Shloka 5.48.48
इन्द्रजित्प्रेषणम्—ब्रह्मास्त्रबन्धः, हनूमद्ग्रहणं, रावणसभाप्रवेशः (Indrajit’s Deployment—Brahmāstra Binding, Hanuman’s Capture, Entry into Ravana’s Court)
स बद्धस्तेन वल्केन विमुक्तोऽस्त्रेण वीर्यवान्।अस्त्रबन्धः स चान्यं हि न बन्धमनुवर्तते।।।।
sa baddhas tena valkena vimukto ’streṇa vīryavān |
astra-bandhaḥ sa cānyaṃ hi na bandham anuvartate ||
Though the valiant one was tied with those bark-ropes, he was in fact released from the bond of the astra; for a binding imposed by a divine missile does not persist alongside another ordinary binding.
On being bound by bark ropes Hanuman was set free from the bond of Brahmastra, since the bondage of Brahmastra does not tolerate another ordinary bondage.
Dharma is portrayed as cosmic order: divine forces operate by consistent rules (astra-bonds follow their own law), reminding humans to respect higher principles rather than rely on brute coercion.
After Indrajit uses an astra to bind Hanumān, the rākṣasas add bark-ropes; the astra’s binding no longer remains when another binding is applied.
Hanumān’s steadiness: even when the astra-bond is gone, he maintains composure and continues with his mission-minded restraint.