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BRINGING NEWS OF SITA lord, until I return from Lankā, after executing your order."
With these words, Māruti bowed to Rāghava and went with his attendants to Laikāpuri in a very swift aerial car. As he went through the air, he saw the town, Mahendrapura, of his maternal grandfather, Mahendra, on the summit of Mt. Mahendra. Hanumat thought: “That is Mahendra's city, by whom my mother, though innocent, was banished at that time.” 166 Remembering this, angry, he had the battle-drum beaten, splitting the atmosphere, as it were, by the echoes from the quarters of the heavens.
King Mahendra, having seen an enemy army, having the strength of Indra, went forth with his sons with soldiers for the business of battle. A great battle between the armies of Mahendra and Hanumat took place, terrifying with a rain of blood like a portentous cloud in the sky. Präbhañjani destroyed enemy soldiers, like a wind destroying trees, in a moment, moving about in the battle rapidly. Prasannakirti, son of Mahendra, fought with Hanūmat, striking him unhesitatingly, not knowing that he was his sister's son. Though both were powerful and both were very angry, they acknowledged weariness from the close fight with each other. While fighting, Pāvani reflected: “Alas! I started this fight, delaying my master's business. These men who will be conquered in a moment—they are my mother's family. Nevertheless, they must be conquered to finish what was started.".
With these reflections, Hanumat, angered, instantly bewildered Prasannakīrti with blows and captured him, his weapons, chariot, and charioteer being destroyed. After a hard fight, Māruti took Mahendra, bowed to him, and explained: "I am your grandson, son of Añjanā. At Rāma's command I am traveling to Lankā to set free Sītā. When I came here, I remembered my mother's
166 238. See above, p. 170.
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