Hanuman’s Test of Wisdom…
Jai Hanuman, ocean of wisdom and virtue, Jai Kapis, illuminator of the three worlds… Hanuman Ji is not only immensely powerful but is also a treasure house of wisdom and knowledge. It was through this very intelligence and devotion that Hanuman earned Lord Rama’s eternal grace and devotion. In fact, Lord Rama had to grant him that devotion—but for this, Hanuman too had to use his extraordinary intelligence. Today, we are going to tell you one such lesser-known story connected to Hanuman Ji’s wisdom.
This story belongs to the time after Lord Rama’s coronation, when everyone returned to their respective kingdoms. Some became princes, some kings, while others settled in hermitages. But Hanuman Ji did not leave Ayodhya.
Lord Rama noticed that Hanuman simply refused to leave Ayodhya. Since Rama himself could not directly ask Hanuman to go, one night he sought the help of Mother Sita. During the late hours, he said to her, “Hanuman has done so much for me and has served me tirelessly. Why not grant him a kingdom or an official position? It would be appropriate. Tomorrow, please speak to Hanuman, so that after being relieved of my service, he may leave from here.”
Hearing this, Sita Ji immediately replied, “Arya, please do not assign me such a task. Nor would I ever wish to do it. I can never ask Hanuman to leave Ayodhya.”
Then, in a playful yet deeply meaningful tone, Sita said something profound to Rama: “Perhaps in your lineage it is customary to send sons to the forest without any fault, my Lord—but not in mine. Therefore, I shall never say such a thing.” Hearing this taunt, Lord Rama quietly went to sleep.
The next morning, Rama met Bharata, who at that time was overseeing much of Ayodhya’s administration. Rama told him, “Quickly find some honorable post for Hanuman, grant it to him, and respectfully bid him farewell.”
Bharata folded his hands and replied, “Brother, I had already prepared my funeral pyre thinking you would never return. It was Hanuman Ji who gave me hope and assured me that you would come back. Hanuman revived a dead man like me with the life-giving nectar of faith. In such a situation, how can I ever ask him to leave?”
He continued, “I know what separation from a brother feels like—especially for fourteen long years. I cannot now live with separation from Hanuman as well. So I will not say this to him.” Then Lord Rama approached Lakshmana and said, “Then you go and tell Hanuman.”
Lakshmana replied, “After you and Mother Sita, if there is anyone dearest to me, it is Hanuman. When I lay unconscious and you had no option left, it was Hanuman Ji who saved my life. Had Hanuman not been there, I too would not be here today. How can I ask my life-savior, who is like a brother to me, to leave?” After this, Rama went to Shatrughna.
Shatrughna said, “Brother, Hanuman Ji is now like a member of our family, not merely a guest. How can one ask a family member to leave their own home? This is beyond me.”
Finally, Lord Rama thought of another plan. He organized a royal assembly in honor of Hanuman. Praising him greatly, Rama said, “To everyone who has helped me, I have given some reward. But you have never asked for anything. And I myself have been unable to decide what I should give you. For the favor Sugriva has done for me is great—but your service, Hanuman, is twice as great as even his. Therefore, today you too may ask for one position or boon.”
As soon as Lord Rama said this, Hanuman—the very ocean of wisdom and intelligence—replied, “Prabhu, you yourself just said that I have done twice the work of Sugriva. Then should I not receive two positions instead of one? Therefore, I do not want one post—I want two.”
Everyone in the royal court was stunned. They thought, Has Hanuman become greedy? Instead of one, he is asking for two!
Lord Rama thought, If Hanuman is willing to leave in exchange for two posts instead of one, what harm is there? So Rama immediately agreed, “Very well, take two positions.”
The moment these words left Rama’s lips, Hanuman instantly grasped both of Lord Rama’s feet and said, “Then so be it, my Lord! From today onward, these two pad (feet/positions) of yours belong to me. And no one can remove me from this position—not even you—because you have already granted me both your पद (feet).” Hearing this, everyone in the assembly was left speechless.
Lord Rama smiled, embraced Hanuman, and said, “You truly are the the great ocean of wisdom, strength, and intelligence, Hanuman. Victory shall always be yours. From today onward, this shall indeed be your eternal position.”m It is said that from that day onward, Hanuman Ji attained an eternal place at the holy feet of Lord Shri Rama.
Jai Shri Ram.
