Bhakti Arohan
ॐ

Sundarkand — Doha 8

Sita in the Ashoka Grove

Doha 8: Sita in the Ashoka Grove

Guided by Vibhishana, Hanuman finds Sita, thin and grieving, repeating Rama's virtues in her heart.

Verse 8.1

जानतहूँ अस स्वामि बिसारी। फिरहिं ते काहे न होहिं दुखारी॥ एहि बिधि कहत राम गुन ग्रामा। पावा अनिर्बाच्य बिश्रामा॥ १ ॥

jānatahūm̐ asa svāmi bisārī phirahiṁ te kāhe na hohiṁ dukhārī ehi bidhi kahata rāma guna grāmā pāvā anirbāchya biśhrāmā

Translation

"Those who know of such a Master and still forget him and wander elsewhere, why would they not be miserable?" Speaking this way of Rama's many virtues, he found a peace beyond words.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

"जो ऐसे स्वामी को जानते हुए भी उन्हें भूलकर भटकते हैं, वे दुखी क्यों न हों?" इस प्रकार राम के गुणों का वर्णन करते हुए उन्होंने अवर्णनीय विश्राम पाया।

Verse 8.2

पुनि सब कथा बिभीषन कही। जेहि बिधि जनकसुता तहँ रही॥ तब हनुमंत कहा सुनु भ्राता। देखी चहउँ जानकी माता॥ २ ॥

puni saba kathā bibhīṣhana kahī jehi bidhi janakasutā taham̐ rahī taba hanumaṁta kahā sunu bhrātā dekhī chahaum̐ jānakī mātā

Translation

Then Vibhishana told him everything about how Janaka's daughter was living there. Hanuman said, "Listen, brother, I want to see Mother Janaki."

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

फिर विभीषण ने वह सारी कथा कही कि जनकसुता वहाँ किस प्रकार रह रही थीं। तब हनुमान जी बोले, "भाई सुनो, मैं माता जानकी के दर्शन करना चाहता हूँ।"

Verse 8.3

जुगुति बिभीषन सकल सुनाई। चलेउ पवन सुत बिदा कराई॥ करि सोइ रूप गयउ पुनि तहवाँ। बन असोक सीता रह जहवाँ॥ ३ ॥

juguti bibhīṣhana sakala sunāī chaleu pavana suta bidā karāī kari soi rūpa gayau puni tahavām̐ bana asoka sītā raha jahavām̐

Translation

Vibhishana explained every step of the plan to him, and the son of the wind took his leave. Taking the same tiny form, he went on to the Ashoka grove where Sita was kept.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

विभीषण ने उन्हें सारी युक्ति समझा दी, और पवनपुत्र विदा लेकर चल पड़े। वही छोटा रूप धरकर वे उस अशोक वन में गए जहाँ सीता जी रहती थीं।

Verse 8.4

देखि मनहि महुँ कीन्ह प्रनामा। बैठेहिं बीति जात निसि जामा॥ कृस तनु सीस जटा एक बेनी। जपति हृदयँ रघुपति गुन श्रेनी॥ ४ ॥

dekhi manahi mahum̐ kīnha pranāmā baiṭhehiṁ bīti jāta nisi jāmā kṛisa tanu sīsa jaṭā eka benī japati hṛidayam̐ raghupati guna śhrenī

Translation

Seeing her, he bowed to her in his heart. The watches of the night were passing as she sat. Her body was thin, her hair matted into a single braid, and in her heart she was repeating the long list of Raghupati's virtues.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

उन्हें देखकर हनुमान जी ने मन ही मन प्रणाम किया। बैठे-बैठे ही रात के पहर बीतते जा रहे थे। उनका शरीर दुबला था, सिर पर जटाओं की एक वेणी थी, और वे हृदय में श्री रघुनाथ जी के गुणों का जप कर रही थीं।

Commentary

The single braid (eka beni) was the traditional sign of a wife separated from her husband, a vow not to dress her hair until they were reunited. Sita is not simply grieving; she is practising a kind of japa.

Verse 8.5

निज पद नयन दिएँ मन राम पद कमल लीन। परम दुखी भा पवनसुत देखि जानकी दीन॥ ८ ॥

nija pada nayana diem̐ mana rāma pada kamala līna parama dukhī bhā pavanasuta dekhi jānakī dīna

Translation

Her eyes were on her own feet, her mind absorbed in Rama's lotus feet. Seeing Janaki so wretched, the son of the wind was deeply grieved.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

आँखें अपने चरणों पर टिकी हैं और मन राम के चरणकमलों में लीन है। जानकी जी को इतनी दुखी देखकर पवनपुत्र बहुत दुखी हुए।

Commentary

Lowered eyes are a mark of modesty and inwardness; the eyes rest on her own feet while the mind rests on Rama's. This is the first time the tireless Hanuman is described as truly pained.

Contents
  1. Mangalacharan
  2. Doha 1: The Leap
  3. Doha 2: Surasa's Test
  4. Doha 3: First Sight of Lanka
  5. Doha 4: Lankini
  6. Doha 5: Searching the Palaces
  7. Doha 6: Meeting Vibhishana
  8. Doha 7: The Tongue among the Teeth
  9. Doha 8: Sita in the Ashoka Grove
  10. Doha 9: The Firefly and the Lotus
  11. Doha 10: Chandrahasa
  12. Doha 11: Trijata's Dream
  13. Doha 12: The Ring Falls
  14. Doha 13: Hanuman Reveals Himself
  15. Doha 14: Has He Forgotten Me?
  16. Doha 15: Rama's Message
  17. Doha 16: The Golden-Mountain Form
  18. Doha 17: Sita's Blessing
  19. Doha 18: Wrecking the Grove
  20. Doha 19: Meghanada and the Brahmastra
  21. Doha 20: In Ravana's Court
  22. Doha 21: On Whose Strength?
  23. Doha 22: The Envoy's Plea
  24. Doha 23: Wealth without Rama
  25. Doha 24: Punishment for the Envoy
  26. Doha 25: The Burning Tail
  27. Doha 26: Lanka Burns
  28. Doha 27: The Crest-Jewel
  29. Doha 28: The Return
  30. Doha 29: Before Rama
  31. Doha 30: Jambavan's Report
  32. Doha 31: Sita's Words
  33. Doha 32: A Debt That Cannot Be Repaid
  34. Doha 33: All by Your Glory
  35. Doha 34: The Boon of Devotion
  36. Doha 35: The March to the Sea
  37. Doha 36: Mandodari's Plea
  38. Doha 37: Flattering Counsel
  39. Doha 38: Vibhishana's Counsel
  40. Doha 39: Rama Is Not Merely a King
  41. Doha 40: Good Sense and Bad
  42. Doha 41: Vibhishana Is Cast Out
  43. Doha 42: Longing for Rama's Feet
  44. Doha 43: Sugriva's Suspicion
  45. Doha 44: The Vow of Refuge
  46. Doha 45: Vibhishana before Rama
  47. Doha 46: The Embrace
  48. Doha 47: Vibhishana's Hymn
  49. Doha 48: The Marks of a Devotee
  50. Doha 49: Vibhishana Crowned
  51. Doha 50: How to Cross the Ocean
  52. Doha 51: Before the Ocean
  53. Doha 52: The Spies Caught
  54. Doha 53: Ravana's Questions
  55. Doha 54: Shuka's Report
  56. Doha 55: Natural Heroes
  57. Doha 56: Lakshman's Letter
  58. Doha 57: Without Fear There Is No Love
  59. Doha 58: The Fire-Arrow
  60. Doha 59: The Ocean Surrenders
  61. Doha 60: Nala and Nila; Conclusion