Ravama red eyed with rage beheld Hanuman whose tawny eyes and bright golden effulgence sent a flicker of fear through him. A feeling that was so opposed to his arrogant confidence, it made him wonder if he could be Nandeeswara who had once cursed him or Bana, the great asura in this form. Ravana commanded Prahastha to ask Hanuman from where he had come, who had sent him and why he had demolished the Asoka grove. "Also ask the wretch why he has dared to enter our inviolable city?" thundered Ravana. Prahastha quietly asked, "Peace be with you vanara. May you prosper. Did you come here as a spy sent by Indra, Varuna or Kubera or are you here as Visnu's emissary, to vanquish Ravana? Though your form is that of a vanara, your actions boast of a far superior race and your strength belies your breed. Are you only a monkey? Speak boldly, speak the truth and you shall be freed. Truth shall bring you freedom but deceit will bring you death. If you are not sent by anyone, at least tell me why you are here?" Addressing Ravana, Hanuman said "I am not a spy and this form is not assumed, because I am a vanara by birth. Since meeting you was proving impossible, I devastated the grove, it was my passage through gate and guard! The rakshasas provoked me, they wanted to fight me and I had to fight back to protect myself. No astra or god can bind me. It is a boon granted me by Brahma. The confrontation with your men was a ploy and my being bound by the Brahmastra pretence. It was the only way that I could see you. Now listen Ravana, know me to be the messenger of Rama. I will now tell you that which will augur you well".