Sugriva Sees Two Armed Strangers, and Hanuman Descends in a Student's Form
Kishkindha Kanda, Chaupai 1
Doha 1ख · Movement 1 of 2
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Raghuraya moves onward and approaches Mount Rishyamuka. Sugriva lives there with his ministers, protected by the one refuge Vali cannot enter. When he sees two men of boundless strength and beauty coming toward the mountain, fear rises at once. He calls Hanuman and asks him to study the strangers. If Vali has sent them with a dark purpose, Sugriva will abandon the mountain and flee.
Hanuman assumes the appearance of a young Brahmin student and goes down to meet them. He bows, then looks closely at the contrast before him: one body dark, one fair, both carrying the form of Kshatriya warriors through the wilderness.
Their feet are tender, yet the ground is hard. Their limbs are delicate and beautiful, yet they endure the unbearable forest sun and wind. Hanuman asks what purpose has brought such lords into this severity. Are they among the three great gods, or are the two Nara and Narayana walking together beneath the trees?
Disguise meets mystery on the mountain path as Hanuman studies the dark and fair brothers.
Read the passage from the Manas
आगें चले बहुरि रघुराया। रिष्यमूक परवत निअराया।। तहँ रह सचिव सहित सुग्रीवा। आवत देखि अतुल बल सींवा।। अति सभीत कह सुनु हनुमाना। पुरुष जुगल बल रूप निधाना।। धरि बटु रूप देखु तैं जाई। कहेसु जानि जियँ सयन बुझाई।। पठए बालि होहिं मन मैला। भागौं तुरत तजौं यह सैला।। बिप्र रूप धरि कपि तहँ गयऊ। माथ नाइ पूछत अस भयऊ।। को तुम्ह स्यामल गौर सरीरा। छत्री रूप फिरहु बन बीरा।। कठिन भूमि कोमल पद गामी। कवन हेतु बिचरहु बन स्वामी।। मृदुल मनोहर सुंदर गाता। सहत दुसह बन आतप बाता।। की तुम्ह तीनि देव महँ कोऊ। नर नारायन की तुम्ह दोऊ।।
Lord Raghunatha then proceeded onward and drew near to the Rishyamook mountain. There dwelt Sugriva with his ministers. Seeing two men of boundless strength approaching, he grew deeply afraid. He said to Hanuman, 'Listen. These two men are treasuries of strength and beauty. Take the form of a young student, go and observe them. Return and tell me what you sense in your heart. If Bali has sent them with dark intentions, I shall flee at once and abandon this mountain.' The monkey took the form of a Brahmin and went to them, bowed his head, and spoke: 'Who are you, one dark-complexioned, one fair, wandering this forest in the guise of warriors? Your tender feet walk the hard ground. For what purpose do you roam the wilderness, O lords? Your limbs are delicate, charming, and beautiful, yet you endure the unbearable heat and wind of the forest. Are you one of the three great gods? Or are you both Nara and Narayana?'