Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.181

c9.181

Having received thus from Sītā the Cūḍāmaṇi and these words of recognition Hanūmān took leave of Sītā and with her implied sanction went about to have a look at Laṅkā. At one place he heard Vibhīṣaṇa reciting Viṣṇu's names. After wishing that this house of the devotee should turn into a royal abode he passed Vibhīṣaṇa's house. Then he came to Rāvaṇa's palace and gathered information about the Rākṣasa power. "Now I must see Rāvaṇa in person, let him know personally the fact of my visit and I would give him righteous advice"—with this object in view Hanūmān began destroying the garden. He drove away the Rākṣasas, who came to punish him and some of them were killed. At last Meghanāda (Indrajit) attacked Hanūmān. Hiding in the sky he shot the Brahmāstra against Hanūmān, who yielded to it. The Rākṣasas took Hanūmān captive to Rāvaṇa. He freed himself of the cords that bound him, extended his tail which he shaped into circles, one over the other so that the last one rose more in height than Rāvaṇa's throne and seated himself on its top. Rāvaṇa and Hanūmān then began a conversation. Rāvaṇa, who got angry at the disrespect shown to him by Hanūmān, ordered the latter to be killed, but Vibhīṣaṇa opposed it saying that to kill emissaries and messengers was worse than killing one's own mother. Finally Rāvaṇa ordered that Hanūmān's tail be set fire to and he be insulted and humiliated.