Of Eloquence in Speech and of Hanuman
Excerpts from Valmiki Ramayanam
What makes a motivational Speech so captivating? How does one deliver a composed and well-articulated speech even in times of adversity?
I was reminded of lunchtime talks on the physics and anatomy of the voice and the three possible centers of resonance at the head, chest, and gut. The dynamics of listening at the receiver end.. Of 5.1 surround sounds; Morgan Freeman and Margaret Thatcher’s training for a deeper voice.
Amidst the myriad datasets of time, and in a language that celebrates the facets of voice, music, tone, emotions, and expressions, what does Ramayana have to say?
A candid conversation between Rama and Lakshmana. Hanuman makes an entry as an old man and makes a conversation with the brothers. Rama is smitten by the eloquence of Hanuman’s words and characterizes it to Lakshmana.
“O Saumitra! That minister of Sugriva is a master of speech, and speaks with friendliness.”
वाक्यज्ञम् स्नेहयुक्तम्
~
And in a language of opposites, Rama gauges Hanuman. “Someone not trained in the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Veda would not possibly speak like him.”
अनृग्वेदविदुषः अयजुर्वेद्धारिणः असामवेदविदुषः — भाषितुम् न शक्यम्
[the Vedas dealt with phonetics, high and low tone, musical aspects]
~
“Surely, he seems to have studied well the whole of grammar, for there is not a single mispronunciation in his entire speech.”
नूनम् अनेन कृत्स्नम् याकरणम् — Surely by him the entire grammar
बहुधा श्रुतम् .. बहु याहरता
किञ्चित् अपशब्दितम् not a bit of wrong pronunciation
~
“No fault can be found in his expression in the face, eyes, forehead, between the brows or other parts of his body.”
“He speaks in a medium pitch with a puffed chest”
उरस्थम् कण्ठगम्, मध्यमे स्वरे
~
“His words are well cultured and refined. His utterances captivate the heart.”
संस्कारक्रमसम्पन्नाम् कल्याणीम्, हृदयहारिणीम् वाचम् उच्चारयति
~
‘He churns sounds exploiting the three centers of resonance.”
त्रिस्थानव्यञ्जनस्थया चित्रया
Source
https://www.valmiki.iitk.ac.in/sloka?field_kanda_tid=4&language=dv&field_sarga_value=3
4.3.27
