Hanuman ji spares Valmiki's wounded pride
When Sage Valmiki finally put down his pen after completing the Ramayana, he was overjoyed. His heart brimmed with pride at the thought of what he had achieved—a literary masterpiece recounting the life of Lord Rama. Eager to share his creation, Valmiki travelled far and wide, presenting it to Devtas, Nagas, Asuras, Yakshas, and almost everyone else he could think of.
Everyone was awestruck—not only by the story but its mesmerizing poetry and narration also conjured applause from all readers. It turned out to be a literary gem no one had ever seen before.
Eventually, he crossed paths with Sage Narada, who read through the epic at Valmiki's request. However, to his shock, Narada expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the book did not meet his standards. He mentioned having read a different Ramayana that leapt bounds ahead of Valmiki's creation in all respects. These words struck Valmiki like a thunderbolt. His heart sank, and a painfully awkward silence followed. Gathering himself, Valmiki asked, “Where can I find this superior Ramayana?”
Narada shruggingly responded, "It was written by none other than Lord Hanuman. If you wish to see it, you can meet him in the Kadali Van, at the foothills of the Himalayas."
Feeling insecure, Sage Valmiki journeyed to seek Lord Hanuman. Upon meeting him, Valmiki straightforwardly asked, "I heard you wrote Ramayana, may I please see it?
Hanuman smiled and fetched some banana leaves, on which his version of the Ramayana was inscribed. Valmiki sat down to read, and with every verse, his heart sank. The words were sublime—overflowing with melody, flawless grammar, and unmatched poetic brilliance. By the time Valmiki finished reading, tears welled up in his eyes.
“Your Ramayana is perfect,” he whispered overcome with emotion. “My work feels insignificant in comparison. After this, no one will care for me. You’ve eclipsed me, just as Rahu eclipses the sun.”
Seeing Valmiki’s sorrow, Hanuman felt terrible. Without hesitation, he tore the banana leaves, crushed them in his hands, and swallowed them whole.
Horror stuck Valmiki couldn’t believe his eyes for a moment. “What have you done? Why did you destroy the only copy of your Ramayan?” he gasped.
Hanuman smiled and replied, “Valmiki needs Valmiki Ramayana. Hanuman does not need Hanuman Ramayana, nor does the world.”
He continued, “I wrote my Ramayana only to celebrate the name of Lord Rama. But you wrote yours so that the world would remember you. Writing is your gift, while my only purpose is remembering and serving Lord Rama. I don’t need a book to do that. Rama lives eternally in my heart.”
Valmiki stood in stunned silence, overwhelmed by his humility and gratitude.
And with that, the sage realized the true essence of devotion.
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