किष्किन्धा-काण्ड > श्री राम और हनुमान का परिचय




Hanuma, at the behest of Sugreeva, approaches Rama and Lakshmana in the guise of an ascetic. The reason to change his original form to that of a sanyasi is that, the intruders in this area Rama and Lakshmana appear in a self-contradictory personage. By their body built, striking features, wielding armoury they look like kings or emperors. But when it comes to their dress and hairdo, they are almost like hermits. Sugreeva is well aware of political milieu and enemy's tactics, and thus asked Hanuma not to approach them in his original monkey form in earlier chapter. Equally well, Rama and Lakshmana doubt the entry of an ascetic i.e., Hanuma in that guise, into this uninhabited place, and they wait cautiously till Hanuma reveals himself. From here up to Sundara Kanda, Hanuma's words and actions are weighted, and need an in-depth study. In this episode, what all Hanuma says is drawn from scriptures and political science, and what all Rama analyses Hanuma, by way of Hanuma's expressiveness, is relevant to scriptures, i.e., Veda-s. In mythology, Hanuma is taken as the veda vedaanga paarangataH, knower of all Vedas, and their subsidiary scriptures, nava vyaakarana panditaH, scholar in nine schools of grammars, buddhimata variSTaH , cleverest of the clever. He is the supreme scholar, teacher, and the cleverest.

वचो विज्ञाय हनुमान् सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः |
पर्वतात् ऋष्यमूकात् तु पुप्लुवे यत्र राघवौ || ४-३-१
Mindful of the words of noble-souled Sugreeva, Hanuma took his flight from Mt. Rishyamuka to where Raghavaa-s are. [4-3-1]
कपि रूपम् परित्यज्य हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः |
भिक्षु रूपम् ततो भेजे शठबुद्धितया कपिः || ४-३-२
Casting off his monkey's semblance Air-god's son Hanuma attained the persona of an ascetic, for that monkey is incredulous in mind about Raghava-s. [4-3-2]
ततः च हनुमान् वाचा श्लक्ष्णया सुमनोज्ञया |
विनीतवत् उपागम्य राघवौ प्रणिपत्य च || ४-३-३
अबभाषे च तौ वीरौ यथावत् प्रशशंस च |
Then on nearing Raghava-s that Hanuma voicing softly and well pleasingly like an obedient one, that best monkey befittingly hailed, greeted and praised those two valiant ones. [4-3-3, 4a]
संपूज्य विधिवद् वीरौ हनुमान् वानरोत्तमः || ४-३-४
उवाच कामतो वाक्यम् मृदु सत्य पराक्रमौ |
The best Vanara Hanuma spoke soft-wordily, as desired by Sugreeva, to those candidly resolute ones, on making reverent obeisance to both of them. [4-3-4b, 5a]
राजर्षि देव प्रतिमौ तापसौ संशित व्रतौ || ४-३-५
देशम् कथम् इमम् प्राप्तौ भवन्तौ वर वर्णिनौ |
त्रासयन्तौ मृग गणान् अन्याम् च वन चारिणः || ४-३-६
"You two look like kingly saints, or deities by your build, ascetics with blest vows, but with ideal complexions... how come you arrived at this countryside scaring the herds of animals and other inhabitants of this forest... [4-3-5b, 6]
पम्पा तीर रुहान् वृक्षान् वीक्षमाणौ समंततः |
इमाम् नदीम् शुभ जलाम् शोभयन्तौ तरस्विनौ || ४-३-७
धैर्यवन्तौ सुवर्णाभौ कौ युवाम् चीर वाससौ |
निःश्वसन्तौ वर भुजौ पीडयन्तौ इमाः प्रजाः || ४-३-८
"You mighty ones you are watching the trees grown on the banks of Pampa from all over, and owing to your presence on these banks you make this river Pampa with its propitious waters to shine forth... but you with your golden hue appear as courageous ones, yet you sigh over repeatedly, you wear jute-cloths, yet you look mighty shouldered... who are you that distress all the beings in this forest... [4-3-7, 8]
सिंह विप्रेक्षितौ वीरौ महाबल पराक्रमौ |
शक्र चाप निभे चापे गृहीत्वा शत्रु नाशनौ || ४-३-९
श्रीमन्तौ रूप संपन्नौ वृषभ श्रेष्ठ विक्रमौ |
हस्ति हस्त उपम भुजौ द्युतिमन्तौ नरर्षभौ || ४-३- १०
"Dauntless, bold and brave are you with sharp glances of lions, wielding bows like that of Indra's bow you are the real enemy destroyers... glorious, splendid, and even impetuous you appear like Sacred Bulls... elephant's trunks are your arms... and you foremost among men are self-resplendent... [4-3-9, 10]
प्रभया पर्वत इन्द्रः असौ युवयोः अवभासितः |
राज्य अर्हौ अमर प्रख्यौ कथम् देशम् इह आगतौ || ४-३-११
"This lord-like mountain is effulgent with your effulgence, you two look as kingdom-worthy, or worthy divinities, but how you have reached this countryside now... [4-3-11]
पद्म पत्र ईक्षणौ वीरौ जटा मण्डल धारिणौ |
अन्योन्य सदृशौ वीरौ देव लोकात् इह आगतौ || ४-३-१२
यदृच्छयेव संप्राप्तौ चन्द्र सूर्यौ वसुंधराम् |
विशाल वक्षसौ वीरौ मानुषौ देव रूपिणौ || ४-३-१३
सिंह स्कन्धौ महा उत्साहौ समदौ इव गोवृषौ |
"Eyes of yours are like fine lotus petals, are you superhuman... nay, you wear tufts and braids, are you some undaunted human ascetics... nay, you look clonal, are you from some world of gods... nay, you are on earth, does this earth have a chance to receive Sun and Moon on her by her fortune... nay, are you some broad-chested deities in human form... lion-shouldered, very vehement and vigorous like Sacred Bulls... who you might be... [4-3-12, 13, 14a]
आयताः च सुवृत्ताः च बाहवः परिघोपमाः || ४-३-१४
सर्व भूषण भूषार्हाः किम् अर्थम् न विभूषिताः |
"Also lengthy are your hands, and spherical are your shoulders similar to clubs... they are worthy for decoration with every kind of ornament, for what reason they are undecorated... [4-3-14b, 15a]
उभौ योग्यौ अहम् मन्ये रक्षितुम् पृथिवीम् इमाम् || ४-३-१५
स सागर वनाम् कृत्स्नाम् विन्ध्य मेरु विभूषिताम् |
"I deem that each of you are the choicest one to protect the earth adorned with Mt Meru and Vindhya range, and with all her oceans and forests... [4-3-15b, 16a]
इमे च धनुषी चित्रे श्लक्ष्णे चित्र अनुलेपने || ४-३-१६
प्रकाशेते यथा इन्द्रस्य वज्रे हेम विभूषिते |
"And these awesome bows are polished with odd things are smooth, and they are brightening like the gilded Thunderbolt of Indra. [4-3-16]
संपूर्णाः च शितैः बाणैः तूणाः च शुभ दर्शनाः || ४-३-१७
जीवित अन्तकरैः घोरैः ज्वलद्भिः इव पन्नगैः |
"Full with hazardous, life terminating, fiery snake like sharp arrows are these quivers, admirable in their appearance... [4-3-17b, 18a]
महा प्रमाणौ विपुलौ तप्त हाटक भूषणौ || ४-३-१८
खड्गौ एतौ विराजेते निर्मुक्त भुजगौ इव |
"Dazzling are these amply wide, broad and gilded swords like the snakes just released from their moults... [4-3-18b, 19a]
एवम् माम् परिभाषन्तम् कस्माद् वै न अभि भाषतः || ४-३-१९
सुग्रीवो नाम धर्मात्मा कश्चित् वानर पुंगवः |
वीरो विनिकृतो भ्रात्रा जगत् भ्रमति दुःखितः || ४-३-२०
"When I have been talking to you this way, what for you don't speak up... one named Sugreeva, somebody virtuous and worthily one among monkeys is expelled by his brother Vali, and he is roaming all over the world sorrowfully... [4-3-19b, 20]
प्राप्तः अहम् प्रेषितः तेन सुग्रीवेण महात्मना |
राज्ञा वानर मुख्यानाम् हनुमान् नाम वानरः || ४-३-२१
"Delegated by that great soul and the king of important monkeys Sugreeva, I have come here and by name I am Hanuma, another Vanara... [4-3-21]
युवाभ्याम् स हि धर्मात्मा सुग्रीवः सख्यम् इच्छति |
तस्य माम् सचिवम् वित्तम् वानरम् पवनात्मजम् || ४-३-२२
भिक्षु रूप प्रति च्छन्नम् सुग्रीव प्रिय कारणात् |
ऋश्यमूकात् इह प्राप्तम् कामगम् कामचारिणम् || ४-३-२३
"He that righteous Sugreeva is desiring friendship with you two, and know me as a monkey and his minister, the son of Air-god... I had to come here from Mt. Rishyamuka in an ascetic's form only to appease that Sugreeva, and I can wend my way by my will, and wear any guise as I wish..." Hanuma said so to those brothers. [4-3-22, 23]
एवम् उक्त्वा तु हनुमाम् तौ वीरौ राम लक्ष्मणौ |
वाक्यज्ञो वाक्य कुशलः पुनः न उवाच किंचन || ४-३-२४
Saying thus to those valorous Rama and Lakshmana, Hanumaan, the sententious wordsmith, spoke nothing further. [4-3-24]
एतत् श्रुत्वा वचः तस्य रामो लक्ष्मणम् अब्रवीत् |
प्रहृष्ट वदनः श्रीमान् भ्रातरम् पार्श्वतः स्थितम् || ४-३-२५
Hearing all those words said by Hanuma, that illustrious Rama is well pleased facially, spoke to his brother Lakshmana who is standing at his side. [4-3-25]
सचिवो अयम् कपीन्द्रस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः |
तम् एव काङ्क्षमाणस्य मम अन्तिकम् इह आगतः || ४-३-२६
"He is the minister of that noteworthy soul and king of monkeys, Sugreeva... whom alone I cherish, but he himself has drew nigh of me, on his own... [4-3-26]
तम् अभ्यभाष सौमित्रे सुग्रीव सचिवम् कपिम् |
वाक्यज्ञम् मधुरैः वाक्यैः स्नेह युक्तम् अरिन्दम || ४-३-२७
"Soumitri, with this minister of Sugreeva, the knower of sententiousness and a pleasant worded one, and one with friendliness you exchange pleasantries with that enemy destroyer Hanuma... [4-3-27]
न अन् ऋग्वेद विनीतस्य न अ\-\-यजुर्वेद धारिणः |
न अ\-\-साम वेद विदुषः शक्यम् एवम् विभाषितुम् || ४-३-२८
"Nay...the non-knower of Rig Veda, or the non-rememberer of Yajur Veda, or the non-scholar of Saama Veda... can possibly, or truly speak this way... [4-3-28]
नूनम् व्यकरणम् कृत्स्नम् अनेन बहुधा श्रुतम् |
बहु व्याहरता अनेन न किंचित् अप शब्दितम् || ४-३-२९
"Definitely grammar is severally and comprehensively learnt by him... and though much is said by him not a single word has gone amiss of verbiage... [4-3-29]
न मुखे नेत्रयोः च अपि ललाटे च भ्रुवोः तथा |
अन्येषु अपि च सर्वेषु दोषः संविदितः क्वचित् || ४-३-३०
"On his face or eyes, or on forehead or brows, or on other faculties of expression no fault is found...even at the least... [4-3-30]
अविस्तरम् असंदिग्धम् अविलम्बितम् अव्यथम् |
उरःस्थम् कण्ठगम् वाक्यम् वर्तते मध्यमे स्वरम् || ४-३-३१
"Unexpanded, un-doubtful, un-delaying and non-dissonant is the tenor of his speech, and it comports in his chest or throat in a medium tone...[4-3-31]
संस्कार क्रम संपन्नाम् अद्भुताम् अविलम्बिताम् |
उच्चारयति कल्याणीम् वाचम् हृदय हर्षिणीम् || ४-३-३२
"He has orderly refinement in speech that is remarkable and un-delaying, and he speaks propitious words that are heart-pleasing...[4-3-32]
अनया चित्रया वाचा त्रिस्थान व्यंजनस्थयाः |
कस्य न आराध्यते चित्तम् उद्यत् असे अरेः अपि || ४-३-३३
"His speech is generated in three places is enthralling... and whose heart is it that is disenchanted, even that of an enemy after raising his sword at him, on hearing his speech...[4-3-33]
एवम् विधो यस्य दूतो न भवेत् पार्थिवस्य तु |
सिद्ध्यन्ति हि कथम् तस्य कार्याणाम् गतयोऽनघ || ४-३-३४
"Oh, faultless Lakshmana, if this sort of envoy is not there to a king, really how can that king accomplishes his ways and means... [4-3-34]
एवम् गुण गणैर् युक्ता यस्य स्युः कार्य साधकाः |
तस्य सिद्ध्यन्ति सर्वेऽर्था दूत वाक्य प्रचोदिताः || ४-३-३५
"Should a king have this kind of work accomplishers with a variety of virtues, all his objectives will be achieved impelled by such an envoy's words..." Rama thus said to Lakshmana. [4-3-35]
एवम् उक्तः तु सौमित्रिः सुग्रीव सचिवम् कपिम् |
अभ्यभाषत वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यज्ञम् पवनात्मजम् || ४-३-३६
When said thus by Rama, wise-worded Lakshmana spoke to that monkey and the minister of Sugreeva, namely Hanuma, the son of Air-god, who is equally a wise-worded one. [4-3-36]
विदिता नौ गुणा विद्वन् सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः |
तम् एव च अवाम् मार्गावः सुग्रीवम् प्लवगेश्वरम् || ४-३-३७
"The virtues of that great soul Sugreeva are known to us, oh, scholarly monkey, we for our part are in search of that lord of fly-jumpers Sugreeva alone... [4-3-37]
यथा ब्रवीषि हनुमान् सुग्रीव वचनाद् इह |
तत् तथा हि करिष्यावो वचनात् तव सत्तम || ४-३-३८
"As you communicated the words of Sugreeva, oh, gentle Hanuma, by them and by your words we indeed wish to do accordingly... [4-3-38]
तत् तस्य वाक्यम् निपुणम् निशम्य
प्रहृष्ट रूपः पवनात्मजः कपिः |
मनः समाधाय जय उपपत्तौ
सख्यम् तदा कर्तुम् इयेष ताभ्याम् || ४-३-३९
On observing that operative sentence of Lakshmana the monkey Hanuma is gladdened, as seen from his composure, and kept his mind at ease at the prospective victory, and then he wished to materialise the pact of friendship between Rama ad Sugreeva, at the earliest. [4-3-39]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे तृतियः सर्गः