Three days of Lord Ram’s fast passed but the ocean deity did not respond. So on the fourth day, Lord Ram got up angrily and said:
Lachimana bāna sarāsana ānū, soṣaῠ bāridhi bisikha kṛsānū.
“Laxman, bring my bow and arrow. The ocean won’t listen nicely. I will dry him.”
Laxmanji did so and said to Lord Ram, “I told you to do so earlier. Slowly, you are gaining my qualities.”
Ramji replied, “My qualities are also coming to you, why else would you kindly let go Ravan’s messengers alive?”
As soon as Lord Ram aimed his arrow to the ocean, the ocean deity got scared. The ocean deity got rid of his ego, came to Lord Ram and asked for forgiveness.
Prabhu bhala kīnha mohi sikha dīnhī, marajādā puni tumharīi kīnhī,
ḍhola gavāra sūdra pasu nārī, sakala tāRanā ke adhikārī.
The ocean deity said, “Lord, you have mercifully taught me a lesson. I know that a drum, rustic, sudra, beast and woman will only behave if beaten”. In this concept, first, Tulsidasji has not said this; the ocean uttered these words. Next, what this means is: a drum, a rustic sudra and beastly woman. A drum must be beaten to play it. A vulgar sudra and woman with beast like actions will only behave with punishment and fear.
The ocean deity continued to say, “Lord, I will certainly dry with your mighty arrow and the army will be able to cross over, but this will bring no honour to me. In addition, you have incarnated as a human so a solution in the human boundaries will be more beneficial.”
We now present a summary of the entire Sunderkand taken from the Melbourne, Australia Katha (2008)
Lord Ram said, “Then give us a solution please”.
The ocean replied: “The two monkey brothers, Neel and Nal, got a boon during their childhood from a sage. Touched by them even huge mountains will float on the ocean by your glory. Cherishing your greatness, I too shall render all help to the best of my abilities. Have the ocean bridged this way so that your glorious achievement can be sung in all three spheres of creation”.
The ocean deity was rejoiced to see Lord Ram’s glory, bowed to him and took his leave.
At the end of Sunderkand, Tulsidasji writes.
nija bhavana gavneu sindhu śrīraghupatihi yaha mata bhāyaū,
yaha carita kali malahara jathāmati dāsa tulasī gāyaū,
sukha bhavana sansaya samana davana biṣāda raghupati guna ganā,
taji sakala āsa bharosa gāvahi sunahi santata saṭha manā.
Sakala sumangala dāyaka raghunāyaka guna gāna,
Sādara sunahĭ te tarahĭ bhava sindhu binā jalajāna.
This katha, which wipes out the impurities of Kaliyug, has been sung by Tulsidasji according to his own comprehension. The excellence of Shri Raghunath are an abode of delight, a panacea for all doubt and unfailing remedy for sorrow. Thus, giving up all worldly hope and reliance, ever sing and list to this katha, foolish mind.
Tulsidasji bestows blessings to effortlessly cross the ocean of mundane existence to those who recite the Sunderkand. This ends the Sunderkand here.
Hanumanji’s katha is a guide for all spiritual seekers seeking devotion.