चूडामणि-दर्शनम् — Rama Receives Sita’s Token and Questions Hanuman
सुन्दरकाण्ड
Sarga 66 records the immediate affective and strategic impact of Hanumān’s successful return. On receiving Sītā’s token (the cūḍāmaṇi), Rāma presses it to his heart and weeps together with Lakṣmaṇa, marking the transition from anxious uncertainty to verified knowledge. Addressing Sugrīva and those present, Rāma identifies the jewel’s provenance—given by Janaka (Vaideha) at marriage and associated with familial sanctity—thereby establishing authenticity and intensifying remembrance. A sequence of similes articulates grief and recognition: the heart ‘melts’ like a cow’s milk flowing at the sight of its calf, and Sītā’s concealed radiance is compared to the autumn moon veiled by clouds. Rāma repeatedly urges Hanumān to recount Sītā’s words as life-sustaining ‘water’ for a thirsty person, underscoring the epistemic value of truthful testimony and the therapeutic function of message-bearing speech. The chapter culminates in urgency—Rāma’s inability to remain even a moment after learning her whereabouts—and in compassion-laden concern for Sītā’s fragility amid fearsome rākṣasas, framing the ethical imperative for swift, dharma-aligned action.
Verse 5.66.1
एवमुक्तो हनुमता रामो दशरथात्मज:।तं मणिं हृदये कृत्वा प्ररुरोद सलक्ष्मणः।।।।
Thus addressed by Hanumān, Rāma—the son of Daśaratha—pressed that jewel-token to his heart and wept, with Lakṣmaṇa beside him.
Verse 5.66.2
तं तु दृष्ट्वा मणिश्रेष्ठं राघव श्शोककर्शितः।नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यां सुग्रीवमिदमब्रवीत्।।।।
Surely her face—like the autumn moon freed from darkness—when covered over by cloud-like rākṣasas, does not shine forth as it should.
Verse 5.66.3
यथैव धेनु स्स्रवति स्नेहाद्वत्सस्य वत्सला।तथा ममापि हृदयं मणिरत्नस्य दर्शनात्।।।।
What did Sītā say? O Hanumān, tell me truly—tell me now. By that alone I shall live, like a sick man sustained by medicine.
Verse 5.66.4
मणिरत्नमिदं दत्तं वैदेह्याश्श्वशुरेण मे।वधूकाले यथाबद्धमधिकं मूर्ध्नि शोभते।।।।
What did my beloved say—she who is lovely and sweet-spoken, that noble lady now separated from me? O Hanumān, tell it to me.
Verse 5.66.5
अयं हि जलसम्भूतो मणिस्सज्जनपूजितः।यज्ञे परमतुष्टेन दत्तश्शक्रेण धीमता।।।।
This jewel, born from the waters and revered by the noble, was once given by wise Indra—delighted at a sacrifice (yajña)—to King Janaka; thus it became an honored family treasure.
Verse 5.66.6
इमं दृष्ट्वा मणिश्रेष्ठं यथा तातस्य दर्शनम्।अद्यास्म्यवगतस्सौम्य वैदेहस्य तथा विभोः।।।।
O noble one, on seeing this best of jewels, it is as though I behold my father—and likewise the mighty king of Videha—so vividly does this token bring them to mind.
Verse 5.66.7
अयं हि शोभते तस्याः प्रियाया मूर्ध्नि मे मणिः।अस्याद्य दर्शने नाहं प्राप्तां तामिव चिन्तये।।।।
This jewel indeed used to shine upon the head of my beloved; and now, merely by seeing it, I cannot but feel as though I have reached her herself.
Verse 5.66.8
किमाह सीता वैदेही ब्रूहि सौम्य पुनः पुनः।पिपासुमिव तोयेन सिञ्चन्ती वाक्यवारिणा।।।।
What did Sītā of Videha say? Tell me, noble one, again and again—watering me with the stream of her words, as water revives the thirsty.
Verse 5.66.9
इतस्तु किं दुःखतरं यदिमं वारिसम्भवम्।मणिं पश्यामि सौमित्रे वैदेहीमागतां विना।।।।
O Saumitri, what could be more painful than this—that I behold this jewel born of the waters, yet do not behold Vaidehī herself returned?
Verse 5.66.10
चिरं जीवति वैदेही यदि मासं धरिष्यति।क्षणं सौम्य न जीवेयं विना तामसितेक्षणाम्।।।।
But on seeing that finest jewel, Rāghava—worn down by grief, his eyes brimming with tears—spoke these words to Sugrīva.
Verse 5.66.11
नय मामपि तं देशं यत्र दृष्टा मम प्रिया।न तिष्ठेयं क्षणमपि प्रवृत्तिमुपलभ्य च।।।।
Just as a cow, out of affection for her calf, lets her milk flow at the calf’s sight, so too my heart melts on seeing this jewel-token.
Verse 5.66.12
कथं सा मम सुश्रोणी भीरुभीरु स्सती सदा।भयावहानां घोराणां मध्ये तिष्ठति रक्षसाम्।।।।
This jewel was given to Vaidehī by my father-in-law; fastened upon her at the time of our marriage, it shone all the more upon her head.
Verse 5.66.13
शारद स्तिमिरोन्मुक्तो नूनं चन्द्रं इवांबुधैः।आवृतं वदनं तस्या न विराजति राक्षसैः।।।।
If Vaidehī can endure for a month, that itself is a long time for her. But, dear one, I cannot live even for a moment without that dark-eyed lady.
Verse 5.66.14
किमाह सीता हनुमंस्तत्त्वतः कथयाद्य मे।एतेन खलु जीविष्ये भेषजेनातुरो यथा।।।।
Take me too to that place where you saw my beloved. Once I know where she is, I cannot remain here even for an instant.
Verse 5.66.15
मधुरा मधुरालापा किमाह मम भामिनी।मद्विहीना वरारोहा हनुमन् कथयस्व मे।।।।
How can my fair-hipped beloved—ever timid by nature—remain in the midst of those dreadful rākṣasas, fearsome in form?