Hanuman Asks for Undying Devotion, and the Army Receives Rama's Command
Sundara Kanda, Chaupai 34
Doha 34 · Movement 1 of 2
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Seated near the Lord who has declared himself indebted, Hanuman asks for no kingdom, celestial power, or fame. He asks for devotion, the giver of deepest joy, and for one further grace: let that devotion never diminish. Rama hears the guileless prayer and says, so be it.
Shiva tells Uma that whoever truly knows Rama's nature cannot turn from his worship toward another desire. Whoever receives this exchange into the heart receives devotion at Raghupati's feet. Around them, the monkey hosts erupt in three cries of victory to the compassionate source of joy.
Tenderness becomes action in a breath. Rama summons Sugriva and orders the march. There is no cause for delay. Let the command go out immediately among the monkeys. Flowers descend through the open sky as delighted gods behold the wonder, then turn homeward while the earth prepares for the movement of an immeasurable host.
The boon of imperishable devotion is spoken, and in the next breath Rama sets the world in motion.
Read the passage from the Manas
नाथ भगति अति सुखदायनी। देहु कृपा करि अनपायनी।। सुनि प्रभु परम सरल कपि बानी। एवमस्तु तब कहेउ भवानी।। उमा राम सुभाउ जेहिं जाना। ताहि भजनु तजि भाव न आना।। यह संवाद जासु उर आवा। रघुपति चरन भगति सोइ पावा।। सुनि प्रभु बचन कहहिं कपिबृंदा। जय जय जय कृपाल सुखकंदा।। तब रघुपति कपिपतिहि बोलावा। कहा चलैं कर करहु बनावा।। अब बिलंबु केहि कारन कीजे। तुरत कपिन्ह कहुँ आयसु दीजे।। कौतुक देखि सुमन बहु बरषी। नभ तें भवन चले सुर हरषी।।
Hanuman prayed: 'O Nath, bhakti is supremely sukhadaayani, the giver of joy. Grant me, by Your kripa, devotion that never diminishes.' Hearing the monkey's utterly guileless words, the Lord replied, 'Evam astu. So be it,' O Bhavani. Uma, whoever has truly known Rama's subhaav never forsakes His worship for any other pursuit. Whoever takes this sacred dialogue into the depths of their heart attains bhakti at the feet of Raghupati. Hearing the Lord's words, the hosts of monkeys cried out: 'Jai! Jai! Jai to the compassionate Sukhakanda, the root of all joy!' Then Raghupati summoned Sugriva, the monkey-king, and said: 'Let us march. Make preparations at once.' 'Why should there be any further delay? Give the aayasu to the monkeys immediately.' Beholding this divine spectacle, the gods rained showers of flowers from the sky and departed for their abodes, their hearts brimming with harsha.