The mighty son of Vayu, bound in ropes, was brought before the demon king Ravana. The monarch, filled with pride and fury, instructed his wise ministers to inquire of the monkey the purpose of his visit, the reason for his combat, and the cause behind the devastation wrought upon the demon forces.
Hanuman’s fearless boldness struck deeply into the collective psyche of the demon world. Each minister and noble sought to influence their king in their own way, with the singular intent of punishing the son of Vayu who had sown fear and inflicted grievous loss upon the royal line of Lanka.
As Hanuman beheld Ravana for the first time, a thought crossed his mind—that such a mighty monarch’s grandeur had rendered him a captive, though in truth he was no longer bound by Brahmastra and held fast only by ropes of jute and cotton, frail as straw to his strength.
Ravana’s eyes blazed like fireballs, filled with wrath and frustration. His splendour was adorned with a golden crown studded with rare gems and lined with a string of the finest pearls, arranged so exquisitely as to steal the heart at a glance. His ornaments were masterpieces of precision, craftsmanship, and aesthetic perfection, beyond the skill of any ordinary artisan. Each piece he wore bore its distinct signature of excellence. He was clad in silken robes of a class befitting Brahma himself. The fragrance of red sandalwood paste adorned his form, pervading the air. His body bore many divine symbols and sacred markings.
Ravana’s brilliance resembled Mount Mandara itself, teeming with ferocious beasts and dreadful creatures. In full majesty, with ten heads arrayed in fearsome harmony, he projected power, pride, opulence, wisdom, cruelty, lust, ruthlessness, experience, and sagacity. Every head reflected a different lethal trait, ready to unleash devastation.
Hanuman, the son of the wind god, was astounded at the sight. He beheld in Ravana an extraordinary union of power and beauty, and involuntarily developed a sense of admiration for the demon king’s divine stature. It seemed as though nature herself had encapsulated immense might within this demonic form.
A divine garland glowed upon Ravana’s chest. His dark complexion resembled a mountain of pitch, and he appeared like a rising sun veiled behind dense clouds. Thick golden bands adorned his sinewy limbs. His hands were like serpents with five hoods. He sat upon a magnificent throne carved of pure crystal, studded with sapphires and emeralds, its seat lined with fine-tanned hide. Delicate maidens, radiant and graceful, stood nearby, fanning him with soft plumes.
Around Ravana sat his council of wise ministers—Durdhara, Prahastha, Mahaparsva, and Nikumbha—seated in their rightful order, ready to offer counsel. The court of Ravana appeared like an entire world, encircled by four oceans. Many more learned demons, capable of discerning thought and its consequences, were also present, resembling the divine attendants of Indra.
Hanuman gazed upon Ravana, seated in supreme authority, his form like a cloud heavy with water floating atop Mount Meru. His astonishment knew no bounds. “What majestic splendour! What unmatched power! What a visage of boldness!” he thought. Ravana possessed all the virtues necessary for a divine monarch. But, alas, his righteousness was veiled by unrighteousness. Were it not so, he might have rivalled even Brahma, the Creator.
Yet he was steeped in cruelty and unrighteousness, disturbing the peace of all three worlds. His demonic instincts terrified the universe, and his strength could easily plunge all creation into sorrow. Hanuman’s keen intellect observed Ravana from every angle, honestly and without malice.
Seeing the mighty monkey before him, Ravana’s rage surged. He seethed at the destruction caused by this being, his inner turmoil reflected in his blazing eyes. Preparing to pronounce judgment with royal authority, he pondered, “Long ago, when I shook Mount Kailasa, Nandi cursed me. Is this monkey Nandi’s curse incarnate, come to humble me? Or has Banasura, the mighty demon, returned in this form to seize Lanka?”
Consumed by pride and anger, Ravana turned to Prahastha, his wise and loyal minister, and gave a succinct yet comprehensive order: “Learn from this monkey where he comes from, why he has entered my fortified realm, why he terrorized the she-demons, who sent him, and what caused him to commit such foolish destruction.”
At his command, Prahastha addressed Hanuman: “O monkey of great stature, do not fear. Be at ease. You are safe. Speak truthfully and you shall depart unharmed. Are you an agent of Indra? Have you been sent by Kubera? Are you a soldier of Yama, the god of death? Has Varuna dispatched you? Or perhaps Lord Vishnu seeks to conquer Lanka through you? Though you appear a monkey, your brilliance is of divine origin. Reveal the truth and you shall earn your freedom. But beware, if you speak falsely, your life cannot be assured. Above all, if you came of your own will, what then is your purpose here?”
Pleased by Prahastha’s ethical and measured speech, Hanuman responded:
“I am not a servant of Yama, Indra, Varuna, Kubera, or Vishnu. I am not in disguise. I am truly a monkey—this is my natural form. I came to Lanka by my own will, not by accident. I came to see you, Ravana. It is no easy feat to behold a monarch of your divine lineage, born of Vishravas and the great Brahmarshi Pulastya. To gain your audience, I destroyed the jewel of Lanka—the Ashoka Grove. When your warriors attacked, I fought only to defend myself. I bear no enmity or hatred. I merely upheld the right of self-defence.
Brahma has granted me a boon: no weapon, divine arrow, or mantra-driven missile may bind me. Such weapons do not affect me. But my desire to see you was so great, I allowed myself to be bound by ordinary ropes. The moment your demons tied me thus; all divine bindings lost their power.
I have come to you with a great purpose. O King of Demons, I am the emissary of Rama, the noble prince of the Ikshvaku line. I urge you to take a righteous and inevitable course of action, for the safety and well-being of your kingdom and all demon kind.”
Thus, the son of Vayu spoke with clarity and boldness, revealing the truth behind his actions. Prahastha, upholding the code of justice, recognized the value of truth and its sacred power in sparing life.
Ravana remained silent, honouring the decorum of his court. The moment was charged with immense complexity, for beneath the surface lay a profound reminder of duties to be performed, of truths to be acknowledged.
