Rama Lifts Hanuman to His Heart, and Hanuman Gives All Glory Back to Him
Sundara Kanda, Chaupai 33
Doha 33 · Movement 1 of 2
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Again and again Rama tries to raise Hanuman, but the servant is so immersed in love that rising does not please him. Rama's lotus hand rests upon the bowed head. Ages later, merely remembering that touch, Shiva becomes absorbed and must gather his mind before continuing the beautiful tale.
Rama lifts Hanuman at last, draws him against his heart, takes his hand, and seats him very near. With smiling wonder he asks how one monkey burned Ravana's guarded and formidable Lanka. Hanuman knows that his Lord is pleased, yet not a breath of pride enters his answer.
What great cleverness does a forest monkey possess? Only the art of leaping from one branch to another. He crossed the sea, burned the golden city, destroyed the demons, and ravaged the grove, but every impossible deed came from Raghurai's power. Hanuman leaves nothing at his own feet. He returns the whole blazing victory to Rama.
Held close by Rama, Hanuman makes even his greatest triumph disappear into the glory of his Lord.
Read the passage from the Manas
बार बार प्रभु चहइ उठावा। प्रेम मगन तेहि उठब न भावा।। प्रभु कर पंकज कपि कें सीसा। सुमिरि सो दसा मगन गौरीसा।। सावधान मन करि पुनि संकर। लागे कहन कथा अति सुंदर।। कपि उठाइ प्रभु हृदयँ लगावा। कर गहि परम निकट बैठावा।। कहु कपि रावन पालित लंका। केहि बिधि दहेउ दुर्ग अति बंका।। प्रभु प्रसन्न जाना हनुमाना। बोला बचन बिगत अभिमाना।। साखामृग के बड़ि मनुसाई। साखा तें साखा पर जाई।। नाघि सिंधु हाटकपुर जारा। निसिचर गन बिधि बिपिन उजारा। सो सब तव प्रताप रघुराई। नाथ न कछू मोरि प्रभुताई।।
Again and again the Lord wished to raise him, but Hanuman, immersed in prema, had no desire to rise. The Lord's lotus hand rested upon the monkey's head. Remembering that moment, Gaureesa himself became lost in dhyana. Collecting his mind once more, Shankara resumed the telling of this most sundar katha. The Lord raised Hanuman, drew him to His heart, then took his hand and seated him very close. 'Tell me, Kapi, how did you burn Lanka, that seemingly unconquerable stronghold guarded by Ravana?' Knowing that Prabhu was pleased, Hanuman spoke words entirely free of abhimana. 'A monkey's great cleverness, after all, is only this: leaping from branch to branch.' 'I crossed the ocean, set fire to the golden city, and laid waste to the nishachar hordes as a wildfire sweeps a forest.' 'All of this was Your prataap alone, O Raghurai. There is nothing of my own prowess in it, Nath.'