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 Return of Hanuman and other monkeys (Chapter 64)
- 15 Thinking about future action (Chapter 59)
- 16 Telling the happenings of Lanka
- 17 Destruction of Honey forest (Chapter 61)
- 18 Fear of the monkey (Chapter 55)
- 19 The crossing of the sea from Lanka (Chapter 56)
- 20 Reaching the northern shore of the sea (Chapter 57)
- 21 Avoiding of death of an emissary (Chapter 52)
This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki”
Forty-ninth Chapter
Seeing the prowess of Ravana
(Here Hanuman’s reaction on seeing Ravana is described. He feels but for Ravana’s bad qualities he would have been a very great person.)
The greatly valorous Hanuman became wonderstruck by his action and stared at the king of Rakshasas with reddish eyes. 1
(Hanuman felt bad that Ravana asked his ministers to question him instead of directly questioning him.)
Then Hanuman looked and saw the Valorous king of Rakshasas who shone with the extremely lustrous golden crown which was decorated by pearl garlands, who appeared imperial by wearing several golden ornaments in which several diamonds were struck and other precious stones were used, who wore very costly silk dress, who anointed himself with several scented sandal potions, who had several pretty designs drawn all over his body with red sandal paste, who had very red broad eyes which were horrible to look at and which stood out, who had great teeth which wee sharp and shined, who was shining like the Mandhara mountain which was full of wild animals, with his ten heads and hanging lips, who had a body like the black Anjana mountain, who was like the cloud with storks with his pearl necklace shining like full moon hanging over his chest, who was having hands which looked like the five headed serpent, on which he wore armlets, beautiful bangles and had applied sandal paste, who was sitting on majestic and pretty throne which was made of jade inlaid with several precious gems and on which was spread several broad pretty carpets, who was being assisted by several pretty lasses who were standing near him, who were well made up, and who were holding fans in their hands, who was surrounded by the four ministers Durdhara, Prahastha, Mahaparswa the rakshasa, and the very intelligent Nikumbha who all were very strong capable rakshasa counselors , who was served by other rakshasa ministers who knew the principle of holy chants, who were capable of showing him the right way and who served him like devas served Indra and who was full of royal looks like the cloud which surrounded the Meru mountain 2-14
(Ravana appeared with his ten heads only during war. Possibly he appeared with ten heads in his court in order to scare Hanuman)
Though he was very much troubled by the greatly valorous Rakshasas , he was greatly wonderstruck and kept on looking at the king of Rakshasas. 15
Hanuman after seeing that shining king of Rakshasas and being surprised by his power, thought as follows in his mind. 16
That intelligent Hanuman after observing the power of the very famous king of Rakshasas became thoughtful in various ways and thought, Ha, what a figure. ha, what a courage, ha, what a strength, ha what a dazzling power, it is very surprising that he is a combination of all these characteristics. If this strong god of Rakshasas has not been an unjust person, he would have been the protector of the world of devas including Indra. The entire world is afraid of him because of his cruel and fearless deeds, which are contradictory to the norms of the world. If he becomes angry, he would create a deluge and sink the world. 17-20
Thus ends the forty-ninth chapter of Sundara Kanda which is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written by Valmiki.
Read Next
Chapter 50: Prahastha questioning Hanuman
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…
Keep readingCrashing of hopes of Hanuman (Chapter 13)
This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Thirteenth (13th) Chapter Crashing of hopes of Hanuman (The worries of the very disappointed Hanuman are described graphically. At the end he sees a glimmer of hope when he sees the Asoka forest) After jumping from the Vimana on to the wall he was restless like…
Keep readingSeeing of good omens (Chapter 29)
This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Twenty-ninth (29th) Chapter Seeing of good omens (Good omens occurred to Sita who was consoled by those omens and gained more confidence) Good omens approached her who is faultless; who does forever good, who was mentally perturbed and who because of lack of happiness was terribly…
Keep readingThe arrival of Ravana (18th Chapter)
This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Eighteenth (18th) Chapter Arrival of Ravana (Here the description of the passionate Ravana who woke up and came to Asoka forest along with his wives to see Sita , is given. Ravana is described as valorous but spoiled by his passion and his women are…
Keep readingSundara Kandam-An introduction
AN INTRODUCTION TO SUNDER KAND. Sundara Kandam: An introduction INTRODUCTION TO SUNDARA KANDA P.R.Ramachander Sundara Kandam is the fifth section of Ramayana (the story of Lord Rama) written by Sage Valmiki and comprises 2885 verses spread in 68 chapters. Sundara, as we all know in the literary sense means ‘beautiful’ and ‘Kandam’, means ‘section’. The…
Keep readingTelling of the memento news and giving of the hair brooch (Chapter 65)
This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty-fifth Chapter Telling of the memento news and giving of the hair brooch (Hanuman then tells about the state of Sita and the messages sent by her and gave the hair brooch which was the memento given by her) They reached the Prsravana Mountains with its…
Keep readingSeeking clarifications of the message of Sita (Chapter 66)
This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty-sixth Chapter Seeking clarifications of the message of Sita ( Rama is upset to know about Sita and asks Hanuman to tell in detail what has been told by her. The pearl brooch brings to him memories of her, his father and father in law.) Rama…
Keep readingInforming the message of Sita (Chapter 67)
This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty-seventh Chapter Informing the message of Sita. (Hanuman again details the pitiable state of affairs of Sita. He also indicates the several doubts arising in her mind due to her not seeing any action from the part of Rama and Lakshmana.) Having been told by Rama…
Keep readingFurther news about the consolation of Sita (Chapter 68)
This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty-eighth Chapter Further news about consolation of Sita (Hanuman further relates about the doubts in Sita’s mind and how he gave a pep talk and encouraged her.) Hey lion among men, I who was in a haste to return , because of the love and nearness…
Keep readingHurting of the security staff of the forest (Chapter 62)
This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty second Chapter Hurting of the security staff of the forest (The guard of the garden, Dadhimuka who was the uncle of Sugreeva tried his best to stop the destruction of the honey forest. Angadha became very angry and hit him. Then Dadhimukha reached the presence…
Keep readingWords of Angadha (Chapter 60)
This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixtieth Chapter Words of Angadha (Angadha who is the crown prince and leader of the team tells his opinion as to what needs to be done. He feels that they should wage a war, destroy the Rakshasas and take Sita along with them. The wise Jambhavan…
Keep readingInforming about the destruction of the honey forest (Chapter 63)
This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty -third Chapter Informing about destruction of the honey forest (Dadhimuka along with his other security staff is not able to succeed and are ill treated by Angadha and other monkeys. So he reaches Sugreeva’s presence and complaints to him about the behavior of the monkeys.…
Keep readingReturn of Hanuman and other monkeys (Chapter 64)
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.…
Keep readingThinking about future action (Chapter 59)
This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Fifty-ninth Chapter Thinking about the future action (Hanuman then narrates the problems of Sita in Lanka in a graphical manner. He tells the other monkeys that as a virtuous woman she herself could kill Ravana but is not doing so, because it would bring bad fame…
Keep readingTelling the happenings of Lanka
This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Fifty-eighth Chapte Telling the happenings of Lanka (In this chapter Hanuman informs his monkey friends all that happened after he took off and till he returned. This chapter is the summary of all the previous 57 chapters of Sundara Kanda.) anuman and other very strong…
Keep readingDestruction of Honey forest (Chapter 61)
This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty -first Chapter Destruction of Honey forest (The monkeys start their return journey and reached the honey forest of Sugreeva. Being given permission to drink the honey, they destroy the forest , insult and hurt Dadhimuka who was the uncle of Sugreeva and in charge of…
Keep readingFear of the monkey (Chapter 55)
This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Fifty- fifth Chapter Fear of the monkey (After seeing the entire city burning, suddenly Hanuman feels that Sita also might have been destroyed. He curses himself for causing such an eventuality because of his anger .Rethinking about the several immortal happenings and overhearing Charanas who told…
Keep readingThe crossing of the sea from Lanka (Chapter 56)
This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Fifty- sixth Chapter Crossing of sea from Lanka (Hanuman took leave of Janaki and climbed to the top of Lamba Mountain, preparing himself to cross the ocean. He assumed his very big form and rose from the mountain to the north) Hanuman saluted Janaki who was…
Keep readingReaching the northern shore of the sea (Chapter 57)
This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Fifty- seventh Chapter Reaching the northern shore of the sea, (Hanuman crossed the ocean and was received by the monkeys with happiness. He informed them that he has seen Sita. He also told them about the pitiable but virtuous condition she was in.) Hanuman like a…
Keep readingAvoiding of death of an emissary (Chapter 52)
This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Fifty second Chapter Avoiding of death of an emissary (Vibishana with soft words of logic and justice advises Ravana that Hanuman should not be killed but can be punished in other ways) Vibishana thought it is wrong to sentence an emissary who has brought the message…
Keep reading