||Sri Ram Jeyram Jay Jay Ram ||

 

Chapter – 2 - Kishkindha Kandam

 Rama meets Sugriva/ Rama describes the characteristics of an ideal friendship 

Sugriva who immediately understood that he attained fruitfulness of life in the presence of supreme Lord Rama, he prostrated before the Prabhu.  Raghunatha and Lakshmana embraced Sugrivah, watching them Vanaramukhya thought “Will they keep friendship with me?” Hanuman described the current situations of both the parties and convinced them that their friendship would be most beneficial to both. They promised to remain as companion forever, before the pile of fire, in this way they have entered in a mutual agreement.  Lakshmana described all that happened to Rama in the woods to Sugrivah who shed tears of grief and spoke “Oh! Natha, do not worry, we will find out Devi Maithili.   Once, I was sitting on the hilltop and was  desperately having a discussion with my ministers, I saw helpless Devi Sita was taken away in a celestial vehicle through the skyway, she was shrieking out ‘Rama Rama’, and dropped a piece of cloth, that we have kept it safely.” Sugriva handed that piece of clothing to Rama was kept close to his heart and wept bitterly. Sugriva spoke “Oh! Raghuveera kindly leaves all your worries, I will do all the arrangements to locate Devi Sita.” Prabhu who symbolizes prowess was highly pleased to listen to his companion and enquired “Oh! Sugriva, why did you live in the woods? What was the reason for it?”

 

Sugriva spoke “Oh! Prabho, Bali and I are brothers, we were inseparable from each other, and we had great affection for each other.  Oh! Prabho, once, it was during the dark hours of night the demon Maya visited the Kingdom of Kishkindha and called out Bali for a battle with him. Bali could not control his rage, came out of the palace to fight against Maya, but he began to run away after seeing the might of Bali. I followed my brother, Maya rushed to a cave in the huge mountain and hid in it, Bali instructed me “I will be going inside to get caught of Maya, wait for me for fifteen days, if I did not return during that period of time, and consider I have met death, after that, you can leave this place.” Oh! Kharashathro, I have waited for a month for the return of my brother Bali. I have noticed a stream of blood from the mouth of the cave, I have assumed that my brother must have met death in the hands of Maya, and I will be his next prey, so I have closed the mouth of the cave with a huge rock and returned to Kishkindha. The ministers advised me to take up the regime, in the absence of the King. In the meantime, Bali who killed the demon Maya and returned to Kishkindha and found me seated on his throne, could not control his rage, he fought against me, treated me as his enemy, he took away all my possessions and even my wife. Oh! Raghuveera, Oh! Kripalu, after that incident I have been wandering all over the woods miserably.  Eventually, I took shelter in Mount Rishyamooka, Bali cannot enter into the woods of Rishyamooka due to a curse, even though I am living in extreme anxiousness and fear of him.” Rama could not control his anger listening to the pathetic story of Sugriva.

 

Rama spoke “Oh! Sugriva, listen to me, I am capable to kill Bali with a single shot of arrow, even if he takes shelter at the feet of Lord Bhrama or Lord Maheshwara, he could not save his life. Oh! Sugriva, I shall narrate the characteristics of an ideal friendship described in Veda, it is sinful to see a person who is not feeling sad for his friend’s struggle and miseries. 1) A good friend always consider his own troubles as equivalent to sand, and worries about his friend’s trouble as Mount Meru, if not, it is not a great friendship at all, it is for the namesake only 2) A good friend always guide his/her friend through good and righteous path 3) A good friend will not leave his/her friend in troubles or lead  in immoral ways 4) A good friend always appreciate the goodness in his friend, and ignore his/her mistakes 5) Good friends never argues on the things exchanges  in their lives 6) A good friend always loves his/her friend dearly during the hours of crisis, and remains most promising always. 7) The person who talks pleasantly before the face, but work against the wellness of everyone should be avoided 8) the person who keeps secrets within them, and watchful like the serpents and deceitful is not deserved to keep as a friend, should be abandoned. The dull-minded servant, King who does not like to spend, wicked wife, unfaithful Friends are like spears, they create miseries in life. Oh! Dear friend, do not worry or grieve over anything, I will do the necessary to remove your enemy.”

||Sri Ram Jeyram Jay Jay Ram ||

Chapter – 1 - Kishkindha Kandam

Rama meets  Hanuman in Mount Rishyamooka

Prarthana Shlokam

Kundhendhivara Sundaravathibalau Vignana Dhamavubhau  Shobhadyai Varadhanvinau Shruthinuthau Go Vipra Vrindapriyau | Maya Manusharoopinau Raghuvarau Sadhdharmavarmau Hithau Seethanveshana Thathparau Padhigathau Bhakthipradhau Thau Hi Na: ||

Bhramambodhi Samudbhavam Kalimala Pradhvamsanam  Cha Avyayam | Srimad Shambhu Mukhendhu Sundaravare Samshobhitham Sarvatha | Samsaramaya Bheshajam Sukhakaram Sri Janaki Jeevanam | Dhanyasthe  Krithina: Pibanthi Sathatham Sri Rama Namamritham ||

I shall meditate upon Rama and Lakshmana who was born in the illustrious clan of Raghu assumed the form of Mayamanushya, lustrous like blue lotus and jasmine flower, and extremely valorous, they are the storehouse of Vignana, has attractive physical features, skilled in the archery, eulogized by Veda and Vedanta, beloved of Go, and Bhramin, protectors of righteousness, benevolent, and most promising to all, conducted a rigorous search of Devi Sita, I shall earnestly pray to those Mayamanushya to provide us intense devotion and faith.

The ascetics, Rishis, Sages, and Sadhu who relentlessly contemplate upon the supreme Lord Rama, who is the essence of Veda, destroyer of Kalimala/impurities of Kali era, he is eternal, sparkles in the full moon-like face of Lord Shambhu, he is the supreme cure of miseries and sorrows of worldly existence, he is the provider of welfare and happiness, he is the life of Devi Janaki, the Sadhus who constantly meditate upon that Lord Rama are extremely fortunate ones.

Oh! Dull-minded mortals, why do not you take shelter in the sacred land of Kashi which is the dwelling place of Lord Shambhu and Devi Bhavani? It is the land of superior wisdom, land of Mukthi, storehouse of wisdom and it is Papanashini. Oh! Fools, why don’t you contemplate upon that supreme Lord Shambhu who consumed the toxic poison and protected the Universe and its living beings, Oh! Mortals, there is no deity benevolent than Lord Shankara.

Raghuram moved to the woods of Mount Rishyamooka, where Sugrivah and the chief of Vanaras/Kapeendra along with his ministers and army lived. Sugriva alarmed watching the two mighty young and attractive youths, spoke to Hanuman “ Oh! Hanuman, listen to me, those two charming youths are the storehouse of courage and loveliness, you assume the form of a Vatu, and approach them, try to find out their intention to visit Rishyamooka, and inform me in gestures. If they are the men of wicked Vali, then I have to leave this wood immediately.”

Hanuman assumed the form of a Bhramin youth and approached Rama and Lakshmana, prostrated before them, and spoke “ Oh! Swami, I could see two Kshatriyas, one has the complexion of dark clouds and another one is fair, who are you? I guess you are walking all the way to woods with your soft and supple feet, what is the purpose of your visit to this dense forest? You both have an attractive physique, why are you walking all over the forest in the harsh climate of extreme heat and rough breeze? Are you Nara Narayana or two among the trinities/Thrimoorthi? Hanuman immersed in meditation and realized the presence of the supreme Lord.  You are Jagathkarana, you are the supreme cause of Universe and its living beings, you are the Prabhu of the Universe,  are you incarnated on the Earth to reduce her burden and become the bridge to cross the unfathomable ocean of worldly existence?”

Rama spoke “Oh! Bhramin, we are the sons of Dhasharatha Maharaja of King of Kosala, I have followed the instructions of my father Dhasharatha, and arrived in the woods. We are brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, we had a beautiful girl with us, Vidheharajaputhri, who was abducted by a demon in the Chitrakoot. Oh! Bhramin, we are searching for her, Oh! Vipra who are you?” Hanuman recognized Prabhu and prostrated before him and got hold of his feet.

Lord Mahadeva speaks “Oh! Uma, it is difficult to describe the joy of Hanuman. He could not speak a word, he stared at the Prabhu who is attired in a strange garment of saffron robes, and he regained consciousness and eulogized Rama in supreme bliss, “Oh! Prabho, I have questioned you that are very normal, how could you question me? Oh! Prabho, I was wielded in your Maya, that was the reason I have enquired your whereabouts, I could not recognize you. Prabho, I am a dull-minded, an ordinary Vanara, and an ignorant as well. Oh! Dheenabandhu, have you forgotten me? Prabho, I have various inappropriate qualities in me, Oh! Prabho I am your sincere servant, you should not forget me. Oh! Prabho, Jeeva forget your nature due to your Maya, it can attain Mukthi only with the grace of you. Oh! Raghuveera, I promise you, I do not know meditation or contemplation upon you, or any method of austerities or vows to please you, a sincere servant always depends on his Master, like the infant depends on its mother, therefore a servant and an infant never gets anxious or agitated. Oh! Prabho, you are my Master, it is your duty to protect me.” Hanuman repeatedly prostrated before Prabhu, his heart drenched in love for Rama and Lakshman, and once again he assumed his real form of Vanara and stood before them with folded hands.

Raghupathi raised Hanuman from his feet, embraced him with tears, and spoke “Oh! Hanuman, listen to me, you are beloved of mine; you are beloved than Lakshman, everyone says I am impartial to them. Oh! Hanuman, my devotees are special to me, they are most beloved of me because my devotees are entirely dependent upon me, has no one to protect other than me. Oh! Hanuman, whoever worships me as a sincere servant of mine, and meditate upon me as the Lord of living and non-living things, and constantly contemplate me with intense faith and devotion, are my sincere devotees.” Hanuman highly pleased, and forgot his grief and spoke “Oh! Prabho,  Sugraivah resides on the top of the hill of Rishyamooka, he is your servant, Oh! Prabho, kindly meet him and have a friendship with him. Kindly consider him as your refuge, and protect him. He will do all that needed to locate Devi Sita. He will send thousands and crores of his army of Vanaras to different directions in search of Devi Sita.” Thus, Hanuman convinced Rama and Lakshman to visit the Mount Rishyamooka, and graciously carried them on his shoulders and took them to top of the hill of Rishyamooka.