March 7 - Sargas 34 and 35 of Uttara Kanda.
Two most interesting stories, of Vali teaching Ravana a lesson and then the story behind the incredible personality of Hanuman.
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Sage Agastya continued to narrate the exploits of Ravana, who quickly forgot his defeat by Arjuna and proceeded to torment and kill all other kings. He came then to Kishkindha, which kingdom he knew was ruled by the vanara king Vali, blessed by his father Indra with a golden necklace.
Ravana announced himself and said he had come to fight Vali. Vali's minister Tara, and Vali's father in law Sushena, along with Angada and Sugriva, explained to him that he would have to wait till Vali returned from his Sandhyavandanam that he performed on the shore of the four oceans in the four directions every day. They also admitted that none of them was capable of fighting Ravana, but Vali was different. They pointed to a huge mountain of shining white bones and said that these were the remains of all those who had come and dared to fight Vali, eventually being killed and left in their bony remains as a monument to Vali's invincibility.
Ravana did not want to wait. He simply rushed to the southern ocean shore in his Pushpaka, and spied on Vali performing his prayers. He decided to go from behind unnoticed and capture Vali. Unfortunately for Ravana, Vali noticed that a rakshasa had come and was drawing closer hiding behind to strike him or capture him. Vali decided to teach this rakshasa a lesson. He quietly continued.
कक्षावलम्बनं कृत्वा गमिष्ये त्रीन्महार्णवान् "I shall pin this rakshasa in my armpit and continue to the remaining three ocean shores for my prayers."
That is what Vali did just when Ravana pounced from behind, and a helpless Ravana writhed, bit and clawed at Vali's arm with absolutely no effect on the gigantic, lustrous, hero Vali who flew in the sky like Garuda clasping a serpent as his prey. After performing his prayers on all the four shores, and returning, Vali let go of Ravana who could at last catch his breath.
कुतस्त्वमिति चोवाच प्रहसन् रावणं मुहुः "Vali asked, with a laugh, "And may I know wherefrom you have come?""
Ravana could only blurt out, "Oh, lord of vanaras! I am the king of rakshasas by the name of Ravana. I came to battle you but that was not to be. What amazing power I saw in your arms, what prowess, what speed, and what unflappability! You crushed me and carried me to the four oceans! I don’t think there ever will be another hero like you. I think only the mind, Vayu, and Garuda have such a speed in the three worlds and now I know you are the fourth.
"Therefore, I now offer you not battle, but my sworn friendship! Henceforth we shall share equally in all our riches and family possessions."
Vali was agreeable and the two swore to their alliance with the sacred fire as their witness.
Ravana spent a month enjoying Vali's hospitality in Kishkindha. Then Ravana's lieutenants came and reminded him that many conquests were pending. Ravana went away.
Sage Agastya reminded Sri Rama that he had vanquished the redoubtable Vali like a fire consumes a fly.
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Now Sri Rama said something very significant, with bowed head and folded hands.
न त्वेताभ्यां हनूमता समं त्विति मतिर्मम "Sir, although great, I don't think Vali or Ravana came near Hanuman in real prowess."
शौर्यं दाक्ष्यं बलं धैर्यं प्राज्ञता नयसाधनम् । विक्रमश्च प्रभावश्च हनूमति कृतालयः ॥
सीदन्तीं कपिवाहिनीं समाश्वास्य योजनानां शतं प्लुतः। धर्षयित्वा लङ्कां सम्भाषिता ह्याश्वासिता सीता॥
सेनाग्रगा मन्त्रिसुताः एकेन विनिपातिताः। भूयो बन्धाद्विमुक्तेन भाषयित्वा दशाननं लङ्कां भस्मीकृता ॥
न कालस्य न शक्रस्य न विष्णोर्वित्तपस्य च कर्माणि तानि श्रूयन्ते यानि युद्धे हनूमतः ॥
एतस्य बाहुवीर्येण लङ्का सीता च लक्ष्मणः प्राप्ता मया जयश्चैव राज्यं मित्राणि बान्धवाः ॥
"Revered sage! Valour, competency, physical prowess, courage, intelligence, diplomacy, incredible feats of daredevilry, the ability to decisively influence the course of events, all these qualities have made Hanuman their home! When the vanaras were about to give up their lives after a failed search for Sita, Hanuman instilled hope in them, took off and crossed the ocean, broke into the impregnable Lanka, found Sita, gave her the breath of confidence, and finished off singly so many warriors and sons of Ravana! He freed himself from the binds of ropes, spoke sternly to Ravana, and burnt down Lanka! I have not heard such incredible feats performed by either Yama, Indra, Vishnu, or Kubera matching Hanuman's. It is only by the power of Hanuman's arms that I was able to get victory over Lanka, get Sita back, get Lakshmana back to life, and I secured my kingdom and my near and dear ones."
"Sir, I have only one question. When Surgiva was estranged by Vali, why did Hanuman not act with his powers? Had he not known his prowess? Perhaps that is why Surgiva had to suffer so much for so long."
"Most revered sage, kindly tell me the story of Hanuman."
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Sage Agastya replied to Sri Rama.
सत्यमेतद् रघुश्रेष्ठ यद्ब्रवीषि हनूमति। न बले विद्यते तुल्यो न गतौ न मतौ परः ॥
"Indeed, Sri Rama, supreme among Raghus, you are absolutely right about Hanuman. There is no one else comparable to Hanuman in power, speed, and sagacity."
अमोघशापैः शापस्तु दत्तोऽस्य मुनिभिः पुरा न वेत्ता बलं सर्वं बली सन्नरिसूदन
"Oh, Victor Sri Rama, Hanuman had received infallible curses from sages which prevented him from knowing his own boundless powers. Let me tell you the story."
"In his infancy, Hanuman was quite innocent and unaware of his powers. He was born to queen Anjana, wife of vanara king Kesari of the golden peak Sumeru. He was blessed at birth by the Wind-god, Vayu. One day, Anjana went out to fetch some fruits. The baby Hanuman was very hungry and crying out loud. Then he saw the rising sun, red like the hibiscus flower, and thought of plucking and eating that fruit. So he just took off from his cradle! Seeing a baby Hanuman flying like this astonished the gods, demons, and yakshas.
"Vayu saw his son approaching the sun, and to prevent him from being burnt, he blew Himalayan freezing air over the baby. The baby reached the sun and yet was not burnt by the sun-god Surya, who thought that such an incredible baby would be of service to the gods in future and therefore shall be spared.
"Just at that instant, Rahu, the son of demoness Simhika, was also approaching the sun with the intention of swallowing him as was his wont. When Hanuman simply brushed his fist against Rahu, Rahu was terrified and swerved away. Rahu flew directly to Indra to complain that a contender (another Rahu?) had been created to take away Rahu's rights in swallowing the sun during eclipses. How would Rahu sustain himself now?
"Indra could not understand what was happening.
"Indra quickly left, sitting on the splendid divine elephant Airavata, for the scene of action. When baby Hanuman saw Rahu leading Indra on his elephant towards himself, he decided he would first swallow Rahu! Rahu shouted to Indra, "Oh Lord! Save me!" and tried to flee.
"Just as Indra was telling Rahu not to worry, that Indra would protect him, the baby Hanuman saw Airavata and decided to swallow him up, what a nice white fruit! Indra composed himself seeing a mere baby, and therefore lightly struck Hanuman with his thunderbolt. Hanuman fell headlong towards a mountain peak and struck himself against the rock, breaking his left chin. Seeing his son in such distress made Vayu very angry. He withdrew himself from all creatures and picked up and cradled his son Hanuman as he went and hid in a cave. He did not allow the pranas to act in any creature including the Apanavayu that is responsible for excretion.
"None in the world could breathe. No activity could take place. Vedic recitations and studies ceased. In extreme distress, all the gods supplicated to Lord Brahma. They were all looking bloated from the throes of deprivation of the life force called Vayu.
"Lord Brahma said, "first let us locate Vayu."
अशरीरः शरीरेषु वायुश्चरति पालयन् Lord Brahma said to the gods, "Now you realize how we take the invisible Lord Vayu for granted. He is not seen but he is responsible for the lives of all. Let us all go and propitiate Vayu and seek his mercy."
"They all rushed to the cave where Vayu was, he was still holding the baby and looking very very angry.
When Brahma saw that baby in Vayu's lap, the baby shone with a surreal radiance and resembled the Sun-god himself.:
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॥ श्रौीरामजयम् ॥
