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[Hanuman's grief over Sita's state.]

प्रशस्य तु प्रशस्तव्यां सीतां तां हरिपुङ्गवः।

गुणाभिरामं रामं च पुनश्चिन्तापरोऽभवत्।।5.16.1।।


हरिपुङ्गवः monkey leader (Hanuman), प्रशस्तव्याम् laudable lady, ताम् her, सीताम् Sita, प्रशस्य admired, गुणाभिरामम् embellished with virtues, रामं च and Rama, पुनः again, चिन्तापरः to lament, अभवत् began.

Hanuman, the bull among monkeys, admired the laudable Sita and the virtuous Rama and once again began to lament.
स मुहूर्तमिव ध्यात्वा बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः।

सीतामाश्रित्य तेजस्वी हनूमान्विललाप ह।।5.16.2।।


तेजस्वी sagacious, सः he, हनुमान् Hanuman, मुहूर्तमिव for a short while, ध्यात्वा after thinking, बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः eyes dimmed with tears, सीताम् Sita, आश्रित्य at the plight of, विललाप ह lamented.

Sagacious Hanuman, eyes dimmed with tears, thought for a short while on the plight of Sita and lamented
मान्या गुरुविनीतस्य लक्ष्मणस्य गुरुप्रिया।

यदि सीताऽऽपि दुःखार्ता कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः।।5.16.3।।


गुरुविनीतस्य welltrained, लक्ष्मणस्य Lakshmana's, मान्या worshipped, गुरुप्रिया loved by elders, सीतापि Sita too, दुःखार्ता यदि if she is also worried like this, कालः time, दुरतिक्रमः हि difficult to transgress.

"If Sita, who is worshipped by righteous Lakshmana and loved by Rama is tortured like this, it shows it is difficult to trangress the force of time.
रामस्य व्यवसायज्ञा लक्ष्मणस्य च धीमतः।

नात्यर्थं क्षुभ्यते देवी गङ्गेव जलदागमे।।5.16.4।।


रामस्य Rama's, धीमतः prowess, लक्ष्मणस्य च and Lakshmana's, व्यवसायज्ञा might, देवी queen, जलदागमे by seeing the clouds, गङ्गेव like Ganga, अत्यर्थम् exceedingly, न क्षुभ्यते is not agitated.

"Just as river Ganga is not agitated by the rainbearing clouds, this Sita is not perturbed as she is aware of the prowess of Rama and might of Lakshmana.
तुल्यशीलवयोवृत्तां तुल्याभिजनलक्षणाम्।

राघवोऽऽर्हति वैदेहीं तं चेयमसितेक्षणा।।5.16.5।।


तुल्यशीलवयोवृत्ताम् perfect match in character, age and behaviour, तुल्याभिजनलक्षणाम् perfect match in in birth and auspicious marks, वैदेहीम् with Vaidehi, राघवः Raghva, अर्हति a right person, इयम् this lady, असितेक्षणा blackeyed one, तम् him, अर्हति deserves.

"Sri Rama matches Vaidehi perfectly in character, age, behaviour, birth and auspicious signs. She is aware that he is the right person for her. Rama deserves Vaidehi and this blackeyed lady deserves him."
तां दृष्ट्वा नवहेमाभां लोककान्तामिव श्रियम्।

जगाम मनसा रामं वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्।।5.16.6।।


नवहेमाभाम् a lady shining like the fresh gold, श्रियमिव glory, लोककान्ताम् dear to the whole world, ताम् her, दृष्ट्वा on seeing, मनसा mentally, रामम् Rama, जगाम he reached, इदम् thise, वचनं च words, अब्रवीत् said.

On seeing her glowing like fresh gold resembling goddess Lakshmi who is dear to the
entire world, and thinking of Rama, Hanuman said:
अस्या हेतोर्विशालाक्ष्या हतो वाली महाबलः।

रावणप्रतिमो वीर्ये कबन्धश्च निपातितः।।5.16.7।।


विशालाक्ष्याः largeeyed one, अस्याः हेतोः for her sake, महाबलः powerful, वाली Vali, हतः was killed, वीर्ये in heroism, रावणप्रतिमः comparable to Ravana, कबन्धश्च even Kabandha, निपातितः is killed.

"It was for the sake of this largeeyed Sita that the powerful Vali and the heroic Kabandha who was equal to Ravana in heroism were killed.
विराधश्च हतः सङ्ख्ये राक्षसो भीमविक्रमः।

वने रामेण विक्रम्य महेन्द्रेणेव शम्बरः।।5.16.8।।


वने in the forest, सङ्ख्ये in a war, रामेण by Rama, विक्रम्य by advancing with valour, महेन्द्रेण by Indra, शम्बरः Sambara , इव like, भीमविक्रमः a hero of fearsome valour, विराधः Viradha, हतः slayed.

"Rama killed Viradha of fearsome valour in the forest like Sambara by Indra.
चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम्।

निहतानि जनस्थाने शरैरग्निशिखोपमैः।।5.16.9।।


जनस्थाने at Janasthana, अग्निशिखोपमैः equal to flames of fire, शरैः with arrows, भीमकर्मणाम् warriors of fierce valour, रक्षसाम् of demons, चतुर्दश fourteen, सहस्राणि thousand, निहतानि were killed.

खरश्च निहतसङ्ख्ये त्रिशिराश्च निपातितः।

दूषणश्च महातेजा रामेण विदितात्मना।।5.16.10।।


विदितात्मना by one who knows the self, रामेण by Rama, सङ्ख्ये in a battle, खरश्च Khara, निहतः destroyed, त्रिशिराश्च and Trisira, निपातितः was killed, महातेजाः highly powerful, दूषणश्च Dooshana also.

"Ogres like Khara and Trisira and the powerful Dooshana were kileed in battle by Rama endowed with selfknowledge.
ऐश्वर्यं वानराणां च दुर्लभं वालिपालितम्।

अस्या निमित्ते सुग्रीवः प्राप्तवान् लोकसत्कृतम्।।5.16.11।।


अस्याः निमित्ते on account of her, सुग्रीवः Sugriva, वालिपालितम् ruled by Vali, दुर्लभम् difficult to obtain, लोकसत्कृतम् retained supremacy in the world, वानराणाम् of vanaras, ऐश्वर्यम् prosperity, प्राप्तवान् obtained.

On her account Sugriva obtained the coveted kingdom ruled by Vali which was a difficult proposition, and retained supremacy in the world.
सागरश्च मया क्रान्तश्श्रीमान्नदनदीपतिः।

अस्या हेतोर्विशालाक्ष्याः पुरी चेयमवेक्षिता।।5.16.12।।


विशालाक्ष्याः largeeyed lady, अस्याः हेतोः on her account, मया by me, नदनदीपतिः lord of rivers and rivulets, सागरश्च ocean also, क्रान्तः crossed, इयम् this, पुरी च and city, अवेक्षिता surveyed.

"On account of the largeeyed Sita I ventured to cross the lord of rivers, the sea, and came to this city.
यदि रामः समुद्रान्तां मेदिनीं परिवर्तयेत्।

अस्याः कृते जगच्चापि युक्तमित्येव मे मतिः।।5.16.13।।


रामः Rama, अस्याः कृते on account of her, समुद्रान्ताम् stretching to the ocean, मेदिनीम् land, जगच्चापि or even the whole world, परिवर्तयेद्यदि if he turns upside down, युक्तमित्येव that is justified only, मे to me, मतिः strikes my mind.

"Even if Rama turns this land stretching to the ocean upside down or even the entire world on account of her, it is justifiable, according to me.
राज्यं वा त्रिषु लोकेषु सीता वा जनकात्मजा।

त्रैलोक्यराज्यं सकलं सीताया नाप्नुयात्कलाम्।।5.16.14।।


त्रिषु in the three, लोकेषु in worlds, राज्यं वा or kingdom, जनकात्मजा Janaka's daughter, सीता वा for Sita, सकलम् everything, त्रैलोक्यराज्यम् all the three worlds, सीतायाः or Sita's, कलाम् one sixteenth part, नाप्नुयात् not equal.

"The sovereignty over the three worlds will weigh less than one sixteenth part of Janaka's daughter, Sita.
इयं सा धर्मशीलस्य मैथिलस्य महात्मनः।

सुता जनकराजस्य सीता भर्तृदृढव्रता।।5.16.15।।

उत्थिता मेदिनीं भित्त्वा क्षेत्रे हलमुखक्षते।

पद्मरेणुनिभैः कीर्णा शुभैः केदारपाम्सुभिः।।5.16.16।।


इयम् this lady, क्षेत्रे in the field, हलमुखक्षते tilled by plough, पद्मरेणुनिभैः resembling the pollen dust of lotus, शुभैः by the auspicious, केदारपाम्सुभिः with dust particles of paddy, कीर्णा covered, मेदिनीम् land, भित्त्वा breaking, उत्थिता risen up, धर्मशीलस्य of the righteous, महात्मनः great self, मैथिलस्य of Mithila, जनकराजस्य king Janaka's, सुता daughter, भर्तृदृढव्रता a lady of unswerving devotion to her husband, सा that, सीता Sita.

She had risen from the land when tilled by the plough and was covered with auspicious paddy dust resembling the pollen grains of lotuses, this daughter of
Janaka, the great righteous ruler of Mithila, This lady with unswerving devotion to her husband.
विक्रान्तस्यार्यशीलस्य संयुगेष्न्विवर्तिनः।

स्नुषा दशरथस्यैषा ज्येष्ठा राज्ञो यशस्विनी।।5.16.17।।


विक्रान्तस्य of the valiant, आर्यशीलस्य of a man of noble conduct, संयुगेषु in battles, अनिवर्तिनः of a person who never returned, राज्ञः king's, दशरथस्य Dasaratha's, यशश्विनी celebrated lady, ज्येष्ठा eldest, स्नुषा daughterin law, एषा she is.

"This celebrated lady is the eldest daughterinlaw of the noble, valiant king Dasaratha who never returned from the battleground without being victorious.
धर्मज्ञस्य कृतज्ञस्य रामस्य विदितात्मनः।

इयं सा दयिता भार्या राक्षसीवशमागता।।5.16.18।।


धर्मज्ञस्य who is righteous, कृतज्ञस्य of the grateful, विदितात्मनः of one armed with selfknowledge, रामस्य Rama's, दयिता dear, भार्या wife, इयम् she is, राक्षसीवशम् under the control of the demonesses, आगता has fallen.

"She is the loving wife of the righteous, grateful, wise and selfrealised Rama. She has fallen into the hands of these shedemons.
सर्वान् भोगान्परित्यज्य भर्तृस्नेहबलात्कृता।

अचिन्तयित्वा दुःखानि प्रविष्टा निर्जनं वनम्।।5.16.19।।

संतुष्टा फलमूलेन भर्तृशुश्रूषणे रता।

या परां भजते प्रीतिं वनेऽऽपि भवने यथा।।5.16.20।।

सेयं कनकवर्णाङ्गी नित्यं सुस्मितभाषिणी।

सहते यातनामेतामनर्थानामभागिनी।।5.16.21।।


या she who, सर्वान् all kinds, भोगान् luxuries, परित्यज्य given up, भर्तृस्नेहबलात्कृता inspired by immense love towards her husband, दुःखानि sorrows, अचिन्तयित्वा not caring for, निर्जनम् desolate, वनम् woods, प्रविष्टा entered, फलमूलेन by fruits and roots, संतुष्टा contented, भर्तृशुश्रूषणे by serving her husband, रता engaged, वनेऽऽपि even in the woods, भवने यथा as if she lived in the palace, पराम् supreme, प्रीतिम् happiness, भजते she experiences, कनकवर्णाङ्गी a lady of golden complexion, अनर्थानाम् of calamities, अभागिनी a lady who had not experienced earlier, सा इयम् this lady, एताम् such, यातनाम् torture, सहते tolerating.

"On account of her immense love towards her husband she has given up all kinds of luxuries, not caring for suffering. She was satisfied with fruits and roots in the desolate forest. Engaged in serving her husband, she experienced utmost joy as in her own palace. A lady of golden complexion who had not experienced suffering earlier is subjected to sorrow and is tolerating calamities in this way
इमां तु शीलसम्पन्नां द्रष्टुमर्हति राघवः।

रावणेन प्रमथितां प्रपामिव पिपासितः।।5.16.22।।


राघवः Raghava, शीलसम्पन्नाम् a highly virtuous lady, रावणेन by Ravana, प्रमथिताम् tormented, इमाम् her, पिपासितः a thirsty man, प्रपामिव like the source of water, द्रष्टुम् to see, अर्हति he deserves.

"Rama deserves to see her.Just as a thirsty man longs for the source of water, Rama pines for this highly virtuous lady who is tormented by Ravana.
अस्या नूनं पुनर्लाभाद्राघवः प्रीतिमेष्यति।

राजा राज्यपरिभ्रष्टः पुनः प्राप्येव मेदिनीम्।।5.16.23।।


राघवः Raghava, पुनः again, अस्याः her, लाभात् by finding her, राज्यपरिभ्रष्टः exiled from the kingdom, राजा king, मेदिनीम् land, पुनः again, प्राप्येव as if gained back, नूनम् surely, प्रीतिम् happiness, एष्यति he will get.

"Just as a king who had lost his kingdom feels happy on regaining it, surely Raghava will feel exhilarated when he gets her back.
कामभोगैः परित्यक्ता हीना बन्धुजनेन च।

धारयत्यात्मनो देहं तत्समागमकाङ्क्षिणी।।5.16.24।।


कामभोगैः with sensual pleasures, परित्यक्ता deprived, बन्धुजनेन च and also with relatives, हीना she is separated, तत्समागमकाङ्क्षिणी one who is eagerly waiting to meet them, देहम् body, धारयति she is holding.

Deprived of all sensual pleasures, and separated from her relatives, she is surviving with the hope of meeting them.
नैषा पश्यति राक्षस्यो नेमान्पुष्पफलद्रुमान्।

एकस्थहृदया नूनं राममेवानुपश्यति।।5.16.25।।


एषा this lady, राक्षस्यः at the shedemons, न पश्यति she is not looking, इमान् these, पुष्पफलद्रुमान् trees full of flowers and fruits, न not seeing, एकस्थहृदया with singleminded attention, राममेव only Rama, अनुपश्यति thinking, नूनम् surely.

She is looking at neither the shedemons nor these trees full of flowers and fruits. She is surely thinking of Rama with a singleminded attention.
भर्ता नाम परं नार्या भूषणं भूषणादपि।

एषा तु रहिता तेन भूषणार्हा न शोभते।।5.16.26।।


भर्ता नाम husband, indeed, नार्याः for a lady, भूषणादपि more than ornaments, परम् supreme, भूषणम् ornament, भूषणार्हा who though deserve ornaments, एषा तु she on her part, तेन with him, रहिता separated, न शोभते does not look nice

"Indeed, the husband is the greatest ornament for a married woman. Hence though deserving adornment she does not like it, bereft of her husband who is her only
ornament.
दुष्करं कुरुते रामो हीनो यदनया प्रभुः।

धारयत्यात्मनो देहं न दुःखेनावसीदति।।5.16.27।।


रामः Rama, अनया with her, हीनः separated, आत्मनः his own, देहम् body, धारयति इति यत् sustains like, दुःखेन with sorrow, नावसीदति इति यत् that he is not despondent, प्रभुः lord, दुष्करम् difficult task, कुरुते performs.

"Lord Rama indeed performs a difficult task in surviving without her. That he is not feeling despondent is a wonder.
इमामसितकेशान्तां शतपत्रनिभेक्षणाम्।

सुखार्हां दुःखितां दृष्ट्वा ममापि व्यथितं मनः।।5.16.28।।


असितकेशान्ताम् one who has dark hair, शतपत्रनिभेक्षणाम् endowed with eyes resembling a hundredpetalled lotus, सुखार्हाम् she deserves to be happy, इमाम् her, दुःखिताम् sorrowful lady, दृष्ट्वा on seeing, मम my, मनः अपि mind also, व्यथितम् is worried.

Sita who is endowed with beautiful dark hair and eyes like a hundredpetalled lotus, who deserves to be happy is in sorrow. I grieve to see her in this state.
क्षतिक्षमा पुष्करसन्निभाक्षी या रक्षिता राघवलक्ष्मणाभ्याम्।

सा राक्षसीभिर्विकृतेक्षणाभिः संरक्ष्यते सम्प्रति वृक्षमूले।।5.16.29।।


क्षितिक्षमा tolerant like the earth, पुष्करसन्निभाक्षी lotuseyed lady, या she who, राघवलक्ष्मणाभ्याम् both by Raghava and Lakshmana, रक्षिता was protected, सा that lady, विकृतेक्षणाभिः by women who have hideous appearance, राक्षसीभिः by ogresses, सम्प्रति presently, वृक्षमूले under a tree, संरक्ष्यते she is guarded.

She who has beautiful eyes like lotus petals, was protected by the arms of both Rama and Lakshmna, who is tolerant like the earth and is guarded by the female demons of
hideous appearance under a tree.
हिमहतनलिनीव नष्टशोभा व्यसनपरम्परया निपीड्यमाना।

सहचररहितेव चक्रवाकी जनकसुता कृपणां दशां प्रपन्ना।।5.16.30।।


हिमहतनलिनीव like the lotus afflicted by snow, नष्टशोभा devoid of charm, व्यसनपरम्परया by continuous experience of sorrow, निपीड्यमाना afflicted, जनकसुता daughter of Janaka, सहचर रहिता away from her companion, चक्रवाकीव like the female Chakravaka, कृपणाम् pitiable, दशाम् state, प्रपन्ना has landed.

"Deprived of her charm, she resembles a lotuscreeper blasted by frost. This daughter of Janaka has reached a pitiable condition afflicted by series of calamities. She resembles a famale Chakravaka separated from her mate.
अस्या हि पुष्पावनताग्रशाखाः शोकं दृढं वै जनयन्त्यशोकाः।

हिमव्यपायेन च शीतरश्मि रभ्युत्थितो नैकसहस्ररश्मि:।।5.16.31।।


पुष्पावनताग्रशाखाः with topmost branches bent down by the heaviness of blossoms, अशोकाः Ashoka trees, अस्याः her, दृढम् firmly, शोकम् sorrow, जनयन्ति are creating, हिमव्यपायेन by the onset of spring, अभ्युत्थितः risen, नैकसहस्ररश्मि: thousandrayed (Sun), शीतरश्मि: च the Moon.

"The top branches of Ashoka trees bent down with blossoms and the Moon rising with thousands of cool rays at the end of winter (when spring sets in) beholding which she should be delighted intensfy her sorrow."
इत्येवमर्थं कपिरन्ववेक्ष्य सीतेयमित्येव निविष्टबुद्धि:।

संश्रित्य तस्मिन्निषसाद वृक्षे बली हरीणामृषभस्तरस्वी।।5.16.32।।


बली strong, हरीणाम् of monkeys, ऋषभः bull, तरस्वी swiftfooted, कपिः monkey, इत्येवम् in this way, अर्थम् his object, अन्ववेक्ष्य after considering, इयम् this, सीता is Sita, इत्येव thus only, निविष्टबुद्धि: reflecting in his mind, तस्मिन् on that, वृक्षे tree, संश्रित्य taken refuge,
निषसाद sat.

Hanuman, the swiftfooted bull among monkeys, on his part waiting on the Simsupa tree thus reflecting concluded in his mind that she was Sita.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे षोडशस्सर्गः।
Thus ends the sixteenth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.