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VĀLMĪKI RĀMĀYAṆA · CHAPTER 17
सुन्दरकाण्डम् · सर्गः १७
Hanuman sees Sita surrounded by frightening guards and rejoices that she is alive, though her suffering remains severe.
An edition-specific reading with original English meanings. Source & reading notes
SCENE 01 · VERSES 1–32
Hanuman sees Sita surrounded by frightening guards and rejoices that she is alive, though her suffering remains severe.
ततः कुमुदखण्डाभो निर्मलं निर्मलोदयः ।
tataḥ kumudakhaṇḍābho nirmalaṃ nirmalodayaḥ |
Then the moon, white as a cluster of water-lilies, rose clear
प्रजगाम नभश्चन्द्रो हंसो नीलमिवोदकम् ॥
prajagāma nabhaścandro haṃso nīlamivodakam ||
and crossed the spotless sky like a swan through blue water.
साचिव्यमिव कुर्वन् स प्रभया निर्मलप्रभः ।
sācivyamiva kurvan sa prabhayā nirmalaprabhaḥ |
As though helping him, the moon with its pure radiance
चन्द्रमा रश्मिभिः शीतैः सिषेवे पवनात्मजम् ॥
candramā raśmibhiḥ śītaiḥ siṣeve pavanātmajam ||
attended the son of the Wind with cool rays.
स ददर्श ततः सीतां पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम् ।
sa dadarśa tataḥ sītāṃ pūrṇacandranibhānanām |
Then he saw Sita, her face like the full moon,
शोकभारैरिव न्यस्तां भारैर्नावमिवाम्भसि ॥
śokabhārairiva nyastāṃ bhārairnāvamivāmbhasi ||
weighed down by sorrow like a heavily laden boat upon the water.
दिदृक्षमाणो वैदेहीं हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ।
didṛkṣamāṇo vaidehīṃ hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ |
Wishing to see Sita more clearly, Hanuman, son of the Wind,
स ददर्शाविदूरस्था राक्षसीर्घोरदर्शनाः ॥
sa dadarśāvidūrasthā rākṣasīrghoradarśanāḥ ||
saw nearby rakshasis of frightening appearance.
एकाक्षीमेककर्णां च कर्णप्रावरणां तथा ।
ekākṣīmekakarṇāṃ ca karṇaprāvaraṇāṃ tathā |
One had a single eye, another one ear, another ears like a covering;
अकर्णां शङ्कुकर्णां च मस्तकोच्छ्वासनासिकाम् ॥
akarṇāṃ śaṅkukarṇāṃ ca mastakocchvāsanāsikām ||
some had no ears, pointed ears, or nostrils set upon the head.
अतिकायोत्तमांगीं च तनुदीर्घशिरोधराम् ।
atikāyottamāṃgīṃ ca tanudīrghaśirodharām |
Some had huge bodies and heads, others thin, long necks;
ध्वस्तकेशीं तथाकेशीं केशकम्बलधारिणीम् ॥
dhvastakeśīṃ tathākeśīṃ keśakambaladhāriṇīm ||
some had disheveled hair, none at all, or hair like a blanket.
लम्बकर्णललाटां च लम्बोदरपयोधराम् ।
lambakarṇalalāṭāṃ ca lambodarapayodharām |
Some had hanging ears and foreheads, bellies and breasts;
लम्बोष्ठीं चिबुकोष्ठीं च लम्बास्यां लम्बजानुकाम् ॥
lamboṣṭhīṃ cibukoṣṭhīṃ ca lambāsyāṃ lambajānukām ||
others had long lips, lips upon the chin, long faces, or long knees.
ह्रस्वां दीर्घां च कुब्जां च विकटां वामनां तथा ।
hrasvāṃ dīrghāṃ ca kubjāṃ ca vikaṭāṃ vāmanāṃ tathā |
Some were short, tall, bent, huge, or dwarfish;
करालां भुग्नवक्त्रां च पिंगाक्षीं विकृताननाम् ॥
karālāṃ bhugnavaktrāṃ ca piṃgākṣīṃ vikṛtānanām ||
others had fearsome, crooked faces, tawny eyes, and distorted features.
विकृताः पिंगलाः कालीः क्रोधनाः कलहप्रियाः ।
vikṛtāḥ piṃgalāḥ kālīḥ krodhanāḥ kalahapriyāḥ |
Strange-shaped, tawny, or dark, angry and fond of quarrels,
कालायसमहाशूलकूटमुद्गरधारिणीः ॥
kālāyasamahāśūlakūṭamudgaradhāriṇīḥ ||
they carried great iron tridents, heavy clubs, and hammers.
वराहमृगशार्दूलमहिषाजशिवामुखाः ।
varāhamṛgaśārdūlamahiṣājaśivāmukhāḥ |
Some had faces of boars, deer, tigers, buffaloes, goats, or jackals;
गजोष्ट्रहयपादाश्च निखातशिरसोऽपराः ॥
gajoṣṭrahayapādāśca nikhātaśiraso’parāḥ ||
some had elephant, camel, or horse feet, while others had sunken heads.
एकहस्तैकपादाश्च खरकर्ण्यश्वकर्णिकाः ।
ekahastaikapādāśca kharakarṇyaśvakarṇikāḥ |
Some had one hand or one foot, ears of donkeys or horses,
गोकर्णीर्हस्तिकर्णीश्च हरिकर्णीस्तथापराः ॥
gokarṇīrhastikarṇīśca harikarṇīstathāparāḥ ||
and others ears of cows, elephants, or lions.
अतिनासाश्च काश्चिच्च तिर्यङ्नासा अनासिकाः ।
atināsāśca kāścicca tiryaṅnāsā anāsikāḥ |
Some had enormous, sideways, or absent noses;
गजसंनिभनासाश्च ललाटोच्छ्वासनासिकाः ॥
gajasaṃnibhanāsāśca lalāṭocchvāsanāsikāḥ ||
others had elephantlike noses or breathed through the forehead.
हस्तिपादा महापादा गोपादाः पादचूलिकाः ।
hastipādā mahāpādā gopādāḥ pādacūlikāḥ |
Some had elephant feet, huge feet, cow feet, or tufts upon their feet;
अतिमात्रशिरोग्रीवा अतिमात्रकुचोदरीः ॥
atimātraśirogrīvā atimātrakucodarīḥ ||
their heads, necks, breasts, or bellies were exceedingly large.
अतिमात्रास्यनेत्राश्च दीर्घजिह्वाननास्तथा ।
atimātrāsyanetrāśca dīrghajihvānanāstathā |
Some had enormous mouths and eyes, long tongues and faces,
अजामुखीर्हस्तिमुखीर्गोमुखीः सूकरीमुखीः ॥
ajāmukhīrhastimukhīrgomukhīḥ sūkarīmukhīḥ ||
and the faces of goats, elephants, cows, or pigs.
हयोष्ट्रखरवक्त्राश्च राक्षसीर्घोरदर्शनाः ।
hayoṣṭrakharavaktrāśca rākṣasīrghoradarśanāḥ |
There were terrible rakshasis with horse, camel, and donkey faces,
शूलमुद्गरहस्ताश्च क्रोधनाः कलहप्रियाः ॥
śūlamudgarahastāśca krodhanāḥ kalahapriyāḥ ||
holding tridents and hammers, angry and quarrelsome.
कराला धूम्रकेशिन्यो राक्षसीर्विकृताननाः ।
karālā dhūmrakeśinyo rākṣasīrvikṛtānanāḥ |
Fearsome, smoke-haired, and distorted-faced,
पिबन्ति सततं पानं सुरामांससदाप्रियाः ॥
pibanti satataṃ pānaṃ surāmāṃsasadāpriyāḥ ||
they continually drank liquor and delighted in liquor and meat.
मांसशोणितदिग्धांगीर्मांसशोणितभोजनाः ।
māṃsaśoṇitadigdhāṃgīrmāṃsaśoṇitabhojanāḥ |
Their limbs were smeared with flesh and blood, and flesh and blood were their food;
ता ददर्श कपिश्रेष्ठो रोमहर्षणदर्शनाः ॥
tā dadarśa kapiśreṣṭho romaharṣaṇadarśanāḥ ||
the foremost vanara saw them, a sight to make one's hair stand up.
स्कन्धवन्तमुपासीनाः परिवार्य वनस्पतिम् ।
skandhavantamupāsīnāḥ parivārya vanaspatim |
They sat surrounding a thick-trunked tree;
तस्याधस्ताच्च तां देवीं राजपुत्रीमनिन्दिताम् ॥
tasyādhastācca tāṃ devīṃ rājaputrīmaninditām ||
beneath it was the noble lady, the faultless princess.
लक्षयामास लक्ष्मीवान् हनूमाञ्जनकात्मजाम् ।
lakṣayāmāsa lakṣmīvān hanūmāñjanakātmajām |
Illustrious Hanuman recognized Janaka's daughter,
निष्प्रभां शोकसंतप्तां मलसंकुलमूर्धजाम् ॥
niṣprabhāṃ śokasaṃtaptāṃ malasaṃkulamūrdhajām ||
her radiance dimmed by sorrow and her hair filled with dirt.
क्षीणपुण्यां च्युतां भूमौ तारां निपतितामिव ।
kṣīṇapuṇyāṃ cyutāṃ bhūmau tārāṃ nipatitāmiva |
Like a star fallen to earth when its merit is exhausted,
चारित्रव्यपदेशाढ्यां भर्तृदर्शनदुर्गताम् ॥
cāritravyapadeśāḍhyāṃ bhartṛdarśanadurgatām ||
rich in the reputation of good conduct, she suffered for want of her husband's sight.
भूषणैरुत्तमैर्हीनां भर्तृवात्सल्यभूषिताम् ।
bhūṣaṇairuttamairhīnāṃ bhartṛvātsalyabhūṣitām |
Without fine ornaments, she was adorned by love for her husband,
राक्षसाधिपसंरुद्धां बन्धुभिश्च विनाकृताम् ॥
rākṣasādhipasaṃruddhāṃ bandhubhiśca vinākṛtām ||
confined by the rakshasa lord and separated from her relatives.
वियूथां सिंहसंरुद्धां बद्धां गजवधूमिव ।
viyūthāṃ siṃhasaṃruddhāṃ baddhāṃ gajavadhūmiva |
She was like a female elephant separated from its herd, trapped and surrounded by lions,
चन्द्ररेखां पयोदान्ते शारदाभ्रैरिवावृताम् ॥
candrarekhāṃ payodānte śāradābhrairivāvṛtām ||
or a crescent moon veiled by autumn clouds after the rains.
क्लिष्टरूपामसंस्पर्शादयुक्तामिव वल्लकीम् ।
kliṣṭarūpāmasaṃsparśādayuktāmiva vallakīm |
Her neglected form was like an unplayed, untuned vina;
स तां भर्तृहिते युक्तामयुक्तां रक्षसां वशे ॥
sa tāṃ bhartṛhite yuktāmayuktāṃ rakṣasāṃ vaśe ||
devoted to her husband's welfare, she was unfit to remain in rakshasa power.
अशोकवनिकामध्ये शोकसागरमाप्लुताम् ।
aśokavanikāmadhye śokasāgaramāplutām |
In the ashoka grove she was plunged into an ocean of grief,
ताभिः परिवृतां तत्र सग्रहामिव रोहिणीम् ॥
tābhiḥ parivṛtāṃ tatra sagrahāmiva rohiṇīm ||
surrounded by them like Rohini beset by hostile planets.
ददर्श हनुमांस्तत्र लतामकुसुमामिव ।
dadarśa hanumāṃstatra latāmakusumāmiva |
Hanuman saw her there like a creeper without flowers;
सा मलेन च दिग्धांगी वपुषा चाप्यलंकृता ।
sā malena ca digdhāṃgī vapuṣā cāpyalaṃkṛtā |
her body was soiled, yet its natural beauty adorned her,
मृणाली पङ्कदिग्धेव विभाति च न भाति च ॥
mṛṇālī paṅkadigdheva vibhāti ca na bhāti ca ||
like a lotus stem smeared with mud, both shining and not shining.
मलिनेन तु वस्त्रेण परिक्लिष्टेन भामिनीम् ।
malinena tu vastreṇa parikliṣṭena bhāminīm |
The vanara Hanuman saw that lovely, doe-eyed woman
संवृतां मृगशावाक्षीं ददर्श हनुमान् कपिः ॥
saṃvṛtāṃ mṛgaśāvākṣīṃ dadarśa hanumān kapiḥ ||
wrapped in a dirty and much-worn garment.
तां देवीं दीनवदनामदीनां भर्तृतेजसा ।
tāṃ devīṃ dīnavadanāmadīnāṃ bhartṛtejasā |
Her face was distressed, yet her husband's glory kept her spirit from abasement;
रक्षितां स्वेन शीलेन सीतामसितलोचनाम् ॥
rakṣitāṃ svena śīlena sītāmasitalocanām ||
dark-eyed Sita was protected by her own upright conduct.
तां दृष्ट्वा हनुमान् सीतां मृगशावनिभेक्षणाम् ।
tāṃ dṛṣṭvā hanumān sītāṃ mṛgaśāvanibhekṣaṇām |
Hanuman saw that doe-eyed Sita
मृगकन्यामिव त्रस्तां वीक्षमाणां समन्ततः ॥
mṛgakanyāmiva trastāṃ vīkṣamāṇāṃ samantataḥ ||
looking around like a frightened young deer.
दहन्तीमिव निःश्वासैर्वृक्षान् पल्लवधारिणः ।
dahantīmiva niḥśvāsairvṛkṣān pallavadhāriṇaḥ |
Her sighs seemed to scorch the young-leafed trees;
संघातमिव शोकानां दुःखस्योर्मिमिवोत्थिताम् ॥
saṃghātamiva śokānāṃ duḥkhasyormimivotthitām ||
she appeared a gathering of sorrows, a rising wave of pain.
तां क्षमां सुविभक्तांगीं विनाभरणशोभिनीम् ।
tāṃ kṣamāṃ suvibhaktāṃgīṃ vinābharaṇaśobhinīm |
Seeing the patient, well-proportioned princess of Mithila,
प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे मारुतिः प्रेक्ष्य मैथिलीम् ॥
praharṣamatulaṃ lebhe mārutiḥ prekṣya maithilīm ||
beautiful without ornaments, the son of the Wind felt incomparable joy.
हर्षजानि च सोऽश्रूणि तां दृष्ट्वा मदिरेक्षणाम् ।
harṣajāni ca so’śrūṇi tāṃ dṛṣṭvā madirekṣaṇām |
Seeing her lovely eyes, Hanuman shed tears born of joy
मुमोच हनुमांस्तत्र नमश्चक्रे च राघवम् ॥
mumoca hanumāṃstatra namaścakre ca rāghavam ||
and bowed to Raghava.
नमस्कृत्वाथ रामाय लक्ष्मणाय च वीर्यवान् ।
namaskṛtvātha rāmāya lakṣmaṇāya ca vīryavān |
After bowing to Rama and to Lakshmana, mighty Hanuman,
सीतादर्शनसंहृष्टो हनुमान् संवृतोऽभवत् ॥
sītādarśanasaṃhṛṣṭo hanumān saṃvṛto’bhavat ||
delighted at the sight of Sita, remained concealed.
CHAPTER 17 COMPLETE
He offers silent gratitude to Rama and Lakshmana while keeping his presence secret.
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kanda, chapter 17. This reading follows Sanskrit Wikisource revision 354234, with all 32 numbered verses. Verse divisions and wording vary between editions.
The Sanskrit is preserved with normalized display spacing and line breaks. Some sentences continue across verse boundaries; the English follows that continuity. A yojana is a traditional distance unit, retained without assigning a modern measurement. Shape-changing and celestial beings belong to the epic’s sacred narrative.
English line senses and short meanings are original AI-assisted DHIH renderings checked against this Sanskrit reading; they are not a word-for-word grammatical commentary or a claim of human scholarly certification. Roman transliteration is generated mechanically in IAST. Names may also appear in familiar English spellings.
Sanskrit transcription credit: Wikisource contributors, revision history. The adapted reading text and DHIH English on this chapter page are offered under CC BY-SA 4.0. The ancient Sanskrit work is in the public domain. Illustrations are separately commissioned AI-generated DHIH artwork.
Historical comparison: M. N. Dutt’s Ramayana, volume II, a public-domain translation, was consulted for narrative context. The English displayed here is a fresh rendering of the pinned Sanskrit, not a reproduction of that translation.
The full text includes frightening guards and references to blood and flesh. It is not the simplified children’s version; the supernatural forms belong to the epic’s imagery. Audio will be added only when suitable recording permissions are available.