Sundara Kanda · Sarga 53 of 68 · 44 verses
The Burning Tail
Ravana accepts that a messenger may not be killed, but orders another punishment: a monkey’s tail is his favourite ornament, so set it on fire and let him go back maimed for his friends and kin to see. Let him be paraded through every street and square with his tail blazing. The rakshasas wrap his tail in old cotton rags; as they wrap, Hanuman grows, like a fire finding dry fuel. They soak it in oil and light it. Hanuman strikes them with the burning tail, but they bind him again, and the whole city, women, children and old people, rejoice.
Bound, Hanuman thinks it over: he could break the ropes and kill them all, but he will bear this for Rama’s sake; and being paraded is useful, for he did not see Lanka’s defences properly by night and can study them now by day. So he lets himself be led through the city to the sound of conches and drums, while the rakshasas proclaim “a spy!” and he observes the mansions, squares, streets, lanes and crossroads.
The rakshasis run to tell Sita that the copper-faced monkey she talked with is being paraded with his tail on fire. Hearing it, as painful as her own abduction, Sita turns to the fire and prays: if I have served my husband, if I have practised austerity, if I am faithful to one husband, be cool to Hanuman. If Rama has any compassion for me, if any good fortune is left to me, if Sugriva will rescue me, be cool to Hanuman. The fire burns with bright, steady flames turning to the right, as if announcing good for the monkey, and the wind, his father, blows cool as snow.
Hanuman wonders why the blazing fire does not burn him; he feels only cold at the tip of his tail. It must be Rama’s power, like the mountain that rose for him in the sea; by Sita’s kindness, Raghava’s splendour and his father’s friendship, the fire does not burn him. Then, why should one like him be bound by these wretches? He snaps the ropes, leaps up roaring onto the city gate, makes himself tiny to slip out of his bonds, grows huge again, seizes an iron bar and kills the guards. Then he looks out over Lanka, wreathed in the flames of his own tail like the sun in its rays.
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तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा दशग्रीवो महात्मनः । देशकालहितं वाक्यं भ्रातुरुत्तरमब्रवीत् ॥ १ ॥
Hearing those words of his great-souled brother, Ten-necked gave an answer suited to place and time:
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सम्यगुक्तं हि भवता दूतवध्या विगर्हिता । अवश्यं तु वधायान्यः क्रियतामस्य निग्रहः ॥ २ ॥
“You have spoken rightly: killing a messenger is condemned. But some other punishment short of death must certainly be inflicted on him.
कपीनां किल लाङ्गूलमिष्टं भवति भूषणम् । तदस्य दीप्यतां शीघ्रं तेन दग्धेन गच्छतु ॥ ३ ॥
“They say a tail is a monkey’s favourite ornament. Let his be set on fire at once; let him go with it burned.
ततः पश्यन्त्वमुं दीनमङ्गवैरूप्यकर्शितम् । सुमित्रज्ञातयः सर्वे बान्धवाः ससुहृज्जनाः ॥ ४ ॥
“Then let all his friends, relatives, kin and well-wishers see him wretched, worn down by the disfigurement of his body.”
आज्ञापयद् राक्षसेन्द्रः पुरं सर्वं सचत्वरम् । लाङ्गूलेन प्रदीप्तेन रक्षोभिः परिणीयताम् ॥ ५ ॥
The king of the rakshasas ordered: “Let him be led round the whole city with its squares by the rakshasas, with his tail on fire.”
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षसाः कोपकर्कशाः । वेष्टन्ते तस्य लाङ्गूलं जीर्णैः कार्पासिकैः पटैः ॥ ६ ॥
Hearing his words, the rakshasas, harsh with anger, wrapped his tail in worn cotton cloths.
संवेष्ट्यमाने लाङ्गूले व्यवर्धत महाकपिः । शुष्कमिन्धनमासाद्य वनेष्विव हुताशनम् ॥ ७ ॥
While his tail was being wrapped, the great monkey grew, like a fire in the forest finding dry fuel.
तैलेन परिषिच्याथ तेऽग्निं तत्रोपपादयन् । लाङ्गूलेन प्रदीप्तेन राक्षसांस्तानताडयत् ॥ ८ ॥
Then, soaking it with oil, they set fire to it there. With his tail on fire, he struck those rakshasas.
रोषामर्षपरीतात्मा बालसूर्यसमाननः । स भूयः संगतैः क्रूरै राक्षसैर्हरिपुङ्गवः ॥ ९ ॥
Filled with fury and indignation, his face like the young sun, the bull among monkeys was again bound by the cruel rakshasas, gathered together,
सहस्त्रीबालवृद्धाश्च जग्मुः प्रीतिं निशाचराः । निबद्धः कृतवान् वीरस्तत्कालसदृशीं मतिम् ॥ १० ॥
and the night-wanderers with their women, children and old people were delighted. Bound, the hero made a decision suited to the moment:
कामं खलु न मे शक्ता निबद्धस्यापि राक्षसाः । छित्त्वा पाशान् समुत्पत्य हन्यामहमिमान् पुनः ॥ ११ ॥
“Certainly the rakshasas are no match for me even when I am bound. I could break these bonds, leap up and kill them again.
यदि भर्तृहितार्थाय चरन्तं भर्तृशासनात् । निबध्नन्ते दुरात्मानो न तु मे निष्कृतिः कृता ॥ १२ ॥
“If, while I go about my master’s business at my master’s command, these evil-souled ones bind me, they have not thereby paid me back.
सर्वेषामेव पर्याप्तो राक्षसानामहं युधि । किं तु रामस्य प्रीत्यर्थं विषहिष्येऽहमीदृशम् ॥ १३ ॥
“I am a match for all the rakshasas in battle; but to please Rama I will bear this.
लङ्का चारयितव्या मे पुनरेव भवेदिति । रात्रौ नहि सुदृष्टा मे दुर्गकर्मविधानतः ॥ १४ ॥
“Lanka should be surveyed by me again; that would be good. By night I did not see it well, nor the arrangement of its defences.
अवश्यमेव द्रष्टव्या मया लङ्का निशाक्षये । कामं बध्नन्तु मे भूयः पुच्छस्योद्दीपनेन च ॥ १५ ॥
“I must certainly see Lanka now that night has ended. Let them bind me again, and set my tail ablaze;
पीडां कुर्वन्ति रक्षांसि न मेऽस्ति मनसः श्रमः । ततस्ते संवृताकारं सत्त्ववन्तं महाकपिम् ॥ १६ ॥
“the rakshasas give me pain, but my mind feels no strain.” Then the rakshasas took that great monkey, hiding his intent, full of courage,
परिगृह्य ययुर्हृष्टा राक्षसाः कपिकुञ्जरम् । शङ्खभेरीनिनादैश्च घोषयन्तः स्वकर्मभिः ॥ १७ ॥
that elephant among monkeys, and went off delighted, proclaiming his deeds with the sound of conches and kettledrums.
राक्षसाः क्रूरकर्माणश्चारयन्ति स्म तां पुरीम् । अन्वीयमानो रक्षोभिर्ययौ सुखमिरंदमः ॥ १८ ॥
The rakshasas of cruel deeds led him through that city; followed by the rakshasas, the tamer of enemies went at his ease.
हनूमांश्चारयामास राक्षसानां महापुरीम् । अथापश्यद् विमानानि विचित्राणि महाकपिः ॥ १९ ॥
Hanuman went round the great city of the rakshasas, and the great monkey saw its wonderful mansions,
संवृतान् भूमिभागांश्च सुविभक्तांश्च चत्वरान् । रथ्याश्च गृहसम्बाधाः कपिः शृङ्गाटकानि च ॥ २० ॥
its enclosed grounds, its well-laid-out squares, its streets crowded with houses, and its crossroads,
तथा रथ्योपरथ्याश्च तथैव च गृहान्तरान् । चत्वरेषु चतुष्केषु राजमार्गे तथैव च ॥ २१ ॥
its main streets and side streets and the spaces between the houses. In squares and courtyards and on the royal road
घोषयन्ति कपिं सर्वे चार इत्येव राक्षसाः । स्त्रीबालवृद्धा निर्जग्मुस्तत्र तत्र कुतूहलात् ॥ २२ ॥
all the rakshasas proclaimed the monkey: “A spy!” Women, children and old people came out here and there out of curiosity,
तं प्रदीपितलाङ्गूलं हनूमन्तं दिदृक्षवः । दीप्यमाने ततस्तस्य लाङ्गूलाग्रे हनूमतः ॥ २३ ॥
wanting to see Hanuman with his tail on fire. Then, as the tip of Hanuman’s tail blazed,
राक्षस्यस्ता विरूपाक्ष्यः शंसुर्देव्यास्तदप्रियम् । यस्त्वया कृतसंवादः सीते ताम्रमुखः कपिः ॥ २४ ॥
the ugly-eyed rakshasis told the goddess that unwelcome news: “Sita, the copper-faced monkey who talked with you
लाङ्गूलेन प्रदीप्तेन स एष परिणीयते । श्रुत्वा तद् वचनं क्रूरमात्मापहरणोपमम् ॥ २५ ॥
“is being led round with his tail on fire.” Hearing those cruel words, like her own abduction,
वैदेही शोकसंतप्ता हुताशनमुपागमत् । मङ्गलाभिमुखी तस्य सा तदासीन्महाकपेः ॥ २६ ॥
Vaidehi, burning with grief, turned to the fire. Wishing good fortune for that great monkey,
उपतस्थे विशालाक्षी प्रयता हव्यवाहनम् । यद्यस्ति पतिशुश्रूषा यद्यस्ति चरितं तपः । यदि वा त्वेकपत्नीत्वं शीतो भव हनूमतः ॥ २७ ॥
the large-eyed one, purified, prayed to the bearer of oblations: “If there is service of my husband, if there is austerity I have practised, if I am indeed a one-husband wife, be cool to Hanuman.
यदि किंचिदनुक्रोशस्तस्य मय्यस्ति धीमतः । यदि वा भाग्यशेषो मे शीतो भव हनूमतः ॥ २८ ॥
“If that wise one has any compassion for me, or if any of my good fortune remains, be cool to Hanuman.
यदि मां वृत्तसम्पन्नां तत्समागमलालसाम् । स विजानाति धर्मात्मा शीतो भव हनूमतः ॥ २९ ॥
“If that righteous one knows me to be of good conduct and longing for union with him, be cool to Hanuman.
यदि मां तारयेदार्यः सुग्रीवः सत्यसंगरः । अस्माद् दुःखाम्बुसंरोधाच्छीतो भव हनूमतः ॥ ३० ॥
“If noble Sugriva, true to his promise, will rescue me from this flood of sorrow, be cool to Hanuman.”
ततस्तीक्ष्णार्चिरव्यग्रः प्रदक्षिणशिखोऽनलः । जज्वाल मृगशावाक्ष्याः शंसन्निव शुभं कपेः ॥ ३१ ॥
Then the fire, with sharp flames, steady, its crest turning to the right, burned as if announcing good fortune for the monkey to the fawn-eyed lady.
हनूमज्जनकश्चैव पुच्छानलयुतोऽनिलः । ववौ स्वास्थ्यकरो देव्याः प्रालेयानिलशीतलः ॥ ३२ ॥
And the Wind, Hanuman’s father, blowing together with the fire of the tail, blew health-giving for the goddess, cool as a snowy wind.
दह्यमाने च लाङ्गूले चिन्तयामास वानरः । प्रदीप्तोऽग्निरयं कस्मान्न मां दहति सर्वतः ॥ ३३ ॥
As his tail burned, the monkey thought: “Why does this blazing fire not burn me all over?
दृश्यते च महाज्वालः करोति च न मे रुजम् । शिशिरस्येव सम्पातो लाङ्गूलाग्रे प्रतिष्ठितः ॥ ३४ ॥
“It is seen with great flames, yet it causes me no pain; something like a fall of frost is settled on the tip of my tail.
अथ वा तदिदं व्यक्तं यद् दृष्टं प्लवता मया । रामप्रभावादाश्चर्यं पर्वतः सरितां पतौ ॥ ३५ ॥
“Or it is clearly this: what I saw as I leapt, the marvel of the mountain in the lord of rivers, by Rama’s power.
यदि तावत् समुद्रस्य मैनाकस्य च धीमतः । रामार्थं सम्भ्रमस्तादृक् किमग्निर्न करिष्यति ॥ ३६ ॥
“If the ocean and wise Mainaka showed such eagerness for Rama’s sake, what will fire not do?
सीतायाश्चानृशंस्येन तेजसा राघवस्य च । पितुश्च मम सख्येन न मां दहति पावकः ॥ ३७ ॥
“By Sita’s kindness, by Raghava’s splendour, and by my father’s friendship, the fire does not burn me.”
भूयः स चिन्तयामास मुहूर्तं कपिकुञ्जरः । कथमस्मद्विधस्येह बन्धनं राक्षसाधमैः ॥ ३८ ॥
Again the elephant among monkeys thought for a moment: “How can one like me be bound here by these vilest of rakshasas?
प्रतिक्रियास्य युक्ता स्यात् सति मह्यं पराक्रमे । ततश्छित्त्वा च तान् पाशान् वेगवान् वै महाकपिः ॥ ३९ ॥
“A retaliation would be fitting, since I have valour.” Then, breaking those bonds, the swift great monkey
उत्पपाताथ वेगेन ननाद च महाकपिः । पुरद्वारं ततः श्रीमान् शैलशृङ्गमिवोन्नतम् ॥ ४० ॥
leapt up with force and roared. Then the glorious son of the Wind reached the city gate, tall as a mountain peak,
विभक्तरक्षःसम्बाधमाससादानिलात्मजः । स भूत्वा शैलसंकाशः क्षणेन पुनरात्मवान् ॥ ४१ ॥
where the throng of rakshasas had parted. Having become like a mountain, in an instant, master of himself again,
ह्रस्वतां परमां प्राप्तो बन्धनान्यवशातयत् । विमुक्तश्चाभवच्छ्रीमान् पुनः पर्वतसंनिभः ॥ ४२ ॥
he became extremely small and shook off his bonds. Freed, the glorious one became like a mountain again.
वीक्षमाणश्च ददृशे परिघं तोरणाश्रितम् । स तं गृह्य महाबाहुः कालायसपरिष्कृतम् । रक्षिणस्तान् पुनः सर्वान् सूदयामास मारुतिः ॥ ४३ ॥
Looking about, he saw an iron bar fixed in the gateway. Taking it, bound with black iron, the mighty-armed son of the Wind again slaughtered all those guards.
स तान् निहत्वा रणचण्डविक्रमः समीक्षमाणः पुनरेव लङ्काम् । प्रदीप्तलाङ्गूलकृतार्चिमाली प्रकाशितादित्य इवार्चिमाली ॥ ४४ ॥
Having killed them, fierce in valour in battle, looking out again over Lanka, garlanded with the flames made by his blazing tail, he shone like the sun garlanded with rays.