Book IV :
Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys
Chapter
[Sarga] 3
Introduction
|
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. |
vacho
vij~naaya hanumaan sugriivasya mahaatmanaH |
parvataat R^iSyamuukaat tu pupluve yatra raaghavau || 4-3-1
1. Hanumaan; surgiivasya
mahaatmanaH= of Sugreeva, noble soul; vachaH vij~naaya= words, mindful of;
puplave= took his flight; parvataat R^iSyamuukaat= from Mt. Rishyamuka; yatra
Raaghavau= where, the Raghava-s are.
Mindful of the words of noble-souled Sugreeva, Hanuma took his flight from Mt. Rishyamuka to where Raghavaa-s are. [4-3-1]
kapi
ruupam parityajya hanumaan maarutaatmajaH |
bhixu ruupam tato bheje shaThabuddhitayaa kapiH || 4-3-2
2. kapi
ruupam parityajya= monkey's, semblance, cast-off; Hanumaan; maaruta aatmajaH=
Air's son; bhikshu ruupam tataH bheje= ascetic's, persona, then, attained;
kapiH shaTha buddhitayaa= monkey, with incredulousness, in mind,.
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]
Sugreeva doubted Rama and Lakshmana to be the mercenaries sentby his elder brother Vali, for kings of that nature will always be on hunt for their enemies. Hence he ordered Hanuma not to approach them in his original persona that is of a mighty monkey, c.f. 4-2-24. This is the reason why he chose the form of ascetic, thinking that nobody tells a lie to an ascetic, and thus he wanted to gain information in an ascetic’s form, but futile is his effort. Rama or Lakshmana will go on listening to what Hanuma says, without any reply. Hanuma himself is vexed at their silence and he has to come out of his guise to reveal his original form, as at 4-3-19.
tataH ca
hanumaan vaachaa shlakSNayaa sumanoj~nayaa |
viniitavat upaagamya raaghavau praNipatya cha || 4-3-3
ababhaaSe ca tau viirau yathaavat prashasha.msa ca |
3, 4a. tataH= then; Hanuma; vaachaa=
with a voice; shlakSNayaa su manoj~nayaa= softly, well, pleasingly; viniita vat
upaagamya raaghavau= obedient one, like, nearing, Raaghava-s; praNipatya= on
hailing them; ababhaaSe ca tau viirau= greeted them [not talking exactly,]
also, to those two, valiant ones; yathaa vat prashashamsa ca= befittingly,
praising, also.
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]
sa.mpuujya vidhivad viirau
hanumaan vaanarottamaH || 4-3-4
uvaaca kaamato vaakyam mR^idu satya paraakramau |
4b, 5a. vaanara uttamaH= monkey, the
best; Hanumaan; sampuujya = on making reverent obeisance; satya paraakramau
viirau= to both candid, resolutely, valorous ones; vidhivat= customarily;
kaamataH= as desired [by Sugreeva]; mR^idu vaakyam uvaacha= soft, words, spoke.
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 mR^iga gaNaan anyaam cha vana chaariNaH || 4-3-6
5. raaja
R^iSi deva pratimau= kingly, saints, deity-like, similar to; samshrita vratau=
with blest, vows; vara vanaariNau= ideally, complexioned ones; taapasau=
ascetics; bhavantau= you two; mR^iga gaNaan anyaam traasayantau= animal, herds
of, other inhabitants, scaring; imam desham katham praaptau= this,
country-side, how you arrived.
"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 vR^ikShaan 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
7, 8. pampaa tiira ruhaan vR^ikshaan=
on Pampa, banks, grown-on, trees; samantataH viikshamaaNau= all over, watching
at; shubha jalaam= having propitious, waters; imaam nadiim shobhayantau= this
one, the river, make to shine; tarasvinau= mighty ones8. dhairyavantau=
courageous ones; suvarNa aabhau= golden, in hue; chiira vaasasau= jute-cloth,
wearers of; niHshsvasantau= sighing over [repeatedly]; vara bhujau= mighty
shouldered ones; imaaH prajaaH piiDayantau = distressing, these, beings [of
this forest]; kau yuvaam= who, you are.
"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]
si.nha
viprekShitau viirau mahaabala paraakramau |
shakra chaapa nibhe chaape gR^ihiitvaa shatru naashanau || 4-3-9
shriimantau ruupa sa.mpannau vR^iShabha shreShTha vikramau |
hasti hasta upama bhujau dyutimantau nararShabhau || 4-3- 10
9, 10. simha vi prekSitau= lion-like, sharply, glancing; viirau=
dauntless ones; mahaa bala paraakramau= greatly, bold, brave; shakra caapa
nibhaH= Indra's, bow, like; chaape gR^ihiitvaa= bows, on taking [on wielding];
shatru naashanau= enemy, destroyers; shriimantau= glorious ones; ruupa sampannau=
appearance, splendid in; vR^iSabha shreSTa vikramau= sacred-bull like, best,
impetuous; asti hasta upama bhujau= elephant's, trunk, like, arms; dyutimantau
nara R^ishabhau= self-resplendent ones, of men, foremost..
"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
11. asau
parvata indraH= this, mountain, lord-like; yuvayoH prabhayaa avabhaasitaH= by
your, effulgence, effulgent; raajya arhau= kingdom-worthy; amara prakhyau=
divinities-like; iha desham katham aagatau= now, to country-side, how, you
reached.
"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 sadR^ishau viirau deva lokaat iha aagatau || 4-3-12
yadR^icChayeva sa.mpraaptau chandra suuryau vasu.ndharaam |
vishaala vakShasau viirau maanuShau deva ruupiNau || 4-3-13
si.mha skandhau mahaa utsaahau samadau iva govR^iShau |
12, 13, 14a. padma patra iikshaNau= with lotus, petal-like, eyes;
viirau= undaunted ones; jaTaa mandala dhaariNnau= braided, tufts, wearers;
anyonya sadR^ishau= to each, identical [look-a-like, cloned beings]; viirau
deva lokaat iha aagatau= steadfast ones, from gods', world, hither, arrived;
yadricChayeva= by fortune; sampraaptau= attained; vasundharaam= by earth; indra
suurya iva= moon, sun, as it were; vishaala vakshasau= broad, chests; viirau=
resolute ones; maanuShau deva ruupiNau= humans, deities, form; si.mha skandhau=
lion-shouldered; mahaa utsaahau= very, vehement; sa+madau iva govR^iShau= with,
vigour, like, sacred bulls.
"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]
aayataaH
cha suvR^ittaaH cha baahavaH parighopamaaH || 4-3-14
sarva bhuuShaNa bhuuShaarhaaH kim artham na vibhuuShitaaH |
14b, 15a. aayataaH su vR^ittaaH baahavaH=
lengthy, spherical, too, are arms; parighaH upamaH= clubs, in similarity; sarva
bhuuSaNa bhuuSa arhaaH= for all kinds of, ornaments, decor-worthy; kim artham=
for what, reason; na vibhuuSitaaH= not decorated.
"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]
Here in the verse plural number is used for hands, aayataaH, baahavaH, parighaaH, whereas so far, dual number, dvivachana is used to describe any two. The ancient commentators take this as many hands, more than two, as opposite to other dual numbered wording. For this it is said that since Lakshmana is a right hand to Rama, Hanuma sees a three-handed god in Rama. But Hanuma is talking to both Rama and Lakshmana; there shall be two deities with two hands each. The accepted phenomenon is that, Hanuma as a true devotee has seen the fourhanded Vishnu in Rama. This is according to Govindaraja. Next, the arms of Rama are of protective nature to the friendly ones. aayaataaH, lengthily ones - they can be stretched to any extent, and on the other hand, anything can depend on them, as in yopaam aayatanam veda... and this su vrittaaH, round like the serpent's hoods, or body builder’s clubs, is to tell that no one can near them. Thus, the spherical universe can depend on the spherical shoulders of Rama. Thus Hanuma is reminding Rama of his wild-boar incarnation where the whole world is lifted on his snout from waters. The word parighaH, is to say that those spherical shoulders can remove difficulties of those who adore them. The parighaH in simple terms means, clubs, bludgeon, or ancient dumbbell unlike the present day dumbbells of gym, but the word is deciphered to be pari gha fully, removing, or fully, falling to one's lot. That is, here these shoulders are mighty to eliminate Vali and these hands if shook by Sugreeva in friendship, Sugreeva's miseries will be removed completely.
ubhau
yogyau aham manye rakShitum pR^ithiviim imaam || 4-3-15
sa saagara vanaam kR^itsnaam vindhya meru vibhuuShitaam |
15b, 16a. ubhau= reg. you two; aham manye=
I, deem; imam sa saagara vanaam= with, oceans, forests; vindhya meru vi
bhuushitaam= Mt. Vindhya, Mt. Meru, adorned with; kR^itsnaam pR^ithiivm
rakshitum yogyau= entire, earth, to protect, choicest one.
"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 |
16b, 17a. ime dhanuSii= these, bows;
chitre= awesome; shlakSNe= smooth; chitra anulepane= with odd things, polished;
prakaashete yathaa indrasya= brightening, like, Indra's; hema vibhuuSite= in
gold, decorated; vajre iva= Thunderbolt, like.
"And these awesome bows are polished with odd things are smooth, and they are brightening like the gilded Thunderbolt of Indra. [4-3-16]
sa.mpuurNaaH ca shitaiH baaNaiH
tuuNaaH cha shubha darshanaaH || 4-3-17
jiivita antakaraiH ghoraiH jvaladbhiH iva pannagaiH |
17b,18a. subha darshanaaH= admirable, in appearance; tuNaaH ca=
quivers, also; jiivita antakaraiH= life, terminators; ghoraiH= hazardous;
jvladbhiH pannagaiH iva= fiery, snakes, like; shitaiH baaNaiH= sharp, arrows;
sampuurNaaH ca= full with, also.
"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 nirmuk{}ta bhujagau iva |
18b, 19a. mahaa pramaaNau vipulau= amply,
broad, wide; tapta haaTaka bhuuSitau= burnt [refined,] gold, decorated with;
khaDagau etau viraajete= swords, these two, are dazzling; nirmukta bhujagau
iva= released [from moulted skin,] snakes like.
"Dazzling are these amply wide, broad and gilded swords like the snakes just released from their moults... [4-3-18b, 19a]
evam maam
paribhaaShantam kasmaad vai na abhi bhaaShataH || 4-3-19
sugriivo naama dharmaatmaa kashchit vaanara pu.ngavaH |
viiro vinikR^ito bhraatraa jagat bhramati duHkhitaH || 4-3-20
19b, 20. evam maam paribhaaSantam= this
way, to me, talking; kasmaat vai= what for; verily; na abhibhaaSathaH= [you] do
not, speak to [me]; sugriiva naama dharmaatmaa= Sugreeva, named, virtuous one;
kaschit vaanara pungavaH viiraH= somebody, among monkeys, worthily one; vi
nikR^itaH bhraatraa= verily, expelled, by brother; jagat bhramati duHkhitaH=
over world, roaming, sorrowfully.
"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]
A monkey cannot be teased this far, for it will show its teeth, if exceeded. Hanuma is vexed with their silence. So far he has been talking all flattering words, which he has drawn from many scriptures, i.e., scriptures. Their apparels and hair tufts are like those of sages and hermits, along with their self-contradictory resemblance as would-have-been emperors, and their mighty weaponry, and every other thing he said are the quotes from lakshana shaatra, the scripture that prescribes the qualities of great emperors. This is what the other two listeners are assessing about the questioner also. In the midst of this unpopulated thick forest, some ascetic comes in, talks at length, that too without offence to the scriptures, is the doubt of those two brothers. This particular questioner is not definitely any ascetic or sage, because he is roaming in deep forests, rather than around some villages where he may get some charities. And also that, generally ascetics will talk, only when they are talked to, but this one with some purpose behind, is almost pestering to reveal the identity of the intruders. Hence the brothers took Hanuma to be another demon or anyone sent by somebody, for they already knew about the Vali-Sugreeva episode. Apart from this, Rama is following his own Imperial protocol of assessing the person approaching on his own, who is talking like this one, and who has high knowledge of all the scriptures. This analysis, Rama gives to Lakshmana after a few more verses. For now, Hanuma had to yield to high resistance from those two brothers, and is going to reveal himself, with a come-what-may attitude.
praaptaH
aham preShitaH tena sugriiveNa mahaatmanaa |
raaj~naa vaanara mukhyaanaam hanumaan naama vaanaraH || 4-3-21
21. mahaatmanaa=
by that great soul; vaanara mukhyaanaam raaj~naa = monkeys, of important ones,
by king; tena SugreeveNa= by him, by that Sugreeva; preSitaH= delegated;
praaptaH aham= come, I have; hanumaan naama vaanaraH= Hanumaan, named, monkey.
"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 |
R^ishyamuukaat iha praaptam kaamagam kaamacaariNam || 4-3-23
22. saH dharmatmaa sugriivaH= he,
that righteous one, Sugreeva; yuvaabhyaam sakhyam icChati hi= with you two,
friendship, desiring, indeed; maam vittam= me, you know; sugriiva priya
kaaraNaat= Sugreeva, to appease, by reason of; bhikshu ruupa praticChannam=
ascetic's, form, undercover of; tasya sachivaH= his, minister; R^iSyamuukaat
iha praaptam= from Mt. Rishyamuka, here, I reached; kaama gam kaama ruupinam=
by wish, wend, by wish, guise alter; pavana aatmajam vaanaram= son of, Air-god,
a monkey [thus you may know me.]
"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
uk{}tvaa tu hanumaam tau viirau raama lakShmaNau |
vaakyaj~no vaakya kushalaH punaH na uvaacha ki.mchana || 4-3-24
24. vaakya
j~naH= sentence, knower [wordsmith]; vaakya kushalaH= sententiousness, expert
in; Hanumaan; tau viirau= to those, valorous ones; Rama; Lakshmana; evam utkvaa
tu= thus, saying, only; punaH kinchanaH na uvaacha= further, anything, not
said.
Saying thus to those valorous Rama and Lakshmana, Hanumaan, the sententious wordsmith, spoke nothing further. [4-3-24]
etat
shrutvaa vachaH tasya raamo lakShmaNam abraviit |
prahR^iShTa vadanaH shriimaan bhraataram paarshvataH sthitam || 4-3-25
25. shriimaan=
illustrious one; ramaH= Rama; tasya etat vachaH shrutvaa = his, all those,
words, on hearing; pra hR^iSTta vadana= well, pleased, facially; paarshvataH
sthitaH= at his side, standing; bhraataram lakshmanam abraviit= to his brother,
to Lakshmana, spoke.
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]
Again Rama is following his imperial protocol. As an emperor he does not enter into any direct conversation with envoys or ambassadors. Later Rama asks Lakshmana to conduct the dialogue with Hanuma. This is said to have another reason. Because Lakshmana is another wordsmith, equalling Hanuma by way of his knowledge in scriptures, Rama assigns that duty to Lakshmana. Now Rama's analysis of this envoy's knowledge, thereby gauging his master's virtuousness, is made know to Lakshmana in the following verses.
sachivo
ayam kapiindrasya sugriivasya mahaatmanaH |
tam eva kaa~NkShamaaNasya mama antikam iha aagataH || 4-3-26
26. ayam=
he is; kapiindrasya mahaaatmanaH sugriivasya sachivaH= monkey's king’s,
noteworthy soul, Sugreeva’s, minister; tam eva kaankshamaaNasya mama antikam
upaagataH= him, alone, [I am] cherishing, at my, near, he arrived.
"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 |
vaakyaj~nam madhuraiH vaakyaiH sneha yuk{}tam arindama || 4-3-27
27. Soumitri; vaakya j~nam=
sententious one; sneha yuktam= friendliness, withal; arindamam= with enemy
destroyer [Hanuma]; sugriiva sachivam kapim= Sugreeva's, minister, the monkey;
madhuraiH vaakyaiH= with pleasing, words; tam abhyabhaaSa = to him, you
exchange pleasantries.
"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]
The word arindamam meaning ‘to the enemy destroyer’ is to pertain to Lakshmana as oh, enemy destroyer, because Rama has not yet concluded on Hanuma's epithets. In Chaukambha version, in Gorakhpur version and in Eastern versions it is arindama , in vocative case only, but Baroda and Tokunaga versions and some more have this as arindamam, objective case. Similar usage can be found in this chapter at 4-3-36, vaajyaj~naH, vaakyaj~nam etc.
na an
R^igveda viniitasya na a\-\-yajurveda dhaariNaH |
na a\-\-saama veda viduSaH shakyam evam vibhaaSitum || 4-3-28
28. na=
not; an R^igveda viniitasya= non, Rig Veda, knower of; na=not; a + yajurveda
dhaariNaH= non, Yajur Veda, remembering; na= not; a + saamaveda viduSaH= non,
Saama Veda, scholar; shakyam= possible; evam vi bhaaSitum= this way, truly, to
speak.
"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]
From hereon Rama's analysis of Hanuma is depicted. In Rig Veda every letter has too many phonetically deflected variations, in many ways to mean many things. It is practically impossible to contain that knowledge, unless the recitalist has complete control over it. Hence the word, viniita , 'well trained' is used. In Yajurveda many anuvaaka-s or passages occur recursively, with different utilisation. Remembering not to mix one with the other is a difficult process. Hence the recitalist has to have enormous remembrance. In Saamaveda the pitch and duration of the rendering is of high importance, as such it requires a scholarly bent to control vocal notes. The three words, vinaya, schooling; dhaaraNa, remembrance and vedana knowledge are required to each of the above Veda-s. Atharva Veda, on the other hand, has no recital performance other than the above. Hence, it is said, is not quoted by Rama. Hanuma said 'you two are eligible to rule the earth' as at 4-3-15, which tantamount to the quote brhamaa vaa idam ekaeva agra aasiit... from Rigveda aitereya. Next he said that you are deities inhuman form at 4-3-13, which has its bearing on the Yajurveda quote ajaayamaano bahudhaa vijaayate... Then Rama is said having lotus-petal like eyes, at 4-3-11, taking clue from cChandogya of Saamaveda, myathaakapyaasam punDariikam evaakshiNii.... Hence these utterances of Hanuman are said to have direct base in the Veda-s.
nuunam
vyakaraNam kR^itsnam anena bahudhaa shrutam |
bahu vyaaharataa anena na ki.mchit apa shabditam || 4-3-29
29. nuunam
definitely; anena= by him; vyaakaraNam kR^istsnam= grammar, comprehensively;
bahudhaa shrutam= severally, heard [learnt]; bahu vyaaharataa anena= much,
said, by him; na kimchit= not, a single word; apa + shabditam= amiss, verbiage.
"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]
Earlier Vedic knowledge of Hanuma is analysed. Now his knowledge of grammar, the essential part of Vedic learning is analysed. Without the knowledge of subsidiary scriptures of Veda-s, like, vyaakarana, nirukta, sikhsha,chandas , the study of Vedas and its ancillaries itself is futile. Reading and reciting the Vedic hymns is of no use in practical life, for the knowledge learnt thereon is to be implemented in society. A simple recitalist is known as chaa.ndasa orthodox fellow, while the user of that knowledge for the good of society is vyavahaarta practical fellow. Hence Hanuma is implementing the grammar and training received originally as a Vedic scholar, because he is a practical one.
na mukhe
netrayoH ca api lalaaTe cha bhruvoH tathaa |
anyeSu api cha sarveSu doSaH sa.mviditaH kvachit || 4-3-30
30. mukhe
netrayaoH vaa api= on face, in eyes, or even; lalaaTe= on forehead; tathaa
bhruvoH= like that, on eyebrows; anyeSu api ca= other parts [of face,] even, also;
sarveSu kvachit doSaH na samviditaH= in all [faculties,] at the least, fault,
is not, found.
"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]
Now the behavioural niceties of a Vedic scholar are being analysed. The siksha part of Veda-s imposes certain rules while reciting the hymns. There will be some paaTaka athama-s, Reciters, the worst. The following verse elucidates the skills of such worst reciters.
gŸtŸ þŸghrŸ þira× kampŸ tath˜ likhita p˜÷haka× |
anarthajño'lpa kanõ÷ha× ca ÿa÷ ete p˜÷hak˜dham˜ ||
giitii= stretching; shiighrii= quickening the pace; shiraH kampii= head, one who nods; tathaa= thus; likhita paathakaaH= written-text readers; anartha j~naH= unknowing the meaning; alpa kaNThaaH= weak-voiced; Sat ete= six, of these; paaThaka athamaaH= reciters, the worst.
1] Undue stretching, 2] quickening the pace, 3] nodding the head 4] reading by seeing written texts without memorising 5] unknowing the meaning, 6] weak-voiced, are thus the six sorts of worst reciters of Vedic hymns.
avistaram
asa.ndigdham avilambitam avyatham |
uraHstham kaNThagam vaakyam vartate madhyame svaram || 4-3-31
31. vaakyam=
[his] sentence; a + vistaram= un, expanded; a + sandighdham= un, doubtful; a +
vilambitam= un, delaying; a + vyatham= non, dissonant; urastham kanThagam= in
chest, in throat; vartate madhyame svare= comports, [speech,] in medium, tone.
"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]
After elucidating the reciters, the worst, now the recitation, the worst is being analysed.
þankitam bhŸtam udghuÿ÷am avyaktam anun˜sikam |
k˜ku svaram þŸrÿagatam tath˜ sth˜na varjitam |
visvaram virasam caiva viþliÿ÷am viÿam˜nvitam |
vy˜kulam t˜lu bhinnam ca p˜÷ha doÿ˜× cartur daþa× ||
shankitam= doubting; bhiitam= fearing; udghuSTam = shouting; avyaktam= unclear; anunaasikam= nasal; kaaku svaram= shrieking; shiirsha gatam=high-pitched; tathaa= like that; sthaana varjitam= placed, improper; vi svaram=melody-less; virasam= rude; eva= also, like; vishlishtam= torn apart; vishama anvitam= negatively meaning; vyaakulam= chaotic; taalu bhinnam=labiovelar; paaTha doshaaH= all, reading, mistakes.
Reading scriptures with 1] doubting, 2] fearing, 3] shouting,4] unclear, 5] nasal, 6] shrieking, 7] high-pitched, and like with 8]improper sounds placement, 9] melody-less, 10] rudely, and also 11] letters torn apart, 12] rendering negative meaning, 13] chaotic, 14] labiovelar, are the fourteen reciting mistakes.
sa.mskaara krama sa.mpannaam
adbhutaam avilambitaam |
uccaarayati kalyaaNiim vaacham hR^idaya harSiNiim || 4-3-32
32. samskaara
krama sampannaanaam= refinement, orderly, he has; adbhutam= remarkable; a +
vilambitam= un-delaying; uccaarayati kalyaaNiim vaacha= speaks, propitious,
words; hrR^idaya harSiNiim= heart-pleasing ones.
"He has orderly refinement in speech that is remarkable and un-delaying, and he speaks propitious words that are heart-pleasing...[4-3-32]
Best reciters will render phonetics as below, as contained in siikhsha of Veda-s:
m˜dhuryam akÿaravyakti× pada ccheda× tad˜ tvar˜
dhairyam laya samanvitam ca ÿa÷ ete p˜÷hak˜× guõ˜×
maadhuryam= sweet-voiced; akshara vyaktiH= syllables, enunciated; pada cChedaH= parting of words; tathaa= thus; tvaraa= quickness; dhairyam= confidently; laya samanvitam= rhythm included; SaT ete paaTHagaa gunaaH= are the six abilities of the reciters.
With sweet voice, enunciated syllables, properly parting the words, quick and confident, and rhythm included are the six best qualities of best reciters.
anayaa
chitrayaa vaachaa tristhaana vya.njanasthayaaH |
kasya na aaraadhyate chittam udyat ase areH api || 4-3-33
33. anayaa
chitrayaa vaachaa= by his, enthralling, speech; tri sthaana vyanjanasthayaa= in
three, places, generated; kasya na aaraadhyate chittam= who, not, adores, by
heart [whose heart does not become enchanted]; udyat aseareH api= raised,
sword, of enemy, even [even an enemy, after raising his sword.]
"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]
Three places to generate speech are urashi at chest, shirashi at head, kanTha at throat. A real speqker of his mind has to generate his speech in these three areas, without rendering any lip service. Again this is the rule of Vedic siksha namely the training.]
evam vidho
yasya duuto na bhavet paarthivasya tu |
siddhyanti hi katham tasya kaaryaaNaam gatayo.anagha || 4-3-34
34. anagha=
oh, the faultless Lakshmana; yasya paarthivasya= to which, king’s; duutaH evam
vidhaH na bhavet= emissary, this kind of, not, going to be; tasya gatayaH
kaaryaaNaam katham siddhyanti= his, works [means,] ways, how, they will
accomplish.
"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 yuk{}taa yasya syuH kaarya saadhakaaH |
tasya siddhyanti sarve.arthaa duuta vaakya prachoditaaH || 4-3-35
35. yasya=
to whom; evam guNa gaNaiH yuktvaa = this kind of, virtue, varieties of, having;
kaarya saadhakaaH= work, accomplishers; syuH= will be there; tasya sarve
arthaaH= to him, all, objectives; duuta vaakya prachoditaaH= envoy's, words,
impelled by; siddhyanti= are achieved;
"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
uk{}taH tu soumitriH sugriiva sachivam kapim |
abhyabhaaSata vaakyaj~no vaakyaj~nam pavanaatmajam || 4-3-36
36. evam
uktaH tu= thus, said [by Rama,] only; saumitriH= Lakshmana; sugriiva sachivam
kapim= to Sugreeva's minister, that monkey; abhya bhaaSata= spoke to; vaakya
j~naH= wise-worded one; vaakyaj~nam= to [another] wise-worded one; pavamaana
aatmajam= Air's, son.
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
37. vidvan=
oh scholar; sugriivasya mahaatmanaH= of Sugreeva, great-soul; guNaaH viditaa
nau = virtues, are known, to both of us; avaam= we; maargaavaH= are searching
for; tam plavanga iishvaram sugriivam eva= him, that fly-jumpers, lord of,
Sugreeva, alone.
"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
38. sattama
hanumaan = oh gentle one, Hanuma; iha sugriiva vachanaat= now, by Sugreeva’s,
words; yathaa braviiSi = as, you speak [as you communicated]; tat= that; tava
vacanaat= according, to your words; tathaa hi kariSyaavaH= like that, we wish
to do, indeed.
"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
prahR^iSTa ruupaH pavanaatmajaH kapiH |
manaH samaadhaaya jaya upapattau
sakhyam tadaa kartum iyeSa taabhyaam || 4-3-39
39. kapiH=
that monkey, Hanuma; tasya nipuNam tat vakyam nishmya= his [Lakshmana’s,]
operative, that, sentence, on observing; prahR^iSTa ruupaH= gladdened, in
composure; jaya upapattau= victory, in resulting; manaH samaadhaaya= mind, kept
at ease; tadaa taabhyaam sakhyam kartum iyeSa= then, to them, friendship, to
materialise [at the earliest,] he wished to.
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]
.
A Note on Verses
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The research scholars
point out that these many verses are not there in some ancient manuscripts and
only the following verses are available. Even the tailor-made Baroda edition
ends at verse 4-3-27. The above aspects of Rama's analysis etc., is available in
the Eastern and Gorakhpur and other untailored manuscripts. There is an
extensive commentary on these so-called extra verses, rendered in a rare
commentary Dharmaakuutam dating back to 1600's, and even in earlier
commentaries. The verses found in ancient manuscripts are said to be this one
and half stanzas:
tata× sañcintya manas˜ r˜mo lakÿmanam abravŸt |
sacivo'yam kapŸndrasya sugrŸvasya mah˜tmana× ||
tam ˜bh˜ÿasva soumitre mat samŸpam ¨p˜gamat |
v˜kyajñam madhurai× v˜kyai× satyajñam pavan˜tmajam ||
Taking clue of the last
foot, namely vaakyajnam etc., and to glorify Hanuma through the tongue of Rama,
these verses from 4-3-28 to 4-3-35, are said to be crafted later, without
throwing light on when and where. Rama is going to give aachaarya , Teacher status to
Hanuma to educate the innate soul - Seetha in Lanka - about the Almighty. So,
to receive that status, according to Vaishnavaite stipulates, a guru should
possess certain qualities like:
˜c˜ryo veda sampanno viÿõu bhakto vimatsara× |
mantrajño mantra bhakta× ca sad˜ mantr˜rtha× þuci× |
guru bhakti sam˜yukta× pur˜õajño viþeÿata× |
evam lakÿaõa sampanno guru ityabhi dhŸyate ||
A teacher is to be well-equipped with all Veda-s, a devotee of Vishnu, always purified by hymnal purity, devotion to his own teacher, knower of mythologies, in particular, and one who is endowed with these qualities alone is called the Guru.
And Hanuma is one such
according to popular belief, though not from the viewpoints of researches. It
is therefore unclear whether the modern day researchers are right or the
ancient commentators.
iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye kiSkindha kaaNDe tR^itiyaH sargaH
Thus, this is the 3rd chapter in Kishkindha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Verse Locator for Book IV :
Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys : Chapter 3
© 2000, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : March 04]