अङ्गद-प्रत्यागमनम् — Angada’s Return and the Confirmation of Sītā’s Discovery
सुन्दरकाण्ड
Sarga 64 stages the transition from mission-completion to formal reporting and political reintegration. Dadhimukha, pleased by Sugrīva’s directive, offers salutations and moves between the Madhuvana episode and the courtly sphere, urging restraint and requesting pardon for earlier obstruction. Aṅgada, exercising leadership without arrogance, argues it is improper to linger after success and invites the troops’ consensus, explicitly refusing to command them despite his status as yuvarāja. The vanaras respond by praising his humility and insisting that movement is impossible without his order, after which the host rises into the sky with thunderous cries. Before their arrival, Sugrīva consoles the grief-stricken Rāma by inferential reasoning: the destruction of ancestral Madhuvana and Aṅgada’s confident demeanor indicate success; he further attributes the accomplishment uniquely to Hanumān. The sarga culminates in the direct report: Hanumān bows and states that Sītā has been seen and is physically well and steadfast in devotion to Rāma, bringing immediate joy to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa and public recognition of Hanumān’s decisive competence.
Verse 5.64.1
सुग्रीवेणैवमुक्तस्तु हृष्टो दधिमुखः कपिः।राघवं लक्ष्मणं चैव सुग्रीवं चाभ्यवादयत्।।।।
Thus addressed by Sugrīva, the monkey Dadhimukha, filled with joy, offered reverent salutations to Rāghava (Rāma), to Lakṣmaṇa, and to Sugrīva.
Verse 5.64.2
स प्रणम्य च सुग्रीवं राघवौ च महाबलौ।वानरैः सहितः शूरैर्दिवमेवोत्पपात ह।।।।
Having paid homage to Sugrīva and to the two mighty Rāghavas, he—accompanied by heroic vānara—leapt up into the sky.
Verse 5.64.3
स यथैवाऽगतः पूर्वं तथैव त्वरितं गतः।निपत्य गगनाद्भूमौतद्वनं प्रविवेश ह।।।।स प्रविष्टो मधुवनं ददर्श हरियूथपान्।विमदानुत्थितान्सर्वान् मेहमानान्मधूदकम्।।।।
In Hanūmān, O best of the wise, success and intelligence abide, along with resolve and valor—steadfast as radiance abides in the sun.
Verse 5.64.4
स यथैवाऽगतः पूर्वं तथैव त्वरितं गतः।निपत्य गगनाद्भूमौतद्वनं प्रविवेश ह।।5.64.3।।स प्रविष्टो मधुवनं ददर्श हरियूथपान्।विमदानुत्थितान्सर्वान् मेहमानान्मधूदकम्।।5.64.4।।
Then Rāghava, slayer of hostile champions, rejoicing with love, looked upon Hanumān with great esteem.
Verse 5.64.5
स तानुपागमद्वीरो बद्ध्वा करपुटाञ्जलिम्।उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णमिदं हृष्टवदङ्गदम्।।।।
That heroic one approached them with palms joined in reverence and spoke to Aṅgada gentle, conciliatory words, his joy plainly evident.
Verse 5.64.6
सौम्य रोषो न कर्तव्यो यदेतत्परिवारितम्।अज्ञानाद्रक्षिभिः क्रोधाद्भवन्तः प्रतिषेधिताः।।।।
“O gentle one, do not give way to anger over this obstruction. The guards, through ignorance and in a surge of wrath, tried to restrain you.”
Verse 5.64.7
युवराजस्त्वमीशश्च वनस्यास्य महाबल।मौर्ख्यात्पूर्वं कृतो दोषस्तं भवान् क्षन्तुमर्हति।।।।
“O mighty Aṅgada, you are the heir-apparent and the rightful lord of this forest. Through folly I earlier committed an offence; it is fitting that you forgive me that fault.”
Verse 5.64.8
आख्यातं हि मया गत्वा पितृव्यस्य तवानघ।इहोपयातं सर्वेषामेतेषां वनचारिणाम्।।।।
“O blameless prince, I went and informed your paternal uncle, and also all these forest-dwellers, that you have arrived here.”
Verse 5.64.9
स त्वदागमनं श्रुत्वा सहैभिर्हरियूथपैः।प्रहृष्टो न तु रुष्टोऽसौ वनं श्रुत्वा प्रधर्षितम्।।।।
Hearing of your arrival, he—together with these leaders of the Vānara hosts—was delighted, not angered, even after hearing that the grove had been damaged.
Verse 5.64.10
प्रहृष्टो मां पितृव्यस्ते सुग्रीवो वानरेश्वरः।शीघ्रं प्रेषय सर्वांस्तानिति होवाच पार्थिवः।।।।
“Your paternal uncle Sugrīva, lord of the Vānaras, was greatly delighted; and the king said to me, ‘Send them all quickly.’”
Verse 5.64.11
श्रुत्वा दधिमुखस्येदं वचनं श्लक्ष्णमङ्गदः।अब्रवीत्तान् हरिश्रेष्ठो वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः।।।।
Hearing these gracious words of Dadhimukha, Angada—the foremost of monkeys, skilled in speech—addressed them and spoke his reply.
Verse 5.64.12
शङ्के श्रुतोऽयं वृत्तान्तो रामेण हरियूथपाः।तत्क्षमं नेह नः स्थातुं कृते कार्ये परन्तपाः।।।।
“Leaders of the monkey-troops, I suspect Rāma has already heard this news. Since our mission is accomplished, O scorcher of foes, it is not proper for us to linger here.”
Verse 5.64.13
पीत्वा मधु यथाकामं विश्रान्ता वनचारिणः।किं शेषं गमनं तत्र सुग्रीवो यत्र मे गुरुः।।।।
“The forest-ranging Vānaras have drunk honey as they wished and have rested. What remains to be done here? Let us go to where Sugrīva, my lord, is.”
Verse 5.64.14
सर्वे यथा मां वक्ष्यन्ति समेत्य हरियूथपाः।तथास्मि कर्ता कर्तव्ये भवद्भिः परवानहम्।।।।
As all the leaders of the monkey-troops, assembled together, instruct me, so shall I act in what must be done; in this duty I am guided by your counsel.
Verse 5.64.15
नाज्ञापयितुमीशोऽहं युवराजोऽस्मि यद्यपि।अयुक्तं कृतकर्माणो यूयं धर्षयितुं मया।।।।
Though I am the heir-apparent, I am not entitled to command you. Since you have already accomplished the work, it would be improper for me to press or order you.
Verse 5.64.16
ब्रुवतश्चाङ्गदस्यैवं श्रुत्वा वचनमव्ययम्।प्रहृष्टमनसो वाक्यमिदमूचुर्वनौकसः।।।।
Having heard Angada speak in this manner—words of enduring worth—the forest-dwelling vānaras, delighted at heart, replied as follows.
Verse 5.64.17
एवं वक्ष्यति को राजन् प्रभुस्सन्वानरर्षभ।ऐश्वर्यमदमत्तो हि सर्वोऽहमिति मन्यते।।।।
O king—bull among vānaras—who, though a lord, would speak like this? For one intoxicated by power and prosperity commonly thinks, ‘I am everything.’
Verse 5.64.18
तव चेदं सुसदृशं वाक्यं नान्यस्य कस्यचित्।सन्नतिर्हि तवाख्याति भविष्यच्छुभयोग्यताम्।।।।
Such words are fitting for you alone, for no other. Indeed, your humility proclaims your worthiness for an auspicious future.
Verse 5.64.19
सर्वे वयमपि प्राप्तास्तत्र गन्तुं कृतक्षणाः।स यत्र हरिवीराणां सुग्रीवः पतिरव्ययः।।5.64.19।।
All of us, too, stand ready to go there at a moment’s notice—there where Sugrīva abides, the steadfast and imperishable lord of the vānara heroes.
Verse 5.64.20
त्वया ह्यनुक्तैर्हरिभिर्नैव शक्यं पदात्पदम्।क्वचिद्गन्तुं हरिश्रेष्ठ ब्रूमः सत्यमिदं तु ते।।।।
O best of vānara! Without your direction, the vānara cannot proceed even a single step anywhere. This we tell you in truth.
Verse 5.64.21
एवं तु वदतां तेषामङ्गदः प्रत्युवाच ह।बाढं गच्छाम इत्युक्त्वा खमुत्पेतुर्महाबलाः।।।।
As they spoke thus, Aṅgada replied, “So be it; let us go.” Having said this, the mighty vānara sprang up into the sky.
Verse 5.64.22
उत्पतन्तमनूत्पेतु स्सर्वे ते हरियूथपाः।कृत्वाकाशं निराकाशं यन्त्रोत्क्षिप्ता इवाचलाः।।।।
All those leaders of vānara troops sprang up after him, making the sky seem as though it were no sky at all—like rocks hurled from mountains by a mighty engine.
Verse 5.64.23
तेऽम्बरं सहसोत्पत्य वेगवन्तः प्लवङ्गमाः।विनदन्तो महानादं घना वातेरिता यथा।।।।
At once the swift plavaṅgamas sprang up into the sky, roaring with a mighty sound, like dense clouds driven by the wind.
Verse 5.64.24
अङ्गदे ह्यननुप्राप्ते सुग्रीवो वानराधिपः।उवाच शोकोपहतं रामं कमललोचनम्।।।।
Before Aṅgada had arrived, Sugrīva, lord of the vānaras, spoke to lotus-eyed Rāma, stricken with grief.
Verse 5.64.25
समाश्वसिहि भद्रं ते दृष्टा देवी न संशयः।नागन्तुमिह शक्यं तैरतीते समये हि नः।।।।
Be assured, Rāma—may good be yours. The queen has indeed been seen; there is no doubt. Yet since the appointed time has been exceeded, they cannot return here to us.
Verse 5.64.26
न मत्सकाशमागच्छेत्कृत्ये हि विनिपातिते।युवराजो महाबाहुः प्लवतां प्रवरोऽङ्गदः।।।।
Had the mission truly failed, the heir-apparent—strong-armed Aṅgada, foremost among the leapers—would not have come near me at all.
Verse 5.64.27
यद्यप्यकृतकृत्यानामीदृश स्स्यादुपक्रमः।भवेत्स दीनवदनो भ्रान्तविप्लुतमानसः।।।।
Even if those who had not accomplished their task were to return in this manner, he would appear downcast—his face dejected, his mind confused and unsettled.
Verse 5.64.28
पितृपैतामहं चैतत्पूर्वकैरभिरक्षितम्।न मे मधुवनं हन्यादहृष्टः प्लवगेश्वरः।।।।कौसल्यासुप्रजा राम समाश्वसिहि सुव्रत।
This Madhuvana is an inheritance, guarded since my father’s and grandfather’s time, protected by the elders. Had the lord of the monkeys, Aṅgada, not been filled with joy, he would not have harmed my Madhuvana. O Rāma, best son of Kausalyā, steadfast in noble vows—be assured and at peace.
Verse 5.64.29
दृष्टा देवी न सन्देहो न चान्येन हनूमता।।।।न ह्यन्यः कर्मणो हेतुस्साधनेऽस्य हनूमतः।
The queen has been seen—there is no doubt—and by none other than Hanūmān. Truly, there is no other power capable of accomplishing this task besides Hanūmān.
Verse 5.64.30
हनूमति हि सिद्धिश्च मतिश्च मतिसत्तमः।।।।व्यवसायश्च वीर्यं च सूर्ये तेज इव ध्रुवम्।
Where Jāmbavān stands as leader, Aṅgada as lord of strength, and Hanūmān as the guiding force, the outcome cannot be otherwise than success.
Verse 5.64.31
जाम्बवान्यत्र नेता स्यादङ्गदश्च बलेश्वरः।हनुमांश्चाप्यधिष्ठाता न तस्य गतिरन्यथा।।।।
Be not seized by anxiety now, you of boundless valor. Then he heard, nearby in the sky, the kīlakīlā clamor—the cries of the forest-dwellers, roaring with pride in Hanūmān’s deed—as though they were proclaiming success while drawing near to Kiṣkindhā.
Verse 5.64.32
मा भूश्चिन्तासमायुक्तस्सम्प्रत्यमितविक्रमः।।।।ततः किलकिलाशब्दं शुश्रावासन्नमम्बरे।हनुमत्कर्मदृप्तानां नार्धतां काननौकसाम्।।।।किष्किन्धामुपयातानां सिद्धिं कथयतामिव।
Do not be seized by anxiety now, O you of boundless valor. Then, close by in the sky, the chattering and roaring of the forest-dwelling monkeys—exulting in Hanūmān’s deed—was heard, as if they were proclaiming success while approaching Kiṣkindhā.
Verse 5.64.33
मा भूश्चिन्तासमायुक्तस्सम्प्रत्यमितविक्रमः।।5.64.32।।ततः किलकिलाशब्दं शुश्रावासन्नमम्बरे।हनुमत्कर्मदृप्तानां नार्धतां काननौकसाम्।।5.64.33।।किष्किन्धामुपयातानां सिद्धिं कथयतामिव।
Just as he had come earlier, so he went swiftly again. Dropping down from the sky onto the ground, he entered that grove. Having entered Madhuvana, he saw the monkey troop-leaders—all sobered and risen—voiding honeyed water.
Verse 5.64.34
ततश्श्रुत्वा निनादं तं कपीनां कपिसत्तमः।।।।आयताञ्चितलाङ्गूलस्सोऽभवद्धृष्टमानसः।
Hearing that roar of the monkeys, Sugrīva—the best among vānaras—became exultant, lifting and shaking his long tail in joy.
Verse 5.64.35
आजग्मुस्तेऽपि हरयो रामदर्शनकांक्षिणः।।।।अङ्गदं पुरतः कृत्वा हनूमन्तं च वानरम्।
Those vānaras too arrived, eager to behold Rāma, placing Aṅgada in the lead—and also Hanumān, foremost among monkeys.
Verse 5.64.36
तेऽङ्गदप्रमुखा वीराः प्रहृष्ठाश्च मुदान्विताः।।।।निपेतुर्हरिराजस्य समीपे राघवस्य च।
Those heroes, led by Aṅgada—rejoicing and filled with gladness—alighted near Sugrīva, king of the monkeys, and near Rāghava (Rāma) as well.
Verse 5.64.37
हनुमांश्च महाबाहुः प्रणम्य शिरसा ततः।।।।नियतामक्षतां देवीं राघवाय न्यवेदयत्।
Then mighty-armed Hanumān bowed his head in reverence and reported to Rāghava: “The divine Lady, steadfast in her fidelity, is unharmed.”
Verse 5.64.38
दृष्टा देवीति हनुमद्वदनादमृतोपमम्।।।।आकर्ण्य वचनं रामो हर्षमाप सलक्ष्मणः।
Hearing from Hanumān’s mouth the nectar-like words—“The Devī has been seen”—Rāma, along with Lakṣmaṇa, was filled with joy.
Verse 5.64.39
निश्चितार्थं ततस्तस्मिन् सुग्रीवं पवनात्मजे।।।।लक्ष्मणः प्रीतिमान् प्रीतं बहुमानादवैक्षत।
Then Lakṣmaṇa—affectionate and pleased—looked respectfully toward Sugrīva regarding the Wind-god’s son (Hanumān), convinced that the purpose had surely been achieved.
Verse 5.64.40
प्रीत्या च रममाणोऽथ राघवः परवीरहा।।।।बहुमानेन महता हनुमन्तमवैक्षत।
Entering Madhuvana, he saw all the leaders of the monkey troops—no longer intoxicated—standing up, while honey-water was being voided as they recovered from drink.