Hanuman Meets Rama and Lakshmana

Shloka 1 (kishkindha.3.1)

वचो विज्ञाय हनुमान् सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः । पर्वतादृष्यमूकात् तु पुप्लुवे यत्र राघवौ ॥ 3.1 ॥

vaco vijñāya hanumān sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ | parvatādṛṣyamūkāt tu pupluve yatra rāghavau || 3.1 ||

Having understood the words of the great-souled Sugriva, Hanuman leapt forth from Mount Rishyamuka to the place where the two Raghavas were.

Shloka 2 (kishkindha.3.2)

कपिरूपं परित्यज्य हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः । भिक्षुरूपं ततो भेजे शठबुद्धितया कपिः ॥ 3.2 ॥

kapirūpaṃ parityajya hanumān mārutātmajaḥ | bhikṣurūpaṃ tato bheje śaṭhabuddhitayā kapiḥ || 3.2 ||

Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, giving up his monkey form, then, with shrewd intent, that monkey assumed the guise of a mendicant.

Shloka 3 (kishkindha.3.3)

ततश्च हनुमान् वाचा श्लक्ष्णया सुमनोज्ञया । विनीतवदुपागम्य राघवौ प्रणिपत्य च ॥ 3.3 ॥

tataśca hanumān vācā ślakṣṇayā sumanojñayā | vinītavadupāgamya rāghavau praṇipatya ca || 3.3 ||

Then Hanuman, approaching the two Raghavas humbly and bowing down before them, with gentle and most pleasing speech...

Shloka 4 (kishkindha.3.4)

आबभाषे च तौ वीरौ यथावत् प्रशशंस च । सम्पूज्य विधिवद् वीरौ हनुमान् वानरोत्तमः ॥ 3.4 ॥

ābabhāṣe ca tau vīrau yathāvat praśaśaṃsa ca | sampūjya vidhivad vīrau hanumān vānarottamaḥ || 3.4 ||

...spoke to those two heroes and duly praised them; having honoured the two heroes properly, Hanuman, best of monkeys,

Shloka 5 (kishkindha.3.5)

उवाच कामतो वाक्यं मृदु सत्यपराक्रमौ । राजर्षिदेवप्रतिमौ तापसौ संशितव्रतौ ॥ 3.5 ॥

uvāca kāmato vākyaṃ mṛdu satyaparākramau | rājarṣidevapratimau tāpasau saṃśitavratau || 3.5 ||

...spoke gentle words freely to those two of true valour, who resembled royal sages or gods, ascetics of rigorous vows:

Shloka 6 (kishkindha.3.6)

देशं कथमिमं प्राप्तौ भवन्तौ वरवर्णिनौ । त्रासयन्तौ मृगगणानन्यांश्च वनचारिणः ॥ 3.6 ॥

deśaṃ kathamimaṃ prāptau bhavantau varavarṇinau | trāsayantau mṛgagaṇānanyāṃśca vanacāriṇaḥ || 3.6 ||

'How have you two, of such splendid form, come to this region, frightening the herds of deer and the other creatures that dwell in this forest?'

Shloka 7 (kishkindha.3.7)

पम्पातीररुहान् वृक्षान् वीक्षमाणौ समन्ततः । इमां नदीं शुभजलां शोभयन्तौ तरस्विनौ ॥ 3.7 ॥

pampātīraruhān vṛkṣān vīkṣamāṇau samantataḥ | imāṃ nadīṃ śubhajalāṃ śobhayantau tarasvinau || 3.7 ||

'Gazing all about at the trees growing on Pampa's banks, you two swift ones, you adorn this river of pure water with your very presence.'

Shloka 8 (kishkindha.3.8)

धैर्यवन्तौ सुवर्णाभौ कौ युवां चीरवाससौ । निःश्वसन्तौ वरभुजौ पीडयन्ताविमाः प्रजाः ॥ 3.8 ॥

dhairyavantau suvarṇābhau kau yuvāṃ cīravāsasau | niḥśvasantau varabhujau pīḍayantāvimāḥ prajāḥ || 3.8 ||

'Who are you two, steadfast, golden of hue, clad in bark-garments, sighing deeply, your arms so strong, that you trouble these creatures here?'

Shloka 9 (kishkindha.3.9)

सिंहविप्रेक्षितौ वीरौ महाबलपराक्रमौ । शक्रचापनिभे चापे गृहीत्वा शत्रुनाशनौ ॥ 3.9 ॥

siṃhaviprekṣitau vīrau mahābalaparākramau | śakracāpanibhe cāpe gṛhītvā śatrunāśanau || 3.9 ||

'You two heroes, glancing like lions, of great strength and valour, holding bows that resemble Indra's own rainbow, destroyers of enemies —'

Shloka 10 (kishkindha.3.10)

श्रीमन्तौ रूपसम्पन्नौ वृषभश्रेष्ठविक्रमौ । हस्तिहस्तोपमभुजौ द्युतिमन्तौ नरर्षभौ ॥ 3.10 ॥

śrīmantau rūpasampannau vṛṣabhaśreṣṭhavikramau | hastihastopamabhujau dyutimantau nararṣabhau || 3.10 ||

'...glorious, endowed with beauty, valiant as the finest bulls, your arms like the trunks of elephants, radiant, foremost among men —'

Shloka 11 (kishkindha.3.11)

प्रभया पर्वतेन्द्रोऽसौ युवयोरवभासितः । राज्यार्हावमरप्रख्यौ कथं देशमिहागतौ ॥ 3.11 ॥

prabhayā parvatendro'sau yuvayoravabhāsitaḥ | rājyārhāvamaraprakhyau kathaṃ deśamihāgatau || 3.11 ||

'...by whose radiance this very lord of mountains is lit up — worthy of a kingdom, resembling immortals, how have you come to this land?'

Shloka 12 (kishkindha.3.12)

पद्मपत्रेक्षणौ वीरौ जटामण्डलधारिणौ । अन्योन्यसदृशौ वीरौ देवलोकादिहागतौ ॥ 3.12 ॥

padmapatrekṣaṇau vīrau jaṭāmaṇḍaladhāriṇau | anyonyasadṛśau vīrau devalokādihāgatau || 3.12 ||

'You two heroes, lotus-petal-eyed, wearing matted locks coiled about your heads, so alike to one another — as though you had come here straight from the world of the gods.'

Shloka 13 (kishkindha.3.13)

यदृच्छयेव सम्प्राप्तौ चन्द्रसूर्यौ वसुंधराम् । विशालवक्षसौ वीरौ मानुषौ देवरूपिणौ ॥ 3.13 ॥

yadṛcchayeva samprāptau candrasūryau vasuṃdharām | viśālavakṣasau vīrau mānuṣau devarūpiṇau || 3.13 ||

'Like the moon and the sun descended by chance upon the earth — broad-chested heroes, human in form yet god-like in appearance —'

Shloka 14 (kishkindha.3.14)

सिंहस्कन्धौ महोत्साहौ समदाविव गोवृषौ । आयताश्च सुवृत्ताश्च बाहवः परिघोपमाः ॥ 3.14 ॥

siṃhaskandhau mahotsāhau samadāviva govṛṣau | āyatāśca suvṛttāśca bāhavaḥ parighopamāḥ || 3.14 ||

'...with shoulders like a lion's, of boundless vigour, like two rutting bulls, your long, well-rounded arms resembling iron bars —'

Shloka 15 (kishkindha.3.15)

सर्वभूषणभूषार्हाः किमर्थं न विभूषिताः । उभौ योग्यावहं मन्ये रक्षितुं पृथिवीमिमाम् ॥ 3.15 ॥

sarvabhūṣaṇabhūṣārhāḥ kimarthaṃ na vibhūṣitāḥ | ubhau yogyāvahaṃ manye rakṣituṃ pṛthivīmimām || 3.15 ||

'...worthy to adorn every ornament, why then do you go unadorned? I deem you both fit indeed to protect this whole earth —'

Shloka 16 (kishkindha.3.16)

ससागरवनां कृत्स्नां विन्ध्यमेरुविभूषिताम् । इमे च धनुषी चित्रे श्लक्ष्णे चित्रानुलेपने ॥ 3.16 ॥

sasāgaravanāṃ kṛtsnāṃ vindhyameruvibhūṣitām | ime ca dhanuṣī citre ślakṣṇe citrānulepane || 3.16 ||

'— this whole earth, with her oceans and forests, adorned by the Vindhya and Meru mountains. And these two wondrous bows of yours, smooth and finely wrought,'

Shloka 17 (kishkindha.3.17)

प्रकाशेते यथेन्द्रस्य वज्रे हेमविभूषिते । सम्पूर्णाश्च शितैर्बाणैस्तूणाश्च शुभदर्शनाः ॥ 3.17 ॥

prakāśete yathendrasya vajre hemavibhūṣite | sampūrṇāśca śitairbāṇaistūṇāśca śubhadarśanāḥ || 3.17 ||

'...shine forth like Indra's own thunderbolt bound with gold; and your quivers, beautiful to behold, are filled with sharp arrows,'

Shloka 18 (kishkindha.3.18)

जीवितान्तकरैर्घोरैर्ज्वलद्भिरिव पन्नगैः । महाप्रमाणौ विपुलौ तप्तहाटकभूषणौ ॥ 3.18 ॥

jīvitāntakarairghorairjvaladbhiriva pannagaiḥ | mahāpramāṇau vipulau taptahāṭakabhūṣaṇau || 3.18 ||

'...arrows that end life, terrible, like blazing serpents. Your two swords, huge and broad, ornamented with molten gold,'

Shloka 19 (kishkindha.3.19)

खड्गावेतौ विराजेते निर्मुक्तभुजगाविव । एवं मां परिभाषन्तं कस्माद् वै नाभिभाषतः ॥ 3.19 ॥

khaḍgāvetau virājete nirmuktabhujagāviva | evaṃ māṃ paribhāṣantaṃ kasmād vai nābhibhāṣataḥ || 3.19 ||

'...gleam like serpents slipped free of their old skin. When I address you thus, why do you give me no answer at all?'

Shloka 20 (kishkindha.3.20)

सुग्रीवो नाम धर्मात्मा कश्चिद् वानरपुङ्गवः । वीरो विनिकृतो भ्रात्रा जगद्भ्रमति दुःखितः ॥ 3.20 ॥

sugrīvo nāma dharmātmā kaścid vānarapuṅgavaḥ | vīro vinikṛto bhrātrā jagadbhramati duḥkhitaḥ || 3.20 ||

'There is a certain righteous, heroic bull among monkeys named Sugriva, wronged by his own brother, who wanders the world in sorrow.'

Shloka 21 (kishkindha.3.21)

प्राप्तोऽहं प्रेषितस्तेन सुग्रीवेण महात्मना । राज्ञा वानरमुख्यानां हनुमान् नाम वानरः ॥ 3.21 ॥

prāpto'haṃ preṣitastena sugrīveṇa mahātmanā | rājñā vānaramukhyānāṃ hanumān nāma vānaraḥ || 3.21 ||

'I have come here, sent by that great-souled Sugriva, king of the foremost monkeys; I am a monkey named Hanuman.'

Shloka 22 (kishkindha.3.22)

युवाभ्यां स हि धर्मात्मा सुग्रीवः सख्यमिच्छति । तस्य मां सचिवं वित्तं वानरं पवनात्मजम् ॥ 3.22 ॥

yuvābhyāṃ sa hi dharmātmā sugrīvaḥ sakhyamicchati | tasya māṃ sacivaṃ vittaṃ vānaraṃ pavanātmajam || 3.22 ||

'That righteous Sugriva desires friendship with you both; know me to be his minister, a monkey, son of the Wind-god,'

Shloka 23 (kishkindha.3.23)

भिक्षुरूपप्रतिच्छन्नं सुग्रीवप्रियकारणात् । ऋष्यमूकादिह प्राप्तं कामगं कामचारिणम् ॥ 3.23 ॥

bhikṣurūpapraticchannaṃ sugrīvapriyakāraṇāt | ṛṣyamūkādiha prāptaṃ kāmagaṃ kāmacāriṇam || 3.23 ||

'...concealed in the guise of a mendicant for Sugriva's sake, come here from Rishyamuka, able to travel and move about at will.'

Shloka 24 (kishkindha.3.24)

एवमुक्त्वा तु हनुमांस्तौ वीरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ । वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यकुशलः पुनर्नोवाच किंचन ॥ 3.24 ॥

evamuktvā tu hanumāṃstau vīrau rāmalakṣmaṇau | vākyajño vākyakuśalaḥ punarnovāca kiṃcana || 3.24 ||

Having said this, Hanuman, that skilled and knowing speaker, said nothing further to the two heroes, Rama and Lakshmana.

Shloka 25 (kishkindha.3.25)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत् । प्रहृष्टवदनः श्रीमान् भ्रातरं पार्श्वतः स्थितम् ॥ 3.25 ॥

etacchrutvā vacastasya rāmo lakṣmaṇamabravīt | prahṛṣṭavadanaḥ śrīmān bhrātaraṃ pārśvataḥ sthitam || 3.25 ||

Hearing these words of his, the glorious Rama, his face lit with joy, spoke to Lakshmana, his brother standing beside him:

Shloka 26 (kishkindha.3.26)

सचिवोऽयं कपीन्द्रस्य सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः । तमेव कांक्षमाणस्य ममान्तिकमिहागतः ॥ 3.26 ॥

sacivo'yaṃ kapīndrasya sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ | tameva kāṃkṣamāṇasya mamāntikamihāgataḥ || 3.26 ||

'This is the minister of that great-souled lord of monkeys, Sugriva, who himself longs for me and has sent him here into my presence.'

Shloka 27 (kishkindha.3.27)

तमभ्यभाष सौमित्रे सुग्रीवसचिवं कपिम् । वाक्यज्ञं मधुरैर्वाक्यैः स्नेहयुक्तमरिंदमम् ॥ 3.27 ॥

tamabhyabhāṣa saumitre sugrīvasacivaṃ kapim | vākyajñaṃ madhurairvākyaiḥ snehayuktamariṃdamam || 3.27 ||

'Speak to him, O Saumitri — this monkey, minister of Sugriva, skilled in speech, affectionate, a subduer of enemies — with sweet words.'

Shloka 28 (kishkindha.3.28)

नानृग्वेदविनीतस्य नायजुर्वेदधारिणः । नासामवेदविदुषः शक्यमेवं विभाषितुम् ॥ 3.28 ॥

nānṛgvedavinītasya nāyajurvedadhāriṇaḥ | nāsāmavedaviduṣaḥ śakyamevaṃ vibhāṣitum || 3.28 ||

'It is not possible for one untrained in the Rig Veda, nor for one who has not mastered the Yajur Veda, nor for one unlearned in the Sama Veda, to speak in such a manner.'

Shloka 29 (kishkindha.3.29)

नूनं व्याकरणं कृत्स्नमनेन बहुधा श्रुतम् । बहु व्याहरतानेन न किंचिदपशब्दितम् ॥ 3.29 ॥

nūnaṃ vyākaraṇaṃ kṛtsnamanena bahudhā śrutam | bahu vyāharatānena na kiṃcidapaśabditam || 3.29 ||

'Surely this one has studied the whole of grammar thoroughly and by many methods; though he has spoken at length, not a single word of his has been faulty.'

Shloka 30 (kishkindha.3.30)

न मुखे नेत्रयोश्चापि ललाटे च भ्रुवोस्तथा । अन्येष्वपि च सर्वेषु दोषः संविदितः क्वचित् ॥ 3.30 ॥

na mukhe netrayoścāpi lalāṭe ca bhruvostathā | anyeṣvapi ca sarveṣu doṣaḥ saṃviditaḥ kvacit || 3.30 ||

'Neither in his face, nor in his eyes, nor on his brow, nor in his eyebrows — nor indeed in any other feature — is any fault at all to be found.'

Shloka 31 (kishkindha.3.31)

अविस्तरमसंदिग्धमविलम्बितमव्यथम् । उरःस्थं कण्ठगं वाक्यं वर्तते मध्यमस्वरम् ॥ 3.31 ॥

avistaramasaṃdigdhamavilambitamavyatham | uraḥsthaṃ kaṇṭhagaṃ vākyaṃ vartate madhyamasvaram || 3.31 ||

'Concise, unambiguous, without hesitation, free of strain, his speech, rising from the chest and reaching the throat, flows out in an even, moderate pitch.'

Shloka 32 (kishkindha.3.32)

संस्कारक्रमसम्पन्नामद्भुतामविलम्बिताम् । उच्चारयति कल्याणीं वाचं हृदयहर्षिणीम् ॥ 3.32 ॥

saṃskārakramasampannāmadbhutāmavilambitām | uccārayati kalyāṇīṃ vācaṃ hṛdayaharṣiṇīm || 3.32 ||

'He utters speech refined by every rule of grammar, wondrous, unfaltering, auspicious, and delightful to the heart.'

Shloka 33 (kishkindha.3.33)

अनया चित्रया वाचा त्रिस्थानव्यञ्जनस्थया । कस्य नाराध्यते चित्तमुद्यतासेररेरपि ॥ 3.33 ॥

anayā citrayā vācā tristhānavyañjanasthayā | kasya nārādhyate cittamudyatāserarerapi || 3.33 ||

'With such wondrous speech, its every sound rightly formed in its proper seat, whose heart would not be won over — even an enemy standing with sword upraised?'

Shloka 34 (kishkindha.3.34)

एवंविधो यस्य दूतो न भवेत् पार्थिवस्य तु । सिद्ध्यन्ति हि कथं तस्य कार्याणां गतयोऽनघ ॥ 3.34 ॥

evaṃvidho yasya dūto na bhavet pārthivasya tu | siddhyanti hi kathaṃ tasya kāryāṇāṃ gatayo'nagha || 3.34 ||

'O sinless one, if a king has no messenger such as this, how indeed can the outcome of his undertakings ever succeed?'

Shloka 35 (kishkindha.3.35)

एवंगुणगणैर्युक्ता यस्य स्युः कार्यसाधकाः । तस्य सिद्ध्यन्ति सर्वेऽर्था दूतवाक्यप्रचोदिताः ॥ 3.35 ॥

evaṃguṇagaṇairyuktā yasya syuḥ kāryasādhakāḥ | tasya siddhyanti sarve'rthā dūtavākyapracoditāḥ || 3.35 ||

'He whose agents, entrusted with his affairs, are endowed with such a wealth of virtues — all his purposes succeed, carried forward by the very words of such a messenger.'

Shloka 36 (kishkindha.3.36)

एवमुक्तस्तु सौमित्रिः सुग्रीवसचिवं कपिम् । अभ्यभाषत वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यज्ञं पवनात्मजम् ॥ 3.36 ॥

evamuktastu saumitriḥ sugrīvasacivaṃ kapim | abhyabhāṣata vākyajño vākyajñaṃ pavanātmajam || 3.36 ||

Thus addressed, Saumitri, himself skilled in speech, spoke to that speech-skilled monkey, Sugriva's minister, son of the Wind-god:

Shloka 37 (kishkindha.3.37)

विदिता नौ गुणा विद्वन् सुग्रीवस्य महात्मनः । तमेव चावां मार्गावः सुग्रीवं प्लवगेश्वरम् ॥ 3.37 ॥

viditā nau guṇā vidvan sugrīvasya mahātmanaḥ | tameva cāvāṃ mārgāvaḥ sugrīvaṃ plavageśvaram || 3.37 ||

'O wise one, the virtues of the great-souled Sugriva are known to us both; and it is that very Sugriva, lord of monkeys, whom we seek.'

Shloka 38 (kishkindha.3.38)

यथा ब्रवीषि हनुमन् सुग्रीववचनादिह । तत् तथा हि करिष्यावो वचनात् तव सत्तम ॥ 3.38 ॥

yathā bravīṣi hanuman sugrīvavacanādiha | tat tathā hi kariṣyāvo vacanāt tava sattama || 3.38 ||

'As you say here, Hanuman, speaking on Sugriva's behalf — so indeed shall we do, at your own word, O most excellent one.'

Shloka 39 (kishkindha.3.39)

तत् तस्य वाक्यं निपुणं निशम्य प्रहृष्टरूपः पवनात्मजः कपिः । मनः समाधाय जयोपपत्तौ सख्यं तदा कर्तुमियेष ताभ्याम् ॥ 3.39 ॥

tat tasya vākyaṃ nipuṇaṃ niśamya prahṛṣṭarūpaḥ pavanātmajaḥ kapiḥ | manaḥ samādhāya jayopapattau sakhyaṃ tadā kartumiyeṣa tābhyām || 3.39 ||

Hearing that skilful speech of his, the monkey, son of the Wind-god, his form filled with joy, fixed his mind upon the attainment of victory, and resolved then and there to forge a bond of friendship between the two.