Sundarakanda Sarga 67: Hanumān Recounts Sītā’s Message to Rāma (Full Text & Meaning) 

Summary of Sarga 67

| Detail | Total Shlokas: 44 | Primary Characters: Hanumān, Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa | Key Events: Recounting the Crow Incident, Hanuman's offer to carry Sita, Sita's refusal based on Dharma, Final message to Rama | Location: Mount Prasravana | 

Section 1: The Token of Recognition – The Crow at Chitrakuta (Shlokas 1–17)

ēvamuktastu hanumān rāghavēṇa mahātmanā | sītāyā bhāṣitaṅ sarvaṅ nyavēdayata rāghavē || 1

Thus addressed by the great-souled Rama, Hanuman reported all of Sita's words to Rama. (1)

idamuktavatī dēvī jānakī puruṣarṣabha | pūrva vṛttamabhijñānaṅ citrakūṭē yathātatham || 2

"O Rama, the Devi Janaki spoke this—the sign of recognition concerning the former incident at Chitrakuta—exactly as it occurred." (2)

sukhasuptā tvayā sārdhaṅ jānakī pūrvamutthitā | vāyasa ssahasōtpatya vidadāra stanāntarē || 3

"Sita, having slept happily with you, awoke first. A crow suddenly flew up and tore at the space between her breasts." (3)

paryāyēṇa ca suptastvaṅ dēvyaṅkē bharatāgraja | punaśca kila pakṣī sa dēvyā janayati vyathām || 4

"And you, O elder brother of Bharata, were sleeping in the Devi's lap. And then, that same bird again caused distress to the Devi." (4)

punaḥ punarupāgamya vidadāra bhṛśaṅ kila | tatastvaṅ bōdhitastasyāśśōṇitēna samukṣitaḥ || 5

"And it (the crow) returned again and again, violently pecking (her); then you were awakened, sprinkled with her blood." (5)

vāyasēna ca tēnaiva satataṅ bādhyamānayā | bōdhitaḥ kila dēvyā tvaṅ sukhasuptaḥ parantapa || 6

"The Goddess (Sita), continually tormented by that very crow, awakened you, O scorcher of enemies, while you were sleeping soundly." (6)

tāṅ tu dṛṣṭvā mahābāhō dāritāṅ ca stanāntarē | āśīviṣa iva kruddhō niśvasannabhyabhāṣathāḥ || 7

"Seeing her, O mighty-armed one, wounded, you spoke like an angry venomous snake." (7)

nakhāgraiḥ kēna tē bhīru dāritaṅ tu stanāntaram | kaḥ krīḍati sarōṣēṇa pañcavaktrēṇa bhōginā || 8

"'O timid one, by whose nail-tips has wounded you? Who dares to play with an angry, five-headed serpent (like you)?'" (8)

nirīkṣamāṇassahasā vāyasaṅ samavaikṣathāḥ | nakhaissarudhiraiḥ tīkṣṇaiḥ tāmēvābhimukhaṅ sthitam || 9

"Suddenly looking, you immediately saw the crow, standing directly facing her, with its sharp, bloody claws." (9)

sutaḥ kila sa śakrasya vāyasaḥ patatāṅ varaḥ | dharāntaracaraśśīghraṅ pavanasya gatau samaḥ || 10

"That crow was, in fact, the son of Shakra (Indra), the best of all flying creatures, traversing the space between heaven and earth with a speed equal to the wind." (10)

tatastasmin mahābāhō kōpasaṅvartitēkṣaṇaḥ | vāyasē tvaṅ kṛthāḥ krūrāṅ matiṅ matimatāṅ vara || 11

"Then, O mighty-armed one, with eyes blazing from anger, you, O best of the intelligent, directed a cruel resolve toward that crow." (11)

sa darbhaṅ saṅstarādgṛhya brahmāstrēṇa hyayōjayaḥ | sa dīpta iva kālāgnirjajvālābhimukhaḥ khagam || 12

"You took a blade of Kusha grass from the mat and charged it with the Brahmastra missile. That missile shone intensely like the Kālāgni and blazed directly at the bird." (12)

kṣiptavāṅstvaṅ pradīptaṅ hi darbhaṅ taṅ vāyasaṅ prati | tatastu vāyasaṅ dīptassa darbhō.nujagāma ha || 13

"You threw that blazing Kusha grass at the crow. Thereupon, the blazing Kusha grass chased the crow." (13)

sa pitrā ca parityaktassuraiśca samaharṣibhiḥ | trīn lōkān samparikramya trātāraṅ nādhigacchati || 14

"The crow was abandoned by his father and by the gods and great sages. Having traversed the three worlds, he could not find a protector." (14)

punarēvāgatastrastastvatsakāśamariṅdama | sa taṅ nipatitaṅ bhūmau śaraṇyaśśaraṇāgatam | vadhārhamapi kākutstha kṛpayā paryapālayaḥ || 15

"He, terrified, came again to your presence, O scorcher of enemies. Having fallen to the ground, he sought refuge, and though he deserved to be killed, O Kakutstha (Rama), you protected him out of compassion." (15)

mōghamastraṅ na śakyaṅ tu kartumityēva rāghava | bhavāṅstasyākṣi kākasya hinasti sma sa dakṣiṇam || 16

"However, O Raghava, since the missile could not be rendered completely futile, you destroyed that crow's right eye." (16)

rāma tvāṅ sa namaskṛtya rājñē daśarathāya ca | visṛṣṭastu tadā kāka pratipēdē svamālayam || 17

"Then, the crow bowed to you and to King Dasaratha, and being released, he went back to his own abode." (17)

Section 3: The Gift of the Jewel and the Final Messages (Shlokas 30–44)

sābhivīkṣya diśassarvā vēṇyudgrathitamuttamam | muktvā vastrāddadau mahyaṅ maṇimētaṅ mahābala || 30

"O Rama, looking at all directions, she untied the excellent crest-jewel, which had been tied up in her cloth, and gave this jewel to me." (30)

pratigṛhya maṇiṅ divyaṅ tava hētō raghūdvaha | śirasā tāṅ praṇamyāryāmahamāgamanē tvarē || 31

"Having received the divine jewel for your sake, O Raghava, and having bowed my head to that noble lady, I then hastened my return." (31)

gamanē ca kṛtōtsāhamavēkṣya varavarṇinī | vivardhamānaṅ ca hi māmuvāca janakātmajā || 32

"And seeing me, who was eager for departure and expanding, the beautiful-complexioned daughter of Janaka then spoke to me." (32)

aśrupūrṇamukhī dīnā bāṣpasandigdhabhāṣiṇī || 33 mamōtpatanasambhrāntā śōkavēgasamāhatā | māmuvāca tataḥ sītā sabhākyō’si mahākapē || 34 yadrakṣyasi mahābāhuṁ rāmaṁ kamalalōcanam | lakṣmaṇaṁ ca mahābāhuṁ dēvaraṁ mē yaśasvinam || 35

"With a face full of tears and a voice choked by sobs, Sita spoke: 'You are fortunate, O great Hanuman, since you will see the mighty-armed Rama and Lakshmana, my glorious brother-in-law.'" (33 - 35)

sītayāpyēvamuktō’ham abravaṁ maithilīṁ tathā | vr̥ṣṭhamārōha mē dēvi kṣipraṁ javakanaṁdini || 36 yāvattē darśayāmyadya sasugrīvaṁ salakṣmaṇam | rāghavaṁ ca mahābhāgē bhartāramasitēkṣaṇē || 37

"After Sita spoke to me thus, I replied: 'O Goddess, swiftly climb upon my back, so that I may show you today your husband Raghava, along with Sugriva and Lakshmana.'" (36 - 37)

sābravīnmāṁ tatō dēvī naiṣa dharmō mahākapē | yattē pr̥ṣṭhaṁ siṣēvē’haṁ svavaśā haripuṁgava || 38

"Then the Devi Sita said to me: 'O great Hanuman, this is not proper conduct (Dharma)—that I should willingly resort to your back.'" (38)

purā ca yadahaṁ vīra spr̥ṣṭā gātrēṣu rakṣasā | tatrāhaṁ kiṁ kariṣyami kālēnōpanipīḍitā || 39

"'And since I was formerly touched on my body by the Rakshasa, O Hanuman, what can I do in that situation, being oppressed by the limit of circumstances?'" (39)

gaccha tvaṁ kapiśārdūla yatra tau nr̥patēḥ sutau | ityēvaṁ sā samābhāṣya bhūyuḥ saṁdēṣṭumāsthitā || 40

"She urged me, 'Go now, O mighty Hanuman, and return to the two princes.' Having given this command, the daughter of the king then prepared to deliver her concluding message." (40)

hanuman siṅhasaṅkāśāvubhau tau rāmalakṣmaṇau | sugrīvañca sahāmātyaṅ sarvān brūyā hyanāmayam || 41

"'Hanuman, convey my well-being to Rama, Lakshmana, and to Sugriva along with all his ministers.'" (41)

yathā ca sa mahābāhurmāṅ tārayati rāghavaḥ | asmāddhuḥkhāmbusaṅrōdhāttvaṅ samādhātumarhasi || 42

"'You must make efforts to ensure that Rama rescues me from this great flood of sorrow.'" (42)

imaṅ ca tīvraṅ mama śōkavēgaṅ

rakṣōbhirēbhiḥ paribhartsanaṅ ca | brūyāstu rāmasya gatassamīpam śivaśca tē.dhvāstu haripravīra || 43

"'You must also report this intense rush of my grief and the threats from these Rakshasas when you go to Rama. May your path be safe, O haripravīra.'" (43)

ētattavāryā nṛparājasiṅha sītā vacaḥ prāha viṣādapūrvam | ētacca buddhvā gaditaṅ mayā tvaṅ śraddhatsva sītāṅ kuśalāṅ samagrām || 44

"O Rama, your noble wife Sita Devi spoke these words, which were filled with sorrow. Having understood this and heard my full report, you should now believe that Sita is safe and accounted for." (44)

ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde saptaṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ