Tenderness.

 These verses are among the most tender moments in the Śrī Rāmacaritamānasa. Hanumān is not merely delivering a message from Lord Rāma to Mother Sītā; he is bringing the warmth of Rāma's heart to a wife who has been separated from Him and is suffering in Aśoka Vana.

What makes this passage so moving is that Hanumān speaks with the devotion of a servant, the tenderness of a son addressing his mother, and the love of a messenger who understands how deeply both Rāma and Sītā are suffering.

Let us take the next four verses, with the original Awadhi, transliteration, meaning, and the feelings behind Rāma's message.

Śrī Rāma's message to Sītā — Sundara Kāṇḍa

1. “In your separation, Sītā, everything has turned against me”

कहेउ राम बियोग तव सीता। मो कहुँ सकल भए बिपरीता॥

नव तरु किसलय मनहुँ कृसानू। कालनिसा सम निसि ससि भानू॥

Kaheu Rāma biyoga tava Sītā,

Mo kahuṃ sakala bhae biparītā.

Nava taru kisalaya manahuṃ kṛsānū,

Kālanisā sama nisi sasi bhānū.

Meaning

Rāma says, “O Sītā, in your separation, everything has become contrary to me.

The tender new leaves of trees seem like flames of fire. The night appears like the terrible night of destruction, and the moon seems as scorching as the sun.”

The feeling behind the words

Imagine this! The tender leaves that ordinarily bring joy seem to burn Him. The moon, which usually cools and comforts the heart, feels as hot as the sun.

The world outside has not changed. What has changed is Rāma's heart in Sītā's absence.

Love gives beauty to the world; separation can make even that beauty painful.

2. “Even the things that once comforted me now cause pain”

कुबलय बिपिन कुंत बन सरिसा। बारिद तपत तेल जनु बरिसा॥

जे हित रहे करत तेइ पीरा। उरग स्वास सम त्रिबिध समीरा॥

Transliteration

Kubalaya bipina kuṃta bana sarisā,

Bārida tapata tela janu barisā.

Je hita rahe karata tei pīrā,

Uraga svāsa sama tribidha samīrā.

Meaning

The beautiful lotus-filled lakes seem like forests of spears. The clouds appear to rain down burning oil.

Those very things that once brought comfort now cause suffering. The three kinds of breezes feel like the poisonous breath of a serpent.

The feeling behind the words

The imagery is astonishing. The flowers, clouds, cool breezes and lotus-filled waters are normally associated with beauty and pleasure. Yet, without Sītā, Rāma finds no relief in any of them.

When someone we deeply love is absent, even familiar joys may feel incomplete.

Tulsidas shows us the depth of Rāma's love not through grand declarations, but through the way He experiences the ordinary world.

3. “Who can understand the depth of our love?”

कहेहू तें कछु दुख घटि होई। काहि कहौं यह जान न कोई॥

तत्व प्रेम कर मम अरु तोरा। जानत प्रिया एकु मनु मोरा॥

Transliteration

Kahehu teṃ kachu dukha ghaṭi hoī,

Kāhi kahauṃ yaha jāna na koī.

Tattva prema kara mama aru torā,

Jānata priyā eku manu morā.

“Even if I speak of my sorrow, perhaps it may lessen a little. But to whom can I tell it? No one truly knows.

O beloved, only My heart knows the true nature and depth of the love between you and Me.”

The feeling behind the words

This is one of the most intimate moments in the message.

Rāma is the Lord revered by the world, yet here He speaks as a husband whose heart aches for his beloved wife. He longs to express His grief, but words cannot fully convey it.

There is also a beautiful recognition here: the deepest love is not always understood by the world. Two hearts may share a bond whose full meaning belongs only to them.

4. “My heart is always with you”

सो मनु सदा रहत तोहि पाहीं। जानु प्रीति रसु एतनेहि माहीं॥

प्रभु संदेसु सुनत बैदेही। मगन प्रेम तन सुधि नहिं तेही॥

“That heart of Mine always remains with you. Understand the depth of My love from this alone.”

As Vaidehī (Sītā) hears the Lord's message, she becomes completely absorbed in love, losing awareness of her own body.

The feeling behind the words

Here is the heart of the entire passage.

Rāma is telling Sītā that although they are physically separated, His heart has never left her.

And when Sītā hears these words, she is overwhelmed. The message does not merely inform her that Rāma is well; it assures her that she has never been forgotten.

Hanumān himself is overcome with emotion as he delivers this message. He is carrying the words of one beloved heart to another.

The tenderness of this episode

There is a beautiful sequence of emotions here:

Rāma reveals the pain of separation.

He confesses that no one else can fully understand His love for Sītā.

He assures her that His heart is always with her.

Sītā becomes immersed in that love as Hanumān conveys His words.

And then Hanumān gently brings her back to courage:

“Kahu kapi hṛdayaṃ dhīra dharu mātā…”

“Mother, take courage in your heart.”

The transition is so moving. Hanumān first allows Sītā to receive the depth of Rāma's love; then he reminds her that she must not lose heart.

A reflection for our lives: True love is not measured only by physical nearness. Sometimes, even across distance and difficulty, the knowledge that we remain in someone's heart gives us the strength to endure.

This is why Sundara Kāṇḍa touches so many hearts. It gives us not only the courage of Hanumān, but also the assurance of Rāma's unfailing love.