Deliberation on Crossing the Ocean and Jambavan's Encouragement of Hanuman
The vanara heroes consider who can cross the ocean. Jambavan then reminds Hanuman of his immense strength, wisdom, and power, inspiring him for the great task ahead.
Kishkindha Kand · Episode 13 / 14
Episode Text
जो नाघइ सत जोजन सागर। करइ सो राम काज मति आगर॥ मोहि बिलोकि धरहु मन धीरा। राम कृपाँ कस भयउ सरीरा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jo nāghai sata yojana sāgara। karai so rāma kāja mati āgara॥ mohi biloki dharahu mana dhīrā। rāma kṛpāṃ kasa bhayau sarīrā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Only one who can cross a sea of a hundred yojanas and is rich in wisdom can accomplish Rama's task. Do not lose heart or panic. Look at me and keep your mind steady. See how, by Rama's grace, my body has changed!
पापिउ जा कर नाम सुमिरहीं। अति अपार भवसागर तरहीं॥ तासु दूत तुम्ह तजि कदराई। राम हृदयँ धरि करहु उपाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pāpiu jā kara nāma sumirahīṃ। ati apāra bhavasāgara tarahīṃ॥ tāsu dūta tumha taji kadarāī। rāma hṛdayaṃ dhari karahu upāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Even sinners, by remembering His name, cross the immeasurable ocean of worldly existence. You are His messenger, so cast off cowardice, keep Rama in your heart, and find a way.
अस कहि गरुड़ गीध जब गयऊ। तिन्ह कें मन अति बिसमय भयऊ॥ निज निज बल सब काहूँ भाषा। पार जाइ कर संसय राखा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asa kahi garuḍa gīdha jaba gayū। tinha keṃ mana ati bisamaya bhayū॥ nija nija bala saba kāhūṃ bhāṣā। pāra jāi kara saṃsaya rākhā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
[Kakabhushundi says: ] O Garuda! When the vulture departed after speaking thus, the minds of those monkeys were greatly astonished. Each spoke of his own strength, but all expressed doubt about crossing the ocean.
जरठ भयउँ अब कहइ रिछेसा। नहिं तन रहा प्रथम बल लेसा॥ जबहिं त्रिबिक्रम भए खरारी। तब मैं तरुन रहेउँ बल भारी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jaraṭha bhayauṃ aba kahai ricchesā। nahiṃ tana rahā prathama bala lesā॥ jabahiṃ tribikrama bhae kharārī। taba maiṃ taruna raheuṃ bala bhārī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
King of the bears Jambavan said, 'I have now grown old. Not even a trace of my former strength remains in my body. When the enemy of Khara, the Lord, appeared as Vamana, I was young and possessed great strength.'
बलि बाँधत प्रभु बाढ़ेउ सो तनु बरनि न जाइ। उभय घरी महँ दीन्हीं सात प्रदच्छिन धाइ॥ २९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bali bāṃdhata prabhu bāḍheu so tanu barani na jāi। ubhaya ghaṛī mahaṃ dīnhīṃ sāta pradacchina dhāi॥ 29 ॥
Meaning:
When Bali was being bound, the Lord grew so vast that His form cannot be described; yet in just two ghatis I ran and completed seven circumambulations [of that form].
अंगद कहइ जाउँ मैं पारा। जियँ संसय कछु फिरती बारा॥ जामवंत कह तुम्ह सब लायक। पठइअ किमि सबही कर नायक॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
aṅgada kahai jāuṃ maiṃ pārā। jiyaṃ saṃsaya kachu phiratī bārā॥ jāmavanta kaha tumha saba lāyaka। paṭhaia kimi sabhī kara nāyaka॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Angad said, 'I can certainly cross over, but I have some doubt in my heart about the return journey.' Jambavan said, 'You are fit in every way. But since you are the leader of all, how can you be sent?'
कहइ रीछपति सुनु हनुमाना। का चुप साधि रहेहु बलवाना॥ पवन तनय बल पवन समाना। बुधि बिबेक बिग्यान निधाना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahai rīchapati suni hanumānā। kā cupa sādhi rahehu balavānā॥ pavana tanaya bala pavana samānā। budhi bibeka bigyāna nidhānā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
King of the bears Jambavan said to Hanuman, 'O Hanuman, mighty one, listen! Why have you remained silent? You are the son of the Wind, and in strength you are equal to the Wind. You are a treasury of wisdom, discernment, and knowledge.'
कवन सो काज कठिन जग माहीं। जो नहिं होइ तात तुम्ह पाहीं॥ राम काज लगि तव अवतारा। सुनतहिं भयउ पर्बताकारा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kavana so kāja kaṭhina jaga māhīṃ। jo nahiṃ hoi tāta tumha pāhīṃ॥ rāma kāja lagi tava avatārā। sunatahiṃ bhayau parbatākārā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
What task is difficult in this world, dear one, that you cannot accomplish? Your very incarnation is for the work of Rama. Hearing this, Hanuman became mountain-sized—vast in form.
कनक बरन तन तेज बिराजा। मानहुँ अपर गिरिन्ह कर राजा॥ सिंहनाद करि बारहिं बारा। लीलहिं नाघउँ जलनिधि खारा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kanaka barana tana teja birājā। mānahuṃ apara girinha kara rājā॥ siṃhanāda kari bārahiṃ bārā। līlahiṃ nāghauṃ jalanidhi khārā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
His body shone with a golden hue and radiant splendor, as though he were another king of mountains, Mount Sumeru. Again and again Hanuman roared like a lion, saying, 'I can cross this salty ocean as though it were mere play.'
सहित सहाय रावनहि मारी। आनउँ इहाँ त्रिकूट उपारी॥ जामवंत मैं पूँछउँ तोही। उचित सिखावनु दीजहु मोही॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sahita sahāya rāvanahi mārī। ānauṃ ihāṃ trikuṭa upārī॥ jāmavanta maiṃ pūṃchauṃ tohī। ucita sikhāvanu dījahu mohī॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
And I can kill Ravana together with all his helpers and bring Mount Trikuta here, uprooted. O Jambavan, I ask you: give me the proper instruction [as to what I should do].
एतना करहु तात तुम्ह जाई। सीतहि देखि कहहु सुधि आई॥ तब निज भुज बल राजिवनैना। कौतुक लागि संग कपि सेना॥ ६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
etanā karahu tāta tumha jāī। sītahi dekhi kahahu sudhi āī॥ taba nija bhuja bala rājivanainā। kautuka lāgi saṅga kapi senā॥ 6 ॥
Meaning:
[Jambavan said:] 'Dear one, go and do only this: see Sita and come back with news of her. Then, lotus-eyed Rama will rely on His own arm-strength to destroy the demons and bring Sita back; He will take the monkey army along only as part of His play.'