||Sundarakanda ||

|| Sarga 48(Summary in English)

 

||om tat sat ||
ततस्सरक्षोधिपतिर्महात्मा
हनूमताक्षे निहते कुमारे।
मनः समाधाय सदेवकल्पं
समादिदेशेंद्रजितं सरोषम्॥1||
स॥ ततः रक्षोधिपतिः महात्मा हनुमता कुमारे अक्षे निहते मनः समाधाय सरोषं देवकल्पं इंद्रजितं समादिदेश ॥
Angry because of prince Aksha being killed by great Hanuman, the king of Rakshasas controlling his mind then ordered Indrajit who is comparable to gods.

Sundarakanda
Sarga 48

Ravana, the king of Rakshasas, angry because of prince Aksha being killed by great Hanuman, controlling his mind then ordered Indrajit who is comparable to gods.

'You are knower of weapons and the best among the knowers of weapons too. You brought grief to Suras and Asuras. A warrior of proven ability among gods including Indra, you have acquired many weapons by propitiating Brahma. Because of the strength of Astras you acquired, Asuras or Maruts including Indra cannot stand in front of you in a battle. There is none in the three worlds who has not experienced fatigue in a war with you. You are the most intelligent, protected by the strength of your own shoulders, protected with the power of penance. You are aware of the proper place and time for action. There is nothing not possible for you in war. With a wise counsel there is no impossible act. In the three worlds there is none who does not know the strength of your weapons, nor your power to recall a weapon you have discharged. Your power of penance is equal to mine. So are your valor and ability to discharge weapons in war. In what you are engaged, your mind is sure of action and does not go to despair. Kinkaras similarly Jambumali, as well as the ministers sons, and the five generals too are killed along with forces fully provided with horses, elephants, and chariots .Your dear brother prince Aksha too is killed. Oh Scourge of enemies, I have real faith in you not them'.

'Oh Intelligent one, the great strength, power and valor of the Vanara is to be carefully observed along with your own strength. Act according to your own strength only. Oh best among the experts in archery, going there and judging the strength, then approach the enemy and start the battle in a manner that he does not cause further destruction. Oh hero, large armies need not go. With him having extraordinary vigor, bringing thunderbolt is no use. His speed is that of Maruti. He is like sacrificial fire which cannot be destroyed with any weapon. Accordingly assess the situation properly. Being a person of good judgement with single minded attention, recollecting the divine weapons with the bow, move forward. Start the act without being destroyed in the middle. I think sending you to battle in this way is not good. However this is in accordance with the statecraft and the duty of Kshatriyas. Hence this is approved. Oh crusher of the enemies, in the war ultimately efficient use of many weapons is to be known. Victory in the war is wished for'.

Then the hero, powerful like the son of Daksha who is never distressed in war, hearing those words of his father mentally prepared went round his father with due respect. Then, he rushed forth for the war with renewed vigor after being honored by his own people. The illustrious son of the Rakshasa, with eyes like the lotus petals, moved ahead like the ocean on a full moon day.

Like Indra, Indrajit ascended the chariot drawn by four tigers with sharp teeth, capable of moving with the speed of the king of birds. The charioteer, best among the wielders of bows, best among the knowers of weapons, quickly went on his chariot to the place where Hanuman was waiting.

Hearing the sounds of the chariot, sounds of the bow being pulled, the leader of Vanaras also became happy. Adept in war, he went ahead with the highly powerful bow and sharp edged arrows aiming at Hanuman. Then as Indrajit went forth for war feeling happy with bow in hand, all the quarters became dark. Fierce animals began to howl in many ways. The delighted Nagas, Yakshas, Siddhas and the travelers of the celestial path assembled in the sky to watch. Flocks of birds screeched too.

Seeing the chariot approaching swiftly, Vanara made a big sound and quickly enlarged his body. Indrajit also sitting in his divine chariot holding the wonderful bow, pulled the string of his bow with lightning speed. The Vanara and the son of the king of Rakshasas, both very fast and mighty, both fearless in war and inimical to each other like Suras and Asuras, then faced each other.

Hanuman of immeasurable strength, having grown in form, made the speedy shower of arrows in the war from the bow of the great charioteer futile as he escaped moving about in the sky, the path of his father. Then the slayer of enemy warriors, discharged long and sharp pointed arrows with feathers and with gold tips which are slightly bent at the tips, which were touching the bow string, which had the speed of lightning. Then Hanuman hearing the sound of the bow being drawn, the rumbling of the chariot, beating of the Mridangams, Bheris and Patahas, again rose up. The great Vanara made the arrows being aimed at the target futile, by moving in the space between the arrows. The son of wind god, Hanuman, jumped moving ahead of the arrows with hands and legs outstretched. Both endowed with speed and both experts in warfare, captivated the minds of all creatures fighting a great war.

The Rakshasa did not find a way to hit Hanuman. Maruti could not find one too. Both, being equal to Devas in war, were unable to bear each other. Indrajit's infallible arrows missed Hanuman. The great warrior became perplexed and started thinking seriously. Then the son of the king of Rakshasa, deciding that the Vanara cannot be killed, thought in his mind about how the Vanara may be captured.

Then the hero, best among those knowledgeable of weapons, invoked the grandsire Brahma's weapon at Hanuman, the foremost of Vanaras. That expert in weapons, the long armed Indrajit, knowing that he cannot be killed bound the son of wind god with that weapon. Thus bound by that weapon, the Vanara was unable to move. He fell down to the ground.

The best of Vanaras then realized that the power of the weapon which arrested his movement, was due to the grace of the lord. Then Hanuman started thinking about the boon of the Lord Brahma. He thought about the Brahmastra, the weapon that invokes the creator Brahma, and the boon given to him. 'Because of the effect of the power of Brahma it is not possible for me to be released'. Having thought as above he decided that the weapon should be obeyed. The Vanara reflecting on the power of that weapon, recalling the power of liberation from the bondage by the favor of Brahma, resolved to obey the order of Brahma. 'Though bound by that weapon, I have no fear. I am being protected by Brahma, Indra and the wind god. If I am held by the Rakshasas, I will have a great opportunity to see the king of Rakshasas and discuss. Therefore let them catch me'.

That killer of the enemy warriors, and one who assesses before he acts, thus resolved firmly. Seized by the enemies forcibly, and with his power of movement arrested, he went slowly. Abused while being dragged Hanuman roared.

Then the Rakshasas seeing that scorcher of enemies refraining from movement, bound him with a rope and bark clothes. Thinking that, 'The king of Rakshasas out of curiosity may come to see me if he decides', Hanuman decided to enjoy the bondage by the warriors.

The hero, bound by the bark, is freed by that weapon. That weapon does not tolerate another bondage. Knowing that the best of Vanaras bound by bark rope is thus freed from that weapon, the hero Indrajit started thinking. 'Bound by others, the weapon does not hold. Alas, a great effort has been wasted. The impact of mantra is not considered by the Rakshasas. When mantra is ineffective no other weapon can be effective too. We are in a fix'.

Hanuman did not know that he has been released by that weapon. Bound and dragged by the Rakshasas, he was being hurt. Then that Vanara, beaten with sticks and fists, was dragged to the presence of the king of Rakshasas. Then seeing that one bound by the bark ropes and released by that Brahma Astra, mighty Indrajit showed the best of Vanaras to the king along with his courtiers in the assembly.

The best of Vanaras, bound like an elephant in the rut, was presented to Ravana by the Rakshasa warrior. 'Who is this? Whom does he belong to? And where did he come from? What business does he have?'. Thus the Rakshasa heroes talked among themselves. Then some other Rakshasas said to each other, 'Kill him. Burn him . otherwise eat him up'. The great one quickly crossing the path came near the king's palace adorned with precious gems. He saw aged and experienced ones seated at his feet.

The resplendent one, that Ravana saw the foremost of Vanaras pulled here and there by the Rakshasas. The best of Vanaras also saw the Rakshasa king, who had splendor and strength, radiating brilliance like the Sun.

The ten-headed one with his red eyes rolling in rage observing the Vanara closely ordered the noble, mature and intelligent ministers. They, in proper order asked the purpose, origin of the purpose. The Vanara reported that he is a messenger of the king of Vanaras. 'By order of the king, I came from his place'.

Thus ends Sarga forty eight of Sundarakanda in Ramayana , the first poem ever composed by the first poet sage Valmiki.

|| om tat sat||
यथाक्रमं तैः स कपिर्विपृष्टः कार्यार्थमर्थस्य च मूलमादौ।
निवेदयामास हरीश्वरस्य दूतः सकाशात् अहमागतोस्मि॥62||
स॥तैः यथाक्रमं कार्यार्थं अर्धस्य मूलं विपृष्टः सः कपिः हरीश्वरस्य सकाशात् आगतः अस्मि निवेदयामास॥
In proper order the purpose, origin of the purpose were asked by them. The Vanara reported that he is a messenger of the king of Vanaras. 'By order of the king, I came from his place'.
|| om tat sat||