undarakanda Sarga 31: Listening to Rāma's Account (Full Text & Meaning)
undarakanda Sarga 31: Listening to Rāma's Account (Full Text & Meaning)
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Read Sundarakanda Sarga 31 with full Sanskrit Shlokas and verbatim English meanings. In this pivotal moment, Hanumān executes his strategic plan to win Sītā's trust from the Śiṅśupā tree. By narrating the noble history of King Daśaratha and the heroic deeds of Śrī Rāma, Hanumān successfully comforts the grieving Sītā, leading her to look up and finally see the Vānara messenger who has come for her rescue. Download PDF for convenience or read along online at Kalady.org
| Detail | Total Shlokas: 19 | Primary Characters: Sītā Devi & Hanumān | Key Events: Rāmakathā-Saṅkīrtanam (Praising Rāma's Story), Sītā-Vismayaḥ (Sītā's Wonder), Hanūmaddarśanam (First Sight of Hanumān) | Location: Ashoka Vatika, Lanka |
athaḥ śrīmadvalmīki rāmāyaṇe suṃdarakāṃḍe ēkatriṁśassargaḥ
Beginning of Sundarakanda from Srimad Valmiki Ramayana - 31st Sarga
rāmavṛtta saṁśravaḥ Listening to Rāma's Account
ēvaṅ bahuvidhāṅ cintāṅ cintayitvā mahākapiḥ |saṅśravē madhuraṅ vākyaṅ vaidēhyā vyājahāra ha || 1
After deliberating on all these various options, the great Hanumān, the foremost among Vānaras, spoke sweet, reassuring words to Sītā, ensuring she could hear him (1)
rājā daśarathō nāma rathakuñjaravājimān |puṇyaśīlō mahākīrtirikṣvākūṇāṅ mahāyaśāḥ || 2
There was a king named Daśaratha, who commanded a vast army of chariots, elephants, and cavalry. He was celebrated for his righteous character and immense fame, and he was the most illustrious ancestor in the Ikshvāku lineage. (2)
rājarṣīṇāṅ guṇaśrēṣṭhastapasā carṣibhi ssamaḥ |cakravartikulē jātaḥ purandarasamō balē || 3
He was the foremost in virtue among all royal sages (rājarṣī) and was equal to the great Rishis in his practice of austerity. Born into the esteemed lineage of emperors, he possessed a strength equal to that of the god Indra. (3)
ahiṅsāratirakṣudrō ghṛṇī satyaparākramaḥ |mukhyaścēkṣvākuvaṅśasya lakṣmīvān lakṣmivardhanaḥ || 4
He was a champion of non-violence, noble in spirit, deeply compassionate, and his might was synonymous with truth. He stood as the foremost leader of the Ikshvāku dynasty, was blessed with immense fortune, and constantly worked to enhance the prosperity of all (4)
pārthivavyañjanairyuktaḥ pṛthuśrīḥ pārthivarṣabhaḥ |pṛthivyāṅ caturantāyāṅ viśrutassukhadassukhī || 5
He possessed all the distinguishing marks of a true sovereign, was renowned for his great splendor, and stood as the noblest among all kings. His fame extended across the four corners of the earth, and he lived happily while bestowing happiness upon others (5)
tasya putraḥ priyō jyēṣṭhastāḥ ādhipanibhānanaḥ |rāmō nāma viśēṣajñaḥ śrēṣṭha ssarvadhanuṣmatām || 6
The King had a beloved eldest son, Rāma, whose face was radiant like the full moon. He was highly discerning (wise and knowledgeable) and was the supreme master among all archers. (6)
rakṣitā svasya dharmasya svajanasya ca rakṣitā |rakṣitā jīvalōkasya dharmasya ca parantapaḥ || 7
He upholds his own Dharma and is the protector of his own people. He is the guardian of the entire world of living beings, and as the vanquisher of enemies, he champions all Dharma. (7)
tasya satyābhisandhasya vṛddhasya vacanātpituḥ |sabhāryassaha ca bhrātrā vīraḥ pravrājitō vanam || 8
On the word of his old father, Rāma, who was committed to truth, accompanied by his wife and brother, went into exile in the forest (8)
tēna tatra mahāraṇyē mṛgayāṅ paridhāvatā |rākṣasā nihatāśśūrā bahavaḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ || 9
While he was traversing that great forest, a great number of valiant Rākṣasas, who possessed the ability to change their forms at will, were slain by him. (9)
janasthānavadhaṅ śrutvā hatau ca kharadūṣaṇau |tatastvamarṣāpahṛtā jānakī rāvaṇēna tu |vañcayitvā vanē rāmaṅ mṛgarūpēṇa māyayā || 10
Hearing of the destruction in Janasthāna and the slaying of Khara and Dūṣaṇa, Rāvaṇa, in his anger, then abducted Jānakī. He did this by deceiving Rāma in the forest with the illusion of a deer. (10)
sa mārgamāṇastāṅ dēvīṅ rāmassītāmaninditām |āsasāda vanē mitraṅ sugrīvaṅ nāma vānaram || 11
While he was searching for Sītā Devi, Rāma formed an alliance with a great Vānara named Sugrīva in the forest. (11)
tata ssa vālinaṅ hatvā rāmaḥ parapurañjayaḥ |prāyacchatkapirājyaṅ tatsugrīvāya mahābalaḥ || 12
The mighty Rāma, the vanquisher of enemy cities, then slew Vāli and bestowed the Vānara kingdom upon Sugrīva. (12)
sugrīvēṇāpi sandiṣṭā harayaḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ |dikṣu sarvāsu tāṅ dēvīṅ vicinvanti sahasraśaḥ || 13
Following the command of King Sugrīva, thousands of Vānaras, all capable of changing their forms at will, set out and are currently searching for Sītā Devī in every direction. (13)
ahaṅ sampātivacanācchatayōjanamāyatam |asyā hētōrviśālākṣyāḥ sāgaraṅ vēgavānplutaḥ || 14
Following the instruction of Sampāti, I swiftly and forcefully leaped across the ocean—which measures a hundred Yojanas in width—all for the purpose of finding this beautiful, wide-eyed Sītā. (14)
yathārūpāṅ yathāvarṇāṅ yathālakṣmīvatīṅ ca niścitām |aśrauṣaṅ rāghavasyāhaṅ sēyamāsāditā mayā || 15virarāmaivamuktvāsau vācaṅ vānarapuṅgavaḥ |jānakī cāpi tacchrutvā paraṅ vismayamāgatā || 16
"I have found her—the very Lady whose form, complexion, and auspicious marks were described to me with certainty by Rāma."
Having delivered this final assurance, Hanumān, the foremost of the Vānaras, then fell silent. Upon hearing his words, Sītā was overcome with immense astonishment. (15 - 16)
tatō sā vakrakēśāntā sukēśī kēśasaṅvṛtam |unnamya vadanaṅ bhīruḥ śiṅśupāvṛkṣamaikṣata || 17
Then, that Sītā, who had beautiful hair with curling ends, raised her face, which was covered by her hair, and looked up at the Śiṅśupā tree (where Hanumān was concealed). (17)
niśamya sītā vacanaṅ kapēśca |diśaśca sarvāḥ pradiśaśca vīkṣya |svayaṅ praharṣaṅ paramaṅ jagāma |sarvātmanā rāmamanusmarantī || 18
Sītā, having heard the words of the Hanumān, and having looked at all directions and intermediate directions, attained supreme joy, remembering Rāma with her entire heart and soul. (18)
sā tiryagūrdhvaṅ ca tathāpyadhastāt |nirīkṣamāṇā tamacintyabuddhim |dadarśa piṅgādhipatēramātyaṅ |vātātmajaṅ sūryamivōdayastham || 19
She (Sītā) carefully scanned sideways, upwards, and then downwards, and there she saw him: the minister of the Vānara King, the son of the Wind God, Hanumān—a being of unimaginable intellect—standing there like the rising sun. (19)
ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde ēkatriṁśassargaḥ
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