VIBHEESHANA

Vibheeshana did not agree with that He said to his brother, "It is improper to either kill or even imprison a messenger, because that will upset the whole system court messengers. Then who can convey our ideas and opinions to the enemies?"

But Ravana queried, "Then is there no punishment for all the offences of Hanumanta?"

Ravana's doubt was cleared by his brother who said, "A guilty messenger can be beaten by a staff, or his limbs could be severed. His head can be shaven, face and forehead disfigured with ugly writing, and he can be taken in procession in that condition on the streets, and later driven out of the city."

Ravana nodded in approbation of Vibhee- shana's knowledge of the conventions of statecraft and pronounced his decision thus - "I do appreciate your knowledge of statecraft. Now it is said that the tail is an important feature of a monkey. So I order that Hanumanta's tail be set fire to, burnt, and then he be released".

All the Rakshasas there joined together and covered Hanumanta's tail with cloth tied all over it. The tail increased in size. They tied round it all the cloth they could lay their hands upon, poured several
tins of oil on it, and set fire to it. The tail began to bum like a forest fire. Hanumanta touched the moustaches and beards of Rakshasas with his burning tail. He dipped the tail onto several spots in the city and the whole of Lanka was on fire.

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