Ślōkas from Kiṣkindhā Kānḍa, Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa
Brief background of how
Hanumān met with Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa for the first time:
Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa enter Kiṣkindhā forest enroute Lanka in search of Sītā. Sugrīva who has been banished by his brother Vāli, is hiding in Kiṣkindhā and he spots the Rāma / Lakṣmaṇa duo. Sugrīva mistakes them to be spies or
agents of Vāli and sends Hanumān to find out their credentials.
Hanumān on first
sight recognizes the divinity in the two and talks to them endearingly from the
word go. Post his pleasant enquiries, Lord Rāma sums up his thoughts of Hanumān
in the following beautiful ślōkas. Read on -
न अन् ऋग्वेद विनीतस्य न अऽऽयजुर्वेद धारिणः ।
न अऽऽसाम वेद विदुषः शक्यं एवं विभाषितुम् ॥ ४-३-२८ ॥
Na an r̥gvēda
vinītasya na a̕̕yajurvēda dhāriṇaḥ |
na a̕̕sāma vēda
viduṣaḥ śakyaṁ ēvaṁ vibhāṣitum || 4-3-28 ||
न (na) = not; अन् ऋग्वेद विनीतस्य (an r̥gvēda vinītasya) = non, R̥g Vēda,
knower of; न
(na) = not; अऽऽयजुर्वेद धारिणः (a̕̕yajurvēda dhāriṇaḥ) = non, Yajur Vēda,
remembering; na = not; न अऽऽसाम वेद विदुषः (na a̕̕sāma vēda viduṣaḥ) = non, Sāma Vēda,
scholar; शक्यं (śakyaṁ) = possible; एवं विभाषितुम् (ēvaṁ vibhāṣitum) = this way, truly, to speak.
"One who is not
well versed/ proficient in R̥k, Yajur or Sāma Vēda would not be able to speak
in such a remarkable manner.” [4-3-28]
Lord Rāma thereby
acknowledges that the knowledge level of Hanumān is of a high order and that
his eloquence is thereby brilliant.
नूनं व्याकरणं कृत्स्नं अनेन बहुधा श्रुतम् ।
बहु व्याहरता अनेन न किंचित् अप शब्दितम् ॥ ४-३-२९ ॥
Nūnaṁ
vyākaraṇaṁ kr̥tsnaṁ anēna bahudhā śrutam |
bahu vyāharatā
anēna na kin̄cit apa śabditam ||4-3-29 ||
नूनं (Nūnaṁ) = definitely; अनेन (anēna) = by him; व्याकरणं कृत्स्नं (vyākaraṇaṁ kr̥tsnaṁ) = grammar,
comprehensively; बहुधा श्रुतम् (bahudhā śrutam) = severally, heard
[learnt]; बहु व्याहरता अनेन(bahu vyāharatā anēna) = much, said, by
him; न किंचित् (na kin̄cit) = not, a single word; अप शब्दितम् (apa śabditam) = amiss, verbiage.
"It is certain
that he has detailed and comprehensive knowledge of grammar and though he has
spoken quite a bit, not a single word in his language is amiss.” [4-3-29]
Hanumān’s diction
and speech delivery is meticulous and flawless!
न मुखे नेत्रयोः च अपि ललाटे च भ्रुवोः तथा ।
अन्येषु अपि च सर्वेषु दोषः संविदितः क्वचित् ॥ ४-३-३० ॥
Na mukhē
nētrayōḥ ca api lalāṭē ca bhruvōḥ tathā |
an'yēṣu api ca
sarvēṣu dōṣaḥ sanviditaḥ kvacit || 4-3-30 ||
मुखे नेत्रयोः च अपि (mukhē nētrayōḥ ca(vā) api) = on face, in
eyes, or even; ललाटे (lalāṭē) = on forehead; तथा भ्रुवोः (tathā bhruvōḥ) = like that, on eyebrows; अन्येषु अपि च (an'yēṣu api ca) = other parts [of face,] even, also; सर्वेषु क्वचित् दोषः न संविदितः (sarvēṣu kvacit dōṣaḥ na sanviditaḥ) = in all [faculties,]
at the least, fault, is not, found.
"On his face or
eyes, or on forehead or brows, or on other faculties of expression no fault is
found...even at the least... [4-3-30]
Hanumān is perfect
in expression and body language!
अविस्तरं असंदिग्धं अविलम्बितं अव्यथम् ।
उरः स्थं कण्ठगं वाक्यं वर्तते मध्यमे स्वरम् ॥ ४-३-३१ ॥
Avistaraṁ
asandigdhaṁ avilambitaṁ avyatham |
uraḥ sthaṁ
kaṇṭhagaṁ vākyaṁ vartatē madhyamē svaram || 4-3-31||
वाक्यं (vākyaṁ) = [his] sentence; अविस्तरं (avistaraṁ) = un expanded; असंदिग्धं (asandigdhaṁ)
= not doubtful; अविलम्बितं(avilambitaṁ) = non delaying; अव्यथम् (avyatham) = non dissonant; उरः स्थं कण्ठगं (uraḥ sthaṁ kaṇṭhagaṁ) = seated in chest,
in throat; वर्तते मध्यमे स्वरम् (vartatē madhyamē svaram) = comports,
[speech,] in medium, tone.
"Crisp,
unequivocal, timely and harmonious is the tenor of his speech, and it springs
forth from his chest and throat in a balanced tone!” [4-3-31]
Hanumān’s voice is mellifluous;
intonation and tonal quality is supreme. Makes one long to hear him speak!
(More... Kannada Version follows)