Remembering Raghuvira, Hanuman Strikes Ravana From the Sky
Lanka Kanda, Chhand 20
Doha 95 · Movement 2 of 3
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Hanuman gathers his mind around steadfast Raghuvira, challenges Ravana, and strikes. The king falls from the sky to the earth beneath the force born after remembrance.
Ravana rises and returns to combat. The two warriors meet again while the gods cry Jaya, Jaya to both, honoring the terrible valor displayed on either side of the struggle.
Below them, bears and vanaras see Hanuman in danger and rush forward in anger. Ravana, intoxicated with battle, turns his enormous arms upon the newcomers and crushes mighty warrior after mighty warrior. Remembrance has brought Hanuman through the limit of his isolated strength, but the battle does not become easy. Devotion acts within the full pressure of danger, drawing companions toward one another even while Ravana's power continues to break bodies across the field.
Hanuman falls upon Ravana with Rama remembered, and the heavens praise the valor blazing through both combatants.
Read the passage from the Manas
संभारि श्रीरघुबीर धीर पचारि कपि रावनु हन्यो। महि परत पुनि उठि लरत देवन्ह जुगल कहुँ जय जय भन्यो।। हनुमंत संकट देखि मर्कट भालु क्रोधातुर चले। रन मत्त रावन सकल सुभट प्रचंड भुज बल दलमले।।
Remembering Lord Raghuvira with steadfast resolve, the monkey challenged Ravana and struck him down. As he fell to earth and rose again to fight, the gods cried 'Victory! Victory!' to both warriors. Seeing Hanuman in peril, the monkeys and bears rushed forward, burning with anger. Intoxicated with battle, Ravana crushed all the mighty warriors with his powerful arms.