As Hanuman journeyed towards the nether regions, a burning mountain approached to obstruct him. He stood up like a mountain and concluding that it was a scheme of the enemy and crossed it smilingly. Later a large elephant, resembling a multitude of clouds attacked him. He dispatched the elephant with the speed of wind to the abode of Yama and went further.
Again, swarms of mosquitoes surrounded him like a series of black clouds. He was cut and bruised by the attack but did not give up. He could not see and was fatigued physically but not mentally. He moved his arms like in a stream of water and took thousands of mosquitoes in his hand and pounded them and in a short time annihilated them.
Soon he reached the nether regions and saw woman who was wailing pathetically. His heart melted with pity. He asked her why she was crying. Though not acquainted with him, trusting his agreeable face, she said, 'I am the sister of the ruler of the nether regions. Virakvana is my name.' She told him that she was weeping as her son Vaiyavig's life was in danger, who her brother Maiyarba wanted to kill.
She said she was asked to fill huge vessel with hot water and her brother planned to throw her son and Rama together into the huge vessel and cook them. Hanuman assured her that he would not let that happen and asked her to take him to Maiyarba and he would do the rest.
She replied it was not easy to get there as the gateway was protected by the chiefs of demons. In addition there was a balance at the gate and the watchmen would weigh her before she would be allowed to go in. If they found that her weight had increased even a little they would stop her from entering and might even kill her. Hanuman convinced her that there was no danger and urged her to take him to her brother and assumed the form of a filament of a lotus. At the gate she was stopped and asked to mount the balance. The balance touched the ground and the demons full of suspicion and also frightened did not allow her to enter.
Virakvana rebuked them and told them that the balance was faulty and if they had any doubts they could search her. They found nothing on her person that could increase her weight and did not think a filament of lotus found on her, would add to her weight and allowed her to go in. She then took Hanuman to a cage which contained the soul of Maiyarba, seperated from his body. Hanuman assumed his true form and tore down the cage and pounded the soul with his fists.
He then went to the place where Rama was in fetters and was upset. But he restrained himself and stood before the king of nether regions and challenged him for a duel. Maiyarba laughed and said it was beneath him to fight a monkey and told him, 'Off you go! Those born as animals are not worthy of an encounter with me.' Hanuman provoked him with insults and there was a dreadful duel between both the unbeatable ones.
Virakvana advised Hanuman that her brother had a boon and 'Until and unless his soul is killed first, he can never be put to death.' Hanuman went to Trikuta mountain saw that Maiyarba 's soul had assumed the form of a black bee. He caught it in his hand and crushed it. Immediately Maiyarba fell dead. Hanuman set Rama free and took him back to his camp to the immense joy of his brother and others.
Interesting that Demons have souls which are not immortal! Makes sense!
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