September 5 - Sargas 4 and 5 of Kishkindha Kanda.
Lakshmana introduces Sri Rama and himself to Hanuman in glowing terms. Hanuman is simply delighted to put two and two together and conclude that Sugriva's troubles are near their end.
Hanuman escorts the brothers to Sugriva's hideout. The two forge their alliance over the sacred fire. Sri Rama hears Sugriva's woes and assures him that he will kill Vali and get him his wife back.
***
Hanuman, delighted to hear that Sri Rama and Lakshmana are indeed here seeking Sugriva's friendship, enquires of Sri Rama :
किमर्थं त्वं वनं घोरं पम्पाकाननमण्डितम् ।
आगतः सानुजो दुर्गं नानाव्यालमृगायुतम् ॥
"Rama, please tell me why you have come along with your younger brother to this inaccessible and inhospitable forest near the Pampa lake full of wild animals and serpents of all kinds."
Sri Rama motions to Lakshmana to respond. By the way, this is the royal protocol. The king never speaks directly or answers strangers. His emissary or attendant owns that responsibility.
I give you three shlokas of what Lakshmana speaks. They define what is dignity in adversity and what shows self-belief in every circumstance.
राजा दशरथो नाम द्युतिमान् धर्मवत्सलः ।
चातुर्वर्ण्यं स्वधर्मेण नित्यमेवाभिपालयन् ॥
शरण्यः सर्वभूतानां पितुर्निर्देशपारगः ।
ज्येष्ठो दशरथस्यायं पुत्राणां गुरुवत्तरः ॥
अहमस्यावरो भ्राता गुणैर्दास्यमुपागतः ।
कृतज्ञस्य बहुज्ञस्य लक्ष्मणो नाम मानितः ॥
"Hanuman, King Dasharatha was a great ruler, full of brilliance and dedicated to Dharma. He was always upholding the interests of all four sections of society by his righteous administration.
"This, here, is Sri Rama, the ultimate refuge of everyone in the world and fully dedicated to adhering to his father's orders. He is the eldest and the most accomplished son of King Dasharatha. "
Lakshmana goes on to say that for some reason, following his father's desire, Sri Rama came away to Dandakaranya. His dutiful wife Sita followed him to the forest, just as the evening light follows the setting sun.
" I am known as Lakshmana, I am the younger brother and humble servant of Sri Rama, and have come along to serve Sri Rama who is indeed greatly wise about his duties and full of the knowledge of the here and hereafter. "
Lakshmana then describes Sri Rama's glory and natural leadership qualities. He also narrates how a rakshasa abducted Sita in Dandakaranya and plunged them into distress. Sri Rama, who is the protector of all mankind, has been driven to a state of helplessness as they know nothing about this abductor. Kabandha, son of Danu and accursed to suffer a demonic existence until Sri Rama would liberate him and send him to heaven, disclosed to the brothers that there was a worthy vanara king by name Sugriva who would help them. They are here looking to forge their friendship with Sugriva.
Hanuman replies:
ईदृशा बुद्धिसम्पन्ना जितक्रोधा जितेनद्रियाः ।
द्रष्टव्या वानरेन्द्रेण दिष्ट्या दर्शनमागताः ॥
"You two brothers are exemplars of wisdom, equanimity, and mastery over your senses (as evidenced by the way you have come away to a life of hardship as ascetics in the forest instead of revolting against the king). You two are definitely worthy of being received by King Sugriva of vanaras. It is entirely owing to his good fortune that you have arrived."
Hanuman describes how Sugriva was been wronged by Vali, driven out of his kingdom, and how Vali has also grabbed his wife. The distressed King Sugriva is on the run, in constant fear of his mighty and intemperate brother Vali. Hanuman proposes that they now go and meet Sugriva in his hideout.
Lakshmana respectfully acknowledges Hanuman and briefs Sri Rama privately that he finds Hanuman to be a trustworthy and wise person who has spoken the truth about Sugriva and his circumstances. Sri Rama gladly agrees to go with Hanuman.
***
ततस्स तु महाप्राज्ञो हनुमान्मारुतात्मजः ।
जगामादाय तौ वीरौ हरिराजाय राघवौ ॥
"Hanuman, the man of great intuition and wisdom, the son of Vayu, the wind god, then assumed his original form of a mighty vanara. Lifting both the warrior brothers on his shoulders, Hanuman flew to the mountain to the hideout of the vanara king Sugriva."
***
Hanuman arrives in Rishyamuka carrying the two brothers. Then, Sri Rama and Lakshmana are requested to wait in a comfortable spot as Hanuman goes to Sugriva's hideout and briefs him of all the information he has gathered. Sugriva is informed how Dasharatha was a glorious king who performed many great yajnas and ruled well for the welfare of all. Hanuman then uses three adjectives for Sri Rama - दृढविक्रमः, पितुर्निर्देशकारकः, शरणमागतः - Sri Rama has a well proven military prowess; he came away to the forest out of respect for his father's order; and now he has come seeking help from Sugriva. Hanuman mentions how Ravana abducted Sita. Hanuman makes it crystal clear that the two brothers should be welcomed, respected and trusted by Sugriva for his own welfare.
Sugriva now extends his unconditional friendship to Sri Rama. He extends his hand of friendship literally, which Sri Rama takes in his own with warmth and affection. He also embraces Sugriva.
***
काष्टयो: स्वेन रूपेण जनयामास पावकम् ।
दीप्यमानं ततो वह्निं पुष्पैरभ्यर्च्य सत्कृतम् ॥
तयोर्मध्ये तु सुप्रीतो निदधौ सुसमाहितः ।
ततोऽग्निं दीप्यमानं तौ चक्रतुश्च प्रदक्षिणम् ॥
"Hanuman, who had assumed his vanara form, then used wood sticks and kindled the sacred fire. The fire was worshipped with flowers.
"Hanuman then tended the sacred fire carefully as the two - Sugriva and Sri Rama, circumambulated the fire and solemnised their friendship, inviting auspicious outcomes."
Sugriva then spoke in words of sincerity and affection, "Sri Rama, you are elder than me, but we are both in similar difficulties." Sugriva broke a fine branch of a saal tree with luxuriant leaves and flowers and made a large seat and sat down on it with Sri Rama. Hanuman broke the leafy branch of a sandal wood tree and made a seat for Lakshmana.
Sugriva narrated how he had been hurt very much by his brother Vali who drove him out of the kingdom and took away his wife. He requested Sri Rama to release him from the great fear he had of his brother Vali.
प्रत्यभाषत काकुत्स्थः सुग्रीवं प्रहसन्निव Sri Rama replied to Sugriva with a smile on his face, "Dear Sugriva, I know that friendship is based on helping one another. I shall kill Vali who took away your wife.
"My arrows are infallible, decorated with kanka feathers, comparable to Indra's thunderbolt, and fiery like the burning sun. Like hissing serpents, they will strike and will bring down the miscreant Vali soon. You will see Vali fallen on the ground like a shattered mountain."
Sugriva expressed his great relief at being assured that he will get his wife back and his enemy, Vali will be destroyed.
At that exact moment, Sita's left eye twitched. An omen, as we have seen earlier, to the lady that something good will happen to her very soon. And similarly, Vali's left eye (Valmiki compares it to glittering gold) as well as Ravana's left eye ( Valmiki compares it to a blazing fire) twitched. That augured bad outcomes for the two men.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
