Hanuman’s carriage to Ravan’s court made quite a spectacle. The rakshas as were curious to see a huge monkey being dragged on the streets by scores of their brethren. Those who had watched him in his fierce mode killing their people and ruining such a well-guarded place as the Ashok Vatika cried for his blood. When at last he was presented before the court, Ravan himself was amazed at the immensity of his proportions. Little did he or anyone else around him know that Hanuman had willingly got himself trussed up by Meghnad’s men, only to be brought face to face with someone who had the gumption to abduct Sita. He did not want to go back to Ram until he had an occasion to speak to Ravan.
Hanuman himself was impressed by the splendour as well as gravitas of Ravan’s court. The rakshas-raja wore a bejewelled crown and his coal-black body sparkled with gold ornaments of exquisite craftsmanship. His canopied and comfortably cushioned crystal throne scintillated with inlaid precious stones. Beautiful maidens bedecked in finest jewellery and tasteful costumes stood fanning him decorously with flywhisks. Equally impressive in their deportment as well as erudition were Ravan’s courtiers, such as Durdhar, Prahast, Mahaparshav and Nikumbh. Yet more than Ravan’s regal resplendence and the shine of his court, Hanuman was struck by his poise. Here was a ruling monarch, Hanuman thought, with the inborn strength and fortitude to keep his cool even while confronted by someone who, intruding into his domain, had killed his son and vast numbers of his army.
Staring coldly at Hanuman, Raja Ravan said to Prahast in a controlled voice, “Minister! Ask this wretch where he has come from. What has brought him here? Why did he lay waste my forest resort and for what has he killed the rakshasas?”
Prahast repeated his sovereign’s questions to Hanuman in a courtly manner, assuring him that he would be let off if he stated everything truthfully. He also sought him to clarify the doubt lingering in Ravan’s mind whether the deities Vishnu or Indra had sent him or was he an agent provocateur detailed by Kuber, whom Ravan had ousted from Lanka.
Hanuman began by saying that he was pure and simple a monkey. He wanted to see Ravan by any means and for that matter he intentionally set to ruining his forest resort. As for killing the rakshas as, they had come to kill him and he killed them instead. Then, looking Ravan in the eye, Hanuman said, “Lord! I have something important to say to you on behalf of Shri Ram Chandra. Take me as his envoy and do please listen to me.”
He went on to tell Ravan that it was a terrible blunder on his part to have abducted Ram’s consort, Sita, who was languishing in his custody. Emphasising Ram’s personal valour in ridding the Dandkaranya of rakshasas and the strong alliance between Prince Ram and Raja Sugriv (implying thereby the very present threat of Sugriv’s vast army), Hanuman warned him plainly:
Yam Sitatyabhijanasi yeyam tishthati te grihe/
Kalratriti tam viddhi sarvakankavinashinim//
Tadalam kalpashen Sitavigrehrupina/
Swayam skandhavsakten kshemmatmani chintayatam//
The one whom you know by the name of Sita and who currently is present in your woman’s quarter, think of her as the black cold night of total annihilation of Lanka.
A noose of death has approached you in Sita’s form. It is not proper (for you) to deliberately hang it round your neck; therefore, be mindful of your welfare.
Balmiki Ramayan/Sunderkand/Canto 51(xxxiv-xxxv)
Ravan lost his poise at last. “Kill this monkey!” He thundered from his throne. The court attendants advanced menacingly towards Hanuman, but were deterred by Vibhishan’s interjection, “Don’t kill him, he comes here an ambassador!”
Ravan glared at his younger brother. “You speak out of turn, brother! He is a bully and a murderer. He has ruined my forest resort and killed my valiant fighters. He merits a speedy death!”
Vibhishan seemed intimidated by his brother’s kinglyrebuke. “O King of Kings! I beg your mercy!” He cried, “This monkey has indeed done us a great harm. Yet, he carries a message. He is Ram’s envoy. A minister of Raja Sugriv’s is he. The Shastras prohibit killing of a doot, as does the unsullied tradition of our Great House. Do punish him. Punish him such that he carries back a message of our tempered justice. Mutilate him, have him thrashed, let one of his limbs be cut off. Rather than killing this poor messenger, I would suggest we should fittingly punish those who have sent him. Let us despatch a few tried and tested warriors to capture those woe-beg one and wandering princes and use them as trophies to overwhelm our enemies.”
Ravan was pleased with Vibhishan’s subtility. With a wry smile he altered his earlier command –
Kapinam kil lang-gulmishtam bhavti bhushnam/
Tadasya dipytam shighram ten dagdhen gacchhtu//
Monkeys love their tail immensely. That is their ornament. Therefore, as soon as possible, burn down his tail. He should go from here only with his burnt tail.
Ibid/Canto 53(iii)
The outcome of Ravan’s decision could not have been worse for him than what both the poets, Rishi Balmiki and Sant Tulsidas, have stated poetically. Hanuman willed his tail to grow longer and longer as the rakshasas went on wrapping it with cloth and smearing it with oil and ghee. They had their moment of fun too, clapping loudly and kicking at him. Then they set his tail on fire, unaware that his divine origins made him proof to the pain of burning. As the tail crackled like an incendiary bomb, Hanuman, very monkey-like, flung himself energetically out to the top of the nearest house. Burning it down, he spiritedly jumped to the next and to the next. In this manner, he not only burned down the entire city, but also had a good look at its layout in the broad day-light, the purpose he had set out for. Having completed his mission, he took a dip into the ocean to put down the fire on his tail.
Hanuman feared that in his bursting zeal, he might have burned down to Sita’s prison, and hurt her as well. Resuming the form of a cute monkey, he went back to see her. He was pleased to find that she was unharmed. Assuring her that she would be liberated soon enough, he went atop a hillock and took a giant jump northward to land again amidst the money-army on the Indian soil.
His compatriots were mighty pleased to have him back –
Tab Madhuban bhitar sab aaye/Angad sammat madhu phal khaye//
Rakhware jab barjan lage/Mushti prahar hanat sab bhage//
Then all of them went to the Madhuban (orchard) and with Angad’s approval feasted (on the fruit or honey). The guards who came to forbid them fled away under their blows.
Ramcharitmanas/Sunderkand/27(iv)
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