Hanuman's Tail Consumes Lanka's Cloth before Its Fire Reaches the Roofs
Sundara Kanda, Chaupai 25
Doha 25 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ravana imagines a tailless monkey returning to bring his master and expose the power so highly praised. Hanuman smiles within. Saraswati herself seems to have aided the servant by placing this ruinous command upon the king's tongue.
The demons wrap the tail, but Hanuman makes a sport of lengthening it. Cloth, ghee, and oil disappear from the city while the coils keep growing. Citizens gather, kick the captive, laugh, beat drums, clap, and parade him through the streets before setting the tail ablaze.
The instant fire takes hold, Hanuman becomes exceedingly small, slips free of the bonds, and springs onto the golden roofs. Demon women recoil in terror. The object prepared for ridicule has become a moving torch above the city, and the path of the parade has already shown Hanuman every street.
Lanka wraps its mockery around Hanuman's tail and unknowingly teaches the flame its way through the city.
Read the passage from the Manas
पूँछहीन बानर तहँ जाइहि। तब सठ निज नाथहि लइ आइहि।। जिन्ह कै कीन्हसि बहुत बड़ाई। देखेउँमैं तिन्ह कै प्रभुताई।। बचन सुनत कपि मन मुसुकाना। भइ सहाय सारद मैं जाना।। जातुधान सुनि रावन बचना। लागे रचैं मूढ़ सोइ रचना।। रहा न नगर बसन घृत तेला। बाढ़ी पूँछ कीन्ह कपि खेला।। कौतुक कहँ आए पुरबासी। मारहिं चरन करहिं बहु हाँसी।। बाजहिं ढोल देहिं सब तारी। नगर फेरि पुनि पूँछ प्रजारी।। पावक जरत देखि हनुमंता। भयउ परम लघु रुप तुरंता।। निबुकि चढ़ेउ कपि कनक अटारीं। भई सभीत निसाचर नारीं।।
"A tailless monkey will go back there, and then, that fool will bring his master to see for himself. Those of whom you have boasted so highly, I shall see their true power and lordship." Hearing these words, Hanuman smiled within his heart, knowing that Saraswati herself had become his ally. The demons, hearing Ravana's command, set about foolishly preparing that very scheme. No cloth, ghee, or oil remained in the city, for as they wrapped, the tail kept growing, and the monkey made great sport of it. The citizens gathered for the spectacle, kicking at him and laughing heartily. Drums beat and all clapped their hands. They paraded Hanuman through the city, then set his tail ablaze. Seeing the fire catch, Hanuman instantly shrank to an extremely small form. The monkey slipped free and leaped onto the golden rooftops. The demonesses were stricken with terror.