Summary
Seetha was both delighted and depressed respectively on hearing Rama's episode from Hanuma and Rama's overwhelmed sorrow caused by his dissociation from her. She beseeches Hanuma to arrange for Rama's arrival to Lanka to meet her within two months, the period remaining out of the time-limit for her survival given by Ravana. Hanuma consoles Seetha, saying that Rama would surely come to see her. He also offers Seetha to carry her on his back to Rama's presence at Prasravana Mountain. Looking to the small size of Hanuma's body; Seetha doubts his capability to do it. Then, Hanuma assumes a gigantic form, so as to inspire confidence in Seetha. However, explaining various reasons, Seetha declines to go with him and requests Hanuma to bring her husband to Lanka.
Chapter [Sarga] 37 in Detail
saa siitaa tat vacanam shrutvaa puurna candra nibha aananaa |
hanuumantam uvaaca idam dharma artha sahitam vacah || 5-37-1
Hearing Hanuma's words, Seetha whose face resembled the full moon, spoke the following words braced with justice and utility, to Hanuma.
amritam visha samsrishtam tvayaa vaanara bhaashitam |
yac ca na anya manaa raamo yac ca shoka paraayanah || 5-37-2
"O Hanuma! The words spoken by you viz. that Rama is not having any other thoughts (than on me) and is fully overwhelmed by sorrow are like ambrosia mixed with poisons."
aishvarye vaa suvistiirne vyasane vaa sudaarune |
rajjvaa iva purusham baddhvaa krita antah parikarshati || 5-37-3
"Destiny drags out a man into a very extensive fortune or into a very dreadful adversity, as if being dragged, tied with ropes."
vidhih nuunam asamhaaryah praaninaam plavaga uttama |
saumitrim maam ca raamam ca vyasanaih pashya mohitaan || 5-37-4
"O Hanuma the best of monkeys! For living beings, destiny is surely irresistible. See how Lakshmana, myself and Rama are baffled by misfortunes."
shokasya asya kadaa paaram raaghavo adhigamishyati |
plavamaanah parishraanto hata nauh saagare yathaa || 5-37-5
"When will Rama reach the end of this grief any more than a thoroughly fatigued man, having suffered a ship wreck is swimming in the middle of the sea?"
raakshasaanaam kshayam kritvaa suudayitvaa ca raavanam |
lankaam unmuulitaam kritvaa kadaa drakshyati maam patih || 5-37-6
"When will my husband see me, after annihilation of the demons, killing of Ravana and making the City of Lanka debacle (a great disaster)?"
sa vaacyah samtvarasva iti yaavat eva na puuryate |
ayam samvatsarah kaalah taavadt hi mama jiivitam || 5-37-7
"Till the current period of one year is not completed, that Rama is to be told to make haste to save me; since my life will be lasting till such time only."
vartate dashamo maaso dvau tu sheshau plavamgama |
raavanena nrishamsena samayo yah krito mama || 5-37-8
"O Hanuma! Out of the time-limit given to me by the cruel Ravana for my survival, the tenth month is now running. Only two months are left out."
vibhiishanena ca bhraatraa mama niryaatanam prati |
anuniitah prayatnena na ca tat kurute matim || 5-37-9
"Even when humbly entreated with continued exertion by Vibhishana his brother about my restoration (to Rama), Ravana is not making up his mind to do so."
mama pratipradaanam hi raavanasya na rocate |
raavanam maargate samkhye mrityuh kaala vasham gatam || 5-37-10
"My restoration is not agreeable to Ravana. In the battle, death lies in wait for Ravana, who has become subject to the power of Time."
jyeshthaa kanyaa analaa nama vibhiishana sutaa kape |
tayaa mama etat aakhyaatam maatraa prahitayaa svayam || 5-37-11
"O Hanuma! Nala, the eldest maiden daughter of Vibhishana, when she was sent personally to me by her mother, told me about this."
aashamsa iti hari shreshtha kshipram maam praapsyate patih |
antah aatmaa hi me shuddhah tasmin ca bahavo gunaah || 5-37-12
"O Hanuma the excellent of monkeys! Rama, my husband, will soon regain me without any doubt. Because my heart is pure and in Rama also, there are many good qualities existing."
utsaahah paurusham sattvam aanrishamsyam kritajnataa |
vikramah ca prabhaavah ca santi vaanara raaghave || 5-37-13
"O Hanuma! In Rama are figured, perseverance, manliness, courage, non-mischievousness, gratitude, prowess and energy."
caturdasha sahasraani raakshasaanaam jaghaana yah |
jana sthaane vinaa bhraatraa shatruh kah tasya na udvijet || 5-37-14
"Which Rama, who without the help of Lakshmana his brother, killed fourteen thousand demos in Janasthaana (part of the forest), what adversary will not have fear of such a man?"
na sa shakyah tulayitum vyasanaih purusha rishabhah |
aham tasya anubhaavajnaa shakrasya iva pulomajaa || 5-37-15
"Rama, the excellent among men, is not compelled to be moved by troubles. I now well the energy of Rama, as Sachi the wife of Indra knows the energy of Indra the Lord of celestials."
Shara jaala amshumaan shuurah kape raama divaa karah |
Shatru rakshomayam toyam upashosham nayishyati || 5-37-16
"O Hanuma! The powerful Rama like the sun, with his multitude of ray-like arrows, will dry up the water in the form of hostile adversaries."
iti samjalpamaanaam taam raama arthe shoka karshitaam |
ashru sampuurna vadanaam uvaaca hanumaan kapih || 5-37-17
Hanuma spoke the following words to Seetha, who was thus talking with grief for Rama and with her eyes full of tears."
shrutvaa eva tu vaco mahyam kshipram eshyati raaghavah |
camuum prakarshan mahatiim hari riksha gana samkulaam || 5-37-18
"Soon after hearing my words, Rama will soon come, engaging a great army comprising of a multitude of monkeys and bears with him."
athavaa mocayishyaami taam adya eva hi raakshasaat |
asmaat duhkhaat upaaroha mama prishtham anindite || 5-37-19
"O Seetha with a charming face! Or rather, I shall relieve you from this grief now itself. O irreproachable lady! Ascend my back. I shall take you to Rama."
tvam hi prishtha gataam kritvaa samtarishyaami saagaram |
shaktih asti hi me vodhum lankaam api saraavanaam || 5-37-20
"I shall cause you sit on my back and cross the ocean. I have indeed capacity to carry even Lanka together with Ravana."
aham prasravanasthaaya raaghavaaya adya maithili |
praapayishyaami shakraaya havyam hutam iva analah || 5-37-21
"O Seetha! Now itself, I shall cause you to reach Rama who is staying at Prasravana Mountain, even as fire-god hands over the oblations offered in the sacrifices to Indra the Lord of celestials."
drakshyasi adya eva vaidehi raaghavam saha lakshmanam |
vyavasaaya samaayuktam vishnum daitya vadhe yathaa || 5-37-22
"O Seetha! Now itself, you can see Rama together with Lakshmana, getting ready for a strenuous effort to annihilate the demons, as Vishnu the Lord of Preservation getting ready for killing of demons."
tvat darshana krita utsaaham aashramastham mahaabalam |
puramdaram iva aasiinam naaga raajasya muurdhani || 5-37-23
"The mighty Rama, with gusto [enthusiastic] to see you, is staying in a hermitage, even as Indra the destroyer of strong-holds sitting on the back of Airavata the elephant."
prishtham aaroha me devi maa vikaankshasva shobhane |
yogam anviccha raamena shasha ankena iva rohinii || 5-37-24
"O Seetha the auspicious princess! Mount on my back. Do not have any hesitation. Be inclined of joining Rama even as Rohini, moon's favorite wife, joined the moon."
kathayanti iva candrena suuryena iva suvarcalaa |
mat prishtham adhiruhya tvam tara aakaasha mahaaarnavam || 5-37-25
"You ascend my back and cross the ocean by journeying through the sky, as though speaking to the greatly resplendent sun and to the moon."
na hi me samprayaatasya tvaam ito nayato angane |
anugantum gatim shaktaah sarve lankaa nivaasinah || 5-37-26
"O Seetha! While I am taking you from here, no body staying in Lanka is competent to come along with me."
yathaa eva aham iha praaptah tathaiva aham asamshayam |
yaasyaami pashya vaidehi tvaam udyamya vihaayasam || 5-37-27
"O Seetha! In what manner I reached here, in the same manner, I shall move through the sky, taking you along with me. See, there is no doubt."
maithilii tu hari shreshthaat shrutvaa vacanam adbhutam |
harsha vismita sarva angii hanuumantam atha abraviit || 5-37-28
Hearing those astonishing words from Hanuma, Seetha with her entire limbs flowered with joy, thereafter spoke to Hanuma (as follows):
hanuuman duuram adhvanam katham maam vodhum icchasi |
tat eva khalu te manye kapitvam hari yuuthapa || 5-37-29
"O Hanuma! How are you wishing to carry me for such a long distance? O chief of monkeys! I consider this indeed as your apishness!"
katham vaa alpa shariirah tvam maam ito netum icchasi |
sakaasham maanava indrasya bhartuh me plavaga rishabha || 5-37-30
"O Hanuma the best of monkeys! With such a small seized body, how do you wish to take me from here to the presence of my husband, Rama the Lord of human beings?"
siitaayaa vacanam shrutvaa hanuumaan maaruta aatmajah |
cintayaamaasa lakshmiivaan navam paribhavam kritam || 5-37-31
Hearing the words of Seetha, the illustrious Hanuma, the son of wind-god thought it to be the first insult was caused to him.
na me jaanaati sattvam vaa prabhaavam vaa asita iikshanaa |
tasmaat pashyatu vaidehii yat ruupam mama kaamatah || 5-37-32
(Hanuma said to himself); "The black-eyed Seetha is not aware of my strength or power. That is why; let her see the form I can assume at will."
iti samcintya hanumaan tadaa plavaga sattamah |
darshayaamaasa vaidehyaah svaruupam ari mardanah || 5-37-33
Hanuma, the best of monkeys and the annihilator of enemies, thinking in this way, then showed his peculiarity to Seetha.
sa tasmaat paadapaat dhiimaan aaplutya plavaga rishabhah |
tato vardhitum aarebhe siitaa pratyaya kaaranaat || 5-37-34
Hanuma, the intelligent and the excellent of monkeys, leaped down from that tree and then, to create confidence in Seetha, started to increase his body-form.
meru mandaara samkaasho babhau diipta anala prabhah |
agrato vyavatasthe ca siitaayaa vaanara rishabhah || 5-37-35
Hanuma, the foremost of monkeys, flashed like Meru and Mandara mountains, shining brightly like a blazing fire. He thus stood too in front of Seetha.
harih parvata samkaashah taamra vaktro mahaabalah |
vajra damshtra nakho bhiimo vaidehiim idam abraviit || 5-37-36
The mighty Hanuma, resembling a mountain, having a red face, having teeth and nails as hard as adamant and terrific in appearance, spoke the following words to Seetha.
saparvata vana uddeshaam saatta praakaara toranaam |
lankaam imaam sanathaam vaa nayitum shaktih asti me || 5-37-37
"To me, there is capability to carry this Lanka along with its hills, forest-areas, market-places, defensive walls and arches together with its Lord Ravana himself."
tat avasthaapya taam buddhih alam devi vikaankshayaa |
vishokam kuru vaidehi raaghavam saha lakshmanam || 5-37-38
"O princess! For this reason, leave your suspicion and keep you mind steady. Come along with me and make Rama and Lakshmana bereft of grief."
tam drishtvaa acala samkaasham uvaaca janaka aatmajaa |
padma patra vishaala akshii maarutasya aurasam sutam || 5-37-39
Seetha, with her large eyes resembling lotus-petals, spoke to that terrific Hanuma, the son of wind-god (as follows)
tava sattvam balam caiva vijaanaami mahaakape |
vaayoh iva gatim ca api tejah ca agnih iva adbhutam || 5-37-40
"O great monkey! I know fully well your courage, strength, your power of movement like that of the wind and your wonderful brilliance like that of the fire."
praakrito anyah katham ca imaam bhuumim aagantum arhati |
udadheh aprameyasya paaram vaanara pumgava || 5-37-41
"O the best of monkeys! How can any other common person cross this unfathomable ocean and reach this place?"
jaanaami gamane shaktim nayane ca api te mama |
avashyam saampradhaarya aashu kaarya siddhih iha aatmanah || 5-37-42
"I know your capacity of carrying and taking me from here. However, we have to determine soon whether the accomplishment of work by the high souled Rama would not thus get spoiled."
ayuktam tu kapi shreshtha mayaa gantum tvayaa saha |
vaayu vega savegasya vego maam mohayet tava || 5-37-43
"O the faultless one! O the excellent of monkeys! It is not befitting of me to go with you. For, your speed resembling the winds speed may bewilder my mind."
aham aakaasham aasaktaa upari upari saagaram |
prapateyam hi te prishthaat bhayaat vegena gacchatah || 5-37-44
"Reaching the sky high above the sea, I will fall down out of fear from your back even as you sweep with speed."
patitaa saagare ca aham timi nakra jhasha aakule |
bhayeyam aashu vivashaa yaadasaam annam uttamam || 5-37-45
"Having fallen insensible into the sea, which is filled with sharks, crocodiles and giant fish, I may become the best food soon for the aquatic creatures."
na ca shakshye tvayaa saardham gantum shatru vinaashana |
kalatravati samdehah tvayi api syaat asamshayam || 5-37-46
"O Hanuma the annihilator of enemies! It is not possible for me to go with you. There will also be a risk for you, having me a lady additionally to protect. There is no doubt."
hriyamaanaam tu maam drishtvaa raakshasaa bhiima vikramaah |
anugaccheyuh aadishtaa raavanena duraatmanaa || 5-37-47
"Seeing me being taken away by you, the demons of terrific prowess, incited by the evil-minded Ravana, will follow you."
taih tvam parivritah shuuraih shuulam udgara paanibhih |
bhaveh tvam samshayam praapto mayaa viira kalatravaan || 5-37-48
"O brave monkey! Those valiant demons wielding darts and clubs in their hands will surround you. Accompanied by a lady in me, you will be at a risk."
saayudhaa bahavo vyomni raakshasaah tvam niraayudhah |
katham shakshyasi samyaatum maam caiva parirakshitum || 5-37-49
"Many demons will come with their weapons, in the sky. You will be alone without any weapon. How can you continue your travel, while protecting me?"
yudhyamaanasya rakshobhih tatah taih kruura karmabhih |
prapateyam hi te prishthat bhaya aartaa kapi sattama || 5-37-50
"O the best of monkeys! While you will be resorting to battle with those demons, who perform cruel acts, I, stricken with fear, may fall down from your back."
atha rakshaamsi bhiimaani mahaanti balavanti ca |
kathamcit saamparaaye tvaam jayeyuh kapi sattama || 5-37-51
"O excellent of monkeys! Then the powerful and terrific demons with their giant bodies will conquer you in battle, somehow or other."
athavaa yudhyamaanasya pateyam vimukhasya te |
patitaam ca grihiitvaa maam nayeyuh paapa raakshasaah || 5-37-52
"Otherwise, if you are indifferent of me and resort to battle, I may eventually fall down. Then, the wicked demons, catching hold of me fallen, may take me again to Lanka."
maam vaa hareyuh tvadt hastaat vishaseyuh atha api vaa |
avyavasthau hi drishyete yuddhe jaya paraajayau || 5-37-53
"Or they may take me away from your hand, or may even kill me. In battle, victory and defeat are perceived as uncertain."
aham vaa api vipadyeyam rakshobhih abhitarjitaa |
tvat prayatno hari shreshtha bhaven nishphala eva tu || 5-37-54
"O the best of monkeys! Or while I am frightened by the demons, I may get into a mishap. Thus, your effort may become futile indeed!"
kaamam tvam api paryaapto nihantum sarva raakshasaan |
raaghavasya yasho hiiyet tvayaa shastaih tu raakshasaih || 5-37-55
"You may be surely able to kill all the demons. But if you alone kill all the demons, Rama's celebrity will be lowered."
athavaa aadaaya rakshaamsi nyasyeyuh samvrite hi maam |
yatra te na abhijaaniiyuh harayo na api raaghavah || 5-37-56
"Otherwise, the demons may take me away and hide me in any secret place that will not be known by those monkeys or even Rama and Lakshmana."
aarambhah tu mat artho ayam tatah tava nirarthakah |
tvayaa hi saha raamasya mahaan aagamane gunah || 5-37-57
"Then your effort taken for my sake will become futile. That is why there is a great merit in Rama's coming here along with you."
mayi jiivitam aayattam raaghavasya mahaatmanah |
bhraatririnaam ca mahaabaaho tava raaja kulasya ca || 5-37-58
"O Hanuma the long-armed! The survival of the high souled Rama, his brothers, of yourself and of your royal family (of Sugreeva) is dependent on me."
tau niraashau mat arthe tu shoka samtaapa karshitau |
saha sarva riksha haribhih tyakshyatah praana samgraham || 5-37-59
"Those two men Rama and Lakshmana who are emaciated by grief and anguish along with all bears and monkeys, losing their hope, will abandon their lives."
bhartuh bhaktim purah kritya raamaat anyasya vaanara |
na aham sprashtum padaa gaatram iccheyam vaanara uttama || 5-37-60
"O Hanuma, the best of monkeys! Honoring the devotion to my husband, I cannot touch the body of any man other that of Rama."
yat aham gaatra samsparsham raavanasya gataa balaat |
aniishaa kim karishyaami vinaathaa vivashaa satii || 5-37-61
"That I got, by force, the touch of Ravana's body, was because being helpless, having lost control of myself and without a protector, I could not do anything."
yadi raamo dashagriivam iha hatvaa saraakshasam |
maam ito grihya gaccheta tat tasya sadrisham bhavet || 5-37-62
"If Rama kills Ravana here along with his relatives and departs taking me from here, it would be proper for him"
shrutaa hi drishtaah ca mayaa paraakramaa |
mahaatmanah tasya rana avamardinah |
na deva gandharva bhujamga raakshasaa |
bhavanti raamena samaa hi samyuge || 5-37-63
"I have not only heard but seen myself about the strength of the high souled Rama destroying enemies in battle. Neither the celestials nor the divine musicians nor the serpent-gods nor the demons are equal to Rama in combat."
samiikshya tam samyati citra kaarmukam |
mahaabalam vaasava tulya vikramam |
salakshmanam ko vishaheta raaghavam |
huta ashanam diiptam iva anila iiritam || 5-37-64
"Who can withstand seeing in battle that mighty Rama, dazzling like fire fanned by wind, wielding his conspicuous bow and having prowess equal to that of Indra the Lord of celestials, together with Lakshmana?"
salakshmanam raaghavam aaji mardanam |
dishaa gajam mattam iva vyavasthitam |
saheta ko vaanara mukhya samyuge |
yuga anta suurya pratimam shara arcisham || 5-37-65
"O the best of monkeys! In battle, who can endure Rama resembling the sun at noon-time, with his arrows resembling its rays, the destroyer in battle, stationed like a mythical elephant in rut, along with Lakshmana?
sa me hari shreshtha salakshmanam patim |
sayuuthapam kshipram iha upapaadaya |
ciraaya raamam prati shoka karshitaam |
kurushva maam vaanara mukhya harshitaam || 5-37-66
"O the excellent of monkeys! You, as such, soon bring my husband here along with Lakshmana, and the chiefs of army. O the best of monkeys! I am emaciated with grief about Rama since long. Make me now joyful."
ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye sundarakaande saptatrimshah sargah
Thus completes 37th Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate