Gems from Sunderkand - 04/07 by Swami Aparajitananda given at Chinmaya Mission Chicago-Yamunotri.

Hari Om !!
Gems from Sunderkand - 04/07 by Swami Aparajitananda given at Chinmaya Mission Chicago-Yamunotri.

Hari Om!
In this talk, Pujya Swamiji revisits the essence of his previous discourses, offering profound insights into the concept of surrender. He emphasizes that a true devotee, like Hanumanji (जिमि अमोघ रघुपति कर् बान, एहि भाँति चलेउ हनुमन), never experiences defeat. When a devotee genuinely surrenders, they become one with the Lord, raising the question: How can the power of Bhagavan defeat Bhagavan?
Through his captivating narrative, Swamiji invites us to visualise the episode of Hanumanji in Ravana's majestic court. From his lofty throne, Ravana poses three significant questions to Hanumanji:
1. Who are you?
2. Do you know who I am?
3. Why did you destroy Ashok Vatika?
In response to the first question, Hanumanji humbly identifies himself not by his own glory but as the servant of Rama. Swamiji beautifully recites and explains Hanumanji's glorification of the Lord:
सुनु रावन ब्रह्मांड निकाया।पाइ जासु बल बिरचति माया॥
जाकें बल बिरंचि हरि ईसा।पालत सृजत हरत दससीसा॥
जा बल सीस धरत सहसानन।अंडकोस समेत गिरि कानन॥
धरइ जो बिबिध देह सुरत्राता।तुम्ह से सठन्ह सिखावनु दाता॥
हर कोदंड कठिन जेहिं भंजा।तेहि समेत नृप दल मद गंजा॥
खर दूषन त्रिसिरा अरु बाली।बधे सकल अतुलित बलसाली॥

जाके बल लवलेस तें जितेहु चराचर झारि,तास दूत मैं जा करि हरि आनेहु प्रिय नारि।
जानउँ मैं तुम्हारि प्रभुताई।सहसबाहु सन परी लराई॥
When answering the second question, Hanumanji holds up a mirror to Ravana, reminding him of his past defeats:
समर बालि सन करि जसु पावा।सुनि कपि बचन बिहसि बिहरावा॥
In a humorous manner, he addresses the third question about eating fruits and the destruction of Ashok Vatika.
खायउँ फल प्रभु लागी भूँखा।कपि सुभाव तें तोरेउँ रूखा॥
सब कें देह परम प्रिय स्वामी।मारहिं मोहि कुमारग गामी॥

Following this exchange, Hanumanji offers Ravana some loving advice:
जाकें डर अति काल डेराई।जो सुर असुर चराचर खाई।
तासों बयरु कबहुँ नहिं कीजै।मोरे कहें जानकी दीजै॥
He reassures Ravana that surrendering to the Lord need not invoke fear or shame:
प्रनतपाल रघुनायक करुना सिंधु खरारि, गएँ सरन प्रभु राखिहैं तव अपराध बिसारि।
Further advice by Hanumanji
राम चरन पंकज उर धरहू।लंका अचल राजु तुम्ह करहू॥
रिषि पुलस्ति जसु बिमल मयंका।तेहि ससि महुँ जनि होहु कलंका॥

He also warns Ravana of the consequences of ignoring his advice:
सुनु दसकंठ कहउँ पन रोपी।बिमुख राम त्राता नहिं कोपी।
संकर सहस बिष्नु अज तोही।सकहिं न राखि राम कर द्रोही॥

Hanumanji definins Ravana’s problem, which seems to be our problem too
मोहमूल बहु सूल प्रद त्यागहु तम अभिमान,भजहु राम रघुनायक कृपा सिंधु भगवान।
While explaining this verse Pujya Swamiji draws the parlance between this verse and shloka 5th of Chapter 15 of Bhagvad Gita. Pujya Swamiji explains how Tulasi Ramayan also exalt the same truth that Upanishd is teaching.
Swamiji provides a step-by-step explanation of how ego—our identification with the body—downgrades us from our true nature and leads us to become overwhelmed by external factors, beings, and situations.
The way ignorant person response to the advice from the wise, in the same way Ravana responses to Hanumanji’s advice.
जदपि कही कपि अति हित बानी।भगति बिबेक बिरति नय सानी॥
बोला बिहसि महा अभिमानी।मिला हमहि कपि गुर बड़ ग्यानी॥
मृत्यु निकट आई खल तोही।लागेसि अधम सिखावन मोही॥
उलटा होइहि कह हनुमाना।मतिभ्रम तोर प्रगट मैं जाना॥
At this point Ravana wanted to kill Hanumanji but Vibhishana intervenes.
Ravana devises a cruel punishment for Hanumanji-
कपि कें ममता पूँछ पर सबहि कहउँ समुझाइ,तेल बोरि पट बाँधि पुनि पावक देहु लगाइ।
The tail burning dramatic event will be explored in the next lecture.