Bhakti Arohan
ॐ

Sundarkand — Doha 22

The Envoy's Plea

Doha 22: The Envoy's Plea

Hanuman explains his actions and, with folded hands, urges Ravana to return Sita and seek Rama's refuge.

Verse 22.1

जानउँ मैं तुम्हारि प्रभुताई। सहसबाहु सन परी लराई॥ समर बालि सन करि जसु पावा। सुनि कपि बचन बिहसि बिहरावा॥ १ ॥

jānaum̐ maiṁ tumhāri prabhutāī sahasabāhu sana parī larāī samara bāli sana kari jasu pāvā suni kapi bachana bihasi biharāvā

Translation

"I know your greatness: you fought with Sahasrabahu, and you won fame in battle with Vali." Hearing the monkey's words, Ravana laughed it off.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

"मैं तुम्हारी प्रभुता जानता हूँ। सहस्रबाहु से तुम्हारी लड़ाई हुई थी, और बालि से युद्ध करके तुमने यश पाया था।" कपि के वचन सुनकर रावण ने हँसकर बात टाल दी।

Commentary

A pointed piece of irony. Ravana lost both of those fights: Kartavirya Sahasrabahu took him prisoner, and Vali carried him around under his arm. Ravana chooses to laugh it off.

Verse 22.2

खायउँ फल प्रभु लागी भूँखा। कपि सुभाव तें तोरेउँ रूखा॥ सब कें देह परम प्रिय स्वामी। मारहिं मोहि कुमारग गामी॥ २ ॥

khāyaum̐ phala prabhu lāgī bhūm̐khā kapi subhāva teṁ toreum̐ rūkhā saba keṁ deha parama priya svāmī mārahiṁ mohi kumāraga gāmī

Translation

"Lord, I ate the fruit because I was hungry, and broke the trees because that is a monkey's nature. Master, everyone holds his own body most dear. Those evil-doers came to kill me,

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

"हे स्वामी! भूख लगी थी इसलिए फल खाए, और वानर स्वभाव से पेड़ तोड़े। हे स्वामी! सबको अपना शरीर सबसे प्यारा होता है। कुमार्ग पर चलने वाले वे मुझे मारने लगे,

Verse 22.3

जिन्ह मोहि मारा ते मैं मारे। तेहि पर बाँधेउँ तनयँ तुम्हारे॥ मोहि न कछु बाँधे कइ लाजा। कीन्ह चहउँ निज प्रभु कर काजा॥ ३ ॥

jinha mohi mārā te maiṁ māre tehi para bām̐dheum̐ tanayam̐ tumhāre mohi na kachhu bām̐dhe kai lājā kīnha chahaum̐ nija prabhu kara kājā

Translation

"so I killed those who hit me. On top of that your son tied me up. But I feel no shame at being bound; I only want to do my Lord's work.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

"तो जिन्होंने मुझे मारा, उन्हें मैंने मारा। उस पर तुम्हारे पुत्र ने मुझे बाँध लिया। पर मुझे बँधने की कोई लाज नहीं, मैं तो अपने प्रभु का काम करना चाहता हूँ।

Verse 22.4

बिनती करउँ जोरि कर रावन। सुनहु मान तजि मोर सिखावन॥ देखहु तुम्ह निज कुलहि बिचारी। भ्रम तजि भजहु भगत भय हारी॥ ४ ॥

binatī karaum̐ jori kara rāvana sunahu māna taji mora sikhāvana dekhahu tumha nija kulahi bichārī bhrama taji bhajahu bhagata bhaya hārī

Translation

"Ravana, I beg you with folded hands: put aside your pride and hear my advice. Think about your own family, give up your delusion and worship the one who takes away his devotees' fears.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

"हे रावण! मैं हाथ जोड़कर विनती करता हूँ, अभिमान छोड़कर मेरी सीख सुनो। अपने कुल का विचार करके देखो, और भ्रम छोड़कर भक्तों का भय हरने वाले भगवान को भजो।

Commentary

Having just humiliated Ravana, Hanuman immediately folds his hands and pleads with him. Throughout the scene he is an envoy trying to prevent a war, not only a warrior.

Verse 22.5

जाकें डर अति काल डेराई। जो सुर असुर चराचर खाई॥ तासों बयरु कबहुँ नहिं कीजै। मोरे कहें जानकी दीजै॥ ५ ॥

jākeṁ ḍara ati kāla ḍerāī jo sura asura charāchara khāī tāsoṁ bayaru kabahum̐ nahiṁ kījai more kaheṁ jānakī dījai

Translation

"The one of whom Death itself is terrified, Death that devours gods, demons and all that moves and stands still, never make an enemy of him. Take my word and give Janaki back."

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

"जिनके डर से वह काल भी बहुत डरता है जो देवता, दैत्य और सारे चराचर को खा जाता है, उनसे कभी वैर मत करो। मेरे कहने से जानकी जी को लौटा दो।"

Verse 22.6

प्रनतपाल रघुनायक करुना सिंधु खरारि। गएँ सरन प्रभु राखिहैं तव अपराध बिसारि॥ २२ ॥

pranatapāla raghunāyaka karunā siṁdhu kharāri gaem̐ sarana prabhu rākhihaiṁ tava aparādha bisāri

Translation

"Raghunayak, protector of those who bow to him, ocean of compassion and slayer of Khara, will shelter you and forget your offence if you go to him for refuge."

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

"शरणागतों के रक्षक, करुणा के सागर, खर के शत्रु श्री रघुनाथ जी शरण में जाने पर तुम्हारे अपराध भुलाकर तुम्हारी रक्षा करेंगे।"

Commentary

This promise foreshadows Vibhishana's refuge in doha 43–48. The offer Hanuman makes to Ravana is exactly what Vibhishana will accept.

Contents
  1. Mangalacharan
  2. Doha 1: The Leap
  3. Doha 2: Surasa's Test
  4. Doha 3: First Sight of Lanka
  5. Doha 4: Lankini
  6. Doha 5: Searching the Palaces
  7. Doha 6: Meeting Vibhishana
  8. Doha 7: The Tongue among the Teeth
  9. Doha 8: Sita in the Ashoka Grove
  10. Doha 9: The Firefly and the Lotus
  11. Doha 10: Chandrahasa
  12. Doha 11: Trijata's Dream
  13. Doha 12: The Ring Falls
  14. Doha 13: Hanuman Reveals Himself
  15. Doha 14: Has He Forgotten Me?
  16. Doha 15: Rama's Message
  17. Doha 16: The Golden-Mountain Form
  18. Doha 17: Sita's Blessing
  19. Doha 18: Wrecking the Grove
  20. Doha 19: Meghanada and the Brahmastra
  21. Doha 20: In Ravana's Court
  22. Doha 21: On Whose Strength?
  23. Doha 22: The Envoy's Plea
  24. Doha 23: Wealth without Rama
  25. Doha 24: Punishment for the Envoy
  26. Doha 25: The Burning Tail
  27. Doha 26: Lanka Burns
  28. Doha 27: The Crest-Jewel
  29. Doha 28: The Return
  30. Doha 29: Before Rama
  31. Doha 30: Jambavan's Report
  32. Doha 31: Sita's Words
  33. Doha 32: A Debt That Cannot Be Repaid
  34. Doha 33: All by Your Glory
  35. Doha 34: The Boon of Devotion
  36. Doha 35: The March to the Sea
  37. Doha 36: Mandodari's Plea
  38. Doha 37: Flattering Counsel
  39. Doha 38: Vibhishana's Counsel
  40. Doha 39: Rama Is Not Merely a King
  41. Doha 40: Good Sense and Bad
  42. Doha 41: Vibhishana Is Cast Out
  43. Doha 42: Longing for Rama's Feet
  44. Doha 43: Sugriva's Suspicion
  45. Doha 44: The Vow of Refuge
  46. Doha 45: Vibhishana before Rama
  47. Doha 46: The Embrace
  48. Doha 47: Vibhishana's Hymn
  49. Doha 48: The Marks of a Devotee
  50. Doha 49: Vibhishana Crowned
  51. Doha 50: How to Cross the Ocean
  52. Doha 51: Before the Ocean
  53. Doha 52: The Spies Caught
  54. Doha 53: Ravana's Questions
  55. Doha 54: Shuka's Report
  56. Doha 55: Natural Heroes
  57. Doha 56: Lakshman's Letter
  58. Doha 57: Without Fear There Is No Love
  59. Doha 58: The Fire-Arrow
  60. Doha 59: The Ocean Surrenders
  61. Doha 60: Nala and Nila; Conclusion