November 14 - Sarga 54 of Sundara Kanda.
Hanuman sets Lanka ablaze.
Before we start judging Hanuman's actions, we should sit back and reflect on what has happened since his arrival.
He was first threatened with death by Lankini. After he managed to survey all the inner palaces and after much anxiety arrived at Ashoka Vana and beheld a frail but defiant Sita, he had to witness her torment by the rakshasis and later the ignominy of Ravana's obdurate insistence on her marrying him or facing the prospect of being eaten up. Later, on Ravana's instructions, the rakshasis escalated their torment of Sita.
When Hanuman created enough mayhem to draw attention to himself, he declared openly that he was an emissary and loyal to Sri Rama and Sugriva. All that he received in reply was attack with deadly weapons and eventually the launch of Brahmastra. Whatever damage he did to lives was in self-defence.
He allowed himself to be bound hand and foot, beaten and ridiculed. Ravana himself wanted to kill him for his sagely advice faulting Sita's abduction. His tail was set on fire and he was ridiculed by the children, women and men of Lanka.
That he was not burnt by the fire, and still had enough spirit to do what he did next, is a tribute to the the son of Wind-god and the sure proof that Sita's prayers and Sri Rama's blessings saved Hanuman.
***
किन्तु खल्ववशिष्टं मे कर्तव्यमिह साम्परतम् ।
यदेषां रक्षसां भूयः सन्तापजननं भवेत् ॥
"Hanuman mused: But there is still something left for me to do here. I should make sure the rakshasas are punished and suffer for all their misdeeds."
योऽयं मम लाङ्गूले दीप्यते हव्यवाहनः ।
अस्य सन्तर्पणं न्याय्यं कर्तुमेभिर्गृहोत्तमैः ॥
"This Fire-god, who now dwells in my tail, should be propitiated, as he is by sacrificial offerings constantly, by appropriately feeding him these wonderful mansions of Lanka."
Hanuman sets about flying from roof top to roof top of all the palatial mansions inhabited by the ministers and princes and royals of Lanka, one by one. He sets each mansion on fire. Hanuman is relentless and thorough and quick.
अग्निं तत्र निक्षिप्य श्वसनेन समो बली ।
ततोऽन्यत्पुप्लुवे वेश्म महापार्श्वस्य वीर्यवान् ॥
"After setting fire to Prahasta's mansion, Hanuman quickly leapt across to the mansion of Mahaparshva, as energetic and unstoppable as the Wind-god, and set fire to it."
This went on as Hanuman covered every worthy's palace, including Indrajit's and Kumbhakarna's.
He spared only one mansion, that of Vibhishana. Not only because Vibhishana had averted his death sentence, but because Hanuman had also heard in Ashoka Vana that Vibhishana was the lone wise counsel who had denounced Ravana's abducting Sita and had advised him to return her to Sri Rama.
All the palaces, with all their precious treasures, beautiful furnishings and the belongings of these royals, were all reduced to smouldering ashes.
***
Hanuman now attacked the chief palace of Ravana himself. He was quick and thorough. He knew his way about there.
प्रदीप्तमग्निमुत्सृज्य लाङ्गूलाग्रे प्रतिष्ठितम् ।
ननाद हनुमान्वीरो युगान्तजलदो यथा ॥
"Discharging the raging fire from his tail onto the various treasures and objects and all flammable structures of Ravana's palace, the valiant Hanuman let out a big roar, much like the rumble of the thunder cloud that occurs at cataclysm at the end of the world."
***
The Wind-god was working with the Fire-god. Precious gems and jewels all tumbled down as everything started burning. Structures collapsed. Flames and fumes and dark smoke rose and filled the air. There was a huge noise all the time.
All the royals, women, children, soldiers all rushed out to save themselves. Even women with babes at their breasts rushed out. What they beheld was frightening and beyond comprehension. Everyone was crying out for their loved ones. Valmiki the poet says that the fires made objects look like Kimshuka flowers, Salmali wood and saffron flowers.
Hanuman burnt down Lanka like Shiva had burnt down the Tripura cities of demons. The fires rose high and spiralling up, touched even the Trikuta mountain.
The people of Lanka were unable to comprehend who Hanuman was.
"Is he Indra? Yama? Kubera? Vayu? Agni? Varuna? Rudra Shiva? ( All these had grouses against Ravana.)
"Or Brahma, come here to teach Ravana a lesson?
"Or perhaps it is Mahavishnu himself, come here as his Maya Shakti?"
Gods and celestials saw with wonder the sight of Lanka in conflagration. They all praised Hanuman's valour.
Hanuman stood at a vantage point and surveyed his work so far with great satisfaction.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
