“One cannot speak this way without having been well-trained in the Rig Veda, memorized the Yajur Veda, and thoroughly understood the Sama Veda.” (Lord Rama speaking to Lakshmana about Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 3.28)

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नानृग्वेदविनीतस्य नायजुर्वेद्धारिणः।
नासामवेदविदुषश्शक्यमेवं विभाषितुम्

nānṛgvedavinītasya nāyajurveddhāriṇaḥ।
nāsāmavedaviduṣaśśakyamevaṃ vibhāṣitum

Any person can say anything. Any person can claim to be this or that. Any person can assign “savior” status to a particular individual, whether living currently or a well-known figure from the past, and ask others to follow in that path. They can persuade through kind words. They can attempt to frighten through dogmatic insistence, warning of future pain. If all else fails, they can apply force. They can compel others to follow a specific institution, justifying their actions in the name of religion.

An honest person takes a rational approach. If there were indeed a Supreme Person, a God, an Almighty, then we could expect certain responses from the other side. In the way that a certain tourist destination is breathtaking. In the way that people appreciate the shining sun in the beautiful, cloudless sky. In the way that they take pictures of the giant, open space revealed from the top of a mountainous area.

From the history presented in Vedic literature, such as the Ramayana and Puranas, we see a proof-of-concept in a particular meeting that took place in Kishkindha. One person noticed from high above. They saw two brothers approaching the area. At the direction of their leader, this person decided to descend from the mountain and have a meeting.

The two brothers were Rama and Lakshmana. The claim is that Rama is an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lakshmana is also an incarnation, but of a slightly different quality. Lakshmana is like the expansion of the original.

The person meeting the two brothers was Shri Hanuman, who was in a Vanara body. If Rama is indeed God, then the spontaneous response from Hanuman makes perfect sense. It would only follow that a person would be inclined in a certain way, in the manner of Hanuman, if they were so fortunate as to meet God face-to-face.

1. Spontaneous praise

To help understand the complexities and beauty of the Sanskrit language, imagine taking a basic sentence and removing the spaces. The punctuation marks are eliminated. Everything is bunched together, but with strict rules of pronunciation.

That is to say, the language can be perfectly decoded by knowing the rules. There is no such thing as “sight words” or the same word having different pronunciations. To simply decode what is written is difficult, though. There could be a negation and several conjunctions combined, with the beginning sounds changed due to the combinations.

An expert in the language can figure out what is being said by hearing. They can divide up the words and then decipher the individual meanings. Imagine, then, if a person could produce such words spontaneously. Without having to think too deeply. Everything flows naturally.

This is the way Hanuman reacted when he met Rama and Lakshmana. The buildup was different. There was so much apprehension that Hanuman decided to take on a disguise. He presented the form of a brahmana, knowing that high-class individuals are naturally respectful of that occupation.

Since he was meeting the real thing, genuine Divinity, it would only make sense that Hanuman would feel the need to praise. The words that came out of his mouth were so beautiful that Rama took notice immediately. He remarked as such to Lakshmana, saying that only a learned person could speak so beautifully, without hesitation and without fault.

2. Offering to help

This one might be a headscratcher. Given that we tend to view God as the ultimate order supplier, why would anyone be inclined to help? But that is exactly what happens in an interaction with Rama. His qualities are such that those close to Him feel impelled to follow. Lakshmana is also known as Ramanuja. He follows as the younger brother, but also out of affection and love.

अहमस्यावरो भ्राता गुणैर्दास्यमुपागतः
कृतज्ञस्य बहुज्ञस्य लक्ष्मणो नाम नामतः

ahamasyāvaro bhrātā guṇairdāsyamupāgataḥ
kṛtajñasya bahujñasya lakṣmaṇo nāma nāmataḥ

“I am His younger brother, Lakshmana by name. Due to His transcendental qualities, I have taken up service to Him, as He is grateful and very knowledgeable.” (Lakshmana speaking to Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 4.12)

After eventually giving up the false form of the brahmana, Hanuman explained what was going on. He offered to help Rama. Helping Rama find His missing wife Sita would also be beneficial to Sugriva, who was the leader of the Vanaras in Kishkindha.

3. Working without payment

We look for assistance when there is a need. We hire someone to watch the young children while we are at work. We call someone to deliver food. We book an appointment to have a driver bring us to the airport. We tell the waitress what we want to eat and wait for her to bring the food to our table.

These are service interactions, but there is typically an expectation of payment on the other end. Why would anyone want to work for free? There is nothing wrong with working and asking to be paid for that work.

The payment is an incentive for the service provider. So is the potential for a positive review. The greater the number of favorable reviews received, the more likely that person is to be hired by others, who are seeking similar services.

Hanuman went to work for Rama. He did so without expectation of payment. Hanuman lived in truth, in reality, while in the playing field, the truth of ahaituki and apratihata. Hanuman’s work was without motivation and without interruption. That work was equivalent with the single dharma, which never changes.

स वै पुंसां परो धर्मो
यतो भक्तिर् अधोक्षजे
अहैतुक्य् अप्रतिहता
ययात्मा सुप्रसीदति

sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhokṣaje
ahaituky apratihatā
yayātmā suprasīdati

“The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.2.6)

4. Feeling desperate to succeed

Because Rama is so wonderful, Hanuman was desperate to succeed. He wanted to find Sita Devi, no matter the obstacles in front of him. Hanuman was not looking for a favorable review. He was not expecting any gratuity. He was not looking to make a name for himself.

The connection to God was enough. Seeing Rama, knowing Him, understanding His qualities – these were sufficient for creating a fervent desire for success. God is so great that He needs nothing, but His devotees are so amazing that they will work in full consciousness of Him, for His benefit, no matter what He says.

5. Fondly reliving the encounter many years into the future

If we are to meet God in person, it should be a memorable interaction. We should be able to look back fondly on the time spent in association. Since the Supreme Lord is Absolute, such recollection is like immediately shifting both time and place.

Remembering Rama is like being with Him. It makes sense that Hanuman regularly recalls that interaction, which is kindly documented and immortalized in the Ramayana poem. For as long as Rama’s glories continue to be told on this earth, Hanuman is here.

In Closing:

From that interaction clear,
That God was here.

Immediately into praise,
When upon Rama to gaze.

For service assignment ready,
With perseverance steady.

With no payment to expect,
Hanuman later fondly to reflect.

Categories: the five

Tags: god, hanuman, hare krishna, lord rama, poem, poems, poetry