Hanuman, radiant and resolute, boldly seized the lofty caitya temple atop Lanka. In that moment, his form blazed with such splendor that he resembled a celestial pāriyātra tree, magnificent and unshakeable. Swelling with power, the mighty son of the Wind assumed a vast and formidable shape. He struck the city of Lanka with a tremendous roar, a sound so thunderous that it reverberated through every corner of the city, filling it with its force. The resounding noise Hanuman produced was so intense that it struck the ears of all creatures. Birds fell from the sky, stunned by the clamor, and the guardians of the shrine were left bewildered and shaken. Amidst this tumult, Hanuman proclaimed words of victory: “Victory to Rama, master of all weapons! Victory to mighty Lakshmana! Victory to King Sugriva, protected by Raghava!” He then declared his own identity, “I am Hanuman, son of the Wind, servant of Rama, king of Kosala, whose deeds are flawless—Hanuman, the destroyer of enemy armies.” With unshakable confidence, Hanuman proclaimed, “Not even a thousand Ravanas could match my strength in battle, for I can strike with thousands of rocks and trees. Having overcome the city of Lanka and greeted Maithili, I shall depart, my purpose accomplished, before the eyes of all the rakshasas.” Having spoken thus, Hanuman, the great-bodied leader of the monkeys, standing atop the shrine, let out a terrifying roar that struck fear into the hearts of the rakshasas. At this mighty sound, a hundred shrine-guards emerged, each armed with weapons—lances, swords, and axes—ready to confront the intruder. These rakshasas, of great stature, surrounded Hanuman and hurled at him maces adorned with gold and heavy iron clubs. They advanced upon him with arrows shining like the sun, their assault like a vast and mighty whirlpool of the Ganga’s waters. Encircled by this host of rakshasas, Hanuman, the best among monkeys, shone even amidst danger. Enraged, he assumed a terrifying form. With great speed, he uprooted a massive pillar from the building, its surface adorned with gold, and began to whirl it fiercely. As he swung it about, fire sprang up all around, and soon the building itself was set ablaze. Seeing the flames engulf the structure, Hanuman, leader of the monkeys, attacked the rakshasas. With the force of Indra wielding his thunderbolt against asuras, he slew a hundred of the demon guards. Glorious and unyielding, Hanuman then rose into the sky and called out, “Thousands like me have been dispatched by the great-souled ones! We and other mighty monkeys, leaders under Sugriva’s command, roam the whole earth. Some have the strength of ten elephants, some are ten times mightier, and some equal a thousand elephants in valor. Some possess the might of a flood, some the power of the wind, and among us are chiefs whose strength cannot be measured. Surrounded by such monkeys, armed with teeth and claws, in hundreds, hundreds of thousands, millions, and tens of millions—Sugriva, the destroyer of your kind, will come. For you, this city of Lanka, yourselves, and even Ravana, there is no hope, for enmity has been made with the mighty hero of the Ikshvaku line.” Thus concluded the forty-third chapter in the Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana, composed by the sage Valmiki. Let the forty-fourth chapter now be heard in the sacred Sundara Kanda. Commanded by Ravana, the king of the rakshasas, the mighty Jambumali, son of Prahasta, came forth to confront Hanuman. Fierce and formidable, Jambumali bore great fangs and was armed with a powerful bow. He wore red garlands and garments, adorned with a shining wreath and earrings. His eyes were wide and fierce, his presence invincible in battle. Jambumali’s bow was splendid, resembling Indra’s own, strung with a swift and beautiful arrow. As he drew it, the bow resounded with a sound like thunder and lightning, filling all directions, the intermediate quarters, and even the sky with its mighty twang. As Jambumali approached in a chariot drawn by mules, Hanuman, swift and fearless, rejoiced and roared aloud. Jambumali, mighty-armed, struck Hanuman, who stood upon the archway, with sharp arrows. A crescent-headed arrow struck Hanuman’s face, a barbed one pierced his head, and ten iron arrows wounded the monkey lord’s arms. Though wounded, Hanuman’s face shone, stained with blood, like a great lotus in autumn pierced by the rays of the sun, or like a lotus in the sky sprinkled with drops of sandalwood. Angered by the rakshasa’s arrows, Hanuman’s wrath grew. At his side, he saw a massive rock. With force, he uprooted it and hurled it at Jambumali, but the enraged rakshasa shattered it with ten arrows. Seeing his effort thwarted, Hanuman, fierce in valor and full of strength, uprooted a great sala tree and began to whirl it. Jambumali, seeing the mighty monkey whirling the tree, shot many arrows at him. With four arrows he cut the sala tree, with five he struck Hanuman’s arm, with one struck his head, and with ten more, his chest. Now Hanuman’s body was filled with arrows and his fury was immense. Seizing the same iron club, he began to whirl it with extraordinary speed and strength. With a mighty blow, he struck Jambumali upon the chest. In that instant, nothing remained of the rakshasa—neither head, nor arms, nor knees; his bow, chariot, horses, and arrows vanished from sight, destroyed by Hanuman’s terrible might.