The Shadow-Seizing Demoness Falls, and Golden Lanka Rises beyond the Forest
Sundara Kanda, Chaupai 3
Doha 3 · Movement 1 of 3
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A demoness dwells within the ocean and hunts the creatures of the sky through their reflections. When bird or beast flies overhead, she grasps its shadow in the water, arrests its flight, and devours what cannot escape. She casts the same deception upon Hanuman, but the steady-minded servant recognizes the hidden grip and kills her.
Beyond the ocean he enters a beautiful land of flowering and fruit-bearing trees. Bees hum for honey, birds and deer move through the groves, and a vast mountain stands ahead. Hanuman runs upward without fear. Shiva tells Uma that this is not the monkey's independent greatness, but the majesty of the Lord that devours even Kala.
From the summit Hanuman sees Lanka. The fortress rises beyond description, encircled on every side by the ocean. Golden ramparts blaze at an immense height. After the shifting water and the shadow-demon's snare, the destination appears as a solid crown of gold guarded by sea and night.
The shadow hunter loses her prey, and Hanuman climbs high enough to see golden Lanka beyond the sea.
Read the passage from the Manas
निसिचरि एक सिंधु महुँ रहई। करि माया नभु के खग गहई।। जीव जंतु जे गगन उड़ाहीं। जल बिलोकि तिन्ह कै परिछाहीं।। गहइ छाहँ सक सो न उड़ाई। एहि बिधि सदा गगनचर खाई।। सोइ छल हनूमान कहँ कीन्हा। तासु कपटु कपि तुरतहिं चीन्हा।। ताहि मारि मारुतसुत बीरा। बारिधि पार गयउ मतिधीरा।। तहाँ जाइ देखी बन सोभा। गुंजत चंचरीक मधु लोभा।। नाना तरु फल फूल सुहाए। खग मृग बृंद देखि मन भाए।। सैल बिसाल देखि एक आगें। ता पर धाइ चढेउ भय त्यागें।। उमा न कछु कपि कै अधिकाई। प्रभु प्रताप जो कालहि खाई।। गिरि पर चढि लंका तेहिं देखी। कहि न जाइ अति दुर्ग बिसेषी।। अति उतंग जलनिधि चहु पासा। कनक कोट कर परम प्रकासा।।
A demoness lived in the ocean who used her maya to seize birds flying in the sky. Whatever creatures flew through the heavens, she would catch them by grasping their shadows reflected in the water. Whomever's shadow she grasped could not fly away. In this way she always devoured the sky-travelers. She tried the same trick on Hanuman, but the clever monkey recognized her deception at once. The brave son of Marut killed her and crossed the ocean with a steady, fearless mind. Going further, he beheld the beauty of forests and groves, with bees humming eagerly over fragrant blossoms. Various trees with beautiful fruits and flowers delighted his heart. He saw flocks of birds and herds of deer. Seeing a mighty mountain ahead, he ran and climbed it, casting aside all hesitation. O Uma, this was not the monkey's own power. It was the Lord's pratap, His glory, which devours even death itself. Climbing the mountain, he saw Lanka, whose extraordinary fortification defies all description. Its walls rose immensely high, the ocean surrounding it on all four sides, its golden ramparts blazing with supreme brilliance.