Hanuma Reveals Himself to be a Messenger of Rama

तस्याः तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा हनूमान् हरि यूथपः | दुह्खात् दुह्ख अभिभूतायाः सान्तम् उत्तरम् अब्रवीत् || ५-३४-१

tasyaaH tat vacanam shrutvaa hanuumaan hari yuuthapaH |duhkhaat duhkha abhibhuutaayaaH saantam uttaram abraviit || 5-34-1

Hearing those words of Seetha who was overthrown from one grief to another, Hanuma the best of monkeys gave the following reply in a kindly and affectionate manner.

अहम् रामस्य संदेशात् देवि दूतः तव आगतः | वैदेहि कुशली रामः त्वाम् च कौशलम् अब्रवीत् || ५-३४-२

aham raamasya sa.ndeshaat devi duutaH tava aagataH |vaidehi kushalii raamaH tvaam ca kaushalam abraviit || 5-34-2

"O Seetha the daughter of the king of Videha Kingdom! I have come here as your messenger on Rama's directions. The virtuous Rama enquired about your welfare too."

यो ब्राह्मम् अस्त्रम् वेदान् च वेद वेदविदाम् वरः | स त्वाम् दाशरथी रामो देवि कौशलम् अब्रवीत् || ५-३४-३

yo braahmam astram vedaan ca veda vedavidaam varaH |sa tvaam daasharathii raamo devi kaushalam abraviit || 5-34-3

"O Divine Lady! Rama the son of Dasaratha, who is excellent among the knowers of Veda and who knows Brahma's missile (a mythical weapon which deals infallible destruction) and Vedas the sacred knowledge, enquired about your welfare."

लक्ष्मणः च महातेजा भर्तुः ते अनुचरः प्रियः | कृतवान् शोक सम्तप्तः शिरसा ते अभिवादनम् || ५-३४-४

lakShmaNaH ca mahaatejaa bhartuH te anucaraH priyaH |kR^itavaan shoka samtaptaH shirasaa te abhivaadanam || 5-34-4

"Also the greatly splendourous Lakshmana, the favourite brother and the follower of your husband, himself tormented with grief, performed salutation to you by bowing his head."

सा तयोः कुशलम् देवी निशम्य नर सिम्हयोः | प्रीति सम्हृष्ट सर्व अन्गी हनूमान्तम् अथ अब्रवीत् || ५-३४-५

saa tayoH kushalam devii nishamya nara simhayoH |priiti samhR^iShTa sarva angii hanuumaantam atha abraviit || 5-34-5

Hearing that news of welfare of Rama and Lakshmana the excellent of men, the divine lady, with all her limbs thrilled with joy, spoke to Hanuma (as follows):

कल्याणी बत गथा इयम् लौकिकी प्रतिभाति मे | एहि जीवन्तम् आनदो नरम् वर्ष शतात् अपि || ५-३४-६

kalyaaNii bata gathaa iyam laukikii pratibhaati me |ehi jiivantam aanado naram varSha shataat api || 5-34-6

" 'Joy rushes to surviving man even though (it be) as the end of a hundred years' - this popular adage appears true and and auspicious for me."

तयोः समागमे तस्मिन् प्रीतिः उत्पादिता अद्भुता | परस्परेण च आलापम् विश्वस्तौ तौ प्रचक्रतुः || ५-३४-७

tayoH samaagame tasmin priitiH utpaaditaa adbhutaa |paraspareNa ca aalaapam vishvastau tau pracakratuH || 5-34-7

Seetha showed wonderful friendly disposition towards Hanuma who approached her. Both of them also conversed with each other in full confidence.

तस्याः तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा हनूमान् हरि यूथपः | सीतायाः शोक दीनायाः समीपम् उपचक्रमे || ५-३४-८

tasyaaH tat vacanam shrutvaa hanuumaan hari yuuthapaH |siitaayaaH shoka diinaayaaH samiipam upacakrame || 5-34-8

Hearing that reply of Seetha who was afflicted with grief, Hanuma the army-chief of monkeys endeavoured to draw nearer to her.

यथा यथा समीपम् स हनूमान् उपसर्पति | तथा तथा रावणम् सा तम् सीता परिशन्कते || ५-३४-९

yathaa yathaa samiipam sa hanuumaan upasarpati |tathaa tathaa raavaNam saa tam siitaa parishankate || 5-34-9

In as much as that Hanuma drew nearer to her, in the same way, that Seetha suspected him as Ravana.

अहो धिग् धिग् कृतम् इदम् कथितम् हि यत् अस्य मे | रूप अन्तरम् उपागम्य स एव अयम् हि रावणः || ५-३४-१०

aho dhig dhig kR^itam idam kathitam hi yat asya me |ruupa antaram upaagamya sa eva ayam hi raavaNaH || 5-34-10

"O shame! It was my guilt to tell him all this to him. He is indeed that Ravana, who obtained another guise."

ताम् अशोकस्य शाखाम् सा विमुक्त्वा शोक कर्शिता | तस्याम् एव अनवद्य अन्गी धरण्याम् समुपाविशत् || ५-३४-११

taam ashokasya shaakhaam saa vimuktvaa shoka karshitaa |tasyaam eva anavadya angii dharaNyaam samupaavishat || 5-34-11

That Seetha, having faultless limbs, leaving that branch of Ashoka tree and as emaciated with grief, sat down on that ground itself.

हनुमानपि दुःखार्तां तां दृष्ट्वा भयमोहिताम् | अवन्दत महाबाहुः ततः ताम् जनक आत्मजाम् || ५-३४-१२ सा च एनम् भय वित्रस्ता भूयो न एव अभ्युदैक्षत |

hanumaanapi duHkhaartaaM taaM dR^iShTvaa bhayamohitaam |avandata mahaabaahuH tataH taam janaka aatmajaam || 5-34-12saa ca enam bhaya vitrastaa bhuuyo na eva abhyudaikShata |

Seeing Seetha afflicted with grief and deluded with fear, the great armed Hanuma also then simply saluted her. She too, trembling with fear, did not look towards him again.

तम् दृष्ट्वा वन्दमानम् तु सीता शशि निभ आनना || ५-३४-१३ अब्रवीत् दीर्घम् उच्छ्वस्य वानरम् मधुर स्वरा |

tam dR^iShTvaa vandamaanam tu siitaa shashi nibha aananaa || 5-34-13abraviit diirgham ucchhvasya vaanaram madhura svaraa |

Seetha, with her countenance resembling the moon, seeing Hanuma saluting her, had a deep sigh and spoke to Hanuma in a sweet-sounding voice (as follows)

मायाम् प्रविष्टो मायावी यदि त्वम् रावणः स्वयम् || ५-३४-१४ उत्पादयसि मे भूयः सम्तापम् तन् न शोभनम् |

maayaam praviShTo maayaavii yadi tvam raavaNaH svayam || 5-34-14utpaadayasi me bhuuyaH samtaapam tan na shobhanam |

"If you are Ravana, who made use of an illusive guise and yourself a conjurer, you are causing me a further agony. It is no good."

स्वम् परित्यज्य रूपम् यः परिव्राजक रूपधृत् || ५-३४-१५ जन स्थाने मया दृष्टः त्वम् स एव असि रावणः |

svam parityajya ruupam yaH parivraajaka ruupadhR^it || 5-34-15jana sthaane mayaa dR^iShTaH tvam sa eva asi raavaNaH |

'You are indeed the same Ravana, who, abandoning your real form, appeared to me in the guise of a vagrant religious mendicant in Janasthana."

उपवास कृशाम् दीनाम् काम रूप निशा चर || ५-३४-१६ सम्तापयसि माम् भूयः सम्तापम् तन् न शोभनम् |

upavaasa kR^ishaam diinaam kaama ruupa nishaa cara || 5-34-16samtaapayasi maam bhuuyaH samtaapam tan na shobhanam |

"O demon who can assume any form at your will! It is no good that again you are causing agony to me, emaciated because of fasting and feeling very miserable."

अथवा नैतदेवं हि यन्मया परिशङ्कितम् || ५-३४-१७ मनसो हि मम प्रीतिरुत्पन्ना तव दर्शनात् |

athavaa naitadevaM hi yanmayaa parishaN^kitam || 5-34-17manaso hi mama priitirutpannaa tava darshanaat |

"Otherwise, whatever is suspected by me is not indeed true because in my mind, a pleasurable sensation indeed occurred by reason of your audience."

यदि रामस्य दूतः त्वम् आगतो भद्रम् अस्तु ते || ५-३४-१८ पृच्छामि त्वाम् हरि श्रेष्ठ प्रिया राम कथा हि मे |

yadi raamasya duutaH tvam aagato bhadram astu te || 5-34-18pR^icchhaami tvaam hari shreShTha priyaa raama kathaa hi me |

"If you have come as Rama's messenger, may you be blessed! O the best of monkeys! Rama's anecdote is very pleasurable for me. Hence, I am requesting you to narrate it."

गुणान् रामस्य कथय प्रियस्य मम वानर || ५-३४-१९ चित्तम् हरसि मे सौम्य नदी कूलम् यथा रयः |

guNaan raamasya kathaya priyasya mama vaanara || 5-34-19cittam harasi me saumya nadii kuulam yathaa rayaH |

"O monkey! Narrate the qualities of my beloved Rama. O gentle one! You are eroding my mind as a rapid course of stream erodes a river bank."

अहो स्वप्नस्य सुखता या अहम् एवम् चिर आहृता || ५-३४-२० प्रेषितम् नाम पश्यामि राघवेण वन ओकसम् |

aho svapnasya sukhataa yaa aham evam cira aahR^itaa || 5-34-20preShitam naama pashyaami raaghaveNa vana okasam |

"I, who was taken away long ago, is seeing a monkey sent by Rama in this way. Alas! How delightful this dream is!'

स्वप्नेऽपि यद्यहम् वीरं राघवम् सहलक्ष्मणम् || ५-३४-२१ पश्येयम् नावसीदेयम् स्वप्नोऽपि मम मत्सरी |

svapne.api yadyaham viiraM raaghavam sahalakShmaNam || 5-34-21pashyeyam naavasiideyam svapno.api mama matsarii |

"If I have seen the eminent Rama together with Lakshmana, I would not have disheartened. In my case, even my dream is wicked!"

न अहम् स्वप्नम् इमम् मन्ये स्वप्ने दृष्ट्वा हि वानरम् || ५-३४-२२ न शक्यो अभ्युदयः प्राप्तुम् प्राप्तः च अभ्युदयो मम |

na aham svapnam imam manye svapne dR^iShTvaa hi vaanaram || 5-34-22na shakyo abhyudayaH praaptum praaptaH ca abhyudayo mama |

"I do not deem it as a dream. Seeing a monkey in a dream does not bring about prosperity But prosperity has come to me!"

किम् नु स्याच् चित्त मोहो अयम् भवेत् वात गतिः तु इयम् || ५-३४-२३ उन्मादजो विकारो वा स्यात् इयम् मृग तृष्णिका |

kim nu syaac citta moho ayam bhavet vaata gatiH tu iyam || 5-34-23unmaadajo vikaaro vaa syaat iyam mR^iga tR^iShNikaa |

"How possibly is it a delusion of my mind? Is it an impending course of flatulence or changing mental condition of madness? Is it a looming mirage?"

अथवा न अयम् उन्मादो मोहो अपि उन्माद लक्ष्मणः || ५-३४-२४ सम्बुध्ये च अहम् आत्मानम् इमम् च अपि वन ओकसम् |

athavaa na ayam unmaado moho api unmaada lakShmaNaH || 5-34-24sambudhye ca aham aatmaanam imam ca api vana okasam |

"Otherwise, it is neither madness nor even a delusion, which is a symptom of madness. Because I am knowing about myself as also about this monkey."

इति एवम् बहुधा सीता सम्प्रधार्य बल अबलम् || ५-३४-२५ रक्षसाम् काम रूपत्वान् मेने तम् राक्षस अधिपम् |

iti evam bahudhaa siitaa sampradhaarya bala abalam || 5-34-25rakShasaam kaama ruupatvaan mene tam raakShasa adhipam |

Thus deliberating upon the strengths and weaknesses in several ways, Seetha finally imagined him to be Ravana, as demons can change their forms at will.

एताम् बुद्धिम् तदा कृत्वा सीता सा तनु मध्यमा || ५-३४-२६ न प्रतिव्याजहार अथ वानरम् जनक आत्मजा |

etaam buddhim tadaa kR^itvaa siitaa saa tanu madhyamaa || 5-34-26na prativyaajahaara atha vaanaram janaka aatmajaa |

Then, that slender waisted Seetha, the daughter of Janaka, thus having made up her mind, did not reply in return anything further to Hanuman.

सीतायाः चिन्तितम् बुद्ध्वा हनूमान् मारुत आत्मजः || ५-३४-२७ श्रोत्र अनुकूलैः वचनैः तदा ताम् सम्प्रहर्षयत् |

siitaayaaH cintitam buddhvaa hanuumaan maaruta aatmajaH || 5-34-27shrotra anukuulaiH vacanaiH tadaa taam sampraharShayat |

Understanding the contemplation of Seetha, Hanuma the son of wind-god then brought about a great joy in her with his words most favourable to her ears (as follows):

आदित्य इव तेजस्वी लोक कान्तः शशी यथा || ५-३४-२८ राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवो वैश्रवणो यथा | विक्रमेण उपपन्नः च यथा विष्णुः महायशाः || ५-३४-२९

aaditya iva tejasvii loka kaantaH shashii yathaa || 5-34-28raajaa sarvasya lokasya devo vaishravaNo yathaa |vikrameNa upapannaH ca yathaa viShNuH mahaayashaaH || 5-34-29

"Rama has a great splendour like that of the sun. He is pleasing to all like the moon. As Kubera the Lord of wealth, he is a lord to the entire world. Like Vishnu, he is greatly renowned and endowed with valour."

सत्य वादी मधुर वाग् देवो वाचस्पतिः यथा | रूपवान् सुभगः श्रीमान् कन्दर्प इव मूर्तिमान् || ५-३४-३०

sthaana krodha prahartaa ca shreShTho loke mahaarathaH |baahuc chaayaam avaShTabdho yasya loko mahaatmanaH || 5-34-31

"Rama is a speaker of truth. Like Lord Brihaspati, he has a sweet voice. He is a handsome man, possessing good fortune and a royal dignity. He is a personified Manmadha, the lord of love."

स्थान क्रोध प्रहर्ता च श्रेष्ठो लोके महारथः | बाहुच् चायाम् अवष्टब्धो यस्य लोको महात्मनः || ५-३४-३१

apakR^ishShya aashrama padaan mR^iga ruupeNa raaghavam |shuunye yena apaniitaa asi tasya drakShyasi yat phalam || 5-34-32

"Rama gets anger only at right time. He strikes a befitting person at a right time. He is an excellent chariot-warrior. The world is resting under the shelter of arms of this high souled man."

अपकृश्ष्य आश्रम पदान् मृग रूपेण राघवम् | शून्ये येन अपनीता असि तस्य द्रक्ष्यसि यत् फलम् || ५-३४-३२

naciraat raavaNam samkhye yo vadhiShyati viiryavaan |roSha pramuktaiH iShubhiH jvaladbhiH iva paavakaiH || 5-34-33tena aham preShito duutaH tvat sakaasham iha aagataH |tvat viyogena duhkha aartaH sa tvaam kaushalam abraviit || 5-34-34

"Showing an illusory antelope, Ravana detracted Rama and took you away from a deserted hermitage. You will see later, the consequence Ravana will get for this act."

नचिरात् रावणम् सम्ख्ये यो वधिष्यति वीर्यवान् | रोष प्रमुक्तैः इषुभिः ज्वलद्भिः इव पावकैः || ५-३४-३३ तेन अहम् प्रेषितो दूतः त्वत् सकाशम् इह आगतः | त्वत् वियोगेन दुह्ख आर्तः स त्वाम् कौशलम् अब्रवीत् || ५-३४-३४

lakShmaNaH ca mahaatejaaH sumitra aananda vardhanaH |abhivaadya mahaabaahuH so api kaushalam abraviit || 5-34-35

"Which valiant Rama with arrows strongly shining like sparkles released with anger, by the same Rama I was sent here as a messenger and I arrived at your presence. That Rama, agonised by your separation wishes to enquire of your welfare."

लक्ष्मणः च महातेजाः सुमित्र आनन्द वर्धनः | अभिवाद्य महाबाहुः सो अपि कौशलम् अब्रवीत् || ५-३४-३५

nityam smarati raamaH tvaam sasugriivaH salakShmaNaH |diShTyaa jiivasi vaidehi raakShasii vasham aagataa || 5-34-37

"That long-armed Lakshmana too, having a great splendour and who augments the happiness of Sumitra his mother, saluted you and enquired about your welfare."

रामस्य च सखा देवि सुग्रीवो नाम वानरः | राजा वानर मुख्यानाम् स त्वाम् कौशलम् अब्रवीत् || ५-३४-३६

naciraat drakShyase raamam lakShmaNam ca mahaaratham |madhye vaanara koTiinaam sugriivam ca amita ojasam || 5-34-38

"O princess! That monkey called Sugreeva, a companion of Rama and the king of the excellent monkeys, asked about your welfare."

नित्यम् स्मरति रामः त्वाम् ससुग्रीवः सलक्ष्मणः | दिष्ट्या जीवसि वैदेहि राक्षसी वशम् आगता || ५-३४-३७

aham sugriiva sacivo hanuumaan naama vaanaraH |praviShTo nagariim lankaam langhayitvaa mahaaudadhim || 5-34-39

"Rama, together with Sugreeva and Lakshmana, is always recollecting you. O Seetha! Eventhough coming into the control female-demons, you are somehow surviving by your good luck!"

नचिरात् द्रक्ष्यसे रामम् लक्ष्मणम् च महारथम् | मध्ये वानर कोटीनाम् सुग्रीवम् च अमित ओजसम् || ५-३४-३८

kR^itvaa muurdhni pada nyaasam raavaNasya duraatmanaH |tvaam draShTum upayaato aham samaashritya paraakramam || 5-34-40

"Within a few days, you will see Rama, the mighty Lakshmana and the highly splendorous Sugreeva, in the presence of crores of monkeys."

अहम् सुग्रीव सचिवो हनूमान् नाम वानरः | प्रविष्टो नगरीम् लन्काम् लन्घयित्वा महाउदधिम् || ५-३४-३९

na aham asmi tathaa devi yathaa maam avagacchhasi |vishankaa tyajyataam eShaa shraddhatsva vadato mama || 5-34-41

"I am a monkey, the minister of Sugreeva, called Hanuma. I entered the city of Lanka, by traversing the great ocean."

कृत्वा मूर्ध्नि पद न्यासम् रावणस्य दुरात्मनः | त्वाम् द्रष्टुम् उपयातो अहम् समाश्रित्य पराक्रमम् || ५-३४-४०

"Asserting my strength and putting down my feet on the head of the evil minded Ravana, I have come to see you."

न अहम् अस्मि तथा देवि यथा माम् अवगच्छसि | विशन्का त्यज्यताम् एषा श्रद्धत्स्व वदतो मम || ५-३४-४१

"O Princess! I am not so, as you comprehend me (as Ravana). Let your suspicion be given up. Believe me as I say it."