Sundarakanda Sarga 12: Hanuman's Disappointment (Full Text & Meaning)
Sundarakanda Sarga 12: Hanuman's Disappointment (Full Text & Meaning)
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Read Sundarakanda Sarga 12 with full Sanskrit Shlokas and verbatim English meanings. Having searched everywhere without success, Hanumān falls into a deep state of despair. He fears that Sita has either been killed or has perished out of grief, and he contemplates the failure of his mission and the sorrow it will bring to Rama. Download PDF for convenience or read along online at Kalady.org
| Detail | Total Shlokas: 25 | Primary Character: Hanuman (Maruti) | Key Events: Viṣāda (Hanuman's Despair), Anirvēda-Prasasti (Praise of Perseverance), Bhūya-Anvēṣaṇa (Renewed Search) | Location: Inner Palace and Grounds of Lanka |
athaḥ śrīmadvalmīki rāmāyaṇe suṃdarakāṃḍe dvādaśassargaḥ
Beginning of Sundarakanda from Srimad Valmiki Ramanaya - 12th Sarga
hanūmadviṣādaḥ
Hanuman's Disappointment
sa tasya madhyē bhavanasya māruti rlatāgṛhāṅścitragṛhānniśāgṛhān | jagāma sītāṅ prati darśanōtsukō na caiva tāṅ paśyati cārudarśanām || 1
Hanuman, the son of the Wind, meticulously searched every part of the central building—natural bowers, decorated halls, and private night chambers—but failed to find the beautifully sighted Sītā.
sa cintayāmāsa tatō mahākapiḥ priyāmapaśyanraghunandanasya tām | dhruvaṅ hi sītā mriyatē yathā na mē vicinvatō darśanamēti maithilī || 2
Not seeing Rāma’s beloved wife, Hanuman thought that Sītā must have surely perished since she did not come into his sight during his search.
sā rākṣasānāṅ pravarēṇa jānakī svaśīlasaṅrakṣṇatatparā satī | anēna nūnaṅ prati duṣṭakarmaṇā hatā bhavēdāryapathē parē sthitā || 3
He feared that Jānakī, committed to her virtue, must have been killed by the wicked Rāvaṇa as she stood firm on the supreme path of Dharma.
virūparūpā vikṛtā vivarcasō mahānanā dīrghavirūpadarśanāḥ | samīkṣya sā rākṣasarājayōṣitō bhayādvinaṣṭā janakēśvarātmajā || 4
He speculated that the daughter of Janaka might have perished from pure fear upon seeing the hideous, deformed, and terrifying Rākṣasa women.
sītāmadṛṣṭvā hyanavāpya pauruṣaṅ vihṛtya kālaṅ saha vānaraiściram | na mē.sti sugrīvasamīpagā gatiḥ sutīkṣṇadaṇḍō balavāṅśca vānaraḥ || 5
Failing his objective after a long search, Hanuman felt he could not return to Sugrīva, a powerful leader who metes out very sharp punishment.
dṛṣṭamantaḥpuraṅ sarvaṅ dṛṣṭā rāvaṇayōṣitaḥ | na sītā dṛśyatē sādhvīvṛthā jātō mama śramaḥ || 6
Having seen the entire palace and Rāvaṇa's wives without finding virtuous Sītā, he felt his immense efforts had become futile.
kiṅ nu māṅ vānarāḥ sarvē gataṅ vakṣyanti saṅgatāḥ | gatvā tatra tvayā vīra kiṅ kṛtaṅ tadvadasva naḥ || 7
adṛśṭvā kiṅ pravakṣyāmi tāmahaṅ janakātmajām | dhruvaṅ prāyamupaiṣyanti kālasya vyativartanē || 8
He worried about what the gathered Vānaras would ask upon his return; without finding Sītā, he feared they would undertake a fast unto death once the appointed time passed.
kiṅ vā vakṣyati vṛddhaśca jāmbavānāṅgadaśca saḥ | gataṅ pāraṅ samudrasya vānarāśca samāgatāḥ || 9
He agonized over what the aged Jāmbavān and Aṅgada would say regarding his failure after crossing the great ocean.
anirvēdaḥ śriyō mūlamanirvēdaḥ paraṅ sukham | anirvēdō hi satataṅ sarvārthēṣu pravartakaḥ || 10
Hanuman reminded himself that perseverance (anirvēdaḥ) is the root of prosperity and supreme happiness, serving as the motivator in all undertakings.
karōti saphalaṅ jantōḥ karma yattatkarōti saḥ | tasmādanirvēdakṛtaṅ yatnaṅ cēṣṭē.hamuttamam || 11
He reasoned that unwavering enthusiasm ensures the success of human actions, and thus resolved to continue his efforts.
bhūyastāvadvicēṣyāmi dēśānrāvaṇapālitān | āpānaśālā vicitāstathā puṣpagṛhāṇi ca || 12
citraśālāśca vicitā bhūyaḥ krīḍāgṛhāṇi ca | niṣkuṭāntararathyāśca vimānāni ca sarvaśaḥ || 13
He vowed to search again through the drinking halls, flower bowers, painted galleries, pleasure houses, garden paths, and aerial chariots ruled by Rāvaṇa.
iti sañcintya bhūyō.pi vicētumupacakramē | bhūmīgṛhāṅścaityagṛhān gṛhātigṛhakānapi || 14 utpatanniṣpataṅścāpi tiṣṭhangacchan punaḥ punaḥ | apāvṛṇvaṅśca dvārāṇi kavāṭānyavaghāṭayan || 15 praviśanniṣpataṅścāpi prapatannutpatannapi | sarvamapyavakāśaṅ sa vicacāra mahākapiḥ || 16 caturaṅgulamātrō.pi nāvakāśaḥ sa vidyatē | rāvaṇāntaḥpurē tasmin yaṅ kapirna jagāma saḥ || 17
Renewing his commitment, Hanuman searched every structure, including underground houses and shrines, unbarring panels and investigating every space down to the size of four fingers.
prākārāntararathyāśca vēdikāścaityasaṅśrayāḥ | dīrghikāḥ puṣkariṇyaśca sarvaṅ tēnāvalōkitam || 18
He continued through inner roads, sacred shrines, long tanks, and lotus ponds.
rākṣasyō vividhākārā virūpā vikṛtāstathā | dṛṣṭā hanumatā tatra na tu sā janakātmajā || 19 rūpēṇāpratimā lōkē varā vidyādharastriyaḥ | dṛṣṭā hanumatā tatra na tu rāghavanandinī || 20 nāgakanyā varārōhāḥ pūrṇacanrdanibhānanāḥ | dṛṣṭā hanumatā tatra na tu sītā sumadhyamā || 21 pramathya rākṣasēndrēṇa nāgakanyā balāddhṛtāḥ | dṛṣṭā hanumatā tatra na sā janakanandinī || 22
He saw hideous Rākṣasa women, beautiful Vidyadhara women, and moon-faced Nāga maidens seized by Rāvaṇa, but nowhere did he find the daughter of Janaka.
sō.paśyaṅstāṅ mahābāhuḥ paśyaṅścānyā varastriyaḥ | viṣasāda muhurdhīmān hanumān mārutātmajaḥ || 23 udyōgaṅ vānarēndrāṇāṅ plavanaṅ sāgarasya ca | vyarthaṅ vīkṣyānilasutaścintāṅ punarupāgamat || 24 avatīrya vimānācca hanumān mārutātmajaḥ | cintāmupajagāmātha śōkōpahatacētanaḥ || 25
The wise son of the Wind grew repeatedly sorrowful, fearing the effort of the Vānaras and his leap across the ocean had become futile. Descending from the aerial chariot, his mind was overcome by sorrow.
ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde dvādaśassargaḥ
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