This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki”
Sixty-seventh Chapter
Informing the message of Sita.
(Hanuman again details the pitiable state of affairs of Sita. He also indicates the several doubts arising in her mind due to her not seeing any action from the part of Rama and Lakshmana.)
Having been told by Rama like this, Hanuman informed him the full message of Sita to Raghava the great Soul. 1
Hey great man, Janaki told me in detail the happenings in Chithra koota to rekindle your memory. 2
Once when she was in your company the well slept Janaki woke up first. Then One crow came and cruelly wounded her on her breast. 3
(There is another version which says that she was drying meat and the crow troubled her.)
Hey, elder brother of Bharatha, then you slept on her lap and again that bird caused pain to the holy lady. 4
Again and again it fell on her and wounded her. Then you were made wet because of her flowing blood and due to that you were woken up. 5
Hey, killer of the enemies, you who were in deep sleep were woken by repeated attacks of the bird on the holy lady , which caused you discomfort. 6
Hey great warrior, seeing that she has been wounded on her breast , you became very angry, and hissed like a snake and asked the holy lady thus. 7
Hey lady who is afraid, who has caused wounds on your breast by his nails. Who dares to play with the angry five headed snake? 8
Then you searched on all the four sides and saw the crow with blood coated nails in front of you. 9
That crow was the son of Indra. Among the birds he was equal in speed to the wind god and so he disappeared in to the earth immediately. 10
Hey greatest among the wise, Hey great warrior, having decided to punish him you took a cruel decision in case of the crow because of the great anger . 11
You took one grass from your grass(Durbha grass) seat and chanted the manthras of Brahmasthra and sent it at him. That which was meant for the bird burnt like the fire of hell. 12
You sent that burning and shining durbha against the crow .What to say, from that time that burning grass started chasing and following the crow. 13
It wandered all over the three worlds and was forsaken by sages, devas and even its father Indra and did not find any body to protect him. 14
Hey, Kakustha, Hey killer of enemies, the crow again came to your presence shivering with fear. You, who are very kind, saved the crow who beseeched for your mercy and fell at your feet though he deserved being killed. 15
Hey Raghava, You who are like that, understanding that the arrow cannot be sent in vain, destroyed the right eye of the crow. 16
Hey Rama, that crow after saluting you and the king Dasaratha and having been given leave went to his abode. 17
In spite of being the greatest of archers, being a great warrior, being a person of good conduct , why is he not sending those arrows in case of these Rakshasas.? 18
Neither the Nagas, nor the Gandharwas, nor Asuras, nor the Maruth Ganas, and nor even all of them joining together are capable of facing Rama in war. 19
If he who is a warrior has an iota of love towards me, he should have killed Ravana with his sharp arrows. 20
Why is it that Lakshmana who gives pain to his enemies, who has been born in the Raghu clan, not taking his brother’s permission and save me. 21
Why are they who are lion among men, having power similar to the wind and fire God, who have the strength and are capable of creating fear even among devas not bothering about me? 22
They who are capable, who are always victorious and always living together do not remember me. Because of this I feel that I should have done some very bad deed. There is no doubt about it. 23
Hearing these pitiable words said with tearful eyes, I told her again the following consoling words. 24
Hey holy lady, I take a truthful oath. Rama because of the sorrow caused because of parting with you has forsaken everything. Because Rama is drowned in sorrow Lakshmana is also sad. 25
Hey great lady, you have been found out by the grace of God. This is not the time for sorrow. You would be seeing the end of your sorrow immediately. 26
Those two princes who are blameless lion among men, with a desire to see you are going to turn Lanka in to ashes. 27
Hey lady who is the result of boons, it is very definite that Raghava is going to kill Ravana and his relations and going to take you to his city. 28
Rama has to understand the truth in this matter and so blameless one please give a memento which would increase his love. 29
Hey very strong one , then that a holy lady saw in all directions and took this ornament out of the hair , after untying it from her dress and gave it to me. 30
Hey chief of Raghu clan, after getting this holy jewel for your sake, I saluted her and was in a hurry to return back. 31
That daughter of Janaka who was in a pitiable state , seeing me increasing my size of the body with an intention to return became upset and drowned in sorrow as also with flowing tears all over her face told thus with stuttering due to tears. 32-33
Hey Hanuman, tell my welfare to Rama and Lakshmana who are like lions and king Sugreeva along with his ministers and others. 34
Raghava alone should help me to come out of the misery of this bondage from this ocean of sorrow and take suitable actions. 35
Hey chief among monkeys, please tell Rama as soon as you see him about my great sorrow and my being terrorized by these Rakshasis. Let your path for going back be without any problems. 36
Hey lion among kings, the lady Sita sends this message which I have told you and which indicates her great sorrow .Please do whatever is necessary having known her complete state of affairs. 37
Thus ends the sixty seventh chapter of Sundara Kanda which is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written by Valmiki.
Read Next
Chapter 68: Informing about how Sita was consoled