ESSENCE OF VALMIKI SUNDARA RAMAYANA Translated and interpreted byV.D.N.Rao, former General Manager, India Trade Promotion Organization, Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, now at Chennai Other Scripts by the same Author: 1 Essence of Puranas:-Maha Bhagavata, Vishnu Purana, Matsya Purana, Varaha Purana, Kurma Purana, Vamana Purana, Narada Purana, Padma Purana; Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Skanda Purana, Markandeya Purana, Devi Bhagavata;Brahma Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Agni Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Nilamata Purana; Shri Kamakshi Vilasa Dwadasha Divya Sahasranaama: a) Devi Chaturvidha Sahasra naama: Lakshmi, Lalitha, Saraswati, Gayatri; b) Chaturvidha Shiva Sahasra naama-Linga-Shiva-Brahma Puranas and Maha Bhagavata; c) Trividha Vishnu and Yugala Radha-Krishna Sahasra naama-Padma-Skanda- Maha Bharata and Narada Purana. Stotra Kavacha- A Shield of Prayers -Purana Saaraamsha; Select Stories from Puranas Essence of Dharma Sindhu - Dharma Bindu - Shiva Sahasra Lingarchana-Essence of Paraashara Smriti- Essence of Pradhana Tirtha Mahima Essence of Upanishads : Brihadaranyaka , Katha, Tittiriya, Isha, Svetashwara of Yajur Veda- Chhandogya and Kena of Saama Veda-Atreya and Kausheetaki of Rig Veda-Mundaka, Mandukya and Prashna of Atharva Veda ; Also ‘Upanishad Saaraamsa’ -Essence of Maha Narayanopanishad; Essence of Maitri Upanishad Essence of Virat Parva of Maha Bharata- Essence of Bharat Yatra Smriti Essence of Brahma Sutras Essence of Sankhya Parijnaana- Essence of Knowledge of Numbers for students Essence of Narada Charitra; Essence Neeti Chandrika-Essence of Hindu Festivals and Austerities Essence of Manu Smriti- Quintessence of Manu Smriti- Essence of Paramartha Saara; Essence of Pratyaksha Bhaskra; Essence of Pratyaksha Chandra Essence of Vidya-Vigjnaana-Vaak Devi; Essence of Bhagya -Bhogya-Yogyata Lakshmi Essence of Soundarya Lahari- Essence of Popular Stotras- Essence of Pancha Maha Bhutas Essence of Taittireeya Aranyaka- Quintessence of Soundarya Lahari- Essence of Gayatri Essence of Ganesha Mahima - Essence of Shiva Raatri Mahima Essence of Chaturupanishads- Essence of Ashtaadasha Upanishads - Essence of Bhagavad Gita Essence of Valmiki Baala Ramayana- Essence of Valmiki Ayodhya Ramayana- * Essence of Aranya Ramayana-*Essence of Valmiki Kishkindha Ramayana Note: All the above Scriptures already released on www. Kamakoti. Org/news as also on Google by the respective references. The one with * is under process/ 2 PREFACE Manojavam Maaruta tulya vegam jitendriyam buddhimataam varishtham, aataatmajam Vaanara yudha mukhyam Sri Rama dutam sharanam prapadye/ Atulita baladhaamam hemashailaabhideham, danujavana krishaanum jnaani naama agraganyam/ Sakala guna nidhaanam vaanaraanaamadheesham Raghupatipriya bhaktam Vaatajaatam namaami/ Om ham Hanumate namah/ Buddhi balam yasho dhairyam nirbhayatvam arogataa, ajaadyam vaakpatutvam cha Hanutsmaranaaadbhavet/Yatra yatra Raghunadha keertanam, tatra tatrakritamastakaanjalim/ Baashpavaari paripurna lochanam Maarutim namata raakshsaantakam/ Undoubtedly Hanuman, is the key to Sundara Khanda Valmiki Ramayana.Totally dedicated to the ‘Rama Karya’ of ‘Sitanveshana’, He assumed gigantic body frame, crossed the ‘Maha Sagara’ of a distance of hundred yojanas as being literally air borne, gets welcomed on way by Mainaka Mountain- the very few that Indra spared with flying caliber with the assistance of Vayu Deva ; encounters Daksha Kumari Maha Sarpi Surasa about to devour him, quicky assuming a miniature finger ring form , ready for her devouring as she too realising the auspicious Rama Karya of Sitaanveshana blesses on exit from her body; kills Rakshasi Simhika the ‘Lankapuri Dwaara Palika’ by enhancing his height manifold; and enjoying the aerial view of Lankapuri, finally entered Ravanasura’ kingdom, each time by appropriately maximising or miniaturising his body with daring self-confidence. Veera Vayu Putra- born of Vayu- Anjana by mere body ‘sparsha’- then entered Ravana’s ‘anthapura’- viz. the Pushpaka Vimana seized from Kubera Dikpalaka who was Ravana’s first cousin; saw for himself the amazing scene of countless wives of gandharva-naaga-yaksha-daitya-rakshasa kanyas of rare beauty and grace, including the Prime Queen Mandodari Pativrata, being immersed with wine-dance-and music in Ravana’s company in his large bed. Yet Devi Sita was not visible there. Further continuing his extensive and intensive ‘Sitaanveshana’, finally located her amid detesteable looking- raw flesh eating- cruel Rakashasis, as she wore dusted, crumpled ‘eka vastra’ crying away incessantly and desperately in ‘Pramadaavana’ under ‘Ashoka Maha Vriksha. Ravana entered with his wives, endeared Devi Sita first, but on hearing her ‘parusha vakyaas’, got furious and granted a two month reprieve before her sliced body would reach the royal kitchen. There after, Anjaneya having convinced Devi Sita by crooning Shri Rama’s heritage, bravery and glory gradually, handed over Rama’s finger ring, convinced that Shri Rama Lakshmana Sugrivas were eveready to arrive with Vanara Veeras and relieve her grief. Then he initiated a spree of killings of Rakshasa Veeras as instructed by Ravana, pretended that he was bound by Indrajjits’s brahmastra, faced Ravana in his Sabha who was infuriated by his warnings, but on Vibhishana’s advice, allowed his tail to be put to flames, when he burnt off Lankapuri to destruction, returned to Kishkindha , handed over Devi Sita’s choodamani explaining Devi Sita’s status and got initiated action to attack Ravana and followers. Recalling Kanchimuth’s HH Vijayendra Saraswati’s kind instruction to me last year to translate Valmiki Ramayana in its Essence form, the ‘Baala- Ayodhya- Aranya-Kishkindha- and now the Sundara Khandas’ have since been attempted so far. Our entire family is beholden to the glorious lineage of the Excellencies, especially Maha Swami, and now the present ‘Baala Vaaru’ who has been driving me to action for attempting translations of Ashtaadasha Puranas, Ashtaadasha Upanishads, Dharma Sindhu, Brahma Sutras, Paraashara Smriti, Manu Smriti,Soundarya Lahari, Bhagavad Gita, Sahasra Naamas, Sahasra Lingarchana Vidhana and various scripts on Ganesha-Gayatri-Lakshmi-Vaakdevi- Bhaskara- Chandra-Pancha Maha Bhutas- Parmaardha Saara of Kashmiri Shaivism and so on for over decade and half.Our earnest prostrations to Him seeking His continued blessings. VDN Rao and family 3 CONTENTS Preface- 4 Retrospective: Bala Khanda-Ayodhya Khanda-Aranya Khanda-Kishkindha Khanda 9 Sarga One: Veera Hanuman leaps off the Ocean towards Ravana’s Lanka, gets welcomed 18 on way by Mainaka, encounters Surasa and subdues, kills Simhika, and enjoys the aerial view of Lanka [Vishleshanas 1) on Anjaneya’s self confidence to cross the Maha Sagara, his decisiveness as expressed by himself vide Sarga 67 of Kishkindha Ramayana 2) Vishleshana on Sagara Chakravarti: as sourced from Maha Bhagavata Purana] Sarga Two:Description of Lankapuri’s beauty, thoughts about the size in which he shoud 27 enter the interiors of the city and on the descripiton Chandrodaya. [[Vishleshanas on a) Bilwa Swarga of Maga Nagas b) Kubera Sargas Three and Four:As Hanuman sought to enter, Rakshasi Nishachari is 31 encountered, he subdues her seriously; she recalls Brahma’s warning that once a Vanara gives a hit to her, then Lanka gets its doom and lets him in! Then Hanuman enters Ravana’s ‘antahpura’ comprising many palaces but gets disappointed. Sarga Five: Hanuman then enters the ‘antahpura’ or the interior palaces of 34 Ramanasura systematically but gets disappointed with no sign and indication of Devi Sita Sarga Six: Hanuman then extended the scope of search for Devi Sita in Ravana’s own 35 palace, besides at the houses of his follower Rakshasaas Sargas Seven and Eight: Description of Ravana Bhavana viz. Pushpaka Vimana- 37 Hanuman witnesses the inside out of the Pushpaka Vimana - indeed it was surfiet with Sundara Kanyas [Vishleshana on Maha Lakshmi Swarupas] Sarga Nine: In the process of ‘Devi Sitaanveshana’ in the Pushpaka Vimana in Ravana’s 39 residence, Hanuman witnessed countless ‘strees’of youthful charm being playful inside; why had Ravana forcefully abducted Sita, despite his reputation of never forcing a woman but willingly married! [Vishleshanas a) on Maharshi Vasishtha and Kama Dhenu Shabala- b) Panchendriyas] Sarga Ten: In the process of searching for Devi Sita, Hanuman was confused 43 by seeing Devi Mandodari to Devi Sita! [ Vishleshana on Devi Mandodari] Sarga Eleven: Hanuman on seeing Mandori, took time self assure about Devi Sita, 45 continued the search even while self introspecting of his own honesty in the atmosphere of food-dance and lust; yet dismissed such thoughts Sarga Twelve: Hanuman in his remote thoughts wondered and was even concerned of Devi 46 Sita’s very existence but quickly recovered from such apprehensions resumed ‘Sitanveshana’yet again with confidence and belief! [Vishleshana on Continued Endeavor towards success vide Bhagavad Gita Sarga Thirteen: Despite his sincere efforts of finding Devi Sita, the indications were 48 slimmed and might even return disappoimnted.Yet, Sampati assured and visited ‘Ashoka Vaatika’ 4 [Vishleshana on Sampaati’s assurance to Vaanara Sena vide Kishkindha Ramayana Sarga 63] Sarga Fourteen: While admiring Ashoka Vaatika’s prakriti soundarya, Hanuman mused 52 as to how Devi Sita would be happy as she was stated to be an admirer of Prakriti Soundarya Sarga Fifteen: Hanuman yet in his miniature form finally visioned Devi Sita near a 53 ‘Chaitya Praasaada