248, Hanuman's tail is set fire.

              Hearing the lecture, advice, sermon or whatever it was, by Vibhishana, his brother, made Ravana to think. He, Ravana being a very learned rakshash knew everything  about righteousness,  virtuousness, uprightness, decency, integrity, worthiness, rectitude, probity, morality, ethicalness, high-mindedness, justice, honesty, honour, honourableness etc. He, therefore could not bring himself to ignore the advice. After carefully considering all the pros and cons, he came to a conclusion and replied his brother Vibhishana "My dear bro, I agree that killing of an envoy is forbidden. However, that animal will have to be punished.
        "It is said that the tail is considered to be the most beloved ornament for vanaras. Therefore, I decided to have his tail  burnt immediately. Let him go with a burnt tail. When all his relatives, friends, kinsmen and others see him miserably injured with his deformed tail, this animal will feel highly humiliated. I, Ravana hereby order that this impudent animal, with his burning tail be carried by the rakshasas  the entire city around its cross-roads."
       This order of Ravana was received with glee, delight, joy, triumph and exuberance by the rakshasas hard-tempered with their wrath. They, with utmost promptitude, searched, found and wrapped-up old ragged clothes around Hanuman's tail. While his tail was being wrapped around with cotton tatters, Hanuman was deeply thinking as to what the appropriate retaliatory action to be taken by him. The rakshasas sprinkled oil and set fire on that tail. Hearing that tail of that vanara was being set afire, a large number of rakshasas and rakshashis with their kids gathered around to see the fun! By the time the fire started burning with full flare, Hanuman formulated what he should do now. Making his face to resemble the rising sun with his mind filled with anger and impatience with his burning tail, threw those rakshasas down effortlessly. 
          During the time the rakshashas were reorganizing and regrouping to tie him again, Hanuman evaluated all the possible actions and decided to get tied by them. Let us pry into the mind of our hero James Bond of Ramayanam and look into the reasons leading to make him decide to get himself tied. Hanuman thought "Even when I am tied down, those stupid rakshasas cannot really hurt me. Whenever I want, I can break the ties and kill them all. If these evil-minded goons fasten me who is representing Rama, my lord, no one can hurt me. I am sure I am capable to kill all these rakshasas in battle. But, I wanna espionage again this place. For this reason let me allow them to do whatever they want to. Lanka was not observed fully and thoroughly the particulars of specifications of the fort, when it was seen by me during the night. This is the occasion for me to do it openly during the day-time. Let the nitwits tie me down again and torment me as they wish, by burning my tail. I can surely bear the travails of the same."

      Then those delighted happy-go-lucky rakshasas tied  Hanuman, who nonchalantly submitted to their action in this regard. Sounding conches and kettle-drums and proclaiming the wrongdoings of Hanuman like his damaging of the pleasure-garden, the rakshasas were dragging Hanuman through out that city.

          Hanuman was very happy to see what he wanted was happening and gladly submitted to those rakshashas  taking him around that great city. 

      During the procession, Hanuman, the son of Vayu, noted the relevant details about the streets congested with dwellings, places where several roads meet, high-ways as also the approach-roads, small inner apartments and palaces appearing in multitudes, like clouds. All the rakshashas proclaimed at cross roads, four-pillared temples and in royal high-ways, that Hanuman was a spy. Eager to  see the fun, people (meaning Rakshash people) gathered from their respective dwellings  to see that Hanuman with his burning tail.
     When the process of setting fire to the tail of Hanuman started, the rakshashis guarding Seetha came to know of it teased Seetha with glee "O Seetha! That vanara with a red face, who had a tete-a-tete with you, is being moved around in the city, with his  tail set to fire and burning voraciously.”

           Seetha became very sad just like when she was carried away by Ravana. Seetha, tormented with grief did the only the thing she could, to wit, request Agni, the fire-god. The large-eyed Seetha, wishing for the welfare of Hanuman, prayed Agni "If I have done any service to my husband, if I have performed a penance and if I am a faithful wife, please be cool to Hanuman. If the wise Rama has even a little of kindness to me and if I have still some good fortune remaining to my credit, please be cool to Hanuman. If that virtuous Rama recognizes me as one, who is endowed with a good moral conduct and who is ardently desirous of meeting him, please be cool to Hanuman. If the venerable Sugreeva, true to his promise, can make me traverse from this ocean of sorrow, please be cool to Hanuman."

        Seetha being the foremost pathivritha (chaste wife), Agni had no option but to obey her. Vayu, Hanuman's dad, joined force with Agni, swept coolly like a snow-breeze.
     Hanuman was wondering why he was not at all hurt by the blazing fire from his flaming  tail. He also noticed that the fire was not burning him. This made him thinking "It is conspicuous with large flames. But it is not creating any pain to me. On the other hand I feel as if a snow-ball is kept on my tail.

           "When I was over the ocean on my journey to this Lanka, the sea and the wise Mount Mainaka showed me such an hospitality obviously because of Rama. Similarly Agni (the fire-god), in deference to my lord Rama, is now showing the same degree of eagerness in making his touch cold to me. The fire does not burn me, probably due to the kindness of Seetha, powerfulness of Rama and affection of my dear papa."

        Hanuman reflected again for a moment and decided the further course of action. When he was taken near the city-gate, which was looking high and stood secluded from the crowds of the rakshasas, our hero assumed the form of a mountain and within a moment, assumed an exceedingly short form, which made him free from his tethers. Hanuman, our dear Bond of Ramayanam, after becoming free from his bonds, again assumed the form like that of a mountain and looking around found an iron rod attached to the arched door-way.

         Hanuman  killed all the guards with that iron rod. Our impetuous Bond of Ramayanam, after destroying those rakshasas and looking over Lanka, was shining like the sun encircled with rays, with the wreath of flames blazing on his tail.

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247. Vibhishana intervenes.

           Vibhishana, an younger brother of Ravana was also there in the court. That guy, though a rakshash, was quite different. He was a moralist.  As such it was quite an anathema for him to even harm someone who claimed to be a messenger from so-and-so. It is, therefore, quite needless to mention that he, Vibhishana did not agree to the order of his brother Ravana to execute Hanuman, who claimed to have come as a messenger.

         After pondering for a little while, Vibhishana decided to prevail upon his dear, but evil brother to be restraint. Vibhishana, told Ravana, his venerable brother softly "O king of rakshasas! Forgive and give up your anger. Be gracious and hear my words. Virtuous kings of excellence, knowing the far and the near, do not cause the killing of an envoy. Killing of this animal is against a royal virtue and any universal custom condemns it. Hence, it is improper for you also to do it.

         "You very well know all these. You are a person of gratitude. You are well-versed in royal virtues, too. In your anger you forgot these things. Therefore, be graceful. After contemplating the right and wrong, order an appropriate punishment to this envoy."

           In his anger Ravana shouted at his brother "O Vibhishana! There is no sin to kill sinners. So, I shall kill this vanara, who committed sins."

      Vibhishana did not agree with his brother. He replied him "O king of rakshasas! O lord of Lanka! Be gracious enough. Hear my words endowed with righteousness and significance. O king! Sages say that messengers should not be killed at all places and at all times.

         "There is no doubt that this animal is arrogant. He has created an unlimited displeasure to us. But, sages do not talk about the killing of an envoy. There are indeed several punishments intended for an envoy. Some of the punishments to an envoy are deforming a limb, striking with a whip, shaving the head and impressing marks on the body. Indeed, we have not heard at any time of killing a messenger.

       "How can a person like you subject to anger? Wise people indeed contain their anger. There is no one who knows more than you about the law, duty and universal customs. There is no one who knows the essence of scriptures better than you. You are undoubtedly the best among all the celestials and rakshasas in these matters.

       "O king of rakshasas! You are valiant. You are heroic. Even celestials and asuras cannot conquer you. You conquered a multitude of proud celestials and asuras together with their kings in battles several times. I do not see any merit in killing this animal. Let this capital punishment  be employed on those by whom this vanara was sent. He is a person, irrespective of the fact whether he is good or bad, was sent by our enemies. It is not worthy of killing him, who is an envoy, who is dependent on others and who talks for the cause of others.

          "O king!  If he is dead, I do not find any other animal or a human, who can incite those two arrogant princes, who are hindered by a long distance, for war. Then this action of yours is liable to be construed as an act of cowardice for the reason that you are afraid to face those two humans, Rama and Lakshmana.

       "O Ravana! As you cannot be conquered by even celestials and rakshasas having a lot of prowess, energy and courage let this vanara go alive to his senders who, if they have the courage, can come over here to Lanka to face you.
       "There are more than a crore of valiant warriors in your charge, who are well-maintained and who desire your welfare, quite devoted to you, having colossal merits, born in a good tribe, holding high spirits and excellent wielders of weapons. Therefore, send someone with a portion of your army to subjugate those two stupid princes, in order to make your power known to your adversaries,"

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246. Hanuman advised Ravana to return Seetha.

         Looking at Ravana, Hanuman continued "O king of rakshasas! By the command of Sugreeva, the lord of all vanaras and the brother of Vali, I have come here to your abode. Sugreeva, the Lord of vanaras, asked me to enquire about your welfare. He asked me to convey his message to you. Please let me do so.
     "There was a king named Dasharatha, who was like a father to all the people in his kingdom and endowed with splendour like that of Indra, the lord of celestials. His eldest son named Rama, having mighty arms, a bestower of affection and our lord, by the command of his father, abiding in a righteous path, went out on exile and entered a forest called Dandaka along with Lakshmana his brother and Seetha his wife. Seetha, the wife of Rama, devoted to her husband and the daughter of the redoubtable  king, named Janaka, the monarch of the Videha kingdom, got lost in the forest. That prince, Rama together with his brother, searching that lady, reached the Mount Rishyamuka and happened to meet Sugreeva.

       "While Sugreeva promised Rama to get Seetha searched and found, Rama too promised as a quid pro quo, to get the kingdom of vanaras to Sugreeva. Thereafter, killing Vali, Rama installed Sugreeva on the throne as the lord of all vanaras and bears. I am given to understand that you know Vali, the foremost among vanaras. Rama killed that Vali with a single arrow. Sugreeva, the lord of vanaaras, true to his promise, sent his vanaras to all directions to search and find Seetha. Innumerable number of vanaras and bears were sent to search  her in all quarters, including below and above the sky. Among those vanaras, some are mighty and virile like Garuda, the eagle. Some are capable of moving like wind without any hindrance.

       “I, a son of Vayu named as Hanuman have come here by crossing the ocean, which is a hundred yojanas (or eight hundred miles) wide to search and find Seetha. I did find her here at the Ashoka Vana where she is kept captive. You know about religious merit and wealth. You performed and mastered the austerities. As a highly learned person, it is highly unbecoming of you to have abducted Seetha.

          "Intellectuals like you would not think, even in their wildest dream, of such an act, for the simple reason that it is antagonistic to righteousness and is associated with many dangers including the ruin of the doer at the roots. Let me tell you that none, even among devas and asuras, to withstand the arrows discharged by Lakshmana in the wake of the fury of Rama. O king! No one is known in all the three worlds, to have gained happiness, by doing harm to Rama. That is why, accede to my words, which are beneficial for you for all the three divisions of time (viz. the past, present and future), resulting in affluence and respectability as well. Be sensible and let Seetha be restored to Rama.
        "I beheld Seetha, the princess. It is for Rama to decide his remaining task of future consequence. Seetha, whom you have captured without recognizing her as a five-hooded female serpent, has been found by me in your abode wholly given over to sorrow. She is incapable of being devoured  even by celestials and rakshashas, any more than food mixed with abundant poison could be digested with one's digestive power, if consumed.

         "Do not let your exceptional longevity  and that fortune which is an outcome of your virtue, both of which have been acquired by you through the practice of austerities, end abruptly. You may be thinking that you cannot be killed by rakshashas or celestials, because of your austerities. But you are wrong in respect of Sugreeva.

       "This Sugreeva is  neither a god  nor an asura nor a child of Danu the rakshash nor a Gandharva the celestial musician nor an Yaksha the semi-divine being nor a Pannaga the serpent-demon. O King! You will not be able to protect your life from him. The fruit of righteousness does not coexist  with the result of unrighteousness.The consequence of unrighteousness alone will prevail.

         "You already are enjoying the fruit of virtue till now. There is no doubt about it. In a short time, you will taste the fruit of unrighteousness, too. Ponder the killing of the rakshasas in the forest of Janasthana, of Vali and  the bond of friendship between Rama and Sugreeva, and decide sensibly your future course of action vis-a-vis Seetha.

       "I alone can destroy Lanka, along with its horses, chariots and elephants. I however, do not propose to do so as it will contravene the resolution of Rama, who has promised in the presence of troops of vanaras and bears, to exterminate the one and all his associates  by whom Seetha was actually laid violent hands upon.

      "Even Indra the Lord of celestials, in person, will be made to rue  if he does any harm to Rama.  Know her, whom you know as Seetha and who stays in your captivity, to be none else than Kalaratri (the goddess presiding over and responsible for dissolution), who can destroy you and the entire Lanka.
        "Beware of the noose of death in the form of Seetha's personality, which has been garlanded by yourself unwittingly around your neck. Ponder sensibly of the safety of yourself as well as this city of Lanka with its markets and main streets which will be burnt away by the effulgence of Seetha.

        "Do not lead to the extermination of your friends, counselors, kinsmen, brothers, sons, well-wishers, enjoyments, wives and Lanka. O king of rakshasas! Listen to my truthful words coming as it is from the lips of this servant of Rama, his messenger and particularly of this vanara. The renowned Rama is capable of destroying totally all the worlds together with its five elements, along with its animate and inanimate things and also to create yet again all the worlds in like manner as before.
        "After hurting  Rama, the lord of all worlds as well as the king nonpareil, in this manner, your survival will not be for long. O king of rakshasas! Nobody, celestials, rakshashas, Gandharvas the celestial musicians, Vidyadharas, Nagas the semi-divine serpents or Yakshas the semi divine beings will be able to stand before Rama the lord of the three worlds. Not even Brahma, the god with four faces or Rudra with three eyes and the destroyer of Tripura (the city built of gold, silver and iron in the sky, air and earth, by Maya for the asurass and burnt by Shiva), or Mahendra the god of atmosphere and sky as also the lord of celestials, would be able to protect anyone from Rama in battle."
              Ravana became terribly angry to hear the sermon from that animal. He unceremoniously ordered the execution of that rude and mannerless animal.

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245. Hanuman announced that he was a messenger of Rama.

          Ravana,  who caused people to cry, looking down at that vanara standing agape in front of him, got very angry. He was wondering "whether this animal is that Nandi  who was very sour with me when the Mount Kailasa was moved by me, has now come here in this form for retaliation or whether he is Bana the great rakshash."

      Turning to Prahasta, his chief of minister, Ravana told him “Ask this wicked animal from where did he come, for what reason did he come to this place and for what purpose did he frighten the rakshashis by destroying our garden. Ask this evil-minded vanara as to what really is his purpose in coming over to my invincible City and for what purpose he killed many of my able warriors.”

           Prahasta in turn told  Hanuman, “Take courage! Happiness to you! You need not get frightened. If Indra has sent you to the abode of Ravana, tell me the truth. Do not have any fear. You will be released. Are you, the one who has entered our city assuming the guise of a vanara, sent by Kubera the god of riches or by Yama the god of death or by Varuna the lord of the sea or  by Vishnu the lord of preservation, as a messenger?

        "O vanara! Your form alone is that of a vanara. Your splendour, however, is not that of a vanara. Now, tell me the truth. Thereupon, you will be released. If you tell a lie, your survival will be doubtful. Also tell me the purpose of your entry into Ravana's abode."

          Hanuma replied "I am not a messenger of Indra or Yama or Varuna. I have no friendship with Kubera the god of riches, nor was I instigated by Vishnu. This is just my form of existence, by my very birth. I am a vanara who came here. Then, those strong raksshashas came with a desire to fight with me and kill me. Just for protecting my body and life, I had to retaliate them. I am incapable of being bound by missiles and nooses even by celestials and rakshashas. This boon has been bestowed to me by none other than Lord Brahama himself.

        "With a desire to  meet your king, I surrendered to the missile. Soon after bound by the rakshashas, I was promptly released from the missile. I came to your presence, prompted by some mission of Rama. Know me to be a messenger of Rama who is possessing unlimited splendour. I am telling you a beneficial word. Listen to it."

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244.Hanuman was wonderstruck seeing Ravana.

        Then, Hanuma turned and looked at Ravana with his red hot eyes. He had seen Ravana earlier, too while he was sleeping and in the Ashoka Vana where Ravana was looking drowsy and sluggish due to heavy sex and drink during the previous night.  But now - WOW! Hanuman never imagined, even in his dreams, Ravana would be endowed with such a great splendor and shine which was enhanced by the glittering and precious diadems of gold encircled with strings of pearls.

        Hanuman noticed with awe that Ravana was adorned with bright-coloured gold ornaments, inlaid with diamonds and decorated with worthy gems. Ravana was attired in a most lovely silk and his body was smeared with red-sandal paste and well painted with various brightly coloured designs. Ravana looked strange with his ten heads having terrible-looking yet good-looking pair of red eyes in each, with brilliant, sharp and enormous teeth and protruding lips, looking highly eminent and endowed with extra ordinary vigour, shining brightly as Mount Mandara with its peaks infested with snakes of different varieties.

         Ravana was having a pearl necklace casting its splendor on his bosom. He was looking like a mass of blue antimony, but with his countenance shining like the full moon and appearing like a cloud illumined by the rising sun. He was distinguished by twenty arms, adorned with bracelets, smeared with excellent sandal-paste and decked with shining Angadas (a variety of bracelets) and looking like large five-hooded serpents.

        He was comfortably seated on a big excellent throne of crystal, rendered picturesque by being embedded with jewels and overspread with an exquisite covering. He was duly waited upon at close quarters on all sides by young ladies, well-adorned and with fans in their hands. He was looking very proud of his might and had four counselors  viz. Durdhara, Prahasta, Mahaparshva  and  Nikumbha (obviously all of them were rakshashas and who knew everything about good counsel) and looked like the entire terrestrial globe enclosed by four oceans sitting nearby.

         He was being reassured by counselors knowing the secret of good counsel and other rakshashas with auspicious minds, as Indra the lord of celestials is reassured by celestials. Hanuma saw Ravana with a great splendor, sitting on the throne, looking like a rainy cloud on the peak of Mount Meru. Despite being tortured by the rakshashas Hanuman was experiencing a great surprise, looked attentively at Ravana.

        Seeing the glittering Ravana, the king of rakshashas, Hanuman was bewildered by his splendor and thought in his mind  “What a figure, what courage, what strength, what splendor and what an amalgam of auspicious marks! If this lord of rakshashas is a follower of righteousness, he would have been a protector of even the world of celestials together with Indra, the lord of celestials. By his cruel and violent acts despised by the world, all people including gods remain frightened of him. If enraged he seems to be capable of turning the entire world into a single ocean.”
       Seeing the power of Ravana, the king of rakshashas, who possessed an unlimited vigour, the intelligent Hanuman was staring at him agape.

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243. Now Indrajit is sent to the field.

                  Ravana was stunned to hear the news of the demise of his dear son Aksha. Being a scholar he controlled his anger and pondered the next course of action. Then he decided to send his very, very dear son who was famous  in all the worlds for his heroism and valor, to wit Indrajit to do the job of capturing that animal.

        He then called him (Indrajit) and buttered him by saying "You are well acquainted with mystic missiles. You are the foremost among those who are conversant with all kinds of weapons. You cause anguish even to devas and asuras. Indra and other celestials have perceived your performance with your missiles acquired by propitiating Brahma the creator. Celestials together with troops of other gods like varuna joining Indra the lord of celestials were not able to endure the strength of your missiles in battle. In a battle against you, every one in the three worlds gets exhausted. Apart from being my son you are protected by your great intellect and strong arms. You are guarded by your many great penances. You are aware of apportioning place and time properly and appropriately.

         "There is nothing impossible for you in your acts of war. With your purposeful thinking, everything is possible for you. There is none in the three worlds, who does not know the power and force of your missiles as also your physical strength. The strength of your penance as also your prowess and strength in battle are not less than mine. When I send you to any battle, I do so without any qualm and my mind does not get fatigued because of the re-assurance of your success. All the Kimkaras as well as the rakshash Jambumali, the heroic sons of ministers and the five chiefs of army, as well as their army together with highly abundant number of horses, elephants and chariots  have been killed.

         "Your beloved brother Aksha also has been killed. O annihilator of enemies! The strength which is in me or in you, is indeed not in them at all. O intelligent one! Seeing the great strength, power and prowess of this animal I feel that you will be the one among us who has the strength and capability to capture that animal. Keeping in view your own strength and of the army, exert yourself in such a way that further destruction of our army is stopped.
        "O hero! This time do not I repeat DO NOT depend your armies. They cannot protect you, or help you. There is no use taking a weapon like a strong vajra against that vanara. There does not seem to be any limit to the strength of that vanara named Hanuman, the son of vayu. It seems that it is not possible to kill him, who resembles fire, by means of any weapon. In view of these facts select your best bows and missiles.

       “Maybe it is not the best option for me to send you. But, I made this decision according to the duties of a king and  the commendation of a warrior-class. Go, my dear son and return victorious with that vanara as a captive.”

        Acclaimed by one and all as the top class warrior, Indrajit, after taking the blessings of his dad entered the battle-field with an accomplished enthusiasm.
       Indrajit, the illustrious son of Ravana, having eyes like lotus-petals and endowed with extra ordinary energy, rushed forth like an ocean on full-moon days. He ascended his chariot with unimaginable speed and yoked with four sharp-toothed tigers.

        Indrajit, acclaimed as the best chariot-warrior, wielder of bow and in the use of weapons and missiles, went swiftly in his chariot to where Hanuman was. Hearing the rattling sound of Indrajit’s chariot and the twang of his bow, our hero Hanuman became thrilled with delight.

       Indrajit, an expert in warfare, taking a very big bow with pointed arrows, went aiming towards Hanuman. While Indrajit who was energetic in battle, was going ahead to the combat, with his bow in his hand, the rattling noise of his chariot and the twang of the  string of his bow made all the quarters gloomy and ferocious animals howl in many ways.

     Nagas and Yakshas, great sages moving in astronomical circles, Siddhas and a multitude of birds going around the sky gathered there and clamored loudly with great rejoice to see that tussle, like lovers of the games like cricket or soccer assemble to see a match between top teams. Seeing Indrajit coming fast in his chariot, Hanuman made a noise with great resonance and swelled his body promptly.

          Indrajit on his part, stretched his bow, which made a glaring sound like that accompanies a lightning stroke. Those two warriors, Hanuman and Indrajit, possessing great capability and strength as well as fearlessness in combat, confronted each other like Indra the Lord of celestials and Ravana the Lord of rakshashas.
    Hanuman of immeasurable strength, with his expanded body, aborted the  arrows of Indrajit. Sometimes  our redoubtable hero Hanuman evaded the arrows by quickly moving out of their path of projection like Vayu, his father.

       Then,  Indrajit discharged long and sharp-pointed arrows, having beautiful feathers, provided with picturesque golden shafts, with good inclination and as swift as lightning. Hearing the rattling sound of the chariot and the sound of wooden tom-toms, kettledrums and war-drums as well as the sound of the bow-string being plucked, Hanuman sprang up again and swiftly passed himself between the arrows. Hanuman, the son of Vayu, some other times stayed in front of the arrows and stretching out his hands, caught the arrows and broke them. Those two warriors, full of swiftness and skilled in their war-fare, staged an excellent performance, which thrilled the audience watching them.

         Indrajit could not figure out the weakness of Hanuman, and Hanuman the weakness of Indrajit. Those two warriors, who were equal in prowess, coming into collision with each other, became unbearable to each other. The aim of his arrows getting aborted and even his unfailing arrows falling down, the baffled Indrajit, who was well-known for hitting his target, became pensive.
          After a great deal of deliberations in his mind, Intrajit decided to use the most powerful missile Brahma-Astra. Indrajit, feeling certain that Hanuman was incapable of being killed, hoped that Brahma-Astra will, at least bind him. He then set that all powerful Brahma-Astra on Hanuman.
           Hanuman was not able to stop or evade it.That Astra dutifully hit Hanuman and our hero   fell down on the ground. As Hanuman cannot be killed, that Astra started to bind him. Realizing that he had been bound by Brahma-Astra,  Hanuman kept quiet. Hanuman knew very well that he can easily come out of the bind of that Astra, but did not do so out of respect to Bhagwan Brahma. That apart, he knew that he was being protected by Brahma, Indra and his dear dad Vayu, he did not worry being fastened by the missile. In a way he was happy to have been bound as he would now surely be taken to their king Ravana. And that was the purpose for which he started destroying the Asoka garden. He, therefore stayed motionless. However, when the soldiers approached to capture him, he frightened them by a loud scream. Then he mused and smiled and remained silent and motionless.

       Seeing that Hanuman motionless, the rakshasas then tied him with plaited chords of hemp and bark of trees. Hanuman approved of being forcibly bound and reviled by the enemies, with an assured feeling that Ravana was curious as he was, to see him.

       After tied with those chords of hemp and bark, the Brahma-Astra relieved Hanuman, since the bondage of that missile does not indeed coexist with another bondage.
          Seeing that Brahma-Astra relieved Hanuman when bound with the bark of trees, Indrajit, on his part, then became thoughtful and worried for “A person tied with other means cannot  be bound again by that missile. Alas! My great exploit has been rendered futile. The scope of the mystic formula has not been considered by the rakshasas. Once the spell has been made ineffective, the missile would cease to be operative. That is not good for us.”

      Hanuman bound by the ties of ropes, being dragged away by the rakshasas was not aware that he was liberated from the missile. He was being beaten with sticks and fists by the cruel rakshasas and was dragged to the vicinity of Ravana.

       The captured Hanuman, who looked like an elephant in rut was at last being taken to the presence of Ravana. The rakshasas seeing the bound Hanuman were asking themselves  like “Who is this being? Whose servant is he? Where has he come from? What is his pursuit? Who is his alley?”

        Some enraged rakshasas said to one another “Let this vanara be killed, even roasted alive and devoured.”

       After crossing over the path swiftly, Hanuman saw there the palace of Ravana, decorated with highly precious stones and his elderly attendants sitting at the feet of Ravana. That Ravana, who was endowed with an extraordinary energy, saw Hanuman  being dragged hither and thither by rakshashas of ugly countenance.

         Hanuman, too saw Ravana the king of rakshashas, charged with luster and strength and blazing like the sun. Ravana, rolling his red-hot eyes with rage on seeing Hanuman ordered his elderly and important ministers to interrogate him.

        When questioned, Hanuman shouted “I came from Sugreeva as an envoy.” 

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242. Ravana's son becomes the next victim.

         Ravana was completely shaken to hear the slaughtering  of the five army-generals along with their armies  by Hanuman. He was looking around for some one who will be more than a match for that animal. When his eyes fell on his son  Aksha, he asked him with eyes whether he was prepared to meet that animal. Aksha vehemently nodding his agreement sprang up wielding his golden dotted bow like a fire switched up by the foremost of brahmins in a sacrificial fire, by offering ghee as an oblation to it. Mounting a great chariot, having the splendour of a newly risen sun and overlaid with protective armour of highly refined gold, that valiant rakshash sallied forth towards that mighty animal. Aksha's chariot was the resultant of many of his varied  penances. It was shining with protective armour of highly refined gold, adorned with a flag on the flagstaff studded with gems and yoked well with eight excellent horses and can roll at the speed of thoughts. 

       That chariot was unassailable by celestials or asuras. It moved without any hindrance to any place. It was  shining like the sun and could move within the sky. It was well-conceived with a quiver, eight swords and tied with bells. It was orderly arranged with spears and lances in their respective places. Aksha having a prowess equal to that of celestials, came forth mounting that chariot decorated with golden wreaths, having the brilliance of the moon and sun, filled with every right things and shining like rays of sun.
            Aksha, reverberating the sky, earth and its mountains with the sounds of the horses, elephants and chariots, together with his army, approached Hanuman who was waiting nonchalantly at the arched door-way. On seeing Aksha, Hanuman, at  will became a brobdingnagian. Seeing Hanuman, who had become  mammoth in size, the yellow-eyed Aksha was surprised and looked at him with a great esteem.

       Aksha, the mighty prince, realizing the capabilities of Hanuman and his prowess with regard to his adversaries, increased the size of his body, too. Understanding Hanuman's prowess to be unrestrainable and stable in battle, Aksha, who was initially very angry, controlled it and became stable and mentally composed and incited Hanuman to defend himself or surrender, by discharging three sharp arrows towards him. He thought that Hanuman, as a haughty vanara, after having gallantly conquered his adversaries earlier and accustomed to fatigue, would be quite tired now. As such, Aksha concluded that it would not be very hard to conquer Hanuman. Spurred by such a thought, Aksha  looked at him with an excited mind.
      Having a golden chain, a pair of armlets and charming ear-rings, Aksha of a swift prowess, approached Hanuman. Hanuman was happy to find that this time he was facing an opponent who was quite a match for him. At the same time he felt sorry that he may have to kill such a competent warrior. Their matched get-together in combat was watched by devas and asuras with great awe and high respect. That battle between Hanuman and Aksha created a pandemonium on the earth. The sun did not shine brightly. The wind ceased to blow. The mountains shook. The sky reverberated the noise created in the battle. The ocean  was agitated, too. Then, that eminent rakshash decided at least to weaken his opponent as he found that it was not easy to kill him. Accordingly he fit an arrow to the bow and hurled it on Hanuman's head. He then quickly followed it with three arrows which were well-painted, having golden shafts and feathers and which resembled venomous serpents.
         Poor Aksha did not know that Hanuman cannot be killed! He was very much surprised that his powerful arrows merely wounded Hanuman. From those wounds  blood was dripping copiously which made him (Hanuman) look like the newly risen sun. Eyes bathed in blood rolling rapidly, Hanuman, like the sun surrounded by a circle of rays, was shining with the arrows as rays.
        Despite the fact that the arrows sticking into his face was quite painful, Hanuman very happy to face someone who is quite a match for him. He further grew in size. Then he tried to burn the prince Aksha along with his army and vehicles, by the rays of fire emanating from his eyes. That rakshash, in the form of a cloud, raining down arrows,  then wielding a bow in the form of a rain-bow, soon discharged arrows on Hanuman standing in the form of a mountain, like a cloud showering rain on a high mountain.

       Hanuman was happy to fight with  Aksha the prince, who had an impetuous valour  with a capacity to move within the sky like a cloud, and his splendour, strength and vigour were much higher than that of the rakshashas he (i.e. Hanuman) fought and liquidated so far. Such a thought made Hanuman roar with joy. Proud of his valour in battle because of his childish attitude, Aksha with an enhanced fury and red-blood eyes, approached Hanuman who was incomparable in battle, as an elephant approaching a well covered with heaps of straw.

      As Aksha forcefully discharged his arrows, Hanuman roared a sound of thunder and bounced quickly to the sky assuming a terrible form, stretching out his arms and thighs. That strong and valiant Aksha, the foremost among the rakshasas, and a nonpareil among car warriors, went chasing Hanuman who was flying upwards, diffusing arrows like a cloud showering hail-stones on a mountain.

        That valiant Hanuman, whose swiftness was equal to that of light and possessing impetuous valour in battle, rushing forth like wind in the space between one arrow and another and thus escaping Aksha's arrows. With a respectable faculty of sight, Hanuman saw that Aksha  was wielding his bow and readily inclined to continue to  fight, covering the entire sky with excellent arrows with various types of tops. This made him think "The mighty Aksha, possessing the luster of a rising sun, is performing great as a mature youth. However, I am not inclined to kill him, who is distinguished in all acts of war-fare. He possesses a great intellect and is also prominent by his valour. He is well-composed and highly tolerant in battle. Due to his eminent deeds and virtues, there is no wonder he is adored by saints, Nagas the serpent-demons and Yakshas. He is facing me bravely and looks at me straight in the eyes, reassured as he is, by his prowess and enthusiasm. His swift-moving prowess would make even the minds of celestials and rakshasas tremble. If I am not very careful, he would undoubtedly overpower me. His prowess is getting augmented in battle. The only option left out for me now is to kill him without any delay, as it is not advisable to neglect a spreading fire."
              Having decided to liquidate Aksha without any more dilly-dally, Hanuman, the James Bond of Ramayanam, started with the horses. With the blows of his palm, he killed those eight horses possessing a great speed in the path of the sky with alertness as also having a capacity to bear burden while turning to different directions. Then, the great chariot of Aksha was struck and its interior broken, its carriage pole loosened, it along with the dead horses fell from the sky to the ground.

        Jumping out of his chariot and wielding the bow and sword, Aksha the chariot-warrior leapt to the sky. Having a terrible power of penance and leaving his body like a sage, he then was seen departing to heaven because of his Yogic penance. Thereafter, Hanuman with his prowess equal to that of wind, approaching Aksha moving in that part of the sky, which was often frequented by Garuda the eagle, the wind and Siddhas the ascetics endowed with supernatural powers, slowly grasped his feet firmly.

         Hanuman, with a prowess equal to that of his dad, Vayu spinning round Aksha like an eagle grasping a great serpent,  for a thousand times, hurled him down on to the earth below forcefully. With his arms, thighs, hips and neck broken, blood dripping, his bones and eyes crushed, his joints displaced and his sinews shattered, that rakshash fell down onto the earth without any life.
       The battle between Aksha and Hanuman was watched ab initio by great sages who move everywhere and anywhere without obstruction and having great vows and  also by Yakshas the semi divine beings, Pannagas the serpent-demons and celestials including Indra the lord of celestials.
           Killing Aksha, possessing a luster equal to that of Jayanta, the son of Indra, the lord of celestials, our hero Hanuman with his eyes resembling blood, returned to the pavilion, the good old arch door way awaiting his next challenger, like Yama the lord of death awaiting  the next mortal.

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241. Hanuman sent the next better army to follow its predecessor.

                  Ravana became aghast to hear that the chief minister's sons were killed by that ANIMAL. Hiding his feelings with great difficulty  from all his faces, he ordered his five foremost generals Virupaksha, Yupaksha, Durdhara, Praghasa and Bhasakarna, who were all very brave rakshasas, skilled in strategy and eager to capture that animal.

        Ravana tersely told them "March, all of you O generals, take your full armies.  Approach that animal diligently. It seems that animal is not a mere   vanara. May be he is an evil spirit with an extraordinary might. This evil spirit might have been evolved for our sake by Indra the Lord of celestials with the strength of his askesis. Celestials, demons, sages along with Nagas the serpent-demons, Yakshas the spirits and Gandharvas the celestials musicians were conquered by me assisted by you all together.  It is such an evil spirit created by Indra. There is no doubt about it. Let it be captured forcibly. This vanara of a great prowess should not be underestimated by you.

       "I have seen some vanaras of a great prowess like Vali, Sugreeva, the mighty Jambavan, Nila, the Chief of army and  Dvivida.  But their way of performance is not so fearful as this; nor their efficacy, nor their prowess, nor their intellect, nor this capacity to change their form or energy at will. Keeping in view that it is a great evil spirit standing in the form of a vanara, exert a great effort and capture it. In the three worlds the strength of Indra, celestials, asuras and humans, individually or collectively cannot match yours in the battle-field.
      "Even then, the one who is skilled in strategy, desirous of a victory in a battle is to protect himself. Victory in a battle is indeed unpredictable. Go and come back victorious. Au revoir."

    All the generals with  great strength and  blaze like that of fire, augmenting their strength with chariots, elephants in rut, horses of extra ordinary swiftness and various kinds of sharp weapons  sallied forth confidently.

          Reaching the sanctuary they saw Hanuman the great vanara, encircled by his rays of splendour like a rising sun and shining, standing at ease  on the arched door-way. Immediately on seeing that vanara of great intellect, of great swiftness and of a gigantic body, all those rakshasas started to attack him with their terrific weapons from every side.
      Durdhara discharged five sharp and fierce steel arrows with a lustre of black lily-petals and yellow tops to descend into Hanuman's head. Pierced in the head by those fire arrows, Hanuman leapt roaring in the sky, making the roar reverberating in all directions. Then the mighty and the valiant Durdhara leapt into the sky with his chariot. Stretching his bow and throwing hundreds of sharp arrows, he attacked Hanuman. Hanuman warded off all those  arrows on him in the sky, as the wind wards off a rainy cloud from raining at the end of a monsoon. But Durdhara was persistent. This irritated our dear hero who then decided to stop it once and for all. Hanuman then emitted a roar once again and swiftly enlarged his body to an unimaginable size. Like a mass of lightning on a mountain, Hanuman instantaneously fell on Durdhara's chariot, by jumping up from far above with great speed causing predictable results.

          The chariot was completely broken along with its axle and pole and all his eight horses destroyed. Durdhara  dropped dead on the ground. Seeing him lifeless on the ground, the invincible(?) Virupaksha and Yupaksha, the so called annihilators of enemies, jumping up in the air all of a sudden struck Hanuman, who was standing in clear sky, in the chest with their clubs. Our hero, the mighty Hanuman whose prowess was equal to that of Garuda, the eagle, swiftly descended on to the ground. Uprooting a huge sala tree Hanuman hit those rakshasas with such a force that resulted in their death.

            Seeing their comrades killed by Hanuman, Praghasa with a great alacrity, forcefully attacked Hanuman. And at the same time the valiant Bhasakarna, highly enraged, attacked with a spear in his hand. Both the generals attacked Hanuman from each side. Praghasa pierced Hanuman with a sharp-pointed spear and Bhasakarna attacked him with a dart. With his limbs wounded by those two rakshasas, Hanuman with his body-hair anointed by blood, became enraged, which made his face blaze like that of a rising sun. He decided to kill them without any delay. 

         He then jumped up to the nearby mountain and plucking up the top of it with its various animals, serpents and trees,  killed those two rakshasas by hitting them with that top of the mountain. After eliminating the leaders, to wit, the five army-generals, Hanuman didn't have any problem in liquidating the remaining army. Like Indra, the thousand-eyed god destroying the asuras, Hanuman destroyed the horses by striking them with horses, the elephants with elephants, the warriors with warriors and the chariots with chariots.

          The earth had its path-ways blocked on all sides with the lifeless elephants, horses and the rakshasas along with the big chariots with axles and many other parts, broken.
       After enjoying the sight created by him Hanuman, the James Bond of Ramayanam, walked leisurely back to the archway and waited there for the next round.

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240. Hanuman vanquished the sons and their army.

          As ordered by their king, the seven sons of his chief minister having a lustre vying with that of fire, accompanied by a large army, wielding their respective bows, possessing a great strength, well-trained in archery and the very well known and highly respected among the wielder of weapons, wishing a victory reciprocally, having an immense prowess each, started highly delighted  in great chariots yoked with superb horses. Those chariots were creating a noise like that of an autumnal cloud. They were overlaid with a protective armour of gold, surmounted by banners and decorated with smaller flags. The seven leaders were stretching their bows inlaid with refined gold and looking colourful like clouds accompanied by flashes of lightning.

        Before starting they consoled and promised to revenge the killing of Kimkaras to their grief stricken mothers, relatives and friends. Those sons of the chief minister, wearing ornaments made of pure gold, rushed with a glee towards Hanuman, who was waiting for them standing on the arch gate-way motionless. Those rakshashas, looking like clouds, diffusing thunder-like sounds of their chariots and discharging a shower of arrows, moved in different directions resembling rainy clouds in the monsoon.

Thus covered by those showers of arrows, Hanuman became invisible like a mountain-king  concealed by incessant showers. Roaming about in a cloudless sky, our dear  fast-footed James Bond of Ramayanam made the arrows and the speedy chariots of those virile rakshashas useless.
           For time-pass our hero Hanuman started playing with those rakshasas wielding a bow each in the sky. Our dear hero was shining like his dear papa, the Lord of Wind, playing with clouds brandishing a rain bow.

           Now and then he made a terrific roar which frightened that great army. After sometime he got bored and decided to finish the battle. Our dear Hanuman, the annihilator of enemies, struck some with his palms, some with his feet and some others with his fists. He tore down some others with his nails.

         He crushed some with his chest and some others with his thighs. Some dropped dead on the ground just seeing the colossal  Hanuman. Seeing their comrades dropping dead like a rainfall, all the remaining soldiers, afflicted with fear, fled in ten different directions. Their elephants trumpeted with a wrong accent. Horses fell down on the ground. Even the earth was filled with chariots with their seats, banners and canopies shattered. Streams of blood were seen on the battle ground. Lanka resounded with various kinds of horrible voices. That heroic and mighty Hanuman with a terrible prowess, after killing those arrogant rakshasas went and rested at the arched door way waiting for some more fun. 

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239. Hanuman sent Jambumali to meet his maker.

              Having said what he wanted to say, Hanuman was waiting for the next army from Ravana. He did not have to wait for long. 
          Jambumali, the rakshash with great tusks, wielding a bow, donning crimson garlands and clothes, wearing a beautiful chaplet and charming ear-rings, possessing a gigantic body, having round and open eyes  causing fear to his enemies, unconquerable in battles so far, a strong one and the son of Prahasta, commanded by Ravana, started stretching with rashness his big bow resembling the rainbow, garnishing splendorous arrows and have the brilliance like lightening and produced a sound like thunder.

       The tumultuous sound created by the twanging of the string of that bow, soon filled up all the sides, intermediate points and the sky. Seeing him arriving by a chariot yoked with donkeys, Hanuman who was endowed with swiftness, was thrilled with joy and shouted happily.

     The long-armed Jambumali transfixed sharp arrows into that great vanara, Hanuman who was standing on the top of the arched door-way. He tried to transfix Hanuman   with an arrow in the face,  with an arrow with crescent-shaped head, on the head and with ten arrows having  ear-shaped tops,  in the arms.

That crimson face of Hanuman, hit by an arrow, shone like a full-blown lotus touched by a sun's ray in autumn. That face of Hanuman, which was naturally crimson in colour, smeared with blood, beamed like a large lotus in the sky sprinkled with drops of sandal.

Hanuman, struck by those arrows, was enraged with that rakshas looked around and noticed by his side a huge rock. Uplifting that rock,  Hanuman hurled it with a mighty force. The enraged rakshas  splintered that rock with ten arrows.

         Hanuman then uprooted a very large sal tree and whirled it around. Seeing the mighty Hanuman whirling around the sal tree, the exceedingly strong Jambumali discharged numerous arrows. He splintered that sal tree with four arrows and struck the arms of Hanuman with five arrows, in the chest with one arrow and in the space between the breasts with ten arrows. Hanuman, with his body full of arrows, was highly enraged took the same iron rod and clasping it swiftly, whirling it around and spinning it with a great speed, threw it on the broad chest of Jamubumali. The result was that Jambumali's head vanished accompanied by his arms, his knees, his bow and all the arrows, his chariot and  his horses.

      Hearing Jambumali having been killed, as also the mighty Kimkaras, Ravana was angry with his red enraged eyes. Since the mighty son of Prahasta was killed, Ravana rolling his red eyes with rage, ordered the seven sons of his chief minister possessing high strength and prowess, to go to and tackle that vanara.

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238. Hanuman destroys the Holy sanctuary of the rakshashas.

           Hanuman was mightily happy to have crushed the first lot viz. the Kinkaras. He was waiting for the second round. For the itching Hanuman who was raring for the next round, the appearance of the second lot seemed eternal. He wanted to do something which will increase the anger of Ravana. He looked around and noticed a lofty palatial mansion of the sanctuary, sacred to the guardian-deity of the rakshasas, yonder. He smiled and decided to devastate that mansion.  He then ascended that lofty palatial mansion of the sanctuary, which was as high as a mountain-top of Meru.

      Hanuman of great splendour, ascending the lofty palatial mansion similar to a mountain was looking like a second rising sun. Standing there he metamorphosed his body very huge like a mountain.
       The huge sound made by his clapping on his arms, the birds as well as the guards protecting the sanctuary fell down unconscious. Our dear Bond then roared with his voice resembling a thunder "Long live Rama, skilled in archery and the powerful Lakshmana! Long live the King Sugreeva, protected by Rama! I am Hanuman, the destroyer of the army of adversaries and the son of Vayu. I am the servant of Rama, the king of Kosala kingdom, who is unwearied in action. Even a thousand  Ravanas will not be matching equally with me, who is capable of striking with thousands of rocks and trees in battle. Here, before the eyes of all of you, I will annihilate the City of Lanka and after offering salutation to Seetha. Then only I will go back duly completing my task."
      Hearing that loud thunderous declaration, hundreds of guards protecting the sanctuary quickly armed themselves with many kinds of weapons like spears, swords, axes etc. They, with huge bodies surrounded Hanuman, duly discharging those weapons. They banged Hanuman with various kinds of maces, iron bludgeons plated with gold and arrows shining like the sun.
       Our dear Hanuman then assumed a more terrific form. Uprooting a pillar with a hundred edges and decorated with gold in that edifice, our dear James Bond of Ramayana speedily whirled it around. Fire was also generated due to the friction with other pillars. The edifice was then consumed by fire. Then, Hanuman killing those few hundred rakshasas, like Indra killing rakshasas with his thunderbolt roared "Thousands of vanaras like me, possessing gigantic bodies of strength, are under the control of Sugreeva. The other vanaras are now roaming the entire earth. Some of the vanaras are having a strength of ten elephants. Some are having a strength of a hundred elephants. Some are having a prowess equal to that of a thousand elephants. Some are having the strength of a strong stream. Some have the strength equal to that of wind. The prowess of some other army-chiefs of vanaras  cannot be measured.
       "Sugreeva with a very huge army of vanaras and bears employing their teeth and nails as their weapons, will come here soon to destroy all of you. As you have made the great Rama your enemy  this City of Lanka will not be there. Neither you, nor even Ravana will survive."

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237. The first round was in Hanuman's favour.

         The ruckus created by Hanuman yielded the desired results. Those hearing the screaming sound of the birds and at the sound of the crash of falling trees, trembled with fear. Made to run to-and-fro and getting frightened, beasts and birds began to scream. Atrocious omens made their appearance before the rakshasas.

       The ugly-faced rakshasis, woken from their blissful sleep, found that grove demolished and saw that vanara, our James Bond of Ramayanam. Seeing their horrid and stupefied faces, our Bond of Ramayanam assumed a gigantic form which  terrified them.

          Dazed at the sight of a vanara the size of a mountain,  the rakshasis guarding Seetha asked Seetha "Who is he? Whose messenger is he? From where and for what purpose has he come here? Wherefore a conversation was held by him with you? O large-eyed Seetha! Tell us. Let there be no fear for you, O fortunate lady! What did he speak to you?"
      Thereupon Seetha the virtuous lady, having a complete beauty of all limbs, told them timidly "How do you expect me to know about that rakshash of a terrific form? On the other hand you  should be able to recognise who he is, what he does etc. A serpent only can recognise the feet of another serpent. There is no doubt about it. By seeing him, I too get frightened. I do not know who he is. I only know him as a rakshash, able to assume any form at his will."

       Hearing the words of Seetha the guards discussed inter se and some left and went to Ravana and told him "Your Majesty! A vanara having a ginormous and terrific body and a boundless prowess, is stationed in the middle of the Ashoka grove and made a conversation with Seetha. Eventhough questioned in many ways by us, Seetha, the daughter of Janaka, having eyes similar to those of a doe, was not inclined to tell us about that vanara. He may be a messenger of Indra, the Lord of celestials, or the messenger of Kubera, the king of riches or even a messenger sent by Rama to search for Seetha.

         "He, having a gigantesque form, has wiped off that grove attached to the gynaecium. There is no place whatsoever in that grove, which was not destroyed by him. Only that place, where Seetha the daughter of Janaka was sitting, was not destroyed by him. It is not known whether to protect Seetha or because of fatigue, he has left that place untouched.   He probably did it to protect Seetha as with that size of body he is not likely to get any fatigue. That well-grown Shimshupaa tree, abounding charming sprouts and flowers, under which Seetha  took shelter, has been spared by him. To that terrifying looking vanara, who talked with Seetha and destroyed that grove, well deserves a terrible punishment by your majesty."

         Hearing them, Ravana  flared up like a funeral fire, his eyes spinning with anger. Angry tears dropped from Ravana's enraged eyes, like drops of oil dripping from resplendent lamps. Ravana, with a great splendour, ordered a special troop of rakshashas called Kinkaras,  to catch hold of Hanuman. All the the eighty thousand  Kinkaras of that battalion started. All those Kinkaras were very strong and mighty despite their large bellies. They had long tusks and terrible forms, longing to fight with iron mallets and clubs in hand, eager to get hold of Hanuman, started.

     Approaching Hanuman who was standing near the arched doorway, they rushed towards him with a great speed, like locusts rushing towards a fire. They banged Hanuman with various kinds of maces, iron bludgeons plated with gold and arrows shining like the sun. Quickly surrounding Hanuman with clubs, sharp edged spears, iron pikes, lances, javelins and swords, they  confronted him.

      The highly splendorous, illustrious and dauntless Hanuman, looking like a mountain, hurled his tail  on the ground, making a thunderous noise. Hanuman, the son of Vayu, the wind-god, expanding his body to a further big size, clapped on his arms boldly, filling Lanka with that clapping sound.

       By that great sound made by Hanuman through the clapping on his arms together with its resound, birds fell down from the sky. Hanuman also then shouted with a clamorous voice "Long live the mighty Rama and the powerful Lakshmana! Long live the King Sugreeva, protected by Rama! I am Hanuman, the destroyer of the army of adversaries and the son of Vayu. I am the servant of Rama, the king of Kosala Kingdom, who is unwearied in action. Even a thousand of Ravanas will not be matching equally with me, who is capable of striking with thousands of rocks and trees, in battle. Here, before the eyes of all the rakshashas, I will annihilate the City of Lanka and after offering salutation to Seetha, I will go back after fully completing my task."

       Those fearless kinkaras became frightened by the clamorous voice of Hanuman who was seen by them as a giant. Nevertheless they rushed towards Hanuman, with their terrific and amazing weapons.

       Surrounded on all the sides by those strong rakshashas, our James Bond endowed with a great strength seized a huge iron bar attached to the arched gate. With that iron rod, Hanuman killed the kinkaras. That indomitable Hanuman strolled in the sky, taking that iron rod in his hand, as Garuda the eagle would carry a serpent in its claws. Killing almost all the valiant rakshashas called Kinkaras, our dear hero looking not a bit tired and ready and prepared to face any number of foes, returned to his pavilion, the archy gateway, like Don Bradman, after scoring a double.

       Some kinkara soldiers, who loved to live for some more time, somehow escaped from that terror, went to Ravana and informed him that all the Kinkaras were killed. Hearing that Ravana ordered Jambumali, son of Prahasta, with unlimited prowess and had not been conquered in any battle so far.

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