4.65. Who shall be the hero?

Hari Om.

Let us begin the sixty fifth sarga of the kishkindhA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.

The vulture king sampAti flew away after giving the vAnaras and their mission a fresh but daunting lease of life. He clearly revealed that sItA was in lanka by virtue of his long sight and also backed it up with information that he received from his son supArSva and the prophecy of sage niSAkara and wishing the vAnaras all the best and having no doubt that they would be able to reach their goal, he soared to the skies after a long long wait. The vAnaras came right in front of the sea and their problem looked as limitless as the sea itself! They froze by the sea into diffidence. Prince angada’s pep talk didn’t make a difference. As none among the vAnaras volunteered even to talk let alone leap, angada asked his leaders one by one about their leaping ability and they spoke. Onwards…

Responding to the challenge by angada about their ability, the vAnaras led by gaja, gavAksha, gavaya, Sarabha, gandhamAdana, mainda, dvivida, sushENa and jAmabavAn began to put across how far they can leap and if that can take them to lanka.

The vAnara gaja said, he can leap ten yOjanas while gavAksha said he can do twenty. gavaya claimed thirty yOjanas while Sarabha was confident of forty. gandhamAdana could do fifty while mainda would cross sixty. dvivida had no doubt he could leap seventy while sushENa pegged it at eighty yOjanas.

ततस्तत्र महातेजा द्विविदः प्रत्यभाषत।

गमिष्यामि न सन्देहस्सप्ततिं योजनान्यहम्।।4.65.8।।

सुषेणस्तु महातेजा:प्रोक्तवान्हरिसत्तमान्।

अशीतिं योजनानां तु प्लवेयं प्लवगेश्वराः।।4.65.9।।

Speaking in the same spirit, the oldest among them all, jAmbavAn said –

“Earlier even we (royal first person) had certain agility and valor but age has caught up with me right now. Listen to my ability right now, I can do ninety yOjanas without any doubt. I used to do a lot more than this in my youth. In fact, during the yAjna of king bali when the eternal vishNu (vAmana) took the three strides, I have circumambulated him! However I am old now and my agility has substantially reduced. Therefore with this kind of ability, I will not be able to leap across and accomplish the task. However we cannot be indifferent to the cause of the king of vAnaras, sugrIva and that of rAma”.

Taking cue from the old jAmbavAn, prince angada said –

“I can certainly do the hundred yOjanas, however I am uncertain about my ability to return”.

As angada stated his ability, the articulate jAmbavAn intervened –

“O best of vAnaras, we are well aware of your abilities and agility. Your capable and energetic to cover a hundred thousand yOjanas and returning as well. However, the leader of the group is not to be sent for this cause while the servitors are all present. Of us all, you are the leader.

न हि प्रेषयिता तात स्वामी प्रेष्यः कथञ्चन।

भवताऽयं जनस्सर्वः प्रेष्यः प्लवगसत्तम।।4.65.22।।

भवान्कळत्रमस्माकं स्वामिभावे व्यवस्थितः।

स्वामी कळत्रं सैन्यस्य गतिरेषा परन्तप।।4.65.23।।

The leader is to be well taken care of like we take care of our wives. This mission vitally hinges on you and so we better pay attention to you.

मूलमर्थस्य संरक्ष्यम् एष कार्यविदां नयः ।
मूले सति हि सिद्ध्यन्ति गुणास्सर्वे फलोदयाः ॥।।4.65.25।।

The root cause of the means is always to be protected. This is the policy of the accomplishers. Only if the root is intact, the results will flourish. You are the root of this mission, O subduer of enemies. You are the leader and the son of our supreme leader. We rally around you to achieve our mission”.

गुरुश्च गुरुपुत्रश्च त्वं हि नः कपिसत्तम।

भवन्तमाश्रित्य वयं समर्था ह्यर्थसाधने।।4.65.27।।

The great vAnaras angada having listened to the words of the wise jAmavAna then said –

“If I don’t go nor can other vAnara leaders, we can only resort to prAyOpavESa again (drop unto death through fasting). I don’t see any way to retain our lives after going back without accomplishing what the king of vAnaras has commanded us to. He is capable of showering grace or meting out punishment. Without fulfilling his order we will face a certain destruction. You are aware of how things can be accomplished and therefore, please think over and advise such that this mission doesn’t go the other way”.

तद्यथा ह्यस्य कार्यस्य न भवत्यन्यथा गतिः।

तद्भवानेव दृष्टार्थस्सञ्चिन्तयितु मर्हति।।4.65.32।।

Responding to the words of angada, jAmabavAn responded to him and said –

“This mission shall not be stalled in any way, O warrior. I shall now inspire him who will accomplish this.”

अस्य ते वीर कार्यस्य न किञ्चित्परिहीयते।

एष सञ्चोदयाम्येनं यः कार्यं साधयिष्यति।।4.65.34।।

Then the best among the team, jAmbavAn, turned to the best and most illustrious of the vAnaras, hanumAn, who was enjoying solitude and began to motivate him.

Here we conclude the sixty fifth sarga of the kishkindhA kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!