Hanuman Leaves Meghnad at Lanka's Gate and Ravana Falls at the News
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 77
Doha 77 · Movement 1 of 2
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Hanuman lifts Meghnad's body without effort, carries it to Lanka, and lays the fallen prince at the city gate before returning. The son who promised dawn to Ravana comes home through the hands of Rama's servant.
Gods and Gandharvas arrive in celestial vehicles, shower flowers, sound drums, and sing Raghunath's stainless glory. They praise Ananta, foundation of the worlds, through whom the gods have been delivered. Lakshmana then returns to the ocean of compassion.
When Ravana hears that his son is dead, consciousness leaves him and he falls. Mandodari beats her breast and cries in many ways, while grief spreads through the city. Citizens name the ten headed king ruined. Celebration fills heaven, but Lanka receives the same victory as a body at its gate and a father collapsed upon the ground.
Meghnad returns beneath Hanuman's arm, and the promise that consoled Ravana at night becomes the grief that fells him by day.
Read the passage from the Manas
बिनु प्रयास हनुमान उठायो। लंका द्वार राखि पुनि आयो।। तासु मरन सुनि सुर गंधर्बा। चढ़ि बिमान आए नभ सर्बा।। बरषि सुमन दुंदुभीं बजावहिं। श्रीरघुनाथ बिमल जसु गावहिं।। जय अनंत जय जगदाधारा। तुम्ह प्रभु सब देवन्हि निस्तारा।। अस्तुति करि सुर सिद्ध सिधाए। लछिमन कृपासिन्धु पहिं आए।। सुत बध सुना दसानन जबहीं। मुरुछित भयउ परेउ महि तबहीं।। मंदोदरी रुदन कर भारी। उर ताड़न बहु भाँति पुकारी।। नगर लोग सब ब्याकुल सोचा। सकल कहहिं दसकंधर पोचा।।
Without the slightest effort, Hanuman lifted Meghnad's body and placed it at Lanka's gate, then returned. Hearing of his death, gods and Gandharvas all came riding their celestial chariots through the sky. They showered flowers and beat celestial drums, singing the spotless glory of Shri Raghunath. 'Victory to the Infinite! Victory to the foundation of the universe! O Lord, You have delivered all the gods!' Having offered their praises, the gods and Siddhas departed, and Lakshmana came before the ocean of compassion. The very moment the ten-headed Ravana heard of his son's death, he fainted and fell to the ground. Mandodari wailed with heavy grief, beating her breast and crying out in a hundred ways. All the people of the city were stricken with despair, and everyone declared that the ten-necked one was utterly ruined.