After winning Sita’s confidence and restoring the divine signet ring of Rama to her, Hanuman prepares to take leave and get back to Rama with the good tidings. But he wishes to carry back to Rama some sign to indicate that he had met her and spoken with her.
Sita is overwhelmed at Hanuman’s words which are like nectar mixed with poison. She traces the happy memories she spent with Rama and recounts an intimate happening that had taken place at Chitrakuta of which even Lakshmana was not aware of, said Kalyanapuram Sri Aravamudhachariar in a discourse. Once, she and Rama had wandered in the grove and rested on the river bank. Rama fell asleep on Sita’s lap. At that time a crow flew close by and pecked at Sita’s bosom. It was Indra’s son who had come in the form of this crow. Sita realised that it was no ordinary crow and tried to ward it off by pelting a pebble at it. Rama soon woke up from his slumber and saw Sita in discomfiture. He surmised the reason and wished to punish the crow which stood in their vicinity with blood stained nails. He chose a blade of grass and converted it into the most powerful dart at the transgressor of their privacy. This arrow chased the crow high and low. Finding that none in the three worlds — including its own father, the celestial beings or the sages —could give it succour against this powerful Rama’s arrow, the crow returned to Rama for protection.
Recalling this episode seems to imply an earnest appeal to Rama for a speedy rescue. Had not the Lord aimed the Brahmastra at a crow that had merely attacked her in His presence? Has not Ravana erred in unpardonable measure by forcibly taking her away from Him? She then gives Hanuman the auspicious bridal jewel Chudamani.
