Summary
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 Sanyaasi is that, the intruders in this area Rama and Lakshmana appear in a self-contradictory personage. By their body built, striking features, wielding armory 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 [background] 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.
Chapter [Sarga] 3
vacho vijnaaya hanumaan sugriivasya mahaatmanah |
parvataat risyamuukaat tu pupluve yatra raaghavau || 4-3-1
Mindful of the words of noble-souled Sugreeva, Hanuma took his flight from Mt. Rishyamuka to where Raghava-s are. [4-3-1]
kapi ruupam parityajya hanumaan maarutaatmajah |
bhixu ruupam tato bheje shathabuddhitayaa kapih || 4-3-2
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]
tatah ca hanumaan vaachaa shlaksnayaa sumanojnayaa |
viniitavat upaagamya raaghavau pranipatya cha || 4-3-3
ababhaase ca tau viirau yathaavat prashashamsa ca |
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]
sampuujya vidhivad viirau hanumaan vaanarottamah || 4-3-4
uvaaca kaamato vaakyam mridu satya paraakramau |
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]
raajarshi deva pratimau taapasau samshita vratau || 4-3-5
desham katham imam praaptau bhavantau vara varninau |
traasayantau mriga ganaan anyaam cha vana chaarinah || 4-3-6
"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]
pampaa tiira ruhaan vrikshaan viikshamaanau sama.ntatah |
imaam nadiim shubha jalaam shobhayantau tarasvinau || 4-3-7
dhairyavantau suvarnaabhau kau yuvaam chiira vaasasau |
nihshvasantau vara bhujau piidayantau imaah prajaah || 4-3-8
"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]
sinha viprekshitau viirau mahaabala paraakramau |
shakra chaapa nibhe chaape grihiitvaa shatru naashanau || 4-3-9
shriimantau ruupa sa.mpannau vrishabha shreshtha vikramau |
hasti hasta upama bhujau dyutimantau nararshabhau || 4-3- 10
"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]
prabhayaa parvata indrah asau yuvayoh avabhaasitah |
raajya arhau amara prakhyau katham desham iha aagatau || 4-3-11
"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]
padma patra iikshanau viirau jataa mandala dhaarinau |
anyonya sadrishau viirau deva lokaat iha aagatau || 4-3-12
yadricchayeva sa.mpraaptau chandra suuryau vasu.ndharaam |
vishaala vakshasau viirau maanushau deva ruupinau || 4-3-13
si.mha skandhau mahaa utsaahau samadau iva govrishau |
"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 cloned [similar], 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]
aayataah cha suvrittaah cha baahavah parighopamaah || 4-3-14
sarva bhuushana bhuushaarhaah kim artham na vibhuushitaah |
"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]
ubhau yogyau aham manye rakshitum prithiviim imaam || 4-3-15
sa saagara vanaam kritsnaam vindhya meru vibhuushitaam |
"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]
ime cha dhanushii chitre shlakshne chitra anulepane || 4-3-16
prakaashete yathaa indrasya vajre hema vibhuushite |
"And these awesome bows are polished with odd things are smooth, and they are brightening like the gilded Thunderbolt of Indra. [4-3-16]
sampuurnaah ca shitaih baanaih tuunaah cha shubha darshanaah || 4-3-17
jiivita antakaraih ghoraih jvaladbhih iva pannagaih |
"Full with hazardous, life terminating, fiery snake like sharp arrows are these quivers, admirable in their appearance... [4-3-17b, 18a]
mahaa pramaanau vipulau tapta haataka bhuusanau || 4-3-18
khadgau etau viraajete nirmukta bhujagau iva |
"Dazzling are these amply wide, broad and gilded swords like the snakes just released from their molts [to cast or shed the skin, that will be replaced by a new growth]... [4-3-18b, 19a]
evam maam paribhaashantam kasmaad vai na abhi bhaashatah || 4-3-19
sugriivo naama dharmaatmaa kashchit vaanara pu.ngavah |
viiro vinikrito bhraatraa jagat bhramati duhkhitah || 4-3-20
"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]
praaptah aham preshitah tena sugriivena mahaatmanaa |
raajnaa vaanara mukhyaanaam hanumaan naama vaanarah || 4-3-21
"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]
yuvaabhyaam sa hi dharmaatmaa sugriivah sakhyam ichchhati |
tasya maam sachivam vittam vaanaram pavanaatmajam || 4-3-22
bhikshu ruupa prati chchhannam sugriiva priya kaaranaat |
rishyamuukaat iha praaptam kaamagam kaamacaarinam || 4-3-23
"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]
evam uktvaa tu hanumaam tau viirau raama lakshmanau |
vaakyajno vaakya kushalah punah na uvaacha ki.mchana || 4-3-24
Saying thus to those valorous Rama and Lakshmana, Hanuman, the sententious wordsmith, spoke nothing further. [4-3-24]
etat shrutvaa vachah tasya raamo lakshmanam abraviit |
prahrishta vadanah shriimaan bhraataram paarshvatah sthitam || 4-3-25
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]
sachivo ayam kapiindrasya sugriivasya mahaatmanah |
tam eva kaankshamaanasya mama antikam iha aagatah || 4-3-26
"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]
tam abhyabhaasha saumitre sugriiva sachivam kapim |
vaakyajnam madhuraih vaakyaih sneha yuktam arindama || 4-3-27
"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]
na an rigveda viniitasya naa yajurveda dhaarinah |
naa saama veda vidusah shakyam evam vibhaasitum || 4-3-28
"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]
nuunam vyakaranam kritsnam anena bahudhaa shrutam |
bahu vyaaharataa anena na ki.mchit apa shabditam || 4-3-29
"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]
na mukhe netrayoh ca api lalaate cha bhruvoh tathaa |
anyesu api cha sarvesu dosah sa.mviditah kvachit || 4-3-30
"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]
avistaram asandigdham avilambitam avyatham |
urahstham kanthagam vaakyam vartate madhyame svaram || 4-3-31
"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]
samskaara krama sa.mpannaam adbhutaam avilambitaam |
uccaarayati kalyaaniim vaacham hridaya harsiniim || 4-3-32
"He has orderly refinement in speech that is remarkable and un-delaying, and he speaks propitious words that are heart-pleasing...[4-3-32]
anayaa chitrayaa vaachaa tristhaana vya.njanasthayaah |
kasya na aaraadhyate chittam udyat ase areh api || 4-3-33
"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]
evam vidho yasya duuto na bhavet paarthivasya tu |
siddhyanti hi katham tasya kaaryaanaam gatayo.anagha || 4-3-34
"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]
evam guna ganair yuktaa yasya syuh kaarya saadhakaah |
tasya siddhyanti sarve.arthaa duuta vaakya prachoditaah || 4-3-35
"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]
evam uktah tu soumitrih sugriiva sachivam kapim |
abhyabhaasata vaakyajno vaakyajnam pavanaatmajam || 4-3-36
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]
viditaa nau gunaa vidvan sugriivasya mahaatmanah |
tam eva cha avaam maargaavah sugriivam plavageshvaram || 4-3-37
"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]
yathaa braviisi hanumaan sugriiva vachanaad iha |
tat tathaa hi karisyaavo vachanaat tava sattama || 4-3-38
"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]
tat tasya vaakyam nipunam nishamya
prahrista ruupah pavanaatmajah kapih |
manah samaadhaaya jaya upapattau
sakhyam tadaa kartum iyesa taabhyaam || 4-3-39
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 materialize the pact of friendship between Rama and Sugreeva, at the earliest. [4-3-39]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye kiskindha kaande tritiyah sargah
Thus, this is the 3rd chapter in Kishkindha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate