtam iva dhyaatvaa baaspa paryaakuleksanah |
siitaam aashritya tejasvii hanumaan vilalaapa ha || 5-16-2
That Hanuma the radiant one thinking for a moment, cried about Seetha and became with eyes tormented with tears.
maanyaa guru viniitasya laksmanasya guru priyaa |
yadi siitaa api duhkha aartaa kaalo hi duratikramah || 5-16-3
“Respectable to Lakshmana, instructed by teachers, Seetha is also dear to teachers; if She is stricken with grief, destiny is indeed difficult to withstand.”
raamasya vyavasaayajnaa laksmanasya ca dhiimatah |
na atyartham ksubhyate devii gangaa iva jalada aagame || 5-16-4
“Knowing the effort of Sri Rama and of sagacious Lakshmana, Seetha is not worried a lot, like Ganga in the rainy season.”
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Valmiki Ramayana – Sundara Kanda – Chapter 16 tulya shiila vayo vrittaam tulya abhijana laksanaam |
raaghavo arhati vaidehiim tam ca iyam asita iiksanaa || 5-16-5
“Sri Rama is suited to Seetha with Her well matched character, age and conduct; with well matched pedigree and characteristics this black-eyed Seetha is also suited to Him.”
taam dristvaa nava hema aabhaam loka kaantaam iva shriyam |
jagaama manasaa raamam vacanam ca idam abraviit || 5-16-6
Seeing that Seetha with the radiance of new gold, like the goddess Lakshmi, delightful to the world, Hanuma went by heart to Sri Rama spoke these words also.
asyaa hetor vishaala aksyaa hato vaalii mahaa balah |
raavana pratimo viirye kabandhah ca nipaatitah || 5-16-7
“For the sake of this Seetha, the wide eyed one, Vali of great strength has been killed, Kabandha also equaling Ravana in strength has been felled.”
viraadhah ca hatah samkhye raaksaso bhiima vikramah |
vane raamena vikramya mahaa indrena iva shambarah || 5-16-8
“In the forest during war Virada of horrible prowess has been killed by Rama by valor, like Sambara by Mahendra.”
catur dasha sahasraani raksasaam bhiima karmanaam |
nihataani jana sthaane sharair agni shikha upamaih || 5-16-9
“At Janastaana fourteen thousands of rakshasas of terrible deed have been killed by arrows equaling tongues of fires.”
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Valmiki Ramayana – Sundara Kanda – Chapter 16 karah ca nihatah samkhye trishiraah ca nipaatitah |
duusanah ca mahaa tejaa raamena vidita aatmanaa || 5-16-10
“By Rama with a famed mind, Khara has been killed, Trishira also has been fell down, Duushana with great glory also has been killed in war.”
aishvaryam vaanaraanaam ca durlabham vaali paalitam |
asyaa nimitte sugriivah praaptavaan loka satkritam || 5-16-11
“For Her sake Sugreeva obtained wealth of Vanaras ruled by Vali difficult to be obtained and worshiped by the world.”
saagarah ca mayaa kraantah shriimaan nada nadii patih |
asyaa hetor vishaala aksyaah purii ca iyam niriiksitaa || 5-16-12
“For the sake of Her, with wide eyes, the ocean, lord of rivers and streams, has been crossed by me; this city also has been explored.”
yadi raamah samudraantaam mediniim parivartayet |
asyaah krite jagat ca api yuktam iti eva me matih || 5-16-13
“If Sri Rama for Her sake turns upside down the earth with the ocean at the end, and the entire universe it is fair, this is my opinion.”
raajyam vaa trisu lokesu siitaa vaa janaka aatmajaa |
trailokya raajyam sakalam siitaayaa na aapnuyaat kalaam || 5-16-14
“Among three worlds, if it is a choice between kingdom or Seetha, the daughter of Janaka, all the kingdom of three worlds will not approach a sixteenth part of Seetha.”
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Valmiki Ramayana – Sundara Kanda – Chapter 16 iyam saa dharma shiilasya janakasya mahaatmanah |
sutaa maithilaraajasya siitaa bhartridridha vrataa || 5-16-15
“This She is that Seetha, the daughter of king Janaka of Mithila, the great soul, and noble one with a firm resolution towards husband.”
utthitaa mediniim bhittvaa ksetre hala mukha ksate |
padma renu nibhaih kiirnaa shubhaih kedaara paamsubhih || 5-16-16
“While a field was being ploughed She rose up splitting the earth covered by auspicious dust of field equaling pollen.”
vikraantasya aarya shiilasya samyugesu anivartinah |
snusaa dasharathasya esaa jyesthaa raajno yashasvinii || 5-16-17
“She is the famed eldest daughter-in-law of king Dasaratha the valorous one, not turning back in the battle.”
dharmajnasya kritajnasya raamasya vidita aatmanah |
iyam saa dayitaa bhaaryaa raaksasii vasham aagataa || 5-16-18
“This She the dear wife of Rama the righteous one, grateful one, knower of Self has obtained capture of demonesses.”
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Valmiki Ramayana – Sundara Kanda – Chapter 16 sarvaan bhogaan parityajya bhartri sneha balaat kritaa |
acintayitvaa duhkhaani pravistaa nirjanam vanam || 5-16-19
samtustaa phala muulena bhartri shushruusanaa paraa |
yaa paraam bhajate priitim vane api bhavane yathaa || 5-16-20
saa iyam kanaka varna angii nityam susmita bhaasinii |
sahate yaatanaam etaam anarthaanaam abhaaginii || 5-16-21
“Whoever Seetha abandoning all comforts, forced by the love towards husband not thinking about sorrows, entering forest unpopulated with humans, being happy with fruits and roots, devoted to the service of Her husband, even in forest is getting great happiness like in a palace, the one with golden limbs, always with a smiling talk, not suited to misfortunes - that this Seetha is bearing all this suffering.”
imaam tu shiila sampannaam drastum icchati raaghavah |
raavanena pramathitaam prapaam iva pipaasitah || 5-16-22
“Sri Rama likes to see this Seetha who is endowed with excellent character and tormented by Ravana, like a thirsty one for a place where water is available freely.”
asyaa nuunam punar laabhaad raaghavah priitim esyati |
raajaa raajya paribhrastah punah praapya iva mediniim || 5-16-23
“By Her gain again Sri Rama definitely will get happiness like a king who lost kingdom getting back the land.”
kaama bhogaih parityaktaa hiinaa bandhu janena ca |
dhaarayati aatmano deham tat samaagama kaanksinii || 5-16-24
“Left by coveted enjoyments, lacking relatives also Seetha is keeping body desirous of meeting with Sri Rama.”
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Valmiki Ramayana – Sundara Kanda – Chapter 16 na esaa pashyati raaksasyo na imaan puspa phala drumaan |
ekastha hridayaa nuunam raamam eva anupashyati || 5-16-25
“She is not seeing demonesses, not flowers, fruits or trees and with a single heart is meditating only on Sri Rama - this is sure.”
bhartaa naama param naaryaa bhuusanam bhuusanaad api |
esaa hi rahitaa tena shobhana arhaa na shobhate || 5-16-26
“Husband is indeed the greatest adornment for a woman greater than jewellery; this Seetha though deserving of decoration, is not looking charming without Sri Rama.”
duskaram kurute raamo hiino yad anayaa prabhuh |
dhaarayati aatmano deham na duhkhena avasiidati || 5-16-27
“Sri Rama although bereft of Her that Lord Rama is doing an impossible task by retaining His body and not being depressed by sorrow.”
imaam asita kesha antaam shata patra nibha iiksanaam |
sukha arhaam duhkhitaam jaatvaa mama api vyathitam manah || 5-16-28
“Knowing Her with black ended hairs, with lotus like eyes, deserving of comforts, and in sorrow, my mind also is gloomy.”
ksiti ksamaa puskara samnibha aksii |
yaa raksitaa raaghava laksmanaabhyaam |
saa raaksasiibhir vikrita iiksanaabhih |
samraksyate samprati vriksa muule || 5-16-29
“Whoever Seetha with earth-like patience, with eyes resembling lotuses, was protected by Sri Rama and Lakshmana, that Seetha now is being guarded by ogresses with crooked eyes at the base of a tree.”
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Valmiki Ramayana – Sundara Kanda – Chapter 16 hima hata nalinii iva nasta shobhaa |
vyasana paramparayaa nipiidyamaanaa |
saha cara rahitaa iva cakra vaakii |
janaka sutaa kripanaam dashaam prapannaa || 5-16-30
“With lost glory like a lotus plant hit by snow, being tormented by a series of calamities, Seetha obtained a pitiable condition like a Chakrawaka bird without a companion.”
asyaa hi puspa avanata agra shaakhaah |
shokam dridham vai janayati ashokaah |
hima vyapaayena ca shiitarashmih |
rabhyutthito na eka sahasra rashmih || 5-16-31
“Ashoka trees with bent branches due to flowers are giving rise to gloom a lot to her; Due to melting of snow the risen up moon also with thousands of rays is causing grief.”
iti evam artham kapir anvaveksya |
siitaa iyam iti eva nivista buddhih |
samshritya tasmin nisasaada vrikse |
balii hariinaam risabhah tarasvii || 5-16-32
The mighty one, the best among Vanaras, quick one, Hanuma thus observed the subject: “This is Seetha!” - thus with a firm mind sat at that tree, leaning against it.
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Valmiki Ramayana – Sundara Kanda – Chapter 16 ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye sundarakaande sodashah sargah
Thus completes 16th Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate
References
Durga, Kishore Kopalle, and K. M. K. Murthy. (2001). Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty.
Merriam-Webster. (2007). At http://www.m-w.com.
Reference.com. (2007). At http://www.reference.com.
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