Hanuman Hurls a Mountain and Meghnad Flees Into Illusion
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 51
Doha 51 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Hanuman sees the vanara army broken beneath Meghnad's arrows, and anger sends him forward like Time. He tears a vast mountain from the earth and hurls it at Ravana's son with all the force of his grief for the fallen ranks.
Meghnad sees the mass approaching and escapes into the sky, leaving chariot, horses, and charioteer destroyed below. Hanuman challenges him again and again, but the prince will not come near. He knows where direct combat would lead.
Instead Meghnad approaches Rama, pours out abuse, and releases every weapon and missile he possesses. The Lord cuts them away as play. Frustrated by that effortless defense, the demon begins constructing illusions of many kinds. He is like someone trying to frighten Garuda by waving a little snake before the king of birds. The display can be elaborate, but its chosen adversary makes it absurd.
Meghnad escapes Hanuman's mountain only to shake a little serpent of illusion before the Lord of every sky.
Read the passage from the Manas
देखि पवनसुत कटक बिहाला। क्रोधवंत जनु धायउ काला।। महासैल एक तुरत उपारा। अति रिस मेघनाद पर डारा।। आवत देखि गयउ नभ सोई। रथ सारथी तुरग सब खोई।। बार बार पचार हनुमाना। निकट न आव मरमु सो जाना।। रघुपति निकट गयउ घननादा। नाना भाँति करेसि दुर्बादा।। अस्त्र सस्त्र आयुध सब डारे। कौतुकहीं प्रभु काटि निवारे।। देखि प्रताप मूढ़ खिसिआना। करै लाग माया बिधि नाना।। जिमि कोउ करै गरुड़ सैं खेला। डरपावै गहि स्वल्प सपेला।।
Seeing the son of the wind god's army in distress, Meghnad rushed forth like Death himself in fury. He immediately lifted a great mountain and hurled it at Meghnad in extreme anger. Seeing it coming, Meghnad fled to the sky, losing his chariot, charioteer, and horses all. Again and again Hanuman called out to him, but he would not come near, knowing the secret of his own vulnerability. Meghnad went near Lord Rama and began hurling all manner of abuses and insults. He hurled every kind of weapon and missile, which the Lord playfully cut down and warded off. Seeing this prowess, the fool became enraged and began creating various magical illusions. Like one who plays with Garuda by waving a small serpent to frighten him.