The Story of the Hanuman Incarnation

Verse 1 (shiva.shatarudra.20.1)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । अतः परं शृणु प्रीत्या हनुमच्चरितं मुने । यथा चकाराशु हरो लीलास्तद्रूपतो वराः

nandīśvara uvāca ataḥ paraṁ śṛṇu prītyā hanumaccaritaṁ mune yathā cakārāśu haro līlāstadrūpato varāḥ

Nandishvara said: Now, O sage, hear with love the story of Hanuman — how Hara swiftly performed excellent divine sports in that form.

Verse 2 (shiva.shatarudra.20.2)

चकार सुहितं प्रीत्या रामस्य परमेश्वरः । तत्सर्वं चरितं विप्र शृणु सर्वसुखावहम्

cakāra suhitaṁ prītyā rāmasya parameśvaraḥ tatsarvaṁ caritaṁ vipra śṛṇu sarvasukhāvaham

The Supreme Lord lovingly accomplished Rama's welfare; hear, O Brahmin, that entire account, the bringer of all happiness.

Verse 3 (shiva.shatarudra.20.3)

एकस्मिन्समये शम्भुरद्भुतोतिकरः प्रभुः । ददर्श मोहिनीरूपं विष्णोः स हि वसेद्गुणः

ekasminsamaye śambhuradbhutotikaraḥ prabhuḥ dadarśa mohinīrūpaṁ viṣṇoḥ sa hi vasedguṇaḥ

On one occasion, Shambhu, the Lord of wondrous deeds, beheld the Mohini form of Vishnu, in which that quality dwells.

Verse 4 (shiva.shatarudra.20.4)

चक्रे स्वं क्षुभितं शम्भुः कामबाणहतो यथा । स्वं वीर्यं पातयामास रामकार्यार्थमीश्वरः

cakre svaṁ kṣubhitaṁ śambhuḥ kāmabāṇahato yathā svaṁ vīryaṁ pātayāmāsa rāmakāryārthamīśvaraḥ

Shambhu grew agitated, as if struck by the arrow of desire; and the Lord let fall his own seed for the sake of Rama's purpose.

Verse 5 (shiva.shatarudra.20.5)

तद्वीर्यं स्थापयामासुः पत्रे सप्तर्षयश्च ते । प्रेरिता मनसा तेन रामकार्यार्थमादरात्

tadvīryaṁ sthāpayāmāsuḥ patre saptarṣayaśca te preritā manasā tena rāmakāryārthamādarāt

That seed the Seven Sages, moved in mind by him for the sake of Rama's purpose, respectfully placed upon a leaf.

Verse 6 (shiva.shatarudra.20.6)

तैर्गौतमसुतायां तद्वीर्यं शम्भोर्महर्षिभिः । कर्णद्वारा तथाञ्जन्यां रामकार्यार्थमाहितम्

tairgautamasutāyāṁ tadvīryaṁ śambhormaharṣibhiḥ karṇadvārā tathāñjanyāṁ rāmakāryārthamāhitam

Those great sages placed that seed of Shambhu, through the ear, into Anjani, the daughter of Gautama, for the sake of Rama's purpose.

Verse 7 (shiva.shatarudra.20.7)

ततश्च समये तस्माद्धनूमानिति नामभाक् । शम्भुर्जज्ञे कपितनुर्महाबलपराक्रमः

tataśca samaye tasmāddhanūmāniti nāmabhāk śambhurjajñe kapitanurmahābalaparākramaḥ

Then, in due time, from that seed Shambhu was born bearing the name Hanuman, in the form of a monkey, of great strength and valor.

Verse 8 (shiva.shatarudra.20.8)

हनूमान्स कपीशानः शिशुरेव महाबलः । रविबिम्बं बभक्षाशु ज्ञात्वा लघुफलं प्रगे

hanūmānsa kapīśānaḥ śiśureva mahābalaḥ ravibimbaṁ babhakṣāśu jñātvā laghuphalaṁ prage

That Hanuman, lord of monkeys, though a mere child, was of great strength; at dawn he swiftly swallowed the orb of the sun, mistaking it for a small fruit.

Verse 9 (shiva.shatarudra.20.9)

देवप्रार्थनया तं सोऽत्यजज्ज्ञात्वा महाबलम् । शिवावतारं च प्राप वरान्दत्तान् सुरर्षभिः

devaprārthanayā taṁ so'tyajajjñātvā mahābalam śivāvatāraṁ ca prāpa varāndattān surarṣabhiḥ

At the prayer of the gods, recognizing his great strength, he released the sun, and, receiving boons from the foremost gods, attained recognition as an incarnation of Shiva.

Verse 10 (shiva.shatarudra.20.10)

स्वजनन्यन्तिकं प्रागादथ सोऽतिप्रहर्षितः । हनूमान्सर्वमाचख्यौ तस्यै तद् वृत्तमादरात्

svajananyantikaṁ prāgādatha so'tipraharṣitaḥ hanūmānsarvamācakhyau tasyai tad vṛttamādarāt

Then, greatly delighted, Hanuman went to his mother and reverently related to her that entire event.

Verse 11 (shiva.shatarudra.20.11)

तदाज्ञया ततो धीरः सर्वविद्यामयत्नतः । सूर्यात्पपाठ स कपिर्गत्वा नित्यं तदन्तिकम्

tadājñayā tato dhīraḥ sarvavidyāmayatnataḥ sūryātpapāṭha sa kapirgatvā nityaṁ tadantikam

By her command, that steadfast monkey then went daily to the Sun's presence and, without effort, learned every branch of knowledge.

Verse 12 (shiva.shatarudra.20.12)

सूर्याज्ञया तदंशत्य सुग्रीवस्यान्तिकं ययौ । मातुराज्ञामनुप्राप्य रुद्रांशः कपिसत्तमः

sūryājñayā tadaṁśatya sugrīvasyāntikaṁ yayau māturājñāmanuprāpya rudrāṁśaḥ kapisattamaḥ

By the Sun's command, and with his mother's permission, that portion of Rudra, best among monkeys, went to Sugriva's side.

Verse 13 (shiva.shatarudra.20.13)

ज्येष्ठभ्रात्रा वालिना हि स्वस्त्रीभोक्त्रा तिरस्कृतः । ऋष्यमूकगिरौ तेन न्यवसत्स हनूमता

jyeṣṭhabhrātrā vālinā hi svastrībhoktrā tiraskṛtaḥ ṛṣyamūkagirau tena nyavasatsa hanūmatā

Sugriva, scorned by his elder brother who had taken his wife, dwelt on Mount Rishyamuka together with Hanuman.

Verse 14 (shiva.shatarudra.20.14)

ततोऽभूत्स सुकण्ठस्य मन्त्री कपिवरः सुधीः । सर्वथा सुहितं चक्रे सुग्रीवस्य हरांशजः

tato'bhūtsa sukaṇṭhasya mantrī kapivaraḥ sudhīḥ sarvathā suhitaṁ cakre sugrīvasya harāṁśajaḥ

Then that wise, excellent monkey, born of a portion of Hara, became Sugriva's minister and in every way accomplished his welfare.

Verse 15 (shiva.shatarudra.20.15)

तत्रागतेन सभ्रात्रा हृतभार्येण दुःखिना । कारयामास रामेण तस्य सख्यं सुखावहम्

tatrāgatena sabhrātrā hṛtabhāryeṇa duḥkhinā kārayāmāsa rāmeṇa tasya sakhyaṁ sukhāvaham

With Rama, who had arrived there together with his brother, grieving over his stolen wife, he brought about a friendship with Sugriva that brought them happiness.

Verse 16 (shiva.shatarudra.20.16)

घातयामास रामश्च वालिनं कपिकुञ्जरम् । भ्रातृपत्न्याश्च भोक्तारं पापिनं वीरमानिनम्

ghātayāmāsa rāmaśca vālinaṁ kapikuñjaram bhrātṛpatnyāśca bhoktāraṁ pāpinaṁ vīramāninam

And Rama brought about the death of that best of monkeys, Vali, the sinful enjoyer of his brother's wife who thought himself a hero.

Verse 17 (shiva.shatarudra.20.17)

ततो रामाज्ञया तात हनूमान्वानरेश्वरः । स सीतान्वेषणं चक्रे बहुभिर्वानरैः सुधीः

tato rāmājñayā tāta hanūmānvānareśvaraḥ sa sītānveṣaṇaṁ cakre bahubhirvānaraiḥ sudhīḥ

O child, then, by Rama's command, the wise Hanuman, lord of the monkeys, undertook the search for Sita together with many monkeys.

Verse 18 (shiva.shatarudra.20.18)

ज्ञात्वा लङ्कागतां सीतां गतस्तत्र कपीश्वरः । द्रुतमुल्लङ्घ्य सिन्धुं तमनिस्तीर्यं परैः स वै

jñātvā laṅkāgatāṁ sītāṁ gatastatra kapīśvaraḥ drutamullaṅghya sindhuṁ tamanistīryaṁ paraiḥ sa vai

Learning that Sita was in Lanka, that lord of monkeys went there, swiftly leaping across the ocean that could not be crossed by others.

Verse 19 (shiva.shatarudra.20.19)

चक्रेऽद्भुतचरित्रं स तत्र विक्रमसंयुतम् । अभिज्ञानं ददौ प्रीत्या सीतायै स्वप्रभोर्वरम्

cakre'dbhutacaritraṁ sa tatra vikramasaṁyutam abhijñānaṁ dadau prītyā sītāyai svaprabhorvaram

There he performed a wondrous, valorous deed, and lovingly gave Sita the ring, the token of her own lord.

Verse 20 (shiva.shatarudra.20.20)

सीताशोकं जहाराशु स वीरः कपिनायकः । श्रावयित्वा रामवृत्तं तत्प्राणावनकारकम्

sītāśokaṁ jahārāśu sa vīraḥ kapināyakaḥ śrāvayitvā rāmavṛttaṁ tatprāṇāvanakārakam

That heroic leader of the monkeys, relating the news of Rama which restored her very life, swiftly dispelled Sita's sorrow.

Verse 21 (shiva.shatarudra.20.21)

तदभिज्ञानमादाय निवृत्तो रामसन्निधिम् । रावणाराममाहत्य जघान बहुराक्षसान्

tadabhijñānamādāya nivṛtto rāmasannidhim rāvaṇārāmamāhatya jaghāna bahurākṣasān

Taking that token, he returned to Rama's presence, and, having ravaged Ravana's pleasure-garden, slew many rakshasas.

Verse 22 (shiva.shatarudra.20.22)

तदैव रावणसुतं हत्वा सबहुराक्षसम् । स महोपद्रवं चक्रे महोतिस्तत्र निर्भयः

tadaiva rāvaṇasutaṁ hatvā sabahurākṣasam sa mahopadravaṁ cakre mahotistatra nirbhayaḥ

At that very time, having slain Ravana's son together with many rakshasas, that fearless one of immense strength caused great havoc there.

Verse 23 (shiva.shatarudra.20.23)

यदा दग्धो रावणेनावगुण्ठ्य वसनानि च । तैलाभ्यक्तानि सुदृढं महाबलवता मुने

yadā dagdho rāvaṇenāvaguṇṭhya vasanāni ca tailābhyaktāni sudṛḍhaṁ mahābalavatā mune

O sage, when the mighty Ravana had his tail tightly wrapped in cloths soaked in oil and set ablaze,

Verse 24 (shiva.shatarudra.20.24)

उत्प्लुत्योत्प्लुत्य च तदा महादेवांशजः कपिः । ददाह लङ्कां निखिलां कृत्वा व्याजं तमेव हि

utplutyotplutya ca tadā mahādevāṁśajaḥ kapiḥ dadāha laṅkāṁ nikhilāṁ kṛtvā vyājaṁ tameva hi

then that monkey, born of a portion of Mahadeva, leaping again and again, turning that very trick back upon them, burned the whole of Lanka.

Verse 25 (shiva.shatarudra.20.25)

दग्ध्वा लङ्कां वञ्चयित्वा विभीषणगृहं ततः । अपतद्वारिधौ वीरस्ततः स कपिकुञ्जरः

dagdhvā laṅkāṁ vañcayitvā vibhīṣaṇagṛhaṁ tataḥ apatadvāridhau vīrastataḥ sa kapikuñjaraḥ

Having burned Lanka and spared the house of Vibhishana, that heroic best of monkeys then plunged into the ocean.

Verse 26 (shiva.shatarudra.20.26)

स्वपुच्छं तत्र निर्वाप्य प्राप तस्य परन्तटम् । अखिन्नः स ययौ रामसन्निधिं गिरिशांशजः

svapucchaṁ tatra nirvāpya prāpa tasya parantaṭam akhinnaḥ sa yayau rāmasannidhiṁ giriśāṁśajaḥ

There he extinguished his own tail and reached the far shore of the ocean; unwearied, that one born of a portion of Girisha went to Rama's presence.

Verse 27 (shiva.shatarudra.20.27)

अविलम्बेन सुजवो हनूमान् कपिसत्तमः । रामोपकण्ठमागत्य ददौ सीताशिरोमणिम्

avilambena sujavo hanūmān kapisattamaḥ rāmopakaṇṭhamāgatya dadau sītāśiromaṇim

Without delay, the swift Hanuman, best of monkeys, coming near Rama, delivered to him Sita's crest-jewel.

Verse 28 (shiva.shatarudra.20.28)

ततस्तदाज्ञया वीरः सिन्धौ सेतुमबन्धयत् । वानरैः स समानीय बहून् गिरिवरान् बली

tatastadājñayā vīraḥ sindhau setumabandhayat vānaraiḥ sa samānīya bahūn girivarān balī

Then, by his command, that mighty hero, bringing many great mountains together with the monkeys, built a bridge across the ocean.

Verse 29 (shiva.shatarudra.20.29)

गत्वा तत्र ततो रामस्तर्तुकामो यथा ततः । शिवलिङ्गं समानर्च प्रतिष्ठाप्य जयेप्सया

gatvā tatra tato rāmastartukāmo yathā tataḥ śivaliṅgaṁ samānarca pratiṣṭhāpya jayepsayā

Having gone there, desiring to cross, Rama, seeking victory, established and worshipped a Shiva-linga.

Verse 30 (shiva.shatarudra.20.30)

तद्वरात्स जयं प्राप्य वरं तीर्त्वोदधिं ततः । लङ्कामावृत्य कपिभी रणं चक्रे स राक्षसैः

tadvarātsa jayaṁ prāpya varaṁ tīrtvodadhiṁ tataḥ laṅkāmāvṛtya kapibhī raṇaṁ cakre sa rākṣasaiḥ

By that boon he obtained victory; having crossed the ocean and surrounded Lanka with the monkeys, he waged war with the rakshasas.

Verse 31 (shiva.shatarudra.20.31)

जघानाथासुरान्वीरो रामसैन्यं ररक्ष सः । शक्तिक्षतं लक्ष्मणं च सञ्जीविन्या ह्यजीवयत्

jaghānāthāsurānvīro rāmasainyaṁ rarakṣa saḥ śaktikṣataṁ lakṣmaṇaṁ ca sañjīvinyā hyajīvayat

That hero slew the asuras and protected Rama's army, and he revived Lakshmana, wounded by the shakti weapon, with the Sanjivani herb.

Verse 32 (shiva.shatarudra.20.32)

सर्वथा सुखिनं चक्रे सरामं लक्ष्मणं हि सः । सर्वसैन्यं ररक्षासौ महादेवात्मजः प्रभुः

sarvathā sukhinaṁ cakre sarāmaṁ lakṣmaṇaṁ hi saḥ sarvasainyaṁ rarakṣāsau mahādevātmajaḥ prabhuḥ

That lord, the son of Mahadeva, made both Rama and Lakshmana entirely happy and protected the whole army.

Verse 33 (shiva.shatarudra.20.33)

रावणं परिवाराढ्यं नाशयामास विश्रमः । सुखीचकार देवान्स महाबलग्रहः कपिः

rāvaṇaṁ parivārāḍhyaṁ nāśayāmāsa viśramaḥ sukhīcakāra devānsa mahābalagrahaḥ kapiḥ

That tireless monkey of immense strength destroyed Ravana together with his retinue and made the gods happy.

Verse 34 (shiva.shatarudra.20.34)

महीरावणसंज्ञं स हत्वा रामं सलक्ष्मणम् । तत्स्थानादानयामास स्वस्थानं परिपाल्य च

mahīrāvaṇasaṁjñaṁ sa hatvā rāmaṁ salakṣmaṇam tatsthānādānayāmāsa svasthānaṁ paripālya ca

Having slain the demon called Mahiravana, he brought Rama and Lakshmana back from that place, and, having guarded his own domain,

Verse 35 (shiva.shatarudra.20.35)

रामकार्यं चकाराशु सर्वथा कपिपुङ्गवः । असुरान्नमयामास नानालीलां चकार च

rāmakāryaṁ cakārāśu sarvathā kapipuṅgavaḥ asurānnamayāmāsa nānālīlāṁ cakāra ca

that best of monkeys swiftly accomplished Rama's purpose in every way, humbled the asuras, and performed manifold divine sports.

Verse 36 (shiva.shatarudra.20.36)

स्थापयामास भूलोके रामभक्तिं कपीश्वरः । स्वयं भक्तवरो भूत्वा सीतारामसुखप्रदः

sthāpayāmāsa bhūloke rāmabhaktiṁ kapīśvaraḥ svayaṁ bhaktavaro bhūtvā sītārāmasukhapradaḥ

That lord of monkeys established devotion to Rama upon the earth, becoming himself the foremost devotee, the giver of happiness to Sita and Rama.

Verse 37 (shiva.shatarudra.20.37)

लक्ष्मणप्राणदाता च सर्वदेवमदापहः । रुद्रावतारो भगवान्भक्तोद्धारकरः स वै

lakṣmaṇaprāṇadātā ca sarvadevamadāpahaḥ rudrāvatāro bhagavānbhaktoddhārakaraḥ sa vai

Giver of life to Lakshmana, remover of the pride of all the gods, that blessed incarnation of Rudra was indeed the redeemer of devotees.

Verse 38 (shiva.shatarudra.20.38)

हनुमान्स महावीरो रामकार्यकरः सदा । रामदूताभिधो लोके दैत्यघ्नो भक्तवत्सलः

hanumānsa mahāvīro rāmakāryakaraḥ sadā rāmadūtābhidho loke daityaghno bhaktavatsalaḥ

That great hero Hanuman, ever the doer of Rama's work, renowned in the world as Rama's messenger, the slayer of daityas, ever fond of his devotees.

Verse 39 (shiva.shatarudra.20.39)

इति ते कथितं तात हनुमच्चरितं वरम् । धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं सर्वकामफलप्रदम्

iti te kathitaṁ tāta hanumaccaritaṁ varam dhanyaṁ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṁ sarvakāmaphalapradam

O child, thus has this excellent account of Hanuman been told to you — auspicious, bringing fame and long life, and bestowing the fruit of every desire.

Verse 40 (shiva.shatarudra.20.40)

य इदं शृणुयाद्भक्त्या श्रावयेद्वा समाहितः । स भुक्त्वेहाखिलान्कामान् अन्ते मोक्षं लभेत्परम्

ya idaṁ śṛṇuyādbhaktyā śrāvayedvā samāhitaḥ sa bhuktvehākhilānkāmān ante mokṣaṁ labhetparam

Whoever, with devotion, hears this, or, with a composed mind, causes it to be heard, having enjoyed all desires here, attains supreme liberation at the end.