Monday 17 March 2014

150. Hanuman meets Rama and Lakshmana.

             After carefully thinking for a while about the best and most appropriate guise with which to meet the humans, Hanuman decided upon that of an ascetic. Descending the mountain, the ascetic Hanuman walked towards Rama and his brother.
            On nearing them Hanuman stopped before them and looking at them askance and greeted them softly and well pleasingly like a widely read scholar (which he actually was). He then asked them politely "You two look like kingly saints, as well as deities by your build and also ascetics with best vows. Mind telling me why you two are wandering in this wilderness.
            "Is it because you like watching the trees grown on the banks of Pampa from all over? It seems that owing to your presence on these banks make this river Pampa with its propitious waters to shine forth. By look you two seem to be kshathryas, but you wear jute-cloths. With your mighty shoulders and other lordly features all beings in this forest seem to be scared of you.
           "Both of you look dauntless, bold and brave and your sharp glances resemble that of a lion. Wielding bows like that of Indra's bow you must be the the real enemy destroyers. Your glorious, splendid and courageous appearance resemble a Sacred Bull.  Your arms look like the trunk of an elephant and your resplendence suggest that you are foremost among men. 
            "Eyes of yours are like fine lotus petals. Are you superhumans?  But, you wear tufts and braids! Are you some undaunted human ascetics? And, you two look alike! Are you from some world of gods?" 
              Hanuman waited for their reply, but he got only silence. Obviously, Rama was assessing Hanuman. When he did not get any reply, Hanuman continued "I wonder why you two are keeping silent. Okay! I will continue. One vanara named Sugreeva, who is virtuous and worthily among all vanaras is expelled by his brother Vali, for an unreasonable reason.
               "I and some more vanaras hold Sugreeva as our king. He has sent me to you. My name is Hanuman, another Vanara. Our king, the righteous Sugreeva is desirous of making  friendship with you two. I am a vanara, too and one of his ministers. I am the son of Vayu (Air-god). I came here from Mt. Rishyamuka in an ascetic's form as desired by that Sugreeva.  I can wend my way by my will, and wear any guise as I wish." 
              After saying what he wanted to, Hanuman waited patiently for a reply. Hearing all those words said by Hanuman, Rama nodded with a smile and told his brother Lakshmana "Lakshmana! He says that he is a minister of that king of vanaras, Sugreeva whom I desire to contact, but he himself seems to be desirous of meeting us on his own. Soumitri, this minister of Sugreeva seems to be very knowledgeable and a pleasant worded one. It is quite obvious that grammar is severally and comprehensively learnt by him. I find that that there was not even a single error in his long talk to us.
              "His face, eyes, forehead or brows, or other faculties of expression indicate that he is not only very knowledgeable but quite honest, too. I find his demeanor impeccable.
              "He has orderly refinement in speech that is remarkable and undelaying, and he speaks propitious words that are quite pleasing to the ears as well as to the heart. His speech is quite enthralling, too.
              "Oh,Lakshmana, without this kind of envoy, it would be very hard for a king to accomplish things in his ways and means. Such a subordinate is a treasure to a king."
               On hearing Rama, Lakshmana nodded smilingly and turned to Hanuman and said "The virtues of that great soul Sugreeva are known to us, oh, scholarly Vanara. As a matter of fact we have come over here to seek Sugreeva."
                Hanuman heaved a sigh of relief. He felt quite exhilarated. He asked the brothers "I am very happy to hear that. May I ask you what for you have come into these perilous forests which are hardly penetrable and abounding with many a serpent and animal?" 
               Lakshmana replied "The king named Dasharatha, a resplendent one and the patron of virtues was ruling the four-caste system with its, and by his own rectitude, for he is also bound within that four-caste system. There is none despising him, nor he despised any and for all the living beings he was like the Grandparent Brahma on earth.
               "And this is my eldest brother named Rama who is the  eldest son of that great king Dasharatha. For certain reasons he is deprived of his kingdom, and has come hither to dwell in the forests, followed by me and by his wife Seetha.  
               "My name is Lakshmana. My brother's wife was abducted by a rakshash.
               "One chap named Danu, son of Diti, who became a rakshash by a curse had said that Sugreeva, the chief of the vanaras here, is a capable one, and he will be able to lead us to that rakshash who abducted my brother's wife. Danu said that when he was released from the curse and was moving towards skyward.
             "In view of that we have come over here to find and seek a friendship with Sugreeva.
             "In case you have not heard about my brother Rama, I will tell you about him. He gave away riches in charity. He was very well known by all the subjects of the kingdom of our father and was acclaimed as the lord of this world earlier. Such a lofty prince now agrees to accept the lordship of Sugreeva. He is the son of one who was a patron of virtue and who himself was a shelterer, to whom Seetha is the daughter-in-law. Such a shelterer's son Rama now seeks shelter under Sugreeva. He is a virtuous one and protector of all the world, and also is the only refuge for all in earlier times. Such a prince called Raaghava, my mentor, is now seeking refuge from Sugreeva.  By whose beneficence all people are always delighted, he that Rama is now seeking benefaction from the lord of vanaras."
               After hearing Lakshmana, Hanuman said "Intellectuals of your kind, who have conquered anger and senses will be most welcome by the chief of vanaras Sugreeva, who will consider your advent as godsend. He who is made as an enemy, very much insulted, and banished from the kingdom by his own brother Vali, that Sugreeva is roaming about forests fearing him alone, his own brother Vali. He that son of Sun, Sugreeva, will render help to you two, joining forces of our like Vanaras in searching and finding Seetha. Please give me the honour of presenting you to Sugreeva."
              The brothers readily agreed. On discarding the ascetic's semblance that estimable son of Vayu, Hanuman assumed his own guise viz. that of a vanara, and taking those two valiant ones onto his shoulders he proceeded towards Sugreeva. 




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