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Hanuman's one request

Sundarkand 34

नाथ भगति अति सुखदायनी। देहु कृपा करि अनपायनी । सुनि प्रभु परम सरल कपि बानी । एवमस्तु तब कहेउ भवानी ॥१ । उमा राम सुभाव जेहिं जाना । ताहि भजन तजि भाव न आना । यह सम्बाद जासु उर आवा। रघुपति-चरन-भगति सोइ पावा ॥२ । सुनि प्रभु बचन कहहिँ कपि बृन्दा । जय जय जय कृपाल सुखकन्दा । तब रघुपति कपिपतिहि बोलावा । कहा चलइ कर करहु बनावा॥३ । अब बिलम्ब केहि कारन कीजै । तुरत कपिन्ह कह आयसु दीजै । कौतुक देखि सुमन बहु बरषी। नभ तें भवन चले सुर हरषी ॥४ । कपिपति बेगि बोलाये, आये यूथप यूथ । नाना बरन अतुल बल, बानर भालु बरूथ ॥३४

Meaning · English

Lord, give me devotion to you, so full of happiness, and by your grace let it never fall away. Hearing Hanuman's simple words, Rama said, "So be it." Then Rama called Sugriva to prepare the march, and Sugriva quickly summoned the army: bears and monkeys of every colour, in companies, with matchless strength.

Three words carry the first part. Bhagati is devotion, the loving attachment of heart to Rama. Anapayani means that which does not leave, devotion that does not slip away. Bhajana is remembering and serving Rama with that love. Hanuman has just been offered Rama's embrace and his thanks. He asks for only one thing: devotion that gives happiness and never departs. Rama hears how simple and straight the words are, and says evamastu, so be it. Shiva then turns to Parvati and gives the point of the scene. Whoever has understood Rama's nature, his subhava, turns to nothing but bhajana. Whoever takes this conversation into the heart gets devotion at Rama's feet. That is why Tulsidas stops the story here: Hanuman's request is shown as the right thing to ask for. The monkeys cheer, and Rama turns to the work ahead. He asks Sugriva to arrange the march. He says there is no reason to delay and tells the monkeys to receive his order at once. The gods rain flowers and go home glad. Sugriva calls the army and the leaders arrive with their companies. Tulsidas asks the reciter to hold two things together: Hanuman's quiet request, and the vast army that follows it.

A guest is told by a generous host to name any gift. He asks only that the door stay open to him, so he may keep coming back. The house and its riches stay where they are. Hanuman's request works the same way: he asks for no reward, only that his love for Rama never lapse.

अर्थ · हिन्दी

In this book

• Before: Hanuman Credits the Lord · Sundarkand 33
• All of Sundarkand · Ask Krishna about it

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