November 6 - sargas 41 and 42 of Sundara Kanda.
After taking leave of Sita, Hanuman proceeds a short distance and starts considering, "What else is left to be done, after accomplishing the major task of meeting Devi Sita?" अल्पशेषमिदं कार्यम्
कार्यं कर्मणि निर्वृत्ते यो बहून्यपि साधयेत् ।
पूर्वकार्याविरोधेन स कार्यं कर्तुमर्हति ॥
"One, who, having accomplished an important task, accomplishes other tasks of value too, without spoiling the first accomplishment, is indeed adept and should do so."
परात्मसम्मर्दविशेषतत्त्ववित् ततः कृतं स्यान्मम भर्तृशासनम् "If I am able to find out the relative military power of the enemy here and our own forces, then I would have fulfilled the assignment given to me by King Sugriva."
Hanuman decides to provoke Ravana into a direct military conflict, so he can assess the balance of military power. "This Ashoka Vana is a precious asset and Ravana is very proud of it. It is laid out divinely with extraordinary structures and wonderful trees and animals. If I destroy it, it will provoke Ravana sufficiently."
इदं विध्वंसयिष्यामि शुष्कं वनमिवानलः "I will destroy this garden as a wildfire would destroy a forest."
Then an enraged Ravana will send all his forces with terrific weapons to fight Hanuman.
Hanuman looks forward to the battle after which he will happily return to Kishkindha.
***
मारुतिर्भीमविक्रमः ऊरुवेगेन महता द्रमान्क्षेप्तुमाथारभत् "Hanuman, with his powerful legs and arms, started uprooting the trees of the garden."
In no time, Hanuman had laid waste that garden which was favoured by Ravana's women for sport. Valmiki says that the garden now wore a terrible look. Buildings were torn down, animals and birds shrieked and fled.
सा विह्वलाशोकलताप्रताना वनस्थली शोकलताप्रताना
"That pleasure garden named Asoka or "Sorrowless" had become distraught and "Sorrowful"."
Hanuman now went and waited, perched atop the main archway leading into the garden.
***
The terrible sounds of destruction woke up the entire city of Lanka. Extremely ugly demonesses who had been assigned the task of guarding Sita all woke up in confusion. They saw that the garden had been ruined in a strange way and a very huge monkey was seated on the main archway. They all rushed to Sita.
"Who is this monkey? Who has sent him? What did he speak with you, Sita!? Tell us all. Don't be afraid."
Sita gave a suitably evasive answer. "How am I to know the ways of these rakshasas who can take any form and do any mischief? "
अहिरेव ह्यहेः पादान्विजानाति न संशयः "There is no doubt that only a serpent will be able to understand the path taken by a serpent."
***
The demonesses rushed to Ravana and reported that a terrible monkey of gigantic proportions had visited Ashoka Vana to meet Sita, and had afterwards destroyed the garden. Perhaps he had been sent by Indra or Kubera or perhaps even Rama (some of the known foes of Ravana.). They emphasized that the only place left unscathed by the giant monkey was the Shimshupa tree under which Sita was sitting.
Obviously, Ravana should not spare that monkey who had invited sure death by his mischief and daring.
Ravana flew into a wild rage. Valmiki says his eyes spat fire as he asked his several-thousand-strong battalion of kinkaras to go and catch that vanara.
***
These ugly rakshasas, armed with mighty sharp weapons, marched into Ashoka Vana. As Hanuman stood on the archway, they rushed towards him and attacked him with maces, tridents, spears, crowbars, and arrows.
Hanuman, who had swelled even more in size, gave a giant heart-shattering roar and patted his own body (a typical act of wrestlers even now) with a bang. He also stomped the earth with his tail menacingly. He roared,
"Victory to the mighty and glorious Sri Rama! Victory to Lakshmana! Victory to Sugriva who has allegiance to Sri Rama!"
हनूमान्शत्रुसैन्यानां निहन्ता मारुतात्मजः "I am Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, the destroyer of all enemy armies!"
"Even a thousand Ravanas cannot face me. I shall fight with trees and rocks in a thousand ways.
I shall destroy this Lanka. I will then pay my respects to Maithili Devi Sita. Then only shall I return whence I came."
The kinkaras were deeply frightened. But nonetheless, as ordered, they attacked Hanuman.
Hanuman went to the archway, pulled out a long and big iron girder that had been fixed to it. He used it to thrash all the kinkaras into a pulp and they were all killed.
A couple of the kinkaras who had stayed at the back managed to escape and rush to Ravana to tell him what was happening.
Ravana was even angrier now. He ordered the unconquerable hero, son of Prahasta, to go and fight Hanuman.
Hanuman, looking for more action, went back and sat on the archway again.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
