Chapter CLXXXV: Section XLIII

Having slaughtered the servants, Hanuman, having reflected awhile, thought,--"I have broken down the wood; but have not destroyed the edifice dedicated to the deities of the Rakshasas. Therefore, this very day will I demolish this structure." Having thought thus in his heart, that foremost of monkeys, Hanuman, son unto the Wind-god, displaying his strength, bounded unto the Chaitya[373] building, elevated like a summit of Meru. And having ascended the edifice resembling a mountain, that leader of monkey-bands, possessed of wondrous energy, looked like another Sun risen (in the sky). And having broken down that superb edifice, the irrepressible Hanuman, flaming in auspicionsness, resembled (the mountain) Pariyatra. And magnifying his dimensions through his energy, the offspring of the Wind-god fearlessly fell to striking his arms with his hands, and thus filling Lanka, with the sounds. And at those sounds of striking arms, capable of striking deafness into the hearer, birds began to drop down there, as well as the warders of the religious mansion, with their senses overwhelmed. "Victory unto Rama versed in arms! And unto Lakshmana endowed with immense strength! And victory unto king Sugriva, who is protected by Raghava! Hanuman, son onto the Wind-god, destroyer of hostile hosts, is the slave of Rama of untiring deeds. And not a thousand Ravanas can cope with me in conflict as I hurl stones and trees by thousands. Having destroyed the city of Lanka and paid my respects to Mithila's daughter, I, my object gained, shall depart in the presence of all the Rakshasas." Having spoken thus, that one of a prodigious person, seated on the _Chaitya_, emitted tremendous roars, striking terror into the Rakshas. In consequence of that mighty cry, an hundred guards attached to the _Chaitya_ sallied out, taking various weapons--bearded darts, scimitars and axes; and they surrounded the Wind-god's offspring, as he went on increasing his body. And they encountered that foremost of monkeys with various maces, and axes, and golden _Angadas_, and arrows resembling the Sun. And those numbers of Rakshas, encountering that best of monkeys,resembled an extensive and mighty whirlpool in the Ganga. Thereat, the Wind-god's son, the mighty Hanuman,[374] waxing enraged, violently uprooting a huge piller of the edifice, plated with gold, and having an hundred borders, began to whirl it (in the air).[375] And the fire generated there thus, burnt down the entire edifice. Seeing that edifice in flames, the graceful monkey-leader, having slain the hundred Rakshasas, like Indra slaying Asuras with his thunderbolt,--remaining in the sky, said,--"Thousands of strong, high-souled and foremost monkeys like myself, having been created, and remaining under the command of Sugriva, --including ourselves as well as other monkeys--are ranging all over the world. Some are endowed with the strength of ten elephants, some with the strength of an hundred, some have the prowess of a thousand elephants, and some the strength of elephants numbered by herds. Some are equal in strength to the Wind,--and there are there some monkey-leaders who have no limit to their strength. Surrounded with monkeys of this sort, having nails and teeth for their arms,--in hundreds and thousands and _kotis_ and _ayutas_, cometh our Sugriva,--the slayer of all (foes). Neither this city of Lanka, nor you, nor yet Ravana, shall exist,--having created hostility with that high-souled hero of the Ikshwaku race."

[373] A building designed for deities.--T.

[374] _Marutatmaya_--son unto the Wind-god, left out on the score of
redundancy.--T.

[375] The reader is powerfully reminded of a like feat of Manoah's
son--'the Herculean Samson.'--T.