The divine and graceful daughter of King Janaka listened attentively to the son of Vayu and said:
“O Hanuman! Your words are soothing and life-giving, like the rain that brings joy to the earth and sprouts to life. In my sorrow, I yearn to reunite with Rama and find solace in his embrace. Please, be kind and make this possible.
Remind Rama of his wrath against the crow whose right eye he destroyed. Remind him too of the day when the tilak on my forehead was erased. You picked up dried red soil and applied it to my neck instead, laughing heartily when you noticed the mistake.
You are brave and heroic, equal to Varuna and Mahendra. Delay no further—rescue me from this demon king. O faultless prince! I have preserved this head ornament, which I keep close, often imagining your presence in its shade. This ornament remains with me as a cherished token, and in this time of sorrow, it brings me confidence that you are near.
Hanuman then said, ‘Sita Devi, give me another token that Rama will immediately recognize.’
Sita replied, ‘O Hanuman! I have already given you the best token. The moment Rama sees this head ornament, he will believe your words without hesitation.’
Bowing his head in reverence, Hanuman sought her permission to depart. As he prepared to leave, he assumed a mighty and enthusiastic form, ready to scale the heights. With tears in her eyes and a choking voice, Sita said:
‘Tell the warrior duo, Rama and Lakshmana, and the simian warriors that I send my regards. Bold monkey warrior, tell Rama of the immense grief I suffer at the hands of these cruel demon guards. I wish you a safe journey—you will surely reach Kishkindha on time.’
Hanuman, elated to be in the final phase of his mission after meeting and conversing with Sita, prepared to fly northward. Sita respectfully bid him farewell, standing at a distance and watching him take flight.
The son of Vayu, pondering his next move, thought it wise to display his strength to the demon world—to send a clear message that Rama’s army must not be taken lightly. He understood that with demons, diplomacy would fail; gifts and peace offerings were futile in the land of Lanka, abundant with wealth and arrogance. Even strategies would not help against these dull-minded foes. Only battle would make them understand.
So Hanuman resolved to demonstrate his immense power. He believed that if the key warriors of Ravana’s army were shaken, their morale would weaken, and perhaps they might seek a compromise.
An emissary, once entrusted with a task, must demonstrate the strength of his lord. Every mission, big or small, presents various approaches. Those who adopt a multifaceted strategy are the ones most admired.
If I can understand both their strength and their weaknesses,” Hanuman thought, “and return to Sugreeva with that knowledge and the right tools, it will be considered a successful execution of my mission. Now, I must find a way to provoke the demons into battle. How do I prove my power in combat? What will be Ravana’s reaction?
I will test the strength and boldness of Ravana and his warriors. I will observe their strategies and skills before reporting back to Sugreeva.”
The demon king’s gardens were rich, filled with trees, creepers, lakes, and well-maintained stepwells. The environment was pristine. “If I destroy this beautiful garden,” Hanuman thought, “like a wildfire devouring a dry forest, it will enrage Ravana. His forces—horses, chariots, and soldiers—will surround me, and in the ensuing battle, I will gain insights for the greater war that Rama will one day wage with the simian army.”
With that resolve, Hanuman began his destruction. He uprooted trees, broke thick branches, and toppled grand structures. He shattered stream banks and reduced parts of the garden to gravel and ashes in moments. Chaos erupted—demons shouted in panic, birds cried out, and tender creepers fell in heaps. The garden looked ravaged, as if a storm had struck it. The demonesses screamed in fear as Hanuman smashed groves and huts. He seized serpents and hurled them at the demoness guards, flung animals into their midst, and turned the once-beautiful garden into a wasteland.
Hanuman now stood in a fierce posture, ready for combat, like a pride of lions leaping together. He was prepared to take on Ravana’s forces, to reveal the power of Sugreeva’s army and the divine might of Rama.
“The time has come,” he thought, “to end the atrocities of these demons and send a clear, thunderous message: Rama’s enemy shall be destroyed swiftly and without mercy.”
This bold act of Hanuman redefined the role of an emissary for all ages to come.
