"The fire kindled by arrogance shall always be extinguished by the waters of righteousness."
Hanuman sat defiantly in Ravana's grand court, his presence a stark contrast to the opulence surrounding him. Though bound by the Brahmastra, his spirit remained unshaken. The vanara observed Ravana's ten heads, each portraying a mix of pride, anger, and arrogance. Slowly, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, Hanuman began to stretch his tail.
Coiling it round and round, he raised it higher and higher until it formed a towering seat—a throne equal in height to Ravana's. As he sat upon his makeshift seat, Hanuman looked down at the demon king, his voice calm yet commanding.
"Ravana," Hanuman began, his words steady and deliberate, "I come as a messenger of Lord Rama, the epitome of dharma and compassion. He has sent me to give you one last chance to avoid destruction. Return Sita Mata with honor and save your kingdom from ruin. Rama does not wish for bloodshed, but he will not hesitate to unleash his might if dharma demands it."
The court fell silent, Ravana's ministers exchanging uneasy glances. Yet Ravana's laughter boomed, filling the chamber. "You insolent monkey! Do you think your tricks and hollow words will frighten me? I am Ravana, the conqueror of the three worlds! I fear no one—not your Rama, not his army, and certainly not you!"
Hanuman's gaze did not waver. "Arrogance blinds you, Ravana. You may have conquered kingdoms, but you have lost sight of righteousness. The fire of your ego will consume you, just as it consumed many before you."
Ravana's face darkened with rage. In a fit of fury, he leaped forward, striking Hanuman with the force of a tempest. But Hanuman's divine strength kept him steady. His tail-throne remained unmoved, and Ravana fell back, humiliated. Enraged, the demon king roared an order to his guards. "Light this creature's tail on fire! Let all of Lanka witness what happens to those who dare defy me!"
The guards dragged Hanuman out of the court, parading him through the streets of Lanka. A crowd gathered, their eyes wide with curiosity and fear. They jeered and whispered, watching the bound vanara who had disrupted their land.
One of the guards brought an oil-soaked cloth and wrapped it around Hanuman's tail. Another lit a torch, and soon the flames roared to life, climbing Hanuman's tail with ferocity. The guards laughed as they watched the fire dance, thinking they had subdued the mighty messenger.
But Hanuman, the son of Vayu, was no ordinary being. He closed his eyes and recited Rama's name, invoking the divine energy within him. Slowly, the shackles that bound him fell away as if they were mere threads. The flames on his tail, instead of causing him pain, seemed to empower him. He stood tall, a formidable figure surrounded by blazing fire. The jeers turned to gasps as the crowd realized they were in the presence of something far greater than they had imagined.
Hanuman leaped into the air, roaring like a lion, his voice echoing across the city. "O Lanka! Witness the fury of dharma! This fire you have kindled shall be your undoing!"
With incredible speed, Hanuman began his rampage. He leaped onto the city's great wall, his fiery tail leaving a trail of destruction. The flames licked the skies, spreading from one building to another. The golden palaces of Lanka, adorned with jewels and precious metals, crackled under the heat, their beauty now consumed by fire.
As he raced through the city, Hanuman's eyes fell upon a dark tower where a faint, sorrowful cry echoed. It was none other than Lord Shani, the deity of karma, imprisoned by Ravana. With a mighty strike, Hanuman shattered the tower's walls, releasing Shani from his torment.
Shani, his eyes gleaming with gratitude, addressed Hanuman. "You have freed me from great suffering, mighty vanara. I bless you with my protection. None shall harm you as long as you carry out your righteous mission."
Hanuman bowed respectfully before Shani and then resumed his fiery rampage. He leaped onto Ravana's armory, smashing weapons and chariots, ensuring Lanka's defenses would crumble. His fiery tail scorched the city's grain stores and treasuries, symbolically dismantling Ravana's power and wealth.
The flames danced like wild serpents, consuming Lanka's towering walls and sprawling gardens. The cries of demons echoed as they fled their burning homes, powerless against the divine fury that swept through their land.
Amidst the blazing inferno consuming Lanka, Hanuman made his way to Ashoka Vatika, where Sita Mata sat under the great Ashoka tree, her face pale with sorrow. The raging fires seemed to retreat as he approached her, their divine connection protecting her sanctuary from the devastation.
Sita's eyes lit up when she saw Hanuman. He bowed respectfully before her, his hands folded. "Mata, do not despair. Lord Rama and Lakshmana will soon arrive to rescue you and put an end to Ravana's tyranny."
Sita nodded, her voice quivering with hope. "Your presence alone has given me strength, Hanuman. Please tell Rama that his Sita awaits him, steadfast in her devotion."
As if to reassure her further, Hanuman closed his eyes and invoked his divine form. With a burst of light, he transformed into Panchamukhi Hanuman, the five-faced avatar, a form radiating immense power and divine majesty.
His faces—Hanuman, Narasimha, Garuda, Varaha, and Hayagriva—gleamed with celestial energy, each aspect representing strength, protection, and dharma. Sita gazed in awe, her heart filling with renewed faith.
"Mata," Hanuman said in a voice resonating with divine authority, "no power in this universe can harm you while Lord Rama's name is in your heart. The flames of Lanka are but a prelude to the storm of dharma that will soon descend upon this land. Be assured—Ravana's end is near."
With that, he reverted to his original form and bowed again. Sita blessed him, and Hanuman prepared to leave.
Hanuman ascended to the highest point of Lanka, overlooking the city engulfed in flames. Taking a deep breath, he called upon his immense strength, making his mighty tail extend into the sea below. The tail, blazing with divine fire, dipped into the ocean, sizzling as it touched the water. The ocean itself seemed to roar in response, as though bowing to the son of Vayu.
As he leaped, the force of his jump created ripples that surged across the vast ocean. The winds roared, carrying him higher and farther than before. Yet, amidst his flight, Hanuman remembered a promise he had made.
Far below, Mainaka, the golden mountain that had once risen from the ocean to offer Hanuman rest, watched the blazing figure approach. Hanuman, mindful of his earlier vow, slowed his flight and descended gracefully onto Mainaka's peak.
"Hanuman," the mountain greeted, its voice deep and resonant, "your strength and determination are unmatched. Please, rest here for a moment as you promised."
Hanuman smiled warmly and folded his hands. "Mainaka, your kindness knows no bounds. I shall take respite for a brief moment before continuing my journey."
Seated upon the golden summit, Hanuman allowed himself a moment of stillness. The gentle breeze of the ocean caressed him, and the mountain's solid presence renewed his energy.
"Thank you, Mainaka," Hanuman said as he stood once more, his eyes burning with resolve. "But my mission calls. I must return to Kishkindha with news of Sita Mata."
With a powerful leap, he soared into the skies again, leaving the golden mountain with his gratitude.
At the shores of the ocean, Angad, Jambavantha, Nala, and Neela waited anxiously. They scanned the horizon, their hearts heavy with anticipation. Suddenly, a bright streak appeared in the sky, growing larger with each passing moment.
"Hanuman!" Angad shouted, his voice filled with relief and joy. The other vanaras echoed his cry, their spirits lifting as the mighty figure approached.
When Hanuman landed, the impact shook the earth. The ground quaked beneath his weight, and the trees around them swayed as if bowing to his return. Dust rose in great clouds, and the vanaras shielded their eyes, grinning as their hero emerged from the haze.
Angad stepped forward, his voice filled with awe. "Hanuman! The force of your arrival shakes the very earth. You have returned victorious, haven't you?"
Hanuman smiled, his face radiant with divine energy. "Yes, my brothers. Sita Mata is safe, and I have delivered Lord Rama's message. Lanka burns as a warning to Ravana, but the true battle is yet to come. Let us return to Kishkindha and prepare for war."
Jambavantha nodded, his wise eyes gleaming with pride. "You have performed a deed that will echo through eternity, Hanuman. Your courage and devotion are unmatched."
The vanaras cheered, their voices rising in unison. Together, they began their journey back to Kishkindha, carrying with them the hope of victory and the promise of dharma's triumph.
The leap of faith taken with dharma as its wings and devotion as its strength can overcome even the mightiest oceans.
[End of Chapter 56]