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 Precise reporting is a skill that many people lack. Senior Managers know this and would acknowledge it immediately. For, how many times they would have yawned through tour reports of say sales personnel. It would start with the difficulties that the person encountered - right from the time he boarded a bus, train or aircraft - would emphasise the trying circumstances in which so-and-so was met, how the market conditions dog the efforts to sell and all blah blah blah… After three pages the person would state the result. 'I could not get any orders this time. The conditions are improving and we hope to do better…'
A report should start with the result first. Elaboration comes later. Maruti shows the best way of reporting.
He reached the spot where Rama and Sugriva were waiting, after communicating the most important message by body language. Rama was eagerly waiting for the words to fall from the mouth of Maruti who was wisdom incarnate.
'kandanen karpinukku aniyaik kangalal'. The very opening word starts with the result.
'Saw I the very jewel of purity, with my own eyes.' It does not make one to wait even for a trice. The sentence is pregnant with information. The first word starts with the action and not the subject, 'I'. The words 'jewel of purity' put Rama's mind to peace. Rama knew his Sita. He was positive beyond any doubt Sita would prefer death to amoral ways. But the assurance was most important nevertheless.
'If Rama was so sure, why then,' one may wonder 'did he subject her to agni pravesa?' A careful reader of the epic would notice the mental turmoil that Rama went through when he uttered those words, and without difficulty see the two different roles that Rama was playing at that moment. The role of a husband and that of a king. He had to establish the purity of Sita in the eyes of the world. Ravana was no Publius Clodius and Sita was not Pompeia. Yet, 'Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.' That is a discussion for another day. Let us come back to Hanuman.
 By the words 'jewel of purity' Hanuman conveyed the unswerving loyalty of Sita. And he affirms 'with my own eyes.' I have seen her. Don't think I am reporting on hearsay. I met her and I know it. A long narration follows. Hanuman tells his Lord how Sita is imprisoned and the miserable condition in which she has been spending her days, with Rama in her heart. He informed how Ravana has been tormenting her, though he could not touch her.
'umbi pullinaal thoduththa thooya saalayil
irundhaal aiya'. She is living in the hut made by your brother.
Kamban differs from Valmiki's version here. When Ravana took Sita to Lanka, he did not touch her. But he took her with the hut that she was living in. 'She lives there like a sage, my mother, my goddess' Hanuman continues in twenty-one enthralling verses. He gives out the final message. 'She has set a timeframe of just one month, beyond which she would give up her life.'
Did you observe that Hanuman did not mention a single word about his exploits, his stunning victories, his glorious deeds and his dare-devilry in Lanka? Rama in fact did not know of any of these deeds, until Vibishana told him at the time of his taking refuge in him. Great men do not speak about their accomplishments.
We will see that scene in our next instalment.
Hari Krishnan
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