VAALMEEKI describes in beautiful verses how the youthful warrior Aksha, the equal of the gods, rode to battle in a chariot drawn by eight horses.

Who can put up in a different tongue Vaalmeeki's poetry describing the beauty of forests and the terrible fury of encounters between warriors? The rhythm and grandeur of his words convey the terror and majesty of what he describes. This power is Vaalmeeki's special gift. We can only summarise in pedestrian prose his glowing account, of the battle between Aksha and the beloved son of Raavana, and Hanumaan.

In a golden chariot acquired through tapasya rode Raavana's young son. When he saw Hanumaan, seated on the stone battlement above the gateway, and noted approvingly the beautiful symmetry of his mighty limbs, and the majestic intrepidity of his look, Aksha felt that here was a foe worthy of his steel, and summoned all his strength and resolution to do him honour.

The young warrior aimed three sharp arrows at Hanumaan. They struck his body and drew blood. But Maaruti's strength increased and his face shone with new splendour. He too was pleased with the prowess of the youthful Raakshasa.

Fierce 'grew the battle between the two. Hundreds of arrows rose in clouds into the sky and hit Maaruti. Like rain falling on a rock, they fell on Hanumaan's body. Rising in the air Hanumaan dodged about evading the arrows slipping as it were through the meshes of that deadly network of missiles and finding a favourable opening closed with Aksha. Hanumaan admired Aksha's youthful promise and heroism, and was sorry to have to slay him, but there was no help for it for the prince seemed to get more and more formidable as the fight went on, and it was unwise to take chances with him. At last Hanumaan hardened his heart and decided to destroy the youth.

He rushed against Aksha's chariot and broke it to pieces. The horses fell dead. The Raakshasa prince stood on the ground chariotless. Nothing daunted, he rose in the air with bow and sword and attacked Hanumaan. A great battle took place in the air. In the end Aksha's bones were crushed and splintered and he fell down dead.

Hearing that the prince had been killed by Hanumaan, Raavana shook with rage, but controlling himself he called his son Indrajit, the conqueror of Indra.

"You have mastered all weapons," he said. "You have vanquished the Devas and Asuras in battle. You have by your austerities called Brahma down and secured from him the Brahmaastra. There is none in the world who can oppose you. Fatigue cannot approach you. Your knowledge of battle is unique. You have attained strength through tapasya. Nothing is impossible for you. None can equal you in foresight. The kinkaras I sent and Jambumaali and the five generals of our army, and your dear brother Aksha have all been slain by a terrible foe who has raided us in the form of a monkey and it is yours now to avenge them. Do not underrate him. It seems he cannot be vanquished by weapons. He cannot be brought do down in wrestling. Consider well therefore what needs to be done. Do it and return victorious. The astras you have secured through tapasya can serve you at this moment. Without allowing your mind to wander, fight with concentration and return triumphant."

Indrajit, bright like the gods, accepted his father's command with reverence and receiving his blessings went with courage and eagerness towards the Asoka Vana.

Standing in a chariot drawn by four fierce lions and twanging his bow-string, Indrajit proceeded towards Hanumaan. His chariot sounded like the wind off the monsoon. His lotus-like eyes shone victory.

As Hanumaan saw the chariot coming towards him, he was filled with joy. Indrajit too, skilful in battle, bent his bow and got his sharp arrows ready for Hanumaan. Knowing that a great battle was at band, the Naagas, Yakshas and Siddhas assembled in the sky to see.

At the sight of Indrajit Hanumaan roared and increased his stature still further. Silently the Raakshasa warrior dispatched his darts. Showers of arrows began to descend is in the battle of the gods and their cousins, the Asuras. Hanumaan rose in the sky and, moving with speed like lightning, struck down the sharp arrows. His roar made the quarters echo, drowning the drum beats and the bow-twangs of the Raakshasa.

The battle raged with increasing fury and filled all beholders with amazement. In skill and strength the two warriors were perfect equals. No matter how often he was wounded, Hanumaan's strength showed no signs of lessening. Indrajit therefore resolved, 'My arrows cannot vanquish this monkey. What my father said is true. He can be bound only by using the Brahmaastra.'

The Raakshasa Prince sent forth the Brahmaastra. At its touch the Vaanara warrior lay bound and helpless.

Hanumaan realised what had happened. He said to himself, 'I have been bound by Brahmaastra'.

Hanumaan too had secured a boon from Brahma, and this he now remembered.

'This will keep me bound for only one muhoorta (four fifths of an hour)', he said to himself. 'I run no real risk. Let me see what the Raakshasas do to me while I lie bound and helpless. I might find here a further opportunity to function as a messenger.'

As instructed by Brahma when he gave him the gift of immortality, he surrendered himself to the Brahmaastra and lay down on the ground, inactive but in full possession of his faculties.

When they saw Hanumaan thus lying helpless on the ground the Raakshasas who till then stood at a distance in fear, surrounded him and danced with joy and called him insulting names and praised their prince.

"We shall cut you to pieces they shouted. "Let us eat him up." "We shall drag him to the throne of our Raavana." Thus and in many other ways they shouted.

A few among them feared and said, "This fellow is only pretending. He may get up suddenly and attack us." So they brought ropes of jute and coconut fibre and bound him hard and shouted exultingly: "Now we have bound him, let us drag You are on page 3 of 3
him to the Lord of the Raakshasas."

Indrajit, who discovered too late and could not prevent this foolish mistake of the Raakshasas, felt sad.

'Alas!' he thought with sorrow. 'They have undone all my work. These fools do not know the secrets of Supernatural weapons. When they have thus used ropes and jute for binding him, the astra withdraws its power. The bound of mantra is undone when physical bonds are added. Hanumaan is now held only by the ropes, which he can burst asunder and the Brahmaastra cannot be used a second time.'

Hanumaan too understood this, and knew he could spring up free if he liked, but he welcomed the opportunity to meet and talk to Raavana and allowed himself to be dragged to the king, patiently bearing all their insults and cruelties in seeming helplessness. They belaboured and foully abused him, and dragged him through the streets and women and children came out to look at him and jeer.