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 Hanuman assumes the form of a Brahmin and walks towards the two. As he does so, he finds that his heart finds itself inexplicably attracted to them. He is drawn to them without any reason. His eyes are fixed on them. In an elaborate soliloquy, he mutters to himself
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'How even tigers and pards,' he thought within himself, 'look on them with tenderness, even as they would on their won cubs! Peacocks and other birds fly in groups and shade the delicate bodies of these strangers from the hot rays of the sun with their great wings; clouds cool them with their little rain drops, marching over them as they walk on. The burning stones on their way become soft and cool as honey-dripping flowers fall to their feet at every step. Even trees and plants worship them, bending down their heads when they come near. Are they Dharma's self? Are these beings gods indeed who wipe off the sorrows of living kind and give them salvation, burning way the inevitable fruits of their deeds?
My very bones melt, the flood gates of love are opened within my heart and I see no limit or end to the affection that surges within me towards them.'
(Kamba Ramayana - tr. by Sri VVS Aiyar) .
While his soul thus melts by a sudden surge of love for them, his mind keeps working. He looks for evidences and derive logical corollary. He shows an extraordinary brilliance and sense of judgement. And he zeroes in.
They look worried and depressed. But I am able to see that they are not easily overcome by grief. If they are depressed now, there must be something wrong. From the way their eyes keep scanning both the sides,
('iru marunginum nedithu thuruvugindranar') it is deducible that they have lost something very dear to them. They are sifting through this forest for that prized possession that they have lost. They do not have any other intention.
Let your wisdom be awake
 This trait in Hanuman, to remain steadfast even when emotions run a riot, shows him in an entirely different shade from Sugriva. Sugriva was overcome by fear and was blinded. He hastily concluded that these young warriors ARE the hirelings of Vali and issues incomplete orders, before running for safety. Hanuman was also overcome by an equally strong emotion, love, which had all the potential of silencing reason. However, this was an inexplicable feeling. He did not - at that moment - have any information on these two warriors to support his feeling of love. More over, he was supposed to do certain things that are to be based on logic and reasoning rather than love-for-no-reason.
Keep your cool. Allow the brain to remain uncoloured by the dictates of the heart. The judgement of the heart may or may not be right. Even when it turns out to be right, look for evidences before you come to any conclusion. That is the first message Hanuman gives to all deputies in similar circumstances. And that is not all. He surprises the reader when he meets Rama and Lakshmana. The way he gets the information that was needed and the way he handles delicate situations are to be learnt by any deputy, why, any secretary who is carrying out the orders of his or her boss, whose conscience he or she is supposed to keep.
(To be continued)
Hari Krishnan
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