Hanuman Remembers Rama While Two Mountains Wrestle in the Sky
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 95
Doha 95 · Movement 1 of 3
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Hanuman sees Vibhishana exhausted and rushes forward carrying a mountain. He destroys Ravana's chariot, horses, and charioteer, then drives a kick into the king's chest. Ravana remains standing, but his body trembles while Vibhishana withdraws to the protector of all beings.
Ravana strikes Hanuman and rises into the sky. Hanuman spreads his tail and follows. The demon seizes the tail and carries him upward, but the son of the Wind turns within the grasp and the two mighty warriors close upon each other again.
They fight in the heavens with force and cunning, like a mountain of black collyrium grappling with golden Sumeru. Ravana cannot overcome Hanuman through skill or strength. At that limit Hanuman does not search for another reserve within himself. He remembers his Lord, and the whole aerial struggle turns around an inward movement no enemy can seize.
Between two mountains locked in the sky, Hanuman finds the greater strength contained in one remembrance of Rama.
Read the passage from the Manas
देखा श्रमित बिभीषनु भारी। धायउ हनूमान गिरि धारी।। रथ तुरंग सारथी निपाता। हृदय माझ तेहि मारेसि लाता।। ठाढ़ रहा अति कंपित गाता। गयउ बिभीषनु जहँ जनत्राता।। पुनि रावन कपि हतेउ पचारी। चलेउ गगन कपि पूँछ पसारी।। गहिसि पूँछ कपि सहित उड़ाना। पुनि फिरि भिरेउ प्रबल हनुमाना।। लरत अकास जुगल सम जोधा। एकहि एकु हनत करि क्रोधा।। सोहहिं नभ छल बल बहु करहीं। कज्जल गिरि सुमेरु जनु लरहीं।। बुधि बल निसिचर परइ न पार् यो। तब मारुत सुत प्रभु संभार् यो।।
Seeing Vibhishana greatly fatigued, Hanuman rushed forward carrying a mountain. He destroyed the chariot, horses, and charioteer, then struck a powerful kick to Ravana's heart. The enemy stood trembling, his whole body shaking, while Vibhishana went to where the Protector of all beings was. Then Ravana struck the monkey hard and soared into the sky; the monkey spread his tail and followed. Grasping the tail, the demon flew upward with him, yet mighty Hanuman turned back to fight. The two equal warriors battled in the sky, each striking the other in fury. They shone in the heavens, performing many feats of skill and strength, like Mount Kailash and Mount Sumeru in combat. The demon could not overcome Hanuman through cunning or brute force; then the son of the Wind remembered his Lord.