Sundar Kaanda
148 - Hanuman lays waste the Asoka grove and kills prince Aksaya; at last Meghanada entangles Hanuman in a noose of serpents and carries him off to Ravana's court
Chaupais
Description
He launched the Brahmastra against Hanuman, who crushed a whole host even as he fell. When he saw that the monkey had swooned, he entangled the latter in a noose of serpents* and carried him off. Now, Parvati, is it conceivable that the envoy of the Lord whose very name enables the wise to cut asunder the bonds of mundane existence should come under bondage? No, it was in the service of the Lord that Hanuman allowed himself to be bound. When the demons heard that the monkey had been captured and noosed, they all rushed to the court in order to enjoy the spectacle. The monkey arrived and saw Ravana's court: his superb glory baffled description. Even gods and regents of the quarters stood meek with joined palms, all watching the movement of his eyebrows in great dismay. But the monkey's soul was no more disturbed at the sight of his power than Garuda (the king of birds) would be frightened in the midst of a number of serpents.