Sita replied “Hanuman, it is like nectar to hear that Rama is thinking of me always but at the same time to know that he is so sad also poisons the nectar. When is he going to come and deliver me? You please tell him not to delay any more. As I have only two more months to live after which Ravana would kill me. I heard from Vibheeshana’s daughter Anala that her father persuaded Ravana to return me to Rama but in vain. I am confident that Rama would come and vanquish all the rakshasas”. Hanuman said that Rama would surely be there very soon. He also added that he himself could carry Sita on his back and cross the sea and thus liberate her from Ravana. He said that he was capable of even carrying Lanka along with Ravana and cross the sea and take Sita to Rama in a short while if she so desired. Sita was happy to hear those words and told Hanuman that the thought expressed was typically that of a monkey. She said that he was so tiny and asked how he could ever do what he boasted of.
Hanuman thought for a while.
He said to himself that Sita had not realised his powers. He wanted to show her
how he was capable to take any form he liked. He jumped away from Sita and grew
into a mighty form and came in front of Sita.
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Hanuman appeared like the Mount Meru or Mandara Mountain and was shining like bright flame of fire. He said to Sita “I can carry the city of Lanka along with its buildings, forests and so on. So Vaidehi (Sita) have confidence and put an end to your sadness about Rama and Lakshmana. Sita replied “Mighty Vanara I do realise your power. Did you not cross the sea, a feat that none else can do”. Sita developed arguments why she could not accept Hanuman’s offer to carry her across the sea. She said that the rakshasas would chase Hanuman and fight with him to get back Sita and could hide her elsewhere and no one would ever find her. Or she might just fall off into the sea. Finally Sita could not willingly allow anyone other than her husband to touch her. She recalled that Ravana carried her by force. Sita concluded that it was fitting that Rama himself came and delivered her even though she knew that Hanuman was quite capable of doing that himself all alone. Finally Hanuman replied that Sita was perfectly right and asked her to give him something that he could show to Rama as a proof that he really saw her.
Sita shared with Hanuman
certain events that had happened in her intimate life with Rama. She told
Hanuman about what had happened while they were staying in Chitrakoota
Mountain. She said, “Once Rama was sleeping resting his head on my lap. At that
time a crow came and started hurting me with its sharp beak. It wounded my
breast from which blood oozed and a few drops fell on Rama’s face. He woke up
and was furious. I explained to him about the crow. The crow was Indra’s son
and it disappeared under the sand. He then took a blade of grass and chanted
the mantra, which imparted the power of Brahmastra to it and sent it to kill
the crow. The astra chased the crow in all the three worlds and finally the
crow had to surrender at the feet of Rama. Rama pardoned the crow but it had to
lose its eye to the astra”. Sita wanted to know why Rama who was so furious
against a crow did not yet come to deliver Sita from cruel Ravana. Sita said
that Rama was invincible and so why he was delaying to come and deliver her.
She wanted Hanuman to convey all these to her dear husband Rama. Hanuman
consoled her and said that Rama was not able to bear her separation and was in
great grief and so also was Lakshmana. Hanuman added that all this grief was
going to be over very soon and asked Sita to be cheerful. Finally Sita asked
Hanuman to pay her respects to Rama and enquired after Lakshmana and Sugreeva.
Sita spoke very high of Lakshmana and said that he was serving Rama more that
what she had done. She added that Rama should deliver her as Usatya delivered
his wife Kausiki whom Lord Varuna had taken away to the netherworld (Patala
Loka). Sita then took out a precious jewel that she used to wear on her head
called ‘Choodamani’ and which she had hid in her dress and gave it to Hanuman
and said “Hanuman you please hand this over to my husband”. Hanuman took it
with great respect and slipped on his finger and went round her and prostrated
before her. Sita said “When Rama sees this jewel which he would recognise he
would think of me, my mother and king Dasharatha. You who have taken the
important lead in my search should think of further action that should be
taken. You should help Rama in accomplishing the task that you have so
successfully started”. Hanuman assured her that she would be delivered very
soon. He was bodily there but his mind was already filled with thoughts of
Rama.
Sita told Hanuman to rest
for a while in a safe place and then start his journey back. She said “If you
are here nearby then I would feel peaceful. Now that I have seen you your
parting makes me more sad and weak. Also there is another great hurdle for you
all. How could all the Vanaras cross the sea? How could Rama and Lakshmana
cross the sea and reach Lanka? You should think of some means to do it”.
Hanuman replied “Devi the Vanaras are very powerful and nothing can stand in
their way. In Sugreeva’s army there are Vanaras who are more powerful than me
(this shows his humility). You should know that only ordinary people are sent
as emissaries and not the most powerful. Rama and Lakshmana would travel on my
shoulders and reach you. You are going to see Rama very soon and also would see
the dead Ravana at the same time. Do not be sad any more”.
 - Chapter 19){kind=link}
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