November 10 - Sarga 48 of Sundara Kanda.
Ravana strangely shrugs off the death of his son Aksha, and sends his most eminent son, Indrajit, to go and capture Hanuman. Hanuman decides that it is time to allow himself to be captured and taken to meet Ravana.
***
मनः समाधाय देवकल्पं इन्द्रजितं समादिदेश - Ravana somehow controlled his grief and directed his son Indrajit, equal to gods in valour, to go after Hanuman.
सुरेषु सेन्द्रेषु च दृष्टकर्मा पितामहाराधनसञ्चितास्त्रः - "Oh son, Indrajit, you have shown your unconquerable prowess in your battles with the gods led by Indra himself. You have acquired special boons of weapons from Brahma himself."
"You alone, in the three worlds, are indefatigable at war and have protected your weapons by your strength and austerity. Your intelligence serves you well always. Your mantra-invoked weapons are well known. I am certain of your victory in every battle. You know how the kinkaras, Jambumali, the seven sons of ministers, my five generals, and now your dear brother Aksha, have all been killed."
न मारुतस्यास्य गतेः प्रमाणं न चाग्निकल्पः करणेन हन्तुम् - "We have seen that this vanara has an unfathomable speed of the wind, and just as the sacrificial fire is unquenchable, he cannot be killed by any weapon."
तमेवमर्थं प्रसमीक्ष्य सम्यक् व्रजाक्षतं कर्म समारभस्व- "assess your relative situation properly and act so that you do not fail."
Ravana told Indrajit he does not really want to send him to battle now but he has no alternative and it is also Indrajit's duty.
***
Indrajit was most enthused for battle. He circumambulated Ravana and set out.
निर्जगाम महातेजाः समुद्र इव पर्वणि - "That most illustrious warrior set out like the ocean in high tide at full moon."
Indrajit had captured Indra's own chariot in battle. It was drawn by four terrific tigers with sharp canines. His chariot matched Garuda in speed. That best of archers reached Hanuman quickly.
Hanuman rose in delight at the sound of the approaching chariot and the twang of Indrajit's bow. As is his wont, Valmiki describes how the skies dimmed, beasts and birds screeched, and the celestials assembled in the skies to watch the ensuing battle.
***
The majestic Indrajit twanging his bow with lightning speed, Hanuman swelling up in size to immensity, met each other. As Hanuman took off at the speed of the Wind-god high into the skies, Indrajit's multiple arrows flew up in vain without touching him. This went on for some time even as the magnificent arrows were futile in hitting Hanuman who was able to move out of their reach all the time.
अवध्यतां तस्य कपेस्समीक्ष्य कथं निगच्छेदिति निग्रहार्थं - "Indrajit considered his options about capturing Hanuman, knowing that he was not to be killed."
ततः पैतामहं सोऽस्त्रमस्त्रविदां वरः संदधे हरिप्रवरं प्रति - "Then Indrajit, best among knowers of weapons, launched the Brahmastra itself at the supreme vanara, Hanuman."
As Indrajit knew, the Bramhastra bound up Hanuman, who fell down. Meanwhile, Hanuman recalled the boon he had received long ago from Brahma that even though the astra would bind him down and he should show respect to Brahma, he would be able at will to extricate himself. He also recalled that he was well protected by the boons of Brahma, Indra, and Vayu himself. Hanuman calculated that he would allow himself to be bound so that he would be taken to an audience with Ravana himself.
The rakshasa soldiers came gingerly towards an immobile Hanuman and began to taunt and abuse him physically. He roared. The rakshasas quickly brought hemp ropes and creepers and tied Hanuman up properly. Hanuman bore the humiliation quietly, waiting for the meeting with Ravana.
Both Hanuman and Indrajit knew that the rakshasas had been foolish, because any man-made bonds of ropes would desecrate and hence nullify the effect of Brahmastra. While Indrtajit was within himself quite disappointed and apprehensive of what Hanuman might do, Hanuman was docile.
Beating Hanuman with sticks, and making loud noises of victory, the rakshasas presented him to Ravana.
Valmiki says that as Ravana stared at him in rage, Hanuman saw him radiant like the sun and full of brilliance and valour.
Ravana questioned the elders in his council and others about who this vanara was.
यथाक्रमं तैः स कपिश्च पृष्टः कार्यार्थमर्थस्य च मूलमादौ "The vanara was then formally questioned by the counsellors who he was, what was the root cause of his mission, and whom he came from."
Hanuman replied that he had come on an important mission on behalf of the chief of vanaras, King Sugriva.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
