If Shri Rama went to the Forest to live as an ascetic, where did he get the golden ring to be sent to Sita through Shri Hanuman?

 

Let us examine the issue, within the framework of Valmiki Ramayana, but not taking references from other texts.

===

i) Shri Rama and Sita giving away their possessions in Ayodhya.

According to Sarga 30 of Ayodhya Kanda, Sita did give away all her possessions to the needy.

ततः प्रहृष्टा परिपूर्ण मानसा |
यशस्विनी भर्तुर् अवेक्ष्य भाषितम् |
धनानि रत्नानि च दातुम् अन्गना |
प्रचक्रमे धर्मभृताम् मनस्विनी || २-३०-४७

Thereafter, the illustrious and pure-minded lady, becoming delighted on hearing the speech of her husband, started giving riches and valuable gifts to virtuous souls.

In 32nd Sarga of Ayodhya Kanda of Ramayana, it was in fact clearly mentioned that Shri Rama had given away all his possessions to the needy people, as per the word given to Kaikeyi that he would live like an ascetic for 14 years in the Dandaka Forest.

===

ii) Dasharatha providing valuable clothes and ornaments to Sita.

As 14 years period of exilement is meant only for Shri Rama, King Dasharatha orders (Sarga 39 of Ayodhya kanda) to provide valuable clothes and ornaments to Sita, during her stay in the Forest for 14 years.

वासांसि च महा अर्हाणि भूषणानि वराणि च |
वर्षाणि एतानि सम्ख्याय वैदेह्याः क्षिप्रम् आनय || २-३९-१५

"Quickly bring for Seetha, clothings of great worth and ornaments of high quality, taking into consideration all these years (that Seetha has to spend in exile).

—-

Hence, only Sita, but not Shri Rama, carried her ornaments to the Forest. Hence, Shri Rama carrying his ring to the Forest is ruled out.

iii) Shri Rama giving his ring to Shri Hanuman

In Sarga 44 of Kishkinda Kanda, Shri Rama gives his ring to Shri Hanuman, so that Sita could understand him to be Shri Rama’s messenger.

ददौ तस्य ततः प्रीतः स्व नामांक उपशोभितम् |
अंगुलीयम् अभिज्ञानम् राजपुत्र्याः परंतपः || ४-४४-१२

Then that enemy-inflamer Rama happily gave his ring that is shining forth with his own name engraved as sign to Hanuman, as a remembrancer for princess Seetha.

===

iv) Shri Hanuman gives Shri Rama’s ring to Sita

In Sarga 36 of Sundara Kanda, Shri Hanuman gives Shri Rama’s ring to Sita.

वानरो अहम् महाभागे दूतो रामस्य धीमतः |
राम नाम अन्कितम् च इदम् पश्य देवि अन्गुलीयकम् || ५-३६-२

"O illustrious lady! I am a Vanara and a messenger of the wise Rama. O princess! Look at this ring too, marked with Rama's name."

गृहीत्वा प्रेक्षमाणा सा भर्तुः कर विभूषणम् |
भर्तारम् इव सम्प्राप्ता जानकी मुदिता अभवत् || ५-३६-४

"Taking that hand-ornament of her husband and gazing upon it, Janaki (Sita) became filled with joy, as if she had actually reunited with her husband himself."

====

The narrations at points (iii) and (iv) are not synchronising with the narration at Sarga 65 of Sundara Kanda and Sarga 67 of Sundara Kanda, wherein Shri Hanuman narrates

·        his discussions with Sita,

·        Sita giving Chudamani,

·        Sita narrating the crow incident that occurred at Chitrakuta, and

·        his proposal to carry her Shri Rama,

but omits his giving Shri Rama’s ring to Sita.

Why?

====

If we corelate all narrations, we can find that Shri Rama did not carry any of his personal possessions alongwith him to the Forest.

Thus, Shri Rama giving his ring to Shri Hanuman and Shri Hanuman in turn giving it to Sita, are interpolations, as that incident was not reported by Shri Hanuman to Shri Rama, after his return to Kishkinda.