Sundara Kanda · Sarga 48 of 68 · 61 verses
Indrajit Binds Hanuman
With Aksha dead, Ravana steadies himself and turns to his son Indrajit, who has defeated the gods and gained weapons from Brahma. The Kimkaras, Jambumali, the ministers’ sons, the five generals and his own brother Aksha have all been killed; but Ravana’s real strength lies in Indrajit. This monkey cannot be beaten with troops or with the thunderbolt; let him weigh his own power against the enemy’s and fight wisely. It is the duty of a king’s son and warrior to go.
Indrajit circles his father, mounts a chariot drawn by four sharp-toothed tigers swift as Garuda, and rides out like the ocean at full moon. The skies darken, beasts howl, sages, siddhas, nagas and yakshas gather to watch. Hanuman roars and grows. The duel is a marvel: Indrajit’s arrows are swift and sure, Hanuman slips between them, neither can find an opening in the other.
Seeing that the monkey cannot be killed, Indrajit looses the Brahma weapon at him, and Hanuman falls bound and motionless. Hanuman recognises the weapon and remembers Brahma’s boon that he will be released from it shortly; out of respect for the Creator, he submits to it. He is not afraid, being protected by Brahma, Indra and the Wind, and capture has its advantage: he will get to speak with Ravana. So he lets himself be taken. The rakshasas tie him with ropes of hemp and bark, and at that moment the Brahma weapon releases him, since it does not tolerate another bond. Indrajit realises the mistake with dismay, but Hanuman lets himself be dragged, beaten and jeered at, to Ravana’s court. The rakshasas argue over whether to kill him, burn him or eat him. Hanuman sees Ravana blazing like the sun; Ravana orders his chief ministers to question him, and Hanuman says: “I have come as a messenger from the lord of the monkeys.”
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ततस्तु रक्षोऽधिपतिर्महात्मा हनूमताक्षे निहते कुमारे । मनः समाधाय स देवकल्पं समादिदेशेन्द्रजितं सरोषः ॥ १ ॥
Then, when Prince Aksha had been killed by Hanuman, the great-souled lord of the rakshasas, steadying his mind, angrily ordered Indrajit, who was like a god:
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त्वमस्त्रविच्छस्त्रभृतां वरिष्ठः सुरासुराणामपि शोकदाता । सुरेषु सेन्द्रेषु च दृष्टकर्मा पितामहाराधनसंचितास्त्रः ॥ २ ॥
“You know the weapons, you are the best of those who bear arms, you bring grief even to gods and asuras; your deeds have been seen among the gods with Indra; you have gathered weapons by worshipping the Grandsire.
त्वदस्त्रबलमासाद्य ससुराः समरुद्गणाः । न शेकुः समरे स्थातुं सुरेश्वरसमाश्रिताः ॥ ३ ॥
“Coming up against the might of your weapons, the gods with the hosts of Maruts, though sheltered by the lord of the gods, could not stand in battle.
न कश्चित् त्रिषु लोकेषु संयुगे न गतश्रमः । भुजवीर्याभिगुप्तश्च तपसा चाभिरक्षितः । देशकालप्रधानश्च त्वमेव मतिसत्तमः ॥ ४ ॥
“There is no one in the three worlds who does not tire in battle; but you are guarded by the strength of your arms and protected by austerity; you are master of place and time, best of the wise.
न तेऽस्त्यशक्यं समरेषु कर्मणां न तेऽस्त्यकार्यं मतिपूर्वमन्त्रणे । न सोऽस्ति कश्चित् त्रिषु संग्रहेषु न वेद यस्तेऽस्त्रबलं बलं च ॥ ५ ॥
“Nothing in battle is impossible for you in deeds; nothing is beyond you in counsel guided by intelligence. There is no one in the three worlds who does not know the might of your weapons and your strength.
ममानुरूपं तपसो बलं च ते पराक्रमश्चास्त्रबलं च संयुगे । न त्वां समासाद्य रणावमर्दे मनः श्रमं गच्छति निश्चितार्थम् ॥ ६ ॥
“Your strength in austerity is equal to mine, and your valour and power of weapons in battle. Once one has come to you in the crush of battle, my mind is free from strain, sure of the outcome.
निहताः किंकराः सर्वे जम्बुमाली च राक्षसः । अमात्यपुत्रा वीराश्च पञ्च सेनाग्रगामिनः ॥ ७ ॥
“All the Kimkaras have been killed, and the rakshasa Jambumali, and the heroic sons of the ministers, and the five commanders,
बलानि सुसमृद्धानि साश्वनागरथानि च । सहोदरस्ते दयितः कुमारोऽक्षश्च सूदितः । न तु तेष्वेव मे सारो यस्त्वय्यरिनिषूदन ॥ ८ ॥
“and well-equipped forces with horses, elephants and chariots; and your dear brother, Prince Aksha, has been slain. But my real strength lies not in them but in you, destroyer of enemies.
इदं च दृष्ट्वा निहतं महद् बलं कपेः प्रभावं च पराक्रमं च । त्वमात्मनश्चापि निरीक्ष्य सारं कुरुष्व वेगं स्वबलानुरूपम् ॥ ९ ॥
“Seeing this great army killed, and the monkey’s power and valour, and weighing your own strength, put forth a force fitting your strength.
बलावमर्दस्त्वयि संनिकृष्टे यथा गते शाम्यति शान्तशत्रौ । तथा समीक्ष्यात्मबलं परं च समारभस्वास्त्रभृतां वरिष्ठ ॥ १० ॥
“So that, when you come near, the crushing of our forces may cease, the enemy calmed, act after weighing your own strength and his, best of weapon-bearers.
न वीर सेना गणशो च्यवन्ति न वज्रमादाय विशालसारम् । न मारुतस्यास्ति गतिप्रमाणं न चाग्निकल्पः करणेन हन्तुम् ॥ ११ ॥
“Hero, armies in troops are no use against him, nor taking up the thunderbolt of great power; there is no measure to the speed of the Wind’s son, and he, like fire, cannot be killed by ordinary means.
तमेवमर्थं प्रसमीक्ष्य सम्यक् स्वकर्मसाम्याद्धि समाहितात्मा । स्मरंश्च दिव्यं धनुषोऽस्य वीर्यं व्रजाक्षतं कर्म समारभस्व ॥ १२ ॥
“Considering this matter well, your mind collected by the equality of your own deeds, and remembering the divine power of this bow of yours, go, and undertake a deed that will not fail.
न खल्वियं मतिश्रेष्ठ यत्त्वां सम्प्रेषयाम्यहम् । इयं च राजधर्माणां क्षत्रस्य च मतिर्मता ॥ १३ ॥
“That I send you is no mistake of judgement, best of the wise; this is considered the right judgement of the dharma of kings and of the warrior class.
नानाशस्त्रेषु संग्रामे वैशारद्यमरिंदम । अवश्यमेव बोद्धव्यं काम्यश्च विजयो रणे ॥ १४ ॥
“Mastery of many weapons in battle must surely be known, tamer of enemies, and victory in battle is to be desired.”
ततः पितुस्तद्वचनं निशम्य प्रदक्षिणं दक्षसुतप्रभावः । चकार भर्तारमतित्वरेण रणाय वीरः प्रतिपन्नबुद्धिः ॥ १५ ॥
Then, hearing his father’s words, the hero, with the might of the son of Daksha, walked round his master, keeping him on the right, with great speed, his mind set on battle.
ततस्तैः स्वगणैरिष्टैरिन्द्रजित् प्रतिपूजितः । युद्धोद्धतकृतोत्साहः संग्रामं सम्प्रपद्यत ॥ १६ ॥
Then Indrajit, honoured by his own dear companions, his eagerness for battle roused, set out for battle.
श्रीमान् पद्मविशालाक्षो राक्षसाधिपतेः सुतः । निर्जगाम महातेजाः समुद्र इव पर्वणि ॥ १७ ॥
The glorious son of the lord of the rakshasas, with large eyes like lotuses, of great splendour, went out like the ocean at the moon’s change.
स पक्षिराजोपमतुल्यवेगै- र्व्याघ्रैश्चतुर्भिः स तु तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रैः । रथं समायुक्तमसह्यवेगः समारुरोहेन्द्रजिदिन्द्रकल्पः ॥ १८ ॥
Indrajit, like Indra, of irresistible speed, mounted a chariot yoked with four tigers with sharp teeth, swift as the king of birds.
स रथी धन्विनां श्रेष्ठः शस्त्रज्ञोऽस्त्रविदां वरः । रथेनाभिययौ क्षिप्रं हनूमान् यत्र सोऽभवत् ॥ १९ ॥
That chariot-warrior, best of bowmen, knower of arms, best of those who know weapons, went quickly in his chariot to where Hanuman was.
स तस्य रथनिर्घोषं ज्यास्वनं कार्मुकस्य च । निशम्य हरिवीरोऽसौ सम्प्रहृष्टतरोऽभवत् ॥ २० ॥
Hearing the rumble of his chariot and the twang of his bowstring, the heroic monkey became even more delighted.
इन्द्रजिच्चापमादाय शितशल्यांश्च सायकान् । हनूमन्तमभिप्रेत्य जगाम रणपण्डितः ॥ २१ ॥
Indrajit, taking his bow and sharp-headed arrows, master of battle, went toward Hanuman.
तस्मिंस्ततः संयति जातहर्षे रणाय निर्गच्छति बाणपाणौ । दिशश्च सर्वाः कलुषा बभूवु- र्मृगाश्च रौद्रा बहुधा विनेदुः ॥ २२ ॥
As he went out to battle, delighted, arrows in hand, all the directions became murky, and fierce beasts cried out in many ways.
समागतास्तत्र तु नागयक्षा महर्षयश्चक्रचराश्च सिद्धाः । नभः समावृत्य च पक्षिसङ्घा विनेदुरुच्चैः परमप्रहृष्टाः ॥ २३ ॥
Nagas and yakshas gathered there, and great sages who move in the circle of the stars, and siddhas; and flocks of birds, covering the sky, cried aloud, greatly excited.
आयान्तं स रथं दृष्ट्वा तूर्णमिन्द्रध्वजं कपिः । ननाद च महानादं व्यवर्धत च वेगवान् ॥ २४ ॥
Seeing that chariot with its Indra-banner coming swiftly, the monkey roared a great roar and, swift, grew larger.
इन्द्रजित् स रथं दिव्यमाश्रितश्चित्रकार्मुकः । धनुर्विस्फारयामास तडिदूर्जितनिःस्वनम् ॥ २५ ॥
Indrajit, standing in that heavenly chariot, with his wonderful bow, twanged his bow with a sound like crackling lightning.
ततः समेतावतितीक्ष्णवेगौ महाबलौ तौ रणनिर्विशङ्कौ । कपिश्च रक्षोऽधिपतेस्तनूजः सुरासुरेन्द्राविव बद्धवैरौ ॥ २६ ॥
Then those two met, of very sharp speed, mighty, fearless in battle: the monkey and the son of the lord of the rakshasas, like the lords of gods and asuras bound in enmity.
स तस्य वीरस्य महारथस्य धनुष्मतः संयति सम्मतस्य । शरप्रवेगं व्यहनत् प्रवृद्ध- श्चचार मार्गे पितुरप्रमेयः ॥ २७ ॥
The immeasurable one, growing larger, struck down the rush of arrows of that heroic great chariot-warrior, the bowman respected in battle, and ranged on the path of his father.
ततः शरानायततीक्ष्णशल्यान् सुपत्रिणः काञ्चनचित्रपुङ्खान् । मुमोच वीरः परवीरहन्ता सुसंततान् वज्रसमानवेगान् ॥ २८ ॥
Then the hero, slayer of enemy heroes, released long, sharp-headed arrows, well feathered, with golden decorated shafts, in close succession, with the speed of the thunderbolt.
ततः स तत्स्यन्दननिःस्वनं च मृदङ्गभेरीपटहस्वनं च । विकृष्यमाणस्य च कार्मुकस्य निशम्य घोषं पुनरुत्पपात ॥ २९ ॥
Then, hearing the rumble of that chariot, the sound of tabors, kettledrums and drums, and the sound of the bow being drawn, he leapt up again.
शराणामन्तरेष्वाशु व्यावर्तत महाकपिः । हरिस्तस्याभिलक्ष्यस्य मोक्षयँल्लक्ष्यसंग्रहम् ॥ ३० ॥
The great monkey moved quickly among the arrows; the monkey foiled the aim of that one who aimed at him.
शराणामग्रतस्तस्य पुनः समभिवर्तत । प्रसार्य हस्तौ हनुमानुत्पपातानिलात्मजः ॥ ३१ ॥
Again he moved in front of his arrows; stretching out his hands, Hanuman, son of the Wind, leapt up.
तावुभौ वेगसम्पन्नौ रणकर्मविशारदौ । सर्वभूतमनोग्राहि चक्रतुर्युद्धमुत्तमम् ॥ ३२ ॥
Those two, full of speed, skilled in the work of battle, fought a superb fight that captured the minds of all beings.
हनूमतो वेद न राक्षसोऽन्तरं न मारुतिस्तस्य महात्मनोऽन्तरम् । परस्परं निर्विषहौ बभूवतुः समेत्य तौ देवसमानविक्रमौ ॥ ३३ ॥
The rakshasa found no opening in Hanuman, nor the son of the Wind in that great soul; meeting, those two, equal to gods in valour, became unbearable to each other.
ततस्तु लक्ष्ये स विहन्यमाने शरेष्वमोघेषु च सम्पतत्सु । जगाम चिन्तां महतीं महात्मा समाधिसंयोगसमाहितात्मा ॥ ३४ ॥
Then, when his target was evading him and his unfailing arrows were falling uselessly, the great soul, his mind concentrated in the art of aiming, fell into great thought.
ततो मतिं राक्षसराजसूनु- श्चकार तस्मिन् हरिवीरमुख्ये । अवध्यतां तस्य कपेः समीक्ष्य कथं निगच्छेदिति निग्रहार्थम् ॥ ३५ ॥
Then the son of the king of the rakshasas made up his mind about that chief of monkey heroes: seeing that the monkey could not be killed, how might he be captured?
ततः पैतामहं वीरः सोऽस्त्रमस्त्रविदां वरः । संदधे सुमहातेजास्तं हरिप्रवरं प्रति ॥ ३६ ॥
Then the hero, best of those who know weapons, of great splendour, fitted the Grandsire’s weapon against that best of monkeys.
अवध्योऽयमिति ज्ञात्वा तमस्त्रेणास्त्रतत्त्ववित् । निजग्राह महाबाहुं मारुतात्मजमिन्द्रजित् ॥ ३७ ॥
Knowing “he cannot be killed”, Indrajit, who knew the truth of weapons, bound the mighty-armed son of the Wind with that weapon.
तेन बद्धस्ततोऽस्त्रेण राक्षसेन स वानरः । अभवन्निर्विचेष्टश्च पपात च महीतले ॥ ३८ ॥
Bound then by the rakshasa with that weapon, the monkey became motionless and fell on the ground.
ततोऽथ बुद्ध्वा स तदस्त्रबन्धं प्रभोः प्रभावाद् विगताल्पवेगः । पितामहानुग्रहमात्मनश्च विचिन्तयामास हरिप्रवीरः ॥ ३९ ॥
Then the hero among monkeys, realising that weapon-bond, his speed reduced by the power of the Lord, thought of the Grandsire’s favour toward himself.
ततः स्वायम्भुवैर्मन्त्रैर्ब्रह्मास्त्रं चाभिमन्त्रितम् । हनूमांश्चिन्तयामास वरदानं पितामहात् ॥ ४० ॥
Hanuman thought of the Brahma weapon, charged with the Self-born’s mantras, and of the boon from the Grandsire:
न मेऽस्य बन्धस्य च शक्तिरस्ति विमोक्षणे लोकगुरोः प्रभावात् । इत्येवमेवं विहितोऽस्त्रबन्धो मयाऽऽत्मयोनेरनुवर्तितव्यः ॥ ४१ ॥
“I have no power to free myself from this bond, because of the might of the teacher of the world. Since this weapon-bond has been set so, I must follow the Self-born’s will.”
स वीर्यमस्त्रस्य कपिर्विचार्य पितामहानुग्रहमात्मनश्च । विमोक्षशक्तिं परिचिन्तयित्वा पितामहाज्ञामनुवर्तते स्म ॥ ४२ ॥
Weighing the power of the weapon and the Grandsire’s favour toward him, and thinking over his power of release, the monkey followed the Grandsire’s command.
अस्त्रेणापि हि बद्धस्य भयं मम न जायते । पितामहमहेन्द्राभ्यां रक्षितस्यानिलेन च ॥ ४३ ॥
“Even bound by the weapon, I feel no fear, protected as I am by the Grandsire and Mahendra, and by the Wind.
ग्रहणे चापि रक्षोभिर्महन्मे गुणदर्शनम् । राक्षसेन्द्रेण संवादस्तस्माद् गृह्णन्तु मां परे ॥ ४४ ॥
“And in being captured by the rakshasas I see a great advantage: a conversation with the king of the rakshasas. So let the enemy seize me.”
स निश्चितार्थः परवीरहन्ता समीक्ष्यकारी विनिवृत्तचेष्टः । परैः प्रसह्याभिगतैर्निगृह्य ननाद तैस्तैः परिभर्त्स्यमानः ॥ ४५ ॥
His purpose settled, the slayer of enemy heroes, acting after due thought, stopped moving; seized by the enemy, who came at him by force, and threatened by them, he roared.
ततस्ते राक्षसा दृष्ट्वा विनिश्चेष्टमरिंदमम् । बबन्धुः शणवल्कैश्च द्रुमचीरैश्च संहतैः ॥ ४६ ॥
Then the rakshasas, seeing the tamer of enemies motionless, bound him with hemp and bark and with twisted strips of tree bark.
स रोचयामास परैश्च बन्धं प्रसह्य वीरैरभिगर्हणं च । कौतूहलान्मां यदि राक्षसेन्द्रो द्रष्टुं व्यवस्येदिति निश्चितार्थः ॥ ४७ ॥
He welcomed the bonds of the enemy and the abuse of the heroes by force, his purpose settled: “Perhaps the king of the rakshasas will want to see me out of curiosity.”
स बद्धस्तेन वल्केन विमुक्तोऽस्त्रेण वीर्यवान् । अस्त्रबन्धः स चान्यं हि न बन्धमनुवर्तते ॥ ४८ ॥
Bound with that bark, the valiant one was freed from the weapon; for the weapon-bond does not tolerate another bond.
अथेन्द्रजित् तं द्रुमचीरबद्धं विचार्य वीरः कपिसत्तमं तम् । विमुक्तमस्त्रेण जगाम चिन्ता- मन्येन बद्धोऽप्यनुवर्ततेऽस्त्रम् ॥ ४९ ॥
Then heroic Indrajit, considering that best of monkeys bound with tree bark and freed from the weapon, fell to thinking: “One bound by another does not remain under the weapon.
अहो महत् कर्म कृतं निरर्थं न राक्षसैर्मन्त्रगतिर्विमृष्टा । पुनश्च नास्त्रे विहतेऽस्त्रमन्यत् प्रवर्तते संशयिताः स्म सर्वे ॥ ५० ॥
“Ah, a great deed done for nothing! The rakshasas have not understood the working of mantras. And when the weapon has been undone, another weapon will not work. We are all in doubt now.”
अस्त्रेण हनुमान् मुक्तो नात्मानमवबुध्यते । कृष्यमाणस्तु रक्षोभिस्तैश्च बन्धैर्निपीडितः ॥ ५१ ॥
Freed from the weapon, Hanuman did not show that he knew it; dragged by the rakshasas and squeezed by those bonds,
हन्यमानस्ततः क्रूरै राक्षसैः कालमुष्टिभिः । समीपं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य प्राकृष्यत स वानरः ॥ ५२ ॥
beaten by the cruel rakshasas with fists like Death’s, the monkey was dragged into the presence of the king of the rakshasas.
अथेन्द्रजित् तं प्रसमीक्ष्य मुक्त- मस्त्रेण बद्धं द्रुमचीरसूत्रैः । व्यदर्शयत् तत्र महाबलं तं हरिप्रवीरं सगणाय राज्ञे ॥ ५३ ॥
Then Indrajit, seeing him freed from the weapon and bound with cords of tree bark, showed that mighty hero among monkeys there to the king and his court.
तं मत्तमिव मातङ्गं बद्धं कपिवरोत्तमम् । राक्षसा राक्षसेन्द्राय रावणाय न्यवेदयन् ॥ ५४ ॥
The rakshasas presented that best of monkeys, bound like a rutting elephant, to Ravana, king of the rakshasas.
कोऽयं कस्य कुतो वापि किं कार्यं कोऽभ्युपाश्रयः । इति राक्षसवीराणां दृष्ट्वा संजज्ञिरे कथाः ॥ ५५ ॥
“Who is this? Whose is he? Where is he from? What is his business? Who is his support?” Such talk arose among the rakshasa heroes at the sight of him.
हन्यतां दह्यतां वापि भक्ष्यतामिति चापरे । राक्षसास्तत्र संक्रुद्धाः परस्परमथाब्रुवन् ॥ ५६ ॥
“Let him be killed,” “Let him be burned,” “Let him be eaten,” others among the enraged rakshasas said to one another.
अतीत्य मार्गं सहसा महात्मा स तत्र रक्षोऽधिपपादमूले । ददर्श राज्ञः परिचारवृद्धान् गृहं महारत्नविभूषितं च ॥ ५७ ॥
Passing suddenly along the way, the great soul saw there, at the feet of the lord of the rakshasas, the king’s aged attendants and the hall adorned with great jewels.
स ददर्श महातेजा रावणः कपिसत्तमम् । रक्षोभिर्विकृताकारैः कृष्यमाणमितस्ततः ॥ ५८ ॥
Radiant Ravana saw the best of monkeys being dragged here and there by rakshasas of hideous form.
राक्षसाधिपतिं चापि ददर्श कपिसत्तमः । तेजोबलसमायुक्तं तपन्तमिव भास्करम् ॥ ५९ ॥
And the best of monkeys saw the lord of the rakshasas, endowed with splendour and strength, like the burning sun.
स रोषसंवर्तितताम्रदृष्टि- र्दशाननस्तं कपिमन्ववेक्ष्य । अथोपविष्टान् कुलशीलवृद्धान् समादिशत् तं प्रति मुख्यमन्त्रीन् ॥ ६० ॥
Looking at that monkey, his coppery eyes rolling with fury, the ten-faced one then ordered the chief ministers seated there, elders in family and conduct, to deal with him.
यथाक्रमं तैः स कपिश्च पृष्टः कार्यार्थमर्थस्य च मूलमादौ । निवेदयामास हरीश्वरस्य दूतः सकाशादहमागतोऽस्मि ॥ ६१ ॥
Questioned by them in due order about his business and purpose and the root of the matter, the monkey said first: “I have come as a messenger from the lord of the monkeys.”