Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra

by Helen M. Johnson | 1931 | 742,503 words

This page describes Hanumat’s early career which is the fifth part of chapter III of the English translation of the Jain Ramayana, contained within the “Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra”: a massive Jain narrative relgious text composed by Hemacandra in the 12th century. This Jain Ramayana contains the biographies of Rama, Lakshmana, Ravana, Naminatha, Harishena-cakravartin and Jaya-cakravartin: all included in the list of 63 illustrious beings or worthy persons.

Hanumat grew up with his father’s wishes and he acquired all the arts and subdued all the vidyās. Expert in military science, with arms as long as the king of serpents, Hanumat gradually grew up, a sun in brilliance. Now Rāvaṇa, first among the impatient, broke the peace and, a mountain of firmness, set out to conquer Varuṇa. All the Vidyādhara-lords went, summoned by messengers, making his camp like the ridge of Vaitāḍhya. When Pavana and Pratisūrya started out, Hanumat, the sole mountain of self-importance, said:

“Fathers, you remain here. I shall conquer the enemy. Who would fight with his arm, if a sharp weapon were at hand? I am not to be pitied because of my youth, since in the case of the members of your families, age is no standard, when the time for heroic actions hās been reached.”

After persuading them persistently with such talk and after taking leave of them, kissed ardently on the head by them, an auspicious ceremony of departure having been made, surrounded by hundreds of great vassals, generals, and armies, he, whose strength was irresistible, went to Rāvaṇa’s camp. Seeing Hanumat who had come, like victory itself, Daśakandhara set him joyfully on his lap, when he bowed. Rāvaṇa halted for battle near Varuṇa’s city and Varuṇa and Varuṇa’s hundred powerful sons went forth. Varuṇa’s sons came and fought with Rāvaṇa and Varuṇa fought with the heroes, Sugrīva and others. The sons of Varuṇa, powerful, red-eyed, worried Daśakandhara in battle, like well-bred dogs a boar.

Just then Hanumat, cruel, hard to restrain from anger, came and attacked Varuṇa’s sons, like a lion attacking elephants. Hanumat transfixed the sons of Varuṇa by the power of vidyās and bound them like cattle, his jaw red from anger. When Varuṇa had seen them, he attacked Hanūmat angrily, shaking down Sugrīva, et cetera, like an elephant trees on the road. As he attacked, Rāvaṇa made him stumble on the way, like a mountain blocking rivers, raining a succession of arrows. Blind with anger, Varuṇa fought hard with Rāvaṇa for a long time, like a bull with a bull, an elephant with an elephant. Crafty Rāvaṇa bewildered Varuṇa with all his strength and, flying up, bound him like Indra.[1] Craft is equal to strength always. Then the heavens having been made talkative with cries of “Victory! Victory!” Daśakandhara, broad-shouldered, went to his camp. There Rāvaṇa released Varuṇa who had become submissive with his sons. For the anger of the great is ended by submission.

Varuṇa gave his daughter, Satyavatī, to Hanumat. For, indeed, such a son-in-law, whose worth has been seen by one’s self, is hard to find. Rāvaṇa went to Laṅkā and, delighted, gave Candraṇakhā’s daughter, Anaṅgakusumā, to Hanūmat.

Sugrīva gave Padmarāgā to him; Nala gave Harimālinī; and others gave him their daughters to the number of a thousand. Then Hanumat, lord of the powerful, was dismissed joyfully by Daśamukha with a close embrace and he went to Hanupura. The other Vidyādharas, the king of the Vānaras and others, went with pleasure to their respective cities.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

See above, p. 159.

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