Hari Om.
Let us begin the forty fourth sarga of the kishkindhA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
The appointment of the commanders to lead the quest along the four cardinal directions – east, south, west and north, in that order was complete. While the eastern quest was entrusted to vinata, the southbound squad was studded with stars led by the prince angada, the westward quest was led by sushENa, the father in law of sugrIva and the vAnara warrior SatabalI was given the charge of leading the northern quest. Each of them, picking their own teams of hundred of thousands of vAnaras were told to go in their respective directions and carry out the search thoroughly in all the key places. sugrIva gave them an astounding amount of detailed information as to what they would encounter after what and thus was at the top of his game as the overall in charge of the quest. Given the detailed information he knew, no one could fool him and it reveals itself as to why he was the most suited one to carry out this task of rAma! Having asked the four squads to shape up and leave for their missions, he now called upon the southbound warriors one more time. Onwards…
Having assigned the responsibilities of the search along the four cardinal directions, the king of the vAnaras, sugrIva singled out hanumAn with the firm belief that he would accomplish this task of finding where sItA was. He called the valorous son of the wind god, hanumAn near him and said –
“O best of vAnaras, neither on the earth, nor in the space, nor in the skies, nor in the abode of the gods, nor in the waters can a being that can be equal to you in speed can be found. You are knowledgeable about the demons, demigods, nAgas, men, gods and everything in all the worlds along with the oceans and the hills. Your speed, radiance, swiftness is equivalent to that of your father, the wind god. O hanumAn in you reside sharp intellect, might, valor, right conduct and the ability to adapt to the place and time and act accordingly. Think and act in such a way that you are able to find sItA”.
तेजसा वापि ते भूतं न समं भुवि न विद्यते।
तद्यथा लभ्यते सीता तत्त्वमेवोपपादय।।4.44.6।।
त्वय्येव हनुम न्नस्ति बलं बुद्धिः पराक्रमः।
देशकालानुवृत्तिश्च नयश्च नयपण्डित।।4.44.7।।
Listening to sugrIva thus exhorting hanumAn, rAma reflected within himself – ‘The king of the vAnaras, sugrIva seems very confident of hanumAn succeeding in this mission and even bettering the expectations. He is well known by his accomplishments and is therefore sent on this mission and singled out by his master”. Reflecting thus, rAma beheld hanumAn who was extremely enterprising and his senses and his mind were filled with happiness thinking that the mission has been successful’.
तं समीक्ष्य महातेजा व्यवसायोत्तरं हरिम्।
कृतार्थ इव संवृत्तः प्रहृष्टेन्द्रियमानसः।।4.44.11।।
ददौ तस्य ततः प्रीतस्स्वनामाङ्कोपशोभितम्।
अङ्गुलीयमभिज्ञानं राजपुत्र्याः परन्तपः।।4.44.12।।
rAma, the foe scorcher, felt delighted, took out his ring that had his name inscribed on it and gave it to hanumAn as a mark of identification for sItA and said –
“O best of the vAnanaras, with this symbol, the daughter of janaka will know that you are on my mission and without any fear or suspicion she will converse with you. You enterprise, righteous valor and the confidence that sugrIva exudes in you are indicating to me of your accomplishment of this mission”.
व्यवसायश्च ते वीर सत्त्वयुक्तश्च विक्रमः।
सुग्रीवस्य च सन्देशस्सिद्धिं कथयतीव मे।।4.44.14।।
The best of the vAnaras received the signet ring in his hands and prostrated to rAma with his head bowed down at his feet and then started on the mission. The great vAnara, hanumAn surrounded by his mighty mates shone forth like the moon surrounded by the stars on a cloudless night sky.
अतिबल बलमाश्रितस्तवाहं
हरिवरविक्रम विक्रमैरनल्पैः।
पवनसुत यथाऽभिगम्यते सा
जनकसुता हनुमं स्तथा कुरुष्व।।4.44.17।।
Then rAma told him – “O mighty one, I have taken the shelter of your might, O most valorous among the vAnaras, with undiminishing valor O son of the wind god, act such that the whereabouts of sItA can be found”.
Here we conclude the forty fourth sarga of the kishkindhA kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 4.45. Call him stern and unsparing, call him sugrIva
Previous: 4.43. Northern expedition till the abode of the Gods
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
