Bhakti Arohan
ॐ

Sundarkand — Doha 52

The Spies Caught

Doha 52: The Spies Caught

The spies give themselves away by praising Rama; Lakshman frees them with a letter for Ravana.

Verse 52.1

प्रगट बखानहिं राम सुभाऊ। अति सप्रेम गा बिसरि दुराऊ॥ रिपु के दूत कपिन्ह तब जाने। सकल बाँधि कपीस पहिं आने॥ १ ॥

pragaṭa bakhānahiṁ rāma subhāū ati saprema gā bisari durāū ripu ke dūta kapinha taba jāne sakala bām̐dhi kapīsa pahiṁ āne

Translation

They began praising Rama's nature openly; in their great love they forgot to stay hidden. Then the monkeys recognised them as enemy spies, tied them all up, and brought them to the king of the monkeys.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

वे खुलेआम राम के स्वभाव की बड़ाई करने लगे, प्रेम में इतने डूबे कि छिपाव भूल गए। तब वानरों ने जान लिया कि ये शत्रु के दूत हैं, और सबको बाँधकर सुग्रीव के पास ले आए।

Commentary

The spies give themselves away not by a slip of tactics but by being moved by what they saw. Even Ravana's agents cannot help praising Rama.

Verse 52.2

कह सुग्रीव सुनहु सब बानर। अंग भंग करि पठवहु निसिचर॥ सुनि सुग्रीव बचन कपि धाए। बाँधि कटक चहु पास फिराए॥ २ ॥

kaha sugrīva sunahu saba bānara aṁga bhaṁga kari paṭhavahu nisichara suni sugrīva bachana kapi dhāe bām̐dhi kaṭaka chahu pāsa phirāe

Translation

Sugriva said, "Listen, all you monkeys: maim these demons and send them back." Hearing Sugriva's words the monkeys rushed at them, tied them up, and paraded them all around the camp.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

सुग्रीव ने कहा, "सब वानरो! सुनो, इन राक्षसों के अंग-भंग करके भेज दो।" सुग्रीव के वचन सुनकर वानर दौड़े और उन्हें बाँधकर सेना के चारों ओर घुमाया।

Verse 52.3

बहु प्रकार मारन कपि लागे। दीन पुकारत तदपि न त्यागे॥ जो हमार हर नासा काना। तेहि कोसलाधीस कै आना॥ ३ ॥

bahu prakāra mārana kapi lāge dīna pukārata tadapi na tyāge jo hamāra hara nāsā kānā tehi kosalādhīsa kai ānā

Translation

The monkeys began beating them in many ways, and though they cried out pitifully, they did not let them go. "Whoever cuts off our noses and ears, we adjure him by the Lord of Kosala!"

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

वानर उन्हें बहुत प्रकार से मारने लगे, वे दीन होकर पुकारते थे, फिर भी उन्होंने नहीं छोड़ा। (तब दूत पुकारे) "जो हमारे नाक-कान काटेगा, उसे कोसलाधीश की दुहाई है!"

Commentary

The spies appeal to Rama's own name, and it works. Maiming them this way would mirror Ravana's treatment of Hanuman.

Verse 52.4

सुनि लछिमन सब निकट बोलाए। दया लागि हँसि तुरत छोड़ाए॥ रावन कर दीजहु यह पाती। लछिमन बचन बाचु कुलघाती॥ ४ ॥

suni lachhimana saba nikaṭa bolāe dayā lāgi ham̐si turata chhoṛāe rāvana kara dījahu yaha pātī lachhimana bachana bāchu kulaghātī

Translation

Hearing this, Lakshman called them all over. Moved by pity, he laughed and had them released at once. "Give this letter into Ravana's hand; tell that destroyer of his own family to read Lakshman's words.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

यह सुनकर लक्ष्मण जी ने सबको पास बुलाया। उन्हें दया आई, और हँसकर उन्होंने तुरंत छुड़ा दिया। (और कहा) "यह पत्र रावण के हाथ में देना, और कहना कि हे कुलघाती! लक्ष्मण के वचन पढ़।

Verse 52.5

कहेहु मुखागर मूढ़ सन मम संदेसु उदार। सीता देइ मिलहु न त आवा कालु तुम्हार॥ ५२ ॥

kahehu mukhāgara mūṛha sana mama saṁdesu udāra sītā dei milahu na ta āvā kālu tumhāra

Translation

"And tell that fool my generous message by word of mouth: give back Sita and come to terms, or else your death has come."

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

"फिर उस मूर्ख से मेरा उदार संदेश मुँह से कहना कि सीता जी को लौटाकर मिल ले, नहीं तो तेरा काल आ गया।"

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