Verse 1.1
जामवंत के बचन सुहाए। सुनि हनुमंत हृदय अति भाए॥
तब लगि मोहि परिखेहु तुम्ह भाई। सहि दुख कंद मूल फल खाई॥ १ ॥
jāmavaṁta ke bachana suhāe suni hanumaṁta hṛidaya ati bhāe
taba lagi mohi parikhehu tumha bhāī sahi dukha kaṁda mūla phala khāī
Translation
Jambavan's fine words pleased Hanuman's heart deeply. He said, "Brothers, wait for me here until then, bearing the hardship and living on roots, bulbs and fruit,
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
जाम्बवान के सुंदर वचन हनुमान जी के हृदय को बहुत अच्छे लगे। वे बोले, "भाइयो! तब तक तुम लोग कष्ट सहकर, कंद-मूल और फल खाकर मेरी प्रतीक्षा करना,
Commentary
The Sundarkand picks up exactly where the Kishkindha Kand ended: on the southern shore, Jambavan has reminded Hanuman of his forgotten strength. The first word of the kand is Jambavan's name, a quiet acknowledgement that Hanuman's mission begins with an elder's encouragement.
Verse 1.2
जब लगि आवौं सीतहि देखी। होइहि काजु मोहि हरष बिसेषी॥
यह कहि नाइ सबन्हि कहुँ माथा। चलेउ हरषि हियँ धरि रघुनाथा॥ २ ॥
jaba lagi āvauṁ sītahi dekhī hoihi kāju mohi haraṣha biseṣhī
yaha kahi nāi sabanhi kahum̐ māthā chaleu haraṣhi hiyam̐ dhari raghunāthā
Translation
"until I come back having seen Sita. The task will surely succeed, for I feel a special joy." Saying this and bowing his head to them all, he set off joyfully, holding Raghunath in his heart.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
"जब तक मैं सीता जी को देखकर लौट न आऊँ। काम अवश्य होगा, क्योंकि मेरे मन में विशेष हर्ष है।" यह कहकर और सबको सिर नवाकर, हृदय में रघुनाथ जी को धारण करके वे प्रसन्न मन से चल पड़े।
Commentary
Hanuman reads his own inner joy as a good omen. Before leaping he bows to everyone, and he carries Rama in his heart. Both details recur throughout the kand: humility before others, and every act begun by remembering Rama.
Verse 1.3
सिंधु तीर एक भूधर सुंदर। कौतुक कूदि चढ़ेउ ता ऊपर॥
बार-बार रघुबीर सँभारी। तरकेउ पवनतनय बल भारी॥ ३ ॥
siṁdhu tīra eka bhūdhara suṁdara kautuka kūdi chaṛheu tā ūpara
bāra-bāra raghubīra sam̐bhārī tarakeu pavanatanaya bala bhārī
Translation
There was a fine mountain on the seashore. He leapt onto it playfully, and remembering Raghubir again and again, the mighty son of the wind sprang from it with tremendous force.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
समुद्र के किनारे एक सुंदर पर्वत था। वे खेल-खेल में कूदकर उस पर चढ़ गए, और बार-बार रघुवीर का स्मरण करके महाबली पवनपुत्र बड़े वेग से उस पर से उछले।
Commentary
Kautuka, "as if in play," is a telling word: the ocean that frightened the whole army is a game for Hanuman once he has remembered who he is. Yet the strength is drawn from repeatedly remembering Rama (bara bara raghubira sambhari), not from pride.
Verse 1.4
जेहिं गिरि चरन देइ हनुमंता। चलेउ सो गा पाताल तुरंता॥
जिमि अमोघ रघुपति कर बाना। एही भाँति चलेउ हनुमाना॥ ४ ॥
jehiṁ giri charana dei hanumaṁtā chaleu so gā pātāla turaṁtā
jimi amogha raghupati kara bānā ehī bhām̐ti chaleu hanumānā
Translation
The mountain on which Hanuman planted his feet sank at once into the underworld. Just as Raghupati's arrow flies and never misses, so Hanuman went.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
जिस पर्वत पर पैर रखकर हनुमान जी उछले, वह तुरंत पाताल में धँस गया। जैसे श्री रघुनाथ जी का अमोघ बाण चलता है, वैसे ही हनुमान जी चल पड़े।
Commentary
The comparison to Rama's never-failing arrow (amogha bana) frames Hanuman as an instrument in Rama's hand: an arrow does not choose its target and does not stop until it reaches it. It is also a promise that the mission will succeed.
Verse 1.5
जलनिधि रघुपति दूत बिचारी। तैं मैनाक होहि श्रम हारी॥ ५ ॥
jalanidhi raghupati dūta bichārī taiṁ maināka hohi śhrama hārī
Translation
The Ocean, knowing him to be Raghupati's messenger, said to Mount Mainak, "You relieve his weariness."
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
समुद्र ने उन्हें श्री रघुनाथ जी का दूत जानकर मैनाक पर्वत से कहा, "तुम इनकी थकान दूर करो।"
Commentary
The Ocean owes a debt to Rama's family, since in legend it was dug out by King Sagara's sons, Rama's ancestors, and so it wants to honour his messenger. Mainak, the mountain hidden under the sea, is asked to rise and offer Hanuman a resting place.
Verse 1.6
हनूमान तेहि परसा कर पुनि कीन्ह प्रनाम।
राम काजु कीन्हें बिनु मोहि कहाँ बिश्राम॥ १ ॥
hanūmāna tehi parasā kara puni kīnha pranāma
rāma kāju kīnheṁ binu mohi kahām̐ biśhrāma
Translation
Hanuman touched the mountain with his hand, bowed to it, and said, "How can I rest before Rama's work is done?"
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
हनुमान जी ने उसे हाथ से छुआ, फिर प्रणाम करके कहा, "राम का काम किए बिना मुझे विश्राम कहाँ?"
Commentary
"Rama kaju kinhen binu mohi kahan bishrama" is one of the most quoted lines in all of Tulsidas. Hanuman neither refuses rudely nor accepts: a touch and a bow honour the offer, and then he keeps going. Many people take the line as a motto for any duty.
