Chapter 20 - The Incarnation of Hanūmat and his story

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Nandīśvara said:—

1. O sage, henceforth listen lovingly to the story of Hanūmat, how Śiva performed excellent sports in that form.

2. Out of love, Lord Śiva rendered great help to Rāma. O brahmin, listen to the whole of that story which is pleasing to all.

3. Once lord Śiva of wonderful sports saw Viṣṇu in the form of an enchantress with glittering qualities.

4. As if hit by the arrows of Cupid, Śiva let fall his semen dislodged from its seat, for Rāma’s work.

5. Eagerly urged by him mentally for Rāma’s work, the seven celestial sages retained that semen in a leaf.

6. For Rāma’s work that semen was poured through the ears of Añjanī, the daughter of Gautama, by those sages.

7. In due course Śiva was born of it in the form of a monkey named Hanūmat. He had great strength and exploit.

8. Even as a child the lord of monkeys, Hanūmat was very powerful. Early in the morning he took the disc of the sun for a small fruit and wanted to eat it.

9. At the request of the gods he left it. Knowing him to be an incarnation of Śiva of great power the gods and the sages granted him boons.

10. Highly delighted he approached his mother and eagerly told her everything in detail.

11. At her behest the bold monkey went to the sun every day and learnt all lore from the sun without any strain.

12. The excellent monkey, a part of Śiva approached Sugrīva, a part of the sun, at his behest, after getting the permission of his mother.

13. Sugrīva who had been exiled by his elder brother Bālī who enjoyed his (Sugrīva’s) wife, stayed on the mountain Ṛṣyamūka^[1] long with Hanūmat.

14. The intelligent monkey born of a part of Śiva became Sugrīva’s minister and did everything beneficial to him in every respect.

15. He made him enter into a pleasing alliance with Rāma who came there along with his brother and who was sad because his wife had been abducted by Rāvaṇa.

16. Rāma slew the powerful monkey Bālī who was a sinner as he enjoyed his brother’s wife and who professed to He a great hero.

17. Then at the behest of Rāma, O dear, the intelligent and leading monkey Hanūmat went out in search of Sītā along with many monkeys.

18. On knowing that she was in Laṅkā. the leading monkey quickly jumped across the ocean, never before crossed by any and reached Laṅkā.^[2]

19. There he performed wonderful exploits and handed over the excellent token of recognition of his lord Rāma to Sītā.

20. Narrating the endeavours of Rāma for the protection of her life, the heroic leader of monkeys dispelled the sorrow of Sītā.

21. Taking a token from her he turned back to go towards Rāma. On the way he broke Rāvaṇa’s park and killed many Rākṣasas.

22. At the same time he killed Rāvaṇa’s son also along with many Rākṣasas. That fearless monkey of great exploits wrought a havoc there.

23-24. O sage, when the powerful Rāvaṇa bound him with oil-dripping cloths and set fire to them, the monkey, a part of Śiva himself, jumped about and making that a pretext burnt the city of Laṅkā.

25. After burning Laṅkā except the mansion of Bibhīṣaṇa, the heroic leader of monkeys jumped into the ocean.

26. Thereby extinguishing the fire from his tail he reached the other shore. Not at all tired or grieved the monkey born of a part of Śiva approached Rāma.

27. The rapid and excellent monkey Hanūmat reached Rāma’s side without delay and handed over the crest-jewel of Sītā.

28. At his behest, the powerful hero, gathered many mountains through the hosts of monkeys and built a bridge in the ocean.

29. At the time when he was about to cross the ocean, Rāma installed a phallic image of Śiva and worshipped it with a desire to be victorious.

30. Securing his boon of victory, he crossed the ocean, surrounded Laṅkā with the monkeys and fought against the Rākṣasas.

31. The heroic Hanūmat slew many Asuras and pro tected Rāma’s army. He enlivened Lakṣmaṇa by the medicinal herb Sañjīvanī^[3] when he was wounded by Meghanāda’s javelin.

32. The lordly son of Śiva made Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa happy in every respect. He protected the entire army.

33. The untiring monkey destroyed Rāvaṇa, his family and his followers. The monkey, the storehouse of great strength made the gods happy.

34. He slew the demon Mahīrāvaṇa and brought Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa from his place to their own after guarding them well.

35. The leading monkey quickly carried out the tasks of Rāma by all means, made the Asuras bow down and submit and performed various sports.

36. Himself a leader of devotees, he made Sītā and Rāma happy. He, the lord of monkeys, established the cult of devotion to Rāma in the world.

37. Indeed he was the Incarnation of Śiva the lord and uplifter of devotees. He was the life-saviour of Lakṣmaṇa and the destroyer of the arrogance of all Daityas.

38. He was the heroic Hanūmat who carried the tasks of Rāma always. In the world he is called Rāma’s messenger. He is favourably disposed to his devotees. He is the slayer of Daityas.

39. Thus O dear, the excellent story of Hanūmat has been narrated to you. It is conducive to wealth, fame and longevity. It yields the fruits of all desires.

40. He who listens to this or narrates this with devotion and purity of mind enjoys all desires here and attains liberation hereafter.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ṛṣyamūkagiri, associated with the life of Rāma, is placed in the south about three miles from Vijayanagara.

[2]:

The identification of Laṅkā is controversial. According to the present context, Laṅkā, the capital of Rāvaṇa, lay to the south of Ṛṣyamūka in the island of Ceylon surrounded by the sea.

[3]:

It was a medicinal herb that healed the injured and restored the unconscious to life.