We are traversing through the beautiful book in the beautiful country. At least, it might be co-incidental that I am percolating the epic through this medium while in U.S. As I was said by someone, U.S. is a beautiful country which I saw myself too and the familiarity with ‘Sundara Kanda’ in the Ramayana while in U.S. should resonate well with the land. The search for Sita has gone south and entered Lanka through Hanuman. He searches in every house, enters Ravana’s mansion, glances at the women lying in their sleep but finds no trace of Sita. Hanuman scans in the vast spaces of exteriors as well but fails to find her anywhere. After the futile attempt for some time and seeing that his noble mission isn’t going anywhere, he gets troubled by the thought of finding Sita alive amid dreadful Rakshasas. He gets extremely dejected and depressed at the prospect of failure and relaying the same to everyone else including Rama who are all pinning hopes on Hanuman. These are the testing times before something auspicious is going to happen for which he is going to be instrumental in re-uniting Rama with Sita by defeating Ravana. A little nudge and a great impetus in that direction is going to happen in the following chapters where he is going to find Sita in Ashoka gardens and everything else follows in a matter of time.
In chapter 15, Hanuman continues his search in the Ashoka garden for Sita. He sees an emaciated woman surrounded by demonesses. From Her radiance and manner of clothing etc, Hanuman recognizes Her to be Sita.
Hidden in the branches of the Simsapa, Hanuman feasted his eyes on the strikingly beautiful panorama. Bustling with every known bird, bush, tree and creeper there was no fruit or flower that was not seen in the glorious grove, irrespective of seasons. Scents that forever pervaded the air were heavenly, and the beauty of it all seemed to meander on and on, as far as the eye could see. Though his mind reveled in the beauty that lay before him, Hanuman's roving gaze never for a moment faltered in its search for Sita, suddenly it stilled and having stilled, refused to move. It rested on a mammoth temple-like structure supported by a thousand pillars and large as mount Kailas it soared towards the sky. With benches of gold, steps of coral and gems of every colour lending their dazzle to every pillar, post and dome, its brilliance was hard to behold.
Even as Hanuman stared in great wonder, there appeared in that glow a divine form and it was Sita's. It was she, the consort of Rama for whom he had crossed the ocean, for whom Rama pined and for whom Ravana had imperiled his very life. He recognized her for he had seen the wicked rakshasa abduct her. Unkempt and emaciated, her dark hair like a black serpent hung down her back in a single braid. Her woebegone face was tearstained, and her radiant beauty was veiled by sorrow just as a fire veiled by smoke. The harsh floor couched her slender body and startled eyes betrayed fear as Sita appeared like a timorous deer that had strayed into the midst of a pack of hungry wolves. With a strength born of her purity and chastity, Sita sat with her head bent and heart heavy. In spite of the turmoil that raged in her, the soft ethereal glow of her beauty buried under layers of mental and physical agony refused to desert her. Any vestige of doubt that Hanuman may have had of Sita's identity vanished when he recognized her jewels described by Rama. They were not on her person but tied to the branches of a nearby tree. "This certainly is Sita," said the thrill that ran through him, it is her whom Rama considers to be his better half, his love and his very life. 'Only her sublime beauty can match that of Rama's and though separated they still survive because they live in each other's hearts. Sita lives because she is a woman and has not the liberty to cast away her body, but Rama who has the freedom to do so, does not succumb to that temptation. How great must be his anguish and how intolerable the agony of having to continue living without his beloved consort. Rama who has done many difficult things has now achieved the impossible by surviving without Sita.'
In chapter 16, Hanuman is grief stricken seeing the plight of Sita, in that garden being surrounded by ogresses. He becomes firm in mind that She is indeed Sita, based on Her auspicious bodily marks.
Hanuman's grieving heart lauded Rama and Sita for their limitless qualities of virtue and his eyes filled with tears as he beheld Sita. Cherished by Rama, worshipped by Lakshmana, bound by an inexorable fate, he saw her striving to endure the storm of her woes. The chaste daughter of Janaka, celestially beautiful and glowing like molten gold, she was like the very goddess Lakshmi. Meditating upon Rama who was far away she was confident that he would someday rescue her. Robbed of her bliss and prisoner of her demon guard, Sita avoided looking at them, with their evil eyes and wicked ways. 'How can Sita bear such sorrow' fumed Hanuman, 'If the blood of fourteen thousand rakshasas soaked the floor of Janasthana, if many evil forces like Viradha were slain, if Vali perished, all because of Rama they deserved it. He did so, for the sake of his lotus- eyed consort. Even if Rama were to devastate the very earth with its many worlds and oceans he would be justified. When I, who am only an intermediary can feel such pain at the plight of this beautiful lady, how much more will be Rama's?' Certain that it was Sita, whom he was beholding, Hanuman sat sorrowfully among the dense foliage of the Simsapa tree.
In chapter 17, Hanuman sees Sita surrounded by ogresses and looks at different forms watching over.
Far above Lanka, like a swan dipping into dark waters, shimmering like a cluster of white lilies rode the moon casting its light on the earth below, as if to aid Hanuman in his search. In that soft glow, the Vanara messenger from Kishkindha saw the horrific forms that watched over Sita. Many were their shapes, different their hue and grotesque their bodies which evoked fear in their beholders. Hunch-backed and misshapen, with pendulous stomachs, protruding teeth and distorted faces, some among those masses had no ears, while some had pointed ears and the others had large enough ears to cover their heads. Noses were either large as elephant trunks or short snouts on top of their heads. Some had heads like those of elephant, horse, boar, dog or swine while some had feet like those of a donkey, camel, cow, elephant or horse. Knotty chins sported bristly hair, bald pates were bereft of any while coarse black hair completely covered some. Afflicted with every disfigurement, armed with clubs, maces and more roamed the grisly legions. Never satiated and ever hungry, gorging on piles of flesh and pots of wine, their nature was cruel and their flesh eating, blood drinking traits demonic.
Among that rabble sat Sita, a captive of Ravana, lord of the rakshasas. Haunted by fear, looking around like a startled deer, her hot sighs threatened to scorch the tender leaves of trees. Stripped of all her jewels, decked only in her love for Rama she wept in her lonely sorrow. Though her radiance had paled, clothes soiled and hair unkempt, there was about her an unshakeable conviction that Rama's might one day will free her. Hanuman beheld that embodiment of patience and beauty, who though bereft of all finery was still beautiful, because her slender golden limbs were more ornamental than any jewel. His eyes brimmed with tears of joy for having at last found Sita. Mentally prostrating to Rama in gratitude, he moved deeper into the shadows to keep away from prying eyes.
In chapter 18, Hanuman sees Ravana entering Ashoka garden with a retinue of his wives following him.
During the dark hours of predawn, from his shelter in the boughs Hanuman heard the chant of the Vedas by the Brahmins among the rakshasas. Soon one more day dawned on the island kingdom of Lanka and in the palace woke up its ruler to sounds of music. Even as Ravana came awake from his slumber, memories of Sita rose in him like ripples in water. And on the wings of those memories flew Ravana who could not control the impious passion that possessed his soul. His jewels, his garlands and his clothes were in disarray. His mind was still clouded from a night of intoxicating drinks, but the infatuation which was driving him, made him oblivious of all norms of decorum. A bevy of beautiful women followed their master, bearing fans, umbrellas, torches, water pitchers and scented lamps. The wives of Ravana who were in equal disarray traipsed behind him. Red eyed with sleep and languid in the aftermath of night- long revelry they came in Ravana's wake with unsteady gait. Loosened tresses shed flowers and beads of sweat glistened on their foreheads but Ravana unmindful of them all strode along relentlessly. Hanuman witnessed the arrival of Ravana whose power and might were inconceivable. He beheld the glowing bejeweled form enter with an arrogance in his stride and lust in his roving red eyes. His carelessly draped shawl white as the ocean's foam trailed behind him, a symbol of his haste and impatience. Bedazzled by the radiance and power that Ravana exuded, Hanuman clambered down to view his enemy better but quickly scurried back intimidated by Ravana's fierce glow. From his safe perch he watched Ravana walk towards Sita eager to behold the beauty from Ayodhya with her dark lotus eyes, soft lips, slender waist and full hips.
In chapter 19, Valmiki describes the plight of Sita in Ashoka garden in detail.
Beholding Ravana radiant in his youthful pride and dazzling in his finery approach her, Sita shook with fear. Drawing her knees to her chest which covered most of her body, resting her chin on them, she wept. A picture of abject misery, victim of Ravana's cruelty and cunningness, she appeared like an eclipsed moon robbed of its luminance. Her fear-filled eyes searched frantically for help and deliverance from the terror in which she was caught. Though wan, worn and flung on the floor like a lotus plucked rudely and discarded thoughtlessly, Sita failed to evoke the slightest of pity from the demon king. The amorous fiend, prey to his unbridled passions and impious desires, was totally blind to her grief. Sita's thoughts raced to Rama like swift footed horses as if to reach towards the intangible and unreachable beyond where lay safety and security. Afraid, emaciated and exhausted in body and mind, she prayed for the humiliation of Ravana at Rama's hands, even as Ravana embarked on winning her over with sweet words.
In chapter 20, Ravana entices Sita with wealth, gems, sovereignty over all his wives.
Even as Sita sat huddled and woebegone, Ravana kept declaring his undying love for her, pleading, "Why do you hide your body from me Sita? Beautiful are your eyes and beautiful your limbs. You, who are the joy of the world and the love of my life, have nothing to fear from me, nor from anyone else on this earth, be it man or rakshasa." "Rakshasas are permitted to carry away women by force and consort with the wives of other men. Though our race does not condemn, but condones such acts as meritorious, I, Ravana will not touch you against your will. But do save me from the ravages of my desire. It does not become you who are the jewel among woman to wear no jewels. Vigils and fasts are not your lot. The single braid, these soiled clothes and your sleeping on the floor do not become you. Anointed with priceless unguents, robed in finery, bejeweled with celestial ornaments, you should be reveling with me, eating the best of food and drinking the best of wine. Rama can never equal me either in penance or strength. Accept me and all things heavenly will be yours. I lay at your feet, not only my kingdom, my possessions and my wealth, but also myself whom even the gods cannot face. Many a time have I trampled on their royal standards in many fields. Think of my power, my glory and my strength. I will conquer the entire earth and bestow it upon Janaka for your sake. What do you see in Rama who wanders in the jungles? Bereft of wealth and victory he leads the life of an ascetic, wearing bark and sleeping on the harsh forest floor. I doubt if he is even alive. Thousands are my wives who are the best and most beautiful of the earth, and they will serve you. Come, be my love and my chosen queen." Ravana warned saying, Sita, you will never again see Rama, nor will he ever get you away from me. Youth is transient and like the flowing waters, is gone forever, never to return. There is none more beautiful than you on this earth. My eyes rivet and refuse to move away from any limb of your body that they behold. Exhausted after having created you to such impeccable perfection, Brahma creates no more perhaps. I cannot take my eyes off your mesmeric beauty, which even the creator would find irresistible. Rich as Kubera am I and many are the worlds that I have won, make me your lord and enjoy them all. Forget Rama who can never equal me in neither splendor penance nor might. Come be mine, Janaki, I will give you the earth and all its riches. Wine, dine and be merry. Let us revel on the golden shores of the sea and in gorgeous green groves."
This concludes chapters 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 of Sundara Kanda where we had seen Hanuman entering Ashoka Garden and finally locate Sita after exhaustive search by many a men for many a days. Igniting a ray of hope, Hanuman found Sita, a jewel among women, a model for every women, survived by her chastity and purity in the middle of dangerous surroundings. Her purity and chastity were her strength which repulsed and kept the demon head Ravana at bay for days. The chaste daughter of Janaka, celestially beautiful and glowing like molten gold, she was like the very goddess Lakshmi who possessed innumerable qualities and virtues. A look at Sita in her woeful state surrounding by disfigured demonesses anguished Hanuman. He also watched over Ravana entering Ashoka grove, approach Sita to please her and accept him. Many a persuasions and many a boasts are Ravana’s who feels matchless in the beauty of Sita and in the power, glory and strength of his own. He brazenly claims the abduction as meritorious and never implies to touch against her will. Playing with the fire, trying to impress, unable to predict his downfall and lost in his unbridled desires, he continues to reflect his glory in the lost delusions. How he was brought into reality by a reprimand and a gentle reply by Sita and how she was frightened by the ogresses and her lonely hopelessness can be seen in subsequent chapters.
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