Hari Om.
Let us begin the first sarga of the yuddha kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
The glad tidings seemed to be unfolding. Post the abduction of sItA, rAma and lakshmaNa covered a lot of ground, saw jaTAyu who got martyred in his effort to save sItA, were briefly captured by demon kabandha before redeeming him and getting further directions for the quest of sItA. On his prodding, they met sugrIva who later sent the vANaras to all directions for the quest of sItA. Out of all the teams, the southern squad ultimately succeeded in finding the whereabouts of sItA. Among them, it was the valiant hanumAn who carried the distinction of seeing the mother sItA, bringing calm to her devastated mind through speech sweet and sincere. His articulation and controlled show of might on the enemy territory brought much relief to sItA and made her believe again that she has a chance at reunion with rAma. Leaping back to his mates and then to rAma, hanumAn’s brilliant articulation was again to the fore and he brought a semblance of peace to the much troubled rAghava. Thus the glorious Sundara kAnDam is most celebrated for purposeful speech and measured articulation. Thus the kAnDam ends with a note on the tonic of optimistic and positive speech and how it had lifted the spirits of sItA. rAma was very touched. Onwards…
Listening to the entire account inarrated by hanumAn, rAma was very pleased and delightfully said –
“The mission accomplished by hanumAn is exceptional and rare and is beyond even the mental comprehension of anyone else on the earth. Other than the garuDa and the wind god vAyu, I do not see how anyone else can cross the ocean!
कृतं हनुमता कार्यं सुमहद्भुवि दुर्लभम् ।
मनसापि यदन्येन न शक्यं धरणीतले ।।6.1.2।।
Who other than someone of the calibre of hanumAn in might and valour can indeed enter the impregnable fortress of lanka which is beyond the scope for even the gods, demons , yakshas and gandharvas and come out of it alive and unscathed only based on his strength?
The duty assigned by sugrIva has been duly carried out by hanumAn, but he went beyond that having set goals for himself that were befitting his might and valour. One who has been given a difficult task and acts gladly to accomplish that and more is said to be best among men. One who has been appointed for a task, does just that and no more than that despite being capable is of the mediocre type. The one who has been appointed for a task and doesn’t accomplish is the worst among the lot.
नियुक्तोय: परं कार्यं न कुर्यान्नृपतेः प्रियम् ।
भृत्योऽभृत्यस्समर्थोऽपि तमाहुर्मध्यमं नरम् ।।6.1.8।।
नियुक्तो नृपतेः कार्यं न कुर्याद्यस्समाहितः ।
भृत्यो युक्तस्समर्थश्च तमाहुः पुरुषाधमम् ।।6.1.9।।
तन्नियोगे नियुक्तेन कृतं कृत्यं हनूमता ।
न चात्मा लघुतां नीतस्सुग्रीवश्चापि तोषितः ।।6.1.10।।
hanumAn not just carried out the mission in which he was appointed by sugrIva and made sugrIva happy, he excelled in it. In finding out the whereabouts of sItA, I, lakshmaNa and the clan of raghus has been saved and enabled to follow dharma.
However, I sulk further to think that I cannot repay my gratitude appropriately to this carrier of pleasant news. The only thing that I can give this great hanumAn to express myself is my embrace”.
एष सर्वस्वभूते परिष्वङ्गो हनूमतः ।
मया कालमिमं प्राप्य दत्तस्तस्य महात्मनः ।।6.1.13।।
Speaking thus, rAma, with every limb of his ecstatic, took the great accomplisher hanumAn into his embrace.
इत्युक्त्वा प्रीतिहृष्टाङ्गो रामस्तं परिषस्वजे ।
हनूमन्तं कृतात्मानं कृतकार्यमुपागतम् ।।6.1.14।।
Reflecting again on the task ahead, rAma said in the presence of sugrIva –
“The mission of the quest of sItA has been accomplished successfully, there is no doubt. Beholding the ocean however I am anxious again. How will all the vAnaras cross over to the southern shore of the ocean? Just like vaidEhI appropriately inquired, I am also wondering how the vAnaras will cross the ocean”?
The much agitated rAma, the scorcher of the foes, said thus to hanumAn and was lost in thought.
Here we conclude the first sarga of the yuddha kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 6.001. The rewarding embrace
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rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 