|| om tat sat||

Sundarakanda
Sarga 65

Tattvadipika
'प्रणम्य शिरसादेव्यै '

'प्रणम्य शिरसा देव्यै ' means
"bowing with head to Devi"
.
Every time he was asked to narrate the events in Lanka,
Hanuma bows in the direction of Sita,
then narrates the events that happened.
This time it is addressed to Rama.

Rama wanted to hear about Sita.
So, this time we hear from Hanuma only about Sita.

We do not hear about the, "दुष्करं", difficult tasks,
accomplished by Hanuma during his flight across the ocean.

We do not hear about Mainaka and Surasa.

This is a story told by Hanuma, free of ego.
This is indicative of Hanuma's awareness.
Telling precisely what is required to be told.

We will also not hear about,
the destruction of Ashokvan as well as Madhuvan.

The destruction of these two groves has another echo.
That is in the context of uniting of Jivatma with Paramatma.

Both the groves are places of pleasure.
These two are on the two shores of the ocean.
The northern shore and the southern shore.

The pleasures of this world are seen in Lanka.
To attain a human life and using it for pleasure leads to fruitless life.

The pleasures of Madhuvan are like the pleasures of the heavens,
after enjoying which the one returns to the life cycle again.
Thus, stuck in the life cycle of birth and death.

Only when the pleasures of this earth and
the pleasures of heaven are abandoned,
the "Mumukshu" the Seeker is ready for liberation.

One reaches the Supreme being,
only when these two pleasures are destroyed,

Hanuma reaching Rama,
after destroying these two places of pleasure,
is indicative of this truth.

One more thing.

Vanaras reach Prasravana mountain with Angada in the front,
They pay obeisance to Rama, Lakshmana and Sugriva,
Then they tell Rama about Sita.
They tell about the threats of the Rakshasis.
They tell about the ultimatum given by Ravana.

एतदाख्यान्ति ते सर्वे हरयोरमसन्निधौ ।(65.3)|
This was a narration was by all the "Vanaras".
Not by Hanuma who successfully completed the search.
Here we see the selfless attitude of Hanuma.

Then Rama asks more specifically about Sita.

Valmiki calls Hanuma "सीतावृत्तांत कोविदः"
"सीतावृत्तांत कोविदः " means the one who knows all about Sita.
That is Hanuma.

So now Vanaras ask Hanuma to step forward,
He is to tell Ram about Sita.
Now we hear Hanuma narrate the story again.

'Having crossed hundred Yojana wide ocean,
I arrived on the other shore of the ocean.
There on the southern shores of the sea is the city by name Lanka,
ruled by the evil minded Ravana.'

'Oh Rama! There in the harem of Ravana,
I saw Sita living with her mind fixed on you.
I saw her surrounded by Rakshasis,
in the beautiful garden protected by ugly looking Rakshasis.
She was being threatened again and again'.

'The divine lady with her mind filled with grief,
not deserving to experience such sorrow,
detained in the Ravana's harem was luckily found by me'.

'Wearing her hair in one plait, absorbed in your thoughts,
piteous, sleeping on the ground,
limbs turned pale like the lotus in the winter,
Sita was averse to Ravana and is determined to give up her life.
Even in such difficulty, she was having you alone in her mind'.

'Oh, Sinless one! Softly singing the praises of the Ikshwakus
I inspired confidence in her.
Then the divine lady spoke.
I presented everything to her including the friendship of Rama and Sugriva.
Hearing that the virtuous Sita whose devotion is fixed in you became delighted '.

'Oh, bull among men,
thus, richly endowed with austerities,
imbued with devotion to you,
the delight of Janaka was seen by me'.

'Oh, Wise one!
She told me the story of the crow in the Chitrakuta,
as a token of your recognition'
.
Janaki told me " oh Son of wind god!
Rama the tiger among men shall be told all that you have seen here.
These words shall be told within the hearing of Sugriva.
Present this that has been protected by me'.

"This auspicious Chudamani was preserved by me carefully.
Remind him of the decorative red mark
he painted with stone pigment on my forehead.
It is appropriate to remind him of this".

"Oh, Sinless one! the auspicious jewel sent to you,
born in ocean was my solace.
Seeing the same I was feeling happy as if I saw you".

"Oh, Son of Dasaratha!
I will be living for one month.
Coming under their control I will not live beyond a month".

'The lady with emaciated limbs,
following a virtuous life,
detained in the harem of Ravana,
eyes wide open like a deer in fear said this to me'.

' Oh, Rama I have told everything that happened.
We have to pay attention to crossing the ocean'.

Realizing that the two princes are sighing in relief,
Hanuma presented the token.
Then he told everything in full in an orderly manner.
Thus, ends the Sarga sixty-five of Sundarakanda in Ramayana

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