The golden city of Lanka radiated under the night sky, stunning yet immersed in darkness. It was the home of many demons, yet within its depths, a noble soul awaited its divine fate.
A Thought in Shri Hanuman’s Heart
चौपाई:
लंका निसिचर निकर निवासा। इहाँ कहाँ सज्जन कर बासा॥
मन महुँ तरक करैं कपि लागा। तेहीं समय बिभीषनु जागा॥१॥
Roman:
Lankā nisi-char nikar nivāsā, ihā̃ kahā̃ sajjan kar bāsā।
Man mahũ tarak karaĩ kapi lāgā, tehĩ samay Bibhīṣan jāgā॥1॥
Hanuman ji thought to himself, “How could there be a saintly soul in a city ruled by demons?” But as these thoughts crossed his mind, the quiet night broke. Vibhishan had just awakened.
The Meeting of Two Devotees
चौपाई:
राम राम तेहिं सुमिरन कीन्हा। हृदयँ हरष कपि सज्जन चीन्हा॥
एहि सन हठि करिहउँ पहिचानी। साधु ते होइ न कारज हानी॥२॥
Roman:
Rām Rām tehĩ sumiran kīnhā, hridayã haraṣ kapi sajjan chīnhā।
Ehi san haṭh karihũ pahichānī, sādhū te hoi na kāraj hānī॥2॥
Hearing Vibhishan softly chant “Ram, Ram,” Hanuman’s heart leapt in joy. “Here lives a devotee of the Lord!” he thought. “Meeting such a soul will bring only good fortune.”
Disguising himself as a Brahmin, Hanuman approached.
चौपाई:
बिप्र रूप धरि बचन सुनाए। सुनत बिभीषन उठि तहँ आए॥
करि प्रनाम पूँछी कुसलाई। बिप्र कहहु निज कथा बुझाई॥३॥
Roman:
Bipr rūp dhari bachan sunāe, sunat Bibhīṣan uṭhi tahã āe।
Kari pranām pū̃chī kusalāī, bipr kahahu nij kathā bujhāī॥3॥
Vibhishan came forward respectfully, bowed, and said, “O learned one, please tell me who you are.”
Recognizing Divine Connection
चौपाई:
की तुम्ह हरि दासन्ह महँ कोई। मोरें हृदय प्रीति अति होई॥
की तुम्ह रामु दीन अनुरागी। आयहु मोहि करन बड़भागी॥४॥
Roman:
Kī tumh Hari dāsan mahĩ koī, morẽ hridaya prīti ati hoī।
Kī tumh Rām dīn anurāgī, āyahu mohi karan baṛbhāgī॥4॥
Vibhishan’s heart overflowed with affection. “Are you one of Lord Hari’s devotees?” he asked eagerly. “Or perhaps Lord Ram Himself, the friend of the humble, has come to bless me!”
Hearing this pure devotion, Hanuman revealed his true self and told him all about Lord Ram.
दोहा:
तब हनुमंत कही सब राम कथा निज नाम।
सुनत जुगल तन पुलक मन मगन सुमिरि गुन ग्राम॥६॥
Roman:
Tab Hanumant kahī sab Rām kathā nij nām।
Sunat jugal tan pulak man magan sumiri gun grām॥6॥
The two devotees trembled with emotion as Hanuman narrated Shri Ram’s story. Their hearts merged in blissful remembrance of the Lord’s virtues.
The Voice of a Lonely Devotee
Vibhishan’s gentle eyes reflected both peace and pain.
चौपाई:
सुनहु पवनसुत रहनि हमारी। जिमि दसनन्हि महुँ जीभ बिचारी॥
तात कबहुँ मोहि जानि अनाथा। करिहहिं कृपा भानुकुल नाथा॥१॥
Roman:
Sunahu Pavan-sut rahani hamārī, jimi dasananh mahũ jībh bichārī।
Tāt kabahũ mohi jāni anāthā, karihahĩ kripā Bhānu-kul nāthā॥1॥
“Listen, O Son of the Wind,” said Vibhishan. “I live here like a tongue among teeth, forever in danger. Will Lord Ram ever look upon me with mercy?”
He sighed deeply.
चौपाई:
तामस तनु कछु साधन नाहीं। प्रीत न पद सरोज मन माहीं॥
अब मोहि भा भरोस हनुमंता। बिनु हरिकृपा मिलहिं नहिं संता॥२॥
Roman:
Tāmas tanu kachu sādhana nāhī̃, prīt na pad saroja man māhī̃।
Ab mohi bhā bharos Hanumantā, binu Hari kripā milẽ nahĩ santā॥2॥
“My demonic birth offers no merit, nor is my mind steady in devotion. Yet meeting you proves one truth, saints are met only through God’s grace.”
Hanuman’s Humility
Hanuman smiled with folded hands.
चौपाई:
कहहु कवन मैं परम कुलीना। कपि चंचल सबहीं बिधि हीना॥
प्रात लेइ जो नाम हमारा। तेहि दिन ताहि न मिलै अहारा॥४॥
Roman:
Kahahu kavan maĩ param kulīnā, kapi chanchal sabhī̃ bidhi hīnā।
Prāt leī jo nām hamārā, tehi din tāhi na milai ahārā॥4॥
“Who am I to deserve your praise? I am but a monkey, restless, mischievous, and low-born. Those who even utter our name in the morning are said to go hungry that day.”
Both laughed softly, yet their eyes were moist with divine emotion.
दोहा:
अस मैं अधम सखा सुनु मोहू पर रघुबीर।
कीन्हीं कृपा सुमिरि गुन भरे बिलोचन नीर॥७॥
Roman:
As maĩ adham sakhā sunu mohū par Raghubīr।
Kīnhī̃ kripā sumiri gun bhare bilochan nīr॥7॥
“Even to such a wretch as me,” Hanuman said, “Lord Raghuveer has shown mercy.” Tears filled his eyes as he remembered his beloved Lord.
The Way to Sita Mata
Vibhishan then described the path to Ashok Vatika, where Sita Mata stayed captive.
चौपाई:
पुनि सब कथा बिभीषन कही। जेहि बिधि जनकसुता तहँ रही॥
तब हनुमंत कहा सुनु भ्राता। देखी चहउँ जानकी माता॥२॥
Roman:
Puni sab kathā Bibhīṣan kahī, jehi bidhi Janak-sutā tahã rahī।
Tab Hanumant kahā sunu bhrātā, dekhi chahaũ Jānaki mātā॥2॥
“Brother,” said Hanuman, “I long to see Mother Janaki.”
चौपाई:
जुगुति बिभीषन सकल सुनाई। चलेउ पवन सुत बिदा कराई॥
करि सोइ रूप गयउ पुनि तहवाँ। बन असोक सीता रह जहवाँ॥३॥
Roman:
Juguti Bibhīṣan sakal sunāī, chaleu Pavan-sut bidā karāī।
Kari soi rūp gayau puni tahavā̃, ban Ashok Sītā rah jahavā̃॥3॥
After hearing the details, Hanuman ji took his leave and assumed a tiny form once again, flying toward the Ashok grove.
The Sorrow of Sita Mata
चौपाई:
देखि मनहि महुँ कीन्ह प्रनामा। बैठेहिं बीति जात निसि जामा॥
कृस तनु सीस जटा एक बेनी। जपति हृदयँ रघुपति गुन श्रेनी॥४॥
Roman:
Dekhi manahi mahũ kīnh pranāmā, baiṭhehĩ bīti jāt nisi jāmā।
Kris tanu sīs jaṭā ek benī, japati hridayã Raghupati gun shrenī॥4॥
Hidden among the trees, Hanuman saw Her, frail, pale, yet radiant in faith. Sita ji sat beneath the Ashok tree, eyes lowered, whispering the name of Ram again and again.
दोहा:
निज पद नयन दिएँ मन राम पद कमल लीन।
परम दुखी भा पवनसुत देखि जानकी दीन॥८॥
Roman:
Nij pad nayan diyẽ man Rām pad kamal līn।
Param dukhī bhā Pavan-sut dekhi Jānaki dīn॥8॥
Her eyes rested upon Her feet, but Her heart was merged in the Lord’s lotus feet. Seeing Her sorrow, Hanuman’s eyes filled with tears. “Mother,” he whispered in his heart, “Your pain will soon end.”
The Essence of This Episode
This meeting between Hanuman ji and Vibhishan is not just a story. It is a revelation. Vibhishan represents the soul yearning for liberation amidst the world’s darkness. Hanuman represents divine grace that seeks out such souls. And Mata Sita represents unwavering faith even in the harshest trials.
When grace, devotion, and faith meet, the impossible becomes possible.
