सुन्दरकाण्डे एकत्रिंशः सर्गः — Hanuman’s Sweet Address to Sita and Sita’s Recognition
सुन्दरकाण्ड
This sarga stages the controlled disclosure of identity: after internal deliberation (bahuvidhā cintā), Hanumān begins speaking in a sweet, confidence-building register to Vaidehī. He summarizes the Ikṣvāku lineage and Daśaratha’s royal virtues, then characterizes Rāma as the foremost archer and protector of dharma, establishing credibility through accurate royal genealogy and ethical profile. He recounts the forest exile, the Janasthāna conflict and the deaths of Khara and Dūṣaṇa, and frames Sītā’s abduction as Rāvaṇa’s retaliatory act executed through māyā (the deer-form deception). He narrates Rāma’s alliance with Sugrīva, Vālin’s death, and the mobilization of thousands of kāmarūpin vānaras to search all directions. Hanumān then situates his own ocean-leap as mission evidence, claims he has found the very Sītā described by Rāma, and pauses. Sītā, astonished, cautiously surveys the surroundings, looks toward the śiṃśupā tree, and finally beholds Vāyu’s son—Sugrīva’s minister—radiant like the rising sun, experiencing renewed joy while remembering Rāma.
Verse 5.31.1
एवं बहुविधां चिन्तां चिन्तयित्वा महाकपिः।संश्रवे मधुरं वाक्यं वैदेह्या व्याजहार ह।।।।
Hearing of the slaughter at Janasthāna and the fall of Khara and Dūṣaṇa, Rāvaṇa, seized by wrath, abducted you, O Jānakī—after deceiving Rāma in the forest by an illusion in the form of a deer.
Verse 5.31.2
राजा दशरथो नाम रथकुञ्जरवाजिमान्।पुण्यशीलो महाकीर्तिरिक्ष्वाकूणां महायशाः।।।।
Looking sideways, upward, and downward, she beheld him—of inconceivable intelligence—Hanumān, minister of the tawny-hued lord of monkeys, the son of the Wind-god, radiant like the rising sun.
Verse 5.31.3
राजर्षीणां गुणश्रेष्ठस्तपसा चर्षिभि स्समः।चक्रवर्तिकुले जातः पुरन्दरसमो बले।।।।
Among royal sages he was the most virtuous; in austerity he was equal to the seers. Born in the line of emperors, he was in might like Purandara (Indra).
Verse 5.31.4
अहिंसारतिरक्षुद्रो घृणी सत्यपराक्रमः।मुख्यश्चेक्ष्वाकुवंशस्य लक्ष्मीवान् लक्ष्मिवर्धनः।।।।
He delighted in non-violence, was magnanimous and compassionate, and his valor was founded on truth. A foremost of the Ikṣvāku line, he was prosperous—and an increaser of prosperity.
Verse 5.31.5
पार्थिवव्यञ्जनैर्युक्तः पृथुश्रीः पार्थिवर्षभः।पृथिव्यां चतुरन्तायां विश्रुतस्सुखदस्सुखी।।।।
Endowed with the marks of kingship and broad prosperity, he was a bull among rulers. Across the four-bounded earth he was famed—happy himself, and a giver of happiness to others.
Verse 5.31.6
तस्य पुत्रः प्रियो ज्येष्ठस्ताराधिपनिभाननः।रामो नाम विशेषज्ञः श्रेष्ठ स्सर्वधनुष्मताम्।।।।
His beloved eldest son was named Rāma, moon-faced; skilled in discernment and knowledge, he was the foremost among all who bear the bow.
Verse 5.31.7
रक्षिता स्वस्य धर्मस्य स्वजनस्य च रक्षिता।रक्षिता जीवलोकस्य धर्मस्य च परन्तपः।।।।
A scorcher of foes, he is a protector of his own dharma and of his people; indeed he protects all living beings—and safeguards righteousness itself.
Verse 5.31.8
तस्य सत्याभिसन्धस्य वृद्धस्य वचनात्पितुः।सभार्यस्सह च भ्रात्रा वीरः प्रव्राजितो वनम्।।।।
To honor the word of his aged father—steadfast in truth—that hero went into exile in the forest, together with his wife and his brother.
Verse 5.31.9
तेन तत्र महारण्ये मृगयां परिधावता।राक्षसा निहताश्शूरा बहवः कामरूपिणः।।।।
There, in that great wilderness, as he ranged about in the hunt, many warrior Rākṣasas—shapeshifters at will—were slain by him.
Verse 5.31.10
जनस्थानवधं श्रुत्वा हतौ च खरदूषणौ।ततस्त्वमर्षापहृता जानकी रावणेन तु।।।।वञ्चयित्वा वने रामं मृगरूपेण मायया।
Having heard of the slaughter at Janasthāna and that Khara and Dūṣaṇa had been slain, Rāvaṇa, inflamed with anger, abducted you, O Jānakī—after deceiving Rāma in the forest by an illusion, taking the form of a deer.
Verse 5.31.11
स मार्गमाणस्तां देवीं रामस्सीतामनिन्दिताम्।।।।आससाद वने मित्रं सुग्रीवं नाम वानरम्।
There was a king named Daśaratha, abounding in chariots, elephants, and horses—virtuous in conduct, widely renowned, and a great glory of the Ikṣvāku line.
Verse 5.31.12
तत स्स वालिनं हत्वा रामः परपुरञ्जयः।।।।प्रायच्छत्कपिराज्यं तत्सुग्रीवाय महाबलः।
While searching in the forest for that goddess-like, blameless Sītā, Rāma encountered a vānara named Sugrīva and gained him as a friend.
Verse 5.31.13
सुग्रीवेणापि सन्दिष्टा हरयः कामरूपिणः।।।।दिक्षु सर्वासु तां देवीं विचिन्वन्ति सहस्रशः।
Then Rāma—mighty, a conqueror of enemy strongholds—slew Vālin and bestowed upon Sugrīva the sovereignty of the vānara.
Verse 5.31.14
अहं सम्पातिवचनाच्छतयोजनमायतम्।।।।अस्या हेतोर्विशालाक्ष्याः सागरं वेगवान्प्लुतः।
Commanded by Sugrīva, thousands of monkeys—able to assume forms at will—searched for that noble lady in every direction.
Verse 5.31.15
यथारूपां यथावर्णां यथालक्ष्मीवतीं च निश्चिताम्।।।।अश्रौषं राघवस्याहं सेयमासादिता मया।
Guided by Sampāti’s words, I swiftly leapt across the ocean—spanning a hundred yojanas—for the sake of that large-eyed lady.
Verse 5.31.16
विररामैवमुक्त्वासौ वाचं वानरपुङ्गवः।।।।जानकी चापि तच्छ्रुत्वा परं विस्मयमागता।
Just as I had heard from Rāghava—her form, her complexion, her radiance and beauty—so indeed she is; I have found her here.
Verse 5.31.17
ततस्सा वक्रकेशान्ता सुकेशी केशसंवृतम्।।।।उन्नम्य वदनं भीरुश्शिंशुपावृक्षमैक्षत।
Having spoken thus, that foremost of monkeys fell silent; and Jānakī, hearing those words, was filled with profound astonishment.
Verse 5.31.18
निशम्य सीता वचनं कपेश्च दिशश्च सर्वाः प्रदिशश्च वीक्ष्य।स्वयं प्रहर्षं परमं जगाम सर्वात्मना राममनुस्मरन्ती ।।।।
Then that timid lady, with lovely hair curling at its ends, lifted her face—veiled by her tresses—and looked toward the śiṃśupā tree.
Verse 5.31.19
सा तिर्यगूर्ध्वं च तथाप्यधस्तान्निरीक्षमाणा तमचिन्त्यबुद्धिम्।ददर्श पिङ्गाधिपतेरमात्यं वातात्मजं सूर्यमिवोदयस्थम्।।।।
Hearing the monkey’s words, Sītā looked to all directions and quarters; and remembering Rāma with her whole being, she herself attained the highest joy.