A promise before parting

मणिं दत्त्वा ततः सीता हनूमन्तमथाब्रवीत् ।

maṇiṃ dattvā tataḥ sītā hanūmantamathābravīt |

After giving the jewel, Sita told Hanuman,

अभिज्ञानमभिज्ञातमेतद् रामस्य तत्त्वतः ॥

abhijñānamabhijñātametad rāmasya tattvataḥ ||

“Rama truly knows this recognizable token.

मणिं दृष्ट्वा तु रामो वै त्रयाणां संस्मरिष्यति ।

maṇiṃ dṛṣṭvā tu rāmo vai trayāṇāṃ saṃsmariṣyati |

Seeing it, heroic Rama will remember three people:

वीरो जनन्या मम च राज्ञो दशरथस्य च ॥

vīro jananyā mama ca rājño daśarathasya ca ||

my mother, me, and King Dasharatha.

स भूयस्त्वं समुत्साहचोदितो हरिसत्तम ।

sa bhūyastvaṃ samutsāhacodito harisattama |

Foremost vanara, with renewed energy,

अस्मिन् कार्यसमुत्साहे प्रचिन्तय यदुत्तरम् ॥

asmin kāryasamutsāhe pracintaya yaduttaram ||

consider what remains to be done in this undertaking.

त्वमस्मिन् कार्यनिर्योगे प्रमाणं हरिसत्तम ।

tvamasmin kāryaniryoge pramāṇaṃ harisattama |

You are the trusted means of carrying out this task, foremost vanara;

तस्य चिन्तय यो यत्नो दुःखक्षयकरो भवेत् ॥

tasya cintaya yo yatno duḥkhakṣayakaro bhavet ||

consider the effort that will end this suffering.

हनूमन् यत्नमास्थाय दुःखक्षयकरो भव ।

hanūman yatnamāsthāya duḥkhakṣayakaro bhava |

Hanuman, apply yourself and bring an end to sorrow.”

स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय मारुतिर्भीमविक्रमः ॥

sa tatheti pratijñāya mārutirbhīmavikramaḥ ||

Maruti of formidable prowess promised, “So shall it be,”

शिरसाऽऽवन्द्य वैदेहीं गमनायोपचक्रमे ।

śirasā’’vandya vaidehīṃ gamanāyopacakrame |

bowed his head to Vaidehi and prepared to depart.

ज्ञात्वा सम्प्रस्थितं देवी वानरं पवनात्मजम् ॥

jñātvā samprasthitaṃ devī vānaraṃ pavanātmajam ||

Knowing that the vanara, the Wind’s son, was leaving,

बाष्पगद‍्गदया वाचा मैथिली वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।

bāṣpagadgadayā vācā maithilī vākyamabravīt |

the princess of Mithila spoke with a voice choked by tears:

हनूमन् कुशलं ब्रूयाः सहितौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥

hanūman kuśalaṃ brūyāḥ sahitau rāmalakṣmaṇau ||

“Hanuman, convey my greeting to Rama and Lakshmana together,

सुग्रीवं च सहामात्यं सर्वान् वृद्धांश्च वानरान् ।

sugrīvaṃ ca sahāmātyaṃ sarvān vṛddhāṃśca vānarān |

to Sugriva with his ministers and all the elder vanaras.

ब्रूयास्त्वं वानरश्रेष्ठ कुशलं धर्मसंहितम् ॥

brūyāstvaṃ vānaraśreṣṭha kuśalaṃ dharmasaṃhitam ||

Foremost vanara, give them a greeting joined with righteousness.

यथा च स महाबाहुर्मां तारयति राघवः ।

yathā ca sa mahābāhurmāṃ tārayati rāghavaḥ |

You must arrange matters so that long-armed Raghava

अस्माद् दुःखाम्बुसंरोधात् त्वं समाधातुमर्हसि ॥

asmād duḥkhāmbusaṃrodhāt tvaṃ samādhātumarhasi ||

brings me through this confinement in the waters of sorrow.

जीवन्तीं मां यथा रामः सम्भावयति कीर्तिमान् ।

jīvantīṃ māṃ yathā rāmaḥ sambhāvayati kīrtimān |

Hanuman, say what will make renowned Rama

तत् त्वया हनुमन् वाच्यं वाचा धर्ममवाप्नुहि ॥

tat tvayā hanuman vācyaṃ vācā dharmamavāpnuhi ||

think of finding me alive; earn merit through your speech.

नित्यमुत्साहयुक्तस्य वाचः श्रुत्वा मयेरिताः ।

nityamutsāhayuktasya vācaḥ śrutvā mayeritāḥ |

Hearing the words I have spoken, Dasharatha’s son, always energetic,

वर्धिष्यते दाशरथेः पौरुषं मदवाप्तये ॥

vardhiṣyate dāśaratheḥ pauruṣaṃ madavāptaye ||

will grow in determination to recover me.

मत्संदेशयुता वाचस्त्वत्तः श्रुत्वैव राघवः ।

matsaṃdeśayutā vācastvattaḥ śrutvaiva rāghavaḥ |

As soon as Raghava hears my message from you,

पराक्रमे मतिं वीरो विधिवत् संविधास्यति ॥

parākrame matiṃ vīro vidhivat saṃvidhāsyati ||

that hero will duly set his mind upon decisive action.”

सीतायास्तद् वचः श्रुत्वा हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ।

sītāyāstad vacaḥ śrutvā hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ |

Hearing Sita’s words, Hanuman, the Wind’s son,

शिरस्यञ्जलिमाधाय वाक्यमुत्तरमब्रवीत् ॥

śirasyañjalimādhāya vākyamuttaramabravīt ||

raised joined palms to his head and replied:

क्षिप्रमेष्यति काकुत्स्थो हर्यृक्षप्रवरैर्वृतः ।

kṣiprameṣyati kākutstho haryṛkṣapravarairvṛtaḥ |

“Kakutstha will come quickly, surrounded by foremost bears and vanaras;

यस्ते युधि विजित्यारीन् शोकं व्यपनयिष्यति ॥

yaste yudhi vijityārīn śokaṃ vyapanayiṣyati ||

defeating your enemies in battle, he will remove your sorrow.

नहि पश्यामि मर्त्येषु नासुरेषु सुरेषु वा ।

nahi paśyāmi martyeṣu nāsureṣu sureṣu vā |

Among mortals, asuras or gods, I see no one

यस्तस्य वमतो बाणान् स्थातुमुत्सहतेऽग्रतः ॥

yastasya vamato bāṇān sthātumutsahate’grataḥ ||

who dares stand before him as he releases arrows.

अप्यर्कमपि पर्जन्यमपि वैवस्वतं यमम् ।

apyarkamapi parjanyamapi vaivasvataṃ yamam |

He can withstand even the Sun, the Rain-god, or Yama in battle,

स हि सोढुं रणे शक्तस्तव हेतोर्विशेषतः ॥

sa hi soḍhuṃ raṇe śaktastava hetorviśeṣataḥ ||

especially when it is for your sake.

स हि सागरपर्यन्तां महीं साधितुमर्हति ।

sa hi sāgaraparyantāṃ mahīṃ sādhitumarhati |

He can subdue the earth to its ocean boundaries.

त्वन्निमित्तो हि रामस्य जयो जनकनन्दिनि ॥

tvannimitto hi rāmasya jayo janakanandini ||

Janaka’s daughter, Rama’s victory will be for your sake.”

तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा सम्यक् सत्यं सुभाषितम् ।

tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā samyak satyaṃ subhāṣitam |

Hearing his fitting, truthful and eloquent words,

जानकी बहु मेने तं वचनं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥

jānakī bahu mene taṃ vacanaṃ cedamabravīt ||

Janaki esteemed him greatly and spoke again.

ततस्तं प्रस्थितं सीता वीक्षमाणा पुनः पुनः ।

tatastaṃ prasthitaṃ sītā vīkṣamāṇā punaḥ punaḥ |

Watching him prepare to go, Sita looked at him repeatedly

भर्तृस्नेहान्वितं वाक्यं सौहार्दादनुमानयत् ॥

bhartṛsnehānvitaṃ vākyaṃ sauhārdādanumānayat ||

and offered affectionate words filled with love for her husband:

यदि वा मन्यसे वीर वसैकाहमरिंदम ।

yadi vā manyase vīra vasaikāhamariṃdama |

“If you think fit, hero and conqueror of foes, stay one day

कस्मिंश्चित् संवृते देशे विश्रान्तः श्वो गमिष्यसि ॥

kasmiṃścit saṃvṛte deśe viśrāntaḥ śvo gamiṣyasi ||

in some secluded place; rested, you can leave tomorrow.

मम चैवाल्पभाग्यायाः सांनिध्यात् तव वानर ।

mama caivālpabhāgyāyāḥ sāṃnidhyāt tava vānara |

Vanara, your presence might give unfortunate me

अस्य शोकस्य महतो मुहूर्तं मोक्षणं भवेत् ॥

asya śokasya mahato muhūrtaṃ mokṣaṇaṃ bhavet ||

a moment’s relief from this great sorrow.

ततो हि हरिशार्दूल पुनरागमनाय तु ।

tato hi hariśārdūla punarāgamanāya tu |

When you depart to return again, foremost vanara,

प्राणानामपि संदेहो मम स्यान्नात्र संशयः ॥

prāṇānāmapi saṃdeho mama syānnātra saṃśayaḥ ||

even whether I shall live until then will be uncertain.

तवादर्शनजः शोको भूयो मां परितापयेत् ।

tavādarśanajaḥ śoko bhūyo māṃ paritāpayet |

The sorrow of not seeing you will torment me again,

दुःखादुःखपरामृष्टां दीपयन्निव वानर ॥

duḥkhāduḥkhaparāmṛṣṭāṃ dīpayanniva vānara ||

as though burning me, already touched by sorrow after sorrow.

अयं च वीर संदेहस्तिष्ठतीव ममाग्रतः ।

ayaṃ ca vīra saṃdehastiṣṭhatīva mamāgrataḥ |

And, hero, a great doubt remains before me

सुमहांस्त्वत्सहायेषु हर्यृक्षेषु हरीश्वर ॥

sumahāṃstvatsahāyeṣu haryṛkṣeṣu harīśvara ||

concerning your helpers, the bears and vanaras, lord of vanaras.

कथं नु खलु दुष्पारं तरिष्यन्ति महोदधिम् ।

kathaṃ nu khalu duṣpāraṃ tariṣyanti mahodadhim |

How will those armies of bears and vanaras,

तानि हर्यृक्षसैन्यानि तौ वा नरवरात्मजौ ॥

tāni haryṛkṣasainyāni tau vā naravarātmajau ||

or those two noble princes, cross the difficult great ocean?

त्रयाणामेव भूतानां सागरस्येह लङ्घने ।

trayāṇāmeva bhūtānāṃ sāgarasyeha laṅghane |

Only three beings have the power to cross this ocean:

शक्तिः स्याद् वैनतेयस्य तव वा मारुतस्य वा ॥

śaktiḥ syād vainateyasya tava vā mārutasya vā ||

Garuda, you, and the Wind.

तदस्मिन् कार्यनिर्योगे वीरैवं दुरतिक्रमे ।

tadasmin kāryaniryoge vīraivaṃ duratikrame |

Hero, in carrying out this exceedingly difficult task,

किं पश्यसे समाधानं त्वं हि कार्यविदां वरः ॥

kiṃ paśyase samādhānaṃ tvaṃ hi kāryavidāṃ varaḥ ||

what solution do you see? You are foremost in understanding undertakings.

काममस्य त्वमेवैकः कार्यस्य परिसाधने ।

kāmamasya tvamevaikaḥ kāryasya parisādhane |

You alone are certainly sufficient to complete this task,

पर्याप्तः परवीरघ्न यशस्यस्ते फलोदयः ॥

paryāptaḥ paravīraghna yaśasyaste phalodayaḥ ||

destroyer of enemy heroes, and its success would bring you fame.

बलैः समग्रैर्युधि मां रावणं जित्य संयुगे ।

balaiḥ samagrairyudhi māṃ rāvaṇaṃ jitya saṃyuge |

But if Rama defeated Ravana in battle with his full forces

विजयी स्वपुरं यायात् तत्तस्य सदृशं भवेत् ॥

vijayī svapuraṃ yāyāt tattasya sadṛśaṃ bhavet ||

and returned victorious to his city with me, that would be worthy of him.

बलैस्तु संकुलां कृत्वा लङ्कां परबलार्दनः ।

balaistu saṃkulāṃ kṛtvā laṅkāṃ parabalārdanaḥ |

If Kakutstha, destroyer of enemy forces, filled Lanka with his army

मां नयेद् यदि काकुत्स्थस्तत् तस्य सदृशं भवेत् ॥

māṃ nayed yadi kākutsthastat tasya sadṛśaṃ bhavet ||

and took me away, that would be worthy of him.

तद्यथा तस्य विक्रान्तमनुरूपं महात्मनः ।

tadyathā tasya vikrāntamanurūpaṃ mahātmanaḥ |

Therefore arrange matters so that the valour

भवेदाहवशूरस्य तथा त्वमुपपादय ॥

bhavedāhavaśūrasya tathā tvamupapādaya ||

of that great-souled battle-hero is fittingly displayed.”

तदर्थोपहितं वाक्यं प्रश्रितं हेतुसंहितम् ।

tadarthopahitaṃ vākyaṃ praśritaṃ hetusaṃhitam |

Hearing those meaningful, courteous and reasoned words,

निशम्य हनुमान् शेषं वाक्यमुत्तरमब्रवीत् ॥

niśamya hanumān śeṣaṃ vākyamuttaramabravīt ||

Hanuman gave this further answer:

देवि हर्यृक्षसैन्यानामीश्वरः प्लवतां वरः ।

devi haryṛkṣasainyānāmīśvaraḥ plavatāṃ varaḥ |

“Lady, Sugriva, foremost leaper and lord of bear and vanara armies,

सुग्रीवः सत्यसम्पन्नस्तवार्थे कृतनिश्चयः ॥

sugrīvaḥ satyasampannastavārthe kṛtaniścayaḥ ||

true to his word, has resolved to act for you.

स वानरसहस्राणां कोटीभिरभिसंवृतः ।

sa vānarasahasrāṇāṃ koṭībhirabhisaṃvṛtaḥ |

Surrounded by countless thousands of vanaras,

क्षिप्रमेष्यति वैदेहि राक्षसानां निबर्हणः ॥

kṣiprameṣyati vaidehi rākṣasānāṃ nibarhaṇaḥ ||

he will soon come, Vaidehi, to destroy the rakshasas.

तस्य विक्रमसम्पन्नाः सत्त्ववन्तो महाबलाः ।

tasya vikramasampannāḥ sattvavanto mahābalāḥ |

Courageous, resolute, immensely strong vanaras,

मनःसंकल्पसम्पाता निदेशे हरयः स्थिताः ॥

manaḥsaṃkalpasampātā nideśe harayaḥ sthitāḥ ||

moving as swiftly as thought, stand ready at his command.

येषां नोपरि नाधस्तान्न तिर्यक् सज्जते गतिः ।

yeṣāṃ nopari nādhastānna tiryak sajjate gatiḥ |

Their movement is blocked neither above, below nor across;

न च कर्मसु सीदन्ति महत्स्वमिततेजसः ॥

na ca karmasu sīdanti mahatsvamitatejasaḥ ||

of boundless energy, they do not tire in great undertakings.

असकृत् तैर्महोत्साहैः ससागरधराधरा ।

asakṛt tairmahotsāhaiḥ sasāgaradharādharā |

Those greatly energetic beings have repeatedly circled

प्रदक्षिणीकृता भूमिर्वायुमार्गानुसारिभिः ॥

pradakṣiṇīkṛtā bhūmirvāyumārgānusāribhiḥ ||

the earth with its seas and mountains, following the paths of the wind.

मद्विशिष्टाश्च तुल्याश्च सन्ति तत्र वनौकसः ।

madviśiṣṭāśca tulyāśca santi tatra vanaukasaḥ |

There are forest-dwellers greater than I and equal to me;

मत्तः प्रत्यवरः कश्चिन्नास्ति सुग्रीवसंनिधौ ॥

mattaḥ pratyavaraḥ kaścinnāsti sugrīvasaṃnidhau ||

none in Sugriva’s company is inferior to me.

अहं तावदिह प्राप्तः किं पुनस्ते महाबलाः ।

ahaṃ tāvadiha prāptaḥ kiṃ punaste mahābalāḥ |

If I have reached here, how much more those mighty ones!

नहि प्रकृष्टाः प्रेष्यन्ते प्रेष्यन्ते हीतरे जनाः ॥

nahi prakṛṣṭāḥ preṣyante preṣyante hītare janāḥ ||

The greatest are not sent as messengers; others are sent.

तदलं परितापेन देवि शोको व्यपैतु ते ।

tadalaṃ paritāpena devi śoko vyapaitu te |

Enough anguish, lady; let your sorrow depart.

एकोत्पातेन ते लङ्कामेष्यन्ति हरियूथपाः ॥

ekotpātena te laṅkāmeṣyanti hariyūthapāḥ ||

Those vanara commanders will reach Lanka in a single leap.

मम पृष्ठगतौ तौ च चन्द्रसूर्याविवोदितौ ।

mama pṛṣṭhagatau tau ca candrasūryāvivoditau |

Mounted on my back like the risen moon and sun,

त्वत्सकाशं महासङ्घौ नृसिंहावागमिष्यतः ॥

tvatsakāśaṃ mahāsaṅghau nṛsiṃhāvāgamiṣyataḥ ||

those lion-like men with their great forces will come to you.

तौ हि वीरौ नरवरौ सहितौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ।

tau hi vīrau naravarau sahitau rāmalakṣmaṇau |

Together those heroic foremost men, Rama and Lakshmana,

आगम्य नगरीं लङ्कां सायकैर्विधमिष्यतः ॥

āgamya nagarīṃ laṅkāṃ sāyakairvidhamiṣyataḥ ||

will come to Lanka and scatter it with their arrows.

सगणं रावणं हत्वा राघवो रघुनन्दनः ।

sagaṇaṃ rāvaṇaṃ hatvā rāghavo raghunandanaḥ |

After killing Ravana with his followers, Raghava, joy of Raghu’s line,

त्वामादाय वरारोहे स्वपुरीं प्रति यास्यति ॥

tvāmādāya varārohe svapurīṃ prati yāsyati ||

will take you, graceful lady, back to his city.

तदाश्वसिहि भद्रं ते भव त्वं कालकाङ्क्षिणी ।

tadāśvasihi bhadraṃ te bhava tvaṃ kālakāṅkṣiṇī |

Take comfort; may good attend you. Await that time.

नचिराद् द्रक्ष्यसे रामं प्रज्वलन्तमिवानलम् ॥

nacirād drakṣyase rāmaṃ prajvalantamivānalam ||

Before long you will see Rama, like a blazing fire.

निहते राक्षसेन्द्रे च सपुत्रामात्यबान्धवे ।

nihate rākṣasendre ca saputrāmātyabāndhave |

When the rakshasa king, his sons, ministers and kin are slain,

त्वं समेष्यसि रामेण शशाङ्केनेव रोहिणी ॥

tvaṃ sameṣyasi rāmeṇa śaśāṅkeneva rohiṇī ||

you will meet Rama as Rohini meets the moon.

क्षिप्रं त्वं देवि शोकस्य पारं द्रक्ष्यसि मैथिलि ।

kṣipraṃ tvaṃ devi śokasya pāraṃ drakṣyasi maithili |

Soon, lady of Mithila, you will see the far shore of sorrow

रावणं चैव रामेण द्रक्ष्यसे निहतं बलात् ॥

rāvaṇaṃ caiva rāmeṇa drakṣyase nihataṃ balāt ||

and Ravana overcome by Rama’s strength.

एवमाश्वास्य वैदेहीं हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ।

evamāśvāsya vaidehīṃ hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ |

Having thus reassured Vaidehi, Hanuman, the Wind’s son,

गमनाय मतिं कृत्वा वैदेहीं पुनरब्रवीत् ॥

gamanāya matiṃ kṛtvā vaidehīṃ punarabravīt ||

resolved to leave and addressed her once more:

तमरिघ्नं कृतात्मानं क्षिप्रं द्रक्ष्यसि राघवम् ।

tamarighnaṃ kṛtātmānaṃ kṣipraṃ drakṣyasi rāghavam |

“Soon you will see Raghava, self-controlled destroyer of foes,

लक्ष्मणं च धनुष्पाणिं लङ्काद्वारमुपागतम् ॥

lakṣmaṇaṃ ca dhanuṣpāṇiṃ laṅkādvāramupāgatam ||

and bow-bearing Lakshmana arrive at Lanka’s gate.

नखदंष्ट्रायुधान् वीरान् सिंहशार्दूलविक्रमान् ।

nakhadaṃṣṭrāyudhān vīrān siṃhaśārdūlavikramān |

Soon you will see heroic vanaras gathered, armed with nails and fangs,

वानरान् वारणेन्द्राभान् क्षिप्रं द्रक्ष्यसि संगतान् ॥

vānarān vāraṇendrābhān kṣipraṃ drakṣyasi saṃgatān ||

with the courage of lions and tigers, and the stature of great elephants.

शैलाम्बुदनिकाशानां लङ्कामलयसानुषु ।

śailāmbudanikāśānāṃ laṅkāmalayasānuṣu |

On Lanka’s Malaya slopes, noble lady, you will see many troops

नर्दतां कपिमुख्यानामार्ये यूथान्यनेकशः ॥

nardatāṃ kapimukhyānāmārye yūthānyanekaśaḥ ||

of foremost vanaras, mountain- and cloud-like, roaring.

स तु मर्मणि घोरेण ताडितो मन्मथेषुणा ।

sa tu marmaṇi ghoreṇa tāḍito manmatheṣuṇā |

Pierced in his heart by the fierce arrow of longing,

न शर्म लभते रामः सिंहार्दित इव द्विपः ॥

na śarma labhate rāmaḥ siṃhārdita iva dvipaḥ ||

Rama finds no peace, like an elephant harried by a lion.

रुद मा देवि शोकेन मा भूत् ते मनसो भयम् ।

ruda mā devi śokena mā bhūt te manaso bhayam |

Do not weep in sorrow, lady; let no fear dwell in your mind.

शचीव भर्त्रा शक्रेण सङ्गमेष्यसि शोभने ॥

śacīva bhartrā śakreṇa saṅgameṣyasi śobhane ||

Beautiful one, you will meet your husband as Shachi meets Indra.

रामाद् विशिष्टः कोऽन्योऽस्ति कश्चित् सौमित्रिणा समः ।

rāmād viśiṣṭaḥ ko’nyo’sti kaścit saumitriṇā samaḥ |

Who surpasses Rama, and who equals Saumitri?

अग्निमारुतकल्पौ तौ भ्रातरौ तव संश्रयौ ॥

agnimārutakalpau tau bhrātarau tava saṃśrayau ||

Those two brothers, like fire and wind, are your protectors.

नास्मिंश्चिरं वत्स्यसि देवि देशे

nāsmiṃściraṃ vatsyasi devi deśe

Lady, you will not remain long in this dreadful place

रक्षोगणैरध्युषितेऽतिरौद्रे ।

rakṣogaṇairadhyuṣite’tiraudre |

inhabited by bands of rakshasas.

न ते चिरादागमनं प्रियस्य

na te cirādāgamanaṃ priyasya

Your beloved’s arrival is not far off;

क्षमस्व मत्संगमकालमात्रम् ॥

kṣamasva matsaṃgamakālamātram ||

endure only until I have met him.”