Return of Hanuman and other monkeys (Chapter 64)

Contents

1 Read Next
2 Searching inside the Asoka forest (Chapter 14)
3 Crashing of hopes of Hanuman (Chapter 13)
4 Seeing of good omens (Chapter 29)
5 The arrival of Ravana (18th Chapter)
6 Sundara Kandam-An introduction
7 Telling of the memento news and giving of the hair brooch (Chapter 65)
8 Seeking clarifications of the message of Sita (Chapter 66)
9 Informing the message of Sita (Chapter 67)
10 Further news about the consolation of Sita (Chapter 68)
11 Hurting of the security staff of the forest (Chapter 62)
12 Words of Angadha (Chapter 60)
13 Informing about the destruction of the honey forest (Chapter 63)
14 Thinking about future action (Chapter 59)
15 Telling the happenings of Lanka
16 Destruction of Honey forest (Chapter 61)
17 Fear of the monkey (Chapter 55)
18 The crossing of the sea from Lanka (Chapter 56)
19 Reaching the northern shore of the sea (Chapter 57)
20 Avoiding of death of an emissary (Chapter 52)
21 Sunderkand: Setting fire to the tail of Hanuman (Chapter 53)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki”

Sixty- fourth Chapter

Return of Hanuman and other monkeys

(Hanuman and other monkeys return back to Kishkinda and inform the good news of having found Sita and her being virtuous.)

Thus told by Sugreeva, at that time the well pleased Dadhimuka saluted Raghava, Lakshmana and Sugreeva. 1

After saluting the very strong Raghava and Sugreeva, he rose up in the sky along with his valorous monkeys. 2

He returned by the path by which he came and went with the same speed, jumped from the sky and entered the forest. 3

After reaching the honey forest he saw that all the monkeys have got rid of the effect of honey and saw them urinating the honey and water drunk by them. 4

(Tthis is typical about the effects of alcohol but interpreters say that the effect of honey also is similar)

That hero went near them. He then addressed Angadha with folded hands and with clear mind and told the following willing words. 5

Hey peaceful master, you were prevented by the watchmen due to their ignorance. Please do not get angry that they did not give you respect befitting your status. 6

Hey very strong one, being the crown prince you are the owner of this forest. The crime in not recognizing this was committed because of ignorance. Please pardon this. 7

Hey blameless one, I ran and have informed your father’s brother about the arrival of you along with all these monkeys.. 8

He became extremely pleased to know about your safe arrival along with the monkeys.Even after hearing that the forest was destroyed, he did not become angry. 9

Sugreeva who is the king of all monkeys and also your father’s brother ordered me, Send all of them immediately to this place. 10

Angadha the monkey chief who was great among those who have great control over words, hearing these sweet words of Dadhimuka told thus to the other monkey chiefs. 11

Hey, Chiefs of monkeys, I understand that the above news has come from Rama. So hey, monkeys who always win over their enemies, we should not waste our time in unnecessary work here and cause delay. 12

Hey monkeys, Have you not drunk sufficient honey and taken rest. Let us all go to the place where my father Sugreeva is there. What else can be done now ? 13

(Can also be translated as What else is remaining except going to Sugreevaâ€™s presence)

Hey monkey chiefs, since I am to obey your wishes, all of you please decide and tell me , what has to be done so that I will do accordingly. 14

Since you have completed the job entrusted to you, it is not proper for me to command you. So even though I am the crown prince, I do not think that I posses the power to command you. 15

Hearing these blemish less words of Angadha the monkeys became very happy and replied thus. 16

Hey king of monkeys, which boss will tell us thus? Because people intoxicated with wealth would consider that they are everything. 17

These words are well suited to a great one like you. It cannot come from any one else. These herald the great positions which you are going to occupy. 18

We, who are waiting for commands from you to go to the place where Sugreeva who is the king of all monkeys and who is capable of right action, have all become ready. 19

Unless you give leave none of the monkeys can take even step to go anywhere. Hey, monkey chief, we are telling this truthfully. 20

When they told like this Angadha told, Yes, let us go. Hearing this, those very strong monkeys jumped and rose in to the sky. 21

All those monkey warriors darkened the entire sky and went one after the other like the stones thrown in to the sky by catapults. 22

Those very fast monkeys traveling swiftly in the sky made sounds like the clouds hit by wind. 23

When Angadha was nearing the place , the monkey king Sugreeva told thus and consoled Rama who was sad and had lotus like eyes. 24

Good news to you. There is no doubt that the holy lady has been found out for they all dare not come back here after the stipulated date . 25

Without completing the job, Angadha who is greatest among monkeys, who is a great hero and who is the crown prince will definitely not return. 26

Suppose they have not completed the job entrusted they would be afraid and come with a faded face. 27

Suppose the monkey chief Angadha is not enthusiastic he will never dare to destroy the forest founded by my father and grand father and protected by my elders. 28

(Riksha Yajas was the son of Brahma and when he took a dip pond in Brahma Loka he became a female monkey. Bali and Sugreeva were born to him as a result of love with Indra and Sun God. He later became male and brought up Bali and Sugreeva. The honey forest was given to him by his father Brahma .So the above can be translated as â€œthe forest given by my grand father to my father.)

So Rama , who is the darling son of Kausalya (Son who was born to Kausalya because of her luck) and who has observed all suitable penances, console yourself. There is no doubt that Hanuman and nobody else has found out the holy lady. 29

(There is an interpretation that Kausalya is indeed lucky that Sita has been found out for otherwise Rama would not live Please also note that this phrase has been borrowed and put in the Venkatesa Suprabhatham.)

Hey very knowledgeable one , there is none except Hanuman who can complete this job for only in Hanuman, the necessary efficiency, wisdom, determination and valour permanently exist similar to the brilliance which exists with the Sun God. 30

Not only that, In any mission where Angadha is the head, Jambhavan is the leader and Hanuman is there to decide what aspect has to be done by whom and when it is to be done, the result cannot be other than expected. So, Hey great hero, do not be immersed in sorrow. 31-32

(Please note that stanza 31 occurs in many places without much change.)

Then talking to each other as if they were proud of Hanuman’s success and are coming to inform the success of their mission, the monkeys neared Kishkinda and the sound of their prattling (Kilu kila sound) was heard in the sky. 33

Hearing the sound of the monkeys that great monkey chieftain straightened his curved tail and became very happy. 34

Those monkeys who were desirous of seeing Rama arrived pushing Hanuman to their front. 35

Angadha and other warriors who were full of joy and had a smiling face got down near the monkey king and Raghava. 36

Then the great hero Hanuman saluted Raghava with a bent head and informed in short the news of the virtue of Sita being pure without even an atom like blemish. 37

Rama along with Lakshmana hearing the nectar like words, thatâ€Sita has been found from the mouth of Hanuman became very happy. 38

Because of that Sugreeva became very happy at the determined efficiency of Hanuman and Lakshmana examined him with love mingled with respect. 39

Then Raghava who was the killer of his enemies became happy and also saw him with respectful affection 40

Thus ends the sixty fourth chapter of Sundara Kanda which is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written by Valmiki.

Searching inside the Asoka forest (Chapter 14)

Fourteenth Chapter Searching inside the Asoka forest (Graphic description of the Asoka forest as seen by Hanuman is given. Seeing the forest Hanuman decides that Sita should definitely visit there because she likes the forest and also needs to do her morning ablations) The very powerful Hanuman after thinking for some more time and after…

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