September 4 - Sargas 2 and 3 of Kishkindha Kanda.
Let us welcome Hanuman into the story! The original superhero meets Sri Rama. Sri Rama is IMMENSELY impressed with Hanuman in every possible way and there has been no other character in Valmiki Ramayana so far making such a triumphant impact on debut.
The wooden image in the photo is the hand-carved Hanuman icon from Bali, Indonesia. Hanuman is in battle readiness here!
***
Sugriva is deeply agitated by the appearance of two mighty warriors. He is sure that they have been sent by his violent elder brother Vali to kill him. He jumps from peak to peak in the Rishyamuka range displaying intense provocation and fear. Other monkeys follow suit and a tumult arises disturbing all the birds and wild animals around.
Sugriva's lieutenant Hanuman asks Sugriva to pull himself together.
यस्मात्तेव भयं सौम्य पूर्वजात्पापकर्मणः ।
स नेह वाली दुष्टात्मा न ते पश्याम्यहं भयम् ॥
अहो शाखामृगत्वं ते व्यक्तमेव प्लवङ्गम ।
लघुचित्ततयाऽत्मानं न स्थापयसि यो मतौ ॥
"Dear Sugriva, the intense fear you display thinking of your elder brother Vali who has wronged you is baseless. Nothing to fear is seen hereabouts. No doubt Vali is evil but I don't see his hand here.
"Alas, you display your pusillanimity characteristic of a monkey who jumps from tree to tree. That is why you are unable to steady your mind."
Sugriva retorts that these two warriors armed to the gills are here perhaps as henchmen of Vali. Otherwise, their appearance cannot be explained. When Hanuman disagrees with that surmise, Sugriva tells him,
ते त्वया प्राकृतेनैव गत्वा ज्ञेयौ प्लवङ्गम ।
इङ्गितानां प्रकारैश्च रूपव्याभाषणेन च ॥
"Hanuman, please go in the disguise of a normal human and find out more about those two warriors. Get to know their intentions and behaviour as well as their exact form and their way of speaking. Gain their confidence. That will help us discover what is the danger from them."
***
Hanuman takes the form of a mendicant with a begging bowl. That disguise is much better for the occasion as his vanara form might well alarm the two men.
***
Hanuman, the son of Vayu (wind god), approached Sri Rama and Lakshmana with decorum and politeness. His words were soft and touched the two brothers rooted in righteous prowess.
"Dear sirs, you look like royal sages or gods. Why are you here? You would scare the animals around here. You are looking around the lake Pampa, and enjoying the sights of these tall trees. You have an extremely handsome appearance, with the shoulders of warriors. You seem exhausted by some enterprise. But yet you strike terror in the animals here.
"You remind me of tusker elephants or powerful bulls. You carry shining weapons that will destroy enemies. You are undoubtedly the best among humans. You shine with radiance. You look like royals. What are you doing in these parts, dressed as ascetics, wearing barks, and sporting matted locks? Your arrival is as if the sun and moon have descended here together.
"How come your mighty arms are without ornaments? You seem to be fit to rule the entire earth. Your bows look magnificent like Indra's thunderbolt. Your quivers carry deadly arrows that resemble fiery serpents. I am seeing glittering, long swords with you.
"Now let me tell you about myself. I am with the vanara king Sugriva, banished by his elder brother Vali. Sugriva is wandering all over the world. I am also a vanara and my name is Hanuman. I have been sent by Sugriva to offer his friendship to you. I am able to assume any form at will and can travel anywhere. I am the son of the Wind god and am Sugriva's minister."
Having heard him, Sri Rama spoke in an aside to Lakshmana.
"He is the minister to the vanara king Sugriva, whom I want to meet. See, Lakshmana, this monkey is skilled in the art of speech and speaks so sweetly."
***
नानृग्वेदविनीतश्च नायजुर्वेद्धारिणः ।
नासामवेदविदुषश्शक्यमेवं विभाषितुम् ॥
नूनं व्याकरणं कृत्स्नमनेन बहुधा श्रुतम् ।
बहु व्याहरताऽनेन न निञ्चिदपशब्दितम् ॥
न मुखे नेत्रयोर्वापि ललाटे च भ्रुवोस्तथा ।
अन्येष्वपि च गात्रेषु दोषस्संविदितः क्वचित् ॥
"Dear Lakshmana, one who has not delved deep into Rigveda, practised the rituals of Yajurveda thoroughly, or mastered the Samaveda, cannot speak so eloquently as this Hanuman.
"It is patently clear that he has mastered the Samskritam grammar, and has studied a number of scriptures thoroughly. He has spoken at length to us, and yet not a single mispronunciation or a blemish was present in his speech!
"And look at his face, and his eyes, and forehead, and his eyebrows, Lakshmana! And even his limbs and body all over. There is not a single blemish or defect in any part of his person."
Sri Rama admires Hanuman so much, especially the way Hanuman has spoken - politely, unambiguously, probingly, intelligently, with a well-moderated voice, neither throaty nor shrill, in a language that is at once captivating.
कस्य नाराध्यते चित्तमुद्यतासेररेरपि - "Hanuman's speech will disarm with its appeal even an enemy with his sword raised to strike! How can a king with such a minister or ambassador ever fail in attaining his goal?"
Thus given the green signal, Lakshmana informs Hanuman that they are Sri Rama and Lakshmana, and are in fact desirous of meeting Sugriva after hearing about him.
Hanuman is simply delighted with their acquiescence.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
