Part - 7 — Ancient Knowledge

Dialogue between Sītā and Hanumān

Sortas

kapi kari hṛdayaom bicāra dīnhi mudrikā ḍārī taba.
janu asōka aṃgāra dīnhi haraṣi uṭhi kara gahēu [5-11-12]

Then, taking thought within himself, Hanumān (the monkey chief) dropped down the signet ring, as though the Aśoka tree had thrown a spark (in response to Her prayer). She sprang up with joy and took it in Her hand.

Chaupais

taba dēkhī mudrikā manōhara. rāma nāma aṃkita ati suṃdara
cakita citava mudarī pahicānī. haraṣa biṣāda hṛdayaom akulānī [5-11-1]
jīti kō sakai ajaya raghurāī. māyā tēṃ asi raci nahiṃ jāī
sītā mana bicāra kara nānā. madhura bacana bōlēu hanumānā [5-11-2]
rāmacaṃdra guna baranaiṃ lāgā. sunatahiṃ sītā kara dukha bhāgā
lāgīṃ sunaiṃ śravana mana lāī. ādihu tēṃ saba kathā sunāī [5-11-3]
śravanāmṛta jēhiṃ kathā suhāī. kahi sō pragaṭa hōti kina bhāī
taba hanumaṃta nikaṭa cali gayaū. phiri baiṃṭhīṃ mana bisamaya bhayaū [5-11-4]
rāma dūta maiṃ mātu jānakī. satya sapatha karunānidhāna kī
yaha mudrikā mātu maiṃ ānī. dīnhi rāma tumha kahaom sahidānī [5-11-5]
nara bānarahi saṃga kahu kaisēṃ. kahi kathā bhai saṃgati jaisēṃ [5-11-6]

Now She saw the charming ring with the name of Śrī Rāma most beautifully engraved on it. Recognizing the ring She looked at it with wonder and was agitated at heart with a mixed feeling of joy and sorrow. " Who can conquer the invincible Lord of the Raghus and such a (divine) ring cannot be prepared through Māyā ( a conjuring trick)." As Sītā thus indulged in fancies of various kinds, Hanumān spoke in honeyed accents and began to recount Śrī Rāmacandra’s praises. The moment they reached Sītā’s ears Her grief took flight. She listened with all Her soul and ears while Hanumān narrated the whole story from the very beginning. “Wherefore does she who has told this tale, which is like nectar to my ears, not reveal herself?” Thereupon Hanumān drew near Her, while Sītā sat with her back turned towards him, full of amazement. “I am Śrī Rāma’s messenger, mother Jānakī: I solemnly swear by the all-merciful Lord Himself. This ring has been brought by me, O mother; Śrī Rāma gave it to me as a token for you.” “Tell me what brought about this fellowship between a man and a monkey.” Then Hanumān explained the circumstances in which a union was brought about between men and monkeys.

Obviously the orchard in which Sītā had been confined was open to the fair sex alone. Naturally, therefore, when She heard an unseen voice utter Śrī Rāma’s praises, She concluded that it must be some female.

Dohas

kapi kē bacana saprēma suni upajā mana bisvāsa
jānā mana krama bacana yaha kṛpāsiṃdhu kara dāsa [5-13]

As She heard the monkey’s affectionate words Her soul trusted him and She recognized him to be a servant of the all-merciful Lord in thought, word and deed.

Chaupais

harijana jāni prīti ati gāḍhaī. sajala nayana pulakāvali bāḍhaī
būḍata biraha jaladhi hanumānā. bhayau tāta mōṃ kahuom jalajānā [5-13-1]
aba kahu kusala jāuom balihārī. anuja sahita sukha bhavana kharārī
kōmalacita kṛpāla raghurāī. kapi kēhi hētu dharī niṭhurāī [5-13-2]
sahaja bāni sēvaka sukha dāyaka. kabahuomka surati karata raghunāyaka
kabahuom nayana mama sītala tātā. hōihahi nirakhi syāma mṛdu gātā [5-13-3]
bacanu na āva nayana bharē bārī. ahaha nātha hauṃ nipaṭa bisārī
dēkhi parama birahākula sītā. bōlā kapi mṛdu bacana binītā [5-13-4]
mātu kusala prabhu anuja samētā. tava dukha dukhī sukṛpā nikētā
jani jananī mānahu jiyaom ūnā. tumha tē prēmu rāma kēṃ dūnā [5-13-5]

Perceiving him to be a devotee of Śrī Hari She developed an intense affection for him. Her eyes filled with tears and a thrill ran through Her body. “To me who was being drowned in the ocean of desolation, dear Hanumān, you have come as a veritable bark. Now tell me, I adjure you, the welfare of all-blissful Śrī Rāma (the Slayer of Khara) and His younger brother (Lakṣmaṇa). Wherefore has the tender-hearted and compassionate Lord of the Raghus become so hard-hearted? Does the Chief of the Raghus ever remember me-He who is by natural disposition a source of delight to His servants ? Will my eyes, dear Hanumān, be ever gladdened by the sight of His swarthy and delicate limbs?” Words failed Her and Her eyes swam with tears. “Ah, my lord ! You have entirely forgotten me.” Seeing Sītā sore distressed due to Her separation from Her lord, Hanumān addressed Her in soft and polite accents: “The Lord and His younger brother (Lakṣmaṇa) are both doing well, mother, except for the fact that the all-merciful is sorrowful because of Your sorrow. Do not feel vexed at heart, mother; Śrī Rāma loves You twice as much as You love Him.

Dohas

raghupati kara saṃdēsu aba sunu jananī dhari dhīra.
asa kahi kapi gada gada bhayau bharē bilōcana nīra [5-14]

Mother, compose Yourself now and hear the message of Śrī Rāma (the Lord of the Raghus)." Even as he uttered these words, the monkey’s voice was choked with emotion and his eyes filled with tears.

Chaupais

kahēu rāma biyōga tava sītā. mō kahuom sakala bhaē biparītā
nava taru kisalaya manahuom kṛsānū. kālanisā sama nisi sasi bhānū [5-14-1]
kubalaya bipina kuṃta bana sarisā. bārida tapata tēla janu barisā
jē hita rahē karata tēi pīrā. uraga svāsa sama tribidha samīrā [5-14-2]
kahēhū tēṃ kachu dukha ghaṭi hōī. kāhi kahauṃ yaha jāna na kōī
tatva prēma kara mama aru tōrā. jānata priyā ēku manu mōrā [5-14-3]
sō manu sadā rahata tōhi pāhīṃ. jānu prīti rasu ētēnahi māhīṃ
prabhu saṃdēsu sunata baidēhī. magana prēma tana sudhi nahiṃ tēhī [5-14-4]
kaha kapi hṛdayaom dhīra dharu mātā. sumiru rāma sēvaka sukhadātā
ura ānahu raghupati prabhutāī. suni mama bacana tajahu kadarāī [5-14-5]

Śrī Rāma said: Ever since I have been separated from you, Sītā, everything to me has become its very reverse. The fresh and tender leaves on the trees look like tongues of fire; nights appear as dreadful as the night of final dissolution and the moon scorches like the sun. Beds of lotuses are like so many spears planted on the ground, while rain-clouds pour boiling oil as it were. Those that were friendly before have now become tormenting; the cool, soft and fragrant breezes are now like the breath of a serpent. One’s agony is assuaged to some extent even by speaking of it; but to whom shall I speak about it? For there is no one who will understand. The reality about the chord of love that binds you and me, dear, is known to my soul alone; and my soul ever abides with you. Know this to be the essence of my love." Videha’s Daughter was so absorbed in love the moment She heard the Lord’s message, that She lost all consciousness of Her body. Said the monkey, “Mother, collect Yourself, and fix Your thoughts on Śrī Rāma, the delight of His servants. Reflect on the glory of the Lord of the Raghus and shake off all faint-heartedness upon my word.”

Dohas

nisicara nikara pataṃga sama raghupati bāna kṛsānu.
jananī hṛdayaom dhīra dharu jarē nisācara jānu [5-15]

“The hosts of demons are like so many moths, while the shafts of the Lord of the Raghus are like flames. Have courage in Your heart, mother, and take the demons as consumed.”

Chaupais

jauṃ raghubīra hōti sudhi pāī. karatē nahiṃ bilaṃbu raghurāī
rāmabāna rabi uēom jānakī. tama barūtha kahaom jātudhāna kī [5-15-1]
abahiṃ mātu maiṃ jāuom lavāī. prabhu āyasu nahiṃ rāma dōhāī
kachuka divasa jananī dharu dhīrā. kapinha sahita aihahiṃ raghubīrā [5-15-2]
nisicara māri tōhi lai jaihahiṃ. tihuom pura nāradādi jasu gaihahiṃ
haiṃ suta kapi saba tumhahi samānā. jātudhāna ati bhaṭa balavānā [5-15-3]
mōrēṃ hṛdaya parama saṃdēhā. suni kapi pragaṭa kīnha nija dēhā
kanaka bhūdharākāra sarīrā. samara bhayaṃkara atibala bīrā [5-15-4]
sītā mana bharōsa taba bhayaū. puni laghu rūpa pavanasuta layaū [5-15-5]

Had the Hero of Raghu’s line any news about You, the Lord of the Raghus would not have tarried. The moment Śrī Rāma’s arrows make their appearance like the sun, the demon host would be scattered like the shadows of night. Mother, I would take You to Him this very moment; but, I swear by Rāma, I have no such orders from the Lord. Therefore, wait patiently for some days more, mother, till the Hero of Raghu’s line arrives with the troops of monkeys. Slaughtering the demons, He will take You away; while Nārada and the other sages will glorify Him in all the three spheres of creation." “But, my son, all the monkeys must be pygmies like you, whereas the demons are mighty and great warriors. I have grave misgivings in my heart on this score.” On hearing this the monkey revealed His natural form, colossal as a mountain of gold, terrible in battle, possessing great might and full of valour. Sītā now took comfort in Her heart and the son of the wind-god thereupon resumed his diminutive appearance.

Dohas

sunu mātā sākhāmṛga nahiṃ bala buddhi bisāla.
prabhu pratāpa tēṃ garuḍahi khāi parama laghu byāla [5-16]

“Listen, mother: monkeys possess no great strength or intelligence either; but, through the Lord’s might, the most tiny snake might swallow Garuḍa (the king of birds and the mount of Bhagavān Viṣṇu).”

Chaupais

mana saṃtōṣa sunata kapi bānī. bhagati pratāpa tēja bala sānī
āsiṣa dīnhi rāmapriya jānā. hōhu tāta bala sīla nidhānā [5-16-1]
ajara amara gunanidhi suta hōhū. karahuom bahuta raghunāyaka chōhū
karahuom kṛpā prabhu asa suni kānā. nirbhara prēma magana hanumānā [5-16-2]
bāra bāra nāēsi pada sīsā. bōlā bacana jōri kara kīsā
aba kṛtakṛtya bhayauom maiṃ mātā. āsiṣa tava amōgha bikhyātā [5-16-3]
sunahu mātu mōhi atisaya bhūkhā. lāgi dēkhi suṃdara phala rūkhā
sunu suta karahiṃ bipina rakhavārī. parama subhaṭa rajanīcara bhārī [5-16-4]
tinha kara bhaya mātā mōhi nāhīṃ. jauṃ tumha sukha mānahu mana māhīṃ [5-16-5]

Sītā felt gratified at heart even as She heard the monkey’s words full of devotion and revealing Śrī Rāma’s majesty, glory and strength. Recognizing him as the beloved of Śrī Rāma She gave him Her blessing: “May you become a repository of strength and virtue, dear child. May you ever remain immune from old age and death and prove to be a storehouse of good qualities, my son; and may the Lord of the Raghus shower His abundant grace on you.” The moment the words “May the Lord be gracious to you” reached his ears Hanumān was utterly overwhelmed with emotion. Again and again the monkey bowed his head at Her feet and with joined palms addressed Her thus: “I have now accomplished all that I had to accomplish, my mother; for your blessing, everyone knows, is unfailing. Listen, mother: I am feeling frightfully hungry at the sight of these trees laden with delicious fruits.” “I tell you, my son, this grove is guarded by most valiant and mighty demons.” “Mother, I am not at all afraid of them, only if I have your hearty approval.”