Sundarakanda Sarga 4: Triumph Over the Deity of Lanka (Full Text & Meaning)
Sundarakanda Sarga 4: Triumph Over the Deity of Lanka (Full Text & Meaning)
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Read Sundarakanda Sarga 33 with full Sanskrit Shlokas and verbatim English meanings. In this transformative chapter, Hanumān approaches Sītā Devi with profound humility, gently questioning her identity and expressing his reverence. Overjoyed by the mention of Rāma, Sītā reveals her lineage as the daughter of Janaka and the daughter-in-law of Daśaratha, recounting the events of their exile and her heartbreaking abduction. Download PDF for convenience or read along online at Kalady.org
| Detail | Total Shlokas: 31 | Primary Characters: Hanumān & Sītā Devi | Key Events: Hanūmad-Upasarpasnam (Hanuman's Approach), Sītā-Paricayaḥ (Sita reveals her identity), Vanavāsa-Kāraṇam (The Reason for Exile) | Location: Ashoka Vatika, Lanka |
athaḥ śrīmadvalmīki rāmāyaṇe suṃdarakāṃḍe trayastriṁśassargaḥ
Beginning of Sundarakanda from Srimad Valmiki Ramayana - 33rd Sarga
hanūmajjānakī saṁvādōpakramaḥ The Commencement of the Dialogue between Hanumān and Jānakī
sō.vatīrya drumāttasmādvidrumapratimānanaḥ | vinītavēṣaḥ kṛpaṇaḥ praṇipatyōpasṛtya ca || 1
Then, Hanumān, whose face shone like red coral, descended from the tree. Adopting a humble demeanor, he offered a respectful pranamam to Sītā and slowly approached her. (1)
āmabravīnmahātējā hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ | śirasyañjalimādhāya sītāṅ madhurayā girā || 2
The greatly luminous Hanumān, the son of the Wind God, offered a respectful añjali (joined palms) to Sītā above his head and then addressed her in a sweet, gentle voice. (2)
kā nu padmapalāśākṣi kliṣṭakauśēyavāsini | drumasya śākhāmālambya tiṣṭhasi tvamaninditē || 3
Who are you, O Lady whose eyes are like lotus petals, wearing worn and soiled silken garments? O Devi, why do you stand here, clinging to a branch of this tree? (3)
kimartham tava nētrābhyāṅ vāri sravati śōkajam | puṇḍarīkapalāśābhyāṅ viprakīrṇamivōdakam || 4
Why are tears of sorrow flowing from your eyes? The tears are scattering from your lotus-petal-like eyes like water drops shaken from a white lotus. (4)
surāṇāmasurāṇāṅ vā nāgagandharvarakṣasām | yakṣāṇāṅ kinnarāṇāṅ vā kā tvaṅ bhavasi śōbhanē || 5
O beautiful Lady, are you one of the Suras or Asuras? Are you a Nāga, a Gandharva, a Rākṣasa, a Yakṣa, or a Kinnara? Who exactly are you? (5)
kā tvaṅ bhavasi rudrāṇāṅ marutāṅ vā varānanē | vasūnāṅ hi varārōhē dēvatā pratibhāsi mē || 6
O Lady with the beautiful face, are you one of the Rudras or the Maruts one of the Vasus? Indeed, O Devi, you appear to me to be a goddess, who are you in reality?. (6)
ki nu candramasā hīnā patitā vibudhālayāt | rōhiṇī jyōtiṣāṅ śrēṣṭhā śrēṣṭhasarvaguṇānvitā || 7
Are you the virtuous and superior star Rohiṇī, who has been separated from the Moon and fallen from the celestial abode of the Gods? (7)
kā tvaṅ bhavasi kalyāṇi tvamaninditalōcanē | kōpādvā yadi vā mōhādbhartāramasitēkṣaṇē | vasiṣṭhaṅ kōpayitvā tvaṅ nāsi kalyāṇyarundhat || 8
O blessed Lady, who are you, with your perfect, flawless eyes? Have you, O dark-eyed one, become separated from your husband through a fit of anger or some great delusion? Tell me, are you the revered Arundhatī, who has, perhaps came here, by incurring the wrath of the great sage Vasiṣṭha? (8)
kō nu putraḥ pitā bhrātā bhartā vā tē sumadhyamē | asmāllōkādamuṅ lōkaṅ gataṅ tvamanuśōcasi || 9
O Devī, who is your son, your father, your brother, or your husband? Tell me, are you in mourning for someone who has passed away? (9)
rōdanādatiniśśvāsādbhūmisaṅsparśanādapi | na tvāṅ dēvīmahaṅ manyē rājña ssarvajñāvadhāraṇāt || 10
Because of your continuous weeping, heavy sighing, and constant touching of the ground, I no longer believe you are a goddess; I now recognize the unmistakable signs of a Queen or Princess (10)
vyañjanāni ca tē yāni lakṣaṇāni ca lakṣayē | mahiṣī bhūmipālasya rājakanyā ca mē matā || 11
The noble signs and characteristics that I recognize in you lead me to conclude that you are undoubtedly the Queen of a monarch or a King's daughter. (11)
rāvaṇēna janasthānādbalādapadahṛtā yadi | sītā tvamasi bhadraṅ tē tanmamācakṣva pṛcchataḥ || 12
Tell me, are you Sītā, the Lady who was forcibly carried away from Janasthāna by Rāvaṇa? If so, may you be blessed; please reveal this truth to me now that I ask you. (12)
yathā hi tava vai dainyaṅ rūpaṅ cāpyatimānuṣam | tapasā cānvitō vēṣastvaṅ rāmamahiṣī dhruvam || 13
Looking at your distress, your uniquely divine and superhuman beauty, and your demeanor marked by profound penance, I am certain that you are indeed Rāma's Queen. (13)
sā tasya vacanaṅ śrutvā rāmakīrtanaharṣitā | uvāca vākyaṅ vaidēhī hanumantaṅ drumāśritam || 14
Upon hearing his words, which were filled with the praise of Rāma, Sītā was overjoyed and began to speak to Hanumān, who got down the tree. (14)
pṛthivyāṅ rājasiṅhānāṅ mukhyasya viditātmanaḥ | snuṣā daśarathasyāhaṅ śatrusainyapratāpinaḥ || 15
I am the daughter-in-law of King Daśaratha, who is the foremost among the most powerful kings on earth, possesses a renowned, righteous soul, and is the terror of all enemy armies. (15)
duhitā janakasyāhaṅ vaidēhasya mahātmanaḥ | sītēti nāma nāmnā.haṅ bhāryā rāmasya dhīmataḥ || 16
I am the daughter of the noble and high-souled Janaka, the King of Videha. My name is Sītā, and I am the wife of the wise and steadfast Rāma. (16)
samā dvādaśa tatrāhaṅ rāghavasya nivēśanē | bhuñjānā mānuṣān bhōgān sarvakāmasamṛddhinī || 17
I lived in the palace of Rāma for twelve years. During that time, I experienced every human comfort and joy. (17)
tatra trayōdaśē varṣē rājyēnēkṣvākunandanam | abhiṣēcayituṅ rājā sōpādhyāyaḥ pracakramē || 18
In the thirteenth year of our stay, King Daśaratha, together with his royal preceptor, began the preparations for the coronation of Rāma—the delight of the Ikshvāku dynasty. (18)
tasminsambhriyamāṇē tu rāghavasyābhiṣēcanē | kaikayī nāma bhartāraṅ dēvī vacanamabravīt || 19
However, while the preparations for Rāma’s coronation were underway, Queen Kaikeyī addressed words (made a demand) to her husband, the King. (19)
na pibēyaṅ na khādēyaṅ pratyahaṅ mama bhōjanam | ēṣa mē jīvitasyāntō rāmō yadyabhiṣicyatē || 20
Kaikeyī declared that she would neither drink nor partake of her daily food. She made it clear: 'If Rāma is crowned, this will be the end of my life.' (20)
yattaduktaṅ tvayā vākyaṅ prītyā nṛpatisattama | tacchēnna vitathaṅ kāryaṅ vanaṅ gacchatu rāghavaḥ || 21
‘O best of kings, you gave me your word with affection; that promise must not be broken. Therefore, let Rāma depart for the forest.’ (21)
sa rājā satyavāgdēvyā varadānamanusmaran | mumōha vacanaṅ śrutvā kaikēyyāḥ krūramapriyam || 22
"Remembering the boon he had sworn to grant the Queen (Kaikeyī), the King was struck senseless and fainted upon hearing her cruel and heartbreaking demand (22)
tatastu sthavirō rājā satyē dharmē vyavasthitaḥ | jyēṣṭhaṅ yaśasvinaṅ putraṅ rudanrājyamayācata || 23
Then, the elderly King, who was firmly devoted to truth and righteousness, wept as he pleaded with his glorious eldest son (Rāma) to relinquish the kingdom (in favor of Bharata, as promised in the boon). (23)
sa piturvacanaṅ śrīmānabhiṣēkātparaṅ priyam | manasā pūrvamāsādya vācā pratigṛhītavān || 24
The glorious Rāma held his father's command dearer than his own coronation. Therefore, he embraced the word in his mind immediately and then accepted it verbally. (24)
dadyānna pratigṛhṇīyānna brūyātkiñcidapriyam | api jīvitahētōrvā rāmassatyaparākramaḥ || 25
Rāma, whose very strength is truth, is a giver who never accepts gifts from others, nor does he ever speak an unkind word. He would not violate this noble conduct, even if it meant saving his own life. (25)
sa vihāyōttarīyāṇi mahārhāṇi mahāyaśāḥ | visṛjya manasā rājyaṅ jananyai māṅ samādiśat || 26
The glorious Rāma immediately cast aside his precious royal garments. Having mentally renounced the kingdom, he then entrusted me to the care of his mother (Kaushalyā). (26)
sāhaṅ tasyāgratastūrṇaṅ prasthitā vanacāriṇī | na hi mē tēna hīnāyā vāsassvargē.pi rōcatē || 27
For indeed, even a dwelling in heaven holds no appeal for me if I am separated from him. Therefore, I immediately set out ahead of him, choosing to become a forest-dweller. (27)
prāgēva tu mahābhāgaḥ saumitrirmitranandanaḥ | pūrvajasyānuyātrārthē drumacīrairalaṅkṛtaḥ || 28
The greatly blessed Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa), who always brings joy to his friends, set out even before us. Having already adorned himself in bark garments, he was ready to follow his elder brother into exile. (28)
tē vayaṅ bharturādēśaṅ bahumānya dṛḍhavratāḥ | praviṣṭāssma purādṛṣṭaṅ vanaṅ gambhīradarśanam || 29
Honoring our King’s command and with unwavering resolve, we entered the deeply forbidding forest, a place none of us had ever set eyes on before. (29)
vasatō daṇḍakāraṇyē tasyāhamamitaujasaḥ | rakṣasā.pahṛtā bhāryā rāvaṇēna durātmanā || 30
While we were residing in the Daṇḍaka forest, I, the wife of Rāma (who possesses immeasurable might), was forcibly carried away by the evil-minded Rākṣasa, Rāvaṇa. (30)
dvau māsau tēna mē kālō jīvitānugrahaḥ kṛtaḥ | ūrdhvaṅ dvābhyāṅ tu māsābhyāṅ tatastakṣyāmi jīvitam || 31
Rāvaṇa has granted me a respite of two months, allowing me to live for that period. However, should I not be rescued within those two months, I shall certainly end my own life. (31)
ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde trayastriṁśassargaḥ
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