Rama Cools Hanuman with Tears and Calls Him Dearer than Lakshmana
Kishkindha Kanda, Chaupai 3
Doha 3 · Movement 1 of 2
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Hanuman admits his many faults but begs that a servant should never fall from the master's memory. The living being is bewildered by Rama's Maya and crosses only through Rama's compassion. He knows no method of worship. A servant rests without anxiety upon the master, as a child rests upon the mother, and the Lord must nourish what belongs to him.
He reveals his monkey form and falls at Rama's feet in anguish, love filling his heart. Raghupati lifts him against his chest. Tears from Rama's own eyes fall upon Hanuman and cool the servant who believed himself forgotten.
Rama tells the son of the wind never to think himself lesser. Hanuman is twice as dear to him as Lakshmana. The world calls Rama impartial, yet the servant who depends upon him alone and has no other destination is especially dear. Equality does not make refuge anonymous. It allows exclusive surrender to be received with exclusive tenderness.
The servant feared he had been forgotten, and Rama answers by bathing him in tears from his own eyes.
Read the passage from the Manas
जदपि नाथ बहु अवगुन मोरें। सेवक प्रभुहि परै जनि भोरें।। नाथ जीव तव मायाँ मोहा। सो निस्तरइ तुम्हारेहिं छोहा।। ता पर मैं रघुबीर दोहाई। जानउँ नहिं कछु भजन उपाई।। सेवक सुत पति मातु भरोसें। रहइ असोच बनइ प्रभु पोसें।। अस कहि परेउ चरन अकुलाई। निज तनु प्रगटि प्रीति उर छाई।। तब रघुपति उठाइ उर लावा। निज लोचन जल सींचि जुड़ावा।। सुनु कपि जियँ मानसि जनि ऊना। तैं मम प्रिय लछिमन ते दूना।। समदरसी मोहि कह सब कोऊ। सेवक प्रिय अनन्यगति सोऊ।।
Though I have many faults, O Lord, may the servant never slip from his master's memory. O Lord, the soul is deluded by Your maya. It can only cross over through Your grace alone. Moreover, I call upon Raghuvira as my witness: I know no method or technique of devotion. A servant rests carefree in his master's care, a son in his mother's love. It falls upon the Lord to nourish and protect his own. Saying this, he fell at His feet in anguish, revealing his true form, his heart overflowing with love. Then Raghupati lifted him to His chest and cooled him by sprinkling the water of His own eyes. 'Listen, O monkey, do not feel small in your heart. You are twice as dear to Me as Lakshmana. Everyone calls Me impartial, but the servant who depends on Me alone and has no other refuge is especially dear to Me.'