Bhakti Arohan
ॐ

Sundarkand — Doha 7

The Tongue among the Teeth

Doha 7: The Tongue among the Teeth

Vibhishana describes his life in Lanka; Hanuman assures him that Rama's grace does not depend on birth.

Verse 7.1

सुनहु पवनसुत रहनि हमारी। जिमि दसनन्हि महुँ जीभ बिचारी॥ तात कबहुँ मोहि जानि अनाथा। करिहहिं कृपा भानुकुल नाथा॥ १ ॥

sunahu pavanasuta rahani hamārī jimi dasananhi mahum̐ jībha bichārī tāta kabahum̐ mohi jāni anāthā karihahiṁ kṛipā bhānukula nāthā

Translation

"Listen, son of the wind, to how I live here: like the poor tongue among the teeth. Dear friend, will the Lord of the Solar race ever know me to be helpless and show me grace?

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

"हे पवनपुत्र! मेरी रहन-सहन सुनो। मैं यहाँ वैसे ही रहता हूँ जैसे दाँतों के बीच बेचारी जीभ। हे तात! क्या सूर्यकुल के स्वामी कभी मुझे अनाथ जानकर मुझ पर कृपा करेंगे?

Commentary

The image of the tongue among the teeth is a vivid picture of a good person surrounded by the violent: always at risk of being bitten, getting by only through constant care.

Verse 7.2

तामस तनु कछु साधन नाहीं। प्रीति न पद सरोज मन माहीं॥ अब मोहि भा भरोस हनुमंता। बिनु हरिकृपा मिलहिं नहिं संता॥ २ ॥

tāmasa tanu kachhu sādhana nāhīṁ prīti na pada saroja mana māhīṁ aba mohi bhā bharosa hanumaṁtā binu harikṛipā milahiṁ nahiṁ saṁtā

Translation

"With this dark, tamasic body I have no spiritual practice, and no love in my heart for his lotus feet. But now I have hope, Hanuman, for without Hari's grace one does not meet saints.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

"मेरा शरीर तामसी (राक्षस) है, मेरे पास कोई साधना नहीं, और मन में प्रभु के चरणकमलों में प्रेम भी नहीं है। पर हे हनुमान! अब मुझे भरोसा हो गया है, क्योंकि हरि की कृपा के बिना संत नहीं मिलते।

Commentary

"Binu harikripa milahin nahin santa" is another widely quoted line: meeting a holy person is itself a sign of God's grace. Vibhishana reasons that Hanuman's visit means Rama has already noticed him.

Verse 7.3

जौं रघुबीर अनुग्रह कीन्हा। तौ तुम्ह मोहि दरसु हठि दीन्हा॥ सुनहु बिभीषन प्रभु कै रीती। करहिं सदा सेवक पर प्रीति॥ ३ ॥

jauṁ raghubīra anugraha kīnhā tau tumha mohi darasu haṭhi dīnhā sunahu bibhīṣhana prabhu kai rītī karahiṁ sadā sevaka para prīti

Translation

"If Raghubir has shown me favour, that is why you have insisted on giving me your darshan." "Listen, Vibhishana, to the Lord's way: he always loves his servants.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

"यदि रघुवीर ने अनुग्रह किया है, तभी तो आपने आग्रह करके मुझे दर्शन दिए हैं।" (हनुमान जी बोले) "हे विभीषण! प्रभु की रीति सुनो। वे सेवक पर सदा प्रेम करते हैं।

Verse 7.4

कहहु कवन मैं परम कुलीना। कपि चंचल सबहीं बिधि हीना॥ प्रात लेइ जो नाम हमारा। तेहि दिन ताहि न मिलै अहारा॥ ४ ॥

kahahu kavana maiṁ parama kulīnā kapi chaṁchala sabahīṁ bidhi hīnā prāta lei jo nāma hamārā tehi dina tāhi na milai ahārā

Translation

"Tell me, what great family do I come from? A restless monkey, lacking in every way. If anyone speaks my name in the morning, he goes without food that day.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

"बताओ, मैं ही कौन बड़ा कुलीन हूँ? चंचल वानर हूँ और हर प्रकार से हीन हूँ। जो सवेरे हमारा नाम ले ले, उसे उस दिन भोजन नहीं मिलता।

Commentary

Hanuman answers Vibhishana's feeling of unworthiness by running himself down even further. It refers to an old folk belief that naming a monkey first thing in the morning is unlucky. The point is that Rama's love does not depend on birth or merit.

Verse 7.5

अस मैं अधम सखा सुनु मोहू पर रघुबीर। कीन्हीं कृपा सुमिरि गुन भरे बिलोचन नीर॥ ७ ॥

asa maiṁ adhama sakhā sunu mohū para raghubīra kīnhīṁ kṛipā sumiri guna bhare bilochana nīra

Translation

"Listen, friend: even to such a lowly one as me Raghubir has shown grace." Remembering the Lord's virtues, his eyes filled with tears.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

"हे सखा! सुनो, मुझ जैसे अधम पर भी रघुवीर ने कृपा की है।" प्रभु के गुणों का स्मरण करके उनकी आँखों में आँसू भर आए।

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