Lankini Falls beneath One Fist and Recognizes the Beginning of Lanka's End
Sundara Kanda, Chaupai 4
Doha 4 · Movement 1 of 2
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Hanuman takes a form like a mosquito and moves toward Lanka remembering Narahari. At the gate a demoness named Lankini challenges him. Every thief who enters her domain becomes her food, and the tiny stranger does not know the secret power guarding the city.
The great monkey answers with a single fist. Lankini falls trembling upon the ground and vomits blood. When she gathers herself and rises, aggression has left her. With folded hands and uncertainty she reveals the sign Brahma gave when Ravana received his boon.
When a monkey's blow makes her helpless, the destruction of the demon host is near. That prophecy now stands embodied before her. Lankini calls the encounter her immense merit, for her eyes have seen Rama's messenger. The guardian of Lanka becomes the first being within its walls to recognize the city's ending.
One fist opens the gate, and Lanka's own guardian names the omen of the demon host's destruction.
Read the passage from the Manas
मसक समान रूप कपि धरी। लंकहि चलेउ सुमिरि नरहरी।। नाम लंकिनी एक निसिचरी। सो कह चलेसि मोहि निंदरी।। जानेहि नहीं मरमु सठ मोरा। मोर अहार जहाँ लगि चोरा।। मुठिका एक महा कपि हनी। रुधिर बमत धरनीं ढनमनी।। पुनि संभारि उठि सो लंका। जोरि पानि कर बिनय संसका।। जब रावनहि ब्रह्म बर दीन्हा। चलत बिरंचि कहा मोहि चीन्हा।। बिकल होसि तैं कपि कें मारे। तब जानेसु निसिचर संघारे।। तात मोर अति पुन्य बहूता। देखेउँ नयन राम कर दूता।।
Taking a form the size of a mosquito, the monkey set out for Lanka, remembering Narhari. A demoness named Lankini said, "Where do you think you are going, you wretched fool? You do not know my secret, you fool. All thieves here become my food." The great monkey struck her with a single blow of his fist. She fell to the ground, vomiting blood. Then, recovering herself, Lankini rose, folded her hands, and spoke with humility. When Brahma granted his boon to Ravana, the Creator told me this sign as he departed: "The day you are defeated by a monkey's blow, know that the destruction of the demons is near." My lord, my great fortune overflows. I have beheld with my own eyes the messenger of Rama.