English Commentaries


Hanuman’s thoughts on seeing the women at Lanka 5.9.70-73

Hanuman thought if Ravana gives back Sita to Rama, Ravana’s birth would be deemed worthy. Or the statement might mean ‘just as these wives have been brought here by Ravana by force, so also if Sugriva takes away Sita from here by force, then Sugriva’s birth can be considered meaningful’.
Or it may mean, ‘if Ravana has brought Sita here by force like other women, will his birth be considered worthy? Not at all’ thought Hanuman the leader of monkeys.
This is because Rama says elsewhere, “My dear Sita was stolen by Ravana using force. O king of monkeys, tell me where that Ravana is. I shall send him to the house of death.” On account of this statement of Rama, Hanuman thinks that there will be no life for Ravana.
Or, a thought flashed in Hanuman’s mind, ‘if I can see Rama’s wife Sita just as I have seen these wives of Ravana, then my birth will be considered auspicious. Because, Sugriva had declared that “one who returns within a month and tells me that he has found Sita will enjoy all the wealth of this kingdom with me equally and no one else will be dearer to me than him”. So Hanuman feels that his birth would be fruitful by achieving what was very dear to his master Sugriva.
Or the meaning could be, ‘if I see Rama’s wife just as I am now seeing the wives of the king of demons, it will be very good for the monkeys headed by Angada, engaged in fasting unto death out of the fear of Sugriva and Rama, on account of the group being unable to find Sita.’ This idea struck Hanuman’s mind.
Angada and his followers had said, “if we cannot bring the news of Sita, Sugriva will give severe punishment. So it is better to fast until death here, giving up the thoughts of sons, wives, wealth and houses.”
The purport is that if Hanuman sees Sita, it will be very good to Angada and others who were very worried that Sita could not be found.
Or, it might mean, ‘if Rama’s wife is alive like the wives of Ravana, whom I am seeing now, it will be good for Rama,’ thought Hanuman.
Rama had said “my dear fellow, please find out whether Sita is alive or not. I would not be able to live without Janaka’s daughter”. So, Rama will gain his life if there is an assurance that Sita is alive, because Rama was worried about Sita’s life.
Or, ‘O king of rakshasas, if Rama’s wife will be the same as these women, will it be good for you who have abundant wealth, sons and grandsons? Never will it be good for you.” Later Hanuman advises Ravana, saying, “O wise one, you know what is righteous. You have performed austerities. It is not proper for you to force the wives of others to be yours”.
Or, Hanuman is deciding here that Sita as not among those women.
‘Is Rama’s wife like these women in beauty? No, she is the most beautiful in the three worlds. Therefore Sita is not here,” thus Hanuman came to right conclusion.
Again Hanuman had another thought. ‘Sita is different from others due to her virtue of faithfulness (Pativratya). Alas! The king of Lanka committed the sin of kidnapping her’. Thinking that way Hanuman a great soul became worried about Sita.
Sloka: 72 It is a puzzle for the commentator. It has ambiguity. The literal meaning is not convincing. So, the commentator tries to understand its meaning in several ways. He tries to make the sentence a rhetorical question also. Some other commentators have tried to explain it by saying that such thought occurred in Hanuman’s mind because, after all, he was a monkey.