The Ashok Vatika Destroyed, and Akshay Kumar

4 min read

Characters in this chapter

The story so far

Hanuman has given Sita Ram's ring and received her blessing.

Meeting Sita completed Hanuman's mission, but he thought: a good envoy doesn't just deliver a message, he also measures the enemy's strength. How large is Ravan's army, how do his warriors fight? Knowing this would help Ram.

He said to Sita: Mother, I am very hungry, and these trees are full of lovely fruit. Sita said: very strong demons guard this place. Hanuman replied: if you give me leave, I have no fear of them. Sita gave her permission.

Hanuman ate the fruit and then laid waste to the whole garden. He uprooted trees and smashed a . The guards who came to fight were beaten and chased away. The news reached Ravan. He sent commander after commander, but none could stand against Hanuman.

Then Ravan sent his younger son, . He was young and brave and came riding a chariot. The two fought fiercely. In the end Hanuman seized him and dashed him to the ground, and Akshay Kumar was killed.

A cry of grief rose across Lanka. Ravan shook with rage and sorrow. Now he called his greatest warrior: his eldest son, Meghnad.

सुनहु मातु मोहि अतिसय भूखा। लागि देखि सुंदर फल रूखा॥

Hanuman says: listen, Mother, seeing the lovely fruit on these trees, I feel very hungry.

— Ramcharitmanas, Sundarkand

A lesson for today

Even after the task is done, ask: what more can I learn or add? But note that Hanuman first asked Sita's permission.

Next chapter · 5 min readThe Brahmastra and Ravan's Court

The Ashok Vatika Destroyed, and Akshay Kumar

All chapters

Reading settings