सप्तदशः सर्गः
Hanuman Beholds Sita in the Ashoka Grove
दिदृक्षमाणो वैदेहीं हनुमान्मारुतात्मजः।स ददर्शाविदूरस्था राक्षसीर्घोरदर्शनाः।।5.17.4।।एकाक्षीमेककर्णां च कर्णप्रावरणां तथा।अकर्णां शङ्कुकर्णां च मस्तकोच्छ्वासनासिकाम्।।5.17.5।।अतिकायोत्तमाङ्गीं च तनुदीर्घशिरोधराम्।ध्वस्तकेशीं तथाऽकेशीं केशकम्बलधारिणीम्।।5.17.6।।लम्बकर्णललाटां च लम्बोदरपयोधराम्।लम्बोष्ठीं चुबुकोष्ठीं च लम्बास्यां लम्बजानुकाम्।।5.17.7।।ह्रस्वां दीर्घां तथा कुब्जां विकटां वामनां तथा।करालां भुग्नवक्त्रां च पिङ्गाक्षीं विकृताननाम्।।5.17.8।।
lambakarṇalalāṭāṃ ca lambodarapayodharām |
lambōṣṭhīṃ cubukōṣṭhīṃ ca lambāsyāṃ lambajānukām ||
അവൻ നെറ്റിയിലേക്കു തൂങ്ങുന്ന ചെവികളുള്ളവളെയും, തൂങ്ങുന്ന വയറും സ്തനങ്ങളും ഉള്ളവളെയും കണ്ടു; തളർന്ന അധരങ്ങളുള്ളവളെയും, അധരങ്ങൾ താടിവരെ എത്തുന്നവളെയും; നീണ്ട മുഖമുള്ളവളെയും, നീണ്ടു പുറത്തേക്കു തള്ളിനിൽക്കുന്ന മുട്ടുകളുള്ളവളെയും കണ്ടു.
While Hanuman was eager to observe Sita he saw many shedemons in ugly appearance close by her. One of them was oneeyed, another with a single ear, a third had ears covering the body, yet another had pointed (spikelike) ears, one was breathing through the nose on the head, one had long thin neck, one was hairless another had hair covering like a blanket. One of them had hanging ears on the forehead, another had big hanging lips, still another had long lips hanging up to the chin. So also one had protruding knees, one stunted, one tall, another had lips extending up to her chin, yet another was longfaced and another had long knees. There was one pigmy, one tall, one was humpbacked and another a dwarf.Similarly an ugly looking one, another with gaping mouth, still another with a distorted face, one with yellow eyes and one of deformed face were seen.
Dharma is the refusal to be swayed by appearances—Hanumān looks past terrifying externals to accomplish a truthful mission (finding Sītā).
The text continues the vivid depiction of the rākṣasī guards’ grotesque physical traits.
Determination—Hanumān continues to assess danger calmly to protect Sītā and serve Rāma.