Episode 18 - Conversation between Sita and Anjaneya continues. Delivery of signet jewel

Having heard Hanuman, Sita spoke to him words pregnant with Dharma (righteousness) and Artha (meaning/purpose). “O Vanara! The message that Rama is not attached to anyone else but that he is full of grief is like nectar tinged with poison. O great Vanara! See how Rama, Lakshmana and I are all full of trouble. Destiny is surely inescapable. Rama is like a ship-wrecked sailor and I don't now when he can reach the shore. When will he destroy Lanka together with the Rakshasas and join me?”

“As per a message sent by Vibhishana through his daughter, he has pleaded with his brother, Ravana, to release me from captivity, but he does not like the idea. Certainly death awaits Ravana on the battle-field. O Anjaneya! My mind is pure and Rama is full of noble and heroic qualities and, therefore, our union shall soon take place.” Sita's eyes were filled with tears even as she spoke.

Anjaneya responded to Sita: “O Sita! Hear me! Rama will soon overrun Lanka with a great army of apes and bears. Alternatively, if you climb my back, I will now itself lift you out of this calamity by crossing the ocean and uniting you with Rama. I have the capacity to bear the whole of the city of Lanka along with Ravana. The Rakshasas do not have the strength or the speed to follow me even as I fly carrying you.”

Sita was overwhelmingly surprised by Anjaneya's wonderful idea and said: “O Anjaneya! How do you, so small in size, wish to carry me on such a long journey! I think this is what is meant by Kapitvam (monkey-nature).”

Anjaneya was deeply hurt by being thus ridiculed by Sita and considered it a fresh insult (from whatever quarter). He wanted to demonstrate his strength and status to her. Therefore, he assumed a mountain-like form with a red face, huge teeth and nails like Indra's Vajra (weapon) and addressed her thus: “O Sita! I can carry the whole of Lanka along with everything available here including Ravana. Give up your doubts and I will join you with Rama at this instant.”

Sita replied: “O great Vanara! I know your strength and courage. You have the speed of the wind and the radiance of fire. How can any ordinary person reach this place located beyond the sea? However, we have to consider various aspects to ensure the fulfillment of Rama's mission.”

“It is not proper for me to travel on your back. I may lose consciousness by your speed or I may fall down from a great height into the sea to be good food for the sea animals. Besides, even as you try to protect me while flying, your life may also be in danger. Cruel, blood-thirsty Rakshasas will be despatched by Ravana to capture you on your flight along with me. They will be well-armed and you will have to fight them without weapons. The outcome of a battle is never certain. While you are engaged in the battle the Rakshasas may capture me and hold me in a secret place. Or they may kill me. My life may be in danger, in any case. All your endeavour made thus far will become a waste.”

“The lives of Rama, Lakshmana and all others depend upon my survival. If I die or get lost, they will all die in consequence. Moreover, I am a Pativrata (a devoted wife) and will not touch any man other than Rama, my husband. Although I was touched by Ravana while being kidnapped, I was completely helpless then. Finally, if you kill the Rakshasas and free me, it will affect Rama's fame. If, however, Rama comes here and destroys Ravana along with his kith and kin and takes me back, it will befit his standing and status as a king and as a warrior. Therefore, Hanuman, plan the future course of action in such a way that my release shall take place through a war between Rama supported by his army and the Rakshasas and make me happy.”

A master in the art of conversation, Hanuman was pleased with Sita's words and said: “O Devi! What you have spoken is appropriate to a chaste and modest lady like you. It is indeed extremely difficult for a woman to cross the wide ocean on my back. Secondly, your vow not to touch any man other than your husband behoves you, the wife of Rama, and no other woman. However, considering that Lanka is difficult to conquer, the sea difficult to cross and my own ability and my devotion and anxiety to unite you and Rama together immediately, I have offered to move you out now itself and there is no other reason. If you are not willing to go with me, kindly give me something to present to Rama as a memorabilia.”

In response, Sita began to narrate the following story to be conveyed to Rama by Anjaneya.

“O Rama! Once, while we were on the Chitrakuta Mountain, you were sleeping on my lap. A crow began to pierce the middle of my breasts. Blood began to ooze out of my chest and you were woken up. You were so intensely offended and were so angry with the crow that you took a blade of grass (Darbha) turned it into Brahmastra (a great arrow created by Vedic hymns) and employed it to kill the crow. The crow fled to all parts of the world to find a protector but could not find one in Lord Brahma, the Creator or in anyone else. At last, it came back and fell upon your feet. As you are of a forgiving nature, you told the crow: 'The Brahmastra cannot fail to accomplish its task altogether. Therefore, offer something to pacify it.' In response, the crow offered its left eye as a target and its life was saved by your compassion.”

“You who have used the most powerful Brahmastra against a tiny creature like a crow -- Why are you ignoring the unpardonable offence of Ravana who has kidnapped me? Though I have a husband, a protector in you, I look like one without a husband/protector. It is time for you to show sympathy towards me and kill Ravana along with his followers and redeem me.” Sita began to ponder: “I have committed a great sin. That is why Rama and Lakshmana, though competent to kill the enemy, are keeping quiet.”

Hanuman, seeing Sita in tears, tried to console her saying, “Devi! Rama and Lakshmana are full of grief. Anxious to see you, they will march here immediately. Rama will destroy Ravana along with his army of Rakshasas and take you back to Ayodhya in triumph. Kindly give a message to Rama and Lakshmana and Sugriva and the Vanaras.”

Sita responded to Anjaneya: “On my behalf, bow and salute Rama, the protector of the world, whom the high-minded Kausalya has begotten. Lakshmana has discarded all luxuries of royal life and has chosen to live a life of suffering in the forest, serving his brother. He regards Rama as his father and me as his mother. Sumitra has become a holy mother by giving birth to Lakshmana. He performs any task assigned to him by Rama. Rama, by his association with Lakshmana, has overcome the grief caused by his father's death. Lakshmana is always soft, pure, competent and loved by his brother, Rama. For my sake, Anjaneya, enquire into the well-being of Lakshmana in such a way that he brings my sorrow to an end.”

“Let Rama, by your effort, get ready for war and save me. Inform him that I shall live for only one month and before the time runs out, the evil-minded, regular sinner, Ravana, will have to be killed.” So saying, Sita removed a crest-jewel hidden in her clothes and gave it to Anjaneya to be delivered to Rama as a signet.

Anjaneya took the jewel, bowed to Sita in great reverence and circumambulated her. He at once thought of Rama with great satisfaction.

Sita continued: “On seeing this jewel, Rama will recollect me and his parents. In accomplishing my release, you have the lead role and your plan and your endeavour will end my suffering. Convey my enquiries about the well-being of Rama and Lakshmana and Sugriva, his Ministers and elderly Vanaras in accordance with Dharma. You devise a plan by which the valiant Rama will lift me up out of this sea of sorrow while my life lasts. By your word, you will obtain Punya (fruit of good). Your enthusiastic words will enhance Rama's enterprise in the great act of my rescue.”

Anjaneya bowed to Sita with folded palms and said: “Rama will land here soon with all the army and annihilate your sorrow. He can face everyone including Parjanya (Rain God) or Yama (God of Death) in battle, especially for your sake. He can conquer the entire earth surrounded by the seas and the mountains.”

Sita complimented Anjaneya whose pleasant words demonstrated his love for Rama and looked at him again and again and said: “Anjaneya! Please rest for a day somewhere here and then proceed on your return journey. By your stay in the vicinity, there will be a moment's relief for me, unfortunate as I am. Even as you go back, my survival will become doubtful. Still I have certain doubts about the ability of the army of monkeys and bears to cross the ocean along with Rama and Lakshmana. As far as I know, there are only three people who can cross the ocean; yourself, Garutman (Lord Vishnu's chariot-bird) and the Wind God.”

Anjaneya replied to Sita as follows for the removal of doubts: “O Devi! The Vanaras are strong, heroic and can assume any form of any size. They have access to the sky and can move up and down, vertically and horizontally at any angle, according to will. They have a record of going round the earth not once, but several times and can accomplish great tasks. There is none among them inferior to me. All are equal or superior to me. It is the practice to employ ordinary ones on errands and accordingly, I have been deputed on this mission. By one jump, they can land in Lanka. I will carry Rama and Lakshmana on my shoulders across the ocean. Rama will destroy Ravana and return to Ayodhya along with you in triumph. O Devi! Give up sorrow as you have the protection of Rama and Lakshmana, who are like the fire and the wind. You will not stay here among the Rakshasas for a long time. Kindly hold out till I go back to Rama and we will be back here in no time to free you.”

Sita, who was like an angel, felt glad and said: “I am happy to see you and hear you and I am now like the Mother Earth which blossoms with crops upon the arrival of rain. I wish to embrace Rama with this body sunken by sorrow. Help me in this task out of compassion for me. Show to Rama the sacrificial grass (Darbha) which was used by him to destroy the crow's eye as a reminder of the past in addition to my crest-jewel. Convey my message to Rama thus: “O Rama! I am undergoing unbearable suffering and also tolerating the heart-rending cruel words of the terrible Rakshasis surrounding me, for your sake. Without you, I cannot survive beyond a month from now. This demon king is horrible and his evil design is terrifying. Knowing that you are delaying my rescue, I cannot live even for a moment.”

Finding Sita in tears, Hanuman again assured her that Rama was extremely grief-stricken by her separation and would, in no time, reach Lanka to destroy Ravana and his followers and rescue her, bringing her misery to an end.

Finally, Sita blessed Anjaneya with success in his remaining part of the mission and he took leave of her, having won her admiration and respect conveyed in as many words. He then reflected: “I have found Sita. There remains a little more to be done. There are four methods to deal with an enemy, viz; (1) Sama (conciliation), (2) Dana (bestowing of gifts or generosity), (3) Bheda (sowing discord in the enemy camp) and (4) Danda (punishment). Sama does not work in the case of Rakshasas who are cruel. Dana does not work either, as they have wealth in abundance. Nor can Bheda as they are strong and arrogant. Only Danda through heroism will be effective. If I kill the important warriors now, the remaining Rakshasas will become soft targets later. He who accomplishes more than the specific work assigned to him, without offending the main purpose, is the one best suited as an emissary and he must know all possible methods of achieving the objective and not just one. Now if I assess the relative strengths, the enemy's and our own, I shall have done my master's bidding well. I have to invent a method by which war will take place between me and the Rakshasas, so that my strength will bear fruit and will be appreciated by Ravana.”

Note: Some important features of this episode are Anjaneya's extraordinary courage, self-belief and love of adventure and Sita's demonstration of her chastity and heroic character in preferring to wait till Rama rescues her, instead of accepting Anjaneya's help to get out of captivity.