Kalanemi Builds a False Hermitage and Praises Rama to Deceive Hanuman
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 57
Doha 57 · Movement 1 of 2
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Kalanemi enters the road ahead and covers it with illusion. A clear lake, temple, gardens, and beautiful hermitage appear where urgency should have found only the night path. Hanuman sees the inviting refuge and approaches the apparent sage for water.
The demon sits in holy disguise, attempting to delude the messenger of the Lord of Maya. Hanuman bows, and the false ascetic begins narrating Rama's glory. Rama will certainly defeat Ravana, he says, claiming divine sight has already revealed the outcome.
Hanuman asks for water. Kalanemi offers the small amount in his vessel, but the son of the Wind cannot satisfy his thirst with so little. Bathe first in the lake, the deceiver says, then return and receive initiation into knowledge. Truth about Rama becomes bait upon the mouth of falsehood, and a sacred landscape is arranged to steal the one thing the wounded Lakshmana cannot spare: time.
A false teacher offers knowledge beside an unreal lake while the true servant measures every breath against Lakshmana's life.
Read the passage from the Manas
अस कहि चला रचिसि मग माया। सर मंदिर बर बाग बनाया।। मारुतसुत देखा सुभ आश्रम। मुनिहि बूझि जल पियौं जाइ श्रम।। राच्छस कपट बेष तहँ सोहा। मायापति दूतहि चह मोहा।। जाइ पवनसुत नायउ माथा। लाग सो कहै राम गुन गाथा।। होत महा रन रावन रामहिं। जितहहिं राम न संसय या महिं।। इहाँ भएँ मैं देखेउँ भाई। ग्यान दृष्टि बल मोहि अधिकाई।। मागा जल तेहिं दीन्ह कमंडल। कह कपि नहिं अघाउँ थोरें जल।। सर मज्जन करि आतुर आवहु। दिच्छा देउँ ग्यान जेहिं पावहु।।
Saying this, the demon created an illusion on the path, fashioning beautiful lakes, temples, and gardens. The son of the wind god saw the beautiful hermitage and thought to ask the sage for water to quench his thirst. A demon in the disguise of a sage dwelt there, as the lord of illusion sought to deceive the messenger. The son of the wind god went and bowed his head, and the false sage began to narrate the glories of Rama. There is a great battle between Ravana and Rama, and Rama will surely win without doubt. I have witnessed this here, brother, for I possess the power of divine sight and great strength. When Hanuman asked for water, the demon offered his water pot, but the monkey said he would not be satisfied with so little. Come eagerly and bathe in the lake, and I shall give you diksha by which you will gain knowledge.