Amazing is Her Karuna!

“Hey Monkey!” She blurted in angst.

He was shocked!

Different names had been used over the years to describe his qualities – he was Vayuputra, AnjaneyA, SankatamochanA, Dheera, DaityakulAntaka, HanumAn, the Nava-vyAkarana-Pandita, master of the 9 grammars – and here was someone he revered as his Mother, addressing him by such a lowly name!

Yet, respectful as ever, Hanuman paused to let Mother Seeta finish what She was saying.

पापानां वl शुभानां वl वधार्हाणां प्लवङ्गम
कार्यं कारुण्यं आर्येण न कश्चिन् नापराध्यति

pApAnAM vA shubhAnAM vA vadhArhANAM plava~Ngama ||
kAryaM kAruNyamAryeNa na kashchinnAparAdhyati |

Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda, 113-46

"Hey Monkey! Whether someone is a sinner or a virtuous person or even a person who deserves death, the noble person will show mercy on them, for, there is none who never commits a wrong."

Why did Mother Seeta call Hanuman a monkey?

They were in the Ashoka vana after the Rama-Ravana yuddha was over.

Ravana had been killed, and Hanuman had come to give Her the good news. She was thrilled and wanted to reward him, but right then, had nothing to give.

Understanding Her dilemma, Hanuman said there was one thing She could grant him – permission to destroy the rakshasis who had been torturing Her day in and out for all these months.

It was in reply to this request that Mother Seeta chastised Hanuman with that pejorative term ‘monkey’, for wanting to punish the rakshasis. She went on to explain Her stance:

“The rakshasis were only obeying the instructions of their king Ravana. Now, when Vibhishana becomes king and orders them to show me respect, they will act accordingly. Why punish them for obeying orders? The truly noble person is the one who shows karuna or compassion on all – whether a virtuous person or a sinner or even someone who has acted in a manner that deserves death as punishment.”

“There is no one who has never committed a wrong!” She proclaimed.

Hanuman was intrigued. “What wrong have you committed, Mother? Or Lord Rama?” he asked.

“When I had Lord Rama with me, I desired the golden deer – that was my mistake. Then I spoke harsh and undeserving words to Lakshmana – that was also my mistake. Lord Rama should have known the golden deer was a ploy, and yet He went chasing it, giving in to my request, that was His mistake!”

“Even you Hanuman, for all your devotion, have also committed a wrong,”

Again, Hanuman was shocked. What now?

“You have stood here with me, talking about the wrongs done by all, that is your flaw!” She smiled.

Thus, with a patient firmness, Mother Seeta, the very epitome of karuna or compassion, gave the entire world an ideal to live up to.

Could we try to practice even an iota of such kindness in our lives?