Hanuman Liberates the Apsara, Slays Kalanemi, and Lifts the Mountain
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 58
Doha 58 · Movement 1 of 2
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The celestial woman tells Hanuman that his sight has cleansed her and ended a great sage's curse. The ascetic on the bank is no sage but a terrible demon. She asks him to trust the warning and departs into the sky.
Hanuman returns to Kalanemi and playfully requests the teacher's fee before receiving the promised mantra. His tail coils around the demon's head and hurls him down. As death reveals his true form, Kalanemi cries Rama, Rama, and releases his life. Hanuman hears the Name and continues with joy.
He reaches the mountain but cannot distinguish the required herb among its luminous abundance. There is no time for uncertainty. Hanuman uproots the whole height, lifts it into his hands, and flies through the night. Mountain and servant cross the sky together until the path carries them above Ayodhya, the city where another love for Rama keeps watch.
Unable to identify one healing leaf, Hanuman makes the entire mountain his answer and carries it into the night.
Read the passage from the Manas
कपि तव दरस भइउँ निष्पापा। मिटा तात मुनिबर कर सापा।। मुनि न होइ यह निसिचर घोरा। मानहु सत्य बचन कपि मोरा।। अस कहि गई अपछरा जबहीं। निसिचर निकट गयउ कपि तबहीं।। कह कपि मुनि गुरदछिना लेहू। पाछें हमहि मंत्र तुम्ह देहू।। सिर लंगूर लपेटि पछारा। निज तनु प्रगटेसि मरती बारा।। राम राम कहि छाड़ेसि प्राना। सुनि मन हरषि चलेउ हनुमाना।। देखा सैल न औषध चीन्हा। सहसा कपि उपारि गिरि लीन्हा।। गहि गिरि निसि नभ धावत भयऊ। अवधपुरी उपर कपि गयऊ।।
O monkey, by your sight I have become free from sin. My child, the curse of the great sage has been removed. This terrible demon was not originally a sage. Believe my truthful words, O monkey. Having said this, when the celestial nymph departed, the monkey immediately went near the demon. The monkey said, 'O sage, please give me your blessing first, then you may give me the mantra.' Wrapping his tail around the demon's head, he hurled him down. At the moment of death, the demon revealed his true form. Chanting 'Ram Ram,' he gave up his life. Hearing this, Hanuman departed with joy in his heart. He saw the mountain but could not identify the herbs. So the monkey uprooted and lifted the entire mountain. Grasping the mountain, he began flying through the night sky. The monkey soared over the city of Ayodhya.