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 She then asked, 'You look so small. How could you have crossed the ocean and come here?' She was more curious than doubtful when she uttered these words. Hanuman then took his viswa roopa and stood in absolute
humility with an arm crossed across his chest and the other covering his mouth. The poet says that it appeared as though he bent down because he was taller beyond the skies. Sita could not perceive the massive form. She said, 'I am unable to see even your anklet. I am quite certain that the entire rakshasa race would be effaced. Reduce your height and assume your old form. I am afraid of looking at you.'
Maruti did so and told her in a reverentially soft tone 'I am simply nothing before the other monkey warriors in our army. There are several millions of them in the service of Rama, who are mightier than I am. I am just a specimen of the other lot, and a weak specimen at that. I am just an errand boy there.'
(paNNaikku oruvan enap pondhen eval kooval pani
seyven.)
We know that Hanuman is not speaking the truth. He was the mightiest of all in the army. He was mightier than Vali; but it was the curse on him that did not allow him to realise the fact. But it was not part of asathya - untruth. These are words of modesty. But more than that these are words of assurance that Janaki needed for her sustenance during the rest of the period till her rescue.
We see the very same Sita driven to the extent of giving up her life, speaking with such confidence soon. While making so many moving statements to be conveyed to Rama, we hear her saying 'May be that I am a wife not befitting him; may be that he doesn't have the same old love for me. Saving me may not be important. Please submit my request to him that I should be liberated from here for the sake of
his chivalry, valour and name (veeram kaaththalai
venndu endru venduvai).
And when Hanuman offered to carry her back to Rama, we see her refusing to return to Rama in the same stealthy way she was brought. She says 'What for this island? I will set the entire universe ablaze with a single word of mine
(ulagangal yaavum en sollinal suduven). I have not done so, for it would bring disrepute to his valour. I am waiting for him to come, liberate me from here and take me from here in right earnest.'
 Words! Powerful words! Would we not agree that Maruti was the catalyst who brought about this change, silently? Whether we agree or not, Janaki agrees. She says so
openly at the time of the vanara army returning to Kishkindha after the coronation of Sri Rama.
Maruti took leave of Sita, with her Soolamani and her messages. He realises then that his job was not over as yet. He has to convey to Ravana of his visit and it should not be left unobserved. Moreover, he should instil fear in the minds of rakshasas and spread the evil tidings everywhere in the island.
Here starts our self-appointed ambassador!
Hari Krishnan
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