By Kambar (Kavichakravarthy Kamban)
Translated in English by P. R Ramachander
Kamba Ramayanam-Sundara Kandam 5 (Padalam 14)
14. ,Thiruvadi thozhutha Padalam Chapter on saluting the divine feet.
(Hanuman crosses the sea, rests in Mainaka mountain and meets Angadha and the army of monkeys. He told them in brief about what happened in Lanka. Though he did not tell them about the war, the monkeys could make a good guess about it. They request Hanuman to proceed with speed and Meet Rama. Hanuman meets Rama and salutes the Southern side where lady Sita is there. Then he narrates her pitiable condition and also gives her brooch to Rama. They all start towards Lanka and reach the southern sea. In Valmiki Ramayana, Hanuman does not rest in Mainaka .Angadha feels that they should fight with Ravana. Jambavan dissuades him. All the monkeys go together to meet Rama. In the middle they destroy the Madhu vana of Sugreeva . Hanuman does not salute the southern direction first but tells in great detail about condition of Sita.)
6007 . With a determination that he would leave Lanka with great speed,He who was like Sun God, reached a peak of a mountain near Lanka ,Assumed a mega form like Lord Vishnu who swallowed everything ,And after saluting in his mind the divine feet of Rama ,Who is a valorous hero from Raghu clan and went speedily through the sky.
6008. That Hanuman who was like an elephant with a trunk , reached,The mountain called Mainaka , informed all news about Lanka ,And with in a very short time jumped on the hill where ,For a long time Angadha and others were anxiously waiting for his arrival,Who were valorous like the serpent with raised hood ,and where,The honey dripping punnai flowers which could be picked easily were there, were waiting for him.
6009. Those victorious monkey warriors who were wailing , understood ,That the job for which Hanuman went was accomplished and became extremely happy,And like the kids of birds in the cage becoming happy on seeing their mother bird,Became happy and assumed a vey happy looks.
6010. Some of those monkeys cried on seeing Hanuman , some of them,Stood before him and shouted with joy , some came near and saluted him,Some jumped and danced, some surrounded him as if they are going to swallow him,Some of them hugged him and some others lifted him and danced carrying him.
6011. Some monkeys addressing Hanuman told ,”Oh great one ,Your exuberant and happy face shows us that you have ,Brought good news and so even earlier we have collected tasty,Honey as well as root for you. Please eat them and get rid of your tiredness,”And then they brought all the leafy food which they eat with desire.
6012. Those monkey warriors saw very large number of wounds on Hanuman’s,Feet, chest , shoulders and head caused by the enemy Rakshasas, using ,Their sword , spears , rain of arrows by splitting his body m, which were beyond counting,And again and again seeing those wounds in proper order they left deep breath as if they are dying.
6013. Hanuman saluted Angadha the son of Vali , saluted Jambavan, the king of bears,And later doing proper respect to all others as per their merit , sat in a nearby place,And told them, “I am informing all of you who are here ,The blessings of the consort of the clan chief Rama wishing you well.”
6014. When Hanuman told like this they all stood up and with saluting hands mAnd with a low bow , with a desire to stand erect they said looking at Hanuman,“Oh very strong one , “Please tell . all events from the time that you started from here,And till you came back and hearing that Hanuman started telling.
6015. , That Hanuman blessed with masculinity told them clearly ,In words they can understand the penance of chastity of Lady Sita,Told how he got the brooch that she was wearing as her identity,And feeling shy did not talk about his own valour and his fight ,With those Asuras who had long swords and about,His burning the entire city of Lanka.
6016. Those monkey warriors told him, “Even without your telling ,The wounds in your body does tell us about your fighting the war there,And your look also told us about the victory that you achieved there.The huge smoke told us about your setting fire to Lanka,And we understood the power and prowess of the enemies there,By the fact that Lady Sita did not return with you “ and they ,Asked “What should be done by us at this juncture?”
6017. They all unanimously decided that “ there is no need to think any further,And what they should immediately do was to speedily go and inform,Rama about seeing of his divine wife and remove the great sorrow,Which was difficult to remove from his mind “ and so,They decided the proper thing would be to go from there ,And immediately got up and departed.
6018. Those monkeys told Hanuman, “Oh great hero who saved all of us ,Who merit affection from you , The number of days set to search,Lady Sita has been exceeded and the army which waiting here ,For your arrival became greatly sad and are not capable to travel with speed,And so to remove the sorrow , you alone go with great speed ?”,Hanuman agreed to that and speedily travelled to the place Rama was there.
6019. That very intelligent emissary , after completing a job, which would be ,Difficult even for Lord Shiva with a trident to do, was returning ,And we have told all that happened in Lanka to our best of ability,And from now on we will tell happenings to Rama in Kishkinda.
6020. Whenever Lord Rama with red eyes fainted due to sorrow,Of Parting with Sita , Sugreeva , the son of Sun God who was in the mountains with clouds .Would tell appropriate words to console him and Lord Rama ,Like a man with many souls again was seen like one who got back life.
6021. Those who jumped and went to three directions without any blockages Came back with a firm news that they could not see Lady Sita making Rama who felt that being alive he was feeling sorry but he kept himself alive ,Putting all the hopes on the very strong Hanuman .
6022. The gentleman Rama who was drowning in the ocean of sorrow,Looked at Sugreeva , the son of Sun God said, “ our efforts have not borne fruits,And has ended with never ending bad name to us”. And said the following.
6023. ”Oh Sugreeva with good character, Hanuman and other monkeys,Who have gone to southern direction in search of Sita with scented black hairs,In spite of the time fixed by us is past , have not returned so far,What could have happened ro those valorous ones who have gone to search? Have they died?”
6024. ,”Thinking that she has died and feeling that instead of telling ,The news of her to death to Rama , they might have preferred to die.Have Hanuman and others dead already? Or are they ,Still spending their time in searching in further places?”
6025. ”Did they find out Ravana and others and due to increasing anger ,Started a huge war with them and were killed by their illusion ?Or have they been put in a prison where there is no release?”
6026. ”Did they think that we have exceeded the time limit fixed for us,And have not reached back the place of Rama, and being scared ,Of reaching here back , sacrificing the feelings of joy and sorrow ,Are they doing difficult penance ? what other thing happened to them? Please tell.” Said Rama.
6027. When Rama was asking Sugreeva like this , Hanuman was seen by them,As if the Sun God has arisen in the south and the matchless Rama ,With pretty and big hands , with a pleased mind looked properly.”
6028. Hanuman reached that place and without saluting the Divine feet of Rama,Who was wearing the heroic anklets , He saluted the goddess Sita ,Who left living on a lotus flower and has been born in this earth,Towards the southern side where she was there , by falling on earth,With his head and hands touching the earth and praised Sita lying there.
6029. The intelligent Rama who could easily understand the truth by body language ,After seeing the actions of Hanuman with great care and after understanding them,Knew that Sita on whose hair bees live is in a god condition and with determination,And that Hanuman has seen her personally and her chastity is well preserved.
6030. Realizing that the actions of Hanuman there, is the suitable measure ,To understand the welfare of Lady Sita , Rama with his great wisdomClearly understood it and with joy his shoulders increased in size,His lotus like eyes shed tears of joy , his great sorrow deserted him,And the love that he had towards Sita also increased.
6031. ,Hanuman looked at Hanuman and said in summarized form to him , “Oh chief of devas ,In Lanka which is the city of south which is surrounded by ocean,Which had clear and curling tides, I saw by my eyes Lady Sita ,Who is an ornament to chastity and so please remove from your mind ,That doubt whether she would have retained her chastity,And also remove all the sorrow from your mind” and again started telling in detail.
6032. ”Oh Lord , my great Goddess who is your consort is perfectly suitable,To the position of your great wife , The daughter in law of Dasaratha ,Who was your father and being the dear daughter of Janaka , the king of Mithila,Be pleased to hear what I have to say further.”
6033. ”Anything which is similar to Gold is gold itself and nothing else ,And similarly she is who is like herself is herself and not any one else,She stands great in patience and has given you the fame that ,Except you who is her husband , there is no one similar to you,And also gave me who am simple, That there is no one except me who is like me.”
6034. ”Sita who is my mother has made your clan to be known by your name,And the clan of Janaka in which she is born alone to be known by her name,And would give the clan of the cruel Rakshasa Ravana to God of death,And made the clan of devas to live happily and made my clan known by my name ,What other great act can that divine lady do anything more?”
6035. Oh valorous one with great shoulders who holds the great bow , in the city of Lanka ,Which is on a top of a mountain and is surrounded by ocean with ebbing water ,I did not see that lady Sita living and doing the very great penance of chastity.But what I saw was her birth in great lineage , the character of great patience ,And the great quality of chastity which were dancing together there.
6036. ”You are in the eyes of that lady at all times and always and also in her mind,You are there in each and every word that she utters and you are inThe incurable wounds created above her breasts by the great and cruel God of love ,Who without stopping sends his flower arrows at her and ,Would it be proper to say that she is separated from her.”
6037. ”Oh Lord That lady who is the form of penance which did penance is living ,In the hermitage made by your younger brother which is placed,In one side of the city of Lanka , in the garden with golden Karpaga trees ,Where there is no difference between the day and night .”
6038. “People say that “The Lord Brahma who was born on the lotus flower On the belly of Lord Vishnu ,Has cursed him that if he touches a lady forcefully against her desire ,He would die with his body divided in to several pieces in an unimaginable way,”And due to being scared to touch the pure and holy body of your chaste wife ,He had carried her away along with the hermitage without touching her.”
6039. ”Please realize the truth that he has not touched her by observing,That the world created by Lord Brahma has not broken down ,The hood along with the heads of Adhi Sesha has not been torn ,the ocean raising up has not entered the earth , Sun , moon,And other shining stars have not fallen down and got destroyed ,And Vedas and the life recommended By the Vedas have not been destroyed Which are all true .
6040. ”Due to greatness of the chastity of Sita who is sad ,Having been forced to part with you , she has attained the greatness,Which makes her suitable to be saluted by all including.The wives of Devas and Goddess Uma who resides in half of Shiva,Became eligible to occupy the head of that lord and Goddess Lakshmi,Who sits on the lotus flower is now not suitable to occupy his chest,But became eligible to occupy on his thousand heads.”
6041. ”I searched all over Lanka , reached the palace of Ravana and generally,Saw all ladies wearing golden ear globes and later entered in that moving cool garden,And I saw there the Goddess like Lady Sita and saw her,Through my white eyes which were filled with tide of tears.
6042. ”Innumerable Rakshasis as well as fearful crowd of ghosts ,Were guarding her so that she did not have a chance to escape ,And that lady Sita who drove away her fear due to her love towards you,Was alone and it looked as if “mercy” has taken The form of a lady and sitting there in that cruel prison .”
6043. ”When I was waiting for an opportune moment to salute her ,That Ravana who was wearing a garland and holding a bow,Came there and begged her in very many ways and saluted her.Lady Sita did not stand up and replied to him with very harsh words ,And hearing that , Ravana became angry and wanted to kill Sita.”
6044. ”Oh lord, then the strength of her chastity , the greatness of your grace ,And Dharma with its greatness protected the soul of Lady Sita ,And That Ravana ordering the Rakshasis to advice her in general ,Went to his place and due to my reciting a powerful chant all those Rakshasis slept.”
6045. “At that time that Sita deciding to give up her great life ,Took hold of a creeper and tied it on a branch of a tree ,And before she could put that noose on her neck ,The poor me , for stopping that went and saluted her feet,And went on chanting your name.”
6046. ”That Sita who had rain like tears from her cool eyes on her pretty and tender breasts ,Hearing me chant your name suspected that it was done by deceitful Rakshasas,And said to me with joy “You have great mercy on me and by repeating the name,Of the black coloured Rama , you are giving me happiness in the other world.”
6047. ”Oh Lord , I then told in a clear manner the identifying incidents ,That were told by you and after verifying them , she understood that,There is no lie in my mind and when I showed her your signet ring ,She thought that it was like a medicine preventing death at time of death.”
6048. “Oh Lord who has all types of wealth , within a very short span of time,I saw two very contradictory events and they were , That Lady Sita,Kept the signet ring given by me on her great breasts and ,Due to the heat caused by parting with you, that ring got melted,And due to the joy in understanding what I told, it became solid again.”
6049. ,”That Sita after getting the ring from me , thinking that it has lost its purity ,By coming to the country of cruel cheaters , using rain like tears from her eyes,Washed it just like it was with thousand pots of divine water, became sad ,And kept quiet not being able to telling me anything . Her thin body,Became puffed up and due to surprise she did not close her eyes and left out a deep breath.”
6050. ”Oh Lord then I who am your slave told all your news after she parted with you,In a very clear manner and told her, “Oh peacock like lady , since Rama did not know,Where you were , it became so long “ and also told her how sorrowing ,You were after parting from her and hearing that , she left out a painful breath.”
6051. “After hearing the state of affairs here as they unfolded ,She clearly told me , about all the happenings that happened there ,And told , “I would keep my life for one month only and if my lord,Does not want to save me by that time I would destroy my life”And acted as if she was saluting your divine feet.”
6052. That Hanuman who would remain famous as long as Vedas , Sastras ,Good books and count of time remains , after saluting the feet of Sita from there,Took the Brooch of Sita which was greater than any gem in the world ,Which he had tied to his cloth and said, “She took this and gave me in my hand,With happiness”, and Said, “Oh very able one , please see this ,So that your lotus like eyes would be filled with joy” and gave it to Rama.
6053.That brooch which entered in to the hands of Rama and to him,It looked like the pretty hand of Sita which was held by him,At the time of marriage in front of the fire and due to that ,The love that was generated in his body slowly grew ,His body became hot and his depression vanished.
6054. His hairs vibrated, eyes shed copious tears , chest and shoulder shook with joy,His body was covered with sweat , the pretty lips folded inside ,With his soul coming in his body became slightly fat,And who is there who can understand that state of Rama?
6055. Then the son of Sun God Sugreeva looked at Rama and told him,“Oh lord as soon as we know that Lady Sita is in a suitable position ,To be brought here “ and Rama told him” It looks you are ,Unnecessarily wasting time “ and as soon as he told that ,Sugreeva who had pillar like shoulders got up and started ordering.
6056. Sugreva told, By the time I say “A” , let all the terrible armies ,Should start from here.” And those who play the drums of victory,Played on huge drums in all places where the army was camped ,And those seventy Vellam of monkey army spread like ,The ocean with fast moving tides towards the southern direction.
6057. All those monkey warriors who speedily departed with Hanuman,Wearing the long heroic anklet telling them about the victorious Rakshasas,Who were cruel and were guarding day and night the city of Lanka,Which was on top of the mountain called Trikuta and,About the fort and security structures around that great city ,And they covered the long way to that place easily.
6058. Due their way being long , along with the king of the monkeys ,Rama and Lakshmana who were following good path, went ahead, And Those willing army of monkeys which accompanied them,After spending the day time in long sweet gardens on the mountains,Saw the ocean on the south on the twelfth day.
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About Kavichakravarthy Kamban
Historians place him in the 9th century CE, But surely Kamban belongs to the third great wave of Tamizh literature that started with the Sangam period (dated before the Common Era), followed by the widespread impact of Bhakti literature of the Alwars (vaishnavite saints) & Nayanamars (shaivaite saints). Kamban Authored Ramanaya in Tamil…Known as Kamba Ramayanam..
Kambar has been the milestone for the Tamil scholars that none had reached. He was also known as “Kamba Naatazhvar” at his time. Many Tamil authors from the modern world have written the books on the poet Kamban.
FAQs
Kambar or Kavichakravarthy Kamban (1180–1250) was a medieval Tamil poet and the author of the Ramavataram, popularly known as Kambaramayanam, the Tamil version of the epic Ramayana.
Valmiki Ramayana and Kamba Ramayanam are two versions of Ramayana written in the Sanskrit and Tamil languages respectively. … Kamba Ramayanam is originally called as Ramavataram. Although Valmiki Ramayana is the original version of the story of Rama, Kamba Ramayana is believed to be based on the work by Valmiki.
The Kamba Ramayanam, is a Tamil epic that was written by the Tamil poet Kambar during the 12th century. Based on Valmiki’s Ramayana (which is in Sanskrit), the story describes the life of King Rama of Ayodhya.
The book is divided into six chapters, called Kandam in Tamil. The Kandams are further divided into 123 sections called Padalam (படலம்) in Tamil. These 123 sections contain approximately 12,000 verses of the epic.