Hanuma Declares Himself to be a Messenger of Rama

तम् उद्वीक्ष्य महाबाहुः पिन्ग अक्षम् पुरतः स्थितम् | रोषेण महता आविष्टो रावणो लोक रावणः || ५-५०-१ स राजा रोष ताम्र अक्षः प्रहस्तम् मन्त्रि सत्तमम् |

tam udviikShya mahaabaahuH pinga akSham purataH sthitam | roSheNa mahataa aaviShTo raavaNo loka raavaNaH || 5-50-1 sa raajaa roSha taamra akShaH prahastam mantri sattamam |

That Ravana, the long-armed, who caused people to cry, looking up at that monkey standing in front of him, was affected with violent anger, having his mind seized with suspicion, speculated (as follows) about Hanuma, the jewel among the monkeys, who was invested with splendour.

किमेष भगवान्नन्दी भवेत्साक्षादिहागतः || ५-५०-२ येन शप्तोऽस्मि कैलासे मया संचालिते पुरा | सोऽयम् वानरमूर्तिः स्यात्किंस्विद्बाणो महासुरः || ५-५०-३

kimeSha bhagavaannandii bhavetsaakShaadihaagataH || 5-50-2 yena shapto.asmi kailaase mayaa sa.nchaalite puraa | so.ayam vaanaramuurtiH syaatki.nsvidbaaNo mahaasuraH || 5-50-3

"When Mount Kailasa was moved by me, is it the same Nandi the divine bull (attendant of Siva) which cursed me long ago and came here now in this form or whether he is Bana the great demon (son of Bali) came here in the form of a monkey."

स राजा रोषताम्राक्षः प्रहस्तम् मन्त्रिसत्तमम् | काल युक्तम् उवाच इदम् वचो विपुलम् अर्थवत् || ५-५०-४

duraatmaa pR^icchhyataam eSha kutaH kim vaa asya kaaraNam | vana bhange ca ko asya artho raakShasiinaam ca tarjane || 5-50-5

That king Ravana, becoming enraged with red hot eyes, spoke the following concise and meaningful words relevant to that occasion, to Prahasta, his chief of ministers.

दुरात्मा पृच्छ्यताम् एष कुतः किम् वा अस्य कारणम् | वन भन्गे च को अस्य अर्थो राक्षसीनाम् च तर्जने || ५-५०-५

matpuriimapradhR^iShyaam vaagamane kiM prayojanam | aayodhane vaakiM kaaryam pR^ichchhyataameSha durmatiH ||5-50-6

"Ask this wicked monkey from where did he come, for what reason did he come to this place and for what purpose did he frighten the female-demons in destroying our garden."

मत्पुरीमप्रधृष्याम् वागमने किं प्रयोजनम् | आयोधने वाकिं कार्यम् पृच्छ्यतामेष दुर्मतिः ||५-५०-६

raavaNasya vacaH shrutvaa prahasto vaakyam abraviit | samaashvasihi bhadram te na bhiiH kaaryaa tvayaa kape || 5-50-7

"Ask this evil-minded monkey as to what really is his purpose in coming over to my invincible City and what pursuit he is doing this battle."

रावणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्तो वाक्यम् अब्रवीत् | समाश्वसिहि भद्रम् ते न भीः कार्या त्वया कपे || ५-५०-७

yadi taavat tvam indreNa preShito raavaNa aalayam | tattvam aakhyaahi maa te bhuut bhayam vaanara mokShyase || 5-50-8

Hearing the words of Ravana, Prahasta spoke the following words to Hanuma, "Take courage! Happiness to you! You need not get frightened, O monkey!"

यदि तावत् त्वम् इन्द्रेण प्रेषितो रावण आलयम् | तत्त्वम् आख्याहि मा ते भूत् भयम् वानर मोक्ष्यसे || ५-५०-८

yadi vaishravaNasya tvam yamasya varuNasya ca | caaru ruupam idam kR^itvaa oravuShTo naH puriimimaam || 5-50-9 viShNunaa preShito vaa api duuto vijaya kaankShiNaa |

"O monkey! If Indra has sent you to the abode of Ravana, tell me the truth. Do not have fear. You will be released."

यदि वैश्रवणस्य त्वम् यमस्य वरुणस्य च | चारु रूपम् इदम् कृत्वा ओरवुष्टो नः पुरीमिमाम् || ५-५०-९ विष्णुना प्रेषितो वा अपि दूतो विजय कान्क्षिणा |

na hi te vaanaram tejo ruupa maatram tu vaanaram || 5-50-10 tattvataH kathayasva adya tato vaanara mokShyase |

"Are you, the one who has entered our city, assuming the guise of a spy, sent by Kubera the god of riches or by Yama the god of death or by Varuna the lord of the sea or whether sent by Vishnu the lord of preservation, as a messenger, longing for a victory?"

न हि ते वानरम् तेजो रूप मात्रम् तु वानरम् || ५-५०-१० तत्त्वतः कथयस्व अद्य ततो वानर मोक्ष्यसे |

anR^itam vadataH ca api durlabham tava jiivitam || 5-50-11 athavaa yan nimittaH te pravesho raavaNa aalaye |

"O monkey! Your form alone is that of a monkey. Your splendour indeed is not that of a monkey. Now, tell me the truth. Thereupon, you will be released."

अनृतम् वदतः च अपि दुर्लभम् तव जीवितम् || ५-५०-११ अथवा यन् निमित्तः ते प्रवेशो रावण आलये |

evam ukto hari varaH tadaa rakSho gaNa iishvaram || 5-50-12 abraviin na asmi shakrasya yamasya varuNasya vaa | dhanadena na me sakhyam viShNunaa na asmi coditaH || 5-50-13 jaatiH eva mama tu eShaa vaanaro aham iha aagataH |

"If you tell a lie, your survival will be difficult. Or else, tell me the purpose of your entry into Ravana's abode."

एवम् उक्तो हरि वरः तदा रक्षो गण ईश्वरम् || ५-५०-१२ अब्रवीन् न अस्मि शक्रस्य यमस्य वरुणस्य वा | धनदेन न मे सख्यम् विष्णुना न अस्मि चोदितः || ५-५०-१३ जातिः एव मम तु एषा वानरो अहम् इह आगतः |

darshane raakShasa indrasya durlabhe tat idam mayaa || 5-50-14 vanam raakShasa raajasya darshana arthe vinaashitam |

Hearing the words of Prahasta, Hanuma spoke to Ravana the Lord of demons as follows, "I am not a messenger of Indra or Yama or Varuna. I have no friendship with Kubera the god of riches, nor am I instigated by Vishnu. This is just my form of existence, by my very birth. I am a monkey who came here."

दर्शने राक्षस इन्द्रस्य दुर्लभे तत् इदम् मया || ५-५०-१४ वनम् राक्षस राजस्य दर्शन अर्थे विनाशितम् |

astra paashaiH na shakyo aham baddhum deva asuraiH api || 5-50-16 pitaamahaat eva varo mama api eSho abhyupaagataH |

"The sight of Ravana the King of demons is difficult to be obtained. Intent on that object (of sight of Ravana), the garden was destroyed by me."

ततः ते राक्षसाः प्राप्ता बलिनो युद्ध कान्क्षिणः || ५-५०-१५ रक्षण अर्थम् च देहस्य प्रतियुद्धा मया रणे |

raajaanam draShTu kaamena mayaa astram anuvartitam || 5-50-17 vimukto aham astreNa raakShasaiH tu atipiiDitaH | kevachidraajakaaryeNa sampraapto.asmi tavaantikam || 5-50-18

"Then, those strong demons came with a desire to fight with me. Just for protecting my body, I had to attack them in battle."

अस्त्र पाशैः न शक्यो अहम् बद्धुम् देव असुरैः अपि || ५-५०-१६ पितामहात् एव वरो मम अपि एषो अभ्युपागतः |

duuto.ahamiti vijJNeyo raaghavasyaamitaujasaH | shruuyataam chaapi vachanam mama pathyamidam prabho || 5-50-19

"I am incapable of being bound by missiles and nooses even by celestials and demons. This boon came to me also from Brahama only."

राजानम् द्रष्टु कामेन मया अस्त्रम् अनुवर्तितम् || ५-५०-१७ विमुक्तो अहम् अस्त्रेण राक्षसैः तु अतिपीडितः | केवचिद्राजकार्येण सम्प्राप्तोऽस्मि तवान्तिकम् || ५-५०-१८

With a desire to see you the king, I surrendered to the missile. Soon after bound by the demons, I was indeed released from the missile. I came to your presence, prompted by some mission of Rama."

दूतोऽहमिति विज्ञेयो राघवस्यामितौजसः | श्रूयताम् चापि वचनम् मम पथ्यमिदम् प्रभो || ५-५०-१९

"O, Lord of demons! Know me to be a messenger of Rama who is possessing I am unlimited splendour. I am telling you a beneficial word. Listen to it."