யஸ்ய ஸ்ரீ ஹனுமான் அனுக்ரஹ பலாத்…

யஸ்ய ஸ்ரீ ஹனுமான் அனுக்ரஹ பலாத் (16 min audio in tamil. same as the script below)

ஜானகி காந்த ஸ்மரணம்… ஜய ஜய ராம ராம…

In the first Sarga (chapter) of Sundara Kandam, Hanuman is about to fly across the ocean into the sky. At that moment, he recites a Shlokam.

**यथा राघवनिर्मुक्तः शरः श्वसनविक्रमः। गच्छेत्तद्वद्गमिष्यामि लङ्कां रावणपालिताम्।। 5.1.40।।**
*(yathā rāghavanirmuktaḥ śaraḥ śvassanavikramaḥ | gacchettadvadgamiṣyāmi laṅkāṃ rāvaṇapālitām ||)*

“Just like an arrow released by Raghava (Rama) travels with the speed of wind and reaches its target, so will I go to Lanka ruled by Ravana.”

This Shlokam is very special. All the Vanaras were on the seashore. A female ascetic and yogini named Svayamprabha, through her spiritual power, brought them out from inside a cave. They realized that the spring season had already arrived. Angada, the leader of the Vanaras who came to the South, was worried and said, “If we go back now, Sugriva will punish us, as he ordered us to return within a month.” He decided to give up his life and performed *Prayopavesha* (fasting unto death).

At that time, a vulture named Sampati saw them from the mountain. It thought to itself, “Aha! Look how Bhagavan provides food! I am unable to fly as I have no wings. He has brought some people here who say they are going to give up their lives. One will last for three months; another for six months. My food is sorted!”

Seeing the vulture standing there, Angada felt even more dejected. “What is this? As soon as we said we are giving up our lives, a vulture has arrived to eat us,” he lamented. He added, “That day, for the sake of Rama, the vulture Jatayu gave up his life! Today, we Vanaras are going to give up our lives. One can do anything for Rama’s cause, even give up one’s life. Rama is that great!” Hearing this, Sampati asked, “Aha! What? Did Jatayu give up his life for Rama? Who is Rama? How did he die? Jatayu is my brother! Please tell me in detail.”

Angada answered, but he had no faith. He thought the vulture was just making conversation before eating them. Yet, he thought, “Let me tell him anyway, we are going to die. If the vulture eats us, let it eat,” and he narrated the story with partial faith. They were not close friends. Even then, Swamigal says that telling the Rama Katha (Rama’s story) brings auspiciousness to both. He tells the story:

“Rama, the son of King Dasaratha, came to the forest. Ravana killed Jatayu and abducted his wife, Seeta Devi. We have come searching for Seeta.” Hearing this, Sampati said, “Aha! That Jatayu is my brother,” and shared his own history. Then Sampati said, “I will look from here and tell you. We vultures have far-reaching vision.” He said, “One hundred yojanas across the ocean, there is an island called Lanka. Seeta is there.” As soon as he said this, his wings grew back, and the Vanaras found their way. They got a clue as to where Seeta was, and Sampati’s wings regrew. Swamigal says that whether one has faith or not, whether one is good or bad, telling the Rama Katha will only bring auspiciousness (*kshemam*).

Yesterday, I went to the Aradhana of Sivan Sar. There, they performed a two-hour drama based on his life and the experiences of those who knew him. It was very good and a must-watch. Let’s see if they share it on YouTube. The characters were Lakshminarayanan, Suppuni, Chandramouli, Sivaraman, Gowri, Ramanan, etc. They didn’t act directly; others played their characters. Sundarakumar was a character, and our Swamigal was a character. They did it very well. The characterization of Mahaperiyava was very realistic. Those who have devotion to Sivan Sar will like it very much.

In that, when Sundarakumar prostrated to Sar for the first time and was asked, “What are you doing?”, he replied, “I am doing Ramayana and Bhagavata Pravachanam (discourses). It should go well. I want to do many discourses. Please bless me.” Sar apparently said, “No matter who tells the Ramayana or Bhagavatam, it will always be good.” I took this as a message for myself.

Thus, by telling the Ramayana, they both found a way. Sampati’s wings grew, and he flew away. Now, all the Vanaras sat down and worried, “Who can cross the hundred-yojana ocean?” Each said, “I can do ten yojanas,” “I can do twenty.” Jambavan said, “Previously, I could cross a hundred yojanas, but now I am old, I can only do ninety.” Angada said, “I can cross a hundred yojanas, but I don’t know if I can cross back and return.” Then Jambavan said, “You are the son of Vali; you can cross even a thousand yojanas. However, you are the leader of this army. Therefore, you should not be sent. It is not right to send the leader ahead while the followers sit behind.”

Again, Angada worried, “What to do now?”

Then Jambavan said, “I know who can do this task. Let us go and encourage that Hanuman sitting quietly over there. He doesn’t know his own strength. If we tell him, he will remember.” All of them went and sang praises (*Stotram*) of Hanuman. At this point, where the Vanaras praise Hanuman and he grows to the size of the sky, Swamigal would recite the *Hanumath Pancharatnam* once.

**Hanumath Pancharatnam (Audio link to Hanumath Pancharatnam)**

After saying it, he would say, “If we pray to Hanuman, as we keep doing more and more Stotrams, he will grow big and grant many blessings. *Adhikasya adhikam phalam* (more effort yields more results). Therefore, chant the Hanumath Pancharatnam 108 times. Then Hanuman will grow large and bless us immensely.” In that way, as they chanted the Hanumath Pancharatnam and praised him, Hanuman grew.

Jambavan described his greatness: “You are the son of Vayu! Your hands have as much strength as the wings of Garuda. You can travel in the sky like Vayu. You must do this task for us. All our lives are now in your hands. O Hanuman, do this.” Jambavan encouraged him, saying, “We will all stand on one leg and pray to all the deities for you.” Hanuman said, “Yes! I can do it. Now I realize it!” He added, “I will climb this Mahendra Mountain and leap into the sky. If I leap from this ground, an earthquake might occur. Therefore, I will climb the mountain and jump.” As he was about to jump from the mountain into the sky, he recited this “Yatha Raghava nirmuktah” Shlokam.

The first Shlokam of Sundara Kandam is:
**ततो रावणनीतायाः सीतायाः शत्रुकर्शनः। इयेष पदमन्வேष्टुं चारणाचरिते पथि।।**
*(tato rāvaṇanītāyāḥ sītāyāḥ śatrukarśanaḥ | iyeṣa padamanveṣṭuṃ cāraṇācarite pathi ||)*

“Then, the destroyer of enemies (Hanuman) prepared to search for the path taken by Seeta, who was carried away by Ravana, through the path frequented by the Charanas (celestial singers).” Thus, Hanuman gets ready.

This 40th Shlokam “Yatha Raghava nirmuktah sharah”—just like an arrow released from Rama’s hand goes without stopping, with great valor and the speed of wind, and reaches its target, in the same way, I will go through the sky and land in Lanka. I will find where Seeta is and return. If she is not there, I will search the three worlds and find her. I will tie up Ravana and drag him here. Making such a vow, he leaps into the sky.

The Shlokam he recited was:
**यथा राघवनिर्मुक्तः शरः श्वसनविक्रमः। गच्छेत्तद्वद्गमिष्यामि लङ्कां रावणपालिताम्।।**
*(yathā rāghavanirmuktaḥ śaraḥ śvassanavikramaḥ | gacchettadvadgamiṣyāmi laṅkāṃ rāvaṇapālitām ||)*

The specialty here is that Hanuman did not think he was doing anything by himself. That is why he was able to perform such extraordinary tasks. Can an arrow move by itself? It can only go if someone shoots it. Thus, saying “I will go like Rama’s arrow” means “Nimitta-matram bhava Savyasachin,” as Krishna told Arjuna—”You are just a tool in my hand. I am conducting everything. You don’t need to worry so much. Do your work, your duty.” In the same way, at the beginning of Kishkindha Kandam, when Hanuman prostrated to Rama and saw Him, he surrendered himself. Being a *Ramadhoota* (messenger of Rama), he performs incredible tasks. He roars, “Na Ravana sahasram me yuddhe pratibalam bhavet”—even a thousand Ravanas cannot stand against me in battle. I am *Ramadasan* (the servant of Rama). From where did he get such strength? It came from the thought, “I have no strength of my own. I will do all this by Rama’s strength.” He thinks, “I am like an arrow in Rama’s hand.”

Saying this, he starts into the sky. The words “I will go without stopping” were not just for show. On the way, a golden mountain called Mainaka rises from the sea. The King of the Ocean tells Mainaka, “Hanuman is going on Rama’s work. We must help him. You come out. Let him sit on you, eat, and give him fruits. Let him eat and then go.”

Immediately, Mainaka Mountain comes up and tells Hanuman, “O Hanuman! You are very dear to me because your father, Vayu Bhagavan, saved my wings by pushing me into this ocean when Indra was cutting off the wings of mountains. Therefore, the gratitude shown to the father can be shown to the son. So, rest on me and then go. I will give you fruits and roots to eat.” Swamigal would quote, “Water water everywhere not a drop to drink,” about the ocean. While traveling in the middle of such an ocean, because he is doing Rama’s work, Hanuman gets food. This means that for those who read Sundara Kandam, there is no worry about food. Somehow, food will be provided from somewhere.

When offered, Hanuman says, “I have given my word to my friends that I will go to Lanka without stopping and search for Seeta. Therefore, I cannot stop now. You say you are my father’s friend, so I am very happy to see you.” He embraced the mountain, offered his respects, and continued on his way. Then he encounters Surasa, the mother of Nagas, and kills Simhika, who catches shadows, before finally landing in Lanka.

Because Mainaka Mountain intended to do even a small bit (*yat-kinchit*) of help for Rama’s cause, it received a great benefit. Indra comes there and says, “Because you came to help Hanuman while he was on Rama’s work, you no longer need to fear me. I will not cut your wings. But do not go and sit on the land, as people will suffer. Therefore, go anywhere within this ocean. You don’t have to hide under the sea in fear always. Roam peacefully over the sea.” Swamigal says, “Even if we are immersed in the ocean of worldly pleasures, if we do even a small bit of help for Rama’s cause, we will receive great protection (Abhayam).”

Hanuman leaves for the sky, giving his word to his friends that just like Rama’s arrow travels with wind-speed without stopping to reach its target, he will reach Lanka and find Seeta.

Swamigal mentioned the “Eka Shloka Sundara Kandam” (Sundara Kandam in one verse). There is a Shlokam composed by Sri Raghavendra Swamy—whose Brindavanam is also in Triplicane. The essence of that Shlokam is the same: that it was only through Rama’s grace that Hanuman was able to complete all these great tasks.

**यस्य श्री हनुमान् अनुग्रह बलात् तीर्णांबुधिर्लीलया लङ्कां प्राप्य निशाम्य रामदयितां भङ्क्त्वा वनं राक्षसान् |**
**अक्षादीन् विनिहत्य वीक्ष्य दशकम् दघ्द्वा पुरीं तां पुन: तीर्णाब्धि: कपिभिर्युतो यमनमத் तं रामचन्द्रं भजे ||**
*(yasya śrī hanumān anugraha balāt tīrṇāṃbudhirlīlayā laṅkāṃ prāpya niśāmya rāmadayitāṃ bhaṅktvā vanaṃ rākṣasān | akṣādīn vinihatya vīkṣya daśakam dagdhvā purīṃ tāṃ punaḥ tīrṇābdhiḥ kapibhiryuto yamanamat taṃ rāmacandraṃ bhaje ||)*

“Through whose grace Sri Hanuman crossed the ocean as a play, reached Lanka, saw Rama’s beloved Seeta Devi, gave her solace, destroyed the Ashoka forest of Ravana, killed Rakshasas like Aksha, saw the ten-headed Ravana, gave him good advice, and when Ravana didn’t listen and set fire to Hanuman’s tail, burnt Lanka with that very fire, crossed the ocean again, returned with the Vanaras and bowed to that Rama—I worship that Ramachandra.” Through whose grace he started from here, performed all these tasks with valor, returned to bow to Rama with the Vanaras, and made Rama happy by giving Seeta Devi’s Chudamani—I worship that Rama. It is a very beautiful Shlokam ending with “Tam Ramachandram bhaje.”

I heard just yesterday that Swamigal told someone to recite this Shlokam 21 times a day for 48 days to complete 1008 recitations. Because I heard that Swamigal gave such importance to this Shlokam, I shared it with you all today.

Word-by-Word Meaning

This verse is unique because it follows the exact chronological order of the Sundara Kandam. By reciting it, you are mentally performing a Parayanam (complete reading) of the entire book.

**Janaki Kantha Smaranam… Jaya Jaya Rama Rama…**