Bhakti Arohan
ॐ

Sundarkand — Doha 32

A Debt That Cannot Be Repaid

Doha 32: A Debt That Cannot Be Repaid

Rama declares he can never repay Hanuman; Hanuman falls at his feet begging to be saved from pride.

Verse 32.1

सुनि सीता दुख प्रभु सुख अयना। भरि आए जल राजिव नयना॥ बचन कायँ मन मम गति जाही। सपनेहुँ बूझिअ बिपति कि ताही॥ १ ॥

suni sītā dukha prabhu sukha ayanā bhari āe jala rājiva nayanā bachana kāyam̐ mana mama gati jāhī sapanehum̐ būjhia bipati ki tāhī

Translation

Hearing of Sita's sorrow, the Lord, the home of joy, found his lotus eyes filling with tears. "Could someone who depends on me in word, body and mind ever know trouble, even in a dream?"

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

सीता जी का दुख सुनकर सुख के धाम प्रभु के कमल-नयनों में जल भर आया। (वे बोले) "जो वचन, शरीर और मन से मेरा ही आश्रय लेता है, क्या उसे सपने में भी विपत्ति हो सकती है?"

Verse 32.2

कह हनुमंत बिपति प्रभु सोई। जब तव सुमिरन भजन न होई॥ केतिक बात प्रभु जातुधान की। रिपुहि जीति आनिबी जानकी॥ २ ॥

kaha hanumaṁta bipati prabhu soī jaba tava sumirana bhajana na hoī ketika bāta prabhu jātudhāna kī ripuhi jīti ānibī jānakī

Translation

Hanuman said, "Lord, the only real trouble is when one fails to remember you and worship you. What do the demons matter, Lord? You will defeat the enemy and bring Janaki back."

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

हनुमान जी बोले, "हे प्रभु! विपत्ति तो वही है जब आपका स्मरण और भजन न हो। हे प्रभु! राक्षसों की बात ही कितनी है? आप शत्रु को जीतकर जानकी जी को ले आएँगे।"

Commentary

"Bipati prabhu soi, jaba tava sumirana bhajana na hoi" is one of the Sundarkand's best-loved lines: true misfortune is not external hardship but forgetting God.

Verse 32.3

सुनु कपि तोहि समान उपकारी। नहिं कोउ सुर नर मुनि तनुधारी॥ प्रति उपकार करौं का तोरा। सनमुख होइ न सकत मन मोरा॥ ३ ॥

sunu kapi tohi samāna upakārī nahiṁ kou sura nara muni tanudhārī prati upakāra karauṁ kā torā sanamukha hoi na sakata mana morā

Translation

"Listen, monkey: among gods, men, sages and all embodied beings, there is none who has done me a service like yours. What can I do for you in return? My mind cannot even face you.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

"हे कपि! सुनो। देवता, मनुष्य, मुनि या कोई भी शरीरधारी तुम्हारे समान उपकार करने वाला नहीं है। मैं तुम्हारा बदले में क्या उपकार करूँ? मेरा मन तुम्हारे सामने नहीं हो पाता।

Verse 32.4

सुनु सुत तोहि उरिन मैं नाहीं। देखेउँ करि बिचार मन माहीं॥ पुनि पुनि कपिहि चितव सुरत्राता। लोचन नीर पुलक अति गाता॥ ४ ॥

sunu suta tohi urina maiṁ nāhīṁ dekheum̐ kari bichāra mana māhīṁ puni puni kapihi chitava suratrātā lochana nīra pulaka ati gātā

Translation

"Listen, son, I have thought it over in my mind: I can never repay my debt to you." Again and again the protector of the gods looked at the monkey, his eyes full of tears and his body thrilling with love.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

"हे पुत्र! सुनो, मैंने मन में विचार करके देख लिया, मैं तुमसे उऋण नहीं हो सकता।" देवताओं के रक्षक प्रभु बार-बार कपि को देखते हैं, आँखों में आँसू हैं और शरीर पुलकित है।

Commentary

The Lord of the universe declares himself in debt to his servant. This inversion, God indebted to the devotee, lies at the heart of Tulsidas's bhakti and is one reason the Sundarkand is so loved.

Verse 32.5

सुनि प्रभु बचन बिलोकि मुख गात हरषि हनुमंत। चरन परेउ प्रेमाकुल त्राहि त्राहि भगवंत॥ ३२ ॥

suni prabhu bachana biloki mukha gāta haraṣhi hanumaṁta charana pareu premākula trāhi trāhi bhagavaṁta

Translation

Hearing the Lord's words and seeing his face and form, Hanuman was overjoyed. Overcome with love, he fell at his feet crying, "Save me, save me, Lord!"

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

प्रभु के वचन सुनकर और उनके मुख और शरीर को देखकर हनुमान जी हर्षित हो गए, और प्रेम से व्याकुल होकर "हे भगवान! रक्षा कीजिए, रक्षा कीजिए" कहते हुए चरणों में गिर पड़े।

Commentary

Why does Hanuman cry "save me" at a moment of praise? Because praise is dangerous: it can breed pride, which is exactly what he asks to be protected from.

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