Sarga 35

Then Rama, with folded hands and full of humility, asked the sage (Agastya) in the hermitage of the southern direction, speaking these meaningful words.

This strength of Vali and Ravana is indeed incomparable, but in my opinion, it is not equal to Hanuman's.

Valor, skill, strength, courage, wisdom, diplomatic ability, prowess, and influence—all these qualities reside in Hanuman.

Having observed the ocean and seeing the monkey army despairing, the mighty-armed Hanuman comforted them and then leaped a hundred yojanas across the sea.

Then, having harassed the city of Lanka and Ravana's inner palace, he indeed saw Sita, conversed with her, and thus comforted her.

The leaders of the army, the sons of ministers, the attendants, and Ravana's own son—all these were indeed struck down there by Hanuman alone.

By him, who, having been released from bondage, spoke to Daśānana, Lanka was reduced to ashes, as if the earth itself were consumed by fire.

Such deeds as those of Hanumān in battle are not heard of, even from Time (Yama), Indra, Vishnu, or Kubera.

By the valor of Hanumān, I regained Lanka, Sītā, Lakshmaṇa, victory, my kingdom, friends, and relatives.

If Hanumān, the friend of the lord of monkeys, had not been with me, who would have been capable of even finding news of Janakī?

Why then, when enmity had arisen, was Vāli not burnt by Hanumān, out of a desire to please Sugrīva, just like creepers are burnt?

I believe Hanuman did not know his own strength, because he saw Sugriva, who was dear to him as life, suffering.

O revered one, worshipped by gods, please tell me all about the great-minded Hanuman in detail and truly.

Having heard Rama's reasonable words, the sage then spoke these words to him in Hanuman's presence.

O best of Raghus, what you say about Hanuman is true: there is no one equal to him in strength, speed, or intellect.

Indeed, he was formerly cursed by sages with unfailing curses, by which, though he is strong and a destroyer of foes, he does not know his own strength.

O mighty Rama, it is impossible to fully describe the deeds performed by him (Hanuman) even in his childhood, as they are beyond words due to his tender age.

O Raghava, if you indeed have a desire to hear those deeds, then O Rama, concentrate your mind and listen, for I shall narrate them.

There is a mountain named Sumeru, golden due to a boon granted by the Sun, where his (Hanuman's) father, named Kesari, indeed rules.

His (Kesari's) well-known wife was Anjana, in whom Vayu, the Wind-god, indeed begot an excellent son.

Anjana, who moved in the forest, then gave birth to him (Hanuman), who had a luster like a ripe paddy grain, and she had gone out desiring to gather fruits.

This child, greatly distressed by separation from his mother and by hunger, cried exceedingly, just like the child Kartikeya in the reed-forest.

Then, he saw the rising sun, which resembled a cluster of hibiscus flowers, and out of a desire for fruit, he indeed flew up towards the sun.

The child, facing the morning sun, soared through the middle of the sky like an embodied morning sun, desirous of seizing the sun itself.

Indeed, a very great wonder arose among the gods, demons, and yakshas as this child Hanumān soared through the sky.

Neither the wind, nor Garuda, nor even the mind is as swift as this son of Vayu, who indeed traverses the high sky.

If this child, even in his infancy, possesses such speed and prowess, how much greater will his velocity become when he attains youth and full strength?

Vayu, the wind god, followed his own son (Hanuman) as he flew, protecting him from the sun's scorching heat by making himself cool with a mass of frost.

This child, having traversed many thousands of yojanas into the sky, reached the vicinity of the sun, driven by his father's strength and his own childish innocence.

Considering this child to be innocent and realizing that a significant purpose was dependent on him, the sun did not burn him.

On the very day that this child leaped to seize the sun, Rahu also desired to grasp the sun.

O Rama, when he (the original Rahu), the tormentor of the moon and sun, was touched by that other one upon the sun's chariot, he became frightened and departed from there.

The enraged son of Simhika (Rahu), having gone to Indra's abode, spoke to the god (Indra) who was surrounded by hosts of gods, making a frown.

O Vasava, O slayer of Bala and Vritra, having given the moon and sun to me as a means to satisfy my hunger, why have you now given them to another?

Today, I had indeed arrived at the time of conjunction intending to seize the sun, but then another Rahu suddenly approached and seized the sun.

Having heard Rahu's words, Vasava (Indra), filled with agitation, sprang up, abandoning his seat and still wearing his golden garland.

Then (Indra's elephant) appeared, resembling the peak of Kailasa, four-tusked, with ichor flowing, adorned with ornaments, tall, and making a loud sound with its golden bells.

Indra, having mounted his lordly elephant Airavata and making Rahu go before him, went to where the sun was, along with Hanuman.

Then Rahu, leaving Indra, went with great speed, and he was indeed seen by Hanuman running swiftly like a mountain peak.

Then, having completely left the sun and considering Rahu as a fruit, Hanuman again sprang into the sky to seize the son of Simhika.

O Rama, having left the sun, Rahu, who has only a head remaining, turned away, averting his face after seeing this monkey (Hanuman) running swiftly.

Simhika's son, Rahu, desiring Indra as his protector, cried out "O Indra! O Indra!" repeatedly out of great fear.

Having already perceived the voice of Rahu crying out, Indra said, "Do not fear; I will destroy him."

Then, having seen Airavata, Maruta's son (Hanuman) thought, "This is a huge fruit," and rushed towards the king of elephants.

As he ran with the desire to seize Airavata, his form became terrible and shone brilliantly for a moment, like that of Indra and Agni.

Indra, Shachi's husband, though not excessively angry, struck him as he rushed forward with a thunderbolt released from his hand.

Struck by Indra's thunderbolt, the child fell onto the mountain, and as he fell, his left jaw was broken.

When the child, distressed by the thunderbolt's strike, fell, the wind god Vayu became angry at Indra, foreseeing harm to all creatures.

The lord Vayu, having withdrawn his circulation from among all creatures, took his child and entered a cave.

Causing great distress to creatures by obstructing their excretory functions, he stopped all beings, just as Indra stops the rains.

Due to the wrath of Vayu, creatures everywhere became breathless, and with their joints splitting, they became like lifeless wood.

Due to the wrath of Vayu, the three worlds became as if situated in hell, devoid of Vedic study, oblations, religious activities, and righteousness.

Then, all beings including Gandharvas, Devas, Asuras, and humans, distressed and desiring happiness, rushed to Prajapati Brahma.

With folded hands, the gods, whose bellies appeared distended from suffering, addressed Prajapati, saying, "O Lord of creatures, indeed, the four kinds of beings were created by you."

"This Vayu, the lord of our life, was given to us by you; why then, O best among the good, has he, having become the lord of our very breath, acted thus today?"

"He has obstructed us, causing sorrow, just as women are confined in a harem; therefore, we, afflicted by Vayu, have sought refuge in you."

Having heard this from the people, Prajapati, the lord of creation, then spoke to them again, saying "due to the reason."

Prajapati then instructed the people to listen to the entire beneficial reason for which Vayu became angry and caused obstruction.

Vayu's son was struck down by Indra, the lord of immortals, today, acting upon the advice of Rahu, which is why Vayu became enraged.

The bodiless Vayu moves within and protects all bodies, for indeed, a body without Vayu becomes equal to a mere log of wood.

Vayu is the life-breath, Vayu is happiness, and Vayu is this entire world, for the world finds no happiness when completely abandoned by Vayu.

Just today, the life-giver of the world, Vayu, has abandoned them, and just today, they remain breathless, like inanimate wooden walls.

Therefore, let us go to where Vayu, who is indeed causing us pain, resides, lest we, the sons of Aditi, meet destruction without appeasing him.

Then, Prajapati, accompanied by all beings, including gods, gandharvas, serpents, and guhyakas, went to where Vayu sat, holding his son who had been struck by the lord of gods.

Then, the four-faced Brahma, seeing the son, who shone with the radiance of the sun, fire, and gold, placed on Vayu's lap, then showed compassion along with the gods, gandharvas, rishis, yakshas, and rakshasas. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे पंचत्रिंशः सर्गः ।। 35 ।। Thus ends the thirty-fifth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.