Hanumān Sītā Punardarśanam

After he had burned Laṅkā and put out his tail in the ocean, Hanumān came back to the Aśoka Vaṭikā to see Sītā Devī once more before he left for the northern shore. Sītā asked him to stay one more day. She feared she would not live until Rāma’s army came. She also asked how Rāma and the army could cross the ocean of a hundred yojanas. Hanumān gave her courage. Then she gave him her last message for Rāma, and she told him the crow episode as a sign that only she and Rāma knew.

Sītā asks him to stay

Hanumān saw that Sītā was unharmed by the burning. He came to her to take his leave. Sītā looked at him, the one living link to Rāma in that city of enemies, and her face was full of grief.

She asked him gently if he could stay one more day before he went. His presence gave her a short rest from her heavy loneliness. When he left, she would be alone again with the rākshasī guards. She would not know when, or whether, help would come. She doubted that her life could last until Rāma came. She said she was not sure that her prāṇas (life-breaths) would stay in her body through the waiting. (Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 56)

The question of crossing the ocean

Sītā also put her plain doubt to Hanumān. She could see that he alone had crossed the ocean of a hundred yojanas. But how would Rāma and Lakshmaṇa cross it? How could a whole army of vānaras and bhallūkas (bears) make that crossing? Only Garuḍa, Hanumān and Vāyu could make such a journey. What bridge, what boat, what plan would bring the army to Laṅkā? This doubt, she said, gave her pain all the time. (Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 56)

Hanumān gives her courage

Hanumān answered with full confidence. The vānara army of Sugrīva was beyond what Sītā could imagine in size and strength. Even among those sent on the first search, of whom Hanumān was one and not the greatest, there were many who equalled or passed him in power. He had been sent as a scout because the leading warriors were being kept for the main war.

As for the crossing, where there was the will of a warrior like Sugrīva and the firm purpose of Rāma, Nīla, Nala and the other great vānaras, a way would be found. He said: “The army that is coming will make an uproar that fills all of Laṅkā before you know it. You will hear their roar on these very walls.” (Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 56)

Sītā’s last messages

Before he left, Sītā gave Hanumān several things to tell Rāma. She asked him to press Rāma very urgently. Rāvaṇa had given her one year to give in, and most of that time had passed. Let Rāma come with all speed.

She also made a request about Rāma’s honour. She did not wish Hanumān to carry her away in secret, though he could do it. Rāma must come as a conqueror, defeat Rāvaṇa openly in battle, and take her back as befits a great warrior-king. The rescue must be worthy of the wrong that was done. (Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapters 56 and 68)

The crow episode as a sign

As part of her message, Sītā described something that happened at Citrakūṭa. It would be a sure sign to Rāma that Hanumān had truly spoken with her. This is the crow episode (the Kāka Sandarbha).

At Citrakūṭa, Rāma and Sītā were resting together after a day of wandering. A crow came and pecked the skin of Sītā’s chest again and again, until it bled. The crow was Jayanta, the son of Indra, in the form of a crow. Rāma woke and saw his wife wounded. With a divine purpose he took one blade of darbha grass, charged it with the Brahmāstra, and let it go at the crow.

The burning weapon chased Jayanta through all three worlds, through Svarga, through Pātāla and over the whole earth. He found shelter nowhere. His own father Indra and all the devas turned him away rather than shield him from Rāma’s weapon. At last he came back and fell at Rāma’s feet. Rāma, always merciful, spared his life but took away one of his eyes.

Only the two of them knew this story, and it was Sītā’s proof of the meeting. Through it her message to Rāma was: “You used the Brahmāstra for one small wound to my chest. Now why do you wait when I am in such pain? Use that same power to free me.” (Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 68)

Sources

• Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapters 56 and 68