Kishkindha Kanda · Sarga 3 of 67 · 39 verses
Hanuman Meets Rama
Understanding great-souled Sugriva’s words, Hanuman leaps from Mount Rishyamuka to where the two Raghavas are. Giving up his monkey form, the son of the wind takes the form of a mendicant, out of shrewdness. Approaching the two Raghavas humbly, bowing, he speaks to the heroes with smooth, very pleasing words and praises them properly. Honouring them by rule, Hanuman, best of monkeys, speaks gently and freely: “You two of true valour, like royal sages and gods, ascetics of strict vows, of fine complexion, how have you come to this place, frightening the herds of deer and other forest creatures, looking all round at the trees on the Pampa’s shore, adorning this river of lovely water? Who are you, steadfast, golden-bright, wearing bark clothes, sighing, strong-armed, oppressing these creatures? With a lion’s gaze, of great strength and valour, holding bows like Indra’s bow, destroyers of enemies, glorious, handsome, with the stride of a fine bull, arms like an elephant’s trunk, radiant bulls among men, this king of mountains is lit by your radiance. Worthy of kingdoms, like immortals, how have you come here? Lotus-eyed heroes with circles of matted hair, alike to each other, have you come from the world of the gods? Like the moon and sun come to earth by chance, broad-chested heroes, men with the forms of gods, with lion’s shoulders, of great energy, like proud bulls, your long, round arms like iron bars, worthy of every ornament, why are you not adorned? I think you are both fit to protect this whole earth with its oceans and forests, adorned by the Vindhya and Meru. These bows of yours, wonderful, smooth, wonderfully painted, shine like Indra’s thunderbolts adorned with gold; your quivers, lovely to see, are full of sharp arrows, terrible, life-ending, like blazing serpents; your swords, huge and broad, adorned with refined gold, shine like snakes that have shed their skins. Why do you not answer me as I speak so? There is a righteous bull among monkeys named Sugriva, a hero cheated by his brother, wandering the world in sorrow. I have come, sent by that great-souled Sugriva, king of the chief monkeys; I am a monkey named Hanuman. Righteous Sugriva wishes for friendship with you. Know me as his minister, a monkey, son of the wind, disguised in a mendicant’s form to please Sugriva, come here from Rishyamuka, going where I wish, moving at will.” Having said this to the two heroes, Rama and Lakshmana, Hanuman, who knows speech and is skilled in it, says nothing more.
Hearing his words, glorious Rama, his face lit with joy, says to his brother Lakshmana standing beside him: “This is the minister of great-souled Sugriva, lord of the monkeys, the very one I was longing for, come here near me. Speak to him, Saumitri, to Sugriva’s minister, the monkey skilled in speech, tamer of foes, with sweet and affectionate words. One who has not been trained in the Rigveda, who does not hold the Yajurveda, who does not know the Samaveda, cannot speak like this. Surely he has studied the whole of grammar many times; though he has spoken much, he has not used a single faulty word. No fault is seen anywhere, in his mouth, his eyes, his forehead, his brows or any other part. His speech is not too long, not doubtful, not slow, not faltering; it rises from the chest, passes through the throat, in a middle tone. He utters auspicious speech that delights the heart, wonderful, unhurried, perfect in its formation and order. Whose heart would not be won by this wonderful speech, rising from the three places of articulation, even an enemy’s with sword raised? How can a king who has no messenger like this succeed in his affairs, sinless one? A king whose agents have such virtues achieves all his aims, urged on by his envoy’s words.” Told this, Saumitri, skilled in speech, speaks to the son of the wind, skilled in speech, Sugriva’s monkey minister: “The virtues of great-souled Sugriva are known to us, learned one, and we are searching for that very Sugriva, lord of the leapers. As you say, Hanuman, at Sugriva’s word, so we will do, at your word, best of the good.” Hearing his skilful words, the son of the wind, delighted, setting his mind on the coming of victory, then wishes to make friendship between them.
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वचो विज्ञाय हनुमान् सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः । पर्वतादृष्यमूकात् तु पुप्लुवे यत्र राघवौ ॥ १ ॥
Understanding the words of great-souled Sugriva, Hanuman leapt from Mount Rishyamuka to where the two Raghavas were.
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कपिरूपं परित्यज्य हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः । भिक्षुरूपं ततो भेजे शठबुद्धितया कपिः ॥ २ ॥
Giving up his monkey form, Hanuman, son of the wind, the monkey, then took on a mendicant’s form, out of shrewdness.
ततश्च हनुमान् वाचा श्लक्ष्णया सुमनोज्ञया । विनीतवदुपागम्य राघवौ प्रणिपत्य च ॥ ३ ॥
Then Hanuman, with smooth, very pleasing speech, approaching the two Raghavas as one humble, and bowing,
आबभाषे च तौ वीरौ यथावत् प्रशशंस च । सम्पूज्य विधिवद् वीरौ हनुमान् वानरोत्तमः ॥ ४ ॥
addressed those two heroes and praised them properly. Having honoured the heroes according to rule, Hanuman, best of monkeys,
उवाच कामतो वाक्यं मृदु सत्यपराक्रमौ । राजर्षिदेवप्रतिमौ तापसौ संशितव्रतौ ॥ ५ ॥
spoke gently, freely, these words: “You two of true valour, like royal sages and gods, ascetics of strict vows,
देशं कथमिमं प्राप्तौ भवन्तौ वरवर्णिनौ । त्रासयन्तौ मृगगणानन्यांश्च वनचारिणः ॥ ६ ॥
“how have you, of fine complexion, reached this place, frightening the herds of deer and other forest creatures,
पम्पातीररुहान् वृक्षान् वीक्षमाणौ समन्ततः । इमां नदीं शुभजलां शोभयन्तौ तरस्विनौ ॥ ७ ॥
“looking on every side at the trees grown on the Pampa’s shore, adorning this river of lovely water, mighty ones?
धैर्यवन्तौ सुवर्णाभौ कौ युवां चीरवाससौ । निःश्वसन्तौ वरभुजौ पीडयन्ताविमाः प्रजाः ॥ ८ ॥
“Steadfast, golden-bright, who are you, wearing bark clothes, sighing, strong-armed, oppressing these creatures,
सिंहविप्रेक्षितौ वीरौ महाबलपराक्रमौ । शक्रचापनिभे चापे गृहीत्वा शत्रुनाशनौ ॥ ९ ॥
“with a lion’s gaze, heroes of great strength and valour, holding bows like Indra’s bow, destroyers of enemies,
श्रीमन्तौ रूपसम्पन्नौ वृषभश्रेष्ठविक्रमौ । हस्तिहस्तोपमभुजौ द्युतिमन्तौ नरर्षभौ ॥ १० ॥
“glorious, handsome, with the stride of the best of bulls, with arms like elephants’ trunks, radiant, bulls among men?
प्रभया पर्वतेन्द्रोऽसौ युवयोरवभासितः । राज्यार्हावमरप्रख्यौ कथं देशमिहागतौ ॥ ११ ॥
“This king of mountains is lit up by your radiance. Worthy of kingdoms, like immortals, how have you come to this place?
पद्मपत्रेक्षणौ वीरौ जटामण्डलधारिणौ । अन्योन्यसदृशौ वीरौ देवलोकादिहागतौ ॥ १२ ॥
“Heroes with eyes like lotus petals, wearing circles of matted hair, heroes alike to each other, have you come here from the world of the gods?
यदृच्छयेव सम्प्राप्तौ चन्द्रसूर्यौ वसुंधराम् । विशालवक्षसौ वीरौ मानुषौ देवरूपिणौ ॥ १३ ॥
“Like the moon and sun come to the earth by chance, broad-chested heroes, men with the forms of gods,
सिंहस्कन्धौ महोत्साहौ समदाविव गोवृषौ । आयताश्च सुवृत्ताश्च बाहवः परिघोपमाः ॥ १४ ॥
“lion-shouldered, of great energy, like proud bulls, with long, well-rounded arms like iron bars,
सर्वभूषणभूषार्हाः किमर्थं न विभूषिताः । उभौ योग्यावहं मन्ये रक्षितुं पृथिवीमिमाम् ॥ १५ ॥
“worthy to be adorned with every ornament, why are you not adorned? I think you are both fit to protect this earth,
ससागरवनां कृत्स्नां विन्ध्यमेरुविभूषिताम् । इमे च धनुषी चित्रे श्लक्ष्णे चित्रानुलेपने ॥ १६ ॥
“whole, with its oceans and forests, adorned by the Vindhya and Meru. And these two bows, wonderful, smooth, with wonderful painting,
प्रकाशेते यथेन्द्रस्य वज्रे हेमविभूषिते । सम्पूर्णाश्च शितैर्बाणैस्तूणाश्च शुभदर्शनाः ॥ १७ ॥
“shine like Indra’s thunderbolts adorned with gold. And your quivers, lovely to see, are full of sharp arrows,
जीवितान्तकरैर्घोरैर्ज्वलद्भिरिव पन्नगैः । महाप्रमाणौ विपुलौ तप्तहाटकभूषणौ ॥ १८ ॥
“terrible, ending life, like blazing serpents. Of great size, broad, adorned with refined gold,
खड्गावेतौ विराजेते निर्मुक्तभुजगाविव । एवं मां परिभाषन्तं कस्माद् वै नाभिभाषतः ॥ १९ ॥
“these two swords shine like snakes that have shed their skins. Why do you not answer me as I speak so?
सुग्रीवो नाम धर्मात्मा कश्चिद् वानरपुङ्गवः । वीरो विनिकृतो भ्रात्रा जगद्भ्रमति दुःखितः ॥ २० ॥
“There is a certain righteous bull among monkeys named Sugriva, a hero cheated by his brother; he wanders the world in sorrow.
प्राप्तोऽहं प्रेषितस्तेन सुग्रीवेण महात्मना । राज्ञा वानरमुख्यानां हनुमान् नाम वानरः ॥ २१ ॥
“I have come, sent by that great-souled Sugriva, king of the chief monkeys: a monkey named Hanuman.
युवाभ्यां स हि धर्मात्मा सुग्रीवः सख्यमिच्छति । तस्य मां सचिवं वित्तं वानरं पवनात्मजम् ॥ २२ ॥
“That righteous Sugriva wishes for friendship with you two. Know me as his minister, a monkey, son of the wind,
भिक्षुरूपप्रतिच्छन्नं सुग्रीवप्रियकारणात् । ऋष्यमूकादिह प्राप्तं कामगं कामचारिणम् ॥ २३ ॥
“disguised in a mendicant’s form for the sake of pleasing Sugriva, come here from Rishyamuka, going where I wish, moving at will.”
एवमुक्त्वा तु हनुमांस्तौ वीरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ । वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यकुशलः पुनर्नोवाच किंचन ॥ २४ ॥
Having said this to the two heroes, Rama and Lakshmana, Hanuman, knower of speech, skilled in speech, said nothing more.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत् । प्रहृष्टवदनः श्रीमान् भ्रातरं पार्श्वतः स्थितम् ॥ २५ ॥
Hearing those words of his, glorious Rama, his face full of joy, said to Lakshmana, his brother standing at his side:
सचिवोऽयं कपीन्द्रस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः । तमेव कांक्षमाणस्य ममान्तिकमिहागतः ॥ २६ ॥
“This is the minister of great-souled Sugriva, lord of the monkeys, come here near me, who longed for that very one.
तमभ्यभाष सौमित्रे सुग्रीवसचिवं कपिम् । वाक्यज्ञं मधुरैर्वाक्यैः स्नेहयुक्तमरिंदमम् ॥ २७ ॥
“Speak to him, Saumitri, to Sugriva’s minister, the monkey, knower of speech, tamer of foes, with sweet, affectionate words.
नानृग्वेदविनीतस्य नायजुर्वेदधारिणः । नासामवेदविदुषः शक्यमेवं विभाषितुम् ॥ २८ ॥
“One not trained in the Rigveda, not holding the Yajurveda, not knowing the Samaveda, cannot speak like this.
नूनं व्याकरणं कृत्स्नमनेन बहुधा श्रुतम् । बहु व्याहरतानेन न किंचिदपशब्दितम् ॥ २९ ॥
“Surely the whole of grammar has been heard by him many times; though he has spoken much, nothing has been mispronounced by him.
न मुखे नेत्रयोश्चापि ललाटे च भ्रुवोस्तथा । अन्येष्वपि च सर्वेषु दोषः संविदितः क्वचित् ॥ ३० ॥
“Not in his mouth, nor in his eyes, nor on his forehead, nor in his brows, nor in any of his other parts was a fault perceived anywhere.
अविस्तरमसंदिग्धमविलम्बितमव्यथम् । उरःस्थं कण्ठगं वाक्यं वर्तते मध्यमस्वरम् ॥ ३१ ॥
“His speech is not prolix, not doubtful, not drawn out, not faltering; it stays in the chest, goes through the throat, in a middle tone.
संस्कारक्रमसम्पन्नामद्भुतामविलम्बिताम् । उच्चारयति कल्याणीं वाचं हृदयहर्षिणीम् ॥ ३२ ॥
“He utters auspicious speech, delighting the heart, perfect in formation and order, wonderful, unhurried.
अनया चित्रया वाचा त्रिस्थानव्यञ्जनस्थया । कस्य नाराध्यते चित्तमुद्यतासेररेरपि ॥ ३३ ॥
“By this wonderful speech, set in the three places of articulation, whose heart would not be won, even an enemy’s with sword raised?
एवंविधो यस्य दूतो न भवेत् पार्थिवस्य तु । सिद्ध्यन्ति हि कथं तस्य कार्याणां गतयोऽनघ ॥ ३४ ॥
“The king who does not have such a messenger: how indeed do the courses of his affairs succeed, sinless one?
एवंगुणगणैर्युक्ता यस्य स्युः कार्यसाधकाः । तस्य सिद्ध्यन्ति सर्वेऽर्था दूतवाक्यप्रचोदिताः ॥ ३५ ॥
“He whose agents are endowed with such hosts of virtues: all his aims succeed, urged on by his envoy’s words.”
एवमुक्तस्तु सौमित्रिः सुग्रीवसचिवं कपिम् । अभ्यभाषत वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यज्ञं पवनात्मजम् ॥ ३६ ॥
Spoken to so, Saumitri, knower of speech, addressed Sugriva’s minister, the monkey, son of the wind, knower of speech:
विदिता नौ गुणा विद्वन् सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः । तमेव चावां मार्गावः सुग्रीवं प्लवगेश्वरम् ॥ ३७ ॥
“The virtues of great-souled Sugriva are known to us, learned one; and we two are searching for that very Sugriva, lord of the leapers.
यथा ब्रवीषि हनुमन् सुग्रीववचनादिह । तत् तथा हि करिष्यावो वचनात् तव सत्तम ॥ ३८ ॥
“As you say, Hanuman, by Sugriva’s word here, so we will do, by your word, best of the good.”
तत् तस्य वाक्यं निपुणं निशम्य प्रहृष्टरूपः पवनात्मजः कपिः । मनः समाधाय जयोपपत्तौ सख्यं तदा कर्तुमियेष ताभ्याम् ॥ ३९ ॥
Hearing those skilful words of his, the son of the wind, the monkey, looking delighted, setting his mind on the coming of victory, then wished to make friendship with them.