Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists

"WhoMyths of the Hindus & BuddhistsjHanuman and met their death; next Indrajit was sentagainst him, and an awful battle was joined, whereat thevery gods were amazed. He sent a million shafts againstthe monkey, but he, ranging the sky, escaped them all ;then Indrajit paused, and with concentrated mind ponderedover the true character of Hanuman, and with spiritualinsight perceived that he was not to be slain by weapons.Therefore he devised a way to bind him, and he loosed aBrahma shaft at him. Therewith Hanuman was bound,and knew the bond unbreakable, and he fell to earth ;buthe reflected that it would be well for him to converse withRavana, and therefore he struggled not, but let the rakshasasbear him off. But they, seeing him still, bound himyet closer, pitifully moaning the while, with cords andbark. But that binding was the means of his release, forthe binding power of a Brahma weaponis broken at onceif another bond is added to it. But the wily monkeygave no sign that the bonds were loosed ;and the fiercerakshasas, crying to each other,is he ? what doeshe want?" and "Kill him! burn him! eat him !"draggedhim before Ravana.Questioned by Ravana s minister, Hanuman answered thathe was indeed a monkey, come to Lanka as Rama s envoy toaccomplish his commands and to behold Ravana ;and hetold the story of Rama uptill then, and gave Ravana soundadvice, to save his lifeby surrendering Slta. Ravanawas furious and would have Hanuman slain; but thecounsellors reminded him that the punishment of deathcould not justly be inflicted upon one who named himselfan envoy. Then Ravana cast about for a fitting penalty,and bethought him to set Hanuman s tail afire. Then therakshasas bound the monkey s tail with cotton soaked inoil and set it all ablaze. But the heroic monkey cherished72