|| om tat sat||

Sundarakanda
Sarga 67

Tattvadipika
"सीतां कुशलां समग्रां"

"सीतां कुशलां"
means Sita is well and safe.
"That is clear from my detailed briefing".
That is Hanuma's central message to Rama.

Responding to Rama's query about
"मधुरा मधुरालापा",
his sweet wife who speaks sweet words,
who is in confinement under the guard of Rakshasa women,
Hanuma, the "सीतावृत्तांतकोविदः",
the expert on Sita's story, tells Rama.
" From the detailed briefing given by me
know that Sita is fine and safe".

Then Hanuma elaborates the story related by Sita,
the story of the crow in Chitrakoota.
He repeats all the queries of Sita.
He repeats the assurances he has given to Sita.
That is the story of this Sarga.

Now we hear that part in Valmiki's words.

The Sarga starts with the line,

"एवमुक्तस्तु हनुमान् राघवेण महात्मना।
सीताया भाषितं सर्वं न्यवेदयत राघवे"॥

Thus, asked by Raghava,
Hanuman related everything that was said by Sita.

Hanuma says,
'Oh, Bull among men!
Divine Janaki related to me an incident of the past
that occurred on the Chitrakuta as a token of identification'.

' Once she was sleeping in your company.
Then she woke up early when a crow came swiftly and scratched her breast.
Rama, then you woke up and again slept in her lap.
The bird again started hurting her.
The crow came and repeatedly scratched her.
Then being wetted by dripping blood, you woke up'.

'Oh, Scorcher of enemies!
Troubled by the crow repeatedly,
the divine lady woke you up'.

'Oh, Strong armed one!
Seeing her scratched breasts, furious like a hissing serpent you said,
"Oh, Timid one! Who scratched on your breasts with the tip of their nails?
Who is sporting with an enraged five hooded serpent?"

'Seeing all around,
you saw the crow with blood on its sharp nails,
standing in front of her'.

'Foremost among birds,
the crow is the son of Indra,
moving about all over the earth.
In speed he is equal to Vayu'.

'Oh, Strong armed one,
revered among the wise,
with anger in your eyes,
you made up your mind about the crow'.

'Taking a blade of grass from the mat,
you invoked it with powers of Brahma'.

'Then he blazed like the fire at the time of dissolution,
and hurtled towards the bird with all its powers.
You hurled the blazing blade of grass on the crow.
Then the blazing blade of grass followed the crow'.

'Abandoned by his father,
the great seers as well as Suras,
and having gone around the three worlds
he could not find a savior'.

'Oh, Destroyer of enemies!
That crow came back trembling,
and fell on the ground seeking your protection.
Then the Kakutstha with kindness saved the one,
who deserved to be killed.'

'Raghava! It was not possible to withdraw the divine weapon.
So, you struck the right eye of the crow instead.
Rama! Then the crow thus saved offered salutations to you
and Dasaratha and went back to its abode'.

Hanuma continued the story as narrated by Sita.

"Oh Raghava !
being of good conduct,
being the foremost among wielders of weapons,
being truthful and powerful,
why are you not using weapons against the Rakshasas"?

"It is not possible for Nagas, Gandharvas, Suras, Marut ganas,
or anybody else to face Rama in a battle".

"Oh, Valiant one!
If you have any concern for me
you will certainly slay Ravana
with sharp arrows in the battle immediately".

"Oh, Scorcher of enemies!
The best of men Rama or even Lakshmana with the orders of his brother,
why are they not protecting me?"

"The two tigers among men,
equal in power to Vayu and Agni,
being unassailable even to gods,
why are they neglecting me?

I must have done some sin.
No doubt. Even though capable,
the scorchers of enemies are not protecting me'.

Hearing those piteous words spoken with tears by Vaidehi,
I again spoke to the venerable lady.

'Oh, Divine lady! I swear to you Rama is full of grief.
With Rama full of sorrow, Lakshmana too is deeply afflicted.
Oh, Lovely lady! Fortunately, you have been found.
This is not the time for lamentation.
This moment you will see the end of grief'.

'The two princes, tigers among men, the blameless and mighty ones,
desirous of seeing you will burndown this Lanka to ashes.

'Oh, Best among women!
Furious Raghava, killing Ravana with all his relatives,
will certainly take you back to his city'.

'Oh, Blameless one!
You need to give a token of recognition
which Rama knows and which generates happiness'.
Oh, Powerful one! She looked in all directions,
untying this gem, which is worn on her hair,
from her clothes and gave it to me'.

'Foremost among Raghus!
Taking this gem for your sake,
bowing with my head to the venerable lady
I was getting ready to return.'

'The fair complexioned daughter of Janaka,
seeing me growing and getting ready for returning spoke again.
With a face filled with tears, piteous, with words drenched with tears,
concerned with my departure, shedding tears she said the following'.

'Oh Hanuman!
Tell both Rama and Lakshmana, the two lions among men
as well as Sugriva along with all his ministers about my welfare.
You can make the arrangements so that
Raghava with powerful arms can save me from the ocean of sorrows.

'Oh, best of Vanaras, go to Rama.
Tell him about the intensity of my great sorrow,
as well as the threats from the Rakshasas.
Let your journey be speedy and auspicious'.

'Oh, Lion among Kings,
venerable Sita spoke these sorrowful words.
"What all has been said by me, that let him know".
Oh, Rama, Sita is safe in all respects. Have faith'.

Thus, ends the Sarga sixty-seven of Sundarakanda in Ramayan.

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