Episode 15 - Anjaneya comes down from the tree and talks to Sita

Anjaneya appeared to Sita as bright as the lightning and his eyes were like heated gold. Sita was shell-shocked for a moment and began to cry, calling the names of Rama and Lakshmana. As Anjaneya was approaching her, she thought that it was all, perhaps, a dream. Again, she thought that as she was always absorbed in the thought of Rama, she was seeing and hearing only things relating to him. She also wished that the monkey and its message should be real and prayed to the gods accordingly.

Anjaneya drew near to Sita, bowed to her in all humility and began to address her thus: “Who are you lady, with eyes like lotus petals and worn-out clothes, holding the branch of the tree? Why are your eyes filled with tears? Have you offended your husband and come over here? Are you crying over the death of your husband or son or some other relative? From your features, you appear to hail from a royal family.”

Anjaneya continued: “If you are Sita, kidnapped by Ravana from Janasthan, kindly inform me. Your pitiable condition, your dress denoting your penance and your extraordinary beauty certainly point to your being Rama's Consort.”

Sita, pleased with Anjaneya's reference to Rama, responded thus: “Yes, I am a daughter-in-law of Dasaratha, the greatest King on Earth, and the daughter of the noble King Janaka of Videha. I am known by the name Sita, the enlightened Rama's wife.

“After we had a 12-year luxurious life in the palace, the King was preparing for Rama's coronation. On that occasion, Queen Kaikeyi reminded the King that he had to fulfill his pending promises and accordingly, she wished that he should send Rama away to the forest and install Bharata, her own son, on the throne. Otherwise, she threatened that she would die. Dasaratha swooned on hearing the cruel wishes of his queen. But as he was truthful, he had no choice except to avoid Rama's coronation and send him to the forest. Accordingly, Rama gladly took his father's word to heart as being sweeter than coronation and announced his readiness to leave for the forest.”

“Rama's nature is such that he doesn't say anything unpleasant to anyone and does not receive but only confers gifts and favours on others. He, therefore, left all his possessions behind, turned his mind away from the kingdom and commended me to the care of his mother. But without Rama, even Heaven means nothing to me and therefore, I decided to accompany my husband into the forest. Lakshmana, his brother, did not lag behind and he was already dressed in clothes made of barks of trees appropriate to forest life of penance, ready to go with Rama.”

All the three of us entered the Dandaka forest according to the King's command and were adhering to the discipline of sacred Vanavasa (forest life). However, Ravana, the wicked Rakshasa, has kidnapped me and held me captive here. I have only two months' time to live, granted by Ravana. Beyond that, my life will come to an end.”

Anjaneya heard Sita, who was being entangled in one grief after another. He began to console her thus: “O Vaidehi! I am the emissary of Rama who wants to know your welfare. Lakshmana, follower of Rama, salutes and bows to you.”

Sita was immensely pleased to hear about the welfare of Rama and Lakshmana and responded to Anjaneya; “The belief that if man is alive, he will reap happiness even after a hundred years, appears to be good and true.”

As confidence developed between Anjaneya and Sita, Anjaneya, in his attempt to console her, began to move closer to her. As he moved nearer and nearer, Sita became more and more suspicious, mistaking him to be Ravana himself in disguise. She regretted that she had ever opened up her mind to him and was feeling helpless and sat down.

Anjaneya, not knowing what to do, saluted her. Sita, recovering a little bit, spoke to Anjaneya thus: “If you are Ravana in disguise, you are again creating trouble for me and this is not good for you. You are the same Ravana that appeared before me in Janasthan in the guise of a hermit and kidnapped me. I am already emaciated by fasting and am in a hopeless condition. It is no good of you to heighten my misery by further mischief. However, as by your presence, I have felt some joy, you are probably not Ravana. If you are really Rama's messenger, may you be safe and prosper! I wish to hear more from you about Rama and his traits.”

It may be added that by further questioning Anjaneya, Sita wanted to have his identity confirmed , in addition to receiving the pleasure of more and more news about her husband, Rama.