Canto 54
Arson to Hurt
Having had his way thus far
Thought of future course Hanuman.
Why not I give them in kind
For what they did all to my tail?
Much is left to hurt the foe
Caused I might have some damage.
Why not I torch Ravan’s town
With the help of tail mine
That they set on fire themselves?
For the favour of Agni
Make I Lanka his fodder.
Hovered as he in mid-air
Surveyed Ravan’s land he thus.
Landed then on some dwelling
Jumped he then from one another.
Chose he Prahastha’s own palace
With its sprawling compound then
And made he bonfire of all there.
Next in line was Mahaparsva’s
Mansion that met similar fate.
Not to content even then
Burnt he dwellings of nobles.
Leaned he then on that palace
Owned by one who subdued him.
Set he fire then one by one
Houses of the following.
Jambumali’s ’n Sumali’s
Rasmiketha’s ’n Suryasathru’s
Damstra’s ’n so Duraatma’s
Romasa’s ’n Ghora’s as well
Mattali’s besides Yuddhonmatha’s
Karala’s and Pisaachas’s too.
Kumbha’s as well Nikumbha’s
Yagnasatru’s ’n Brahmasatru’s
Not to speak of Kumbhakarna’s.
But spared Hanuman that dwelling
Lived where Vibhishan who pleaded
Case his then in Ravan’s Court.
Razed as fire in those places
Turned all therein to ashes.
Went he then to that courtyard
Where lived Lankan king Ravan.
Set he Ravan’s fort on fire
With the fading flame on tail.
Spread as fire in Ravan’s court
Thundered Hanuman even more.
As if to aid his son’s cause
Unleashed Vayu his frenzy.
Goaded thus by Hanuman’s dad
Spread tongues Agni far and wide.
In that towering inferno
Came all dwellings crashing down.
Looked then Lanka that lost soul
Thrown down from the heaven itself.
Lost their wits all then Lankans
Felt they Fire God turned vanar.
Filled all streets were with Lankans
Rent were skies there with their cries.
Jumped all over compound
From the debris of dwellings
Flowed then molten gold in streams.
Turned to ashes demonic frames
Turned grey landscape of Lanka.
In myriad shades of crimson red
Sprouted tongues of fire to skies.
Burning Lanka seemed as if
Tripura of yore Shankar burnt.
To bring Lanka to its knees
Moved then Hanuman to outskirts.
With still burning tail of his
Set fire Hanuman there dwellings.
Raged as fire in those buildings
Heard all bursting sounds from them.
Smoke that embers emitted then
Rose in columns to high skies.
Wondered all those who survived
Came if death in Hanuman’s form.
Brahma’s it was wrath felt some
Set what Hanuman to smash them.
Took some Hanuman for Vishnu’s
Avatar to end Ravan’s reign.
It’s in no time fire got spread
To nearby jungles all so deep.
Trapped as such in jungle fire
Died wildlife of forests there.
Rent was air with cries of all
Lost who then their kith and kin.
With the havoc that he caused
Lanka seemed an accursed land.
Climbed up Chitrakoot Hanuman
Surveyed Ravan’s land ravaged.
Felt glad Hanuman that Lanka
Lost its edge to fight Lord Ram.
Tail as his was still on fire
Looked he still the rising sun.
Having done his job Hanuman
Prayed he in all reverence Ram.
Gods all for his one-man show
Showered then praises on Hanuman.
Amidst the ruins of Lanka then
Stood like victor there Hanuman.
Felt on second thought gods all there
What they discerned was but dream,
For how could Hanuman on his own
Raze all Lanka at one go!
At the sight of Lanka thus
Rubbed all angels then their eyes.
At the havoc Hanuman caused
Worlds all trembled then dismayed.
Sages at that in their scores
As well angels there gathered
Not to speak of Yakshas then
Thought it augured well for world.
