Sundarakanda Sarga 40: Hanuman’s Dispatch (Full Text & Meaning)
Sundarakanda Sarga 40: Hanuman’s Dispatch (Full Text & Meaning)
Home > Sundarakanda > Sarga 40
Read Sundarakanda Sarga 40 with full Sanskrit Shlokas and verbatim English meanings. In this concluding chapter of their dialogue, Sītā Devi entrusts Hanumān with two final, deeply personal tokens of recognition: the story of the Tilaka and her precious Cūḍāmaṇi jewel. Hanumān, witnessing her intense suffering and the one-month deadline she has set for her life, offers a final resounding promise of Rama's arrival and the destruction of Lanka. The sarga ends with Hanumān, filled with a sense of accomplishment, mentally setting his course toward the north to reunite with his Lord. Download PDF for convenience or read along online at Kalady.org
| Detail | Total Shlokas: 25 | Primary Characters: Sītā Devi & Hanumān | Key Events: Tilaka-Vṛttāntaḥ (The Narrative of the Tilaka), Chūḍāmaṇi-Grahaṇam (Taking the Crest-Jewel), Hanūmat-Prasthānam (Hanuman's preparation for departure) | Location: Ashoka Vatika, Lanka |
athaḥ śrīmadvalmīki rāmāyaṇe suṃdarakāṃḍe catvāriṁśassargaḥ
Beginning of Sundarakanda from Srimad Valmiki Ramanaya - 40th Sarga
hanūmatprēṣaṇam Hanuman’s taking message for Rama
śrutvā tu vacanaṅ tasya vāyusūnōrmahātmanaḥ | uvācātmahitaṅ vākyaṅ sītā surasutōpamā || 1
Having heard those words of his—the great-souled son of Vāyu (Hanumān)—Sītā, spoke words beneficial to herself. (1)
tvāṅ dṛṣṭvā priyavaktāraṅ samprahṛṣyāmi vānaraḥ | ardhasañjātasasyēva vṛṣṭiṅ prāpya vasundharā || 2
O Hanumān, messenger of pleasant tidings, the sight of you fills me with an overwhelming joy. My spirit is revived, much like the Earth, parched and holding only half-grown crops, is suddenly nourished and saved by a life-giving shower of rain. (2)
yathā taṅ puruṣavyāghraṅ gātraiśśōkābhikarśitaiḥ | saṅspṛśēyaṅ sakāmāhaṅ tathā kuru dayāṅ mayi || 3
Have mercy upon me, as I am in deepest sorrow. Act in a way that will fulfill my deepest wish: to finally be reunited with, and touch, that 'tiger SriRāma (3)
abhijñānaṅ ca rāmasya dadyā harigaṇōttama | kṣiptāmiṣīkāṅ kākasya kōpādēkākṣiśātanīm || 4
O Vānarōttama, Rāma destroyed the crow's eye by throwing a grass stalk as a Brahmāstra. You should also give Rāma this other token of remembrance (abhijñānam) (4)
manaśśilāyāstilakō gaṇḍapārśvē nivēśitaḥ | tvayā praṇaṣṭē tilakē taṅ kila smartumarhas || 5
A tilaka made of Manaśśila (red arsenic pigment) was once placed by you on the side of my cheek. You should certainly recall that incident when the tilaka faded.(5)
sa vīryavānkathaṅ sītāṅ hṛtāṅ samanumanyasē | vasantīṅ rakṣasāṅ madhyē mahēndravaruṇōpamaḥ || 6
How does that valiant one, who is equal to the great Indra and Varuṇa, endure me, Sītā, who has been stolen, dwelling amidst the Rākṣasas (6)
ēṣa cūḍāmaṇirdivyō mayā suparirakṣitaḥ | ētaṅ dṛṣṭvā prahṛṣyāmi vyasanē tvāmivānagha || 7
This divine cūḍāmaṇi has been very carefully guarded by me. By seeing it, O Rāma, I am greatly delighted even in this distress, just as if I were seeing you. (7)
ēṣa niryātitaśśrīmānmayā tē vārisambhavaḥ | ataḥ paraṅ na śakṣyāmi jīvituṅ śōkalālasā || 8
This auspicious, cūḍāmaṇi from deepest of ocean, is now being dispatched by me to you. From this moment forward, I will be unable to live, for I am entirely consumed by sorrow. (8)
asahyāni ca duḥkhāni vācaśca hṛdayacchidaḥ | rākṣasīnāṅ sughōrāṇāṅ tvatkṛtē marṣayāmyaham || 9
Both the unbearable sorrows and the heart-piercing words of these most terrible Rākṣasīs —I endure all of this only for your sake. (9)
dhārayiṣyāmi māsaṅ tu jīvitaṅ śatrusūdana | ūrdhvaṅ māsānna jīviṣyē tvayā hīnā nṛpātmaja || 10
O Rāma, I can only sustain my life for another month. Beyond that month, I shall not live, as I cannot endure a moment longer separated from you. (10)
ghōrō rākṣasarājō.yaṅ dṛṣṭiśca na sukhā mayi | tvāṅ ca śrutvā vipadyantaṅ na jīvēyamahaṅ kṣaṇam || 11
This king of the Rākṣasas (Ravana) is terrible, and his gaze brings me no peace. Moreover, if your return is unduly delayed, I would not live for even a moment (11)
vaidēhyā vacanaṅ śrutvā karuṇaṅ sāśru bhāṣitam | athābravīnmahātējā hanumān mārutātmajaḥ || 12
Having heard the piteous words, spoken with tears, of Vaidēhī (Sītā), the greatly resplendent Hanumān, the son of the Wind God (mārutātmajaḥ), then spoke (12)
tvacchōkavimukhō rāmō dēvi satyēna tē śapē | rāmē duḥkhābhipannē ca lakṣmaṇaḥ paritapyatē || 13
O Sītā Devi, I swear to you by the truth: Rāma is utterly consumed by your sorrow. And when Rāma is overwhelmed by such grief, even Lakshmana is greatly afflicted. (13)
kathañcidbhavatī dṛṣṭā na kālaḥ pariśōcitum | imaṅ muhūrtaṅ duḥkhānāmantaṅ drakṣyasi bhāmini || 14
Somehow, you have finally been found. This is no time to lament. O beautiful lady, you will instantly see the end of all your sorrows. (14)
tāvubhau puruṣavyāghrau rājaputrāvarindamau | tvaddarśanakṛtōtsāhau laṅkāṅ bhasmīkariṣyataḥ || 15
Those two—the tigers among men, the princes and destroyers of enemies having gained great resolve through the sight of you will reduce Lankā to ashes. (15)
hattvā ca samarē krūraṅ rāvaṇaṅ sahabāndhavam | rāghavau tvāṅ viśālākṣi svāṅ purīṅ prāpayiṣyataḥ || 16
The Rāma and Lakshmana—will kill the cruel Rāvaṇa and all his kinsmen in battle. O viśālākṣi, they will then ensure that you safely return to your own capital city. (16)
yattu rāmō vijānīyādabhijñānamaninditē | prītisañjananaṅ tasya bhūyastvaṅ dātumarhasi || 17
O Devi, you should certainly give another token of remembrance (Abhijñānam) Rāma will instantly recognize, and which will greatly increase his joy and confidence. (17)
sābravīddattamēvēti mayā.bhijñānamuttamam | ētadēva hi rāmasya dṛṣṭvā matkēśabhūṣaṇam || 18
She (Sītā) replied, 'The most excellent token of remembrance (Abhijñānam) has, in fact, already been given by me. For it is by seeing this very cūḍāmaṇi from my hair that Rāma will be exceedingly delighted (18)
śraddhēyaṅ hanuman vākyaṅ tava vīra bhaviṣyati | sa taṅ maṇivaraṅ gṛhya śrīmānplavagasattamaḥ || 19
Following her words, that glorious and Hanumān respectfully took the supremely valuable cūḍāmaṇi and prepared to depart. (19)
praṇamya śirasā dēvīṅ gamanāyōpacakramē | tamutpātakṛtōtsāham avēkṣya haripuṅgavam || 20
Hanumān respectfully bowed his head to Sītā and prepared for his immediate leap back. Seeing his eagerness, the sorrowful Sītā—her face streaming with tears and her voice choked with sobs—spoke. (20)
vardhamānaṅ mahāvēgamuvāca janakātmajā | aśrupūrṇamukhī dīnā bāṣpagadgadayā girā || 21
Seeing the hero increasing in size and speed, the daughter of Janaka, with a face full of tears and a voice choked with grief, spoke to him. (21)
hanuman siṅhasaṅkāśau bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau | sugrīvaṅ ca sahāmātyaṅ sarvān brūyāhyanāmayam || 22
Convey my greetings and best wishes for their well-being to Rāma and Lakshmana—who are like lions in valor—and to Sugrīva along with all his ministers. (22)
yathā ca sa mahābāhurmāṅ tārayati rāghavaḥ | asmāddu:khāmbusamrōdhāttvaṅ samādhātumarhasi || 23
You must make every effort to ensure that the mighty-armed Rāma rescues me from this overwhelming flood of sorrow. (23)
**imaṅ ca tīvraṅ mama śōkavēgaṅ ** rakṣōbhirēbhiḥ paribhartsanaṅ ca | **brūyāstu rāmasya gatassamīpam ** śivaśca tē.dhvā.stu haripravīra || 24
O Haripravīra (Supreme Vānara Hero), when you arrive before Rāma, convey to him both this intense flood of my sorrow and the severe threats I endure from these Rākṣasīs. May your journey be pleasant. (24)
**sa rājaputryrāprativēditārthaḥ ** kapiḥ kṛtārthaḥ parihṛṣṭacētāḥ | **alpāvaśēṣaṅ prasamīkṣya kāryaṅ ** diśaṅ hyudīcīṅ manasā jagāma || 25
Having received the complete message and tokens from the Princess (Sītā), the Vānara (Hanumān) felt his mission was accomplished and his heart swelled with joy. Recognizing that only a small part of his task now remained, he mentally prepared himself for the journey back, turning his thoughts toward the northern direction (25)
ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde catvāriṁśassargaḥ
↑ Back to Top