Hanuman Breaks Meghnad's Chariot at the Western Gate
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 43
Doha 43 · Movement 1 of 2
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Monkeys flee in terror, though Shiva tells Uma that victory still awaits them. Across the confusion they call for Angada, Hanuman, Nala, Nila, and mighty Dvivida. At the western gate, Hanuman hears the distress of his own ranks while Meghnad's fierce defense keeps the entrance unbroken.
Anger takes hold of the son of the Wind. He roars like Time upon the field, leaps to the top of Lanka's fort, tears up a mountain, and charges the chariot of Ravana's son.
The mountain force shatters the vehicle and brings the charioteer down. Hanuman closes the remaining distance and drives a foot into Meghnad's chest. Another driver sees the prince stricken, brings a fresh chariot at once, and carries him back toward the city. The gate still stands, but the warrior guarding it has been removed from the field by one vanara's answer.
At the western gate, Hanuman's roar becomes a mountain, a broken chariot, and Meghnad borne home.
Read the passage from the Manas
भय आतुर कपि भागन लागे। जद्यपि उमा जीतिहहिं आगे।। कोउ कह कहँ अंगद हनुमंता। कहँ नल नील दुबिद बलवंता।। निज दल बिकल सुना हनुमाना। पच्छिम द्वार रहा बलवाना।। मेघनाद तहँ करइ लराई। टूट न द्वार परम कठिनाई।। पवनतनय मन भा अति क्रोधा। गर्जेउ प्रबल काल सम जोधा।। कूदि लंक गढ़ ऊपर आवा। गहि गिरि मेघनाद कहुँ धावा।। भंजेउ रथ सारथी निपाता। ताहि हृदय महुँ मारेसि लाता।। दुसरें सूत बिकल तेहि जाना। स्यंदन घालि तुरत गृह आना।।
The monkeys began to flee in terror, though, O Uma, they were destined to be victorious in the end. Some cried out, 'Where is Angada? Where is Hanuman? Where are the mighty Nala, Nila, and Dvivida?' Hanuman, the powerful one stationed at the western gate, heard that his own army was in distress. Meghnad was fighting there with great fury, yet the gate would not break, so fierce was its defense. The son of the wind god burned with terrible anger and roared like a mighty warrior equal to Kala himself. He leaped up onto the fortress of Lanka and, seizing a mountain, rushed toward Meghnad. He shattered the chariot and struck down the charioteer, then kicked Meghnad full in the chest. Another charioteer saw Meghnad's plight, quickly brought a chariot, and carried him home.