Sundarakanda Sarga 32: Sītā's Deliberation (Full Text & Meaning) 

Summary of Sarga 32

| Detail | Total Shlokas: 14 | Primary Character: Sītā Devi | Key Events: Sītā-Svapna-Vitarkaḥ (Debate on the Dream), Hanūmad-Darśanam (Vision of Hanuman), Devatā-Namaskāraḥ (Salutations to the Gods) | Location: Ashoka Vatika, Lanka | 

Section 1: The Vision in the Tree (Shlokas 1–5)

tataśśākhāntarē līnaṅ dṛṣṭvā calitamānasā | vēṣṭitārjunavastraṅ taṅ vidyutsaṅghātapiṅgalam || 1 

sā dadarśa kapiṅ tatra praśritaṅ priyavādinam | phullāśōkōtkarābhāsaṅ taptacāmīkarēkṣaṇam || 2

Sītā's mind wavered as she saw the Vānara concealed among the branches. There, she beheld him: draped in white garments, tawny-hued and shining like a mass of lightning. He was gentle, his words were soothing, he resembled a cluster of blooming Ashoka flowers, and his eyes glowed like molten gold. (1 2)

sātha dṛṣṭvā hariśrēṣṭhṁ vinītavadavasthitam | maithilī cintayāmāsa vismayaṅ paramaṅ gatā || 3 

ahō bhīmamidaṅ rūpaṅ vānarasya durāsadam | durnirīkṣamiti jñātvā punarēva mumōha sā || 4 

vilalāpa bhṛśaṅ sītā karuṇaṅ bhayamōhitā | rāmarāmēti duḥkhārtā lakṣmaṇēti ca bhāminī || 5

Then, upon seeing the best of the Hanumān standing there humbly, Sītā was struck with supreme astonishment and began to ponder.

"Ahō!, this Vānara’s form is terrible, impossible to approach, and difficult to look at!" Thinking this, she swooned once again. Deeply afflicted by sorrow and overcome by fear, the beautiful Lady Sītā began to lament pitifully, crying out "Rāma! Rāma!" and "Lakṣmaṇa!" (3 - 5)

Section 3: The Reality of Devotion (Shlokas 9–14)

svapnē mayā.yaṅ vikṛtō.dya dṛṣṭaḥ śākhāmṛgaśśāstragaṇairniṣiddhaḥ | svastyastu rāmāya sa lakṣmaṇāya tathā piturmē janakasya rājña || 9

I have seen a hideous ape today—a sight forbidden by the scriptures and omens—but I pray this is only a dream. May there be well-being and blessings for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, and also for my father, King Janaka, so that no ill effect may befall them. (9)

svapnō.pi nāyaṅ nahi mē.sti nidrā śōkēna duḥkhēna ca pīḍitāyāḥ | sukhaṅ hi mē nāsti yatō.smi hīnā tēnēndupūrṇapratimānanēna || 10

I have no happiness, for I am separated from him whose face is as radiant as the full moon. This cannot be a dream, as sorrow and suffering prevent me from sleeping; then how could I dream? (10)

rāmēti rāmēti sadaiva buddhyā vicintya vācā bruvatī tamēva | tasyānurūpāṅ ca kathāṅ tadartham ēvaṅ prapaśyāmi tathā śṛṇōmi || 11

My mind is constantly absorbed in thinking 'Rāma, Rāma,' and my voice speaks only of him. Because of this unwavering devotion, I believe I am now hearing a narrative that is perfectly appropriate for him and seeing his image.

ahaṅ hi tasyādya manōbhavēna sampīḍitā tadgatasarvabhāvā | vicintayantī satataṅ tamēva tathaiva paśyāmi tathā śṛṇōmi || 12 

manōrathassyāditi cintayāmi tathāpi buddhyā ca vitarkayāmi | kiṅ kāraṇaṅ tasya hi nāsti rūpaṅ suvyaktarūpaśca vadatyayaṅ mām || 13

My entire being is devoted to Rāma, and the God of Love afflicts me greatly. Because I am always thinking of him, I constantly imagine that I see and hear him. I tell myself that this voice must be a delusion of my desire, but my intellect tells me otherwise. Why? Because a mere delusion has no distinct, visible form, yet this being is speaking to me with a clearly manifested body. (12 - 13)

namō.stu vācaspatayē savajriṇē svayaṅbhuvē caiva hutāśanāya ca | anēna cōktaṅ yadidaṅ mamāgratō vanaukasā taccha tathāstu nānyathā || 14

I offer my namaskaram to Bṛhaspati, my reverence to Indra, pranamam to Brahmā, and pranamam to Agni Deva. I pray to them all that the words uttered by this Vānara before me may indeed be true, and may it not be false (confirming he is an agent of Rāma and not from the opposing side). (14)

ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde dvātriṁśassargaḥ