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 Hanuman was once again impelled to start a fight with Ravana when he was produced before him in his Court. We see him restraining himself for the third time here. 'This fellow cannot overpower me nor can I overpower him easily. Moreover, it may take months for the battle to end. Mythili has set a target period of one month from now. It is not on the part of wisdom to start a combat now. He could be killed by Rama. Nobody else can do so.
(vellalam iramanAl pirarum velvarO?)'
A leader should know when to hit and when to lie low. He should not be guided by impulse. His decisions should be backed by strong reasons and not sudden whims that happen to appeal for the moment. Hanuman's self-control should be compared with Sugriva's character. He could not contain himself when he saw Ravana for the first time and flew across to his rampart where he was standing, watching the Vanara army that had just reached Lanka and gathered on the Suvela Mountain. He wrestled with Ravana for a long time, making Rama feel desperate from a distance.
When he returned to Rama with the crowns of Ravana, Rama could not tolerate it. Though he tones down his anger, his unhappiness shows through. He calls the act of Sugriva as irresponsibility. 'For what could I do if something had happened to you? You are the leader of the army. Even if I gain a victory over the Rakshasa, how do you expect me to be happy without you? For, what is winning Sita back, after all, when I don't have you by my side?' It was Vibishana's intervention that saved the situation from turning an utter embarrassment for
Sugriva.
Well, coming back to Ravana Durbar. 'I am the emissary of the great archer with lotus petal like eyes,' was how Hanuman introduced himself. The self-appointment is established beyond doubt! He then goes on to describe Rama and portray him as the reincarnation of Narayana, in nine verses. On the tenth verse he, as if incidentally, slips an information.
'I am a slave of Sri Rama. We, a team of Vanaras, under the leadership of Angada, son of Vali, set out in search of Sita.' The mention of Vali's name recalled the ghosts of the past to Ravana's mind. The one thought that he would like to forget was the defeat that he tasted at the hands of - to be more appropriate at the tail of - Vali.
 Ravana, in his earlier days was too proud of himself and was challenging every known warrior of superior might to a single combat. He wanted to engage Vali in a fight. Vali had the habit of performing his morning prayers, after bathing in the oceans and in isolation. When Ravana went to challenge Vali, the latter was in meditation, with closed eyes. Ravana stealthily took a position behind Vali. Vali though in meditation could sense what was happening and tied Ravana down with his tail. When he rose up in the sky, Ravana was hanging from his tail. He then jumped into oceans many, making Ravana to lie under water for long, long times. When he returned home, he hung Ravana from the ceiling over the cradle of Angada, as if he were a toy. 'I have brought a ten-headed insect for you boy' was how Vali insulted Ravana.
Imagine the kind of feelings that would have passed through the heart of our unparalleled egotist. But, it is only the beginning.
Hari Krishnan
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