Jain Journal 1971 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 17

JULY, 1971
composed. At this moment Hanumat made his appearance and introduced himself as Rama's messenger. This only brought a ridicule from Mandodari for change of side; for, Hanumat was Khara's own son-inlaw. Hanumat, however, gave her a fitting reply. She took it to heart and threatened to get him arrested next morning-jai na vihāṇaye pai vandhāvami. After she had gone, Hanumat stood before Sita with a bow.
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Hanumat delivered Rama's message to Sita. Sita was overjoyed at first, but doubts soon arose in her mind as to the genuineness of the messenger. But Hanumat dispelled them by showing his intimate knowledge of various incidents and details of Rama's life in exile. That night, Trijata who was deputed to keep watch on Sita saw evil dreams. She saw a strange hero devastating the royal park and the palace and another uprooting Lanka and throwing it into the ocean.
Twentyone days had passed since Sita had been carried away and she had not touched food nor taken any drink. But now she had received a message from her beloved and her vow was fulfilled. So she broke her fast. Hanumat offered to carry her to Rama on his shoulders but she declined the offer. For, that would be a breach of propriety. She, however, gave a message for Rama along with her crest-jewel as a token.
Before leaving Lanka, Hanumat wanted to perpetuate some devastation and for this purpose he found nothing more suitable than the royal park. He started uprooting all trees. As royal guards approached to prevent him, they were killed. The news reached Ravana. Mandodari also told him of Hanumat's arrival as a messanger from Rama as also of the incident of previous day. Ravana sent a large battalion but it was soon wiped out in action. A similar fate overtook Aksaya Kumara, Ravana's son who was deputed to meet Hanumat.
Meanwhile Vibhisana sought to tender a little bit of good advice for the restoration of Sita to Rama but neither Ravana would listen nor his son Indrajit who was over-confident about his own military skill. Indrajit promised to capture Hanumat alive. Taking along with him Ghanavahana and a huge army, he surrounded Hanumat. The army was however soon routed and Ghanabahana too did not prove much useful. So now it was a straight fight between Indrajit and Hanumat. For some time none could overpower the other. But Hanumat had some design. So he submitted to the magic serpent noose hurled by Indrajit.