Hanuman Meets Rama and Rama Befriends Sugriva
Hanuman first meets Rama and Lakshmana and introduces them to Sugriva. With fire as witness, a sacred friendship is formed between Rama and Sugriva.
Kishkindha Kand · Episode 2 / 14
Episode Text
आगें चले बहुरि रघुराया। रिष्यमूक पर्बत निअराया॥ तहँ रह सचिव सहित सुग्रीवा। आवत देखि अतुल बल सींवा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
āgēṃ cale bahuri raghurāyā। riṣyamūka parbata niyarāyā॥ tahāṃ raha saciva sahita sugrīvā। āvata dekhi atula bala sīṃvā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Lord Raghunath then went ahead. The Rishyamuk mountain came near. There, Sugriva lived with his ministers. Seeing Rama and Lakshmana approach with unsurpassed strength—
अति सभीत कह सुनु हनुमाना। पुरुष जुगल बल रूप निधाना॥ धरि बटु रूप देखु तैं जाई। कहेसु जानि जियँ सयन बुझाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ati sabhīta kaha sunu hanumānā। puruṣa jugala bala rūpa nidhānā॥ dhari baṭu rūpa dekhu taiṃ jāī। kahesu jāni jiyaṃ sayana bujhāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Sugriva, very frightened, said, 'Listen, Hanuman! These two men are treasures of strength and beauty. Go in the guise of a brahmin student and look at them. Understand who they are in your heart, and then signal to me what you learn.'
पठए बालि होहिं मन मैला। भागौं तुरत तजौं यह सैला॥ बिप्र रूप धरि कपि तहँ गयऊ। माथ नाइ पूछत अस भयऊ॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
paṭhaye bāli hohiṃ mana mailā। bhāgauṃ turata tajauṃ yaha sailā॥ bipra rūpa dhari kapi tahāṃ gayau। mātha nāi pūchata asa bhayau॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
If they have been sent by Bali, then my mind will become troubled; I will flee at once and leave this mountain. [Hearing this], Hanuman assumed the form of a brahmin and went there, bowed his head, and began to ask in this way—
को तुम्ह स्यामल गौर सरीरा। छत्री रूप फिरहु बन बीरा॥ कठिन भूमि कोमल पद गामी। कवन हेतु बिचरहु बन स्वामी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ko tumha syāmala gaura sarīrā। chatrī rūpa phirahu bana bīrā॥ kaṭhina bhūmi komala pada gāmī। kavana hetu bicarahu bana svāmī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
O hero, who are you, with dark and fair complexions, wandering in the forest in the guise of a kshatriya? O lord, why do you roam in the forest with tender feet on such hard ground?
मृदुल मनोहर सुंदर गाता। सहत दुसह बन आतप बाता॥ की तुम्ह तीनि देव महँ कोऊ। नर नारायन की तुम्ह दोऊ॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mṛdula manohara sundara gātā। sahata dusaḥa bana ātapa bātā॥ kē tumha tīni deva mahaṃ koū। nara nārayana ki tumha doū॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
Your limbs are soft, lovely, and beautiful, yet you endure the unbearable heat and wind of the forest. Are you one of the three gods—Brahma, Vishnu, or Mahesh—or are you both Nara and Narayana?
जग कारन तारन भव भंजन धरनी भार। की तुम्ह अखिल भुवन पति लीन्ह मनुज अवतार॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jaga kārana tārana bhava bhaṃjana dharanī bhāra। kē tumha akhila bhuvana pati līna manuja avatāra॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Or are you the very Lord of the universe—the source of creation, the savior, the destroyer of worldly existence, the remover of the earth's burden—who has taken a human incarnation?
कोसलेस दसरथ के जाए। हम पितु बचन मानि बन आए॥ नाम राम लछिमन दौउ भाई। संग नारि सुकुमारि सुहाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kosalesa dasaratha ke jāe। hama pitu bacana māni bana āe॥ nāma rāma lachimana dauu bhāī। saṃga nāri sukumāri suhāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
[Lord Rama said:] We are the sons of King Dasharatha of Kosala and have come to the forest obeying our father's command. Our names are Rama and Lakshmana; we are two brothers. With us was a lovely, delicate woman.
इहाँ हरी निसिचर बैदेही। बिप्र फिरहिं हम खोजत तेही॥ आपन चरित कहा हम गाई। कहहु बिप्र निज कथा बुझाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ihāṃ harī nisičara baidehī। bipra phirahiṃ hama khojata tehī॥ āpana carita kahā hama gāī। kahahu bipra nija kathā bujhāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Here in the forest, a demon has carried off Vaidehi. O Brahmin, I roam about searching for her. I have told you my story; now, O Brahmin, tell me yours in turn.
प्रभु पहिचानि परेउ गहि चरना। सो सुख उमा जाइ नहिं बरना॥ पुलकित तन मुख आव न बचना। देखत रुचिर बेष कै रचना॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prabhu pahicāni pareu gahi caranā। so sukha umā jāi nahiṃ barnā॥ pulakita tana mukha āva na bacanā। dekhata rucira beṣa kai racanā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Recognizing the Lord, Hanuman fell down grasping His feet. That joy, O Uma, cannot be described. His body stood on end, and no words could come from his mouth as he gazed upon the Lord's beautiful appearance.
पुनि धीरजु धरि अस्तुति कीन्ही। हरष हृदयँ निज नाथहि चीन्ही॥ मोर न्याउ मैं पूछा साईं। तुम्ह पूछहु कस नर की नाईं॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
puni dhīraju dhari astuti kīnhī। haraṣa hṛdayaṃ nija nāthahi cīnhī॥ mora nyāu maiṃ pūchā sāīṃ। tumha pūchahu kasa nara kī nāīṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Then he gathered his composure and offered praise. Having recognized his own Lord, his heart overflowed with joy. [Then Hanuman said:] 'My question was justified, my lord. After all, I saw you after many years, in the guise of an ascetic, and with my monkey mind I could not recognize you, so I asked according to my situation—but why are you asking like an ordinary man?'
एकु मैं मंद मोहबस कुटिल हृदय अग्यान। पुनि प्रभु मोहि बिसारेउ दीनबंधु भगवान॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ēku maiṃ manda mohabasa kuṭila hṛdaya agyāna। puni prabhu mohi bisāreu dīnabandhu bhagavāna॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
First, I am dull; second, I am under the power of delusion; third, my heart is crooked and ignorant. And then, O Lord, O friend of the lowly, You also forgot me!
जदपि नाथ बहु अवगुन मोरें। सेवक प्रभुहि परै जनि भोरें॥ नाथ जीव तव मायाँ मोहा। सो निस्तरइ तुम्हारेहिं छोहा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jadapi nātha bahu avaguna morẽ। sevaka prabhuhi parai jani bhorẽ॥ nātha jīva tava māyāṃ mohā। so nistarai tumhārehiiṃ chohā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, though I have many faults, may the servant never forget the Lord. The living being is deluded by Your Maya; only by Your grace can he cross over.
ता पर मैं रघुबीर दोहाई। जानउँ नहिं कछु भजन उपाई॥ सेवक सुत पति मातु भरोसें। रहइ असोच बनइ प्रभु पोसें॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tā para maiṃ raghubīra dohāī। jānaūṃ nahiṃ kachhu bhajana upāī॥ sevaka suta pati mātu bharosẽ। rahai asocha banai prabhu posẽ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
On top of that, O Raghuvir, I swear by You that I know nothing of the means of devotion. A servant relies on his master, a son on his mother. It is proper that the Lord should nourish and care for His servant.
अस कहि परेउ चरन अकुलाई। निज तनु प्रगटि प्रीति उर छाई॥ तब रघुपति उठाइ उर लावा। निज लोचन जल सींचि जुड़ावा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asa kahi pareu carana akāulī। nija tanu pragaṭi prīti ura chāī॥ taba raghupati uṭhāi ura lāvā। nija locana jala sīṃci juḍāvā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Saying this, Hanuman fell in anguish at the Lord's feet and revealed his true form; love filled his heart. Then Raghupati lifted him up, embraced him to His chest, and soothed him with the water of His eyes.
सुनु कपि जियँ मानसि जनि ऊना। तैं मम प्रिय लछिमन ते दूना॥ समदरसी मोहि कह सब कोऊ। सेवक प्रिय अनन्यगति सोऊ॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunu kapi jiyaṃ mānasi jani ūnā। taiṃ mama priya lachimana te dūnā॥ samadarasī mohi kaha saba koū। sevaka priya ananyagati soū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Listen, O monkey, do not feel hurt in your heart. You are dearer to Me than Lakshmana. Everyone says that I am impartial—neither dear nor hateful to Me—but I love a devotee, for he has no other refuge but Me.
सो अनन्य जाकें असि मति न टरइ हनुमंत। मैं सेवक सचराचर रूप स्वामि भगवंत॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
so ananya jākeṃ asi mati na ṭarai hanumanta। maiṃ sevaka sacarācara rūpa svāmi bhagavanta॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
And, O Hanuman, true devotion is when this understanding never wavers: 'I am the servant, and this moving and unmoving world is the form of my Lord, the Divine.'
देखि पवनसुत पति अनुकूला। हृदयँ हरष बीती सब सूला॥ नाथ सैल पर कपिपति रहई। सो सुग्रीव दास तव अहई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dekhi pavanasuta pati anukūlā। hṛdayaṃ haraṣa bītī saba sūlā॥ nātha saila para kapipati rahī। so sugrīva dāsa tava ahī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the Lord favorably disposed, joy filled Hanuman's heart and all his sorrows vanished. [He said:] 'O Lord, the monkey king Sugriva lives on this mountain; he is your servant.'
तेहि सन नाथ मयत्री कीजे। दीन जानि तेहि अभय करीजे॥ सो सीता कर खोज कराइहि। जहँ तहँ मरकट कोटि पठाइहि॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tehi sana nātha mayatrī kīje। dīna jāni tehi abhaya karīje॥ so sītā kara khoja karāihi। jahaṃ tahaṃ marakaṭa koṭi paṭhāihi॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, make friendship with him, and knowing him to be helpless, set him at ease. He will arrange for the search for Sita and send crores of monkeys everywhere.
एहि बिधि सकल कथा समुझाई। लिए दुऔ जन पीठि चढ़ाई॥ जब सुग्रीवँ राम कहुँ देखा। अतिसय जन्म धन्य करि लेखा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehi bidhi sakala kathā samujhāī। lie duau jana pīṭhi chaṛhāī॥ jaba sugrīvaṃ rāma kahuṃ dekhā। atisaya janma dhanya kari lekhā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Thus explaining everything, Hanuman lifted the two men onto his back. When Sugriva saw Rama, he counted his birth as supremely blessed.
सादर मिलेउ नाइ पद माथा। भेंटेउ अनुज सहित रघुनाथा॥ कपि कर मन बिचार एहि रीती। करिहहिं बिधि मो सन ए प्रीती॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sādara mileu nāi pada māthā। bheṭeu anuja sahita raghunāthā॥ kapi kara mana bicāra ehi rītī। karihahiṃ bidhi mo sana e prītī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Sugriva bowed his head to their feet and met them with reverence. Sri Raghunathji also embraced him together with His younger brother. Sugriva thought in his heart in this way: 'O Providence, will they make friendship with me?'
तब हनुमंत उभय दिसि की सब कथा सुनाइ। पावक साखी देइ करि जोरी प्रीति दृढ़ाइ॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taba hanumanta ubhaya disi kī saba kathā sunāi। pāvaka sākhī dei kari jorī prīti dṛḍhāi॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Then Hanuman narrated the whole story to both sides and, making fire the witness, firmly sealed their friendship.
कीन्हि प्रीति कछु बीच न राखा। लछिमन राम चरित सब भाषा॥ कह सुग्रीव नयन भरि बारी। मिलिहि नाथ मिथिलेसकुमारी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kīnhi prīti kachu bīca na rākhā। lachimana rāma carita saba bhāṣā॥ kaha sugrīva nayana bhari bārī। milihi nātha mithilesakumārī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
They formed friendship and kept nothing hidden between them. Then Lakshmana recounted all of Rama's story. Sugriva, his eyes filled with tears, said, 'O Lord, the princess of Mithila, Janaki, will be found.'
मंत्रिन्ह सहित इहाँ एक बारा। बैठ रहेउँ मैं करत बिचारा॥ गगन पंथ देखी मैं जाता। परबस परी बहुत बिलपाता॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mantrinha sahita ihāṃ eka bārā। baiṭha raheuṃ maiṃ karata bicārā॥ gagana pantha dekhī maiṃ jātā। parabasa parī bahuta bilapātā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
One time I was sitting here with the ministers, thinking. Then I saw Sita, fallen under another's power and crying bitterly, being carried away through the sky.
राम राम हा राम पुकारी। हमहि देखि दीन्हेउ पट डारी॥ मागा राम तुरत तेहिं दीन्हा। पट उर लाइ सोच अति कीन्हा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma rāma hā rāma pukārī। hamahi dekhi dīhneu paṭa ḍārī॥ māgā rāma turata tehiṃ dīnhā। paṭa ura lāi soca ati kīnhā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing us, she cried, 'Rama! Rama! Ah, Rama!' and threw down the cloth. Rama asked for it, and Sugriva gave it at once. Holding the cloth to His heart, Rama grieved deeply.
कह सुग्रीव सुनहु रघुबीरा। तजहु सोच मन आनहु धीरा॥ सब प्रकार करिहउँ सेवकाई। जेहि बिधि मिलिहि जानकी आई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kaha sugrīva sunahu raghubīrā। tajahu soca mana ānahu dhīrā॥ saba prakāra karihauṃ sevakāī। jehi bidhi milihi jānakī āī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Sugriva said, 'O Raghuvir, listen. Cast away your sorrow and be steadfast in your mind. I shall serve you in every way, by whatever means Janaki may come and meet you.'
सखा बचन सुनि हरषे कृपासिंधु बलसींव। कारन कवन बसहु बन मोहि कहहु सुग्रीव॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sakhā vacana suni haraṣe kṛpāsindhu balasīṃva। kārana kavana basahu bana mohi kahahu sugrīva॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
The ocean of mercy, mighty in strength, Rama, was delighted to hear the words of His friend Sugriva. [And He said:] 'O Sugriva, tell Me: for what reason do you live in the forest?'