SUNDERKAND

[adwaita]

Fifth Chapter
                                           Fifth Chapter
                                 Seeing of Rakshasa and Rakshasis
  ( Hanuman is searching the houses and streets of Lanka for Sita and is able to see many women but not her.)
 
Then the intelligent Hanuman, saw the moon, which was in the center of the sky, which was with rays and which was spreading the sheet of moon light, like an enthusiastic bull wandering in its stable.                                                                                                    1
(According to commentators, this sloka indicates that Hanuman entered Ravana’s house after midnight. Since moon increases the pain of parting to Sita and Rama, Hanuman thought him as scorching with rays like the sun)
 
Then he saw the moon, which destroys the sorrows of the world, which increased the levels of the great sea and which traveled by giving light to all beings.                        2
 
That Goddess Lakshmi who shined normally on the Mandara Mountain of earth, in the sea during dusk and  on the lotus in the ponds, at that time shined sitting on the moon. 3             
 
The moon in the sky  was similar to the swan in the sliver cage, lion in the caves of Mandara Mountain and the heroic soldier sitting on proud elephant.                            4
 
The moon, which was full of all its crescents, resembled the bullock with its sharpened horns, the silver mountain with its peaks, and  the elephant whose tusks were decorated by gold.                                                                                                                            5
 
That moon who did not loose the luster due to dense dew drops, who had borrowed light from the sun by which he drove away darkness, who was serving the luminous Lakshmi in his crystal clear mien and who had the rabbit mark, shined in the sky.                       6
 
The moon shone with great light like the lion climbing on the stone clusters, like the great elephant reaching the war and like the king getting his kingdom.                                      7
 
The early part of night, was devoid of darkness due to rise of the moon and was tainted by the eating of meat food by the Rakshasas and was full of lovers joining together after romantic quarrels.                                                                                                         8
 
At that time musical instruments like Veena gave strumming sounds from their strings, which was sweet to the ears and virtuous  wives were sleeping with their husbands and Rakshasas started wandering about  with very wonderful and horrible acts.                9
 
The intelligent monkey chief saw many houses where people were in the trance induced by consuming alcohol and which had garages for chariots, elephant and horse stables. 10
 
Those tipsy ones were teasing each other, placing their stout hands on each other and were shouting vulgar words at each other.                                                                   11
 
Those Rakshasas were baring their chest, putting their body on their sweet hearts, assuming various shapes and leaving free the tightly held bows.                              12
 
He also saw  several well made up maidens, some ladies who were sleeping, some who were laughing  and some who were upset and very angry.                                           13
 
That city  was full of trumpeting of elephants, well-honoured friends, gasping heroes and hissing snakes.                                                                                                                14
 
He also saw their some Rakshasas who were very intelligent, who talked sweetly, who were full of attention, who were considered noble in this world , who were made up in different manners and who had very good names.                                                       15
 
That Hanuman became very pleased  on seeing them who were handsome people, who had all sort of good qualities and who were looking good and suitable to their good qualities. He also saw some ugly people who had made up themselves  so as to look  as handsome.                                                                                                                    16
 
He saw many  star like women who were pretty, who had a very clean mind, who  were of good character, who were well known, who in spite being drunk were passionate towards their husbands.                                                                                                      17
 
He also saw many woman  like the birds hidden by flowers,   who were shining because of their wealth, who were very shy, who were attracted by tremendous passion and to whom their husbands were making passionate love in the mid of night.                      18
 
The intelligent Hanuman also saw  some  married women sitting in comfort on the laps of their husbands ,who were making passionate love with their husbands  and putting on nice behavior because of good upbringing, some who were  having interest in Dharma and some who were sitting at the top of  their houses.                                                     19     
(Here he describes virtuous woman of the house)
 
That monkey chief Hanuman, saw also many women with the colour of the flash of gold and some with the colour of molten gold, some  noble ladies with out the upper cloth covering them,  some with very pretty sensual organs with attractive colour, some who are of the colour of the moon because they were separated from their lovers, some who were glowing in light because they have got the lovers of their choice and also many happy and very  pretty girls in those houses.                                                       20-21
(Here the poet describes unmarried women in love)
 
He also saw some with faces as pretty as the full moon, some with curved eyelids over pretty eyes and some with ornaments like the flash of lightning.                              22
( He was seeing their eyes and faces to see whether they were human beings or Rakshasis  and their ornaments to see whether they were wearing Sita’s ornaments)
 
But he did not see  Sita  who was brought up in a royal family of good lineage,  who had very high celestial birth, who was with a body like a fully developed climbing plant  and who was born outside the womb as per her will.                                                           23
 
He became extremely sad and felt foolish because in spite of  a long search he was not  in a position of  being able to locate Sita who permanently dwells in the path of justice, who had very pretty eyes, who was full of love,  who for ever lived in the mind of her husband, who was anytime much greater than any great lady, who was suffering because of the absence of her husband, who had a neck made wet with tears, who in earlier days used to wear dollar hanging from  her neck, who was like a  peahen  which with its  very pretty wings was dancing in the forest , who was like a faded crescent of the moon, who was like a piece of gold dimmed by dust, who was like  the wound[12] pierced by an arrow and  who was the wife of Lord Rama who was greatest among those who speak and who was lord of human beings,                                                                                             24-27
 
 
 
          Thus ends the fifth   chapter of Sundara Kanda  which
     is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written  by Valmiki.
 

[adwaita]

Sixth Chapter
                                           Sixth  Chapter
                                    Entering the house of Ravana
(Hanuman enters the houses of nobles in the palace complex of Ravana and finally enters the house of Ravana)
 
That monkey who can take any form he liked thoughtfully wandered with speed in to the different palatial houses of Sri Lanka.                                                                            1
 
Then that Hanuman whom Lakshmi has showered her grace, reached the house of the king of Rakshasas, which was surrounded by  walls, which glittered like Sunflower.  2
 
Examining the house protected by the Rakshasas like the lions protect the forest , the monkey chief glistened with wonder .(or by the glitter of the houses)                            3
 
That monkey chief saw  the great one’s great house which had pictures made of silver, which was decorated by gold, which had towers , multiple buildings  and pretty gates, which was occupied by great elephants ridden by heroic soldiers and chariot tied horses which cannot be controlled, which had chariots covered with the hides of tiger and lion and  were made of ivory, gold and silver and had booming sound, which had forever moving great mega chariots making huge sound inlaid with precious gems filled with special weapons and vessels and occupied by great heroes , which was filled  on all four sides by thousands of  different types pretty and special animals and birds ,which was saluted  and cared for by several Rakshasa sentries, Which was filled with many great ladies, which was occupied by jewel like ladies who were happy, which was the house of the king of Rakshasas, which was filled with booming sound of the ocean made by the jingling of very special jewels, which was filled with luxurious objects fit for great kings, which had perfumed objects like sandal and myrrh,  which was occupied by large gathering of people who were like the lions of a great forest, which had the noise created by drums, cymbals etc, which was filled by the sound made by conches, which had sacrificial  performances for special occasions conducted by Rakshasas, which had daily worship being performed, which had non stop celebrations, which had sounds like the tides of ocean and  which had very good quality carpets made of jewels.             4-13
 
That monkey chief thought that the house which was glittering and which had elephants, horses and chariots as an ornament if the city. Then Hanuman walked here and there for some time near Ravana.                                                                                         14-15
 
That monkey went round and searched without fearing  the different houses of Rakshasas and also in their gardens and palaces.                                                                                16
 
That great  hero who had very great speed, jumped in to the house of Prahastha  and jumped from there to the house of Mahaparswa.                                                     17
(ministers of Ravana)
 
From there  the monkey chief  went to the cloud like house of Kumbakarna  and from there jumped to the house of Vibhishana,                                                                       18
(Brothers of Ravana)
He then jumped in to the houses of Mahodhara, Virupaksha. Vidyujihwa. Vidhyunmali  and Vajra damshtra.                                                                                                        19
(Army chiefs of Ravana)
Like this the great resplendent monkey went to the houses of Shuka, Charana  the great hero Indrajit.                                                                                                                    20
(Shuka and Charana were the chief spies of Ravana and Indrajit his eldest son)
Like this again he visited the houses of Jambumali, Sumali, Rasmikethu and Surya shathru.                                                                                                                             21
 
That monkey chief who was the Son of God of Wind, jumped in to the houses of Vajarakaya, Dhoomraksha and Sampathi.                                                                       22
 
The son of the God of Wind visited one by one the houses of Bhima, Vidhyadhroopa, Ghana, Vighana, Sukhanasa, Sasa, Vikata, Brhamakarna, Dhamshtra, Romasa, Rakshasa, Yudhonmatha, Matha, Dwajagreeva, Nadhi, Athikaya,  Aksha, Vidhyujjihwa,  Indrajjihwa, Hasthimuka, Akambana, Karala, Pisascha, Sonithaksha, Devanthaka, Naranthaka, Kumbha, Nikumbha, Ugravakthra, and Ghoraand  Ghorara.           23-29
 
That famous monkey chief saw the  invaluable riches in each of these rich peoples houses.                                                                                                                    30
 
The lucky Hanuman  after seeing and searching these houses on all four sides reached the house of the King of Rakshasas.                                                                                 31
 
Hanuman who was the most intelligent monkey of all, entered inside and saw the women sentries with ugly eyes who were armed with spear and the thorn mace doing their shift duty.                                                                                                                              32
 
He also saw very huge Rakshasas belonging to different regiments and armed with diverse type of arms  in the house of the Rakshasa chief.                                       33
 
In that house Hanuman saw  horses which very swift , pretty, red , white, armed sufficiently to do a battle and possessing very high speed, and elephants which were capable of winning the  elephants of the enemy which were trained in the elephant discipline, which were capable of killing the army of the enemy, which were like clouds equal to the  prowess of Iravatha, which were similar to the mountains giving birth to several streams, Which were making sound like thunder, and which can never be won over by the enemies.                                                                                              34-36
 
That monkey who son of Wind god saw in the house of Ravana the king of rakshasas, thousands of horses decorated with gold, several type of  gold plated palanquins which were like the young sun, several houses covered with climbing plants, several art galleries, several houses of entertainment, playing bulls made of wood, pretty houses of passion and several houses to spend the day time.                                              37-39
 
That Hanuman saw the house of Ravana rivaling the house of Shiva the chief of beings, which was similar to Mandara mountain, which had places for pea cocks , which was full of flag poles, which was filled with thousands of jewels, where heaps of treasures were lying about here and there and which had several art works made of very great sculptors.
                                                                                                                                 40-41
 
That house due to the glitter of precious stones and because of Ravana’s prowess  was shining like the sun because of its rays.                                                                     42
 
That monkey warrior saw glittering golden cots and seats  as also several shining vessels.
                                                                                                                                     43
 
Hanuman entered that great palace  which was full of gem studded vessels which have become wet because they were used to serve honey and alcoholic drinks, which was extensive like   the very beautiful house of Kubera, which was booming because of sounds made by the jingling of anklets, shaking sound of waist belt,  and the sounds made by drums and cymbals, which had several houses, which was occupied by several jewel like women  and which had many architectural marvels.                                    44-46
 
 
          Thus ends the sixth   chapter of Sundara Kanda  which
     is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written  by Valmiki.
 

[adwaita]

Seventh Chapter
                                           Seventh  Chapter
                                           Seeing Pushpaka Vimana
 
(Hanuman when he searched the city further saw the Pushpaka Vimana and though he was terribly attracted by it felt sad because he had not made any progress in search of Sita)
 
That strong Hanuman saw a row of houses  which were glittering during rainy season, which were having a flock of birds, which were like a whiff of cloud and which had golden windows inlaid with diamonds.                                                                   1
 
In those houses he saw avenues full of precious conch, arms and  bow  and further he saw in those mountain like houses  broad moon lit paths.                                                        2
 
He also saw  houses which were won by their own strength, which were free of all blemishes, which were being worshipped by asuras and devas and which were glittering  by the several riches in them.                                                                                              3
 
He saw the house of the king of Lanka  which was made as a result of great effort, which looked as if it was constructed by Maya(The famous Rakshasa architect) and which was full of all luxuries in the world.                                                                                          4
(This house was constructed by Viswa Karama  , the architect of Gods but looked like one constructed by Maya)
He saw the very great house, which stood out, like clouds, which had the glitter of the prettiest gold, which was fit to the strength of the king of rakshasas and which was definitely very pretty.                                                                                                     5
 
He saw the Pushpaka Vimana (literally flower like plane )which was like heaven descended to the earth, which was shining because of its  wealth, which was full of flowers of several trees, which was covered by pollen, which looked like the tip of the mountain, which was fit to be worshipped, which was made greatly shining  similar to the streak of lightning in the clouds by presence of great ladies, which was like the planes of people of good deeds floating in the sky, which was being carried by great swans, which was similar to the tip of the mountain painted using several colours, which was similar to the sky decorated by the moon and the planets, which had many joined big pictures resembling the clouds, and which had many paintings decorated by jewels.            6-8
 
In that Vimana there was  painting of the earth with its mountains, painting of forests full of trees and the painting of lotus flowers with its petals and sepals.                                9
 
Not only that , pictures of white mansions were painted on it , besides paintings of  pretty flower filled lakes , lotus flowers with its tendrils and luxuriously growing forests.     10
 
That great  plane  which was glittering by the shine of precious stones and which was the greatest among the palaces was called Pushpaka. In it were made several birds flying in the sky which was made of diamond, silver and corals. Not only that horses of noble lineage which indicated prosperity  and snakes were also made in it using several types of precious jewels.                                                                                                          11-12
 
The Hanuman again went near that plane and with wonder examined it. The birds made of coral and gold with flower like wings were hung on it. These were with good, bent drooping  wings and had very pretty faces They appeared as if they were the real helpers of the God of love Manmatha Also elephants with pretty captivating trunks which were playing in the lotus pond and were catching the lotus flowers were also made there. Like that the figure of Goddess Lakshmi whose good event making hands were catching the lotus flowers were also made. Like this the very pleasant plane  was shining with light like the end of winter, which had very pleasing perfume and   which was like a tree and also like a mountain with many beautiful caves.                                               13-15
 
Then the monkey became very thoughtful because he could not find Sita who was only attracted by the good qualities of her husband, who was being worshipped by all good people and who was the daughter of King Janaka  in spite wandering and jumping about all over the  worshipful city which was maintained by the prowess of the ten headed Rakshasa.                                                                                                                      16
 
The mind of that holy one who was very intelligent, who did only right actions and who was having several confusing thoughts because  he was not able to see the daughter of King Janaka was filled with sorrow.                                                                         17
 
          Thus ends the seventh   chapter of Sundara Kanda  which
     is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written  by Valmiki.

[adwaita]

Eighth Chapter
                                           Eighth  Chapter
                          Description of Pushpaka Vimana
(This short chapter gives a vivid description of Pushpaka Vimana as seen and understood by Hanuman)
 
    The redoubtable hero Hanuman who was the son of the wind God,  saw the very great Plane which was standing in the middle of that building, which had windows made of gold and which was decorated by precious jewels.                                                       1
 
That plane whose glitter could not be  measured  and which could not adequately be described by others  was made by Viswakarma with an intention  that it should be the greatest plane which  could move anywhere in the sky and was parked in the route of wind and was like a sign post of the path of the Sun.                                              2
 
In that there was nothing which was made without very hard work. There was no part of it which was not made by very costly gems. The  assets  of that were not even within the ambit of Devas. There was nothing in  it, which was not very wonderful.                       3   
 
He saw the great Pushpaka Vimana which was won by the valor gained by   full meditation and prayer, which can go in different styles just by mental wish, which was constructed with several types of  dwellings, which had equal but differing sights in all its places, which can go at any speed by knowing the wish of its master, which cannot be stopped by anybody, which can go in the speed of wind, which had all possible riches of great  and holy people, which looked like the dwelling place of Devas and equally famous people, which has been made in much greater manner than each wish of its maker, which had peculiar pillars, which had spires and domes similar to the peaks of mountains, which was as clear as the autumn moon,  which was as pretty as the crowd of flowers of the spring season, which was more pleasing to the eyes than the spring season, which had faces shining by the ear studs worn, which was protected by  gluttonous ,fat  sky riding, rakshasas and   which was also protected by thousands of swift Boothas (devils) who had  round sunken  eyes,                                                                     4-8 
 
   Thus ends the eighth   chapter of Sundara Kanda  which
     is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written  by Valmiki.
 

[adwaita]

Ninth Chapter
                                           Ninth  Chapter   
                                            Visiting of the Harem     
 
   ( In this chapter  the search of  Hanuman of Sita in the harem of Ravana and the first impressions of him about Ravana’s harem is described)
 
Hanuman the son of Wind God saw in the middle of the great Pushpaka Vimana a  very big and great building.                                                                                                      1
 
That was the house of Ravana which was many yojanas ( two and a half miles) broad, one yojana long and with many decorated platforms                                                  2
 
The killer of the enemy Hanuman searched everywhere for the long eyed Sita who was the king of Videha.                                                                                                            3
 
Inspecting the houses  of many great Rakshasas Hanuman who was graced by the Goddess Lakshmi reached the house of the king of Rakshasas.                                    4
 
The very extensive dwelling of Ravana was protected by many with top pointing arms, surrounded by four tusked elephants as well as three tusked elephants, and also full of Rakshasa ladies who were his wives and also some  forcefully abducted Ladies from Royal families.                                                                                                      5-6
(This is contrary to what is expressed in sloka 76 of this chapter)
 
That house was like an ocean tumultuously moved by a tempest, which was full of crocodiles, sharks, whales , fishes and snakes.                                                      7
 
His house was full of all riches, which were in the house of Kubera(God of riches) Indra(King of devas) and Sun God.                                                                     8
 
The treasures in the House of Rakshasa king Ravana was similar  and much more than the riches of  Indra, Kubhera, Varuna(The rain god) , Yama(the god of death).   9
 
The Son of God of Wind saw another mansion in the center of that house, which was beautifully built and in which several artistic works were done.                              10
 
That Pushpaka Vimana which was prettily was made for Brahma by Viswakarma(the architect of Devas)  and increased passions and also could be used to travel as one  pleases.                                                                                                                        11
 
Kubhera by  doing very great penance got that Vimana which was fully decorated by jewels and which was venerated by beings of all the three worlds from Brahma.     12
 
The king of Rakshasa won Kubera by his prowess  and got it from him.               13
 
Not only that but that Vimana  was decorated by life like statues of deer, decorated all over by gold, had many very beautiful pillars and appeared as if it was shining by its own light.                                                                                                                          14
 
That Vimana  was decorated on all the four sides by several towers, which appeared as if they were touching the sky like the Meru and Mandhara mountains.                          15
 
That plane which was built by Viswakarma, had golden steps and was charming, great and had the luster of the fire and the Sun.                                                                   16
 
It had platforms made of precious gems like Sapphire and windows and shelves decorated by gold and crystal.                                                                                  17
 
It appeared pretty as it had floors decorated  by corals, very costly gems, incomparable pearls and also several pretty drawings.                                                                       18
 
It was similar to the Sun at dawn and had gold like saffron and sweet scented sandal.  19
 
That monkey chief climbed the sacred and well decorated  Pushpaka Vimana which had  different type of pretty halls.                                                                                              20
 
Then Hanuman who stood there smelled the sweet perfume from the eatables and drinks spread out there which looked like the air personified.(i.e. spread in all places.)     21
 
It appeared as if the scents  called the very strong Hanuman, “come here, come here”, like a relation calling another very close relation.                                                    22
 
He saw a great stage in the middle , which ,being firmly there attracted the mind of Ravana, which like a pretty lady was causing only good, which had steps made out of pearls and diamonds, which shined because of its golden windows with ivory inlaid here and there, which had floors made of crystal  stones, which had very tall decorated pillars built using gold, silver , pearls and corals, which was decorated by different type of pillars, which had very tall and wing like sky touching perfect pillars which were straight, which was as broad as the earth itself with its cities and houses, which was covered by a very big carpet on which the different parts of earth were drawn, Which was filled with sounds of songs by energetic birds, Which had beautiful incense wafting about, which had special seats with  the presence of the king of Rakshasas, which was  made dark by the incense and  myrrh, which was very clear, which was white like the swan, which was peculiar because of the flowers used for worship, which gave happiness to the mind like the glittering Kamadhenu(sacred wish granting cow of heaven), which was decorated so that it will get fame, which looked like the mother of all treasures, which could destroy sorrow and which was famous and divine.                                                             23-30
 
That stage which was protected by Ravana, like a mother ,satisfied the five sense organs by its pretty form, taste, smell, touch and voice.                                                  31
 
Hanuman doubted and wondered whether it was heaven, the city of Indra himself, or the city of gandarwas.                                                                                                   32
 
He also saw there very big golden lights which were still like those defeated gamblers by the deceit of other gamblers.                                                                                     33
 
He felt as if the entire area was burning because of the strong light from those lamps  and also by the glitter  the ornaments and power emanating from Ravana.                       34
 
There he saw thousands of ladies lying on the jeweled carpet  dressed in cloths of varied colours, wearing several types of ornaments  and with varied appearances.                  35
 
Those ladies after long love play  and being drunk were sleeping soundly because it was already midnight.                                                                                                          36
 
Those ladies looked as if no sound coming from the shaking of their ornaments and were like a lotus pond full of silent and bees.                                                                     37
 
He saw the faces of those great ladies who were sleeping with open mouth, closed eyes and with the smell of lotus flowers.                                                                             38
 
Their faces looked like the lotus flowers, which opened during daytime and  had closed during night.                                                                                                                39
 
The honey drunk bees without any doubt were desiring their faces thinking that it was fully opened lotus flowers.                                                                                            40
 
Because of that and because of other valid reasons that great monkey chief thought their faces equivalent to lotus flowers.                                                                                 41
 
Because of the glitter produced by the bevy of ladies that stage looked like the star filled clear sky of the autumn.                                                                                                42
 
That king of Rakshasas surrounded by them looked like the moon surrounded by the stars.                                                                                                                             43
 
Seeing them Hanuman thought that they looked like a collection of stars fallen from the sky after they have enjoyed the benefit of  all their good deeds.                                44
 
In that place the shine , colour and presence of the ladies glittered , very much like  the great shine of the big stars.                                                                                       45
 
They were  almost in deep  trance by the deep sleep because of their love play and intoxication by drink and their garlands and ornaments were very much displaced.         46
 
Some of them were great ladies, in case of some , their Tilaka (sindhoora) was erased, in case of some their anklets were broken and in case of some their chain of pearls was lying by their side.                                                                                                      47
 
Like the mare which carried lot of burden was rolling in the ground to recoup its strength, some of them had broken their pearl chains , some had undressed and in case of some, the anklets were completely broken.                                                                                   48
 
Some appeared with good ear studs but with broken garlands due to their exertions like the flowering climber in a deep forest was  crushed by an elephant.                           49
 
In other cases the broken pearl necklaces were lying between the breasts of some and appeared as if some swans were sleeping there.                                                         50

[adwaita]

In case of others their diamonds looked like the king fisher birds and the broken golden chains looked similar to the Chakravaka[13] birds.                                                            51
 
With hips similar to the sandy shores some of them looked like the shores of river with many swans, king fisher and Chakravaka birds.                                                          52
 
With glittering belled anklets, with lotus faces and with nail marks in many places of their body, they looked like rivers with beauty as their shores.                                    53
 
In case of some ladies the pressure marks made by ornaments on their busts and other soft arts appeared as if they themselves were  ornaments.                                             54
 
The cloth corners which were flying hither and thither by their breaths again and again fell on the top of their breasts                                                                                        55
 
Those edges of  the very pretty and shining cloths of various colours  with various ornaments when shaken over their foreheads appeared as if they were waving victory flags.                                                                                                         56
 
In case of  some women with luster even the ear studs were slightly moving hither and thither by their breath.                                                                                             57
 
Their naturally sweet scented breath along with the smell of  wine  wafted towards Ravana ,with pleasure.                                                                                            58
 
Not only that some of Ravana’s wives mistook the other wives faces as that of Ravana’s and kissed them several times.                                                                                59
 
Because those ladies loved Ravana very much , they behaved with those other wives with love even though they did not like them.                                                                        60
 
Some other ladies were sleeping using  their bangle clad arms and their cloths as a pillow,
                                                                                                                                    61
 
With one lady attaching herself to the chest of another, one attaching to her hands, one sleeping on her lap, and another on the same lady’s arms, and embracing each other tightly  with their thighs, hind parts, hips touching each other , all of them slept together because of  their love towards Ravana.                                                                       62-63
 
Because the ladies with very ample hips were tightly embracing each other , they were happy and with linked hands were sleeping soundly.                                              64
 
That bevy of ladies linking themselves together appeared as if they were  a garland which had attracted several big tipsy bees.                                                                          65
 
The harem of Ravana looked like a flower garden in the month of May-June in which the climbing tendrils with full of flowers are intertwined , in which the bees fly from one place to another, in which the heads of the plants are attached here and there and in which the flowers shake in the wind.                                                                                    66-67
 
 Though their ornaments , cloths and various parts of the body were in places where they should be, they were not knowing whose is where and which.                              68
 
The well-lit golden lamps appeared as if they were staring at the sleeping Ravana along with his multi coloured collection of women.                                                              69
 
Lasses from the families of kings, sages, Pithru devas, Rakshasas and Gandarwas  appeared as if they were there attracted by their passion to Ravana.                           70
 
Most of the ladies who were there , were the ones who were abducted by the war thirsty Ravana and some of those voluptuous ones came there because of their passion to him. 71
 
Except the noble daughter of Janaka  , all of them were there because of his great valor and none of them have been abducted and brought , none who came against their wish and none were there who had  accepted any one else.                                           72
 
None of them were born in a baser family or not pretty or not intelligent or not suitable to be served upon or none without wealth or none who is not suitable to be loved by their husbands.                                                                                                                       73
 
That good-natured Hanuman thought, ”If the wife of Sri Rama also attains this state of Ravana’s wives towards Rama, my birth in this world would be a blessed one.”     74
 
With sorrow that Hanuman thought , “ Sita is the storehouse of all good qualities  and this King Of Lanka has done acts which should not be done towards her, alas!”..       75
 
       
 
           Thus ends the ninth  chapter of Sundara Kanda  which
     is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written  by Valmiki.

Translated by P.R.Ramachander
 

[adwaita]

                                        Tenth Chapter   
                                          Seeing of Mandodhari
 
      (This chapter gives further description of the harem of Ravana, It gives a vivid description of Ravana, his women and his wife Mandodhari.It ends describing the happy Hanuman who mistook Mandodari for Sita)
 
Hanuman who was searching there, saw a cot, which was fit to be in the land of Devas, which was great, which had special parts made of gold and ivory, which had bed covers inlaid with diamonds, which had extremely costly special seats and which was fully decorated by gems and crystals.                                                                               1-2
 
He also saw a particular very special seat which was decorated all over by gold, which was shining like sun, which was very broad and which had all things which end sorrow 3
 
On one side of the seat he saw a very special umbrella, which glittered like the moon and which was decorated by many very special garlands.                                               4
 
On all four sides women were fanning the cot with white fan with soft bristles, it was scented by collection of many perfumes, several incense generating smoke were wafting about it, very precious bed sheets made of wool and hides covered it and all around it was decorated by garlands made of several rare flowers.                                        5-6
 
That monkey chief Hanuman saw on the shining bed on the cot, the Chief of Rakshasas, who was of the colour of deep black cloud, who was wearing special glittering ear studs, who was having red eyes, who was having very long hands, who was wearing cloths with golden zari, who had applied the highly perfumed paste of red sandal, who wore precious ornaments which was like the streaks of lightning in the red clouded sky of the dusk, who was handsome, who could assume any form that he wished, who was equal to the immobile Mandhara mountain with its several trees and bushes, who wore several pretty ornaments, who was tired after love play during the night, who was the darling of Rakshasa ladies, who created pleasant life to the Rakshasas and who was not showing the effect of alcohol that he has drunk.                                                                        7-11
 
Nearing Ravana, who was like a hissing serpent, Hanuman, who could even scare very strong people, was scared and confused and stepped back.                                   12
 
Afterwards that monkey chief Hanuman climbed a stairs  reached another hall and from there carefully examined the  sleeping king of Rakshasas.                                     13
 
That costly bed on which the chief of Rakshasas was sleeping  looked like garden in which an elephant was sleeping after trampling over it.                                               14
 
He saw the two hands of the Rakshasa king, which was attached to his golden shoulders, which were long, which were like the flags of Indra, which had scars made by the tusks of elephant Iravatha, which were starting from his thick shoulders having the scars made by Vajrayudha, which was having the wounds made by Vishnu’s wheel, which was attached to his equal and thick shoulders, which had good hands and fingers, which had ideally shaped fingers and thumb, which were able and were like iron bars, which were round and resembled the trunk of an elephant, which were lying on the clean bed and which were like five headed serpents.                                                           15-18
 
He looked at his two hands which were well covered with specially cold specially scented sandal wood which was as red as the blood of rabbits, which were decorated, which was applied with mixture of several scents, which was massaged by great ladies, which used to make devas, yakshas, Pannagas, gandarwas and Danavas weep, which were kept on the bed and which resembled pythons sleeping on both his sides.     19-21
 
That mountain like Rakshasa with his two hands shined like the perfectly shaped Mandhara Mountain with its two peaks.                                                                     22
 
The breath of the sleeping king of rakshasas which was having the sweet smelling scent of mango flower, pongamia flower and Vakula flower, which was having the smell of many food items and which was having the reeking smell of alcoholic drinks spread throughout that area, came out of his very big mouth.                                      23-24
 
Hanuman saw in that hall, Ravana who was shining with a slightly out of place crown made of precious gems and pearls, who was having a glittering face because of his ear studs, who was having a fat long and broad chest applied with the paste of red sandal which was shining because of his garlands, who was wearing a white silk upper cloth which was slipping down, who was wearing a very costly yellow silk, who was having red eyes, who appeared as if he was a mountain made of black gram, who was breathing like a serpent, who was like a royal elephant sleeping in the river Ganges amidst huge crowds, who was having  the entire body shining by the light provided by golden lamps, who was like a cloud lit on all four sides by streaks of lightning, who was a great individual and  who was having love towards his wife ,.sleeping along with his wives who slept at  the corners of his feet.                                                                   25-30
 
He saw many of them(wives) who were having shining faces like the moon, who were wearing pretty ear studs, and who were wearing flower garlands which never fade.  31
 
He also saw some experts in dance and music who were seated and wearing the great ornaments worn by Ravana on his shoulders and lap.                                         32
 
He saw them wearing shoulder bangles of molten gold and ear studs made of diamond and other precious stones.                                                                                        33
 
Due to their pretty glittering ear studs and faces like moon, that Vimana was shining like the sky because of a collection of stars.                                                                     34
 
Those narrow hipped ladies of Ravana were sleeping in various places due to tiresomeness caused by various exercises like lovemaking.                        35
 
One lady was sleeping in the dancing pose with pretty Mudhras(symbols) shown by her hands and with many of her pretty parts exposed.                                                       36
 
One lady who was sleeping embracing the Veena looked like a boat afloat in a mighty river, which was tied by the tendrils of Lotus plant.                                                     37
 
A black eyed sleeping beauty with the Madduka (a type of drum) kept in her armpits,
looked like a mother with her darling baby.                                                            38
 
Another lady with very pretty breasts who was also pretty all over was sleeping embracing a drum and looked like a lady embracing her husband whom she has met after a very long separation.                                                                                      39
 
Another lotus-eyed beauty was asleep embracing the Veena and appeared as if she had met her boy friend when nobody is around.                                                                 40
 
Another very passionate lady who was a dancer  was sleeping embracing the Vipanchika (a stringed instrument) and appeared as if she was sleeping in tight embrace of her husband.                                                                                                                         41
 
Another lady with eyes like wine was asleep embracing the drum with her golden coloured soft voluptuous and pretty body.                                                                    42
 
One flawless pretty lady was holding the drum in  her armpits between her arms and breast  and was sleeping tired because of her passion.                                                43
 
Another lady was sleeping with the two pieces of  the drum (thabla)  in her tight embrace and appeared as if she was holding her husband and baby in her hands.                          44
 
Another lotus leaf eyed lady was holding with her two stretched hands the giant drum and was sleeping because of exertions of zest.                                                                        45
 
Another lady who was asleep with the slightly tilted Ghata  (earthen pot musical instrument) looked like a small hill of the multi coloured flower garlands, which were kept fresh by sprinkling of water.                                                                                 46
 
A young girl, who was deep asleep, was hiding her gold pot like breasts with hands and sleeping.                                                                                                                       47
 
A full moon faced lady with lotus petal like eyes forgot herself in her love zest and was sleeping embracing another lady with a pretty backside.                                            48
 
Many noble ladies in their great passion were sleeping embracing tightly to their breasts several musical instruments like they would embrace their lover.                               49
 
That monkey then saw  another very pretty lady sleeping on a beautiful bed in a place away from these ladies.                                                                                                50
 
That great hero Hanuman who was the son of wind God saw the sleeping Mandodari[14], who was wearing very prettily crafted ornaments made of pearls and other precious gems, who by her natural luster was an ornament for that great house, who was a dear, who was white in colour, who was chief queen of that harem, who was golden in colour, who was having a pretty appearance and who was well made up, Hanuman mistook her for Sita because she was the epitome of youth and beauty and became extremely pleased and happy.                                                                                                                51-54
 
Exhibiting his monkey qualities he clapped his hands, kissed his own tail, became happy, jumped here and there, sang, ran, climbed on the pillar and jumped from there.          55
 
 
          Thus ends the  tenth  chapter of Sundara Kanda  which
     is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written  by Valmiki.
 

[adwaita]

Eleventh Chapter
                              Eleventh   Chapter
                                     Search in the hall for drinking
 
   ( A full  and detailed description of the hall of drink and Hanuman’s search for Sita there is recounted in this chapter)
 
Within a quarter of minute he rejected his momentary wish that it was Sita as not right and became clear headed and started thinking, in the right path.                                 1
 
After that Hanuman decided that “There was no chance of Sita who was separated from Sri Rama sleeping, nor eating, nor wearing of ornaments, nor even drinking water nor go near another male even if he were the king of Devas for even among devas there is none as great as Rama and so this lady has to be somebody else.” And he started searching further in the hall of drinking.                                                                                2-3
 
The monkey chief  saw  Ravana who was deep asleep due to being tired by his intense love making and his collection of ladies among whom some were tired because of love making, some because of singing, some because of dancing and  some asleep because of consumption of alcoholic drinks. He saw some ladies leaning on drums of different types and on small seats as well as many sleeping on special beds made for sleep by ladies. He saw thousands of ladies some decorated by ornaments, some who had the habit of describing their bodily beauty, some who describe the meanings of songs, some who work according to the need of place and time and some who can speak properly to suit an occasion                                                                                                              4-7
 
Amongst those ladies, the Rakshasa king of great valor, looked like a bull among cows of high pedigree in a very wide stable.                                                                   8
 
Naturally being surrounded by those ladies, the king of Rakshasas shined like an awesome he-elephant among large number of she elephants of the forest.        9
 
In the house of  the great chief of rakshasas, the monkey chief saw collection of well stocked drinking places(bars)                                                                                   10
 
In that drinking place Hanuman saw meats of deer, pig and raven kept separately. 11
 
He also saw further half eaten peacocks and hen kept in large golden vessels.        12
 
Hanuman saw the meats of eagle,  sheep, porcupine, deer and  peacock  cooked with curd and Masalas , fully cooked doves , half eaten ravens, buffalos and one thorn fishes, well cooked mutton, several type of side dishes, several type of drinks and several type of light eatables.                                                                                                      13-14
 
Similarly by different types of drinks which were sour, salty and other great tastes made by concentrating the juices of grapes, orange and pomegranate and those chains, armlets and bangles which have been removed and strewn all over and also decorated by flowers and fruits kept in goblets that place was very pretty.                                            15-16
 
That place of drink appeared to be glistening even without fire by  the very many  tastefully arranged sofas and chairs.                                                                        17
 
Garlands and also very many distilled alcoholic  drinks, various alcoholic drinks made with sugar syrup, honey, fruit juices and flower concentrates, several other drinks which were sorted and kept and various types of meat which were properly mixed , cooked  and made by great chefs, with great care in which various spices and condiments which were added in proper proportion  filled that drinking place and added to its luster.       18-20
 
That monkey chief saw many specially made drinks filled in silver and golden pots arranged in different place all over.                                                                 21
 
He also saw large number goblets, which were made of gold, silver and many made with several gems.                                                                                                               22
 
That place was also filled with serving cups for these drinks, which were made of gold, crystal and gold alloy.                                                                                                   23
 
That Hanuman saw in some place half emptied goblets, in some places empty goblets  and in some places goblets filled to the brim.                                                                24
 
He wandered here and there seeing various eatables, drinks sorted in different categories, left over food, broken drink pots, spilled water, fruits and prettily made garlands.   25-26
 
There were white cushions used by ladies for sleeping and various beauties sleeping tightly embraced.                                                                                                              27
 
Not only that in some cases one lady in her sleep was covering herself with the pulled out dress of another and several were in very deep slumber.                                                 28
 
It was wonderful, that the cloths on their body and the garlands that they were wearing did not move by their heavy breath, which was like the slowly wafting wind.         29             
 
The breeze  carrying with in it  the incense of cool sandal, by the scents of various alcoholic drinks and the various flowers in garlands was wafting here and there, That Puspaka Vimana was also full of scents of various perfumes worn by different ladies, the sandalwood and other incense that were being burnt.                                                 30-31
 
In that house of Rakshasa some of the ladies were brown, some were black  and some others were  of golden colour.                                                                                      32
 
Their looks because  of deep sleep and made loose by their passion, appeared like the lotus pond in which the flowers have closed up.                                                         33
 
Like this the great soul Hanuman wandered all over Ravana’s harem and searched in all places but in spite of that did not find Janaki (Sita, Janaka’s daughter).                      34
 
Hanuman became very thoughtful and worried because he thought that in staring at those women he has slipped from Dharma (the standards of right conduct.)                      35
 
He thought that the sight of this crowd of wives of the enemy when they were deep asleep made him a commit a great sin.                                                                             36
(The sloka could also indicate half nude ladies who were asleep)
 
Then he thought that his stare at the wives of somebody else was not done in a worldly manner.                                                                                                   37
 
“This sight of other people’s wives has not done by me with passion.”  , he  further thought.                                                                                                                            38
 
Then a new doubtless thought  pointing towards the correct decision arose in the mind of  very intelligent Hanuman who was capable of  great thought                                        39
 
“I saw  all the wives of Ravana who were sleeping without any fear  and with great belief. In spite of that my mind did not waver even a little bit.” He thought.             40-41
 
“ Mind is the sole cause of all the sense organs doing good or bad and that mind did not waver even a bit in my case”, he thought.                                                                   42
 
“Always suppose a lady has to be searched it should be in the crowd ladies only and therefore It is impossible to me to search and find out Sita in any other place.” he further thought                                                                                                                          43
 
“Search for an animal of a specific type has to be made within the type only and a lost woman cannot be searched among a group of deer.” He thought.                             44
 
“And therefore this Harem of Ravana was searched well  by me with a very clean mind and in spite of that I could not find Sita” he thought.                                                    45
 
The great Hero Hanuman saw many lasses of Devas, Gandarwas and Nagas but was not able to find Janaki.                                                                                                         46
 
Having seen many great ladies but because he was not able to find Sita, he went outside from that hall at that time and started thinking.                                                            47
 
The great soul Hanuman having come out of that hall of drinking, took great pain in starting the search for Sita again.                                                                                 48
 
 
          Thus ends the  eleventh  chapter of Sundara Kanda  which
     is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written  by Valmiki.

[adwaita]

Twelfth Chapter
                              Twelfth   Chapter
                                             Hanuman’s worry
       (Hanuman’s final search for Sita in the harem, his fear for having committed a sin because of his entry in to the Harem and his sense of dejection in not being able to find Sita are described)
 
That Son of God of wind visited separately the garden enclosures, picture galleries and bedrooms in the center of the palace , but he who was interested in seeing the beautiful Sita could not see her.                                                                                                      1
 
Because that great monkey was not able to see the darling of the son of Raghu, he thought thus “because Sita who is very upset is not visible to me, it is definite that she is no more alive.”                                                                                                                    2
 
“It is possible that the daughter of Janaka who treads by the path of pristine duty, who is devoted to her husband, who has interest in protecting her virtue, might have been killed by the chief of Rakshasas who exhibits many bad qualities.” he thought                         3
 
“After seeing the ladies of the chief of Rakshasas who are having ugly features, who are ugly, who do not have the luster in their body, and who are having a very cruel vision , Sita who is the daughter of Janaka might have died out of fear”. He thought                   4
 
“Without seeing Sita, without doing my duty  and having spent lot of time with other monkeys , I should not go back to Sugreeva  because the powerful Sugreeva awards great punishments”, he thought.                                                                                                   5
 
“I have searched all over the harem, I have seen all ladies of Ravana but I only could not see the sterling natured Sita and so all my efforts are in vain”, thought he.                     6
 
“When I go back and meet all the monkeys who have gathered together  they would ask “Hey hero, what did you do there? Please tell us about it. What happened there?” and what will I who has not been able to see her reply to them?”. He thought.                    7
 
“If the time is delayed too much for my return definitely they will all commit mass suicide by starvation”, he thought.                                                                                   8
 
“When I return after crossing the sea. all those assembled monkeys and also  Angada and the very old Jambhavan would individually find fault with me”. He thought.                   9
 
“Being not disappointed in one’s intentions leads to greater wealth, very real pleasures and zest in doing things”, he thought.                                                                             10
 
“This emotion of not getting dispirited by failure leads to success in man’s actions and so I should put in more effort and do more searching”, he thought.                                    11
 
He decided that he would put in more intense search in all places where search was not done and started searching.                                                                                            12
 
He searched in drinking halls, he searched in flowerbeds, again he searched in picture galleries and he searched well in sporting arenas.                                                        13
 
He also searched in streets in between the gardens, various types of towers, underground cellars, memorial houses and outer halls of the palaces.                                              14
 
That great monkey Hanuman traveled to all places and searched by climbing, getting down, stopping once in a while, walking, opening the doors, breaking open closed doors, getting in, getting out, jumping down and  jumping up.                                             15-16
 
The places that he has not visited in Ravana’s Harem were not even four fingers broad.                                                       
                                                                                                                                      17
 
That Hanuman searched in the streets between outer walls of buildings,  the platforms associated with memorials, wells, and lakes.                                                              18
 
In those places Hanuman saw Rakshasis with various forms who were very ugly, whose actions were ugly but he was not able to see the daughter of Janaka.                        19
 
Hanuman saw there many Vidhyadara maidens whose beauty was unparalleled in the world but was not able to see only the wife of Rama.                                              20
 
Hanuman saw there very beautiful Naga maidens who had faces like the full moon but he was not able to see the  good-natured Sita.                                                                   21
 
Hanuman saw Naga maidens forcibly abducted by Ravana after victory in war  but he was not able to see only the daughter  of Janaka.                                                        22
 
The son of Wind God who was both intelligent and heroic saw several ladies with good lineage but not Sita and became very sad.                                                                23
 
His sorrow went on increasing when he thought that the effort put up by monkeys and his crossing of the ocean was fully wasted.                                                                        24
 
The son of wind God got down from the  Pushpaka Vimana with immense sorrow  and became very thoughtful.                                                                                                25
 
 
          Thus ends the  twelfth chapter of Sundara Kanda  which
     is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written  by Valmiki.

[adwaita]

Thirteenth Chapter
                              Thirteenth   Chapter
                                     Crashing of hopes of Hanuman
 
    ( The worries of the very disappointed Hanuman are described graphically. At the end he sees a glimmer of hope when he sees the Asoka forest)
 
After jumping from the Vimana on to the  wall he was restless like the streaks of lightning among the clouds.                                                                                      1
 
The monkey Hanuman after not being able to find the daughter of Janaka in Ravana’s palace  in spite of vigorous and complete search told to himself as follows:-               2
 
“I with a desire to do good to Lord Rama have searched this city completely and in spite of that was not able to find the very pretty Sita who is the daughter of Janaka.”         3
 
“I have definitely searched fully in small ponds, big ponds, ;lakes , streams, rivers, bushes in the deltas, forts, mountains  and plains and am not able to find the daughter of Janaka anywhere.”                                                                                                           4
 
“The eagle king Sampathi told me about the presence of Sita in Ravana’s palace and still I am not able to find her.”                                                                                                  5
 
“That Sita who was not born out of a womb, who was brought up in the kingdom of  king Videha, who was well brought up with culture by the king of Mithila, who is the foster daughter of the sage-king Janaka will never reach the arms of Ravana who is uncultured., Is it not?”                                                                                                                           6
 
“I think that when Ravana who was afraid of the arrows of Rama  abducted her  and was flying at a great height, Sita must have slipped from his hands and fallen to earth and died.”                                                                                                                                   7
 
“I feel that , it is a possibility that the heart of the well pedigreed Sita who was being abducted and was traveling in the paths of the sky used by sages   must have stopped on seeing the sea . “                                                                                                               8
 
“I feel by the power of  Ravana’s  thigh and being trampled in his tight hands must have made her to give up her life.”                                                                                             9
 
“Another possibility is that traveling far above the sky that daughter of Janaka must have tried to escape and fallen in the sea and must have died.”                                               10
 
“Alas, it is a possibility that the Sita who was far away from her relations, who was doing great penance and  who was bent upon preserving her purity must have been eaten by the horrible Ravana.”                                                                                                             11   
 
“Or it is possible that the cruel wives of the Rakshasa king must have eaten Sita who is pure and had black eyes.”                                                                                                12
 
“It is also possible that always thinking about  the full moon face of Rama who had eyes like the petals of lotus flower, and seeing there was no other alternative she must have simply died.”                                                                                                                   13
 
“It is also probable that Sita who was born  in the Kingdom of Mithila   must have cried aloud “Hey Rama”, “Hey Lakshmana”, and “Hey Ayodhya”, and also crying many other things must have forsaken her body.”                                                                            14
 
“: I also think that some times she must have been hidden in some dark underground vaults and like a bird put in a cage  and must be crying even now.”                            15     
 
“How can Sita who is the wife of Rama, who has eyes like lotus petals, who is famous and who has brought up in the house of Janaka  submit herself to Ravana?”               16
 
“Whether she has been well hidden or has been killed or is no more because of her deep sorrow , this should not be informed to Sri Rama who is very deeply attached to her?” 17
 
“If I do  inform him the truth danger will result and if I do not inform ,then also it would have a worse result and in this circumstance I am not able to decide either way.”     18-19
 
Hanuman then again reexamined his thought process to conclude as to what would be timely, yield good result and would be accepted as right by everybody.                      20
 
“If I do return to the kingdom of the monkeys without seeing Sita, what great thing would I get?”, he thought                                                                                                           21
 
“My crossing of the ocean, entry in to the city of Lanka and seeing of Rakshasas would go waste.”, he thought.                                                                                                    22
 
“What will Sugreeva and the monkeys who have accompanied me and those two sons of Dasaratha who have reached Kishkinda tell me?”, he thought.                                     23
 
“As soon as I reach ,If I  inform the bad news to Sri Rama that I have not been able to find Sita, because of that he will die.”, he thought.                                                      24
 
“He would not stay alive if he hears the very cruel, hard hearted ,terrible  and hard words which are without mercy and which cannot be borne by sense organs .”he thought       25
 
“The intelligent Lakshmana full of love to him  seeing that Rama is bent on death will not also continue to live”, he thought.                                                                                     26
 
“Once Bharatha hears that his two brothers are no more , he will also die .Once Shatrugna knows that Bharatha is dead he will also die. “ he thought.                            27
 
“Once they know that their sons are all dead, the mothers Kausalya, Sumithra and Kaikeyi would also not live.” , he thought.                                                                     28
 
“When he sees Sri Rama in this state, the grateful and truthful king of monkeys Sugreeva  would also forsake his life”. He thought.                                                                    29
 
“The miserable Ruma (Wife of Sugreeva) would be afflicted by the loss of her husband and be unhappy, sad and suffering pain  and would leave her life.”, he thought.        30
 
“Once Sugreeva is no more, Tara who is already miserable by the loss of Vali and also gone down in health by that sorrow would also die.”, he thought.                               31
 
“How will the lad Angadha continue to live in spite of the sorrow of loosing both his parents and also Sugreeva.”, he thought.                                                                  32
 
“It is certain that afflicted by the sorrow of the loss of their kings, the monkeys would beat their head by their hands and fists and break their head.”, he thought.                33
 
“All the monkey heroes  who were respected and loved  by good words  and gifts  by the famous monkey king would  sacrifice their lives “, he thought.                                  34
 
“After that the monkeys would not go to play in places where there are lot of houses or in forests or in mountains.”, he thought.                                                                            35
 
“Those who live with families and with wives and children , would be affected by the sorrow of their king and would roll in to rough terrain from the top of the mountains and die”, he thought..                                                                                                           36
 
“Otherwise they will all die by consuming poison or hanging themselves or by starvation or by entering in to the fire or falling on weapons.,” he thought.                                 37
 
“I think that by my return ,the Ikshuvaku clan and the monkeys would all be destroyed and consequently there would be  intolerably great wailing”, he thought.                    38
 
“So I would not return to the city of Kishkinda for it would not be possible for me to see Sugreeva without seeing Sita.”. he thought.                                                                  39
 
“If  without returning I stay  here ,then those  two great heroes who are also great souls, with a hope that the work will be done eventually would keep their souls  and so the monkeys also would live boldly.”, he thought.                                                                 40
 
“If I am not able to see the daughter of Janaka, I can live in the shadow of the trees here with whatever good food that I get or with whatever food that comes my way , controlling my five senses and live a life of a recluse,”, he thought.                           41
 
“Otherwise I can raise a raging fire in these fertile areas  with fruits and roots , near the sea  and die by entering It.”, he thought.                                                                     42
 
“The other alternative is to die of starvation so that the crows and other flesh eaters would eat away my body.”, he thought.                                                                                   43                       
 
“I know that this method of leaving ones life is permitted by great sages”, he thought. 44
 
“If I am not able to find Janaki then with grace I can fall in to the water”, he thought.    45
 
“This beautiful long  night which began very well for me in which benefits were received one after another which lead to my fame became a waste to me because I am not able to see Sita.”, he thought.                                                                                                      46
 
“At least I can become a  sage who controls all his senses and live below a tree.”, he thought.                                                                                                                            47
 
“Without seeing that black eyed beauty I will not return from here”, he thought.            48
 
“If I return from here without finding Sita , Angada will die with all his monkeys.”, he thought.                                                                                                                            49
 
“There are many bad results because of death and the one who lives ultimately gets the good and he one who lives definitely  gets pleasures , and so I will keep my life.”, he thought.                                                                                                                      50
 
That monkey chief in spite of again and again analyzing  his sorrow did still not reach the end of his sorrow.                                                                                                              51
 
He then thought, “Let the abducted wife of Rama be any where but  let me kill the very strong ten headed Ravana  for by doing that base act and  at least I would have  taken revenge.”                                                                                                                    52-53
 
“Otherwise I will take him like a sacrificial cow being taken  to the fire over the sea and put him at the feet of Rama”, he thought.                                                                      54
 
Not knowing anything about that Sita, being very thoughtful, worried and sad the monkey thought thus.                                                                                                   55
 
“Till I am able to see the famous Sita who is the wife of Rama, I would keep on searching the city of Lanka again and again.”                                                                                56
 
“Had I brought Rama with me fully believing the words of Sampathi, not being able to see his wife, Rama would have burnt all the monkeys.”                                                57
 
“I would live here reducing my food and controlling my organs for because of that those men and monkeys  will not all die because of me.”                                                       58
 
“I am able to see an Asoka forest with very big trees and this is the only one place I have not searched yet.”                                                                                                          59
 
“I would salute the eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, eleven Suns two Aswini devas, and seven Maruths  and become some one who will increase the sorrow of these Rakshasas”     60
 
‘I am going to somehow win over all the rakshasas and present Sita belonging to the Ikshuvaku clan to Sri Rama like giving the end result to the one who is doing fire sacrifice.”                                                                                                                     61
 
The resplendent Hanuman who was the Son of God of wind, meditated like this for some time  and ended up with the senses devoid of the tie of sadness.                                  62
 
“My salutations to Sri Rama along with his brother Lakshmana, My salutations to Sita who is the daughter of Janaka, My salutations to Rudra, Indra, Yama the god of death, Vayu the god of wind, moon, sun and The people of Maruth”, he saluted                 63
 
After saluting thus and also saluting Sugreeva Hanuman thoughtfully examined all the ways to the Asoka forest. He considered Asoka forest as the first place for success and thought about his future steps.                                                                                64-65
 
“This Asoka forest , with all sort of decorations, with densely populated trees and which is full of Rakshasas should be searched immediately he thought.”                                66
 
“Here sentries have been posted  here and there and are protecting the trees  and the wind is also blowing strong”, he observed.                                                                 67
 
“Let the sages and Devas bless me to give me result in this attempt by making me small and not visible to Ravana and also for the sake of Rama.”, he prayed                      68
 
“Let the ever existing Lord Brahma , other Devas, God of Fire, God of wind and Indra with his weapon of diamond grant me success.”, he further prayed.                             69
 
“Let Varuna(god of rain) with the rope in his hand, sun, moon, the great Aswini devas, Maruths, Parameshwara, that God who is the chief of all beings, all the beings and several  other invisible gods who are on my way grant me victory in my attempt”, he prayed.
                                                                                                                                     70-71
 
“When will I be able to see  the noble Sita’s face, which has a prominent nose. which has clean teeth, which is without blemishes, which has eyes like the petals of lotus flower and which glitters like the moon without blemishes ?”, he wailed.                               72
 
“How is she   who is without support, who is forever meditating, who has been abducted  by the cruel sinner Ravana who wore a good form over his terrible  aspect, going to become visible in front of my eye?”, he thought.                                                        73
 
 
Thus ends the  thirteenth  chapter of Sundara Kanda  which
     is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written  by Valmiki.

[adwaita]

Fourteenth Chapter
                              Fourteenth   Chapter
                                  Searching inside the Asoka forest
 
         (Graphic description of the Asoka forest as seen by Hanuman is given. Seeing the forest Hanuman decides that Sita should definitely visit there because she likes the forest and also needs to do her morning ablations)
 
The very powerful Hanuman  after thinking for some more time and after meditating on Sita, Jumped immediately on to the wall of that  palace of Ravana.                          1
 
Enthused all over his body by his self confidence  that monkey climbed that boundary wall and saw many trees with flowers symbolic of spring season, several Sala trees, several pretty Asoka trees, Several champaka trees in full bloom, several karnikara trees, several Naaka trees, several mango trees and several Kapimuka(monkey face) trees.    2-3
 
In that orchard with many mango trees, which is surrounded by pretty climbing plants he rushed in side, like an arrow rushing to its aim from the string of the bow.                     4
 
That Hanuman  entered that garden  which was full of sound made by birds, which was like a rising sun, which was made strange by silver and gold like trees, which was full of birds and deer on all sides, which had several small strange and pretty gardens, which was full of several trees with flowers and fruits, which was always full of nightingales and bees, which was full of sounds made by peacocks, which had a rich varieties of birds, which had people who are happy and in which birds and animals were playing.          5-8
 
Hanuman who was searching for the very pretty lady Sita who was blemish less, woke up several birds which were sound asleep.                                                                            9
 
The trees which were shaken violently by the birds which were flying above them, caused a multi coloured rain of flowers.                                                                       10
 
Hanuman the son of the God of wind, covered completely by the shedding flowers looked like a mountain of flowers in the middle of that Asoka Forest.                11   
 
All animals seeing the monkey rushing in all directions  thought that he was the spring season itself.                                                                                                              12       
 
The ground covered by the shedding flowers from the trees looked like a lady wearing ornaments.                                                                                                                  13
 
The trees shaken vigorously by the strong monkey shed various types of flowers.  14         
 
The trees having shed their leaves, branches , flowers and fruits  looked like a loosing gambler who has already pledged his cloths  and ornaments.                                     15
 
Those bare stems of the trees looked like they have  been destroyed by cyclone  and consequently deserted by all birds and appeared as if they are  of no use.               16
 
That Asoka forest  beat by the hands and tail of the monkey was bereft of any noble trees and resembled a lady with disheveled hair, with erased Sindhoora (dots in the forehead) . with ashen lips drunk by a tenacious lover and with marks all over the body made by  his nails and teeth.                                                                                                        17-18
 
The monkey cut and fell the  groups of twining climbers all over in the garden, which was similar to the scattering of clouds over Vindhya Mountain by the Wind God.                19
 
 Traveling through the garden,  that monkey chief saw places which  were inlaid with precious stones , which were made of silver, which were made of gold ;streams (fountains) of various shapes, which were filled with very pure water, which had steps made of the nine types of precious stones here and there, which had pearls and corals as sand, which had the middle portion made of crystals, which glittered prettily  by the very special type of golden trees, which was full of Lotus and Neelothphala flowers, which was filled with the cooing sound of Chakravaka birds, which was having the sound created by crabs,  which had the sound created by the beaks of swans, which was filled with nectar like water, which was arranged in such a way that it was surrounded by small rivulets on all sides ; gardens filled with several type of climbing plants, which had several wish giving trees, which had several Karaveera plants; and which had orchards filled with dense ornamental shrubs.                                                                20-25
 
Here the monkey chief saw many mountains  with cloud like tall peaks,  which had several very pretty sharp peaks, which was surrounded on all four sides by sentry stations, which was filled with houses made by granite stones, which was surrounded by different varieties of trees, which was the prettiest in the world, and which had several pretty terraces.                                                                                                        26-27
 
He saw streams flowing from those mountains, which looked like the pretty loving ladies raising from the lap of their lovers and slowly going forward.                                     28     
 
Not only that but the monkey chief thought that the pretty streams which were flowing back because of huge trees with a large sinking crowns were stopping them, were like the angry sweetheart  who is stopped by her relatives and coming back after giving up her anger and going near her darling                                                                             29-30
 
The monkey chief Hanuman who was the son of wind God, saw near the river a lotus pond full of different varieties of birds and a lake which was filled with cold water, which had several steps inlaid with precious gems, which had sand strewn with pearls, which had several flocks of deer roaming here and there, which had very pretty  and specialized orchards, which was constructed by Viswakarma (the architect of Devas), which was surrounded by several flower beds and which was decorated by several well crafted towers.                                                                                                              31-34     
 
The trees in the garden were bearing fruits and flowers and were decorated .They also had platforms constructed all round which had golden steps.                                 35
 
Hanuman the monkey  saw a golden Simshuba tree ( caller “Irumul “in Malayalam) with various  climbers and leaves encircling it and which had a golden platform beneath it.   36
 (These trees do exist in Kerala forests even now. They are mainly used for firewood)
 
He saw springs in very low lying areas and also dry places and several mountain like golden tress.                                                                                                         37-38
 
That great monkey chief thought for a moment that he too is golden seeing the glitter similar to the Meru Mountain of those trees.                                                        39
 
He was wonderstruck on seeing the golden Simshuba tree with its seedlings around it, and also with numerous bell like sound created by the pleasantly wafting wind.        40
 
Hanuman who was very swift climbed another Simshuba tree which had flowery tips, which had young leaf and flower buds and which had very dense leaves and thought, “
I would be able to see from here Vaidehi (daughter of Videha) who is sad because of  her sorrow, who always fervently wishes for seeing Rama, and who may  have accidentally come over here.”                                                                                                    41-42
 
“This Asoka forest belonging to the bad soul  Ravana is very pretty  and is decorated with Sandalwood trees, Champaka trees and Bakula trees.”                                            43
 
“The royal lady who is the  daughter of Janaka would certainly come over to this very pretty  lotus pond which is full of birds.”                                                                   44
 
“That Janaki (Sita) who is the queen. Who has experience in living in forests, who is very talented  and who is the very innocent darling of  Raghava (Sri Rama who is the descendent of King Raghu) would definitely come here.”                                           45
 (Raghu the ancestor of Rama served the celestial cow Nandini and got a son called Dilipa)
 
“ Perhaps that daughter of Janaka  who has doe like eyes, who has become thin by constant thought of Sri Rama and  who has lot of experience in living in forests would certainly come over here.”                                                                                            46
 
“That lady who has wilted due to parting with Rama, who has lotus like eyes and who is a traveler in the forest is likely to come daily here  as she is interested in seeing the forest.”                                                                                                                          47
 
“That Janaki who is the very innocent wife of Sri Rama, who is the daughter of Janaka, who is of good colour, who is in the middle of youth, and who is great is always interested in people who travel in the forest  and also  taking in to account that the dawn is  coming  near she would be coming to this river with clean waters to offer her Ablations of the dawn.”                                                                                48-49
(The Brahmanas and Kshatriyas offer oblations during dawn, noon and dusk (Called Sandhyavandanam ) to the Sun God. But these are at present being done only by males. This stanza indicates that during those times even ladies used to offer it)
 
 
“This holy Asoka forest is very suitable to the intelligent wife of Rama who is the daughter in law of the great King.”                                                                           50
 
“If that moon faced lady is alive  she would definitely come to this river with crystal clear water.”                                                                                                                            51
 
At that time , thinking thus, the great Hanuman hid himself  among leaves of a profusely flowering tree expecting to see wife of the king of men and was staring down the tree and was watching everything.                                                                                               52
 
 
      Thus ends the  fourteenth  chapter of Sundara Kanda  which
     is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written  by Valmiki.
 

[adwaita]

Fifteenth Chapter
                              Fifteenth   Chapter
                                                 Seeing of Sita
   (This chapter initially gives a description of Asoka vana and  its one occupant whom Hanuman suspects as Sita. In the end using pure logic Hanuman concludes that she definitely is Sita)
 
Sitting on the Simshuba tree Hanuman examined all areas down  below , in  the garden in search of Mythili (princess of Mithila) and saw everything which was there in the Asoka forest.                                                                                                                               1
 
Sitting there he saw well the entire garden, which was full of shining climbers and trees, which was sweetly scented, which was decorated all over, which was similar to the ornamental parks, which was full of animals and birds, which had lot of great mansions, which was resounding with the sweet song of Koels, which had golden fruits and flowers, which had many ponds, which had several sofas and carpets, which had several underground chambers, which had trees which fruit and flower in all seasons, which had several Asoka trees  full of flowers from bottom to top  and  were touching the floor because of the heavy load of flowers , which had several Karnikara trees, which had several fully flowering Palasa trees, which was shining like a sun due to the dense flowers  and glitter of Asoka trees, which appeared to shine because of various ornament like flowers and which had bare leaved trees so made by the very many birds which were often flying as  a flock .                                                                                                  2-8
 
Because of their luster that entire area appeared to be shining and the garden also shined with multi crowned pongamia trees, the seven leafed trees, Champaka trees and Udhalaka trees.                                                                                                                                   9
 
There were thousands of  Asoka trees in the garden some of which were golden, some like the flame of fire and some very jet black.                                                                 10
 
That forest with several parks and was as pretty as Indra’s celebrated Nandana vana and Kubera’s famous Chithra vana  and was pretty , holy , greatly attractive, with holy splendor, which cannot be compared to any other  garden and which was much above the rest.                                                                                                                                   11
 
It was like a second sky full of  star collections which resembled  flowers and with its flowers resembling the nine precious gems it was like the fifth sea.                            12
 
That pretty garden  filled with very desirable scents resembled the great Gandhamadana mountain and was full of honey smelling trees which flower in all seasons and with  various types of deer and birds which make different types of noises and was stealer of mind with wafting perfumes all around.                                                                      13-14
 
That monkey chief  also saw a temple which was near the Asoka forest, which was tall, which was supported by thousand pillars in the middle. Which was as white as Kailasa, which had steps made of coral. Which had floor made of molten gold, which had the glitter attracting the eyes, which was holy and which appeared to touch the sky in height.
                                                                                                                             15-17
(Possibly this is a very rare mention of temple in the entire Ramayana. Taking in to account that nothing is mentioned about its presiding deity, the word Chaithya in the verse could be taken to mean as a remarkable building. The word 1000-pillared hall is perhaps mentioned first time in Hindu literature)
 
He saw in the garden a lady who was  wearing dirty cloths, who was surrounded by several Rakshasis, who was thin because of starvation, who was again and again breathing hard and  who was shining  like the crescent of moon in the early waning period. After staring and seeing her with care he saw that broad eyed lady who was with glittering mien, who was like a flame of fire darkened by smoke, who was dressed in a single disheveled great yellow cloth, who was laden with dust, who was not made up, who was like a pond without lotus, who was ashamed, who looked wilted due to sorrow, who was like a lady saint, who was like the star Rohini affected by planet Mars, who was with face made wet by tears, who was dejected, who was thin because she was not taking food, who was full of sad thoughts and sorrow, who was full of fear, who was not seeing any of her dear relatives near by, who was like a deer separated from her flock and surrounded by dogs, who was having singly made hair which was hanging like a cobra behind her, who was like a black forest covered earth in the autumn, who needed good life, who was wilted by sorrow, who never knew the troubles caused by sorrow, who was very thin and who was covered with dirt.                                                                  18-25
 
He concluded that she was that lady who was abducted by Ravana the Rakshasa who could assume any desired form and that she was having the same appearance as she had when abducted.                                                                                                                26
(Rama had given Description of how she looked when she was abducted)
 
Even after Seeing Sita, who had a face like full moon, who had pretty eyebrows, . Who had very pretty round breasts, who by her luster was removing darkness from all directions, who had very black hair, who had lips like the red guava fruit, who had very beautiful hips, who had eyes like petals of lotus, who is born in a great family, who was born in the channel created by plough, who is darling of all the world like Rati (wife of God of love)who had the shine of the full moon, who had extremely pretty body, who was sitting on the floor as if meditating with full control over all her organs, who was like the serpent maiden hissing with fear , who was not shining because of the hard and long sorrow, who was like the flame of fire hidden by the smoke, who was like the poem which praises but which was not clear, who was like the assets which had vanished, who was like the hope which is reduced, who was like the desire which is stopped, who was like the fulfillment  of desires which were dangerous, who was like the confused wisdom, who was like the fame darkened by gossips which were not true, who was sad because she was not able to attain Rama, who had grown thin because she was abducted by Rakshasas , who was having eyes like a doe, who was seeing here and there with fear because of her weakness, who was  breathing heavily again and again  with a lusterless face with black curved eyes and eye  brows. , who was coated with dust and dirt, who should wear make up but who did not wear it, who should be pitied, who was like the moon light hidden by black clouds and who was like the corrupted Vedic knowledge which was not repeated  and practiced, Hanuman’s brain  was full of suspicions..27-36
 
Hanuman recognized Sita with great difficulty which was similar to understanding of an ungrammatical sentence without any figure of speech  and which indicated a wrong meaning.                                                                                                                37
 
He understood her as Sita who was a princess, who was blameless and who had wide eyes after looking at her carefully due to the following reasons.                           38
 
“He saw those ornaments (which could be easily removed and are not a symbol of a married woman)  which were pointed out to be worn by her by  Sri Rama as an identification hanging and shining on a nearby branch of a tree. “                        39
(This stanza indicates that there were some ornaments even during those times which should always worn by married women and there were others, which were optional and could be removed. Here it is mentioned that Sita only wore such ornaments that were compulsory. She threw some of them over the Kishkinda Mountain when she was being abducted by Ravana and were  collected by the monkeys)
 
“He thought that some of those ornaments which were worn by her permanently were fixed strongly and were coated with dirt and were definitely those pointed by Sri Rama as identification like those ornaments made of coral and other jewels being worn on her fingers and hands, like the well crafted ear drops, and like the well tied ear ornament called Swadamshtram”.                                                                                          40-41
(It is interesting to note that he does not mention the mangalyam, which must have been introduced after this time.)
 
“He did not see on her those ornaments which were thrown by her from the Pushpaka Vimana on Rishya Mookha Mountains and all those which she was having were those listed but not thrown out. “                                                                                    42-43
(Sugreeva and his friends were hiding in Rishya Mookha mountains afraid of Vali, who could not enter there due to a curse.)
 
“At that time the monkey chief  saw her golden yellow pretty upper cloth  had fallen down and was hanging on the tree. “                                                                        44
(This stanza indicates that she was not wearing a sari but a two pieced cloth and the upper cloth must have been similar to Uthariyam worn by males)
 
“Whatever ornaments she has thrown away were definitely the one seen by the monkeys”, He thought .                                                                                     45
 
“Though whatever cloth she was wearing was crumpled and dirty because  they  were worn for a long time, they were definitely having the luster and colour of  the  cloth befitting her status, without doubt” , he thought.                                                       46
 
“Though this golden darling of Sri Rama was now in the custody of some one else, She who is  faultless was definitely in his mind and this is definitely her”. He thought.      47
 
“This is the one for whom Sri Rama  was sad,  due to mercy, affection, sorrow and love; mercy because a helpless one has fallen in others hands, affection because he had the responsibility of protecting the one who has come to him for protection, sorrow because his wife was missing and love because she was the wife who was acting according to his wishes.”                                                                                                                 48-49
 
“The beauty of each part of her body and its shape were similar to that of the beauty of Sri Rama and the personality of his was also  similar to  hers, and so this black eyed beauty must be her”. He thought.                                                                             50
 
“This ladies mind lives within his and his mind lives within her and that must be the reason why she and he are staying alive at least for this  short time”. He thought.     51-52
 
 “Sri Rama in spite of parting from this lady is still keeping his body in tact and his body is not breaking to pieces and so it is clear that Lord Sri Rama is doing things which were impossible to others”. He thought.                                                                               53
 
“By living away from this wonderful beauty Sita at least for some time, the great Sri Rama was doing some thing which is impossible for others”, he again thought.           54
 
Like this becoming happy on seeing Sita, he thought in his mind of Sri Rama and thought of him as his Lord.                                                                                                          55
(He felt that she was keeping her virtue in tact and became happy)
                       
         Thus ends the fifteenth chapter of Sundara Kanda which
     is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written  by Valmiki.

[adwaita]

Sixteenth   Chapter
                                           Lamenting about Sita   
 
    (Seeing Sita Hanuman is upset and thinks about her in various ways and pities her. He again decides that the lady whom he has found is Sita herself)
 
After thinking highly of Sita who is fit to be praised and Rama who has a beautiful character, that monkey chief again became thoughtful.                                            1
 
That glittering Hanuman meditated thus for some time about Sita, and with tearful eyes cried. alas!                                                                                                                    2
 
“If  the great man’s wife Sita ,who is fit to be worshipped by Lakshmana who always  behaves with humility towards elders, is troubled by sorrow , then the dictates of time are impassable. “                                                                                                            3
 
“This great one who knows the inner mind of Rama and Lakshmana does not get much stormy like the river Ganges in rainy season.”, he thought                                        4
(This indicates that Sita is very hopeful of her being rescued by Rama and Lakshmana and has not broken to pieces)
 
“Endowed with similar characters ,  age. and  conduct and belonging to  similar families and possessing similar characteristics, Sri Rama deserves Sita and this black eyed beauty deserves Sri Rama”, he thought.                                                                                      5
 
Having seen her who  is with colour of molten gold, who is the prettiest in the world and who is like Lakshmi(Consort of Lord Vishnu) and having also  thought of Sri Rama., he told  himself the following:-                                                                                          6
 
“For the sake of this broad eyed damsel, the very strong King Bali was killed, and also Kabanda who was equal to Ravana was killed”.                                                             7
(Kabanda who was a Gandarwa who  got his head and thighs pushed inside his trunk by Vajrayudha in a fight with Indra. Since he had the boon of immortality from Brahma,  he was given two very long hands(8 miles long) and  mouth in his stomach., He used to draw whatever he could from the forest by using his extra long hands and push it in to his stomach. After the war with Rama, he was defeated and resumed his original form.)
 
“The Rakshasa Viradha who was having extremely great valor  was killed in the war in the forest similar  Indra killing  Sambarasura., again for the sake of this damsel”         8
 
(Viradha was actually a Gandarwa named Dumburu who was cursed by his master Kubera.In the forest in the war with Rama and Lakshmana, he initially caught hold of Sita  and left her to fight with Rama and Lakshmana.He then caught hold of , both of them and kept them on his shoulders. With their swords they cut of his hands. At that time he remembered about his actual, form and by the grace of Rama , got rid of his curse.)
 
“Fourteen thousand Rakshasas who were doing terrible deeds were also killed in Janasthana by using arrows which are like flame of fire for her sake. “                          9
(Janasthana is a part of Dandakaranya forest on the shores of Godhavari. Here fourteen thousand Rakshasas lead by Khara, Dhooshana and Trisiras attacked Rama and Lakshmana .They were all killed by the two brothers.)
 
“ The all knowing Rama killed in war the greatly powerful Khara, Trishiras and similarly Dhooshana.”                                                                                                                    10
 
“It is  for  this broad eyed damsel’s sake  that the kingdom, which was ruled by Bali, which was considered as great by the world and which was difficult to obtain for monkeys was got by Sugreeva.”                                                                                    11
 
“It is for her sake that that I crossed the ocean which is the lord of streams and rivers and for her sake that I searched this city well.”                                                                     12
 
“I feel that for her sake if Lord Rama turns upside down the earth surrounded by oceans and even the universe, it would be most apt.”.                                                             13
 
“Suppose in the three worlds, a choice is given between Sita who is the daughter of Janaka and the kingship of the world, the kingship will not be even equal to a tiny part of Sita.”                                                                                                                              14
 
“This Sita who is eternally devoted to her husband came out breaking apart the earth coated with field dust similar to the pollen of lotus ,when the great Janaka  who was the king of Mithila ploughed the field and  became his very famous daughter.”         15-16
 
“She is the eldest daughter in law of King Dasaratha who was very good, who never came back defeated in war and who was having great valor.”                                   17
 
“This lady who is the darling wife ,of just and philosophic Rama who does unblemished actions and is like  the lord of wealth ,has fallen in to the hands of these Rakshasis.”    18
 
“She , without bothering about sorrow and sacrificing  all  pleasures, accompanied her husband  to the solitary forest for the sake of  love from him ,  gave it the  utmost importance  and lived with happiness by eating fruits and roots of the forest thinking it similar to her life in the palace  and was engaged in service to her husband.”      19-20
 
“She who is having  all the above qualities, who was having a body of the colour of gold, who was always adorned with a smile, who always used to talk of only good things and who never had experienced sorrow in her life , now tolerates extreme sorrow.”            21
 
‘”Even though troubled by Ravana similar to a  thirsty man  attacking the water house, she has remained virtuous and Sri Rama deserves to see her.”                                22
 
“If Rama gets her back again he would attain the happiness of a king who lost his kingdom and got it again.”                                                                                              23   
 
“Even though forsaken by love and passion, even though taken away from her relatives and friends, she is keeping her body pure for the sake of union to him”.                       24 
 
“Even now she is not seeing the Rakshasis and does not give any attention to these flower and fruit filled trees but  with absolute concentration is meditating on Rama.”               25
 
“Husband is the ornament which is better than all ornaments to a lady and she who deserves such an ornament does not shine without one.”                                                 26
 
“The Lord Sri Rama is keeping his body intact in spite of parting with her and does not disintegrate and is doing some action which no one can perform.”                                27
 
“Seeing her who is having a pitch black hair, who is having eyes of the shape of lotus and who is fit only to enjoy, suffering my mind is in turmoil.”                                        28
 
“She who is having the patience of earth, who has eyes like lotus and who should have been protected by Rama and Lakshmana, is now being guarded by the ugly Rakshasis below a tree.”                                                                                                            29
 
“This daughter of Janaka, who is lifeless like the lotus flower touched by snow, who is suffering by sorrow again and again, has attained the tragic state of Chakravaka bird who ha lost the company of its beloved.”                                                                         30
 
“These Asoka trees bent low because of the large number of flowers produced after the autumn season, and this moon with its thousand rays, produces lot of sorrow to her.” 31
(Moon light and flowers make her remember her life of love with Rama and thus causes sorrow to her)
 
 
The strong and wise chief of monkey thought about the matter as described above and decided that “She is definitely Sita” and stayed hidden in the Simshuba tree.               32
 
      Thus ends the Sixteenth chapter of Sundara Kanda which
     is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written  by Valmiki.
 

[adwaita]

Seventeenth Chapter
                              Seventeenth   Chapter
                                               Seeing of Rakshasis
 (Graphic description of the Rakshasis surrounding Sita is given in this chapter. It also describes the sorry state of Sita and ends with the mention of happiness of Hanuman on seeing Sita)
 
Then in the clear sky the cream coloured moon , which is normally clear, rose like a swan appearing in blue water.                                                                                               1
 
Shining with clarity that moon appeared to help by its light and by its cool moonlight served the son of wind God.                                                                                           2
 
Because of that He saw the full moon faced Sita similar to the ship in ocean weighed down and about to sink by her sorrow.                                                                          3
 
Trying to see Sita (daughter of Videha) clearly ,that son of wind god saw near her ugly and terrible looking Rakshasis among whom some were one eyed, some one eared, some with closed ears, some without ears, some with stick like ears, some breathing through the nose in the head, some with very large head and body, some thin with elongated neck, some with brush like hair, some with no hair at all, some wearing her hairs  like a woolen rug, some with hanging ears and forehead, some with hanging breasts and belly, some with hanging lips, some with chin itself as lips, some with hanging faces, some with hanging knees, some hunch backed, some obese, similarly some who were dwarf, some handicapped, some with slanted mouth and some with yellow eyes.                    4-9
(This description in these stanzas and the following one,  by the poet of a group of grotesque looking figures, indicates to us the common perception of those times of the look of Rakshasis. There is a story that when Lord Brahma was reciting Vedas , due to excessive hunger, he became very angry and from his anger , the first two Rakshasas Hethi and Prahethi were born. They became a part of the Asuras and by their prowess became the pre dominant among them)
 
He also saw other Rakshasis, among whom some were very ugly, some yellow coloured, some with jet black colour, some who were very angry, some who were interested in fighting, some who were armed with big spear, swords and rods, some with faces of pig, deer, tiger, bison, sheep and fox, some with legs of elephant, camel and horse, some with heads fixed just over the body, some with one hand and one leg, some with ears of a donkey, some with ears of a dog, some with ears of a cow, some with ears of an elephant, some with ears of a lion, similarly some without nose, some with very big nose, some with nose like an elephant, some with ears on their forehead, some with legs of an elephant, some with very big legs, some with legs of a cow, some with profuse hairs on the legs, some with big neck and heads, some with big breasts and belly, some with big mouth and eye, some with long nails and tongue, some with face of a sheep, some with face of an elephant, some with face of a cow, some with face of a pig, some with faces of horse, camel and donkey, some holding spears and thorn sticks, some with ire, some interested in fighting, some with projected teeth., some with blond hairs, some with terrible looking mien, some always interested in alcohol and meat, some drinking spirits often, some with ugly faces, some who had rubbed meat and blood all over their body, some whose food was only meat and blood, some  who had a terrible stare which would make hairs stand upright, and all of them surrounding on all four sides  a huge forest tree with umpteen branches.                                                                                           10-18
 
That Hanuman blessed by Goddess Lakshmi saw below that tree which was in the center of Asoka forest, that Lady Sita, who was a princess, who was innocent, who was the daughter of Janaka, who had lost her glitter, who had  faded because of her sorrow, who was having flying dirty hair, who was like a star pushed down to earth when its good deeds are over[14], who was great because of her virtue, who was not knowing ways to see her husband, who was not wearing costly ornaments, who was wearing the ornament of her devotion to her husband, who was abducted by the king of rakshasas, who was separated from her relatives, who was like the she elephant who was in the custody of a lion after loosing her way, who was like the autumn crescent hidden by the clouds of the late rainy season, who was dirty looking because she had not washed herself, who was like a veena without strings, who was sunk in the sea of sorrow, who was earlier in the custody of her husband and who did not like  to be in the custody of Rakshasis.       19-24
 
‘Seeing the lady who was like a tender plant in flowering, surrounded by the Rakshasis, he felt that she was like the Rohini star surrounded by the nine planets.                          25
(The Moon God has 27 wives , all of them daughters of Daksha. The moon God , it seems was very partial to Rohini, one of his wives. She is supposed to be the bright star traveling along with the moon)
 
“Though by her natural beauty itself she was well made up, due to the dirt that she was having on her faded body , she was like the slush coated lotus plant which was shining as well as not shining”, he thought.                                                                               26
 
The monkey chief Hanuman  saw Sita who was only wearing a  dirty and ruffled single cloth, who was having an eye similar to the young deer, who was not wilting away because she was remembering the greatness of her husband, who was being protected by her virtue, who was having black eyes and who was blessed by her youth.                27-28
 
Understanding her as Sita, that son of wind god ,looking at  the princess of Mithila who was having eyes similar to an young deer, who was seeing in all directions like a fear struck deer, who was breathing heavily as if her breath will burn the well grown tress surrounding her, who was like a tidal wave of sorrow which always comes as a group, who was shining without any ornaments, who was having very perfect limbs and who was having great patience, attained limitless happiness for having completed his task.            29-31
 
Hanuman shed tears of happiness seeing her who was having eyes like wine and immediately Saluted Sri Rama. .                                                                           32
 
That heroic Hanuman becoming happy because he saw Sita, saluted both Sri Rama and Lakshmana and continued to he in hiding.                                                           33                                                             
 
 
      Thus ends the Seventeenth chapter of Sundara Kanda which
     is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written by Valmiki.
 

[adwaita]

Eighteenth Chapter
                              Eighteenth   Chapter
                                                 Arrival of Ravana
 
(Here the description of the passionate Ravana who woke up and came to Asoka forest along with his wives to see Sita ,is given. Ravana is described as valorous but spoiled by his passion and his women are described as virtuous, good and devoted to him)
 
When he was examining with care the forest, which was in full flower and also searching for the daughter of Videha, the night was about to come to an end and the dawn was in making.                                                                                                                           1
 
In the end of night he heard the recitation of Vedas by the Brahma rakshasas who were well versed in all the six parts of Vedas and who had done great fire sacrifices.              2
(Brahma Rakshasas are highly learned Brahmins who due to the wayward life they lead and sins they committed are not able to attain Pithru Loka after their death. It is believed that they are very learned and have occult powers)
 
At that time the very strong and great Hero , the ten headed one (Ravana) was woken up with the good luck , by singing songs which were sweet to hear and also verses praising him.                                                                                                                                    3
 
That famous king of Rakshasas having woken up at the correct time wearing displaced cloths and garlands thought of the daughter of Videha.                                                    4
 
That egoist Rakshasa because the God of love affected him, was not able to keep his passion to Sita under control.                                                                                       5
 
He , carrying with him his unparalleled  fame ,wearing all ornaments entered  Asoka forest., which was having hangings made of gold in which gems were inlaid, which had fallen fully ripe fruits, which was dense with trees, which was giving happiness to the mind and eyes ,  which was having statues of  deer , which was full of different varieties of trees, which was having several wonderful birds full of zest, which was filled with lotus ponds and which was shining with various types of flowers and saw it round.  6-9
 
That Ravana was followed by a very big group of ladies similar to Indra being followed by deva and Gandharwa maidens.                                                                                 10

Some of those ladies were carrying in their hand white threaded fan, some had golden lamps hanging on a chain and some had round ornamental discs.                            11
(The Chamara, the white threaded fan had a handle and was used to fan kings)
 
Some with water in golden vessels preceded him and some with back turned swords and carpets followed him.                                                                                                 12
 
At that time one intelligent lady took a gem studded pot with water in her right hand and walked with him.                                                                                                         13
(When great personages walked, some one walked before him and sprinkled water on his path , so that , the road is not dusty.)
 
Another walked behind him with an umbrella, which was having a golden handle, which was white, like a swan and which was shining like a full moon.                               14
 
With eyes made red by lack of sleep and wine, those great wives of Ravana followed their heroic husband like the streaks of lightning following the clouds.                     15
 
Those darling wives of Ravana who were wearing mixed up garlands and bangles, who were having a disheveled looks, whose hair has been unloosened, whose face was full of droplets of sweat, whose body was made wet by sweat, whose hair was adorned by flowers, who were tottering because of loss of sleep and due to effects of wine, who were having pretty faces, who were having eyes causing passion and who were great ladies followed the Rakshasa king because of  their respect and passion towards him.     16-18
 
This very strong Ravana who was the husband of those ladies had come under the control of passion became a bad individual and  because he had lost his heart to Sita and  was following a path of utter selfishness .,                                                                             19
 
Hanuman the son of Wind god heard  the jingling sound  of the anklets and waist belts of those great ladies.                                                                                                          20
 
Hanuman saw Ravana who was capable of very great deeds, who had unimaginable strength and masculinity, who shined on all the four directions by the light of many lamps held in the front which were fed by perfumed oils, who was full of passion, egoism and bad conduct, who was having long red eyes, who was a personification of the god of love without his rope and who was wearing well washed white cloths with a colour of foam of milk hanging from his shoulders but pushed to one side, entered the garden. 21-24   
 
Hiding in branch with profuse leaves and hidden by leaves and flowers, Hanuman started examining Ravana with care..                                                                                          25
 
When the chief of monkeys was examining Ravana thus he saw the youthful pretty great wives of  Ravana.                                                                                                         26
 
That famous king surrounded by that bevy of beauties entered the garden of the harem, which was full of animals and birds.                                                                            27
 
That Hanuman saw the very strong king of Rakshasa who was the son of sage Vishravas, who was holding his two ears upright like spears, who was well ornamented, who was visibly drunk by passion, and who was surrounded by his ladies like the stars surrounding the moon.                                                                                                                   28-29
(Malyavan, the maternal grand father of Ravana, wanted the Rakshasa clan to win over Devas. He induced his daughter Kaikasi to attract Sage Vishravas, who was the son of
Pulasthya and father of the God of wealth, Kubhera. She became the mother of four children as a result. The eldest was Ravana)
 
That monkey chief who was endowed with great power  saw Ravana  who was glittering by the rays of his power.                                                                                               30
 
That greatly resplendent monkey chief who was the Son of God of wind decided without any doubt that” This individual was earlier seen by me in the center of the city, in a great palace asleep and so this must be the great hero Ravana.”,  and he jumped and ran away             
                                                                                                                                        31
(The awesome look of Ravana induced fear even in a great hero like Hanuman. The poet wants us to compare the weak and tender Sita in such a circumstance.)
 
That monkey chief was greatly resplendent  but being disturbed by the great power of Ravana , he further withdrew deep in to hiding.                                                        32
 
That Ravana with a great desire to see Sita who had jet-black hair, jet black eyes, passionately attractive wide waist, and very dense breasts neared her.                       33
 
 
      Thus ends the Eighteenth chapter of Sundara Kanda which
     is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written  by Valmiki.