|| om tat sat||

Sundarakanda
Sarga 38

Tattvadipika
"इदं श्रेष्ठं अभिज्ञानं"

In response to Sita describing a course action appropriate for Rama saying
"तत् तस्य सदृशं"
" that is appropriate for him"
Hanuma praises her reply and says, -
" तत् ते सदृशं",
"That is just so appropriate coming from you".

Thus, in the thirty seventh Sarga Sita declines Hanuma's offer.
The offer was to carry her on his back and unite her with Rama.
Sita agreed that Hanuma can kill all the Rakshasas.
Hanuma can carry her back too.
But then she said that if that were to happen,
"राघवस्य यशो हीयेत्'।
Raghava's fame will be affected.
So, she says it is more appropriate that,
Rama comes to Lanka, defeats Ravana and takes her back.
She added that her vow of being a devoted wife too will be affected,
if she follows Hanuma's suggestion
As a last word she tells Hanuma.
"Oh, Hanuma make Rama come to Lanka,
and make me happy"
"कुरुष्व मां वानरमुख्य हर्षितां" -

" Oh Best of Vanaras make me happy ".

Although she declined his offer,
realizing that Sita's reasoning is appropriate,
Hanuma speaks to her again.

The 38th Sarga starts with Hanuma's reply.

'युक्तरूपं त्वया देवि भाषितं.' (38.2)
'Oh Devi! What you said is proper,
It is appropriate for a woman's nature.
It is appropriate for the nature of a virtuous woman.
Climbing up on my back and crossing hundred Yojana wide ocean,
that is not possible for a woman.'
'Oh Janaki! The second reason, which you told is that,
other than Rama you cannot touch another person.
Oh Devi! This is indeed appropriate for the wife of the great soul.
Indeed, other than you who else can say such words.
Oh Devi! Whatever you have done or said in front of me will be heard by the scion of Kakutstha.'

Now Hanuma must go back and inform Rama.
So, Hanuma asks Sita for a token of having seen Sita.
'अभिज्ञानं प्रयच्च त्वं
जानीयात् राघवो हि तत्।'
'Give me a remembrance that Rama will recognize'.

Having been asked by Hanuma,
Sita still in tears and a low voice tells him.
'इदं श्रेष्ठं अभिज्ञानं'
'This is the best remembrance'.
'श्रेष्ठं' - रहस्य वृत्तांतत्वत् ऎवम् अन्य अज्ञातत्वात् - श्रॆष्ठं
It is the best from the point of view of being not known to others.
Sita tells Hanuma.
'I will tell you that which is known to my lord,
you may convey the same to him'.

Then she narrates the story.
Sita narrates it as though she is addressing Rama.

'Earlier in the northeast part of Chitrakuta mountain,
there is a Siddhasrama at its foot,
not too far from river Mandakini,
where we were living as ascetics in the hermitages.

'Those gardens were with variety of fragrant flowers
After sporting in the waters, I was resting in your lap'.

'Then a crow came with piece of meat,
and was pecking with its beak.
I took a piece of earth and was warding him off.
The crow, hungry for food,
being an eater of offerings,
then went around and came back with an intent for more'.

'She tried pecking at me as I warded him off.
While I was pulling up my waist string as the cloth was slipping,
I was seen by you.'

'Embarrassed and angry at being laughed at,
and torn by the voracious bird,
I sought you.
I sat on your lap again.
Being angry I was happily pacified by you'.

'Oh Lord angered by the crow,
face filled with tears, slowly wiping them I was noticed by you'

'Due to exhaustion I too slept in the lap of Raghava.
In turn the Bharata's elder slept in my lap.
Then that crow again came back to that place.
It came quickly clawed between my breasts, as I woke up from Rama's lap.
Then the crow flying in again repeatedly clawed at me'.

'Then, the happily sleeping Illustrious scorcher of foes
was awakened by the dripping drops of blood.
Rama saw me being forcibly tormented by the crow.
The Rama of powerful arms, seeing me wounded in the breasts, was angered.
Hissing like a serpent, he spoke these words.

'Oh, Lady whose thighs shine like elephant trunk!
by whom is your breast wounded?
Who is sporting with the five hooded snake?
Then looking around he saw the crow,
standing with blood stained nails, facing me only'.

'Eminent among birds that crow is said to be the son of Indra.
He covered long distance in one movement with speed of wind god.
Then the best among the wise, with powerful arms,
with eyes rolling in anger, made up his mind about the cruel crow'.

'Then taking out a blade of grass from the Dharbha mat,
he invoked the weapon of Brahma.
It blazed like the fire at the time of dissolution, glowed towards the bird.
He then threw the glowing Dharbha towards the crow.
Then that Dharbha followed the crow across the skies.'

'Then, the crow being thus followed, went around the whole universe.
He, having gone around the three worlds,
rejected by his father, the sages and all the gods too,
came back to seek your protection'.

'That Kakutstha, the savior who saves those who seek refuge,
saved the crow, fallen on the ground,
seeking refuge even through it deserves to be killed'.

'Rama spoke to the one who sought his protection,
'The weapon of Brahma cannot be in vain. That you tell me'.
Then the crow gave his right eye and saved his own life.
He, having paid obeisance to Rama and the king Dasaratha,
permitted to leave,
then went back to his abode'.

This is the remembrance being told by Sita.

The message in this story is clear.
Sita is effectively saying,
'Oh, Rama like the crow, I also deserve protection'.
She conveys that as her message.

'Oh King! For my sake, weapon of Brahma was released on the crow.
Why are you excusing him who abducted me?
Oh, Bull among men! with great love, show compassion on me.
Oh Lord! Having a protector yet I appear like an orphan'.

'Kindness, supreme, righteousness was heard by me from you only.
You are heroic, vigorous, boundless, never to be stirred, deep like an ocean,
lord of the earth and sea, you are equal to Vasava'.

'Oh, Raghava! Being the best of users of weapons, truthful and powerful,
why are you not using the weapons against the Rakshasas?
Neither Nagas, Gandharvas, Suras,
Nor Maruts can match the speed of Rama to hit back in a battle.
If the hero of great discipline has even a little anxiety about me
then with sharp arrows why not destroy the Rakshasas'.

'The scorcher of enemies, powerful warrior Lakshmana,
for what reason he is not coming to my rescue, taking order from his brother.
The two tigers among men, resembling fire and wind, unassailable even for gods,
why are they disregarding me?
Some great sin has been committed by me.
There is no doubt.
Although capable scorcher of enemies, they are not delivering me (from my troubles)'.

शित चल्लेद् हेर्सेल्फ़् "अल्प पुण्या" etc. and said,
'कीदृशं पापं पुरा जन्मांतरे कृतं'
'What kind of sin I might have committed in my earlier life'.
She blamed herself earlier and says the same to Hanuma too
In the blame she attributes for herself, we have another echo.

The devotees who believe that the Supreme one is the only one,
do not resort to blaming him for their misfortune.
They will acknowledge the difficulties are a result of their actions.
They believe that they must go through the consequences to reach their destination.
Sita too, in blaming herself, is showing us the same path.

Thinking of the sins she may have committed
Sita says 'किंचि महत् अस्ति'
meaning that she must have committed a big sin.

Elaborating on that Appalacharyulu garu says the following.
Impropriety against Bhagavan is a sin.
Impropriety against follower of Bhagavan is a bigger sin.

When Rama was to leave for the forests to uphold his father's words,
Sita wants to follow Rama to the forests.
She gives many reasons why she should be allowed.
While pleading her case Sita says in her anger,
'If my father Janaka come to know that you have not taken your wife to forests,
he may think that a woman came in disguise and married his daughter!'
This taunt, though in anger, is an impropriety.
An impropriety against Bhagavan.
It is quite simply a Sin.

Again, while they were in the forests,
Rama goes after golden deer and kills the same.
Maricha in his dyeing moments says, 'OH Sita! Oh Lakshmana', in Rama's voice.
Then Sita forces Lakshmana to go for rescue of Rama, using very harsh language.
That is an impropriety against the follower of Bhagavan.
That is a greater impropriety.
Sita realizes that she is reaping the corresponding bondage.

Hearing those sorrowful words of Vaidehi,
Hanuma spoke as follows.

'Oh Devi! Rama is in deep sorrow because of you.
He is averse to doing anything.
I vouch for the truth.
Rama being immersed in sorrow, Lakshmana too wails.
Now that somehow you have been found,
this is not the time for sorrowing.
Oh, blameless lady, this moment you are seeing the end of your sorrows'.

Hanuma continues.
'The two tigers among men, powerful are anxious to see you.
The two princes will reduce the Lanka to ashes.
Oh, wide eyed lady!
Raghava along with his relatives after killing evil Ravana, will take you to his city'.

'O Devi! tell me the message for mighty Raghava, the powerful Lakshmana,
the brilliant Sugriva and all other Vanaras gathered there'.
Thus asked, Sita who is like a divine lady,
immersed in sorrow spoke to Hanuma.

'For my sake bowing the head, ask the well-being of him,
who is the lord of the worlds whom Kausalya bore'.

Here while giving her message, she addresses Rama as,
'लोकभर्तारम्', a protector of the world.
What we hear in that is a loud request.
'Oh, protector of the world I too deserve your protection'.
Sita's salutations envelop that request for protection.

Believing in the Supreme one bows to the God thinking,
'I am not for myself; I am yours',
Then it is god who takes you to the other shore.
Here Sita is doing that.

Sita continues and has many words for Lakshmana

'Lakshmana who is dear to Rama,
who is always dear to me,
the heroic Lakshmana who will discharge whatever task assigned to him,
seeing whom for support, Rama does not miss the noble one,
for my sake with my words enquire about his welfare'.

'Oh, best of Vanaras act in such a manner that
Lakshmana who is soft, pure, competent and dear to Rama,
can mitigate my suffering.
You are a competent in accomplishing this task'.

Having said everything,
Sita leaves the task of getting it done with Hanuma.
Hanuma is doer in uniting Rama and Sita.
Hanuma as the Guru/Acharya is the one responsible for the unification.
Unification of Jivatma with Paramatma.

Sita continues.

'By your efforts alone Raghava will try for my release.
You tell these words to my husband powerful Rama again and again'.

'Oh, son of Dasaratha I will live for one more month.
Beyond this month I will not live.
I am telling you the truth.
Oh Hero! From the insulting imprisonment by Ravana
you can rescue me like Kausika was rescued from the underworld'.

Then Sita took out the divine Chudamani tied up in her clothes
and gave it to Hanuman to be given to Rama.
Then the hero Hanuman taking the excellent jewel placed it on his finger,
as it was not fitting his arm.

Then the best of Vanaras took the jewel.
He bowed to Sita and circumambulated her.
Hanuma delighted by having seen Sita stood there physically.
But he already reached Rama in his heart.

Having received the most precious jewel from the daughter of Janaka,
Hanuman prepared to return.
He was very much pleased like a mountain released from the impact of wind.

That is how the Sarga 38 ends.

|| om tat sat||
|| This is what we understood from Tattva Dipika of Shri Bhashyam, Appalacharyulu garu"||
|| om tat sat||