Hanuman meets Rama

1. 4.3. Book 4, Canto 3: Hanumán’s Speech

   4.3.1Hanuman, son of the Wind-God and a messenger for the monkey king Sugriva, goes down from Rishyamuka mountain to meet Rama and Lakshmana. To be careful, he hides his monkey form and disguises himself as a wandering beggar-monk.
2. 4.3.2Hanuman bows at the brothers' feet with respect. Then he speaks to them truthfully and politely, praising them.
3. 4.3.3Hanuman greets them as holy young hermits who shine like gods or saintly kings. He asks how they came to this place by the Pampa lake, scaring the deer as they search among the trees.
4. 4.3.4Hanuman says their faces make the river look even more beautiful. He asks who they are, dressed in hermit's bark clothes, and notes that they sigh often as if in sorrow.
5. 4.3.5Hanuman praises the brothers as strong and brave, walking like lions and bulls. Each holds a bow like that of Indra, king of the gods.
6. 4.3.6Hanuman compares their arms to elephants' trunks and says the mountain glows with their presence. He asks how such god-like princes, with lotus-like eyes, came to this lonely place dressed with hermit's coiled hair.
7. 4.3.7Hanuman says they look like gods who came down from heaven, like the sun and moon visiting earth. He praises their broad chests, lion-like shoulders and strong, long arms.
8. 4.3.8Hanuman asks why they wear no jewels, though they look born to wear them. He says each of them seems fit to rule the whole earth, from Mount Meru to the Vindhya mountains.
9. 4.3.9Hanuman admires their gold-decorated bows, which shine like Indra's weapons. Their golden quivers are full of sharp arrows that look like fiery snakes.
10. 4.3.10Hanuman says their gold-inlaid swords flash like snakes that have shed their old skin. Then he asks why they stay silent and do not answer his questions.
11. 4.3.11Hanuman now reveals himself. He says Sugriva, the good king of the vanaras (monkey people), has been driven from his kingdom and wanders sadly. Sugriva has sent Hanuman because he wants to become their friend and ally.
12. 4.3.12Hanuman says he is one of Sugriva's chief helpers and the son of the Wind-God. He can travel anywhere freely, and he came from Rishyamuka hill dressed as a beggar to help his king's hopes.
13. 4.3.13Hanuman, who is very skilled with words, finishes speaking. Rama (called the son of Raghu, his ancestor) is delighted by the messenger's speech and turns happily to his brother Lakshman to speak.
14. 4.3.14Rama tells Lakshman that this is the advisor of Sugriva, the good monkey king (Vanar means monkey-folk) Rama has wanted to meet. He asks Lakshman to reply kindly to this eloquent messenger.
15. 4.3.15Rama says that anyone who speaks this beautifully must know the holy Vedas well, the Rig, Yajur and Sama Vedas, and must have studied grammar carefully.
16. 4.3.16Rama notes that Hanuman spoke a long speech without a single mistake. Nothing in his eyes, face or body showed any lie or trickery.
17. 4.3.17Rama praises how Hanuman spoke: short, steady, sweet and clear, with no hurtful words. His voice was calm and even, neither rushed nor halting, and it won the heart.
18. 4.3.18Rama says Hanuman's clear, well-formed speech could calm even an enemy about to strike. A ruler without such a messenger would struggle to succeed.
19. 4.3.19Rama says no leader's plans can fail when he is helped by someone this wise and well-spoken.
20. 4.3.20Lakshman, also a skilled speaker, answers Hanuman. He says they already know of Sugriva's good qualities, came here to meet him, and will gladly do what Sugriva asks.
21. 4.3.21Hanuman is overjoyed by Lakshman's wise reply. He hopes this friendship will help his king Sugriva win back what he lost.

22. 4.5. Book 4, Canto 5: The League

    4.5.1Hanuman goes from Rishyamuka hill to Malaya hill and tells his king Sugriva that Rama, famous in many lands, has come with Lakshman.
23. 4.5.2Hanuman describes Rama: he is brave even against a thousand enemies, the son of King Dasharatha, the pride of the Ikshvaku family, and he still follows his duty by obeying his father.
24. 4.5.3Hanuman adds that Rama's father performed great sacred fire rituals, gave away a huge number of cows, rewarded the priests, and ruled well, famous for truthfulness and self-control.
25. 4.5.5Sugriva listens to Hanuman with joy and tells Rama that Hanuman has truly described his good qualities: his training in duty and his real care for everyone.
26. 4.5.6Sugriva says the greatest honor of his life would be for Rama to become his friend. He offers his hand as a promise of friendship that will never be broken.
27. 4.5.7Rama joyfully takes Sugriva's hand and hugs him as a friend. Hanuman drops his beggar disguise and shows his real form.
28. 4.5.8Hanuman rubs pieces of wood together to start a fire and decorates it with flowers. Rama and Sugriva respectfully walk around the fire together to seal their friendship.
29. 4.5.9Bound by their promise, the two friends gaze at each other happily. Sugriva tells Rama that he is his dearest friend and they will share each other's joys and troubles.
30. 4.5.10Sugriva breaks a flowering branch of a Sal tree to make a seat for himself and Rama. Hanuman gives Lakshman a branch of sandalwood to sit on.
31. 4.5.11Still trembling with joy, Sugriva tells Rama that he is full of sorrow and fear, rejected by his enemies and wandering in exile.
32. 4.5.12Sugriva explains that he has lost his wife and lives alone in the forest, sometimes fleeing in terror. His brother Bali has wronged and troubled him for a long time.
33. 4.5.13Sugriva, the exiled monkey king, asks Rama to free him from his suffering and fear. He says that rescuing a friend in trouble is a noble task, worthy of a hero like Rama.
34. 4.5.14Rama, who knows what is right and has no trickery in him, smiles gently and answers Sugriva. He says that friends who trust him and ask for his help are never let down.
35. 4.5.15Rama promises to kill Bali, Sugriva's brother, who stole Sugriva's wife. He describes his arrows as bright as the sun, as strong as Indra's thunderbolt (Indra is the king of the gods), and as deadly as angry snakes.
36. 4.5.16Rama tells Sugriva that this very day he will see his longtime enemy lying dead like a broken mountain, struck down by Rama's bow.
37. 4.5.17Sugriva is filled with joy at Rama's words. He thanks Rama, saying that with his help he will get back his kingdom and his beloved wife.
38. 4.5.18Sugriva asks Rama to stop his older brother Bali so he can never again take away Sugriva's rights or hurt him. The friendship pact is made, and it will bring joy to Sita and the monkey king but sorrow to the demons.
39. 4.5.19At that moment Sita's left eye twitches, which for a woman was a lucky sign, and she feels hope. But Bali's left eye also twitches, a bad sign for a man, warning of his death that day.
40. 4.5.20The demons also feel their left eyes twitch, and they know it is a sign that trouble is coming for them.