The Ramayana

by Ramesh Menon

  “Seeing Prahastha overcome so quickly, so easily, Maricha, Suka, Sarana, Mahodara, and the rest slunk away from the field like dogs. Only Ravana remained to confront Arjuna. Like two stormy seas, two agitated mountains, two suns, two apocalyptic fires, two bulls fighting for a cow in heat, two thunderclouds, two lions, like Rudra and Kaala, Kartaviryarjuna and Ravana rushed at each other, maces in hand.

  “Their blows were like erupting volcanoes, like earthquakes, like the world being cloven. When Arjuna swung his gada at his enemy’s chest, it was a gash of lightning that briefly turns a dark, ominous sky golden. And when Ravana swung his mace at the stupendous kshatriya, it resembled a meteor falling through the sky onto a mountain.

  “Neither combatant seemed to tire, though they fought like two rivers in spate trying to drown each other. Why, they fought even as Indra and the Asura Bali did, of old. Suddenly, the Haihaya cast his mace at his opponent like a bolt of fate. That blow would have killed any other warrior in the three worlds; but the mace smashed to dust against Ravana’s chest, protected by Brahma’s boon. But Ravana staggered back a bow’s length and sank to the ground, crying out in pain.

  “Seeing his chance, Arjuna darted forward and seized the Rakshasa in his thousand arms, as Garuda would a serpent. Kartaviryarjuna bound Ravana, even as Vishnu once did Bali. From above, there fell a delicate shower of fine petals from Indra’s garden, from the immaterial hands of the siddhas, charanas, and Devas.

  “When he had Ravana firmly, as a tiger a deer or a lion an elephant, mighty Kartaviryarjuna flung back his head and roared again and again: echoing thunder! Meanwhile, Prahastha, whom Arjuna had felled earlier, had come to his senses. Seeing his precious lord held fast in a thousand arms, he sprang up and charged Arjuna. Following their Senapati, celebrating his recovery, Maricha, Suka, Mahodara, Sarana, and all the other rakshasas rushed at Arjuna from many sides.

  “Prahastha, the main assailant, loosed every sort of weapon at the kshatriya who held his master helpless. But with his thousand hands Arjuna plucked them from the air as they flew at him. Then he, also, held countless bows in numberless hands and shot such an extravagance of missiles at the rakshasas that he scattered them as the wind does the fleecy clouds of summer.

  “Victorious, the great Haihaya brought Ravana, immobile in the thongs of a thousand arms, back to his city: Mahishmati like a jewel upon the earth. Along his triumphal march through his streets, women and brahmanas showered seasons of flowers over their conquering king and harvests of rice-grains,” said the matchless Muni Agastya in the court of Ayodhya, in the perfect Rama’s sabha.

  20. Ravana and Vali

  “In lofty Brahmaloka, Pulastya Muni, Ravana’s grandfather, heard the Devas tell with relish how Kartaviryarjuna had taken Ravana prisoner, which they said was hardly easier than capturing the wind.

  “Pulastya arrived in Mahishmati by rishi patha, the ethereal skyway of the sages of heaven. When Arjuna’s ministers saw the muni, who was as splendid as a sun and hard even to look at, they ran in to their king to tell him that Pulastya himself had come to their city. Kartaviryarjuna folded his palms above his head and came out to receive the holy one.

  “The Haihaya king came with arghya, with his own brahmanas going ahead of him, as Brihaspati does when Indra comes to the gates of Amravati to greet Brahma. Arjuna offered Pulastya Muni madhurparka, a cow, and water to wash his feet with, then said to him in some rapture, ‘O Prince among rishis, today my Mahishmati is as blessed as Amravati. My life is fruitful today that Pulastya Muni has come to grace my city. My kingdom and my people are yours to command; all that I own is yours.’

  “And he prostrated himself before the rishi. Pulastya laid a hand on the king’s head and raised him up. He asked after the welfare of his kingdom, his family, his children, and his people. Then Pulastya said, ‘You have no equal in strength and valor anywhere, O Kartaviryarjuna, that Ravana himself is your prisoner. Only you have ever vanquished my grandson, in awe of whom the sea and the wind stand still. You have consumed his glory, and I, Pulastya, have come to beg you to set my child free.’

  “Arjuna did not say a word. He clapped his hands to have Ravana fetched from the dungeon where he held him, and set him free without condition. Why, that kshatriya gave Ravana lavish gifts of unearthly ornaments and clothes, and swore a covenant with him, before a sacred fire, that neither of them would attack the other.

  “With this, Arjuna bowed low to Pulastya, took the padadhuli from his feet, and went back into his palace. The rishi, too, blessed his chastened grandson and vanished in a flare of light, back to Brahmaloka. Ravana returned to Lanka. Now that he had sworn friendship with Kartaviryarjuna, there was truly no king left in the three worlds who could pose a threat to the Rakshasa. He ruled as he pleased and extended his sinister sway as far as he ranged. He never hesitated to drink the blood of anyone who dared oppose him; and if he ever heard that any king or warrior, anywhere, of any race, was powerful, he made it a point to visit him and either kill him or have his abject surrender.

  “Once, Ravana heard that there was a peerless hero in a jungle of Bharatavarsha. He was a vanara of untold valor and strength, a king of his people, and his name was Vali. Vali ruled the secret city of Kishkinda, and when Ravana heard about his prowess and his exploits, he went to Kishkinda and roared out a challenge to Vali.

  “At this, Vali’s wife and chief minister, Tara, her father Sushena, who was Vali’s physician, and his brother Sugriva came and said, variously, to Ravana, ‘Lord of Lanka, Vali is not in Kishkinda and no one else in this city is even remotely a match for you. Our king has gone to the shores of the four seas to say his sandhya vandana. We beg you, wait, and he will return shortly.’

  “Ravana gazed in some curiosity at a great pile of glistening bones heaped outside the hidden gates of Kishkinda. He saw some bones were intact, but others had been crushed almost to powder.

  “Tara said to him, ‘These are the bones of those who sought to test their strength against Vali. Not even if you have drunk amrita, Rakshasa, will you escape death if you fight him. Ravana, if you are in a hurry to die, go to the shore of the southern ocean and you will find my husband there at his sandhya vandana, glowing like Agni Deva come down to the earth.’

  “He growled at her, ‘We shall see how a monkey fights Ravana of Lanka.’

  “Climbing back into the pushpaka vimana, he flew quickly as a thought to the southern shore. There he saw an immense figure seated on the sands, like a small golden mountain, entirely absorbed in his twilight worship. His face, which shone like a rising sun, was turned toward the scarlet sea into which the sun sank like treasure. Ravana, black as night, crept up behind the vanara to seize him. But Vali sensed him coming; he saw him out of the corner of his eye.

  “Vali showed no anger; rather he smiled serenely when he glimpsed the ten-headed Demon creeping up on him like a thief. He was like a lion that spied a rabbit, or Garuda sensing a snake. He did not pause his chanting of the Vedic mantras, but he prepared himself for Ravana. He was also determined that he would complete his worship, at all the four seas, this very evening.

  “Unaware that he was discovered, Ravana crept up close behind the vanara. But when he raised his arms to seize Vali, quicker than light the great monkey spun around and gripped Ravana’s neck in his armpit. The Rakshasa roared, he struggled; he flailed out at Vali, but he could not get free. The vanara held him fast; he held him as easily as he would a child.

  “The other rakshasas now leaped out of the vimana and rushed at the vanara to rescue their king. But holding Ravana dangling from his armpit, Vali rose steeply into the sky, lit by the last shafts of the setting sun. The pursuing rakshasas flew up after him, but they could not match Vali’s thought-like speed.

  “The mountains of the earth swayed out of Vali the vanara’s way as he sped toward the three remaining oceans, worshipping the Goddesses of dawn and dusk, being honored by the birds of the air. He alighted on the shore of the western sea, with Ravana dangling
helplessly from his armpit like a rag doll.

  “Vali immersed himself in the western ocean and chanted the sandhya mantra, standing waist-deep in the water. He flew up again, flitted away to the northern sea, and worshipped there, as well, immersing Ravana as if the Rakshasa were a strange limb of himself. He worshipped at the eastern sea, also, then flew home to Kishkinda and down into a sylvan garden just outside his city. Now Vali felt a trifle tired, having carried Ravana across the length and breadth of Bharatavarsha.

  “He lifted his arm, scratched himself as monkeys do, and let the Rakshasa fall from his armpit; and, pretending to notice him only now, began laughing uproariously. ‘From where did you spring?’ he asked.

  “Ravana said, humbly by now, ‘Vanarendra, I am Ravana, and I came seeking a duel with you, for I heard of your prowess. But I never dreamed there existed in this world anyone who could do to me what you have done today. And, ah, how swiftly you flew! I thought only the mind, Vayu Deva, and Garuda flew so fast.

  “‘O jewel among monkeys, having seen you and felt your strength, I would not have you as my enemy. I beg you, let us be friends forever; let us swear friendship before a sacred agni. Let all our lands, our women, our soldiers, our food, all we own, belong to the both of us, jointly. Let us be allies, like brothers!’

  “And, laughing, Vali agreed. They lit a fire, embraced, and the Lord of the monkey folk of the earth and the Emperor of the rakshasas swore to be friends unto death. Then Vali led Ravana into Kishkinda, like one lion leading another into his cave. For a month Ravana lived in Kishkinda and was treated even as Sugriva was in that wonderful, hidden city.”

  Agastya glanced at Rama in some wonder, and said, “It was that invincible Vali whom you killed with just one arrow, Rama.”

  Rama sighed, and Sugriva had tears in his golden eyes.

  21. Speaking of Hanuman

  Rama said brightly, “Truly, Muni, Vali and Ravana were powerful beyond all measure. But neither was as strong as our Hanuman! Neither of them could have accomplished what he did, in the most difficult circumstances: when Angada and the vanaras despaired on the shore of the southern sea; when, later, Hanuman leaped into Lanka and could not find Sita; and, of course, when he killed some of Ravana’s best warriors and his son Aksha, and set Lanka on fire, all by himself.

  “And in the war, too, he was invincible. Why, not even Kaala, Indra, or Kubera have done what Hanuman did, and I am sure that but for him we could never have triumphed. But I realize, O Agastya, that I know precious little about this dearest friend of mine. He is so humble that he never speaks of himself, almost as if he is not even aware of how great he is. Not only I, but also many others here would like to hear about his valor. My lord, though Hanuman himself perhaps would not have it, I beg you: tell us all there is to know about him.”

  Hanuman already squirmed shyly where he sat. Agastya smiled to see him, and said, “Rama, truly, there is no one on earth to match our good Hanuman in speed, intelligence, or even strength. But as you have observed, he himself is hardly aware of his greatness; which is why he did not consume Vali as a fire does a dry tree of summer, but instead watched Sugriva suffer in the wilderness. And there is a reason for this, besides his natural humility. You see, once the rishis of the forest cursed Hanuman that he would never be fully aware of his own powers. For even as a small child, he performed such feats that they were afraid of him, and what he might do when he grew up.

  “You know, Rama, the mountain Sumeru has a golden hue because of Surya Deva’s blessing. Hanuman’s father, Kesari, ruled on Sumeru. His wife was the lovely Anjana, and upon her Vayu sired Hanuman, who was born with the color of the bristly heads of paddy sheaths. When he was just a mite, his mother left him sleeping and went into the forest to find some soft fruit for her child to eat. Hanuman woke up when she was away, and began to cry from finding her gone and from hunger, even as Karttikeya did in the thicket of sara grasses.

  “Just then, he saw the sun rising on the rim of the world, like a mass of japaa flowers. He thought it was a great fruit and sprang up into the air to pluck it! Hanuman flew up like an arrow. The Devas, yakshas, and Danavas saw him flaring up like an effulgent thought, and were amazed.

  “They said to one another, ‘If he flies like this when he is just a baby, what will he be like when he is a youth?’

  “Vayu flew with his son, enfolding him in a cool wrap of air, so the sun would not burn him. With his father’s power, Hanuman shot up through the sky for a million yojanas and he drew near the blazing sun. Surya Deva knew this was a child of great destiny, who would one day be the messenger of Vishnu’s Avatara: he did not consume the young monkey.

  “At that very time, Rahu tried to seize the sun and devour him. Little Hanuman saw the Asura and attacked the demon who was trying to steal his fruit. Rahu was terrified by the awesome child and fled to Indra. Simhika’s son, the Asura, complained to the king of the Devas, ‘O Indra, you have said that I can feed on the sun and the moon, to still my perpetual hunger. Today is the day after the new moon, but when I was about to seize Surya, another Asura attacked me suddenly and laid hold of the star.’

  “Indra, tall as a peak of Kailasa, his golden necklace blinding, mounted the four-tusked Airavata, set the aggrieved Rahu before him, and flew to where Surya Deva was with Hanuman. When Rahu saw the sun, he leaped off Airavata’s back and flew at the blazing star. When Hanuman saw Rahu flying toward him like a great black cloud, he thought this was another velvet fruit, worthy of his attention. He sprang at Rahu to eat him.

  “Rahu screamed, ‘Indra! Help me!’ and fled from the splendid monkey child.

  “Indra cried, ‘Never fear, Rahu, I will kill him!’

  “Hanuman heard Indra’s roar, and, turning his head, saw the Lord of the Devas. He saw white Airavata and thought that here, indeed, was the finest-looking fruit of all. He now flew at the Deva king and his mount. Roaring louder than ever, Indra cast his vajra at the infant vanara.

  “The thunderbolt struck Hanuman squarely, and he fell unconscious through the chasms of the sky, down, down to the earth below. He fell onto a great mountain and broke his jaw. When Vayu saw what Indra had done to his son, he withdrew the precious prana that sustains every living creature; so they all choked and gasped for breath. Snatching up his wounded baby, the Wind God flew into a deep and secret cave.

  “With every creature breathless and turning blue, it seemed creation would end. The worlds were plunged into panic, into hell. The Devas, gandharvas, and Asuras, those that could still move, came panting to Brahma. They cried, ‘What sin have we committed? Why does Vayu choke us today? Ah, Pitamaha, we will all perish if you don’t save us!’

  “Brahma said to them, ‘It was Vayu’s son that Indra struck with the vajra.’

  “‘What shall we do, Pitamaha?’ wailed the Devas.

  “Brahma said, ‘We must seek Vayu out.’

  “So, with all the created, the Devas, gandharvas, yakshas, nagas, siddhas, rishis, men, and all the rest, Brahma went to the cave where Vayu had hidden himself. They found him there with the infant Hanuman in his lap, radiant as the sun, but lifeless. And the Deva wept.

  “Vayu saw Brahma, and he rose mutely, his eyes streaming, and stood before the Creator with his dead child in his arms. Vayu’s golden kundalas and his unearthly crown were dim with his grief. Still without a word, he prostrated himself at Brahma’s feet. Brahma reached out and stroked little Hanuman with his palm. At once, the vanara child awoke like a wilted plant that had been watered.

  “When Vayu saw his son alive, he gave a mighty sigh of joy, and all the created breathed again: they gained back their life breath, their prana. Why, they were like lakes that were laden with lotuses, when the icy wind stops blowing across their waters. Brahma possesses three pairs of divine qualities: strength and glory, power and wealth, wisdom and dispassion. He appears in three forms: as Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva. He dwells in the three worlds: Swarga, Bhumi, and Patala. He is worshipped mainly by those who know but th
ree stages in life: infancy, boyhood, and youth: the immortals. Now Brahma spoke to the Devas.

  “He said, ‘O Indra, Agni, Varuna, Rudra, and Kubera, grant this child great boons; for one day your own purpose shall be served by him. Grant him boons, also, so his father will forgive you for what you did to his son.’

  “Indra removed the garland of lotuses he wore and set it around Hanuman’s neck. He said, ‘Since my vajra broke your chin, O tiger among monkeys, you shall be called Hanuman from now. And from now you shall be invulnerable to every weapon lesser than my thunderbolt, and to my vajra as well.’

  “Surya, the Sun, said, ‘You shall have a hundredth part of my radiance. And when you are old enough, little one, I myself will teach you the Shastras and no one in the world will know the scriptures, or live them, as perfectly as you will.’

  “Varuna blessed him that he would never die in water, in a million years. Yama said Hanuman would not die from his danda, and no illness would ever touch him.

  “Then Kubera, of the one tawny eye, said, ‘Not my mace, nor any weapon less than it, shall cause your death. I bless you that you will never know tiredness in battle.’

  “Rudra, the greatest, laid his palm on Hanuman’s head and blessed him. ‘No weapon of mine, or any I have power over, will harm you.’

  “Viswakarman, who creates every astra, said, ‘No weapon of heaven or earth shall kill you and you will be a Chiranjivi.’

  “Brahma said, ‘You shall not be killed by the weapons of Brahma or the curses of any brahmana.’ He turned to Vayu, who by now was beaming. ‘Your son shall be a terror to his enemies. He shall be invincible, and anyone that remembers his name, through all the ages, will be free from fear. I bless your son that he will be able to change his form at will, to assume any guise he wants. He will be able to fly to any part of the worlds at his wish, and he shall be a thorn in the side of Ravana of Lanka.’