Sunderkand (Sundarkand) on Tuesdays
The Sunderkand (Sundarkand) of Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas, one part each Tuesday, with the meaning: eleven Tuesdays from Hanuman's leap across the sea to the Ocean's promise of a way to Lanka. Each part gives the Awadhi text, Growse's public-domain English translation and a plain explanation. After the last part the plan starts again.
For every tradition. This plan gives one part each Tuesday. Tuesday is the plan's own choice: many people keep Tuesday as a day for Hanuman, and the Sundarkand tells his journey to Lanka. It is a way to read, not a rule; the book can be read on any day, in parts or at one sitting.
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Week 1: The leap across the sea
Three Sanskrit verses open the book, the last in praise of Hanuman. Then Hanuman leaps from a hill on the shore. On the way the mountain Mainaka offers him rest, Surasa tests his wisdom, and a sea-demon tries to catch him by his shadow. He reaches the far shore and sees Lanka, its golden walls and its guards.
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Week 2: Into Lanka, and Vibhishan
Hanuman makes himself very small to enter the city by night. Lankini, its guardian, stops him, and after one blow she lets him pass. He searches the palaces, finds a house marked with the signs of Rama's bow and arrows, with tulsi plants around it, and meets Vibhishan, Ravana's brother, who prays to Rama.
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Week 3: Sita in the Ashoka grove, and the ring
Hanuman finds Sita in the Ashoka grove. Ravana comes and tries to win her over. She answers him with a blade of grass between them, and he threatens her. Trijata, one of the guards, tells her dream. When Sita is in despair, Hanuman drops Rama's ring, then tells her Rama's story and shows himself.
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Week 4: Rama's message, and Sita's blessing
Hanuman gives Sita Rama's message of love and tells her that Rama will come. To ease her worry he shows his great form, then becomes small again. Sita blesses him, and lets him eat the fruit of the grove.
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Week 5: In Ravana's court
Hanuman breaks the trees of the grove and defeats the guards Ravana sends. Meghnad binds him with Brahma's weapon, and Hanuman lets himself be bound, out of respect for Brahma. In Ravana's court he speaks of Rama's power and asks Ravana to give up his pride and return Sita.
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Week 6: Lanka burns, and the return
Ravana orders that Hanuman's tail be set on fire, and Hanuman uses the fire to burn Lanka. He takes Sita's hair jewel as a sign for Rama, leaps back across the sea, and the monkeys celebrate in Sugriva's Madhuban garden before they go to Rama.
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Week 7: Hanuman before Rama
Hanuman gives Rama the jewel and Sita's message. Rama embraces him and says he can never repay him, and Hanuman asks only for steady devotion. The army of monkeys and bears gathers and marches to the shore of the sea.
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Week 8: Vibhishan's counsel
In Lanka, Mandodari asks Ravana to return Sita, and he laughs at her fear. Vibhishan gives the same counsel in the court, and Ravana kicks him and drives him out. Vibhishan sets out to take refuge with Rama.
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Week 9: Rama receives Vibhishan
Sugriva doubts the stranger, but Rama says that he never turns away one who comes to him for shelter. Rama embraces Vibhishan, describes the people dear to him, and marks him as king of Lanka.
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Week 10: The spies, and the letter
Vibhishan advises Rama to ask the Ocean for a way across. Ravana's spies enter the camp in disguise, are caught and let go. Back in Lanka, Shuka tells Ravana of Rama's army and gives him a letter from Lakshmana, with a message to return Sita.
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Week 11: The Ocean shows the way
Rama prays to the Ocean for three days and gets no answer. When he takes up his bow, the Ocean comes and tells him that Nala and Nila can build a bridge. One line in the Ocean's speech is much discussed; its page gives the readings. The book closes with Tulsidas's words on singing and hearing Rama's virtues.
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Explanation written for this site and checked against the cited edition. Free to quote with credit.