Shobhigamya mahaatmaanam krtvaa raamam pradakshinam
Nyavedaya dameyaatmaa drstha seeteti tattvatah
Meaning of the hymn- the wise Hanuman approached Rama, circumambulated him
and then said, “Seen have I Seeta”.
With loud roars of victory, the Vanaras under the leadership of Angada approached
Kishkinda. They greeted Sugriva and then went to the place where Rama was living.
Hanuman bowed down and offered his obeisance to Rama. The first word that
Hanuman said when he saw Rama was „Seen‟. He did not even say „Seeta‟ as the
first word. A deep lesson on how information is to be given and how one should
speak is embedded in this.
Hanuman then informed Rama that Seeta was strictly abiding by the rules of
Paativratya and that she was glowing with divine radiance. Hearing these auspicious
words from Hanuman, Rama, Lakshmana and Sugriva were overflowing with joy. The
grief on their faces was replaced with complete feelings of happiness.
Rama addressed the Vanaras and repeatedly enquired about the well being of Seeta.
He did not hesitate to ask again and again. When the news is good and auspicious,
we too seek to hear it again and again. At that time all the Vanaras pushed Hanuman
into the forefront and asked him to give the news in entirety.
Hanuman turned towards the south and offered his obeisance to Mother Seeta. He
then said, “O Lord. I leapt across the ocean that was about 100 yojanas. The
kingdom of Lanka is to the south of this ocean. The ruthless king Ravana rules this
land. It is he who has kidnapped Mother Seeta. The exquisitely beautiful Seeta who
is also the greatest Pativrata (chaste woman) remains in his captivity. She has
placed her firm belief in you and is surviving on that strength. Hordes of demonesses
guard her night and day. At all times they threaten her. She sobs in fear. She prays
to you all the time. Her mind is totally enveloped by your thoughts. She leads a
strictly disciplined life, just like a lady ascetic (tapasvini).
She told me of the incident of Kakasura which took place while you were in
Chitrakoot. She also told me the story of this Choodamani that you had presented to
Her. O Lord, she has not even slightly deterred from dharma (righteousness). She
had become lean and thin with grief. She shivers and trembles in fear every time the
demon Ravana approaches her. She begs you to rescue her from the clutches of this
demon as the earliest.
O Lord, let us not waste any more time. Let us quickly devise a way by which we can
cross that ocean”.
Rama received the Choodamani that Hanuman had brought. He looked at it tenderly
and grieved for Seeta. Time and again, he would look and it and think about her.
Thereafter Hanuman continued, “O Lord. Mother Seeta had a question. She wanted
to know why Rama and Lakshmana, who were so valourous and strong could not
come to Lanka until now. I consoled her that unable to trace your whereabouts both
Rama and Lakshmana are grieving. I assured her that shortly you will arrive at
Lanka and rescue her. I told her that you will destroy the entire kingdom of Lanka. I
also assured the Divine Mother that eminent Vanaras such as Sugriva, Angada along
with the army will accompany you in the war. I told her of the might of all these
Vanaras.
In fact, I asked her to sit on my back and come here with me. But she did not oblige.
Then I said to her, „Mother, you refuse to sit on my shoulder. However very shortly
you will see Rama and Lakshmana seated on my shoulder‟. Lanka will reverberate
with the loud roars and shouts of hordes of powerful and mighty Vanaras and bears.
Dear mother, these auspicious shouts will very shortly also fall in your ears.
Rama will destroy Ravana totally. Thereafter he will take you and return to Ayodhya,
as soon as the period of exile is complete. You rest assured, dear mother. Soon
thereafter Rama will be crowned the King of Ayodhya. Dear mother, all this will take
place shortly. Please be brave. You shall shortly witness all these. By saying all this,
I have given her faith and hope, O Lord”.
With this Sundara Kanda comes to an end. Through his words, Hanuman was
indirectly inviting Rama and Lakshmana to sit on his shoulders so that he could take
them to Lanka.
Om Seeta Ramabhyaam Namaha