As the battle between good and evil raged on in Lanka, Lakshmana, the devoted brother of Lord Rama, was mortally wounded by Ravana. To save Lakshmana, Hanuman was entrusted with the crucial task of retrieving the medicinal herbs from the Gandhamadana Mountain. With time running out, Hanuman could not find the specific herbs and decided to lift the entire mountain and fly back to Lanka.
Hanuman, carrying the immense mountain, soared through the skies. His path took him over Kailasha, the abode of Lord Shiva, and then over Ayodhya as he traveled southwards. Ayodhya, the city of Rama, evoked memories and admiration in Hanuman. Curious to see the place where Rama’s noble brother Bharata resided, Hanuman descended towards Nandigram, where Bharata was living a life of penance and austerity in Rama’s absence.
From the ground, Bharata and Shatrughna, his younger brother, saw a gigantic shadow covering the moonlight. The shadow loomed large over the land, casting a temporary darkness over the region. This intrusion obscured the moonlight falling on Rama's sandals, which Bharata kept with him as a symbol of his devotion and duty towards Rama. Not recognizing what was causing the shadow, Bharata, ever vigilant, suspected an enemy threat. He quickly handed a powerful catapult to Shatrughna, instructing him to aim towards the sky.
Shatrughna, invoking the name of Rama, released the iron ball from the catapult. The projectile shot through the air with tremendous force, striking Hanuman and causing him to lose consciousness. Despite the impact, Hanuman's grip on the mountain remained firm as he descended rapidly, landing heavily in Nandigram. As he regained consciousness, he began to chant the name of Rama.
Hearing the sacred name of Rama, Bharata rushed to the site. He found Hanuman in great pain and demanded to know who he was and how he knew Rama, who had been exiled to the forest along with Lakshmana and Sita. Hanuman, still in agony and unable to speak clearly, struggled to respond.
At this crucial moment, the wise sage Vasistha arrived. Vasistha, possessing profound knowledge and insight, understood the gravity of the situation unfolding in Lanka. He quickly realized that Hanuman was no ordinary being but a divine messenger on a critical mission. Vasistha questioned Bharata about why he had attacked this great person, thus causing an unnecessary delay.
With his deep spiritual prowess, Vasistha chanted sacred mantras and relieved Hanuman of his pain. As Hanuman's suffering eased, he narrated the events that had transpired—the fierce battle in Lanka, Lakshmana's injury, and his urgent mission to retrieve the life-saving herbs. He explained that the fate of Lakshmana, and the outcome of the war, depended on his swift return to Lanka with the medicinal mountain.
Moved by Hanuman's tale, Bharata and Shatrughna were overcome with emotion. Tears welled up in their eyes as they listened. Determined to help, Bharata declared that he would accompany Hanuman to Lanka to assist in the fight against Ravana. He entrusted Shatrughna with the responsibility of handling the affairs of Ayodhya in his absence.
Hanuman, though touched by Bharata's offer, knew that Lord Rama would not allow his devoted brother to join the battlefield. Rama had placed his faith in Bharata to uphold the kingdom in his absence. Respecting Rama's wishes, Hanuman gently persuaded Bharata to remain in Ayodhya. Bharata, understanding the importance of his role, reluctantly agreed but urged Hanuman to hurry back to Lanka with all his might.
With renewed determination and the blessings of Bharata and Vasistha, Hanuman resumed his flight towards Lanka, carrying the Gandhamadana Mountain. His heart was filled with a sense of urgency and purpose, knowing that the fate of Lakshmana and the success of Rama's mission depended on his swift return.