Hanuman-Ravana Dialogue in the Royal Court
In Ravana's court, Hanuman fearlessly delivers Rama's message. He speaks of righteousness, wisdom, and the welfare that lies in returning Sita.
Sundar Kand · Episode 9 / 20
Episode Text
कह लंकेस कवन तैं कीसा। केहि कें बल घालेहि बन खीसा॥ की धौं श्रवन सुनेहि नहिं मोही। देखउँ अति असंक सठ तोही॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kaha laṅkesa kavana taiṃ kīsā। kehi keṃ bala ghālehi bana khīsā॥ kī dhaũ śravana sunehi nahiṃ mohī। dekhauṃ ati asaṅka saṭha tohī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Ravana of Lanka said, 'Monkey, who are you? By whose power have you laid waste the forest? Have you never heard my name and fame with your ears? O fool, I see you as utterly fearless.'
मारे निसिचर केहिं अपराधा। कहु सठ तोहि न प्रान कइ बाधा॥ सुनु रावन ब्रह्मांड निकाया। पाइ जासु बल बिरचति माया॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
māre nisichara kehiṃ aparādhā। kahu saṭha tohi na prāna kai bādhā॥ sunu rāvana brahmāṇḍa nikāyā। pāi jāsu bala biracati māyā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
'For what offense did you kill the demons? Tell me, fool—do you not fear for your life?' [Hanuman replied:] 'Listen, O Ravana. By whose power Maya creates the many worlds of the universe...'
जाकें बल बिरंचि हरि ईसा। पालत सृजत हरत दससीसा॥ जा बल सीस धरत सहसानन। अंडकोस समेत गिरि कानन॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jākeṃ bala birañci hari īsā। pālata sṛjata harata dasasīsā॥ jā bala sīsa dharata sahasānana। aṇḍakosa sameta giri kānana॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
By whose power, O ten-headed one, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva create, preserve, and destroy; by whose power Shesha, with a thousand hoods, bears the mountains and forests together with the entire cosmos on his head...
धरइ जो बिबिध देह सुरत्राता। तुम्ह से सठन्ह सिखावनु दाता॥ हर कोदंड कठिन जेहिं भंजा। तेहि समेत नृप दल मद गंजा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dharai jo bibidhi deha suratrātā। tumha se saṭhanha sikhāvanu dātā॥ hara kodaṇḍa kaṭhina jehiṃ bhañjā। tehi sameta nṛpa dala mada gañjā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
He who assumes various forms to protect the gods and who teaches fools like you; he who broke Shiva's hard bow and, with it, crushed the pride of the hosts of kings.
जाके बल लवलेस तें जितेहु चराचर झारि। तासु दूत मैं जा करि हरि आनेहु प्रिय नारि॥ २१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jāke bala lavalesa teṃ jitehu carācara jhāri। tāsu dūta maiṃ jā kari hari ānehu priya nāri॥ 21 ॥
Meaning:
By a mere fraction of whose power you conquered all moving and unmoving beings, and whose beloved wife you have carried off, I am that Lord's messenger.
जानउँ मैं तुम्हारि प्रभुताई। सहसबाहु सन परी लराई॥ समर बालि सन करि जसु पावा। सुनि कपि बचन बिहसि बिहरावा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jānauṃ maiṃ tumhāri prabhutāī। sahasabāhu sana parī larāī॥ samara bāli sana kari jasa pāvā। suni kapi bacana bihasi biharāvā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
I know your prowess well. You fought with Sahasrabahu, and you won fame through your battle with Bali. Hearing Hanuman's pointed words, Ravana laughed and brushed them aside.
खायउँ फल प्रभु लागी भूँखा। कपि सुभाव तें तोरेउँ रूखा॥ सब कें देह परम प्रिय स्वामी। मारहिं मोहि कुमारग गामी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
khāyauṃ phala prabhu lāgī bhū̃khā। kapi subhāva teṃ toreuṃ rūkha॥ saba keṃ deha parama priya svāmī। mārahiṃ mohi kumāraga gāmī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
O lord of the rākṣasas, I was hungry, so I ate fruit and, by monkey nature, broke trees. O master of the night-walkers, the body is dear to everyone. Then the wicked rākṣasas, who walk the wrong path, began to strike me.
जिन्ह मोहि मारा ते मैं मारे। तेहि पर बाँधेउँ तनयँ तुम्हारे॥ मोहि न कछु बाँधे कइ लाजा। कीन्ह चहउँ निज प्रभु कर काजा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jinha mohi mārā te maiṃ māre। tehi para bāndheuṃ tanayaṃ tumhāre॥ mohi na kachu bāndhe kai lājā। kīnha cahauṃ nija prabhu kara kājā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Those who struck me, I struck them in return. Then your son bound me. But I have no shame in being bound. I only wish to do my Lord's work.
बिनती करउँ जोरि कर रावन। सुनहु मान तजि मोर सिखावन॥ देखहु तुम्ह निज कुलहि बिचारी। भ्रम तजि भजहु भगत भय हारी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bintī karauṃ jori kara rāvana। sunahu māna taji mora sikhāvana॥ dekhahu tumha nija kulahi bicārī। bhrama taji bhajahu bhagata bhaya hārī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
O Ravana, I beg you with folded hands: listen to my counsel, giving up pride. Consider your noble lineage, and abandoning delusion, worship the Lord who removes the fear of His devotees.
जाकें डर अति काल डेराई। जो सुर असुर चराचर खाई॥ तासों बयरु कबहुँ नहिं कीजै। मोरे कहें जानकी दीजै॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jākeṃ dara ati kāla ḍerāī। jo sura asura carācara khāī॥ tāsoṃ bayaru kabahuṃ nahiṃ kījai। more kaheṃ jānakī dījai॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
Do not ever bear enmity toward One before whom even Time trembles, who devours gods, demons, and all moving and unmoving beings. Grant Janaki to me, as I say.
प्रनतपाल रघुनायक करुना सिंधु खरारि। गएँ सरन प्रभु राखिहैं तव अपराध बिसारि॥ २२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pranatapāla raghunāyaka karuṇā sindhu kharāri। gaeṃ sarana prabhu rākhihaiṃ tava aparādha bisāri॥ 22 ॥
Meaning:
The protector of the humble, Lord of the Raghu line, and ocean of compassion, slayer of Khara—when you go to Him for refuge, He will forgive your offense and keep you under His shelter.
राम चरन पंकज उर धरहू। लंका अचल राजु तुम्ह करहू॥ रिषि पुलस्ति जसु बिमल मयंका। तेहि ससि महुँ जनि होहु कलंका॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma carana paṅkaja ura dharahū। laṅkā acala rāju tumha karahū॥ riṣi pulasti jasu bimala mayaṃkā। tehi sasi mahuṃ jani hohu kalaṅkā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Keep Rama’s lotus feet in your heart, and rule over Lanka as an unshakable kingdom. Sage Pulastya’s fame is like a pure moon. Do not become a blemish on that moon.
राम नाम बिनु गिरा न सोहा। देखु बिचारि त्यागि मद मोहा॥ बसन हीन नहिं सोह सुरारी। सब भूषन भूषित बर नारी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma nāma binu girā na sohā। deku bicāri tyāgi mada mohā॥ basana hīna nahiṃ soha surārī। saba bhūṣana bhūṣita bara nārī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Without Rama’s name, speech does not look beautiful. Reflect on this and give up pride and delusion. O enemy of the gods! Even a woman adorned with all ornaments does not look graceful if she has no clothes.
राम बिमुख संपति प्रभुताई। जाइ रही पाई बिनु पाई॥ सजल मूल जिन्ह सरितन्ह नाहीं। बरषि गएँ पुनि तबहिं सुखाहीं॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma bimukha saṃpati prabhutāī। jāi rahī pāī binu pāī॥ sajala mūla jinha saritanha nāhīṃ। baraṣi gaeṃ puni tabahiṃ sukhāhīṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
For one who is turned away from Rama, wealth and authority, even if once attained, pass away; obtaining them is like not obtaining them at all. Rivers whose source is not a steady spring but only rain become dry again as soon as the rains are over.
सुनु दसकंठ कहउँ पन रोपी। बिमुख राम त्राता नहिं कोपी॥ संकर सहस बिष्नु अज तोही। सकहिं न राखि राम कर द्रोही॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunu dasakaṃṭha kahauṃ pana ropī। bimukha rāma trātā nahiṃ kopī॥ saṃkara sahasa biṣṇu aja tohī। sakahiṃ na rākhi rāma kara drohī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Listen, O ten-necked one: I make this vow. No protector exists for one who is hostile to Rama. Even thousands of Shivas, Vishnus, and Brahmas cannot save you, who are hostile to Rama.
मोहमूल बहु सूल प्रद त्यागहु तम अभिमान। भजहु राम रघुनायक कृपा सिंधु भगवान॥ २३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mohamūla bahu sūla prada tyāgahu tama abhimāna। bhajahu rāma raghunāyaka kṛpā siṃdhu bhagavāna॥ 23 ॥
Meaning:
Give up the darkness of pride, which has delusion as its root and brings much suffering, and worship Rama, the Lord of Raghu’s line, the ocean of mercy, the Lord God.
जदपि कही कपि अति हित बानी। भगति बिबेक बिरति नय सानी॥ बोला बिहसि महा अभिमानी। मिला हमहि कपि गुर बड़ ग्यानी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jadapi kahī kapi ati hita bānī। bhagati bibeka birati naya sānī॥ bolā bihasi mahā abhimānī। milā hamahi kapi guru baṛa gyānī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Although Hanuman spoke very beneficial words, filled with devotion, discernment, detachment, and good conduct, that great egotist Ravana laughed and said, “We have met a great wise teacher in this monkey!”
मृत्यु निकट आई खल तोही। लागेसि अधम सिखावन मोही॥ उलटा होइहि कह हनुमाना। मतिभ्रम तोर प्रगट मैं जाना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mṛtyu nikaṭa āī khala tohī। lāgesi adhama sikhāvana mohī॥ ulaṭā hoihi kaha hanumānā। matibhrama tora pragaṭa maiṃ jānā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
O vile one, your death has drawn near. You lowborn fool, you dare to teach me! Hanuman said, “It will be just the opposite.” Your confusion of mind is obvious to me.
सुनि कपि बचन बहुत खिसिआना। बेगि न हरहु मूढ़ कर प्राना॥ सुनत निसाचर मारन धाए। सचिवन्ह सहित बिभीषनु आए॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni kapi bacana bahuta khisiānā। begi na harahu mūṛha kara prānā॥ sunata nisācara mārana dhāe। sacivanhaṃ sahita bibhīṣanu āe॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing Hanuman’s words, he became very enraged and said, “Why do you not quickly take the life of this fool?” As soon as he heard it, the demons rushed to kill him. At that very moment, Vibhishana arrived there with the ministers.
नाइ सीस करि बिनय बहूता। नीति बिरोध न मारिअ दूता॥ आन दंड कछु करिअ गोसाँई। सबहीं कहा मंत्र भल भाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nāi sīsa kari binaya bahūtā। nīti birodha na māri'a dūtā॥ āna daṃḍa kachu kari'a gosāṃī। sabahīṃ kahā maṃtra bhala bhāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
They bowed their heads and, with great humility, said to Ravana that a messenger should not be killed, for it is against policy and propriety. O Lord, some other punishment should be given. Everyone said, “Brother, this advice is good.”
कपि कें ममता पूँछ पर सबहि कहउँ समुझाइ। तेल बोरि पट बाँधि पुनि पावक देहु लगाइ॥ २४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kapi keṃ mamatā pūṃcha para sabahi kahauṃ samujhāi। tela bori paṭa bāṃdhi puni pāvaka dehu lagāi॥ 24 ॥
Meaning:
I tell you all, after explaining it: a monkey’s attachment is to his tail. So dip cloth in oil, bind it around his tail, and then set it on fire.
पूँछहीन बानर तहँ जाइहि। तब सठ निज नाथहि लइ आइहि॥ जिन्ह कै कीन्हिसि बहुत बड़ाई। देखउँ मैं तिन्ह कै प्रभुताई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pūṃchahīna bānara tahaṃ jāihi। taba saṭha nija nāthahi lai āihi॥ jinha kai kīnhisi bahuta baṛāī। dekhauṃ maiṃ tinha kai prabhutāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
When this tail-less monkey goes there, that fool will bring his own master along. I want to see the power of those whom he has praised so much.
बचन सुनत कपि मन मुसुकाना। भइ सहाय सारद मैं जाना॥ जातुधान सुनि रावन बचना। लागे रचैं मूढ़ सोइ रचना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bacana sunata kapi mana musukānā। bhai sahāya sārada maiṃ jānā॥ jātudhāna suni rāvana bacanā। lāge racaiṃ mūṛha soi racanā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing these words, Hanuman smiled inwardly and thought, “I understand: Saraswati has helped him.” Hearing Ravana’s order, the foolish rakshasas set about carrying out that very plan.