The bond between Hanuman and Shri Ram is just like the bond of the Aatma and the Paramaatma. Shri Ram and Mata Sita reside in Hanuman‘s heart permanently and Shri Ram does everything for his dearest devotee. However, the devotee is always put to test and Hanuman had to undergo this test too in one occasion with Shri Ram.
Yayati was a righteous ruler of Kashi and a great devotee of Shri Ram. He had only a single wish that he should be remembered with an event associated with devotion and that which gives him fame forever. Once, Rishi Vishwamitr came visiting the king, however, Yayati was engrossed in courtly duties and did not notice the arrival of the Rishi. This enraged Rishi Vishwamitr and he decided to punish the king. He immediately went to Shri Ram and asked him to slay Yayati. Shri Ram obliges as it is the command of his guru and agrees to punish him, although he does not have any personal enmity with Yayati.
Yayati comes to know about this and is engulfed in sorrow. But, Rishi Narad comes to his rescue and gives him an idea. He suggests that Yayati go and seeks refugee of Anjana, mother of Hanuman. Yayati immediately seeks her protection. Mata Anjana, does give him assurance but, later on comes to know that it is from Shri Ram that Yayati is seeking protection. She is in a fix. But as she gave her word , she sends For Hanuman and orders Hanuman to save Yayati from Shri Ram.
Hanuman is shocked that he has to fight his dearest swami, but he agrees to it as it is his mother’s command. He then takes the king with him and goes to Shri Ram. In the court of Ayodhya, Hanuman requests Shri Ram to forgive Yayati as he has assured him protection. Shri Ram is shocked that to keep up the word of his Guru, he has to fight his dearest Hanuman. Nevertheless, he asks Hanuman to surrender Yayati to him.
When Hanuman refuses, Shri Ram gets upset over Hanuman. He takes his bow and aims the powerful Ram Baan at Hanuman. Hanuman bows to Shri Ram and starts chanting the name of Shri Ram. To everybody’s surprise, the arrow instead of striking Hanuman merges in him. All are surprised and awestruck seeing the power of chanting Shri Ram’s name.
Rishi Vishwamitr arrives at the scene and asks Shri Ram to call off the war, to which Shri Ram happily agrees to. King Yayati rushes to the Rishi and begs his forgiveness. Rishi Vishwamitr then says that, he was never angry with the king, but took this opportunity to prove that the name of Shri Ram is more powerful than even Shri Ram’s arrows and a devotee who takes his name with faith can never be harmed by anyone powerful warrior or weapon, even Shri Ram himself.
Shri Ram is immensely delighted with the devotion of Hanuman and embraces him. Rishi Vishwamitr blesses Yayati that he would be eternally remembered as the one because of whom the importance of chanting Shri Ram’s name will be forever marked as a source of strength in all times, thus fulfilling Yayati’s wish too. This story gives an important insight that although we might not be able to do all austerities, but chanting the name of God with faith is equal to doing all austerities.