28. The Battle Against Meghnad
The Quest for Medicinal Plants
On a particular hill in the Himalayas, Veer Hanuman searched for medicinal plants. However, all the plants looked more or less alike, making it difficult for him to distinguish the medicinal ones from the ordinary. He did not worry about it for long. Stooping down, he uprooted the entire hill, raised it high with one hand, and flew back to Lanka.
A Glorious Arrival
It was a magnificent scene. All who caught sight of Hanuman flying marveled at his power. The hill on his hand cut through layers of clouds, reflecting the sun’s rays and resembling a mound of gold.
When the Vanaras spotted Hanuman on the horizon, they erupted into loud cheers. Hanuman, growing nearer, joined them in their joyous uproar. He then descended, unburdened himself of the hill, and greeted the elder Vanaras.
The Power of the Breeze
The fragrance of the medicinal plants, carried by the swift breeze, was enough to bring Rama and Lakshmana back to consciousness. The same magic rejuvenated numerous Vanaras, and even the fallen Vanaras were restored to life. Such was the efficacy of the breeze that bore the scent of the plants! It might have even brought the dead demons back to life, but Ravana had ordered the corpses of his soldiers to be thrown into the sea, so their surviving comrades would not be disheartened by the sight of their fallen allies.
The Call to Action
Hanuman returned to the Himalayas and set the hill down in its rightful place. Upon his return, Sugriva informed Hanuman, “Kumbhakarna, the mighty brother of Ravana, has been vanquished. One of Ravana’s sons has also been killed. The demon-king is drowned in sorrow. This is the time to strike terror into the hearts of the demons. We must invade the fort tonight and take the demons by surprise.”
Chaos in Ravana’s Fort
As darkness fell, the Vanaras made a sudden dash into Ravana’s fort. Their burning torches illuminated the night, and their fearsome screams seemed to shake the fort to its very foundation. The demons were utterly unprepared for such an invasion, running helter-skelter in the dark and crying for help. The Vanaras, inspired by the chaos among their enemies, set fire to house after house as they advanced.
A Fierce Battle Ensues
While several battalions of demon soldiers, though not completely prepared, rushed forward to confront the enemy, battles raged in the labyrinthine corridors of the massive fort. Clamors and clangs echoed in the high towers.
When the noise reached the apartment of Ravana, and he saw the flames spreading across several parts of the fort, he ordered Kumbha and Nikumbha, the sons of Kumbhakarna, to repel the enemy. The two brothers, joined by Yupaksha, Sonitaksha, Prajangha, and Kampana, immediately rushed out to engage in battle.
The Turning Tide
The battle took a grave turn as these demon heroes emerged. However, Kampana was killed by Angada soon after. Encouraged by his success, Angada leaped towards Sonitaksha, snatched his sword, and beheaded him. Prajangha was the next to fall under Angada’s onslaught. Meanwhile, the demon Yupaksha met his end at the hands of Maind.
Just then, the furious Kumbha confronted Angada. Despite Angada’s brave defense, he soon became exhausted and fainted. Rama, observing from a distance, sent Jamvaban and a few other heroes to his rescue. However, it was extremely difficult for them to near Kumbha, who unleashed a relentless volley of arrows from his gigantic bow. Sugriva understood the gravity of the situation and took a leap to confront Kumbha, wresting the bow from him. In that confrontation, Kumbha was soon found lying flat on the ground, having breathed his last.
The Wrath of Nikumbha
When Nikumbha witnessed his brother’s death, he shook with fury and hurled a heavy mace at Hanuman. Although the mace shattered upon impact, Hanuman felt its blow. In retaliation, he delivered a crushing strike to Nikumbha’s chest. The demon staggered, spitting blood, yet mustered his strength to stand and attack Hanuman again. Hanuman seized Nikumbha’s head and did not let go until the demon lay motionless, never to stir again!
Meghnad’s Arrival
Ravana was shocked to learn of the deaths of Kumbhakarna’s sons. He immediately summoned Meghnad and ordered him to face the enemy. Meghnad chose to perform a special rite before going into battle. The fight raged on outside the fort, while Meghnad found a relatively safe place behind the fort to invoke spirits and appease them. Certain of his victory, he decided to fight, going invisible.
The Strategy of Deception
An unceasing rain of arrows fell on Rama and Lakshmana as Meghnad attacked. Despite returning fire, Meghnad remained unscathed, swaying rapidly in the sky. Many Vanaras fell unconscious or perished due to his relentless barrage.
“Let me discharge the Weapon of Brahma to annihilate the demons!” Lakshmana said angrily.
“No, Lakshmana,” Rama countered. “If we are fighting Meghnad, we should devise ways to defeat him, not wipe out the entire race of demons.”
Suddenly, Meghnad retreated into the fort, devising a sinister plan. He would create an illusion of Sita and pretend to kill her to throw Rama and Lakshmana into despair and defeat.
Confrontation in the Battlefield
When Meghnad re-emerged, visible to everyone and riding a chariot, Hanuman and the other Vanaras charged at him. Just as Hanuman was about to hurl a huge rock at Meghnad, he spotted the fake Sita weeping beside him.
Hanuman dropped the rock and demanded, “What is this? Why have you dragged Sita Devi into the battlefield? What is your intention?”
Meghnad gripped the fake Sita by her hair and replied, “It is for this Sita that we fight. Why not end her life? That will pave the way to our victory!”
<p“Silence, you vile wretch! I will leave no trace of you if you proceed with your nefarious plan!” shouted Hanuman. Meghnad laughed and pretended to kill the fake Sita, announcing his triumph with a loud cry.
Rallying the Vanaras
The Vanaras, terrified, contemplated fleeing from the wild demon. But Hanuman urged them to face their enemy boldly. Encouraged, the Vanaras attacked the demons with renewed vigor. Hanuman picked up the rock he had dropped earlier and hurled it at Meghnad’s chariot. Although the charioteer managed to save the chariot, many demons perished under the rock’s weight. After a moment, Hanuman declared, “Indeed, we were fighting for the sake of Sita Devi. Now that she is no more, I am unsure of our course of action. We should inform Rama and Sugriva of Meghnad’s treachery.”
The Aftermath of Treachery
Meghnad was pleased to see the Vanaras retreating. He hurried into the fort to prepare for a more elaborate rite, seeking victory through a blood sacrifice. Meanwhile, as instructed by Rama, the army of bears, under Jamvaban’s leadership, was approaching to aid Hanuman in the battle against Meghnad. Hanuman met the army on his way to Rama and revealed that Sita had been killed by Meghnad. Upon hearing this news, Rama swooned away, and many Vanara heroes surrounded him, attempting to revive him with perfumed water.
Lakshmana sat beside Rama and lamented, “You have always adhered to the path of truth. Your sense of duty brought you to sacrifice the throne and seek shelter in the forest. Yet, you continue to face endless troubles. It seems that truthfulness has no place in a world where the unjust triumph!”
The Turning Point
By the time Rama regained consciousness, Vibhishana had arrived. Upon hearing everything, Vibhishana declared, “O Ramachandra! This report is false. Ravana, who refused to surrender Sita Devi to you, is not likely to allow his son to kill her. Meghnad aims to complete his penance without interruption, using this trick to keep us bewildered and brooding. We cannot allow him to complete his rite, as success would make him invincible. Lakshmana must follow me; I will show him where Meghnad is performing his rite, and Lakshmana must not only thwart his plan but also defeat him.”