Hanuman Crosses the Boundless Sea and Returns with News of Sita
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 65
Doha 68 · Movement 1 of 2
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The vanara king sends search parties racing through every direction. One company enters the hidden cavern and later meets Sampati. When the Wind's son hears the full account, the measure of the task becomes clear, and he launches himself across the immeasurable sea.
Hanuman enters Lanka, finds Sita, and gives courage to the one surrounded by threat. He devastates the grove, warns Ravana, burns the city, and crosses the ocean once more. Motion that began as a search now returns as certainty.
The vanaras come before Raghurai and tell him that Vaidehi lives. Soon Rama advances with the army to the shore. Vibhishana leaves Lanka and comes into refuge, and the story reaches the Lord's confrontation with the ocean. Bhushundi's rapid song binds reconnaissance, consolation, fearless warning, return, refuge, and gathering war into one great tide moving toward the southern horizon.
Hanuman carries courage into Lanka and brings hope back across the sea, until Rama's whole army stands where the waves begin.
Read the passage from the Manas
जेहि बिधि कपिपति कीस पठाए। सीता खोज सकल दिसि धाए।। बिबर प्रबेस कीन्ह जेहि भाँती। कपिन्ह बहोरि मिला संपाती।। सुनि सब कथा समीरकुमारा। नाघत भयउ पयोधि अपारा।। लंकाँ कपि प्रबेस जिमि कीन्हा। पुनि सीतहि धीरजु जिमि दीन्हा।। बन उजारि रावनहि प्रबोधी। पुर दहि नाघेउ बहुरि पयोधी।। आए कपि सब जहँ रघुराई। बैदेही कि कुसल सुनाई।। सेन समेति जथा रघुबीरा। उतरे जाइ बारिनिधि तीरा।। मिला बिभीषन जेहि बिधि आई। सागर निग्रह कथा सुनाई।।
How the king of the vanaras sent his troops who searched for Sita in all directions. How they entered the cave, and the vanaras met Sampati once more. Hearing the whole story, Sameerakumara leaped across the boundless ocean. How the vanara entered Lanka and gave courage to Sita. Destroying the grove and counseling Ravana, he burned the city and crossed the ocean again. All the vanaras returned to Raghurai and brought blessed news of Vaidehi's welfare. Raghuvira marched with his army and encamped upon the shore of the ocean. Vibhishana came and met the Lord, and the tale of subduing the ocean was told.