Summary
In this chapter Hanuma starts to search for Seetha overcoming the depression. He begins to go towards Ashoka garden to continue his search.
Chapter [Sarga] 13 in Detail
vimaanaat tu susamkramya praakaaram hari yuuthapah |
hanuumaan vegavaan aasiid yathaa vidyud ghana antare || 5-13-1
Hanuma the leader of Vanaras crossed from Pushpaka toward the fort wall and became with speed like lighting in the middle of a cloud.
samparikramya hanumaan raavanasya niveshanaan |
adristvaa jaanakiim siitaam abraviid vacanam kapih || 5-13-2
The simian Hanuma went far from the house of Ravana and not seeing Seetha, the daughter of King Janaka, said these words:
bhuuyistham loditaa lankaa raamasya carataa priyam |
na hi pashyaami vaidehiim siitaam sarva anga shobhanaam || 5-13-3
“The city of Lanka has been mostly explored by me attempting for the pleasure of Rama. But I am unable to see Seetha, beautiful in all limbs, and the daughter of Videha.”
palvalaani tataakaani saraamsi saritah tathaa |
nadyo anuupavana antaah ca durgaah ca dharanii dharaah || 5-13-4
loditaa vasudhaa sarvaa na ca pashyaami jaanakiim |
“All earth consisting of pools, ponds, lakes and streams, rivers and forest areas filled with water, mountains difficult of access have been explored but I did not see Seetha.”
iha sampaatinaa siitaa raavanasya niveshane || 5-13-5
aakhyaataa gridhra raajena na ca pashyaami taam aham |
“It has been said by the eagle King Sampaati that Seetha is here in the house of Ravana. I am unable to see her.”
kim nu siitaa atha vaidehii maithilii janaka aatmajaa || 5-13-6
upatistheta vivashaa raavanam dusta caarinam |
“Otherwise Seetha belonging to Videha born in Mithila and daughter of king Janaka - Can she be helplessly together with the evil minded Ravana.”
ksipram utpatato manye siitaam aadaaya raksasah || 5-13-7
bibhyato raama baanaanaam antaraa patitaa bhavet |
“I think while Ravana fearing Rama’s arrows flew quickly carrying Seetha, she might have fallen down in the middle of the journey.”
athavaa hriyamaanaayaah pathi siddha nisevite || 5-13-8
manye patitam aaryaayaa hridayam preksya saagaram |
“Or I think the heart of the noble Seetha being stolen in the path served by Siddhas must have sunk at the site of the ocean.”
raavanasya uuru vegena bhujaabhyaam piiditena ca || 5-13-9
tayaa manye vishaala aksyaa tyaktam jiivitam aaryayaa |
“I think due to great speed of Ravana and due to the torture of Ravana’s shoulders the life has been given up by that noble one with wide eyes.”
upari upari vaa nuunam saagaram kramatah tadaa || 5-13-10
vivestamaanaa patitaa samudre janaka aatmajaa |
“Then while being flown upon the surface of the ocean, Seetha definitely fell down in the ocean while wriggling.”
aaho ksudrena ca anena raksantii shiilam aatmanah || 5-13-11
abandhur bhaksitaa siitaa raavanena tapasvinii |
“Or has the austere Seetha been eaten by this Ravana, the evil minded one while she was protecting her chastity without any relatives near her.”
athavaa raaksasa indrasya patniibhir asita iiksanaa || 5-13-12
adustaa dusta bhaavaabhir bhaksitaa saa bhavisyati |
“Otherwise not being evil with black eyes, She may have been eaten by the wives of Ravana with evil thoughts.”
sampuurna candra pratimam padma patra nibha iiksanam || 5-13-13
raamasya dhyaayatii vaktram pancatvam kripanaa gataa |
“The pitiable Seetha equaling full moon, with eyes equaling lotus petals must have obtained death while meditating upon Rama’s face.”
haa raama laksmana iti eva haa ayodhyeti ca maithilii || 5-13-14
vilapya bahu vaidehii nyasta dehaa bhavisyati |
“The daughter of Videha, Seetha. ‘O Rama!’ ‘O Lakshmana!’ ‘O Ayodhya!’, thus weeping greatly may have given up her body.”
athavaa nihitaa manye raavanasya niveshane || 5-13-15
nuunam laalapyate mandam panjarasthaa iva shaarikaa |
“I think otherwise being put in the house of Ravana Seetha is definitely crying like a caged myna.”
janakasya kule jaataa raama patnii sumadhyamaa || 5-13-16
katham utpala patra aksii raavanasya vasham vrajet |
“How can the daughter of King Janaka, Rama’s wife Seetha with a beautiful waist, with eyes like black lotus petals obtain Ravana’s capture.”
vinastaa vaa pranastaa vaa mritaa vaa janaka aatmajaa || 5-13-17
raamasya priya bhaaryasya na nivedayitum ksamam |
“It is not fair to let know Rama who has a dear wife if Seetha is lost or is not to be seen or has died.”
nivedyamaane dosah syaad dosah syaad anivedane || 5-13-18
katham nu khalu kartavyam visamam pratibhaati me |
“To be let known becomes an error; not to let know becomes an error how to perform the duty? To me this seems dire situation.”
asminn evam gate karye praapta kaalam ksamam ca kim || 5-13-19
bhaved iti matim bhuuyo hanumaan pravicaarayan |
“This task while it goes this way the time is approaching. What becomes appropriate” thus Hanuma thought again this view point.
yadi siitaam adristvaa aham vaanara indra puriim itah || 5-13-20
gamisyaami tatah ko me purusa artho bhavisyati |
“If I go towards Sugreeva’s city from here without seeing Seetha from that to what avail will this effort be?”
mama idam langhanam vyartham saagarasya bhavisyati || 5-13-21
praveshah civa lankaayaa raaksasaanaam ca darshanam |
"My crossing of the ocean entering the city of Lanka the site of rakshasas - all this will become waste."
kim vaa vaksyati sugriivo harayo va samaagataah || 5-13-22
kiskindhaam samanupraaptau tau vaa dasharatha aatmajau |
“To me reaching Kishkindha what would Sugreeva say or Vanaras there or those sons of Dasharatha what would they say?”
gatvaa tu yadi kaakutstham vaksyaami param apriyam || 5-13-23
na dristaa iti mayaa siitaa tatah tyaksyanti jiivitam |
“Going there by me for Rama, ‘Seetha has not been seen’ - thus if I say a very unpleasant word thereafter Rama will give up life.”
parusam daarunam kruuram tiiksnam indriya taapanam || 5-13-24
siitaa nimittam durvaakyam shrutvaa sa na bhavisyati |
“Hearing bad word belonging to Seetha that is harsh, horrible, cruel, sharp, sense agonizing, He will not exist.”
tam tu kricchra gatam dristvaa pancatva gata maanasam || 5-13-25
bhrisha anurakto medhaavii na bhavisyati laksmanah |
“Seeing that Rama being with troubles, being with a heart towards death, Lakshmana, one with great love and an intellectual will not exist.”
vinastau bhraatarau shrutvaa bharato api marisyati || 5-13-26
bharatam ca mritam dristvaa shatrughno na bhavisyati |
“Hearing brothers to be dead, Bharata also will die. Seeing the dead Bharata, Shatrughna also will not exist.”
putraan mritaan samiiksya atha na bhavisyanti maatarah || 5-13-27
kausalyaa ca sumitraa ca kaikeyii ca na samshayah |
“Thereafter seeing sons to be dead the mothers Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi will not exist - there is no doubt.”
kritajnah satya samdhah ca sugriivah plavaga adhipah || 5-13-28
raamam tathaa gatam dristvaa tatah tyaksyanti jiivitam |
“Grateful, true to pledge Sugreeva, the leader of Vanaras, seeing Rama the leader of Vanaras seeing Rama die in that way will give up life thereafter.”
durmanaa vyathitaa diinaa niraanandaa tapasvinii || 5-13-29
piiditaa bhartri shokena rumaa tyaksyati jiivitam |
“Being tortured by the sorrow of husband, made sad by a gloomy heart, disconsolate without happiness, to be pitied, Ruma will give up life.”
vaalijena tu duhkhena piiditaa shoka karshitaa || 5-13-30
pancatva gamane raajnah taaraa api na bhavisyati |
“Being distressed from the sorrow of Vali, being emaciated from grief, Tara also will not exist while the king Sugreeva is obtaining death.”
maataa pitror vinaashena sugriiva vyasanena ca || 5-13-31
kumaaro api angadah kasmaad dhaarayisyati jiivitam |
“The young Angada also from the death of mother and father, from the grief of Sugreeva - why will he retain life?”
bhartrijena tu shokena abhibhuutaa vana okasah || 5-13-32
shiraamsi abhihanisyanti talair mustibhir eva ca |
“Vanaras being rejected by the sorrow due to their lord will strike their heads with palms and fists.”
saantvena anupradaanena maanena ca yashasvinaa || 5-13-33
laalitaah kapi raajena praanaamh tyaksyanti vaanaraah |
“Vanaras loved by the famous king Sugreeva through good words, through small gifts, through respect will give up lives.”
na vanesu na shailesu na nirodhesu vaa punah || 5-13-34
kriidaam anubhavisyanti sametya kapi kunjaraah |
“Best among Vanaras will not enjoy together sport in forest, not on mountains, not again in covered places.”
saputra daaraah saamaatyaa bhartri vyasana piiditaah || 5-13-35
shaila agrebhyah patisyanti sametya visamesu ca |
“Together with wife and children and together with ministers being tortured by grief of their lord, they will fall down from top of mountains on to flat lands and on to rugged lands.”
visam udbandhanam vaa api pravesham jvalanasya vaa || 5-13-36
upavaasam atho shastram pracarisyanti vaanaraah |
“Vanaras will perform death by taking poison or getting hanged or entering fire or fasting or a weapon.”
ghoram aarodanam manye gate mayi bhavisyati || 5-13-37
iksvaaku kula naashah ca naashah caiva vana okasaam |
“While I am going I think about the destruction of Ikshvaku dynasty and destruction of Vanaras and there will be a terrible wail.”
so aham na eva gamisyaami kiskindhaam nagariim itah || 5-13-38
na hi shaksyaami aham drastum sugriivam maithiliim vinaa |
“I will not go from here to the Kishkindha city. I am not capable to see Sugreeva without Seetha.”
mayi agacchati ca ihasthe dharma aatmaanau mahaa rathau || 5-13-39
aashayaa tau dharisyete vanaraah ca manasvinah |
“I while not going, being here those virtuous ones, those great warriors those two Rama and Lakshmana will live by hope. Vanaras also who are agile will live.”
hasta aadaano mukha aadaano niyato vriksa muulikah || 5-13-40
vaanaprastho bhavisyaami adristvaa janaka aatmajaam |
saagara anuupaje deshe bahu muula phala udake || 5-13-41
“Without seeing Seetha subsisting on whatever falls on hand, whatever comes to mouth, being self restrained I will become a hermit living on trees and herbs at a region near ocean which has many roots, fruits and much water.”
citaam kritvaa praveksyaami samiddham aranii sutam |
upavistasya vaa samyag linginam saadhayisyatah || 5-13-42
shariiram bhaksayisyanti vaayasaah shvaapadaani ca |
“Or I will enter fire which is glowing after making a funeral pile or while sitting performing fasting onto death my body will be eaten by crows and by beasts of prey.”
idam api risibhir dristam niryaanam iti me matih || 5-13-43
samyag aapah praveksyaami na cet pashyaami jaanakiim |
“This way to giving up body has been seen by sages. This is my opinion if I do not see Seetha, I will enter lot of water.”
sujaata muulaa subhagaa kiirti maalaa yashasvinii || 5-13-44
prabhagnaa cira raatrii iyam mama siitaam apashyatah |
“Not seeing Seetha, my garland of glory of long time with a strong foundation, beautiful one together with fame has been destroyed.”
taapaso vaa bhavisyaami niyato vriksa muulikah || 5-13-45
na itah pratigamisyaami taam adristvaa asita iiksanaam |
“I will become a hermit who is self restrained resorting to trees and herbs; I will not go from here not seeing Seetha with black eyes.”
yadi itah pratigacchaami siitaam anadhigamya taam || 5-13-46
angadah sahitaih sarvair vaanarair na bhavisyati |
“If I go back from here without knowing that Seetha, there will not be Angada together with all those Vanaras.”
vinaashe bahavo dosaa jiivan praapnoti bhadrakam || 5-13-47
tasmaat praanaan dharisyaami dhruvo jiivati samgamah |
“There are lots of blemishes in dying; one who is alive sees auspicious things. For that reason I will keep my life. It is definite for the meeting of people who are alive.”
evam bahu vidham duhkham manasaa dhaarayan muhuh || 5-13-48
na adhyagacchat tadaa paaram shokasya kapi kunjarah |
Hanuma carrying in mind sorrow of various kinds again and again did not get then the crossing of sorrow.
raavanam vaa vadhisyaami dashagriivam mahaa balam || 5-13-49
kaamam astu hritaa siitaa pratyaaciirnam bhavisyati |
“Otherwise I will kill Ravana with ten heads, with great prowess. Whatever happened to the stolen Seetha, this will be revenge to that.”
athavaa enam samutksipya upari upari saagaram || 5-13-50
raamaaya upaharisyaami pashum pashu pater iva |
“Otherwise carrying this Ravana over the surface of ocean I will take him to Rama like an animal to the lord of animals.”
iti cintaa samaapannah siitaam anadhigamya taam || 5-13-51
dhyaana shokaa pariita aatmaa cintayaam aasa vaanarah |
Hanuma not seeing that Seetha thus begetting sorrow, thought with a mind cluttered with thoughts and sorrow.
yaavat siitaam na pashyaami raama patniim yashasviniim || 5-13-52
taavad etaam puriim lankaam vicinomi punah punah |
“To wherever I see Seetha, the wife of Sri Rama and one with fame, till there I will search the city of Lanka again and again.”
sampaati vacanaac ca api raamam yadi aanayaami aham || 5-13-53
apashyan raaghavo bhaaryaam nirdahet sarva vaanaraan |
“Based on words of Sampati if I bring Sri Rama then Sri Rama not seeing wife will burn all Vanaras.”
iha eva niyata aahaaro vatsyaami niyata indriyah || 5-13-54
na mat krite vinashyeyuh sarve te nara vaanaraah |
“With limited food and with restrained senses, I live here itself. By my deed those men and Vanaras - let they not be destroyed.”
ashoka vanikaa ca api mahatii iyam mahaa drumaa || 5-13-55
imaam abhigamisyaami na hi iyam vicitaa mayaa |
“Whatever this Ashoka garden with great trees is being seen this I will obtain. This has not been searched by me.”
vasuun rudraamh tathaa aadityaan ashvinau maruto api ca || 5-13-56
namah kritvaa gamisyaami raksasaam shoka vardhanah |
“Saluting the eight Vasus, Rudra’s and Adityas, the two Aswinis, seven Maruts, I will go to increase the grief of Rakshasas.”
jitvaa tu raaksasaan deviim iksvaaku kula nandiniim || 5-13-57
sampradaasyaami raamaayaa yathaa siddhim tapasvine |
“Defeating all rakshasas, I will give Seetha, who gives happiness to Ikshvaaku dynasty to Sri Rama as the fruit of austerity to an ascetic.”
sa muhuurtam iva dhyaatvaa cintaa vigrathita indriyah || 5-13-58
udatisthan mahaa baahur hanuumaan maaruta aatmajah |
The gloried son of Vayu that Hanuma got up with his senses tied by grief.
namo astu raamaaya salaksmanaaya |
devyai ca tasyai janaka aatmajaayai |
namo astu rudra indra yama anilebhyo |
namo astu candra arka marud ganebhyah || 5-13-59
“Let there be salutations to Sri Rama together with Lakshmana, also to that, who is divine let there be salutations. To Rudra, Indra, Yama and Vayu let there be salutations.”
sa tebhyah tu namah kritvaa sugriivaaya ca maarutih |
dishah sarvaah samaalokya ashoka vanikaam prati || 5-13-60
That Hanuma saluting to all those and also to Sugreeva, observing all directions went towards Ashoka garden.
sa gatvaa manasaa puurvam ashoka vanikaam shubhaam |
uttaram cintayaam aasa vaanaro maaruta aatmajah || 5-13-61
The son of Vayu, that Vanara went by mind before itself toward that Ashoka garden. The auspicious one pondered the task to be done later.
dhruvam tu rakso bahulaa bhavisyati vana aakulaa |
ashoka vanikaa cintyaa sarva samskaara samskritaa || 5-13-62
“The Ashoka garden definitely will be with many rakshasas, filled with trees, adorned with various cultures and sacred.”
raksinah ca atra vihitaa nuunam raksanti paadapaan |
bhagavaan api sarva aatmaa na atiksobham pravaayati || 5-13-63
samksipto ayam mayaa aatmaa ca raama arthe raavanasya ca |
“There definitely guards will be protecting assigned, trees, omnipresent Lord Vayu also will be blowing by without force, and by me this body has been made small for the sake of Sri Rama and to avoid Ravana.”
siddhim me samvidhaasyanti devaah sarsi ganaah tv iha || 5-13-64
brahmaa svayambhuur bhagavaan devaah caiva dishantu me |
siddhim agnih ca vaayuh ca puru huutah ca vajradhrit || 5-13-65
varunah paasha hastah ca soma aadityai tathaiva ca |
ashvinau ca mahaatmaanau marutah sarva eva ca || 5-13-66
siddhim sarvaani bhuutaani bhuutaanaam caiva yah prabhuh |
daasyanti mama ye ca anye adristaah pathi gocaraah || 5-13-67
“Devas together with ascetics will make success to me here, self born Brahma the divine one and Devas and Agni and Vayu, Devendra wearing the weapon of Vajra and Varuna with Pasha in hand and also the Sun and the moon and the Aswinis. The great ones Maruts and Eshwara may give my success. Whoever is the lord of all living creatures among all living beings others who being unseen exist in the path may give success to me.”
tad unnasam paandura dantam avranam |
shuci smitam padma palaasha locanam |
draksye tad aaryaa vadanam kadaa nv aham |
prasanna taaraa adhipa tulya darshanam || 5-13-68
“When will I see that noble face with a high nose, with white teeth without any injuries with a bright smile, with eyes resembling lotus petals with sight equaling the splendor of clear full moon?”
ksudrena paapena nrishamsa karmanaa |
sudaaruna alaamkrita vesa dhaarinaa|
bala abhibhuutaa abalaa tapasvinii |
katham nu me drista pathe adya saa bhavet || 5-13-69
“How that powerless Seetha, a helpless one, forcefully taken away by the mean vile Ravana with a cruel action, with a horribly decorated form will fall in the range of my sight today.”
ityaarshhe shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye sundarakaande trayodashah sargah
Thus, this is the 13th chapter in Sundara Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate