Each verse of the Hanuman Chalisa Meaning narrates an aspect of Hanuman’s divine qualities.
Hanuman Chalisa Chaupai 8 in English with Meaning & Analysis
Hanuman Chalisa Chaupai 8 Other People’s Stories
प्रभभु चरित्र
सुनिबे को रसिया ।
राम लखन
सीता मन बसिया ॥
Prabhu charitra
sunibe ko rasiya.
Ram Lakhan
Sita man basiya.
Ram’s stories
you enjoy listening.
Ram, Lakshman
Sita as well, always reside in your heart.
Hanuman Chalisa Chaupai 8 Meaning in English
For Hindus, one of the ways to expand our mind, and discover the divine within, is by listening (shravana) to stories of the divine. Puranic stories are containers (patra) of Vedic wisdom (atma-gyan). Stories are of different types: memoirs (itihasa), chronicles (purana), epics (maha-kavya), narratives (akhyana), glories (mahatmya), biographies (charitra), songs (gita), prose-poetry (champu). Hanuman nourishes himself intellectually and emotionally by listening to stories of Ram, as we learn from this verse.
Traditionally, in gatherings where Ram’s story is read out, one seat is always left vacant. Hanuman is described as rasika, one who enjoys the aesthetic juices (rasa) of Ram’s tale. As per Hindu aesthetics, a good story is like good food. It needs to have multiple flavours that stir the senses and arouse emotions, for only then can it incept thoughts that can help expand the mind.
In folk tradition, Hanuman grows up listening to stories of Ram narrated by his mother. How is that possible? How can Hanuman hear stories of events that he himself participated in? In the Hindu worldview, the world goes through cycles of re-birth and re-death, just like any other living creature. In each of its lifetimes (kalpa), the world has four phases, like all living creatures: childhood, youth, maturity and old age.
These are the four yugas, identified as Krita, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali. The Ramayana takes place in Treta Yuga. Since the world has gone through infinite lifetimes, and in each kalpa there has been a Ramayana, everyone in every age knows the story of Ram. Anjana narrates to Hanuman stories of Ram from an earlier kalpa.
Hanuman is so excited to hear the story of Ram that he desires to meet Ram. And so he goes to the city of Ayodhya where he learns that Ram, the prince, is craving for a pet. Hanuman lets himself be captured by the soldiers who gift him to the prince. That way Hanuman becomes Ram’s pet and also spends his childhood as Ram’s companion. Thus, in local oral traditions,Hanuman is with Ram throughout his life, not just after Sita’s abduction as narrated in various Sanskrit and regional texts.
In the Valmiki Ramayana, when Ram and Sugriv meet for the first time, they exchange stories. Ram tells him his tragedy, how Ravana abducted his wife. Sugriv tells him his tragedy, how Vali usurped his kingdom. Hanuman realizes that Ram’s story has a solution for Sugriv’s problem, and Sugriv’s story has a solution for Ram’s problem. If Ram helps Sugriv get his kingdom, Sugriv will help Ram find his wife. Listening to each other’s stories reveals mutual benefit. Had stories not been shared, neither would the problem be understood nor would a solution have been found.
To see the other is to hear their stories. Brahma, the creator of all living organisms, and his children, such as Indra, are not worshipped because they do not care for other people’s stories; they are consumed by their own. In exasperation, Shiva beheads Brahma, which is why Shiva is called Kapalika. Shiva has learned the importance of storytelling from Shakti. Together they establish their relationship by telling each other stories, stories that are overheard by birds and fish and shared with the rest of the world.
Vishnu hears the stories of Brahma’s children, and nudges them to hear the stories of those around them. But reciprocity is not easy. By listening to Sugriv’s story, Ram not only understands his problem, he also understands Sugriv’s personality. He realizes that Sugriv sees him as an ally but has doubts. So Ram shoots a single arrow through seven trees, earning Sugriv’s admiration and trust.
Ram also realizes that after getting his kingdom, Sugriv will forget his end of the bargain, not because he is a cheat, but simply because he is so consumed by what he wants from others, that he is unable to see what others want from him. Still, he gives Sugriv the benefit of the doubt and helps him overpower Vali.
When Sugriv hears Ram’s story, he sees a prince in distress and a potential ally in his fight against Vali. He sees what value Ram brings to him; he does not see Ram for what Ram is. By contrast, just by hearing Ram’s story, Hanuman realizes that Ram is no ordinary human: his story has no villains, or victims, or heroes, just hungry and frightened humans seeking meaning. Hanuman recognizes Ram as the embodiment of divine potential, of atma, of dharma, all that is referred to in the Vedas, all that was taught to him by Surya.
Hanuman does Ram’s darshan each time he hears Ram’s story. He wants to participate in it, even as a minor character, for he relishes the idea of being part of Ram’s story. One day, he narrated the story of Ramayana to his mother: how the monkeys and he built the bridge to Lanka, fought the rakshasas, killed Ravana and reunited Sita with Ram.
Anjana was not impressed, for she felt her son was not living up to his potential. ‘You could have just swung your tail and defeated the demons and rescued Sita without this whole charade of building a bridge and fighting a war. Why didn’t you?’ she asked. Hanuman replied, ‘Because Ram did not ask me to.’ Hanuman knew the Ramayana was Ram’s story, not his. He did not want to control or appropriate or overshadow Ram’s story. It was about Ram, not him.
It is significant that the very first narrator of the Ramayana is Hanuman himself: he describes Ram to Sugriv, he tells the story of Ram’s adventures to Sita when he meets her in Lanka and does the same when he meets Bharat in Ayodhya. Later, he writes the first biography of Ram known as Hanuman Nataka, but destroys it so that Valmiki gets the credit of writing the first epic on Ram.
In stories, Hanuman observes Ram’s relationship with Lakshman and Sita, and realizes how Ram’s brother and Ram’s wife complete him, and how he completes them. When Hanuman places all three of them in his heart, he is essentially placing in his heart the idea of relationship: that the self is incomplete without the other; that the self exists in an ecosystem of others.
That is why in Hindu temples, no deity is placed alone: the deity always has a spouse, or a child, or a companion, or an attendant. Even Hanuman, who has no relatives, is not placed alone; we know that in his heart is present his master, who in turn is accompanied by his brother and his wife.
This value placed on relationship between the self and the other is key to Hindu stories. Most mythologies, ideologies and philosophies around the world can be broadly classified into two categories: individualistic and collectivist. Individualistic mythologies value the one over the group. Collectivist mythologies value the group over the one. Greek and Taoist.
ways, for example, are individualistic; Abrahamic and Confucian ways are collectivist. One can even classify Shaivite mythologies as individualistic and Vaishnavite mythologies as collectivist. However, that is not quite accurate. Hindu mythologies are best understood in terms of relationship: Shiva’s relationship with Shakti and Vishnu’s relationship with Lakshmi.
Instead of the binary of the individual and the group, Hinduism focuses on the relationship between two individuals (the dyad). Shiva tends to withdraw from the other; Vishnu engages with the other. When we relish the stories of the gods as Hanuman does, we see the gods truly, and recognize their presence or absence in us, just like Hanuman.
Hanuman Chalisa Chaupai 8 Analysis in English
prabhu charitra sunibe ko rasiya
rama lakhana sita mana basiya ll8ll
You crave to hear about the Lord,
Rama, Lakshmana, Mother Sita dwell in you. (8)
Before the vanara army left in search for Sita, Rama met each one of them. This news that Rama wanted to meet them came as a complete surprise to the vanaras who were used to a king who hardly looked at them and treated them as commodity. As the army lined up to meet Rama one by one, there was an air of excitement. The vanaras kept peeping ahead to see the heart-warming exchanges between Rama and their own kith and kin from their ranks.
His patting them, encouraging them, and thanking them was so heart touching. They had never seen any leader do anything as kind as this. Their desire to go till the end of the earth to serve Rama’s goal intensified. For each monkey who stood facing Rama, it was a life melting experience. The most sublime feeling in their life. Rama respectfully looked into their eyes and expressed his gratitude for taking so much risk and putting in so much effort to find his beloved Sita. For the few moments they spent with Rama, they felt they could surrender their entire life in serving him.
But while Rama interacted with them, his eyes searched for someone else. At the end of the long winding queue stood Hanuman. Rama’s face visibly relaxed as soon as he saw Hanuman. Rama continued meeting all the monkeys while patiently waiting for Hanuman’s turn. Finally, when Hanuman was in front of Rama, Rama decided to test him. He first asked him where he had disappeared to all this while. Hanuman rather than replying to that question, immediately fell at the feet of Rama and held them tightly.
Holding his shoulders, Rama tried to pick him up, but Hanuman held on tightly to his feet. Rama was surprised at this odd behaviour. Hanuman then said, “My dear Lord, let me remain in this position forever. As long as my hands are at your feet, your hands will be on my shoulders. As long as I take shelter of you, you will continue to empower me. The moment I leave your feet, you will leave my shoulders. Your touch and blessings are the source of my strength and abilities. All my life I have been waiting to serve my eternal master and finally, I have the opportunity.”
Rama was in a light mood and he said, “You are talking about blessings. But you have come so late, right at the end, I have no blessings left to offer you. Since all my blessings are exhausted, what can I offer you now?” Hanuman replied in an instant, taking the liberty of being a tad cheeky, “You may have given away the big things you have, my Lord, but you definitely still possess a small but powerful blessing.
To some, you may have given knowledge of the scriptures as blessing, to others you may have given wisdom or guidance or power or fame or even wealth, but I am not looking at such big things as blessings. I am only interested in the smallest thing in your possession. Please give me that as a blessing and I will be truly happy.”
Rama was utterly confused at the puzzling request. He wanted to test Hanuman but the tables had turned and it was Hanuman testing him now. He asked him, “What is it that I haven’t given away yet as a blessing? What is the smallest thing I have?” Hanuman was thrilled to have confused the Lord. The look of confusion on the Lord’s face was priceless.
Hanuman continued speaking with a smile on his face, “My dear Lord, when you had met Lord Parashuram, you had told him that the smallest thing in your possession was your name Rama. I want that. Please give me your name as a gift and blessing. Though it’s small, but that little word contains the strength of the entire universe in it.”
Rama was deeply touched. Hanuman’s devotion and his wisdom were very special. He had managed to create a deep impact in the heart of the Lord. With tears in his eyes, Lord Rama embraced Hanuman. The deal was done. From that moment onwards, Hanuman owned Rama’s name. With great relish, he would chant the holy name of Lord Rama and would listen to it chanted by anyone else with equal relish.
He never lost a chance to chant and hear Rama naam and Rama katha with great relish, prabhu charitra sunibe ko rasiya From Hanuman, we learn to establish the presence of God in our hearts. Our hearts are filled with darkness, because we have not given permission to light to enter. Light can also enter through windows. The Lord can enter through our ears if we engage in hearing about Him
Hanuman was always interested in listening to the Ramayana, and in this way, the Divine is always established in his own heart. Hanuman’s great qualities were his Wisdom, Strength, and Devotion, which resided firmly in his heart as Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita. Much later, when Rama became the king of Ayodhya, something really interesting happened.
Seeing the Lord settled and living happily in the company of Mother Sita, Lord Shiva and Parvati decided to pay a visit to Ayodhya. Once the welcome formalities were completed, Mother Sita invited the visiting couple for lunch.
While everyone had assembled for lunch, Lord Shiva noticed that Hanuman was missing. He asked Rama his whereabouts. With a smile Rama told him to check in the gardens. Surely Hanuman would be there. Lord Shiva’s eagerness to see Hanuman far exceeded his desire to eat the meal.
He and Parvati stepped out into the garden to find Hanuman. There they heard a very unique sound that sounded like someone snoring. As they walked towards the source of the sound, they were amazed to see that it was Hanuman, sleeping peacefully under a mango tree, oblivious to the world, and snoring away.
But what amazed them most was the sound of the snore. For from the snore emanated the holy name of Rama. Rama’s name was so much ingrained in Hanuman’s psyche and consciousness that even his snore was emanating Rama naam.
While Shiva’s gaze was fixed on Hanuman, Parvati pointed out towards the tree under which Hanuman was resting. Something magical was happening there. Every leaf on that tree was swaying in sync with the vibrations of the holy name of Rama. Lord Shiva saw this as the most divine sankirtan of the holy names of His worshipable Lord Rama.
In great happiness, he himself began to dance, chanting the names of Rama. Seeing her husband enter an ecstatic trance, Parvati also joined in the singing and dancing. With the divine couple dancing enthusiastically and chanting the names of Rama, the gandharvas, kinnaras, and apsaras from the heavenly realms also joined in, filling the atmosphere with divine music and singing.
Back at the palace, Sita was anxious her guests hadn’t returned from the garden. She sent Lakshmana to get them back for lunch. Lakshmana quickly walked into the garden to see the enthusiastic surprise that was in store for him. The mood in the garden was so festive and surcharged with devotion that Lakshmana couldn’t resist participating in the dancing and singing of the holy names.
When Lakshmana did not return, Sita sent Bharata and then Shatrughana but neither of them returned with the guests. They had all joined in the kirtan festival! Exasperated, Sita herself went to look for them, along with Rama. When she walked into the garden, she was totally fascinated to see the dancing and singing festival going on in full swing. In the midst of all this hullabaloo, Hanuman was blissfully sleeping under the mango tree and Rama’s names was vibrating from his sweet snoring.
Sita and Rama were overwhelmed by his devotion. Walking up to Hanuman, Rama gently sat beside him and touched his head with great love. As soon as Rama touched him, Hanuman woke up. Lord Shiva, who was so inspired with Hanuman’s devotion, glorified him endlessly. Hanuman became red with embarrassment, being glorified in front of his master. Sensing his discomfort, Sita invited everyone for lunch.
As soon as everyone was seated, Sita began to serve lunch. She noticed that, as usual, Hanuman was not sitting but had busied himself with some service. Today, she forced him to sit along with the guests. Initially, Hanuman was embarrassed to be sitting along with Rama for lunch. He always preferred to eat the remnants of Rama’s food. But once he began eating, he got so enthusiastic that he gobbled down crazy quantities of food. Nothing seemed to satisfy him. No matter how much Sita served, he kept eating more and more.
He kept looking for more and more food. Everyone was surprised at Hanuman’s appetite. Then Sita realized how she could quench Hanuman’s insatiable hunger. She placed a tulasi leaf with the name of Rama written on it. As soon as Hanuman ate the leaf, his hunger vanished miraculously. Lord Shiva and Parvati were so amazed and pleased with Hanuman’s devotion.
They blessed him with a boon that his devotion for Rama would be glorified across centuries, that the devotees of Lord Rama would know him as Sankat Mochan or the destroyer of troubles and that his love for Rama’s holy names and Rama’s pastimes would grow unlimitedly, prabhu charitra surtibe ko rasiya
After Sita and Rama’s coronation ceremony, they called upon all those great personalities who had sacrificed so much for their sake. Each one was given valuable gifts as significant tokens of appreciation for their timely help. Though they felt that nothing could be considered worthy enough a gift to those who had assisted them in the time of their greatest need. When it came to Hanuman, both Sita and Rama were at a loss for words as well as ideas for what would be a suitable gift. They owed their lives to him. When his name was called, Hanuman walked ahead looking very indifferent.
Sita and Rama began to describe in great details about how Hanuman had entered into both their lives as a saviour. They glorified his intelligence, sensitivity, expertise, determination, strength, and compassion. The citizens of Ayodhya were astounded at the way their king and queen were glorifying a vanara.
They hadn’t heard any past king glorify their subjects in such an elaborate way. After speaking at length, Sita wanted to offer him some gift. She stood up and did something uncharacteristic of a queen. She removed a beautiful diamond necklace from her own neck and held it out for Hanuman. There was pin drop silence in the court. That act meant a lot!
Hanuman took the necklace from her hand. He turned it around and looked at it from all directions. There was something missing. He turned it around yet again to be doubly sure. Again it was missing. Now he held the big diamond that was hanging in the centre and plucked it off. There was a big gasp in the courtroom. Hanuman had just destroyed the queen’s gift.
He was now turning around the diamond and suddenly took it to his mouth and placed it between his teeth. With great strength he bit into it and it cracked into two. He observed the two halves and then discarded them carelessly. Then he began to break apart every stone in that necklace, observe carefully, and throw it away with disappointment. Finally he threw the complete necklace onto the floor. It was of no use to him.
This monkey-like behaviour had outraged the entire courtroom. Voices were rising. People began to question Hanuman’s disrespectful act vociferously. How could he be so arrogant to dismantle a royal gift and that too in front of the royal couple in a full courtroom? In explanation to all the questions being raised, Hanuman simply said that he was only looking for Rama and Sita in the gems.
Since he could not find them inside or outside in any of the stones, he threw away the necklace. Giggles could be heard from different quarters. The monkey was trying to find Rama and Sita inside the diamonds. While many were giggling, some began to pass sarcastic comments to chide Hanuman. One of them said, “If Hanuman was looking for Rama Sita everywhere, he should first be looking to see if they exist in his own heart. There was no point in looking for them everywhere else, if they didn’t exist in his own heart.”
The next moment, screams were heard all over the courtroom. Blood had spilled everywhere. Hanuman stood in the middle of the court with his chest tom, exposing his heart. Inside there was an effulgent and beautiful image of Sita and Rama. They were eternally enshrined within Hanuman’s heart forever. Not only did they reside in his heart but he too resided in their hearts,rama lakhana sita mana basiya One day Rama and Sita had a friendly argument as to which of them got greater devotion from Hanuman.
They asked him outright but smart Hanuman managed to get out of the sticky situation by saying that he was devoted to both of them equally. Sita promptly asked him to get a glass of water since she was dying of thirst. Rama immediately countered by feigning to faint due to heat and begged Hanuman to fan him. They both waited expectantly to find out which request would be attended to first. But Hanuman expanded both his arms and fetched water with one hand and fanned Rama with the other. This pacified both his divine masters.