Part - 9 — Ancient Knowledge

Dialogue between Hanumān and Rāvaṇa

Dohas

kapihi bilōki dasānana bihasā kahi durbāda.
suta badha surati kīnhi puni upajā hṛdayaom biṣāda [5-20]

When the ten-headed monster saw the monkey he laughed and railed at him. But presently he recalled his son’s death and felt sad at heart.

Chaupais

kaha laṃkēsa kavana taiṃ kīsā. kēhiṃ kē bala ghālēhi bana khīsā
kī dhauṃ śravana sunēhi nahiṃ mōhī. dēkhauom ati asaṃka saṭha tōhī [5-20-1]
mārē nisicara kēhiṃ aparādhā. kahu saṭha tōhi na prāna kai bādhā
suna rāvana brahmāṃḍa nikāyā. pāi jāsu bala biracita māyā [5-20-2]
jākēṃ bala biraṃci hari īsā. pālata sṛjata harata dasasīsā.
jā bala sīsa dharata sahasānana. aṃḍakōsa samēta giri kānana [5-20-3]
dharai jō bibidha dēha suratrātā. tumha tē saṭhanha sikhāvanu dātā.
hara kōdaṃḍa kaṭhina jēhi bhaṃjā. tēhi samēta nṛpa dala mada gaṃjā [5-20-4]
khara dūṣana trisirā aru bālī. badhē sakala atulita balasālī [5-20-5]

Said the king of Laṅkā, “Who are you, monkey, and by whose might have you wrought the destruction of the grove? What, did you never hear my name? I see you are an exceptionally bold wretch. For what offence did you kill the demons? Tell me, fool, are you not afraid of losing your life?” “Listen, Rāvaṇa: recall Him by whose might Māyā (Nature) brings forth numberless universes; by whose might, O ten-headed monster, Brahma, Hari (Viṣṇu) and ∫sa (Śiva) carry on their respective function of creation, preservation and destruction; by whose might the thousand-headed serpent (Śeṣa) supports on his head the entire globe with its mountains and forests, who assumes various forms in order to protect the gods and teach a lesson to wretches like you; who broke Śiva unbending bow and crushed with it the pride of a host of princes; who despatched Khara, Dūṣaṇa, Triśirā and Vāli, all unequalled in strength.

Dohas

jākē bala lavalēsa tēṃ jitēhu carācara jhāri.
tāsu dūta maiṃ jā kari hari ānēhu priya nāri [5-21]

“By an iota of whose might you were able to conquer the entire creation, both animate and inanimate, and whose beloved spouse has been stolen away by you. Know me to be His envoy.

Chaupais

jānauom maiṃ tumhāri prabhutāī. sahasabāhu sana parī larāī
samara bāli sana kari jasu pāvā. suni kapi bacana bihasi biharāvā [5-21-1]
khāyauom phala prabhu lāgī bhūomkhā. kapi subhāva tēṃ tōrēuom rūkhā
saba kēṃ dēha parama priya svāmī. mārahiṃ mōhi kumāraga gāmī [5-21-2]
jinha mōhi mārā tē maiṃ mārē. tēhi para bāomdhēu tanayaom tumhārē
mōhi na kachu bāomdhē kai lājā. kīnha cahauom nija prabhu kara kājā [5-21-3]
binatī karauom jōri kara rāvana. sunahu māna taji mōra sikhāvana
dēkhahu tumha nija kulahi bicārī. bhrama taji bhajahu bhagata bhaya hārī [5-21-4]
jākēṃ ḍara ati kāla ḍērāī. jō sura asura carācara khāī
tāsōṃ bayaru kabahuom nahiṃ kījai. mōrē kahēṃ jānakī dījai [5-21-5]

“I am aware of your glory: you had an encounter with Sahasrabāhu and won distinction in your contest with Vāli.†” Rāvaṇa heard the words of Hanumān but laughed them away. “I ate the fruit because I felt hungry and broke the boughs as a monkey is wont to do. One’s body, my master, is supremely dear to all; yet those wicked fellows would insist on belabouring me, so that I had no course left but to return their blows. Still your son (Meghanāda) put me in bonds; but I am not at all ashamed of being bound, keen as I am to serve the cause of my lord. I implore you with joined palms, Rāvaṇa: give up your haughtiness and heed my advice. Think of your lineage and view things in that perspective; in any case disillusion yourself and adore Him who dispels the fear of His devotees. Never antagonize Him who is a source of terror even to Death, that devours all created beings, both animate and inanimate, gods as well as demons. And return Janaka’s Daughter at my request

(Vide Laṅkā-Kāṇḍa 23, 8)
† Once upon a time, when Vāli was performing his Sandhyā, Rāvaṇa sought to capture him by stealing behind him. Vāli, however, got scent of his mischievous intention; and the moment Rāvaṇa approached Vāli the latter caught hold of him and held him secure in his arm-pit till he had finished his Sandhyā and Tarpaṇa (offering water to the manes). Rāvaṇa remained in that position for six months till at last Brahmā himself came to his rescue and secured his release.

Dohas

pranatapāla raghunāyaka karunā siṃdhu kharāri.
gaēom sarana prabhu rākhihaiṃ tava aparādha bisāri [5-22]

Lord Śrī Rāma, the Slayer of Khara, is a protector of the suppliant and an ocean of compassion. Forgetting your offences, He will give you shelter if you but turn to Him for protection

Chaupais

rāma carana paṃkaja ura dharahū. laṃkā acala rāja tumha karahū
riṣi pulista jasu bimala maṃyakā. tēhi sasi mahuom jani hōhu kalaṃkā [5-22-1]
rāma nāma binu girā na sōhā. dēkhu bicāri tyāgi mada mōhā
basana hīna nahiṃ sōha surārī. saba bhūṣaṇa bhūṣita bara nārī [5-22-2]
rāma bimukha saṃpati prabhutāī. jāi rahī pāī binu pāī
sajala mūla jinha saritanha nāhīṃ. baraṣi gaē puni tabahiṃ sukhāhīṃ [5-22-3]
sunu dasakaṃṭha kahauom pana rōpī. bimukha rāma trātā nahiṃ kōpī
saṃkara sahasa biṣnu aja tōhī. sakahiṃ na rākhi rāma kara drōhī [5-22-4]

“Install the image of Śrī Rāma’s lotus feet in your heart and enjoy the uninterrupted sovereignty of Laṅkā. The glory of the sage Pulastya (your grandfather) shines like the moon without its spot; be not a speck in that moon. Speech is charmless without Śrī Rāma’s name. Ponder and see for yourself, casting aside arrogance and infatuation. A fair lady without clothes, O enemy of gods, does not commend herself even though adorned with all kinds of jewels. The fortune and lordship of a man who is hostile to Rāma eventually leave him even if they stay a while, and are as good as lost if acquired anew. Rivers that have no perennial source get dried up as soon as the rains are over. Listen, O ten-headed Rāvaṇa, I tell you on oath: there is none to save him who is opposed to Śrī Rāma. Śaṅkara, Viṣṇu and Brahmā in their thousands are unable to protect you, an enemy of Śrī Rāma.”

Brahmā,Viṣṇu and Śiva are spoken of here as part manifestations of the Supreme Deity, responsible for the creation etc., of only one of the countless millions of universes ruled over by Śrī Rāma, who represents the Supreme Deity.

Dohas

mōhamūla bahu sūla prada tyāgahu tama abhimāna.
bhajahu rāma raghunāyaka kṛpā siṃdhu bhagavāna [5-23]

“Abandon pride, which is the same as Tamoguna (darkness), rooted as it is in ignorance and is a source of considerable pain; and adore Lord Śrī Rāma, the Chief of the Raghus and an ocean of compassion.

Chaupais

jadapi kahi kapi ati hita bānī. bhagati bibēka birati naya sānī
bōlā bihasi mahā abhimānī. milā hamahi kapi gura baḍa gyānī [5-23-1]
mṛtyu nikaṭa āī khala tōhī. lāgēsi adhama sikhāvana mōhī
ulaṭā hōihi kaha hanumānā. matibhrama tōra pragaṭa maiṃ jānā [5-23-2]
suni kapi bacana bahuta khisiānā. bēgi na harahuom mūḍha kara prānā
sunata nisācara mārana dhāē. sacivanha sahita bibhīṣanu āē. [5-23-3]
nāi sīsa kari binaya bahūtā. nīti birōdha na māria dūtā
āna daṃḍa kachu karia gōsāomī. sabahīṃ kahā maṃtra bhala bhāī [5-23-4]
sunata bihasi bōlā dasakaṃdhara. aṃga bhaṃga kari paṭhaia baṃdara [5-23-5]

Although Hanumān gave him exceedingly salutary advice, full of devotion, discretion, dispassion and wisdom, the most haughty Rāvaṇa laughed and said, “We have found a most wise Guru in this monkey ! (Turning towards Hanumān he continued) Death hangs over your head, O wretch; that is why you have started exhorting me, O vile monkey.” “Just the contrary is going to happen;” retorted Hanumān. “I clearly perceive that you are labouring under some mental illusion.” Hearing these words of Hanumān Rāvaṇa got nettled. “Why not some of you quickly kill this fool?” As soon as the demons heard it, they rushed forward to kill him. That very moment came Vibhīṣaṇa (Rāvaṇa’s youngest brother) with his counsellors. Bowing his head he made humble entreaty: “It is against all statecraft: an envoy must not be killed. He may be punished in some other way, my master.” All exclaimed to one another, “This is sound counsel, brother.” Hearing this the ten-headed Rāvaṇa laughed and said, “All right, the monkey may be sent back mutilated.