16. Hanuman’s Triumph and the Fire of Lanka
In the court of Ravana, Veer Hanuman was questioned about his motive for visiting Lanka. Looking directly at Ravana, Hanuman replied, “You are the king of demons. I was curious to see you, and that is why I entered the Ashoka garden. However, before I could meet you, strong demons attacked me. I had to fight back in self-defense. Lord Brahma granted me a boon that no weapon could harm me. Therefore, the weapon of Brahma, which you think has imprisoned me, has no effect on me. I am here because I chose to be here.”
“I am the emissary of the mighty Sri Ramachandra,” Hanuman continued. “I bring a serious message. Pay attention to me if you desire your own good.”
The Message from Ramachandra
Hanuman continued, “I greet you on behalf of Sugriva, the king of the Vanaras. You know Vali, don’t you? The great hero Vali was killed by a single arrow sent by Rama. Following Rama’s guidance, Sugriva ascended the throne and undertook the task of finding Sita Devi. Accordingly, he dispatched bands of Vanaras in all directions, and I, Hanuman, the son of the God of Wind, am one of them. I crossed the sea and was fortunate enough to discover Sita Devi.”
“It is strange that you, who are well-versed in scriptures, have forcibly taken a married woman captive. Regardless of your power, you cannot escape the wrath of Rama and Lakshmana. This is what King Sugriva instructed me to convey. Now that I have found Sita Devi, it is for Rama to decide the next course of action.”
The Threat of Destruction
“If I wished, I could single-handedly destroy Lanka, but that might not earn Rama’s approval. He vowed before the armies of the Vanaras and bears that he would eliminate the kidnapper of Sita Devi with his own hands. Know this, O demons: Sita Devi is a sign of certain death for you! I am neither man nor demon, and thus I am impartial. But I speak the truth: none can save you from Rama.”
The Response from Ravana
Trembling with rage at these bold words, Ravana shouted, “Put this Vanara to death!”
Immediately, the wise Vibhisana stepped forward and said, “O King! Do not be swayed by your passion. It is against the code of conduct to kill a royal emissary. You must find another way to punish Hanuman.”
“But this Vanara is wicked! Punishing such wickedness with death is justified!” Ravana replied, still seething with anger.
The Wisdom of Vibhisana
“My lord! Under no circumstances should a royal emissary be killed, according to authorities. There are alternative punishments, such as mutilating him, shaving off his hair, or placing him amid a swarm of ants. However, he must not be killed. Killing him will serve no purpose; you must take vengeance on those who sent him here. All he has said are his master’s words. If you kill him, no one will cross the sea to inform Rama of your refusal. It would bring you greater fame to let him go and inform his master of your objection,” advised Vibhisana.
This reasoning calmed Ravana. Deciding to heed Vibhisana’s advice, he said, “You are right; killing this creature would serve no purpose. But he cannot be allowed to go unpunished. The tail is very dear to a Vanara. Set fire to his tail, and let us see the fun!”
The Torment of Hanuman
It was decided to parade Hanuman through the city with his tail ablaze. The demons busied themselves gathering clothes to wrap around Hanuman’s tail, pouring oil on it before setting it afire. Hanuman endured the torment patiently, but once his tail became a torch, he swung it violently, whipping the demons who shrieked and ran away in terror.
As the male and female demons rushed to see Hanuman with his burning tail, some bolder ones threatened him if he did not control it. For a moment, Hanuman pretended to comply. Then, he was paraded through the city, with hordes of curious demons following at a safe distance. This procession gave him a chance to observe the city, its armory, and important buildings while the demons raised deafening shouts of joy.
Sita’s Concern
When Sita heard from the demon women that fire had been set to Hanuman’s tail, she became anxious and prayed to the God of Fire, asking for Hanuman’s safety. Sarama comforted Sita, saying, “Do not worry about that strange Vanara. He is no ordinary being but a great soul. He could reduce this city to ashes if he desired!”
And indeed, Hanuman had decided to teach the demons a lesson. He reduced his size and instantly freed himself from his bonds. Then, returning to his original form, he picked up a massive mace lying at the city gate and thrashed the nearby demons. He then leaped from building to building, setting them on fire with his burning tail.
The Destruction of Lanka
The first palace to burn was Prahastha’s. Following that, he jumped onto the roof of Mahaparshwa’s house and wreaked havoc. Gradually, the grand mansions of Shuka, Vajradanta, Saran, Indrajit, Jamvumali, and Sumali were reduced to ashes, with only Vibhisana’s mansion spared.
Finally, Hanuman descended upon Ravana’s palace. Not only did the building crumble, but the great fire consumed all of its precious wealth accumulated over generations. The wind howled fiercely as the flames ravaged everything in sight. The sky turned dark with smoke, filled with the agonizing cries of the fleeing demons.
Reflection and Resolution
At last, Hanuman appeared satisfied. Casting a final look at the burning city, he jumped into the sea to extinguish the fire on his tail. But doubts soon plagued his mind. Was it right to destroy part of Lanka? While playing with fire, he hadn’t considered that his actions might have frightened Sita Devi. He thought, “I’d end my life if I dared to harm Sita Devi in any way.” But then he wondered, “How could a fire that didn’t even singe a hair on my tail have harmed Sita Devi?”
The Reunion with Sita
Hanuman appeared before Sita and, with folded hands, said, “Mother! I am grateful that you are safe!”
Sita replied, “I have no words to commend your bravery. You alone could destroy Lanka and rescue me, but it is fitting that Rama should defeat the enemy himself and take me with him. Therefore, go and convey this message to him.”
“Mother! Your wish shall be fulfilled!” said Hanuman. Blessed by her, he climbed the mountain named Arista and leaped into the sky, causing the mountain to tremble beneath him.
The Joyful Return
Through the clouds, Veer Hanuman flew towards Mount Mahendra beyond the sea. He let out a jubilant roar as his destination came into view. His friends, filled with anxiety for his well-being, rejoiced upon hearing his roar. Jamvaban remarked, “Unless Hanuman succeeded in his mission, he would not exhibit such signs of joy.”
All the Vanaras gathered at the peak, some waving branches and gazing at the sky. Soon, Hanuman descended among them, paying his respects to Jamvaban, Angada, and the other elders. His friends welcomed him with an array of fruits, and looking radiant, Hanuman shared, “I saw Sita Devi!”
Delighted, the Vanaras erupted in joyful celebration, dancing and embracing Hanuman. He exultantly announced, “Indeed, I have seen Mother Sita!”
“Hanuman! You are a hero unparalleled. Great is your achievement. We are all fortunate because of you!” exclaimed Angada.
The leading members of the group circled Hanuman, eager to hear all about Sita Devi. Jamvaban asked, “My son! Tell us everything about Sita Devi. How is she? What did she say? We must hear all before we report our success to Sri Ramachandra.”
