The Meeting With Ravana

The Meeting With Ravana

Ravana was seated on the majestic throne of solid gold encrusted with various precious stones, and the meeting room was of heavenly opulence. Hanuman was struck by its grandeur and splendor, and thought that if it weren’t for his crude, selfish mentality, Ravana could have ruled over all the planets in the universe. But this gross materialism, Hanuman reflected, would surely be the cause of his demise. Ravana, turning to his first general Prahasta, ordered him to question Hanuman. Prahasta, still upset by his children’s death, tried to get information.

‘Why did you do all this?’ he asked him. ‘Why did you destroy the Ashoka Forest? And why did you kill so many of our soldiers? Who has sent you? Your life now hangs by a very thin thread: don’t break it out of pride.’

Hanuman was not afraid, his voice came out strong and proud.

“I am Hanuman, of the Vanara race. I am a messenger from Rama, and I came here to find his wife. I destroyed the gardens because I wanted to fight you and then be captured to see Ravana. Make no mistake: Indrajit could never have captured me like this, but I suffered the power of his weapons to be brought here to speak with Ravana.”

Without giving Prahasta another look, he turned to look at Ravana. His eyes were hard and accusing.

“King of the Raksasas, if you care about life, return Sita to her rightful husband. Perhaps this way you could obtain his forgiveness. But if you don’t do as I told you, your end and the destruction of your city and your entire race is certain. You cannot fight us, our strength is immeasurable. Did you see what I was able to do to your soldiers? And I am none other than one of the many who will soon come here, determined to exterminate every Raksasa they encounter.”

Struck by those insolent words, the impetuous Ravana lost his temper and ordered the Vanara to be put to death. But at that moment, Vibhisana, his younger brother, stopped him.

“Ravana, I am amazed at you,” he shouted, stopping the guards who had already grabbed Hanuman by the arms. “Have you forgotten the rules of life for a king and a warrior? An ambassador can never be killed, however offensive the message he carries. Hanuman is a messenger and must not be killed.”

Ravana was grinding his teeth; he had not yet calmed down.

“Dear brother, you are always ready to remind me of the rules that govern our life,” she told him in a sarcastic tone. “I agree with you. But a messenger who abuses his mission and the immunity that the role confers on him can, and indeed must be punished in an exemplary manner. If a king does not punish a criminal, no one will fear him anymore and no one will obey him anymore. And the kingdom would fall apart. I must therefore punish this insolent monkey.

“Set his tail on fire and take him around town. Show it to everyone. Let no one think that Ravana does not deliver justice harshly.”

 

 

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