रावण-प्रहस्त-हनूमद्वार्ता (Ravana and Prahasta Question Hanuman)
सुन्दरकाण्ड
Sarga 50 stages a court interrogation in Laṅkā. Rāvaṇa, angered yet inwardly uncertain, scrutinizes the radiant ‘tawny-eyed’ Vānara standing before him and privately considers whether this figure could be a cursed-returned Nandī or another formidable being. He orders his minister Prahasta to question the captive about origin, motive, the destruction of the royal garden, and the intimidation of rākṣasī guards. Prahasta adopts a calibrated diplomatic tone, offering reassurance and conditional release if the truth is spoken, while raising possibilities of foreign intelligence work (Indra, Yama, Varuṇa, Kubera/Vaiśravaṇa, or even Viṣṇu’s prompting). Hanumān replies with deliberate clarity: he is not sent by those deities, claims no alliance with Kubera, and asserts his Vānara birth. He frames the garden’s destruction and combat as instrumental to gaining audience and as self-defense against attacking rākṣasas. He explains his binding as voluntary compliance with Brahmā’s boon and states his mission: he is the dūta (messenger) of the powerful Rāghava, delivering welfare-oriented counsel to the king.
Verse 5.50.1
तमुद्वीक्ष्य महाबाहुः पिङ्गाक्षं पुरत स्थितम्।कोपेन महताऽविष्टो रावणो लोकरावणः।।।।शङ्काहृतात्मा दध्यौ स कपीन्द्रं तेजसावृतम्।
Seeing the tawny-eyed lord of monkeys standing before him, the mighty-armed Rāvaṇa—terror to the worlds—was seized by great anger; yet, his mind troubled by doubt, he pondered the monkey-chief who was wrapped in splendour.
Verse 5.50.2
किमेष भगवान्नन्दी भवेत्साक्षादिहागतः।।।।येन शप्तोऽस्मि कैलासे मया सञ्चालिते पुरा।सोऽयं वानरमूर्तिस्स्यात्किंस्विद्बाणो महाऽसुरः।।।।
To behold the king, I accepted the binding of the astra; though the rākṣasas tormented me, the astra released me. On a matter of royal duty, I have come into your presence.
Verse 5.50.3
किमेष भगवान्नन्दी भवेत्साक्षादिहागतः।।5.50.2।।येन शप्तोऽस्मि कैलासे मया सञ्चालिते पुरा।सोऽयं वानरमूर्तिस्स्यात्किंस्विद्बाणो महाऽसुरः।।5.50.3।।
Know me as a messenger of Rāghava, whose power is immeasurable. And, O lord, listen also to these words of mine—words spoken for your good.
Verse 5.50.4
स राजा रोषताम्राक्षः प्रहस्तं मन्त्रिसत्तमम्।कालयुक्तमुवाचेदं वचोऽविपुलमर्थवत्।।।।
The king, his eyes reddened with anger, addressed Prahasta—foremost among ministers—with words that were timely, brief, and weighty in meaning.
Verse 5.50.5
दुरात्मा पृच्छ्यतामेष कुतः किं वात्र कारणम्।वनभङ्गे च कोऽस्यार्थो राक्षसीनां च तर्जने।।।।
Question this wicked one: from where has he come, and for what reason is he here? What was his purpose in wrecking the grove and threatening the rākṣasī women?
Verse 5.50.6
मत्पुरीमप्रधृष्यां वाऽगमने किं प्रयोजनम्।आयोधने वा किं कार्यं पृच्छयतामेष दुर्मतिः।।।।
Ask this ill-minded one: what purpose brought him into my inviolable city? And what aim did he have in taking up battle?
Verse 5.50.7
रावणस्य वचश्श्रुत्वा प्रहस्तो वाक्यमब्रवीत्।समाश्वसिहि भद्रं ते न भीः कार्या त्वया कपे।।।।
Hearing Rāvaṇa’s words, Prahasta spoke: “Be at ease; may good be upon you. O monkey, you need not fear.”
Verse 5.50.8
यदि तावत्त्वमिन्द्रेण प्रेषितो रावणालयम्।तत्त्वमाख्याहि मा भूत्ते भयं वानर मोक्ष्यसे।।।।
“If indeed you have been sent by Indra to Rāvaṇa’s abode, then speak the truth. Do not fear, O vānara—you will be released.”
Verse 5.50.9
यदि वैश्रवणस्य त्वं यमस्य वरुणस्य च।चाररूपमिदं कृत्वा प्रविष्टो नः पुरीमिमाम्।।5.50.9।।विष्णुना प्रेषितो वाऽपि दूतो विजयकाङ्क्षिणा।
“Or if you, assuming this spy-like guise, have entered our city as an agent of Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera), or of Yama, or of Varuṇa—or even as a messenger sent by Viṣṇu, seeking victory—say so.”
Verse 5.50.10
न हि ते वानरं तेजो रूपमात्रं तु वानरम्।।।।तत्त्वत: कथयस्वाद्य ततो वानर मोक्ष्यसे।
Your form is only that of a vanara, yet your splendour is not that of a vanara. Speak the truth today, exactly as it is—then, O vanara, you shall be released.
Verse 5.50.11
अनृतं वदतश्चापि दुर्लभं तव जीवितम्।।।।अथवा यन्निमित्तस्ते प्रवेशो रावणालये।
If you speak falsehood, your life will scarcely be spared. So tell: for what purpose have you entered the abode of Rāvaṇa?
Verse 5.50.12
एवमुक्तो हरिश्रेष्ठस्तदा रक्षोगणेश्वरम्।।।।अब्रवीन्नास्मि शक्रस्य यमस्य वरुणस्य वा।धनदेन न मे सख्यं विष्णुना नास्मि चोदितः।।।।जातिरेव मम त्वेषा वानरोऽहमिहागतः।
Could this be the venerable Nandin himself, come here in person? It was he who once cursed me on Kailāsa when I shook the mountain long ago. Has he taken a vanara form, or is this perhaps the great asura Bāṇa?
Verse 5.50.13
एवमुक्तो हरिश्रेष्ठस्तदा रक्षोगणेश्वरम्।।5.50.12।।अब्रवीन्नास्मि शक्रस्य यमस्य वरुणस्य वा।धनदेन न मे सख्यं विष्णुना नास्मि चोदितः।।5.50.13।।जातिरेव मम त्वेषा वानरोऽहमिहागतः।
Could this be the venerable Nandin himself, come here in person—he who once cursed me when I shook Kailāsa? Has he taken a vanara form, or is this perhaps the great asura Bāṇa?
Verse 5.50.14
दर्शने राक्षसेन्द्रस्य दुर्लभे तदिदं मया।।5.50.14।।वनं राक्षसराजस्य दर्शनार्थे विनाशितम्।
Thus addressed, the foremost of the vanaras said to the lord of the rākṣasa hosts: “I am not an envoy of Śakra, nor of Yama, nor of Varuṇa. I have no friendship with Dhanada (Kubera), and I have not been sent by Viṣṇu. This is simply my birth: I am a vanara, and I have come here.”
Verse 5.50.15
ततस्ते राक्षसाः प्राप्ता बलिनो युद्धकाङ्क्षिणः।रक्षणार्थं तु देहस्य प्रतियुद्धा मया रणे।।।।
Thus addressed, the foremost of the vānara spoke to the lord of the rākṣasa hosts: “I am not from Indra, nor from Yama, nor from Varuṇa; I have no alliance with Kubera (Dhanada), and Viṣṇu has not dispatched me. By birth I am a vānara, and I have come here.”
Verse 5.50.16
अस्त्रपाशैर्न शक्योऽहं बद्धुं देवासुरैरपि।।।।पितामहादेष वरो मामाप्येषोऽभ्युपागतः।
“Since an audience with the lord of the rākṣasas is hard to obtain, I destroyed the demon-king’s grove only to secure a sight of you.”
Verse 5.50.17
राजानं द्रष्टुकामेन मयास्त्रमनुवर्तितम्।।।।विमुक्तो ह्यहमस्त्रेण राक्षसैस्त्वभिपीडितः।केनचिद्राजकार्येण सम्प्राप्तोऽस्मि तवान्तिकम्।।।।
“Then those powerful rākṣasas came, eager to fight; and in battle I fought back only to protect my own body.”
Verse 5.50.18
राजानं द्रष्टुकामेन मयास्त्रमनुवर्तितम्।।5.50.17।।विमुक्तो ह्यहमस्त्रेण राक्षसैस्त्वभिपीडितः।केनचिद्राजकार्येण सम्प्राप्तोऽस्मि तवान्तिकम्।।5.50.18।।
“Even devas and asuras cannot bind me with the fetters of weapons. Such a boon—granted by the Grandfather, Brahmā—has come to me as well.”
Verse 5.50.19
दूतोऽहमिति विज्ञेयो राघवस्यामितौजसः।श्रूयतां चापि वचनं मम पथ्यमिदं प्रभो।।।।
“Wishing to see the king, I submitted to that weapon’s power. Though harassed by the rākṣasas, I was released by the astra; and on some royal business I have come into your presence.”