Samkshepa Sundara Kandam
Samkshepa Sundara Kandam[From Vayu Purana)
Translated By P. R. Ramachander
[Those who do not have time to read the entire Ramayana, could get the same effect by reading Sundara Kanda. People who do not have even time to read full Sundara Kanda, Could read this “Samkshepa Sundara Kanda (Sundara Kanda in brief) and be benefited. It is written that reading this would cure illnesses, give long life, bring to an end enmity, and lead to all round happiness and well being.)]
Dhyana Sloka
(Starting Prayer)
Ganapathi
Shuklam Baradaram Vishnum, Sasi Varnam Chatur Bhujam,
Prasanna Vadanan Dyayet, Sarva Vignopa Santhaye 1
Dressed in white you are,
Oh, all pervading one,
And glowing with the colour of moon.
With four arms, you are, the all knowing one
I meditate on your ever-smiling face,
And pray, “ Remove all obstacles on my way”.
Saraswathi
Dhorbhir Yuktha chathurbhi sphatika manimayi makshmaalaam dadhaana
Hasthe naikena padmam sithamapi cha shukam pusthakam chaparena,
Bhasa kundendu sankha sphatka mani nibha bhasamana samaana
Saa mey vaag deva theyam nivasathu vadane sarvada suprasanna. 2
Let that goddess of words,
Who has four hands,
Who holds the garland of crystal beads in one hand,
Who holds parrot, white lotus and book in other hands,
And who is as lustrous as kunda flowers, moon, conch and crystal beads,
Live always in my face and bless me.
Valmiki
Koojantham Rama Ramethi maduram madsuraksharam,
Aaroohya kavitha shakhaam vande Valmiki kokilam. 3
Salutations to The nightingale Valmiki,
Who sits on the poem like branch,
And who goes on singing sweetly,
“Rama”, “Rama” and “Rama”.
Valmike muni simhasya kavitha vana charina,
Srunvan Rama kadha naadam ko na yathi paraam gathim. 4
Who in this world will not attain salvation,
Who happen to hear the story of Rama,
Composed by the lion among poets Valmiki,
Who always lived in the forest.
Ya pibhan Rama charithamrutha sagaram,
Aruthastham munim vande, prachethasa makalmasham. 5
I salute that resplendent sage ,
Who never got satisfied,
But forever drank the story of Rama,
Which is like the sea of nectar.
Hanuman
Goshpadi krutha vaareesham masaki krutha rakshasam,
Ramayana maha mala rathnam Vande anilathmajam, 6
I pray to him who is born to the God of wind.
Who made the king of lakes look like the hoof of a cow,
Who made the great Rakshasas look like simple mosquitoes,
And who is born to the God of wind.
And is the greatest jewel in the garland of the story of Rama,
Yatra yatra Raghu nada keerthanam,
Thathra thathra krudha masthakanjalim,
Bhashpa vari pari poorna lochanam,
Maruthim namatha Rakshasanthakam. 7
I pray and salute the son of wind god,
Who brought to end the rakshasas,
Who is always present with eye full of tears,
With head bowed in veneration,
Wherever the praise of Lord Rama is sung
Anjaneya madhi patalananam,
Kanchanadri kamaneeya vigraham,
Parijatha tharu moola vasinam,
Bhavayami bhava mana nandanam. 8
I bow before the darling son of the god of wind,
Who is the son of Anjana,
Who is great among killers of Rakshasas,
Who is like a golden mountain,
Who is handsome to look at,
And who lives near the roots of Parijatha tree.
Mano javam , maruda thulya vegam,
Jithendriyam buddhi matham varishtam,
Vatha atmajam vanara yudha mukhyam,
Sree rama dootham sirasa namami. 9
I bow my head and salute the emissary of Rama,
Who has won over his mind,
Who has similar speed as wind,
Who has mastery over his organs,
Who is the greatest among the knowledgeable,
Who is the son of God of wind,
And who is the chief in the army of monkeys
Budhir balam yaso dhairyam nirbhayathwam arokadha,
Ajadyam vak paduthwancha hanumath smaranath bhaveth. 10
He who meditates on Lord Hanuman,
Would be blessed with knowledge, strength,
Fame, courage, fearlessness, health,
Tirelessness and mastery over words
Anjananandanam veeram , janaki soka nasanam,
Kapeesam aksha hantharam vande lanka bhayangaram. 11
My salutation to the terror of Lanka,
Who is the darling baby of Anjana,
Who is killer of all sorrows of Janaki,
Who is the god of all monkeys,
And who is the killer of Aksha.
Ullangasya sindho salilam salilam cha sokha vahnim janakathmajaya,
AAdhaya thenaiva dhadhaha Lankam namami tham pranjalir Anjaneyam 12
I salute that son of Anjana with folded hands,
Who crosses the great ocean playfully,
Who took away the fire like sorrow of Sita,
And with that burnt the city of Lanka.
Khyatha Sree Raa dhootha pavanathanubhava pingalaaksha shikhaavaan,
Sita sokhopahari, Dasa mukha vijayi Lakshmana prana datha,
Aanetha beshajaadrer lavana jala nidher lagane deekshtho ya,
Veera sreemaan hanuman mama manasi vasan karyasidhim thanothu. 13-14
Let that noble hero Hanuman ,
Who is famous,
Who is the emissary of lord Rama,
Who is the son of wind god,
Who has red eyes,
Who has a matted tuft,
Who brought to the end the sorrow of Sita,
Who won over the ten faced Ravana,
Who gave life back to Lakshmana,
Who brought the mountain,
And who took vow to cross the ocean,
Live always in my mind,
And help me to complete my jobs.
Dhoorvarikrutha Sithaathi prakati krutha Rama vaibhava sphoorthi,
Dharitha dasamukha keerthi , puraho mama pathu Hanumatho moorthi. 15
Let the vision of Hanuman,
Who destroyed the sorrow of Sita,
Who heralded the fame of Rama,
And who destroyed the fame of Ravana,
Be always before me,
And always protect me.
Ramayanam
Valmiki giri sambhootha Rama Sagara gamini,
Puinathu bhuvanam punyaa Ramayana maha nadhi. 16
Let the whole world become holy,
By this river called “The story of Rama”,
Which starts from the mountain of Valmiki,
And joins the ocean of Rama.
Veda vedhye pare pumsi jathe dasaradhathmaje,
Veda prachethasa daseeth sakshath Ramayanathmana. 17
When the God who is known by Vedas,
Was born as the son of Dasaratha,
Veda was born again from Sage Valmiki as Ramayana.
Lord Rama
Vaidehi sahitham surudrumathale haime maha mandape,
Madhye pushpaka masane mani maye veerasane susthitham,
Aagre vaachayathi prabhanjana suthe thathwam muneebhya param,
Vyakhyaantham Barathathibhi parivrutham Raamam bhaje syamalam. 18
I salute that black coloured Rama,
Who sits along with daughter of Videha,
And in the company of Baratha and others,
Inside the golden shed beneath the holy tree of Karpaga,
On the seat of flowers bedecked with jewels,
Built in its centre,
Explaining the essence of knowledge,
To the assembled sages,
And to the son of Anjana.
Namosthu Ramaya salakshanaya , devyai cha thasyai Janakathmajayai,
Namosthu rudrendra yamanilebhyo, namosthu chandrarka marud ganebhya. 19
My salutations to Lord Rama who is with Lakshmana,
My salutations to that daughter of Janaka who is his wife,
My salutations to Rudra, Indra, Yama and wind,
And my salutations to moon, Sun and Marud Ganas.
Samkshepa Sundara Kandam
(Sundara Kandam in brief.)
Thatho Ravana neethaya Seethaya shathru karsana,
Iyesha padamanveshtam charana charithe padhi. 1
For finding out Sita,
Abducted by Ravana,
And who is in the custody of enemies,
The great Hanuman who kills his enemies,
Started his journey , in the path in the sky,
Frequented by Charanas.
Yadha Raghava nirmuktha sara swasana vikrama,
Gache thadwad gamishyami lankaam Ravana palitham. 2
He said that he would go to Lanka,
As swiftly as a roaring wind,
Like an arrow sent by lord Rama.
Pravisya nagareem Lankam kapi raja hithangara,
Chakre atha padham savyam cha sathroonam sa thu moordhani. 3
He who does well to the king of monkeys,
Entered the city fast,
By keeping his left leg first,
As if it is kept on the head of his enemies.
Pravisa nishpatham schapi prapthan uthpthann api,
Sarvamapyavakasam sa vicha chara maha kapi. 4
That great monkey searched everywhere in that city,
By jumping up and down in various places,
And again and again searching in other places.
Drushta manthapuam sarva drushta ravana yoshitha,
Na seethe drusyathe sadhwi vratha jatho mama srama. 5
He felt sad and thought,
“I have seen the full harem,
And also seen all the ladies of Ravana,
But I have not been able to see Sita.
And so my effort is in vain.”
Asoka vanika cheyam drusyathe yaa maha druma,
Immam abhigamishyami na heeyam vichitha maya. 6
He saw then a forest of Asoka trees,
And thought he will also search there,
As he has not done it before.
And entered that forest.
Asoka vanikayam thu thasyam vanara pungava,
Thatho malina saveetham Rakshaseebhi sama vrithaam,
Upavasa krusam dheenam niswasanthim puna puna,
Dadarsa shukla pakshadhou Chandra rekha mivamalaam. 7-8
In the middle of the Asoka forest,
That monkey chief saw,
A lady wearing dirty cloths,
Surrounded by Rakshasis,
Who was famished because of absence of food,
Who was in a pitiable state,
Who was taking heavy breath again and again,
And who was like the first crescent after the new moon.
Thaam sameekshya visalakshi madhikam malinam krusam,
Tharkayamasa Sithethi karanou roopa padhibhi. 9
Seeing that lady with very broad eyes,
With a famished dirty look,
He argued within him,
And decided that it was Sita.
Asya devya manasthaasmimamsthasya chaasyam prathishtitham,
Theneyam sa cha dharmathma muhartham aapi jeevathi. 10
The mind of this holy lady is fixed in my Lord,
And my Lord’s mind is fixed in this holy lady,
And that is why she is able to live at least for a second.
Evam Sitaam thadha drushtwa hrushta pavana sambhava,
Jagagama manasa Ramam prasa samsa cha tham prabhum. 11
Becoming extremely happy,
On seeing Sita,
That son of wind God,
Mentally reached Rama,
And started praising him.
Raja Dasaradho nama radha kunjara vaajiman,
Thasya puthra priyo jyeshta sthaarathibha nibhanana. 12
There was a king called Dasaratha,
Who was having a great army,
Of chariots, horses and elephants.
He had an eldest son,
Who resembled the lord of stars ,
And was very dear to him.
Ramo Nama viseshagna sreshta sarva dhanushmatham,
Thasya sathyabhi sandhasya vrudhasya vachanath pithu,
Sabharya saha cha bratha veera pravrajitho vanam. 13
Rama was a wise man,
And was greatest among,
Those who send the arrow.
He obeying the words of his father,
Who was wedded to truth ,
And who was old.
Went to the forest,
Along with his brother and wife.
Thathsthwa marshapahrutha Janaki Ravanena thu,
Sa marga manastham devim Rama Sita maninditham,
Asasad vane mithram Sugreevam nama vanaram. 14
That daughter of Janaka,
Was abducted by the angered Ravana.
On Rama’s path in search of Sita,
He got Sugreeva who was a monkey,
As a friend in the forest.
Sugreevenapi sandhishta haraya kamaroopina,
Dikshu sarvasu thaam devim vichinwanthi sahasrasa. 15
Sent by Sugreeva,
Several thousands of monkeys,
Who can assume any shape they please,
Are searching for the holy lady,
In all directions.
Asya hetho visalakshya sagaram vegavan plutha,
Yadha roopam yadha varnam yadha Lakshmim cha nischitham,
Aasrousham Ragahavasyaham seya maasadhitha maya. 16
Only for the sake of that broad eyed one,
Did I cross the sea fast,
And I saw her in the same way,
As Raghava had described,
In the same form, colour and beauty.
Janaki chaapi thachruthwa vismayam param gatha,
Saa dadarsa kapim thathra prasrayam priya vadhinam. 17
Hearing this , that Janaki,
Was drowned in surprise,
And saw the monkey sitting above,
Telling those pleasing words.
Tham abraveen maha theja Hanuman Maruthathmaja,
Aham Ramasya sandhesad devi dhoothasthvagatha. 18
Further told Hanuman,
That ever shining one,
:” I am an emissary of Rama,
Who has brought message to you.”
Vaidehi kusali ramasthwam cha kusalamabarveeth,
Lakshmanascha maha theja barthru sthe anuchara priya 19
“Hey, daughter of Videha,
Rama is fine,
And he enquired about you,
And Lakshmana, who is the dear companion,
Of your husband also is fine.”
Saa thayo kusalam devi nischaya narasimhayo,
Preethi samhrushta sarvamgi hanumanthamadhabraveed. 20
Hearing the news of welfare,
Of those great lion like men,
She became happy all over,
And told Hanuman as follows.
Kalyani batha Gatheyam loukeeki prathibathi maa,
Eethi jeevantha maanando naram varsha sathad api. 21
“I feel that the proverb,
“Even if man suffers,
For one hundred years,
He should continue to live,
Because, He can become,
Happy at any time.”
Is surely true.”
Bhooya eeva maha thejo Hanuman maaruthathmaja,
Aabraveed prasritham vaakyam Sita pratyaya kaaranath,
Rama nama ankitham chedham pasya devya anguleeyakam,
Prathyayartha thavaneetham thena datham mahathmana. 22
To encourage Sita and give her hope,
That greatly resplendent Hanuman,
Who was the son of wind God told,
“Hey holy lady, be pleased to see,
This ring in which the name of Rama is written.
This has been given by him,
To give you hope,
And has been brought by me.”
Graheethwa prekshamaana saa barthu kara vibhooshanam,
Bartharam iva sampraptha Janaki mudithaa bhavath. 23
After receiving and seeing,
That hand ornament of her husband,
That daughter of Janaka,
Became as happy as,
She has got her husband himself.
Thatho vastragatham mukthwa divyam choodamanim shubham,
Pradheyo Raghavayeethi Sita Hanumathe dadhou. 24
Then she took her head brooch,
Which was divine and comforting,
From her dress , where it was tied,
And gave it to Hanuman,
For giving it to Raghava.
Thathasthu Hanuman veero bhabhanja pramadavanam,
Dasoham Kosalendraya Ramasyaklishta karmana,
Na Ravana sahasram mey yudhe prathibalam bhaved,
Ardayithwa pureem Lankamabhivadya cha Maithilim,
Samrudhartho gamishyami mishatham sarva rakshasam. 25
Then Hanuman started destroying Asoka forest,
Announcing loudly as follows,
“I am the servant of Lord Rama,
Who functions effortlessly,
And even thousand Ravanas,
Can never become equal to me in war.
I am going to destroy the city of Lanka,
Salute the daughter of Mithila,
And return after completing my task,
Even when all the Rakshasa are witnessing.”
Veshtayanthi sma langoolam jeernai karpasakai patai,
Thailena cha abishichyadha thee agni thathrabhya pathayath. 26
They tied on his tail worn out cloths,
Dipped his tail in oil and set it on fire.
Deepyamane thathasthasya Langulagre Hanumatha,
Rakshasyastha Virupakshya samsu devyasthadapriyam. 27
When the tail of Hanuman was burning,
Those Rakshasis with crooked eyes,
Informed the sad news to the holy lady Sita.
Mangalabhimukhi thasya saa thadseen maha kape,
Upathasthe Visalaakshi prayatha havya vahanam,
Yadhyasthi pathi susrusha yadyasthi charitham thapa,
Yadhi vapyekapathinthwam seetho bhava Hanumatha. 28
That well wisher of that great monkey,
Started praying to the lord of fire,
“If I have served my husband properly,
If I have done all my jobs properly,
If I had been a faithful wife,
You become cool to the Hanuman.”
Hanumatha vegavatha vaanarena mahathmana,
Lankapuram pradagdham thadru drena yadha. 29
That great individual who was a monkey hero,
Burnt the city of Lanka, like Lord Rudra burnt the three cities.
Evam aswasya Vaidehim Hanuman Maruthathmaja,
Gamanaya mathim kruthwa Vaidehi mabhya vadhayath,
Thatha sa kapi sardhoola swami sandarsonothsuka,
Aaruroha giri sreshta marishta mari mardhana. 30
After this Hanuman, the son of wind god,
Consoled the daughter of Videha,
And making preparations to depart,
Saluted the daughter of Videha.
Then that monkey warrior ,
Who is the destroyer of his enemies,
Interested in seeing his master fast,
Climbed on the top of Arishta mountain.
Nipapatha Mahendrasya Shikare Padapakule,
Drushta Sithethi vikrantha samkshepena nyavedhayath. 31
After alighting on the Mahendra mountain,
He informed the news he had in brief,
“I saw Sita.”
Preethimanthasthatha sarve vayu puthra purassara,
Mahendradrim parithyajyapupluvu plavagarshabha. 32
Lead by the son of Wind God,
The other monkeys whose heart was gladdened,
Left the Mahendra mountain,
Jumping and jumping.
Nipethur hari rajyasya sameepe Raghavasya cha,
Hanumamscha maha bahu pranamya sirasa thatha,
Niyatham akshatham devim Raghavasya nyavedhayath. 33
They all alighted in the kingdom of monkeys,
Near to the place where Rama was staying,
And then the great hero Hanuman,
Bent his head in respect and
Informed lord Raghava,
That the holy lady,
Was without blemish,
And was observing her duties.
Thou jatha aswasow raja puthrow vidhithwa thachabignam Raghavasya pradhaya,
Devya cha aakhyatham sarva mevanupuvyaardwacha sampoorna vayu puthra sasamsa. 34
Realizing that that the princes were consoled,
He gave Sita’s head brooch to Raghava,
And told him all the words as told by the holy lady,
In that same order
Sri Rama Pattabishekam
Vasishto Vamadevascha Jabalir adha Kasyapa,
Kathyayano gowthamascha suyagno vijayasthadha,
Abhyasheemchan nara vyagram prasannena sugandhina,
Salilena sahasraksham vasavo vasava yadha. 35
The great sages like Vasishta and Vamadeva,
Jabali , Kasyapa, Kathyayana and Gowthama,
Suyagna and Vijaya,
Anointed him with sacred scented waters,
Similar to the anointing of the thousand eyed Indra,
Carried out by the eight Vasus.
Phalasruthi and Prayer
Ayushyam arogya karam yasayam soubrathrukam budhikaram shubham cha,
Srothawya methan niyamena sadbirakhyana mojaskaram rhidhi kaamai. 36
This story increases life and health,
Makes one famous and increases love among brothers,
Makes one wise and brings all good things,
And also fulfills all wishes.
If heard with discipline and devotion.
Swasthi prajabhya paripalayantham,
Nyayena margena mahim maheesa,
Gobrahmanabhya shubamasthu nithyam,
Loka samastha sukhino bhavanthu. 37
Let all people live happily,
Let kings rule with justice,
Let cows and Brahmins live happily,
And let all the people of this earth live happily for ever.
Ramaya Ramabhadraya Ramachandraya Vedhase,
Raghunadhaya Nadhaya Sithaya pathaye nama. 38
My salutations to Lord Rama,
To Ramabadhra, to Ramachandra,
To the lord of Vedas,
To the chief of Raghu clan,
To the lord of the world,
And to the Lord of Sita.
Kayenavacha Manasendryrva budhyatmanava prakrithai swabhawat,
Karomi yadyat sakalam parasmai narayanayethi samarpayami. 39
I offer all that I do,
To Lord Narayana,
Whatever I do with my body,
Whatever I do with my mind,
Whatever I do with my brain,
Whatever I do with my soul,
And whatever I do with nature’s help
Asadhya sadhaka swamin asadhyam thava kim vada,
Rama dhootha daya sindho math karya sadhaya prabho. 40
Hey ,emissary of Rama,
Who is the ocean of mercy,
And who does the impossible,
Is there some thing impossible for you?
So please help me to complete my duties.