Book IV : Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys
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Legend of Hanuma's birth is eulogised together with his innate capabilities. Jambavanta familiarises Hanuma of his capabilities giving an account of his birth, rather what for he took birth, and extols his unready faculty. In the sixty-sixth chapter of Bala Kanda, Valmiki very concisely narrates the birth of Seetha. But here Valmiki elaborately informs about the birth of Hanuma through Jambavanta. Some information about Hanuma is included in the endnote. |
aneka þata s˜hasrŸm viÿaõõ˜m hari v˜hinŸm |
j˜mbav˜n samudŸkÿya evam hanumantam atha abravŸt || 4-66-1
1. jaambavaan= Jambavanta; viSaNNaam= crestfallen; aneka shata saahasriim= many, hundreds, thousands [soldiers] having; hari vaahiniim= monkey, soldiery; samudiikSya= on overseeing; atha= then; hanumantam evam abraviit= to Hanuma, this way, said.
On overseeing the crestfallen monkey-soldiery, which is with many hundreds and thousands of soldiers, then Jambavanta sad this way to Hanuma. [4-66-1]
vŸra v˜nara lokasya sarva þ˜stra vid˜m vara |
t¨ÿõŸm ek˜ntam ˜þritya hanuman kim na jalpasi || 4-66-2
2. vaanara lokasya= of vanara, world; viira= oh, valiant one; sarva shaastra vidaam vara= in all, scriptures, among scholars, eminent one; hanuman= oh, Hanuma; tuuSNiim ekaantam aashritya= calmly, loneliness, resorting to; kim na jalpasi= why, not, mumble [something.]
"Oh, valiant one in the world of vanara-s, being an erudite scholar among all the scriptural scholars, Hanuma, why do not you mumble something, why do you resort to a calmly loneliness... [4-66-2]
hanuman hari r˜jasya sugrŸvasya samo hi asi |
r˜ma lakÿmaõayo× ca api tejas˜ ca balena ca || 4-66-3
3. hanuman= oh, Hanuma; tejasaa ca balena ca= by brilliance, also, by brawn, as well; hari raajasya sugriivasya= monkey's, king, Sugreeva's; raama lakSmaNayoH ca api= to Rama, Lakshmana, also, even to; samaH asi hi= you match up to, you are, indeed.
"By your brilliance and brawn, oh, Hanuma, you match up to king of monkeys Sugreeva, or even to Rama and Lakshmana, as well... [4-66-3]
ariÿ÷anemina× putro vainateyo mah˜bala× |
garutm˜n iva vikhy˜ta uttama× sarva pakÿiõ˜m || 4-66-4
4. ariSTaneminaH putraH= Aristanemi, [another name of Kashyapa Prajapati,] son of; sarva pakSiNaam uttamaH= among all, birds, best bird; vainateyaH= son of Lady Vinata; mahaabalaH= superbly mighty one; garutmaan iva [iti] vi khyaata= Garuda, thus, universally, renowned as - such a bird is there.
"The son of Kashyapa Prajapati and Lady Vinata is the best bird among all the birds who is superbly mighty and who is universally renowned as Garuda... [4-66-4]
bahuþo hi may˜ d®ÿ÷a× s˜gare sa mah˜bala× |
bhujag˜n uddharan pakÿŸ mah˜vego mah˜yaþ˜× || 4-66-5
5. mahaa balaH= he, great mighty; mahaa vegaH= rapidly, speedy; mahaa yashaaH= highly, glorious; saH pakSii= that, bird; saagare= from ocean; bhujagaan uddharan= reptiles, on upheaving; mayaa bahushaH dR^iSTaH hi= by me, oftentimes, is seen, indeed.
"Iindeed, I have oftentimes seen that highly glorious, rapidly speedy, great mighty bird Garuda, pecking up reptiles from ocean... [4-66-5]
pakÿayo× yat balam tasya t˜vat bhuja balam tava |
vikrama× ca api vega× ca na te tena apahŸyate || 4-66-6
6. tasya pakSayoH yat balam= his, of wings, which, might - is there; tava bhuja balam taavat=your, arms, strength of, is that much; te vikramaH ca api= by your, daring, also, even; vegaH ca= dash, too; tena= by him [his dash and dare]; na apahiiyate= underwhelmed [unreprovable.]
"Whatever is the strength of his wings, that much is the strength of you arms, and even by the yardsticks of his dash and dare, yours too, are unreprovable... [4-66-6]
balam buddhi× ca teja× ca sattvam ca hari sattama |
viþiÿ÷am sarva bh¨teÿu kim ˜tm˜nam na sajjase || 4-66-7
7. hari sattama= oh, monkey, forthright one; your; balam buddhiH ca tejaH ca sattvam ca= [your] force, faculty, also, flair, also, fortitude, also; sarva bhuuteSu= among all, beings; vishiSTam= is finest; aatmaanam kim na sajjase= yourself, why, not, readying [yourself.]
"Oh, forthright monkey, you are the finest among all beings by the dint of your force, faculty, flair, and fortitude... why then is your unreadiness in this task of leaping ocean... [4-66-7]
apsara apsaras˜m þreÿ÷h˜ vikhy˜t˜ puñjikasthal˜ |
añjan˜ iti parikhy˜t˜ patnŸ kesariõo hare× || 4-66-8
8. punjikasthalaa= Punjikasthala; apsarasaam shreSThaa= among apsara-s, nicest one; vikhyaataa= renowned one; anjanaa iti pari khyaataa= [yclept] Anjana, thus, made, known - known as; apsara= such apsara; hareH kesariNaH patnii= of a monkey, of Kesari, wife of.
"Punjikasthala yclept Anjana is the nicest apsara among all apsara-s and she is the wife of Kesari, the monkey... [4-66-8]
vikhy˜t˜ triÿu lokeÿu r¨peõ˜ apratim˜ bhuvi |
abhiþ˜p˜t abh¨t t˜ta kapitve k˜ma r¨piõŸ || 4-66-9
9. taata= dear boy; ruupeNaa a+pratimaa= by mien, [she] not, paralleled - as an unparalleled apsara; triSu lokeSu vikhyaataa= in three, worlds, she is distinguished; such as she is; abhishaapaat= by a curse; bhuvi= on earth; kaama ruupiNii= by wish, form changer; kapitve= with monkey-hood; abhuut= she became [took rebirth.]
"She who is distinguished for her unparalleled mien in the three worlds, oh, dear boy Hanuma, had to take a rebirth on earth as a monkey who can change her form by her wish, owing to a curse... [4-66-9]
duhit˜ v˜nara indrasya kuñjarasya mah˜tmana× |
m˜nuÿam vigraham k®tv˜ r¨pa yauvana þ˜linŸ || 4-66-10
vicitra m˜lya ˜bharaõ˜ kad˜cit kÿauma dh˜riõŸ |
acarat parvatasya agre pr˜v®ý ambuda sannibhe || 4-66-11
10, 11. vaanara indrasya= of monkey, chief's; mahaatmanaH= great souled one; kunjarasya= of Kunjara; duhitaa [aabhuutaa]= daughter, [on taking birth]; ruupa yauvana shaalinii= form [rarity of beauty], nubility, when shining forth with them; kadaacit= at one time; maanuSam vigraham kR^itvaa= human, physique, on assuming; vicitra maalya aabharaNaa= amazing, garlands, decorations having; kshauma dhaariNii= silken-clothes, dressed in; praavR^iD ambuda sannibhe= rainy season's, black-cloud, similar in shine; [adhyadhaara / elliptic: vidyut iva= streak of lightning, like] parvatasya agre= mountain, on top; acarat= she ambled.
"She who took birth as the daughter of great souled monkey chief Kunjara, on assuming a human physique, putting on caparisons of amazing garlands, dressed in silken clothing, and shining forth with rarity of her beauty and nubility, at one time ambled on the top of a mountain like a streak of lightning athwart a black-cloud of rainy season. [4-66-10, 11]
tasy˜ vastram viþ˜l˜kÿy˜× pŸtam rakta daþam þubham
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sthit˜y˜× parvatasya agre m˜ruto apaharat þanai× || 4-66-12
12. parvatasya agre sthitaayaaH= on mountain's, top, when she is staying [strolling]; vishaala akSyaaH= of broad, eyed one; tasyaaH= hers; piitam rakta dasham shubham vastram= ochry, with red, having such rouches, auspicious, [silky] apparel; maarutaH shanaiH apaharat= Air-god, slowly, stolen [air-flown, lifted up.]
"When she is strolling on the mountaintop Air-god has slowly lifted up that broad-eyed lady's auspicious and ochry silk apparel with red rouches... [4-66-12]
sa dadarþa tata× tasy˜ v®ttau ¨r¨ susaÕhatau |
stanau ca pŸnau sahitau suj˜tam c˜ru ca ˜nanam || 4-66-13
13. tataH saH= then, he that Air-god; tasyaa= of her; vR^ittau= roundish; su sam hatau= well, twinned, thickset; uuruu= thighs; piinau sahitau stanau= plumpish, paired off, breasts; su jaatam= well, proportioned [becomingly build]; caaru aananam ca= beautiful, face, also; dadarsha= he beheld.
"Then the Air-god beheld her well-twinned, thickset, roundish thighs, and even the paired off plumpish breasts, and her beautiful face which is well proportioned in its build... [4-66-13]
t˜m bal˜t ˜yata þroõŸm tanu madhy˜m yaþasvinŸm |
d®ÿ÷v˜ eva þubha sarv˜ngŸm pavana× k˜ma mohita× || 4-66-14
14. balaat [vishaala] aayata shroNiim= one with - fatly [broad,] ample, pelvic girdle; tanu madhyaam= body, medium [slender-waisted]; yashasviniim= gorgeous one; shubha sarva angiim= pristine, by all, her limbs; taam= her; dR^iSTvaa eva= catching sight of, just on; pavanaH= Air-god; kaama mohitaH= by enamour, enamoured.
"Just on catching the sight of that gorgeous one, whose pelvic-girdle is fat and ample and who is slender-waisted, and who by all her limbs is pristine, the Air-god is enamoured... [4-66-14]
sa t˜m bhuj˜bhy˜m dŸrgh˜bhy˜m paryaÿvajata m˜ruta×
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manmatha ˜viÿ÷a sarv˜ngo gata ˜tm˜ t˜m anindit˜m || 4-66-15
15. a +ninditaam= not, blameable [immaculate lady; taam= towards her; gata aatmaa= he who - lost, his heart; saH maarutaH= he, that Air-god; manmatha aaviSTa sarva angaH= by Love-god, ensorcelled by, in all, limbs; diirghaabhyaam bhujaabhyaam= with long, arms; taam= her; paryaSvajata= embraced.
"He that Air-god who is ensorcelled by Love-god in all of his limbs, though he is limbless and existing in thin air, embraced that immaculate lady with both of his far-flung arms, as he lost his heart for her... [4-66-15]
s˜ tu tatra eva sambhr˜nt˜ suv®tt˜ v˜kyam abravŸt |
eka patnŸ vratam idam ko n˜þayitum icchati || 4-66-16
16. tatra= therein [the matter of invisible hugging]; eva sambhraantaa= just, perplexed; su vR^ittaa= of good, principles [conscientious lady]; saa tu= she, on her part; vaakyam abraviit= sentence, said; idam eka patnii vratam= this, single, wifehood, vow - one-man-one-wife principle of mine; kaH naashayitum icChati= who, to despoil, wishes to.
"But she that conscientious lady perplexedly said this sentence in that matter of invisible hugging, 'who wishes to despoil my vow of one-man-one-wife...' [4-66-16]
añjan˜y˜ vaca× þrutv˜ m˜ruta× pratyabh˜ÿata |
na tv˜m hiÕs˜mi suþroõi m˜ bh¨t te manasoi bhayam || 4-66-17
17. anjanaayaa vacaH shrutvaa= Anjana's, words, on listening; maarutaH prati abhaaSata= by Air-god, in reply, spoke; sushroNi= oh, high-hipped one; tvaam na himsaami= you, not, I assault [archaic= dishonour]; te manasaH bhayam maa bhuut= to your, heart, fear, let not, be there.
"On listening the words of Anjana the Air-god spoke this in reply, 'oh, high-hipped one, I don't dishonour you, hence let there be no fear in your heart, for I am the all-permeating Air-god... [4-66-17]
manas˜ asmi gato yat tv˜m pariÿvajya yaþasvini |
vŸryav˜n buddhi sampanna× putra× tava bhaviÿyati || 4-66-18
18. yashasvini= oh, honourable lady; yat= by which reason; tvaam pariSvajya= you, on embracing; manasaa gataH= by sense [supersensorily,] entered [impregnate within you]; asmi= I am; by that reason; tava= to you; viiryavaan= valiant one; buddhi sampannaH= intellect, endowed with; putraH bhaviSyati= son, will be there [takes birth.]
" 'By which reason I embraced you and impregnate myself within you, by that reason you are impregnated in a supersensory manner, thereby you will beget a valiant son endowed with intellect... [4-66-18]
mah˜s˜ttvo mah˜teja mah˜bala par˜krama× |
laðghane plavane caiva bhaviÿyati may˜ sama× || 4-66-19
19. mahaa saattvaH= admirably, brave; mahaa teja= bravely [formal: splendid, spectacular - make a brave show,] dazzling; mahaa bala= dazzlingly [intr. archaic; [of eyes] be dazzled,] forceful; paraakramaH= [elliptic: forcefully] overpowering; langhane plavane caiva= in fly off, jump off, also thus; [putraH= a son]; mayaa samaH= with me, a coequal; bhaviSyati= will be there.
" 'An admirably brave, and a bravely dazzling, and a dazzlingly forceful, and a forcefully overpowering son will be there, also thus, he will be a coequal of mine in flying off and jumping up...' Thus, the Air-god said to Anjana. [4-66-19]
evam ukt˜ tata× tuÿ÷˜ jananŸ te mah˜kape× |
guh˜y˜m tv˜m mah˜b˜ho prajajñe plavagarÿabha || 4-66-20
20. mahaabaahuH= oh, ambidextrous one; mahaakapeH= great [arcane,] monkey - Hanuma; evam uktaa= that way, when she is said [by Air-god]; te jananii tuSTaa =your, mother, is gratified; tataH= thereby; plavagarSabha= oh, fly-jumper, the best; tvaam guhaayaam= you, in a cave; pra ja j~ne= very, well, divined [tr. discover by guessing, intuition, inspiration, or magic - not a uterine birth.]
"Oh, arcane monkey Hanuma, when Air-god said so to her, oh, ambidextrous one, your mother is gratified, and then, oh, bullish fly-jumpers, your mother very well divined you in a cave... [4-66-20]
abhyutthitam tata× s¨ryam b˜lo d®ÿ÷v˜ mah˜ vane |
phalañcetijigh®kÿustvamutpluty˜bhyutpatodivam - yadv˜ -
phalam ca iti jigh®kÿu× tvam utplutya abhiutpato divam || 4-66-21
21. tataH= thereafter; baalaH= [when you were a] boy; tvam mahaa vane= you, in vast, forest; abhi utthitam suuryam dR^iSTvaa= just, risen, sun, on seeing; phalam ca iti= fruit, just, thus [thinking]; jighR^ikSuH= thinking it to be a best catch; ut plutya= up, hopped; divam= onto sky; abhi ut pataH= towards, on, fell up - flew up.
"Thereafter, when you were a boy you have see the just risen sun in the vast of forest, and deeming it to be a just ripen reddish fruit, and thinking it to be a best catch, you hopped up and flew towards sun on the sky... [4-66-21]
þat˜ni trŸõi gatv˜ atha yojan˜n˜m mah˜kape |
tejas˜ tasya nirdh¨to na viÿ˜dam tato gata× || 4-66-22
22. mahaakape= oh, brave monkey; atha= then; yojanaanaam triiNi shataani gatvaa= yojana-s, three, hundreds, on going [on flying up]; tasya= his [sun's]; tejasaa nirdhuutaH= by radiation, [though] puffed and blown down; tataH viSaadam na gataH= by it, into anguish [scare,] not, you got into [you were indefatigably courageous.]
"Even on your flying up three hundred yojana-s, oh, brave monkey, and even when sun's radiation puffed and blown you down, you did not get into any anguish as were indefatigable... [4-66-22]
tv˜m api upagatam t¨rõam antarŸkÿam mah˜kape |
kÿiptam indreõa te vajram kopa ˜viÿ÷ena tejas˜ || 4-66-23
23. mahaakape= oh, mighty monkey; tuurNam= quickly; antariiksham= to vault of heaven; upagatam= coming near; tvaam api= at you, even [on seeing you]; kopa aaviSTena= one who with - anger, captivated by; indreNa= by Indra; tejasaa= by his effulgence; vajram= Thunderbolt; te= [at] you; kSiptam=catapulted.
"Oh, mighty monkey, even on seeing you who are coming near the vault of heaven, Indra is captivated by anger and by his effulgence he catapulted his Thunderbolt at you... [4-66-23]
tad˜ þail˜gra þikhare v˜mo hanur abhajyata |
tato hi n˜ma dheyam te hanum˜n iti kŸrtitam || 4-66-24
24. tadaa shailaagra shikhare= then, on mountaintop, highest one [after your falling on it]; vaamaH hanuH abhajyata= left, cheekbone [zygomatic arch,] broken; tataH= thereupon; te= your; naamadheyam= name-phrasing; hanu maan= cheekbone, one who has; one who is having a broken left cheekbone, thus hanuumaan; iti= thus; kiirtitam hi= averred to be, indeed.
"Then, your left cheekbone, zygomatic arch, is broken when you fell down on a highest mountaintop, from thereupon your name-phrase is indeed averred as Hanumaan... [4-66-24]
The word hanu also means 'wisdom...' and Hanuma is one having an absolute wisdom. He is also addressed as Hanumanta, Hanuma and at certain places Valmiki terms him as Hani... nectareous...
tata× tv˜m nihatam d®ÿ÷v˜ v˜yu× gandha vaha× svayam
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trailokyam bh®þa saðkruddho na vavau vai prabhañjana× || 4-66-25
25. tataH= then; gandha vahaH= scent, carrier; pra bhanjanaH= in their entirety, breaker - of trees etc., by his wind-storms, tempestuous Air-god; vaayuH= Air-god; tvaam nihatam dR^iSTvaa= you, mutilated, on observing; svayam= personally - physically; bhR^isha sankruddhaH= highly, infuriated; trailokyam= in triad of worlds; na vavau vai= not, circulate, really.
"Then on observing that you are mutilated, highly infuriated is that scent-wafter Air-god and that tempestuous Air-god has not physically circulated throughout the triad of worlds... [4-66-25]
sambhr˜nt˜× ca sur˜× sarve trailokye kÿubhite sati |
pras˜dayanti saðkruddham m˜rutam bhuvaneþvar˜× || 4-66-26
26. trailokye kSubhite sati= triad of worlds, roiled, while being; bhuvana iishvaraaH= universe's, lords - administrative gods; sarve suraaH= all, [such] gods; sambhraantaaH= are bewildered; samkruddham maarutam prasaadayanti= enraged, Air-god, started to supplicate for grace.
"When the triad of worlds is being roiled with breathlessness, all the administrative gods of universe are bewildered, and they started to supplicate the Air-god for his grace... [4-66-26]
pras˜dite ca pavane brahm˜ tubhyam varam dadau |
aþastra vadhyat˜m t˜ta samare satya vikrama || 4-66-27
27. samare satya vikrama= oh, one - in war, chivalric, warrior - Hanuma; taata= oh, bear boy; pavane prasaadite= Air-god, while being supplicated; brahmaa= Brahma; tubhyam= to you; a+shastra vadhyataam= not, by [any] missile, destructibility; varam dadau= boon, gave.
"Oh, chivalric warrior at war, while the Air-god is being supplicated, oh, dear boy, Brahma gave you a boon decreeing your 'indestructibility by any missile...' [4-66-27]
vajrasya ca nip˜tena virujam tv˜m samŸkÿya ca |
sahasra netra× prŸta ˜tm˜ dadau te varam uttamam || 4-66-28
svacchandata× ca maraõam tava sy˜t iti vai prabho |
28, 29a. prabhuH= oh, ablest Hanuma; sahasra netraH= Thousand-eyed one - Indra; vajrasya nipaatena= of Thunderbolt, falling - on you, hit by it; tvaam= you; vi rujam= without, hurt; samiikSya= on scrutinising; priita aatmaa= glad, at heart [kind-heartedly]; tava= for you; svacChandataH maraNam syaat= by volition, death, let there be; iti= saying so; te= to you; uttamam varam dadau= choicest, boon, he gave.
"On scrutinising that you are unhurt even after hit by Thunderbolt, oh, ablest Hanuma, the Thousand-eyed Indra kind-heartedly gave you a choicest boon saying that your death occurs only by your own volition... [4-66-28, 29a]
sa tvam kesariõa× putra× kÿetrajo bhŸma vikrama× ||
4-66-29
m˜rutasya aurasa× putra× tejas˜ ca api tat sama× |
tvam hi v˜yu suto vatsa plavane ca api tat sama× || 4-66-30
29b, 30. bhiima vikramaH= one who is - frightful, venturer [fist fighter - pugilist]; saH tvam= such as, you are; kesariNaH= Kesari's; kSetra jaH= arable, born [wife's son, where wife is an arable land, and its crop is his son]; putraH= son; maarutasya= Air-god's; aurasaH putraH= direct-descendent, son; tejasaa= by spiritedness [gusting]; tat samaH ca= his [Air-god,] selfsame, also; vatsa= oh, dear boy; vaayu sutaH= [as] Air-god's, son; tvam plavane tat samaH hi= in flying, his [Air-god's,] selfsame, in all respects.
"Such as you are, you are Kesari's son through his wife, oh, frightful pugilist, and you are the lineal son of Air-god, and even by your gusting you are selfsame to Air-god, and even by your flying also you are his selfsame to Air-god, in all respects... [4-66-29b, 30]
There used to be many systems to beget children in the bygone eras, called kshetraja, one's own, aurasa, in one's own wife but by other supernatural entities, niyoga, in one's own though other superior human beings or supernatural beings, and kR^itrima, by artificial methods like the present day cloning or by 'test tube baby' methods, and by datta, adaptation etc. Here Hanuma is said to be both the kshetraja as well as aurasa where his aurasa sonship is said for its gauNa artha latent and incidental meaning to endow him with the attributes of Air-god. Dharmaakuutam narrates about these system and some of it is: atra m˜ruta aurasatvam m˜ruta vŸrya utpannatva m˜treõa gauõam bodhyam | saÕsk®te sva kÿetre sva vŸry˜t utpannasya aurasa þabda mukhya arthatv˜t | tath˜ ca aurasa ˜di vibh˜ga pratip˜danam upassaram tallakÿaõam darþit˜ni manun˜ - aurasa kÿetraja× caiva datta× k®trima eva ca | g¨ý×otpannao apaviddha× ca d˜y˜s˜ b˜ndhav˜× ca ÿa÷ || - teÿ˜m lakÿaõ˜ni api sa eva ˜ha - sva kÿetre saÕsk®t˜y˜m tu svayam utp˜dita× ca ya× | tam aurasamvij˜nŸy˜t putram prathama kalpitam || sva dharmeõa niyukt˜y˜m kÿetraja× sm®ta× | sad®þam prŸti samyuktam sa jñeya× k®trima× suta× | manu - And these systems of begetting children is a taboo and banned for this Kali Yuga era: eteÿu datta aurasa vyatirikt˜n˜m putratve parigra× kalau niÿiddha× | candrika sm®ti artha s˜ra ˜dau kali yuga dharma madhye parigaõan˜t - iti And the verse 20 says that Anjana has 'divined Hanuma...' = very, well, divined... [tr. discover by guessing, intuition, inspiration, or magic]; but not 'delivered' manually through routine labour.
vayam adya gata pr˜õ˜ bhav˜n asm˜su s˜mpratam |
d˜kÿya vikrama sampanna× kapi r˜ja iva apara× || 4-66-31
31. adya vayam gata praaNaa= now, we are [I am,] gone, lives [as good as dead]; bhavaan= you; saampratam= presently; asmaasu= among us; daakSya vikrama sampannaH= competence, valiance, rife with; aparaH kapi raaja iva= the other, monkey's, king [Sugreeva,] like.
"Presently we are as good as dead, and among us presently you are the only one rife with competence and valiance, you are the other Sugreeva, the king of monkeys, to us... [4-66-31]
trivikrame may˜ t˜ta sa þaila vana k˜nan˜ |
tri× sapta k®tva× p®thivŸ parikr˜nt˜ pradakÿiõam || 4-66-32
32. taata= oh, dear boy; trivikrame= in Trivikrama [during the period of incarnation]; sa shaila vana kaananaa= with, mountains, forests, thickets; pR^ithivii= earth is; maya= by me; triH sapta kR^itvaH= three*seven= twenty-one, times, on making - multiplying; pradakSiNam parikraantaa= circumambulations, moved around.
"During the period of Trivikrama incarnation I have circumambulated the earth inclusive of its mountains, forests and thickets for twenty-one times, moving rightward around it... [4-66-32]
tath˜ ca oÿadhayo asm˜bhi× sañcit˜ deva þ˜san˜t |
nirmathyam am®tam y˜bhi× tad˜ tad˜nŸm no mahat balam || 4-66-33
33. tadaa= then; tathaa= that way; deva shaasanaat= by gods, orders; yaabhiH= by which [herbs]; amR^itam nirmathyam= ambrosia, is to be churned; [taabhiH= such]; oSadhayaH= herbal plants; asmaabhiH= by us [by me]; sancitaaH= collected; tadaaniim= then; naH balam mahat= for us [to me, there used to be] great, energy.
"Like that, by the order of gods we ourselves have collected those herbal plants with which ambrosia had to be churned from Milky Ocean, and in that way, then there used to be a great energy for us... [4-66-33]
The expressions 'we' and 'us' 'ourselves' are royal the 'we-s', 'us-s' and 'ourselves...'
sa id˜nŸm aham v®ddha× parihŸna par˜krama× |
s˜mpratam k˜lam asm˜kam bhav˜n sarva guõa anvita× || 4-66-34
34. idaaniim vR^iddhaH= presently, an aged one; saH aham= such as I am; pari hiina= completely, lessened; paraakramaH= valiance; saampratam kaalam= at present, time; bhavaan asmaakam= you, among us; sarva guNa anvitaH= with all, endowments, endowed with.
"Such as I am, I am now aged and my valiance is completely lessened... but at the present time, you alone are endowed with all endowments among us... [4-66-34]
tat vij®mbhasva vikr˜nta× plavat˜m uttamo hi asi |
tvat vŸryam draÿ÷u k˜m˜ iyam sarv˜ v˜nara v˜hinŸ || 4-66-35
35. vikraantaH= oh, vanquisher; tat= thereby; vijR^imbhasva= give a jump-start - to leap ocean; plavataam uttamaH asi hi= among fly-jumpers, the best, you are, indeed; sarvaa iyam vaanara vaahinii= entire, this, vanara, army; tvat viiryam= your, prowess; draSTu kaama= to witness, is anxious.
"Thereby oh, vanquisher Hanuma, you give a jump-start to leap the ocean. Indeed, you alone are the best one among all fly-jumpers, and this entire vanara army is anxious to witness your prowess... [4-66-35]
uttiÿ÷ha hari þ˜rd¨la laðghayasva mah˜ arõavam |
par˜ hi sarva bh¨t˜n˜m hanuman y˜ gati× tava || 4-66-36
36. hari shaarduula= oh, monkey, lion-like; hanuman= oh, Hanuma; uttiSTha= arise; mahaa arNavam langhayasva= vast, ocean, you leap; tava= your; yaa gatiH= which, cruise [escape velocity= the minimum velocity needed to escape from the gravitational field of a body]; that is; sarva bhuutaanaam= all, beings - escape velocity of all beings; paraa hi= unalike / the other, indeed.
"Arise, oh, lion-like monkey, leap over this vast ocean, oh, Hanuma, your escape velocity is indeed unalike that of all the other beings... [4-66-36]
viÿ˜õõ˜ haraya× sarve hanuman kim upekÿase |
vikramasva mah˜vega viÿõu× trŸn vikram˜n iva || 4-66-37
37. hanuman= oh, Hanuma; sarve harayaH viSaaNNaa= all, monkeys, are dispirited; kim upekSase= why, indolence of yours; mahaa vega= highly, speedy [speedier than sound, light and thought - supersonic, super-photic, super-cerebric;]; viSNuH triin [lokaan] vikramaan iva= Vishnu, three [who trod the triad of worlds in a trice,] trod, as with; vi kramasva= boldly, triumph over. {(aadaraartham punarukti) vi kramasva= boldly, triumph over.}
"Oh, Hanuma, all these monkeys are dispirited. Why this indolence of yours? You boldly triumph over the ocean as your speed is highest, supersonic, super-photic, super-cerebric is your celerity. As with Vishnu who trod the triad of worlds in a trice, you too triumph over..." Thus Jambavanta persuaded Hanuma to get ready for action. [4-66-37]
The bracketed words are in remembrance of the regularly chanted eulogy of Hanuma manojavam m˜ruta tulya vegam jitendriyam buddhimat˜m variÿ÷ham | v˜t˜atmajam v˜nara y¨dha mukhyam þrŸ r˜ma d¨tam þiras˜ nam˜mi || in that mano javam is 'speedier than thought...'
tata× kapŸn˜m ®ÿabheõa codita×
pratŸta vega× pavana ˜tmaja× kapi× |
praharÿayan t˜m hari vŸra v˜hinŸm
cak˜ra r¨pam mahat ˜tmana× tad˜ || 4-66-38
38. tataH kapiinaam R^iSabheNa coditaH= thereafter, of monkeys, bullish [Jambavanta] motivated by; pratiita vegaH= familiar, one whose speed [coupled with his irresistible enterprise]; pavana aatmajaH kapiH= Air-god's, son, monkey; taam hari viira vaahiniim= her, monkey, army; pra harSayan= to highly, gladden; tadaa= then; aatmanaH= his own; ruupam= form - physique; mahat cakaara= enormously, made.
Thereafter, when the best monkey among monkeys, namely Jambavanta, the king of bears has motivated, then that son of Air-god, Hanuma, whose speed is familiar coupled with his irresistible enterprise, enormously increased his physique as though to gladded the army of monkeys. [4-66-38]
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Some parables of Hanuma
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Apart from trying to snatch Sun-fruit, Hanuma's childhood-rascaling was intolerable for some sages and hermits. Hanuma used to tease and tickle the sages by snatching away their personal belongings, by spoiling well arranged worship articles etc. Knowing that Hanuma is indomitable by the blessings of Brahma and Indra and all the celestials, and as a severe punishment is uncalled for, as he is simple little monkey, the sages gave him a minor curse. That curse is 'Hanuma does not remember his might on his own, but recollects it whenever others remind him about it...' If Hanuma were to be aware of his own might, the course of Ramayana would have been otherwise. He would have simply enlarged his body and brought whole of Lanka island to Rama, as he has lifted sanjivini mountain, to enliven Lakshmana in the war with Ravana's son, Indrajit. So this was a necessary curse upon Hanuma. Hence Jambavanta had to harangue Hanuma.
The word kapi also means 'Sun...' kam= water; pi= drinker, drinker of waters... the Sun. kaparkayebhavaanaraaH Sun, monkey, elephant are the meanings for kapi. As Sun drinks waters only to give rain Hanuma drinks raama rasa amR^ita to shower wisdom on anyone, may it be Sugreeva, Angada or Seetha. Hanuma is the student of a guru no less than Sun-god. On ascertaining that nobody is prepared to teach him scriptures, and fied him as a fickle monkey, he approaches Sun, as Sun is an all-knowing teacher, karma saakshi, an eternal witness of all deeds. Hanuma raises his body to solar orbit and requests Sun to accept his studentship. Sun declines saying, "I am ever on my wheels, where can I be standstill to teach you leisurely, I have my unending duty to perform..." and thus continued His solar traversal. But Hanuma undeterred by Sun's dismissing, still enhances his body, placing one leg on the eastern mountain range and the other on the western, face turned toward the travelling Sun. Hanuma again requested Sun in this posture saying, "my face will always be towards you, in whichever orbit you go, but teach me...oh! God..." Pleased by the pertinence of Hanuma, Sun teaches all the scriptures to Hanuma. So also Hanuma is a witness to all the happenings in Ramayana, like Sun, and also performing whatever duty assigned to him. Even today any student is asked to adore Hanuma, to obtain such a stubborn health, enduring education, and above all a reverential scholarship.
Hanuma is having a benefit of icChaa maraNam 'death at his wish...' but he is not yet dead, believably, for he is chiranjiivi 'eternal entity on earth...' When Rama is crowned as emperor, after his exile and eliminating Ravana, Rama and Seetha gave gifts to all of their friends. When it was turn to Hanuma to choose a gift, shunning the heavens or other higher planes or other things, he asks for living in this mortal world as long as the name Rama is audible. Then Seetha blesses Hanuma with that gift saying " Oh! Hanuma, wherever you are, there will be plenty of fruits and eatables, and further, in villages, public shelters, temples, houses, gardens, cowsheds, cities, and at riversides, crossroads, pilgrimages, water tanks, trunks of banyan trees, and on mountains, caves, peaks and wherever people stroll, your image will be installed, so that you can listen Rama's name, uttered by the people from all corners of the earth..." Thus Hanuma is believed to be still living, as the name of Rama is still audible. He is also called an old monkey living from ages till now, which is reflected in Maha Bharata, when Bhima could not lift the tail of this old monkey, on his way in forests. Even today one can see huge images, statues of Hanuma at all these places, as said by Seetha, either installed ages ago, or recently.
Another parable is told that Hanuma is the first one to script Ramayana on claytablets, recording each and every detail of what Rama did. Having finished his writing he brought those claytablets to Rama, to bless that work. Rama humbly said to Hanuma, "I have not done anything great to be recorded this laboriously... I have done my righteous duty...that's all..." Then Hanuma was upset. Dejected by the slighting away of 'his great deeds as simple acts of duty' by Rama, Hanuma brought those clay tablets to seashore, recited each verse, and broke each tablet on his knee and threw them into sea. This writing is called hanumad ramayana. This work is unavailable from that time. But one tablet came to shore afloat on the sea, which is retrieved during the period of Mahakavi Kalidasa, and hung at a public place to be deciphered by scholars. On that tablet only one foot of a stanza is available. That foot says "Oh! Ravana, those your ten heads, on which you lifted of Mt. Kailah, the abode of Shiva, are now bumped on battlefield by the claws of crows and eagles, know what has happened to your high-headed Decahedral pride, at the hands of virtue..." Kalidasa deciphers this stanza and informs that it is from hanumad ramayana, recorded by Hanuma, but an extinct script. And Kalidasa salutes that clayplate for he is fortunate enough to see at least one stanza of hanumad ramaayana. It is said that none can conclusively narrate about Hanuma, for he is many faceted. He is symbolic for unwavering dedication to righteousness, unstinting performance of entrusted duties, unfailing talents in service. So the tradition holds Hanuma dear...
iti v˜lmŸki r˜m˜yaõe ˜di k˜vye kiÿkindha k˜õýe ÿa÷ ÿaÿ÷itama× sarga×
Thus, this is the 66th chapter in Kishkindha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
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© April, 2003, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : January 05]