Vibhishana Lives like a Tongue among Teeth, and Hanuman Reveals the Lord's Love for Servants
Sundara Kanda, Chaupai 7
Doha 7 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Vibhishana describes his life as a vulnerable tongue surrounded by teeth. Perhaps one day the Lord of the solar line will know him as helpless and show compassion. He sees his body as tamasic, possesses no spiritual means, and finds no steady love for the lotus feet within his own mind.
Meeting Hanuman changes the measure of hope. Saints do not meet anyone without Hari's grace. If Raghuvira has been favorable, then the messenger's determined arrival is itself the granted darshan. The hidden devotee reads Hanuman's presence as the first visible answer to his longing.
Hanuman explains the Lord's way: he always loves his servant. What noble lineage does a restless monkey possess? He lacks every qualification, and the person who takes a monkey's name upon waking may even go hungry that day. Yet grace came to him. Divine love has crossed every measure by which either Vibhishana or Hanuman might call himself worthy.
A tongue lives among teeth, a monkey calls himself inauspicious, and Rama's grace chooses both as servants.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनहु पवनसुत रहनि हमारी। जिमि दसनन्हि महुँ जीभ बिचारी।। तात कबहुँ मोहि जानि अनाथा। करिहहिं कृपा भानुकुल नाथा।। तामस तनु कछु साधन नाहीं। प्रीति न पद सरोज मन माहीं।। अब मोहि भा भरोस हनुमंता। बिनु हरिकृपा मिलहिं नहिं संता।। जौ रघुबीर अनुग्रह कीन्हा। तौ तुम्ह मोहि दरसु हठि दीन्हा।। सुनहु बिभीषन प्रभु कै रीती। करहिं सदा सेवक पर प्रीती।। कहहु कवन मैं परम कुलीना। कपि चंचल सबहीं बिधि हीना।। प्रात लेइ जो नाम हमारा। तेहि दिन ताहि न मिलै अहारा।।
"Listen, O son of Pavan, to our condition. We are like the tongue dwelling helplessly among the teeth. Dear one, perhaps someday, knowing me as helpless, the Lord of the Bhanukul will show His mercy. This tamasic body has no means of sadhana, nor does my mind hold steady love for the Lord's lotus feet. Now I have gained confidence, O Hanuman, for without Hari's kripa, saints are never met. If Raghuvir has truly shown His favor, then you have come and granted me your darshan by His will." Hanuman replied, "Listen, Vibhishana. This is Prabhu's way: He always shows love to His devotees. Tell me, what great lineage do I possess? I am a restless monkey, lacking in every virtue. Whoever speaks our name first thing in the morning, that day even their food may not come to them.