{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_57826/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_57826","id":"gutenberg_57826","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/57826","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Epic poetry, Sanskrit -- Translations into English","Folklore -- India","Rama (Hindu deity) -- Fiction","Valmiki -- Adaptations"],"text":"Produced by James Simmons.\n\nThis file was produced from page images at the Internet Archive.\n\n\n\n\nTranscriber's Note\n\n\nThis book was transcribed from scans of several different copies of the\noriginal found at the Internet Archive. The typesetters of the original\nbook represented the letter a (with a macron above) as a (with\ncircumflex above) when italicized, but this etext uses the macron\nthroughout. Words in italics in this etext were italicized in the\noriginal book. I have corrected obvious misspellings but I've left\nvariant spellings alone. Some words and names, like _yojana_ and\n_Garuda_, were spelled two different ways in the same text. I have\nspelled them consistently to avoid confusion.\n\n\n\n\n                              THE RAMAYANA\n\n\n  Translated into English Prose from the original Sanskrit of Valmiki\n\n\n                             ARANYA KANDAM.\n\n\n                        EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY\n\n                       MANMATHA NATH DUTT, M. A.\n\n                        Rector, Keshub Academy.\n\n\n\n\nprinted by Girish Chandra Chackravarti, Deva Press, 65/2, Beadon Street.\n                             CALCUTTA. 1891\n\n                         [All rights reserved.]\n\n\n\n\n    ARANYA KANDAM. ....................................................\n      SECTION I. ......................................................\n      SECTION II. .....................................................\n      SECTION III. ....................................................\n      SECTION IV. .....................................................\n      SECTION V. ......................................................\n      SECTI0N VI. .....................................................\n      SECTION VII. ....................................................\n      SECTION VIII. ...................................................\n      SECTION IX. .....................................................\n      SECTION X. ......................................................\n      SECTION XI. .....................................................\n      SECTION XII. ....................................................\n      SECTION XIII. ...................................................\n      SECTION XIV. ....................................................\n      SECTION XV. .....................................................\n      SECTION XVI. ....................................................\n      SECTION XVII. ...................................................\n      SECTION XVIII. ..................................................\n      SECTION XIX. ....................................................\n      SECTION XX. .....................................................\n      SECTION XXI. ....................................................\n      SECTION XXII. ...................................................\n      SECTION XXIII. ..................................................\n      SECTION XXIV. ...................................................\n      SECTION XXV. ....................................................\n      SECTION XXVI. ...................................................\n      SECTION XXVII. ..................................................\n      SECTION XXVIII. .................................................\n      SECTION XXIX. ...................................................\n      SECTION XXX. ....................................................\n      SECTION XXXI. ...................................................\n      SECTION XXXII. ..................................................\n      SECTION XXXIII. .................................................\n      SECTION XXXIV. ..................................................\n      SECTION XXXV. ...................................................\n      SECTION XXXVI. ..................................................\n      SECTION XXXVII. .................................................\n      SECTION XXXVIII. ................................................\n      SECTION XXXIX. ..................................................\n      SECTION XL. .....................................................\n      SECTION XLI. ....................................................\n      SECTION XLII. ...................................................\n      SECTION XLIII. ..................................................\n      SECTION XLIV. ...................................................\n      SECTION XLV. ....................................................\n      SECTION XLVI. ...................................................\n      SECTION XLVII. ..................................................\n      SECTION XLVIII. .................................................\n      SECTION XLIX. ...................................................\n      SECTION L. ......................................................\n      SECTION LI. .....................................................\n      SECTION LII. ....................................................\n      SECTION LIII. ...................................................\n      SECTION LIV. ....................................................\n      SECTION LV. .....................................................\n      SECTION LVI. ....................................................\n      SECTION LVI. ....................................................\n      SECTION LVII. ...................................................\n      SECTION LVIII. ..................................................\n      SECTION LIX. ....................................................\n      SECTION LX. .....................................................\n      SECTION LXI. ....................................................\n      SECTION LXII. ...................................................\n      SECTION LXIII. ..................................................\n      SECTION LXIV. ...................................................\n      SECTION LXV. ....................................................\n      SECTION LXVI. ...................................................\n      SECTION LXVII. ..................................................\n      SECTION LXVIII. .................................................\n      SECTION LXIX. ...................................................\n      SECTION LXX. ....................................................\n      SECTION LXXI. ...................................................\n      SECTION LXXII. ..................................................\n      SECTION LXXIII. .................................................\n      SECTION LXXIV. ..................................................\n      SECTION LXXV. ...................................................\n    KISHKINDHA KANDAM. ................................................\n      SECTION I. ......................................................\n      SECTION II. .....................................................\n      SECTION III. ....................................................\n      SECTION IV. .....................................................\n      SECTION V. ......................................................\n      SECTION VI. .....................................................\n      SECTION VII. ....................................................\n      SECTION VIII. ...................................................\n      SECTION IX. .....................................................\n      SECTION X. ......................................................\n      SECTION XI. .....................................................\n      SECTION XII. ....................................................\n      SECTION XIII. ...................................................\n      SECTION XIV. ....................................................\n      SECTION XV. .....................................................\n      SECTION XVI. ....................................................\n      SECTION XVII. ...................................................\n      SECTION XVIII. ..................................................\n      SECTION XIX. ....................................................\n      SECTION XX. .....................................................\n      SECTION XXI. ....................................................\n      SECTION XXII. ...................................................\n      SECTION XXIII. ..................................................\n      SECTION XXIV. ...................................................\n      SECTION XXV. ....................................................\n      SECTION XXVI. ...................................................\n      SECTION XXVII. ..................................................\n      SECTION XXVIII. .................................................\n      SECTION XXIX. ...................................................\n      SECTION XXX. ....................................................\n      SECTION XXXI. ...................................................\n      SECTION XXXII. ..................................................\n      SECTION XXXIII. .................................................\n      SECTION XXXIV. ..................................................\n      SECTION XXXV. ...................................................\n      SECTION XXXVI. ..................................................\n      SECTION XXXVII. .................................................\n      SECTION XXXVIII. ................................................\n      SECTION XXXIX. ..................................................\n      SECTION XL. .....................................................\n      SECTION XLI. ....................................................\n      SECTION XLII. ...................................................\n      SECTION XLIII. ..................................................\n      SECTION XLIV. ...................................................\n      SECTION XLV. ....................................................\n      SECTION XLVI. ...................................................\n      SECTION XLVII. ..................................................\n      SECTION XLVIII. .................................................\n      SECTION XLIX. ...................................................\n      SECTION L. ......................................................\n      SECTION LI. .....................................................\n      SECTION LII. ....................................................\n      SECTION LIII. ...................................................\n      SECTION LIV. ....................................................\n      SECTION LV. .....................................................\n      SECTION LVI. ....................................................\n      SECTION LVII. ...................................................\n      SECTION LVIII. ..................................................\n      SECTION LIX. ....................................................\n      SECTION LX. .....................................................\n      SECTION LXI. ....................................................\n      SECTION LXII. ...................................................\n      SECTION LXIII. ..................................................\n      SECTION LXIV. ...................................................\n      SECTION LXV. ....................................................\n      SECTION LXVI. ...................................................\n      SECTION LXVII. ..................................................\n    SUNDARA KANDAM. ...................................................\n      SECTION I. ......................................................\n      SECTION II. .....................................................\n      SECTION III. ....................................................\n      SECTION IV. .....................................................\n      SECTION V. ......................................................\n      SECTION VI. .....................................................\n      SECTION VII. ....................................................\n      SECTION VIII. ...................................................\n      SECTION IX. .....................................................\n      SECTION X. ......................................................\n      SECTION XI. .....................................................\n      SECTION XII. ....................................................\n      SECTION XIII. ...................................................\n      SECTION XIV. ....................................................\n      SECTION XV. .....................................................\n      SECTION XVI. ....................................................\n      SECTION XVII. ...................................................\n      SECTION XVIII. ..................................................\n      SECTION XIX. ....................................................\n      SECTION XX. .....................................................\n      SECTION XXI. ....................................................\n      SECTION XXII. ...................................................\n      SECTION XXIII. ..................................................\n      SECTION XXIV. ...................................................\n      SECTION XXV. ....................................................\n      SECTION XXVI. ...................................................\n      SECTION XXVII. ..................................................\n      SECTION XXVIII. .................................................\n      SECTION XXIX. ...................................................\n      SECTION XXX. ....................................................\n      SECTION XXXI. ...................................................\n      SECTION XXXII. ..................................................\n      SECTION XXXIII. .................................................\n      SECTION XXXIV. ..................................................\n      SECTION XXXV. ...................................................\n      SECTION XXXVI. ..................................................\n      SECTION XXXVII. .................................................\n      SECTION XXXVIII. ................................................\n      SECTION XXXIX. ..................................................\n      SECTION XL. .....................................................\n      SECTION XLI. ....................................................\n      SECTION XLII. ...................................................\n      SECTION XLIII. ..................................................\n      SECTION XLIV. ...................................................\n      SECTION XLV. ....................................................\n      SECTION XLVI. ...................................................\n      SECTION XLVII. ..................................................\n      SECTION XLVIII. .................................................\n      SECTION XLIX. ...................................................\n      SECTION L. ......................................................\n      SECTION LI. .....................................................\n      SECTION LII. ....................................................\n      SECTION LIII. ...................................................\n      SECTION LIV. ....................................................\n      SECTION LV. .....................................................\n      SECTION LVI. ....................................................\n      SECTION LVII. ...................................................\n      SECTION LVIII. ..................................................\n      SECTION LIX. ....................................................\n      SECTION LX. .....................................................\n      SECTION LXI. ....................................................\n      SECTION LXII. ...................................................\n      SECTION LXIII. ..................................................\n      SECTION LXIV. ...................................................\n      SECTION LXV. ....................................................\n      SECTION LXVI. ...................................................\n      SECTION LXVII. ..................................................\n\n\n\n\nARANYA KANDAM.\n\n\n\nSECTION I.\n\n\nEntering the extensive forest of Dandaka, the irrepressible and\nself-composed Rama saw the collection of asylums belonging unto the\nascetics, strewn with Kuca and bark, and environed by spiritual energy;\nincapable of being beheld; like the solar disc in the heavens,--the\nrefuge of all creatures--with their ornamented yards; filled with a\ngreat many deer, and abounding in multitudes of birds; in which Apsaras\nalways danced and which they held in respect; (asylums) beauteous with\nspacious rooms for fire-sacrifice, with sacrificial necessaries,\ndeer-skins, Kuca, faggots, water-pitchers, fruits and roots; surrounded\nby mighty and sacred forest-trees; crowned with lucious fruits; honored\nwith Vali[1] and Homa[2]; holy; resounding with the sounds of Vedic\nrecitations; scattered with divers blossoms; and containing tanks filled\nwith lotuses; with ancient ascetics living on fruits and roots, having\ntheir senses under control, wearing bark and black deer-skins, and\npossessing the splendour of the sun or fire; and adorned by great and\nholy sages living upon regulated fare. Beholding that collection of\nasylums belonging unto the ascetics, resembling the regions of Brahma,\nresonant with the voices of Vedic recitations; and grateful; with highly\npious Brahmanas versed in the Vedas,--the exceedingly energetic and\ngraceful Raghava entered the same, having first unstrung his mighty bow.\nThereupon, seeing the righteous Rama resembling the moon risen, as well\nas Lakshmana and the illustrious Vaidehi, those Maharshis endeued with\nspiritual intuition, came forward (to meet the incomers); and, having\nuttered benedictions, those persons of rigid vows, received them. And\nthose dwellers of the wood, struck with wonder, beheld Rama's tender\ngrace and lovliness and elegance of dress. And struck with astonishment,\nthose inhabitants of the woods of pre-eminent piety saw Vaidehi,\nLakshmana and Rama, with winkless eyes. And those persons of exalted\nvirtue, engaged in the welfare of all creatures, made Raghava, their\nguest, sit down in their thatched cottage. Then, having received Rama\nrespectfully according to scriptural prescription, those virtuous ones\nof eminent piety, resembling fire, procured water (for Rama). And,\nexperiencing great delight, those high-souled ones, uttering\nbenedictions, procured wild fruits, flowers and roots; and, having\nassigned an asylum (unto Rama), those persons cognizant of\nrighteousness, said with joined hands, \"Possessed of high fame, thou,\nthe protector of righteousness, art the refuge of these people. Thou\nshoudst be honored and worshipped, being their king, holding the rod,\nand their superior. O Raghava, it is because he that governs his\nsubjects, is a fourth part of Indra himself, that the king, being bowed\ndown unto by all, enjoys the choicest things. And we, being in thy\ndominions, ought to be protected by thee. Whether living in the city or\nin the woods, thou, lord of men, art our sovereign. We have renounced\nchastising others; and, O monarch, we have conquered our anger, and\nsubdued our passions. Therefore, even as a child in its mother's womb\n(should be protected by her), should we be protected by thee.\" Having\nsaid this, they entertained Raghava, along with Lakshmana, with fruits\nand roots and flowers and diverse other edibles procurable in the woods.\nIn the same way, other ascetics of accomplished purposes, living lives\nof integrity, duly pleased that lord, Rama, resembling Vaicyanara.\n\n  [1] Offerings to the spirits of air.--T.\n\n  [2] Burnt offerings, or oblations of clarified butter into the sacred\n      fire, as an offering to the gods, accompanied with prayers or\n      invocations.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION II.\n\n\nHaving received the homage of the ascetics, Rama about sun-rise, having\ngreeted them all, entered into the forest. And Rama, followed by\nLakshmana, saw the heart of the forest abounding in various kinds of\nbeasts,--ranged by bears and tigers, with its trees and shrubs torn and\ntrampled, its pools turbid, and its birds crying. And, having in company\nwith Sita arrived at that forest abounding in terrible beasts, Kakutstha\nsaw a man-eater, resembling a mountain-summit, emitting tremendous\nroars, with hollow eyes, a huge face, frightful, having a deformed\nbelly, disgusting, dreadful, Cyclopean, mis-shapen, of a horrible sight,\nclad in a tiger-skin, besmeared with fat, covered with blood, capable of\nfrightening all creatures, with his mouth widely extended, like unto the\nDestroyer himself, and uttering loud shouts,--who stood piercing with\nhis iron dart three lions, four tigers, two leopards, four Prishatas,\nand the huge tusked head of an elephant dripping fat. Having seen Rama\nand Lakshmana, as well as Sita the daughter of Mithila, he growing\nangry, rushed (against them), like the Destroyer himself rushing against\ncreatures at the universal dissolution. Uttering a dreadful yell, and,\nas if making the earth tremble, he took Vaidehi on his waist, and, going\na little distance, said, \"O ye wearing bark and matted locks, O ye of\nfeeble strength, that accompanied by your (common) wife, have entered\nthe forest of Dandaka, bearing bows and arrows and scimitars, why, being\nascetics, do ye wish to associate with a (single) woman? Ye wicked\nwretches, ye impious wights, who are ye that bring disgrace upon\nascetics? I am a Rakshasa, Viradha by name. This forest is my fastness.\nAccoutred in arms, I range (here), feeding on the flesh of ascetics.\nThis transcendentally beauteous one shall be my wife. And in battle I\nshall drink your blood, wretches that ye are.\" Hearing the wicked and\nvaunting speech of the impious Viradha, as he said this, Janaka's\ndaughter, Sita, began to tremble from fear, like a plantain tree shaken\nby the wind. Seeing the graceful Sita on the waist of Viradha, Raghava\nwith a blank countenance said unto Lakshmana, \"O amiable one, behold the\ndaughter of king Janaka, my wife of pure ways, an illustrious princess\nbrought up in luxury--on Viradha's waist O Lakshmana, what had been\nwished for by Kaikeyi with reference to us, (hath taken place), and the\ndear boon (that she had asked) hath born fruit. That far-sighted\nlady--my second mother--who had not been satisfied with having secured\nthe kingdom in the interests of her son, and by whom I that was dear\nunto her above all other creatures, had been banished to the woods, hath\nto-day her wishes crowned with success. O Sumitra's son, nothing can\nimpart unto me greater anguish than the touching of Vaidehi by another--\nwhich surpasses my father's demise and my having been deprived of the\nkingdom.\" As Kakutstha with his eyes flooded with tears was speaking\nthus, Lakshmana flying into a rage, spoke like unto a confined elephant:\n\"Why dost thou, O Kakutstha, being the lord of all creatures and\nresembling Vasava himself,--and also backed by myself, thy servant,--\ngrieve like one forlorn? The earth shall drink the gore of this\nRakshasa, Viradha, when deprived of life, after he hath been slain with\na shaft by my angry self. That ire of mine which I had conceived against\nBharata hankering after the kingdom, will I discharge on Viradha; even\nas the weilder of the thunder holt hurls his weapon at a hill. Let my\nmighty arrow acquiring velocity from the speed imparted to it through\nthe energy of my arms, light on his huge breast, and force his life from\nforth his body; and let him whirling (at length fall down to the earth).\n\n\n\nSECTION III.\n\n\nThen Viradha again spoke filling the forest, \"Do ye tell me who ask\nyou,--who are ye and whither are ye going?\" Thereupon, the highly\nenergetic Rama answered the Rakshasa with a flaming face, when he had\nthus asked (Rama)-- that he belonged to the Ikshwaku race. \"Know us that\nare in ihe forest, for Kshatriyas of respectable character. I also am\nanxious of knowing who thou art, that goest about the Dandakas.\" Viradha\nanswered Rama having truth for his prowess, \"Ah! I will tell thee, O\nking. Do thou, O Raghava understand! I am son unto Java, and my mother\nis Satarhada. All the Rakshasas of the earth have called me Viradha.\nHaving gratified Brahma by my asceticism, I received (this boon) that\nnone in the world would be able lo slay me by mangling my body with\nweapons. Forsaking this fair one, do ye renouncing all hope (of either\nrecovering her or vanquishing me), speedily flee away to that place\nwhence ye had come;--else I shall deprive you of your lives.\" Thereat,\nRama with his eyes reddened through wrath replied unto that Rakshasa of\na deformed shape, the wicked Viradha--saying, \"Little! shame on thee of\nbase purposes! Thou surely seekest thy own death; and (death) thou shall\nget in battle. Stay! Thou escapest me not with life.\" Then stringing his\nbow, Rama, speedily aiming at the Rakshasa, pierced him with sharpened\nshafts; and (then) from his bow-string let go seven shafts, having their\nfeathered parts plaited with gold, furnished with great velocity, and\ncoursing like Suparna or the wind. Thereat, resembling flames, those\narrows furnished with peacocks' feathers, pierced Viradha's body, and\nfell to the earth, covered with blood. On being thus pierced, the\nRakshasa set Vaidehi down, and, upraising a dart, rushed in wrath\ntowards Rama and Lakshmana. And sending forth a mighty roar, he took up\na dart resembling the banner of Sakra; and he then appeared like the\nDestroyer[3] with opening mouth. Then the brothers showered a blazing\nvolley of shafts on the Rakshasa, resembling the Destroyer himself. And\nstationing himself at a spot, the Rakshasa, laughing terribly, yawned,\nand as he yawned the flest-coursing shafts fell off from his person. And\nby virtue of the bestowal of the boon (by Brahma), the Rakshasa Viradha\ndrew up his vital energies, and, lifting up a pike, darted at the\ndescendants of Raghu. That best of those bearing arms cut off with two\narrows that dart resembling the thunder-bolt and flaming in the sky. And\nthe dart severed by the shafts of Rama, fell to the earth, as falls a\ncrag severed by the thunderbolt. Thereat, swiftly raising up a sword,\nresembling a black snake, each (of the Raghavas) approached his\nantagonist, and began to assail him hastily. Thus hard beset, that\nterrible one, seizing them both with his arms, attempted to make away\nwith those foremost of men, who, however, retained their calmness.\nReading his purpose, Rama spake unto Lakshmana, \"Let the Rakshasa bear\nus by this way. Not use of letting him. Sumatra's son, let the Rakshasa\nbear us wherever he likes. Even this, by which the ranger of the night\nis proceeding, is our way.\" And lifting up (Rama and Lakshmana) by his\nmight and prowess, as if they were striplings, that haughty ranger of\nthe night laid them on his shoulders. And having deposited the Raghavas\non his ihoulders, Viradha--ranger[4] of night--sending up dreadful\nshouts, directed his course towards the forest. And he at length entered\nthe forest resembling a mighty mass of clouds, furnished with various\nkinds of trees, picturesque with diverse species of birds, and abounding\nin jackals, serpents and beasts.\n\n  [3] The North-West Province text has an additional _Sloka_:--Having\n      said this the graceful Lakshmana spoke unto Viradha as if\n      jestingly, \"Who art thou that going to the forest, art ranging it\n      so pleasantly?\"--T.\n\n  [4] The text has _Kalantakoyamopame_--_abl._--resembling _Kala_,\n      _Antaka_, or _Yama_. The commentator cites a _sloka_, which\n      assigns three several functions to the three,--_Kala_ executes his\n      office on the occasion of the separation of life from the body;\n      _Antaka_ compasses the end; and _Yama_ finally sits in judgment\n      upon the departed soul. But this strikes me as misplaced\n      erudition. I, however, give the commonsense rendering.--T.\n\n  [5] Another reading is:--_That ranger of the night laid on his\n      shoulders, those ones, who were puffed up with their exceeding\n      prowess._--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION IV.\n\n\nSeeing those foremost of Raghus, the Kakutsthas, carried away, Sita\ncried in a loud voice, raising up her arms,[5] \"Rama, the son of\nDacaratha, the strong, the truthful and the pure, is, along with\nLakshmana, being carried away by you, Rakshasa of a terrible appearance.\nMe bears will devour and tigers and panthers. Renouncing the Kakutsthas,\ndo thou carry me away. I bow unto thee, O best of Rakshasas.\" Hearing\nthese words of Vaidehi, Rama and Lakshmana bestirred themselves for\ncompassing the death of that wicked one. And Sumitra's son broke his\nleft arm; while Rama at once broke the Rakshasa's right one. On his arms\nbeing broken, the Rakshasa resembling a mass of clouds, growing weak,\nsank down on the ground in a swoon, like a hill riven by the\nthunderbolt. Thereupon, they assailed the Rakshasa with their fists,\narms and feet; and lifting him up once and again, and pressing him, they\ntrod on him over the ground. Although he was sore pierced by full many\nan arrow and cut sorryly by scimitars, and pressed down on the earth in\nvarious ways, yet the Rakshasa expired not. Seeing him utterly incapable\nof being killed, and resembling a hill, that inspirer of hope in times\nof peril, the graceful (Rama), said, \"O foremost of men, in consequence\nof his austerities, yon Rakshasa cannot be vanquished with weapons in\nconflict. Therefore, let us cast him into a pit. O Lakshmana, dig a\ncapacious pit in this forest[6] for this Rakshasa resembling an\nelephant, terible, and of a grim presence.\" Having said this unto\nLakshmana,--\"Do thou dig a pit,\" the powerful Rama remained planting his\nfoot on Viradha's throat. Having heard Raghava's words, the Rakshasa\nspake gently, \"Slain am I, O chief of men, by thee possessed of strength\nequal to that of Sakra. Through ignorance, O foremost of men, I could\nnot before know thee. Now I know thee that art Rama, the worthy Son of\nKaucalya, my child; as well as the highly virtuous Vaidehi and the\nrenowned Lakshmana. By virtue of a curse, I entered this dreadful\nRakshasi form, I a Gandharba, having been cursed by Vaicravana. Being\npropitiated by me, that greatly famous one said,--'When Rama the son of\nDacaratha, shall slay thee in encounter, thou, attaining thy natural\ncondition, shalt repair to the celestial regions.' Getting wroth, he\ncursed me, who had been absent; and thus did king Vaicravana address me,\nwho had conceived love for Rambha. Through thy grace have I been freed\nfrom this fearful curse, I shall (now) repair to heaven. Hail, O\nrepressor of foes! Half a Yoyana hence, my child, dwells the righteous\nand potent Maharshi, Sarabhanga, resembling the Sun. Seek him speedily:\nhe will bring about thy good. Casting me (into this pit) in the wood, do\nthou, O Rama, peacefully go thy way. Even this is the eternal usage of\nthe Rakshasas. hose that die in the forest, attain eternal regions.\"\nHaving said this unto Kakutstha, the mighty Viradha, afflicted with\narrows, having his body deposited (in the pit), attained heaven. Having\nheard that speech of Viradha, Righava ordered Lakshmana, saying, \"O\nLakshmana, do thou in this forest dig a capacious pit for this Rakshasa\nresembling an elephant, dreadful, and of terrible acts.\" Having said\nunto Lakshmana, \"Dig a pit,\"--Rama possessed of prowess remained fixing\nhis foot on Viradha' s throat. Then taking a hoe, Lakshmana dug a\nspacious pit by the side of the huge-bodied[7] Viradha. Then when his\nthroat had been freed, (Lakshmana) cast into the pit Viradha having ears\nresembling javelins, sending loud and dreadful sounds. Having vanquished\nhim in fight, Rama and Lakshmana possessed of activity and steady in\nfight, being exceedingly delighted, raising up the dreadful Rakshasa by\nmain force, cast him howling (into the pit). Reflecting that he was\nincapable of being slain (by sharpened weapons), those foremost of men,\nexceedingly well versed (in arms), compassed the death of that mighty\nAsura, Viradha, in the pit, after they had dug it. Viradha had himself\nsincerely wished for his death at the hands of Rama; and that ranger of\nthe woods had accordingly told (Rama),--\"My death cannot be effected by\nmeans of weapons.\" Having heard these words, Rama decided upon casting\nhim into a pit. And when the excessively strong Rakshasa entered the\ncavity, he made the forest resound with his cries. Having thrown him\ninto the hole, Rama and Lakshmana, their fears removed, appeared with\njoyful looks, and rejoiced in that forest like the sun and the moon\nseated in the heavens.[8]\n\n  [6] Another reading is _Subhuyabhuyan--That one of elegant arms\n      (raising) them up._--T.\n\n  [7] The reading slightly varies in some texts.--T.\n\n  [8] Another reading of this line is:--_And buried him under stones._\n      The North-West Provinces text has four additional lines:--_Having,\n      slain the Rakshasa and taken Mithtla's daughter, those ones having\n      bows decked in gold, being delighted, rejoiced in that mighty\n      forest, like the sun and the moon seated in the sky._--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION V.\n\n\nHaving in the forest slain the Rakshasa Viradha possessed of tremendous\nstrength, Rama endeued with prowess, embracing and cheering Sita, spoke\nunto his brother Lakshmana of flaming energy, saying, \"This dense forest\nis hard to live in; nor are we acquainted with the ways of the wood.\nTherefore will we speedily repair to the ascetic Sarabhanga.\" Thereupon\nRaghava set out for the hermitage of Sarabhanga. And Rama beheld a\nmighty wonder near that one of celestial virtue, who had purified his\nsoul through asceticism. He saw the lord of the celestials, possessed of\na resplendent person, resembling in effulgence the sun or\nVaicwanara--mounted on a superb car--(saw) him that is followed by all\nthe celestials, stationed in the sky, not touching the earth, adorned in\nluminous ornaments--the god dressed in a clean apparel; worshipped by\nmany a high-souled personage dressed in the same way. And from a\ndistance, (Rama) saw the car stationed in the sky yoked with green\nsteeds--resembling the infant sun; and he saw the spotless umbrella\npossessing the beauty of a mass of white clouds, resembling the lunar\ndisc,--and graced with variegated wreaths. And his (Indra's) head was\nbeing fanned by two chowris, costly and furnished with golden handles,\nheld by two magnificent damsels; and innumerable Gandharbas and Siddhas\nand prime sages were hymning the celestial stationed in the welkin. And\nseeing Sarabhanga engaged in converse with Satakratu, Rama said unto\nLakshmana (the following words). And pointing out the car, Rama showed\nthe wonder unto his brother. \"Behold, O Lakshmana, yonder car stationed\nin the sky, splendid, furnished with exceeding grace, wonderful, and\nseeming as if the sun had fallen from the heavens. The steeds standing\nin the sky are for certain those of which we had formerly heard as\nbelonging unto Sakra of many sacrifices. And, thou foremost of men,\nthese youths environing (the celestial) by hundreds, wearing earrings,\nand bearing swords in their hands, are broad of chest, have arms\nresembling bludgeons in size,and are clad in crimson vesture, like unto\ntigers incapable of being approached. Over the breasts of all appear\nchains of blazing sheen; and, O son of Sumitra, their beauty appears\nthat of five and twenty. And even this is the ever-enduring age of the\ncelestials, as these foremost of men of sweet looks appear. O Lakshmana,\nstay here awhile with Vaidehi, so long as I do not gather who it is that\nis in the effulgent car.\" Saying unto Sumitras son, \"Stay here,\"\nKakutstha bent his steps towards Sarabhanga's aslylum. And seeing Rama\napproach, Sachi's lord, taking Sarabhanga's permission, addressed the\ncelestials, saying, \"Rama is coming hither. Do ye set out for another\nplace, ere he yet addresses me. He is not fit to behold me (now.) When\nhe shall have vanquished (his foe in fight), and won success, shall I\nreadily show myself unto him. He shall have to achieve an act incapable\nof being achieved by others.\" Then rendering homage unto that anchoret\nand conversing with him, the weilder of the thunderbolt--subduer of\nenemies--repaired to heaven in a car yoked with steeds. When the\nthousand-eyed one had gone away, Raghava accompanied by his companions\nappeared before Sarabhanga in the _Agni-hotra_ chamber. Taking his feet,\nRama, Sita and Lakshmana sat down with the permission of the ascetic,\nwho received them and set apart quarters for them. Then Raghava\nquestioned (the sage) concerning the visit of Sakra; and Sarabhanga\nrelated everything unto Raghava. \"O Rama, this bestower of boons wishes\nto take me to the regions of Brahma. I have conquered them, incapable of\nbeing attained by persons that have not schooled themselves,--by virtue\nof fierce austerities. O chief of men, knowing that thou wert near, I\nbecame anxious to go to the minor celestial regions and this supreme\nheaven (of Brahma), after I had seen thee, righteous and high-souled,\nwho art my dear guest now. O foremost of men, I have for aye attained\nthe excellent regions of Brahma. and Nakaprishtha. Do thou receive them\nas pertaining to me.\" Thus addressed by the sage, Sarabhanga, that best\nof men, Raghava, versed in every branch of learning, said, \"O mighty\nanchoret, I shall acquire all those regions myself. I now wish that thou\nmayst direct me as to my abode in this forest.\" Thus accosted by Raghava\nresembling Sakra in strength, the eminently wise Sarabhanga again said,\n\"O Rama, here in this forest lives a pious and self-restrained ascetic\nof mighty energy, named Sutikshna. He will bring about thy good. O Rama,\nfollow this Mandakini flowing among flowers, which (here) runs in an\nopposite direction to her usual course; and then wilt thou reach there.\nThis is thy course, thou best of men. Do thou now, my child, for a space\nlook at me; while I leave off my limbs, even as a serpent renounces its\nslough.\" Then preparing a fire and with Mantras offering oblations into\nit, the exceedingly energetic Sarabhanga entered into the fire. The fire\nconsumed the down, hair, old skin, bones, flesh and blood of that\nhigh-souled one. (Anon) Sarabhanga became a youth resembling fire; and\nrising from the flame, he appeared splendid. And proceeding past the\nregions of high-souled sages sacrificing with fire, as well as of the\ncelestials, he ascended those of Brahma. And that one of pious acts done\non earth--that best of the twice-born race--saw the grand-father, in\ncompany with his followers. And the grand-father also, beholding that\nBrahmana, rejoiced greatly, and said,-- \"Hail!\"\n\n\n\nSECTI0N VI.\n\n\nAfter Sarabhanga had ascended heaven, ascetics in bodies, assembled\ntogether, presented themselves before Kakutstha; Rama of flaming energy.\nAnd Vaikhanasas, and ValakhilyaS, and Sanprakhalas, Marichipas,\nAcmwakuttas in numbers, and those ascetics, Patraharas, and\nDantolukhalas, Unmajjakas next, and Gatracayyas, and Acayyas and\nAnavakacikas, those ascetics, Salilaharas, Vayubhaksbas after them,\nAkacanilayas, Sthandilacayis, Urddhavasis of controlled senses, and\nArdrapattavasas given to _Japa_, practising penances, and engaged in\nperforming the five kinds of austerities--all furnished with the grace\nthat comes of spiritual energy, and all firmly concentrated in\nYoga--these ascetics presented themselves before Rama in the asyhim of\nSarabhanga. And coming before Rama, the foremost of those practising\nrighteousness, those sages conversant with morality,--met in a body,\nsaid unto that pre-eminently virtuous one, \"A mighty car-warrior, thou\nart the foremost person of the Ikshwaku race and the world; as well as\ntheir lord,--even as Maghavan is the lord of the celestials. Famous over\nthe three worlds in high worth and prowess, in thee are found truth and\nvirtue in profusion and obedience unto the mandate of thy sire. O lord,\nit behoves thee cognizant of virtue and attached unto it, to forgive us\nfor what we as suiters say unto thee. The sin, O lord, of that monarch\nis mighty that taketh a sixth part of the subjects' incomes, but doth\nnot protect them as sons. But he that, setting his heart on protecting\nthe people, doth ever carefully protect all the inhabitants of his\ndominions, like his own life or like his son dearer unto him than life\nitself, reapeth, O Rama, enduring renown extending over many years, and\n(at length) attaining the regions of Brahma, is glorified there. The\nking that protects his subjects righteously, is entitled to a fourth\npart of the great religious merit that is reaped by an ascetic\nsubsisting on fruits and roots. O Rama, this many Brahmanas--this great\nbody of men that have assumed the Vanaprastha mode of life, although\nhaving thee for their lord, are being sorely troubled by Rakshasas, as\nif they had none. Come and behold the bodies of innumerable ascetics of\npure hearts that have in various ways been slaughtered by Rakshasas in\nthe forest. And great is the worry that is experienced by the dwellers\non the river Pampi and the Mandakini as well as those that reside in\nChitrakuta. We cannot bear the terrible affliction of the ascetics in\nthe forest at the hands of Rakshasas of dreadful deeds. Therefore, for\nobtaining refuge, have we come before thee who art the refuge (of all).\nDo thou, O Rama, deliver us all, who are being exceedingly afflicted by\nthe rangers of the night. O hero, we have no greater refuge on earth\nthan thyself. Do thou, O king's son, rescue us all from Rakshasas.\"\nHearing these words of the sages and ascetics, that righteous-souled one\naddressed them, saying, \"It doth not behove you to speak thus. I should\nbe commanded by the anchorets. I have entered the forest solely with a\nview to my own purpose. I have entered this forest in obedience to the\nmandate of my father, with the object (at the same time) of putting an\nend to these ravages of the Rakshasas on you. I have at my own will come\nhither for securing your interest. Then shall my stay in the woods be\ncrowned with mighty fruit. I wish to slay in battle the enemies of the\nascetics. Let the sages and ascetics behold my prowess as well as that\nof my brother.\" Having been conferred a boon by the ascetics, that hero\nentered upon a noble undertaking, and accompanied by the ascetics, in\ncompany with Lakshmana directed his course to (the hermitage of)\nSutikshna.\n\n\n\nSECTION VII.\n\n\nRama accompanied by his brother as well as Sita went to the asylum of\nSutikshna in company with the twice-born ones. And having proceeded far,\nand crossed many a stream of copious waters, Rama saw a holy peak\ntowering high like the mighty Meru. Then those worthy scions of the\nIkshwaku race--descendants of Raghu--with Sita entered the forest ever\nfurnished with various kinds of trees. And having entered the dense\nforest abounding in blossoms and fruits and trees, Rama saw in a recess\nan asylum glittering with bark and garlands. There Rama duly addressed\nan ascetic seated in the lotus-attitude[9] for warding off evil, even\nSutikshna, \"O thou conversant with righteousness, speak to me, O\nMaharshi, O thou that hast truth for thy prowess.\" Thereupon, eying Rama\nkeenly, that calm (ascetic)--the foremost of those practising\nrighteousness, embracing him with his arms, said, \"Welcome, thou\nforemost of the Raghus, O Rama, thou the best of those practising\nrighteousness. This asylum now hath been furnished with its master in\nconsequence of thy visit. O illustrious one, O hero, expecting thee, I\nhave not yet ascended heaven, renouncing on earth this body of mine. I\nhad (already) heard that, coming to Chitrakuta, (thou hadst been staying\nthere), having been deprived of the kingdom. Here came, O Kakutstha, the\nSovereign of the celestials of an hundred sacrifices. Coming to me, that\nmighty deity, the Sovereign of the celestials, said that I had acquired\nall the worlds by my pious acts. Do thou, by my grace, in company with\nthy wife and Lakshmana, dwell delightfully in those regions won by my\nasceticism, containing Devarshis.\" Thereupon the self-possessed Rama\nanswered that blazing and truth-telling Brahmana of fiery austerities,\nlike Vasava answering Brahma, saying, \"O mighty ascetic, I myself will\nwin those regions. I wish to be directed to a dwelling in this forest.\nThou art possessed of ability in respect of everything, and art (at the\nsame time) engaged in the welfare of all beings,--this hath been told\nunto me by the high-souled Sarabhanga of the Gautama race.\" Thus\naddressed by Rama, that Maharshi known over all the worlds, spoke sweet\nwords ia great joy, \"O meritorious Rama, even this is the asylum (for\nthee). Do thou live here pleasantly. It is inhabited by numbers of\nsaints and is always provided with fruits and roots. This forest is\nhaunted by herds of deer that range here without doing harm to any one,\nalthough they possess great energy; and go away, having bewitched people\n(by their beauty). Save what comes from these deer, there is no other\nevil to be encountered here.\" Hearing those words of the Maharshi, the\nplacid elder brother of Lakshmana, taking up his bow with the arrow set,\nsaid \"O exalted one, if by means of sharpened shafts blazing like\nlightning, I slay those herds of deer when they come, it shall impart\npain unto thee,--and what can be more unfortunate than this? Therefore I\nshall not be able to dwell long in this asylum.\" Having said this, Rama\nceased and became engaged in his evening adorations, and, having\nfinished them, along with Sita and Lakshmana fixed his quarters in the\nasylum of Sutikshna. Then, when the evening had passed away and night\nfell, Sutikshna, having done homage unto those chiefs of men, offered\nthem excellent fare, suitable to ascetics.\n\n  [9] The _yoga_ system has many positions for concentrating\n      thought.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION VIII.\n\n\nHaving been well entertained by Sutikshna, Rama in company with\nSumitra's son, having passed away the night there, awoke in the morning.\nAnd arising in due time, Rama along with Sita, bathed in cool waters\nodorous with the aroma of lotuses; and having in proper time duly\nworshipped Fire as well as the deities, in that forest containing abodes\nof ascetics, Rama, Lakshmana and Videha's daughter, their sins purged\noff, seeing the sun risen, approached Sutikshna and spoke unto him these\nmild words, saying--O Reverend sir, we have stayed here pleasantly,\nbeing excellently ministered unto by thee. We greet thee, and go away.\nThe ascetics urge speed upon us. We hasten to view the collections of\nasylums that belong unto the holy sages inhabiting the forest of\nDandaka. Now we crave thy permission along with that of these foremost\nof anchorites, steady in virtue, crowned with asceticism and\nself-controled, resembling smokeless flames. And we intend to set out\nere the sun, like unto a low-sprung one that hath attained to auspicious\nfortune through evil ways, with rays incapable of being borne, shines\ntoo fiercely.\" Having said this, Raghava along with Sita and Sumitra's\nson bowed down unto the ascetic's feet. And as they touched his feet,\nthat best of ascetics, raising Rama and Lakshmana up, embraced them\nclosely and said, \"O Rama, go thy way safely, in company with Sumitra's\nson and this Sita that followeth thee like a shadow. Behold the\nbeauteous asylums, O hero, of these pure-spirited ascetics inhabiting\nthe forest of Dandaka. Thou wilt see blossoming woods garnishod with\nfruits and roots, containing goodly deer, and mild feathered tribes;\ntanks and pools laughing with blown lotuses, containing pleasant waters,\nand abounding in Karandavas; charming mountain-springs; and romantic\nforests picturesque with peacocks. Go, O child; and go thou also, O\nSumitra'a son. And come again to my asylum after having seen these.\"\nThus addressed, Kakutstha along with Lakshmana, having gone round the\nascetic, prepared for departing. Then Sita of expansive eyes handed to\nthe brothers excellent quivers, bows and shining swords. Then fastening\nthe graceful quivers, and taking the sweet-sounding bows, both Rama and\nLakshmana issued from the hermitage. And permitted by the Maharshi, the\nRaghavas furnished with grace, equipped with bows and scimitars, swiftly\nset out along with Sita.\n\n\n\nSECTION IX.\n\n\nWhen the son of Raghu had set out with Sutikshna's permission, Sita\naddressed him in affectionate words and convincing speech,\nsaying,--\"Although thou art great and followest the narrow way (of\nrighteousness), yet thou art on the eve of entering into\nunrighteousness. But thou couldst by refraining from action, eschew this\nunrighteousness that springs from an evil begot of desire. This evil\nbegot of desire is threefold. One prominent evil is falsehood, and both\nthe others are of weightier significance, --association with others'\nwives, and vindictiveness without any (basis of) hostility. Falsehood, O\nRaghava, hath never been thine, nor can it ever be thine (in the\nfuture). Nor yet, O foremost of men, canst thou ever even in fancy be\n(guilty of) going after others' wives, which marreth all religious\nmerit. These, O Rama, are by no means in thee. O King's son, thou ever\nand a day directest thy attentions unto thy own wife. And thou art\nrighteous and truthful and doest the will of thy sire. In thee are\nestablished virtue and truth--and every thing; and by help of thy\nconquered senses, thou, O mighty-armed one, art capable of bearing\neverything. And, O thou of a gracious presence, thine is control over\nsense. The third evil that leads men through ignorance to bear hostility\ntowards others without any (cause of) hostility, is now present (unto\nthee). Thou hast, O hero, for the protection of the saints dwelling in\nthe forest of Dandaka, promised the slaughter of Rakshasas in battle.\nAnd it is for this reason that equipped with bows and arrows, thou hast\nalong with thy brother set out for the forest known as Dandaka. Seeing\nthee set out, my mind reflecting on thy truthfulness as well as thy\nhappiness in this world and welfare in the next, is wrought up with\nanxiety. And, O hero, I do not relish this journey to Dandaka. Thereof I\nwill tell thee the reason. Do thou listen to me as I tell thee. Bearing\nbows and arrows in thy hands, thou hast come to the wood along with thy\nbrother; and (it may well happen) that seeing grim rangers of the\nforest, thou mayst discharge thy shafts. And even as the vicinity of\nfaggots increases the energy of (ire, the proximity of (the bow)\nenhances the strength and energy of the Kshatriya. Formerly, O\nlong-armed one, in a sacred wood haunted by beasts and birds, there\nlived a truthful ascetic of a pure person. Intending to disturb his\nausterities, Sachi's lord, Indra, bearing a sword in his hand, came to\nthe asylum in the guise of a warrior. And in that asylum, that excellent\nscimitar was deposited as a trust with that righteous person practising\nasceticism. Receiving that weapon, that ascetic intent upon preserving\nhis trust, rangeth the forest, maintaining his faith. And intent upon\npreserving his trust, he goeth nowhere for procuring fruits and roots\nwithout that sword deposited with him as a trust. Constantly carrying\nthe sword, by degrees, the ascetic, foregoing all thoughts about\nasceticism, had his mind involved in fierce sentiments. Thus in\nconsequence of bearing that weapon, that ascetic taken up with fierce\nthoughts, losing his sobriety and led astray from righteousness, went to\nhell. This ancient story anent the carrying of arms, asserts that even\nas fire worketh change in a piece of wood, the presence of arms worketh\nalteration in the mind of him bearing them. From affection and the high\nhonor in which I hold thee, I merely remind thee of this matter. I do\nnot teach thee. Equipped with bows as thou art, thou shouldst renounce\nall thoughts of slaying without hostility the Rakshasas residing in\nDandaka. Without offence none should be slain.--It is the duty of\nKshatriya heroes by means of their bows to protect persons of subdued\nsouls, come by any calamity. Where are arms? And where is the forest?\nWhere is Kshatriya virtue? And where is asceticism? These arc opposed to\neach other,--let us, therefore, honor the morality that pertains to this\nplace. From following arms, one's sense gets befouled and deformed.\nAgain going to Ayodhya, thou wilt observe the duties of Kshatriyas. Then\nmy mother-in-law and father-in-law shall experience enduring delight,\nif, having renounced the kingdom, thou lead the life of an ascetic.\nInterest springs from righteousness; and happiness also results\ntherefrom. One attains everything through righteousness--in this world\nthe only substantial thing. Repressing self by diverse restrictions,\nintelligent people attain righteousness; but virtue crowned with\nfelicity, is incapable of being attained by following pleasure. O mild\none, ever cherishing thy heart in purity, do thou practise piety, in the\nwood of asceticism. Everything--the three worlds--are truly known unto\nthee. I have spoken this through feminine fickleness. Who can speak of\nrighteousness unto thee? Reflecting on and understanding things, do thou\nalong with thy younger brother speedily do what thou likest.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION X.\n\n\nHearing Vaidehi's words spoken through high regard (for her husbands\nRama with his energy enhanced, answered Janaka's daughter, saying, \"O\nnoble lady, thou hast spoken mild words fraught with worth and profit;\nand, O Janaka's daughter versed in virtue, thou hast expounded the\nduties of Kshatriyas. What, O exalted one, shall I say? Thou hast\nthyself by thy words (furnished an answer to what thou hadst said).\nKshatriyas wear bows in order that the word 'distressed' may not exist\n(on earth). O Sita, those ascetics of severe vows that are beset with\nperils in Dandaka, having personally come unto me, who am their refuge,\nhave sought protection at my hands. Always dwelling in the forest,\nsubsisting on fruits and roots, they on account of Rakshasas of cruel\ndeeds, do not, O timid one, attain ease. These ascetics are devoured by\nterrible Rakshasas) living on human flesh. Being eaten up (by the\nRakshasas), the anchorites living in the forest of Dandaka--those best\nof the twice-born ones-- said unto us--'Be thou gracious unto us.'\nHearing those words of theirs which fell from their lips, I, resolving\nto act in accordance with their request, said,--'Be ye propitious.' This\nis surpassing shame unto me that such Vipras who themselves are worthy\nof being sought, seek me. What shall I do? I said this in the presence\nof those twice-born ones. Thereat all those that had come, said, 'We\nhave been, O Rama, immensely harassed in the forest of Dandaka by\nRakshasas wearing shapes at will. Do thou deliver us. These\nirrepressible Rakshasas living on human flesh vanquish us at the time of\n_Homa_, and on the occasions of Parvas, O sinless one. Of the saints and\nascetics afflicted by the Rakshasas, who are on the search for their\nrefuge, thou art our best refuge. We can by virtue of the energy of our\nasceticism easily destroy the rangers of the night; but we are loath to\nlose our asceticism earned in a long time. O Raghava, our austerities\nare constantly disturbed, and we can hardly perform them. Therefore,\nalthough sore afflicted and devoured by the Rakshasas dwelling in the\nforest of Dandaka, we do not cast our curse on them. Thou along with thy\nbrother art our protector: thou art our master in this forest.' Having\nheard these words, I promised my perfect protection unto the saints in\nthe forest of Dandaka, O daughter of Janaka. Having promised, I living\ncannot violate my vow concerning the ascetics; verily truth is ever dear\nunto me. I had rather renounce my life, or thee, O Sita, along with\nLakshmana,--but by no means my promise made, especially unto Brahmanas.\nO Videha's daughter, the protection of the saints is incumbent on me\neven without any representation,--and what (shall I say) when I have\npromised the same? Thou hast spoken this unto me through affection and\nfriendship. I have been well pleased with thee, O Sita. One doth not\ninstruct another that one doth not bear affection to. O beauteous\ndamsel, (what thou hast said) is worthy of both thy love and thy race. \"\nHaving said these words unto Mithila's princess, the beloved Sita, the\nhigh-souled Rama, equipped with bows, along with Lakshmana, directed his\nsteps towards the inviting woods of asceticism.\n\n\n\nSECTION XI.\n\n\nRama went first; in the middle, Sita; and bearing a bow in his hand,\nLakshmana went in their wake And they went with Sita, seeing many\nmountain-peaks, and forests, and delightful streams, and Chakravikas,\nhaunting river islets, and tanks with lotuses containing aquatic birds,\nand herds of deer, and horned buffalos maddened with juices, and boars,\nand elephants-- foes to trees. Having proceeded a long way, when the sun\nwas aslant, they together saw a delightful tank measuring a _yojana_,\nfifed with red and pale lotuses, graced with herds of elephants, and\nabounding in aquatic cranes, swans and _Kadanivas_. And in that tank\ncontaining charming and pleasant waters, they heard sounds of song and\ninstrumental music; but no one was seen there. Thereat, from curiosity,\nRama and Lakshmana--mighty car-warrior--asked an ascetic named\nDharmabhrit, saying, \"Hearing[10] this mighty wonder, we have been\nworked up with intense curiosity. Do thou tell us what this is.\" Thus\naccosted by Raghava, the ascetic then at once began to expatiate over\nthe potency of the pool. \"This tank goes by the name of Panchapsara, and\nis always filled with water. It was made, O Rama, by the ascetic\nMandakarni, by virtue of his asceticism. In yonder tank, the mighty\nascetic, living on air, performed signal austerities for ten thousand\nyears. Thereat, exceedingly agitated, all the deities with Agni at their\nhead, assembled together, said, 'This ascetic wishes to have the\nposition of one of us.' Thus all the deities present there were filled\nwith anxiety. Then with the view of disturbing his austerities, the\ndeities ordered five principal Apsaras, possessed of the splendour of\nlive lightning. And for compassing the end of the celestials, that\nascetic conversant with the morality and otherwise as well of this life\nas that to come, was brought by those Apsaras under the sway of Madana.\nAnd those five Apsaras (ultimately) became the wives of the ascetic; and\ntheir hidden residence was reared in the pool. And there the five\nApsaras living happily, pleased the anchorite, established in youth\nthrough asceticism and _yoga_. As thy sport, we hear the sounds of their\nmusical instruments, and the sweet voice of their song mixed with the\ntinklings of their instruments.\" (Hearing this), the illustrious Raghava\nalong with his brother declared the story narrated by that one of a pure\nheart to be wonderful. Thus conversing, Rama saw the collection of\nasylums, strewn with Kuca and bark, and be-girt with energy derived from\nBrahma lore. Entering (the place) along with Vaidehi and Lakshmana, the\nhighly famous Raghava dwelt there respected by all the ascetics. Having\nhappily dwelt in those collections of graceful asylums, honored of the\nMaharshis, Kakutstha by turns went to the hermitages of those ascetics\nwith whom that one well versed in arms had dwelt before. And Raghava\nhappily passed his days somewhere for ten months, somewhere for one\nyear, somewhere for four months somewhere for five or six months,\nsomewhere for many months, somewhere for a month and a half, --somewhere\nfor more, somewhere for three months, and somewhere for eight. And as\nRama lived in the asylums of the ascetics and amused himself through\ntheir good graces, ten years were passed away (in this way). Having gone\nround the asylums of all the ascetics, Raghava cognizant of\nrighteousness returned to the hermitage of Sutikshna. Coming to this\nasylum, respected by the ascetics, that subduer of enemies, Rama, stayed\nthere for a time. Once upon a time, as Kakutstha dwelling in that asylum\nwas seated, he humbly observed unto that great ascetic, \"I have always\nheard from men speaking on the subject that that foremost of ascetics,\nthe reverend Agastya, lives in this forest. On account of the vastness\nof this forest, I do not know that place. Where is the hermitage of that\nintelligent Maharshi? For propitiating that revered one, I, accompanied\nby my brother and Sita, will go to Agastya for paying our respects unto\nthe ascetic. This great desire is burning in my heart, that I should\nmyself minister unto that best of anchorets.\" Hearing these words of the\nrighteous-souled Rama, Sutikhna, well pleased, answered Dacaratha's son,\nsaying, \"I also am desirous of telling thee this along with Lakshmana.\nRepair unto Agastya in company with Sita, O RSghava. By luck thou hast\nthyself said this unto me as to thy purpose. I will, O Rama, tell thee\nwhere that mighty ascetic, Agastya, is. My child, go four miles from the\nhermitage in a southerly direction; and thou wilt come to the hermitage\nof the brother of the auspicious Agastya situated on a land covered with\ntrees, graced with _Pippali_ woods, abounding in fruits and flowers,\ncharming, and resonant with the notes of various birds. There are many\ntanks containing delightful waters, swarming with swans and Karandavas,\nand beauteous with Chakravakas. Passing a night there, do thou, O Rama,\nin the morning, taking a southerly course, go by the skirts of the\nforest tract. Passing a _yojana_, thou shalt come upon Agastya's asylum,\nlocated at a charming woodland graced with many a tree. There Videha's\ndaughter and Lakshmana shall experience delight in thy company. O\nmagnanimous one, if thou intend to see the mighty ascetic, Agastya, in\nthat charming woodland, containing a great many trees, then do thou make\nup thy mind to set out this very day.\" Hearing these words of the\nanchoret, Rama, saluting him, along with his brother, set off for\nAgastya's (place) with his younger brother and Sita. And, pleasantly\nproceeding by the way directed by Sutikshna, seeing pirturesque woods,\nhills resembling clouds, watery expanses and streams flowing by their\npath; Rama filled with delight said these words unto Lakshmana, \"Surely\nwe see the asylum of that high-souled one, the ascetic, Agastya's\nbrother of pious acts. These trees standing by thousands on the way\nbending beneath the weight of fruits and flowers, hear the signs that\nhad been mentioned to me as belonging to this wood. And from the wood is\nwafted by the wind the pungent odour of ripe _pippalis_. And here and\nthere are found heaps of fire-wood, and torn _Darva_ are seen, of the\nlustre of lapises. And the top of the column of smoke belonging unto the\nfire lit in the asylum in this wood, appears like the peak of a dark\nmountain. And twice-born ones, having performed their ablutions in\nsacred and retired bathing places, are offering flowers gathered by\nthemselves, O placid one, from what I had heard from Sutikshna, this\nwould appear to be the asylum of Agastya's brother. The righteous\nAgastya it is who, wishing for the welfare of the worlds, destroying by\nvirtue of his austerities a Daitya resembling Death, hath rendered this\nquarter habitable. Once on a time here dwelt together two mighty Asuras,\nbrothers given to slaughtering Brahmanas--the wily Vatapi and Ilwala.\nWearing the form of a Brahmana, and speaking Sanskrit, the cruel one\nused to invite Vipras to a _Sraddha_. And, cooking his brother wearing\nthe shape of a sheep, he used to feed the twice-born ones according to\nthe rites prescribed for _Sraddhas_. Then when the Vipras had fed,\nIlwala said,-- \"O Vatapi, come out, uttering a loud sound.\" Hearing his\nbrother's words, Vatapi, bleating like a sheep, came out, riving their\nbodies. In this way, thousands of Brahmanas gathered together, were\ndestroyed by flesh-eating ones wearing shapes at will. (And it came to\npass that once upon a time) the Maharshi Agastya, having been invited to\na Sraddha, fed on the mighty Asura. Thereupon uttering--'Finished' and\noffering water to wash hands with, Ilwala said unto his brother, 'Come\nout'! And, as that brother of Vatapi, given to slaughtering Vipras was\nspeaking thus, that foremost of ascetics, the intelligent Agastya, said\nwith a laugh, 'Where is the power of coming out, of the Rakshasa, thy\nbrother wearing the shape of a sheep, who hath gone to Yama's abode?'\nHearing his words, from wrath the ranger of the night prepared to assail\nthe ascetic, and he rushed against that foremost of the twice-born ones.\nAnd, being consumed by that ascetic of flaming energy with his eyes\nresembling fire, the Rakshasa met his end. This asylum graced with pools\nand groves belongs to the brother of him who hath performed this arduous\nfeat from compassion for the Vipras'. As Rama was thus conversing with\nSumitra's son, the sun set and evening approached. Then, duly performing\nhis afternoon adorations along with his brother, Rama entered the\nhermitage, and saluted the ascetic. Well received by the ascetic,\nRaghava spent there a night, eating fruits and roots. When the night had\npassed away, and the solar disc arose, Raghava greeted Agastya's\nbrother, saying, \"O reverend Sir, I salute thee. I have pleasantly\npassed the night. I greet thee; I shall go to behold my preceptor, thy\nelder brother.\" Thereat, on the ascetic's saying, 'Go thou,' the\ndescendant of Raghu went away by the prescribed route. And Rama viewed\nthe forest, and Niharas, and Panacas, and Salas, Vanjulas and Tinisas,\nand Chirivilwas, and Madhukas, and Vilvas, and Tindukas,--all in full\nflower, and graced with blossoming creepers, and trees in the wood by\nhundreds, roughly handled by elephants with their trunks, and graced by\nmonkeys, and resounding with the voices of an hundred maddened warblers.\nThen the lotus-eyed Rama said unto that enhancer of auspiciousness, the\nheroic Lakshmana, who was by him, and was following him at his back,\n\"The leaves of these trees are glossy, and the beasts and birds are\nmild, even as (we had been told). The asylum of the pure-hearted\nMaharshi must not be far. This asylum capable of removing the fatigue of\nthe weary, belonging to him that is known among men as Agastya by his\nown acts, is seen, with the (neighbouring woods) filled with smoke, and\nitself decorated with bark and wreaths, containing herds of mild deer,\nand ringing with the notes of various birds. This is the asylum of that\npious one, who destroying (the Asura resembling) Death, hath, desirous\nof the welfare of mankind, rendered the Southern quarter habitable, and\nthrough whose potency the Rakshasas from fear barely cast their eyes in\nthis direction, but do not approach. Ever since that one of pious ways\npossessed himself of this quarter, the rangers of the night have\nforegone their hostility, and assumed a peaceful attitude. This Southern\nquarter rendered safe (by Agastya),and incapable of being harassed by\nthose ones of tortuous ways, is celebrated over the three worlds in\nconection with the name of the reverend ascetic. And this graceful\nasylum ranged by mild beasts belongs to that long-lived one of renowned\nachievements-- Agastya--in obedience to whose command, the Vindhya\nmountain--foremost of its kind--which had always obstructed ihe way of\nthe Sun, doth not increase. This pious one honored of men, ever engaged\nin the welfare of the righteous, shall do good unto us, who have come to\nhim. I shall adore the mighty ascetic, Agastya, and, O mild one, O\nmaster, here pass away the remainder of the term of my banishment. Here\ncelestials with the Gandharbas, and Siddhas and eminent saints,\nobserving restrictions in respect of food, adore Agastya. And the\nascetic is such that a liar cannot live here, nor a cunning or a crafty\nperson, nor a wicked wight, nor one that is given to unrighteousness.\nAnd adoring righteousness, celestials, and Yakshas, and Nagas, and\nbirds, live here restricting their fare. And high-souled Siddhas and\neminent saints, renouncing their bodies, repair to celestial regions in\ncars resembling the sun. And adored by auspicious individuals, the\ndeities here confer on them the states of Yakshas and celestials, and\ndivers kingdoms. O Sumitra's son, entering the asylum before us, do thou\nannounce unto the saints that I along with Sita, have arrived here.\"\n\n [10] Some texts:--Seeing.\n\n\n\nSECTION XII.\n\n\nHaving entered the asylum, Raghava's younger brother, Lakshmana, coming\nto a disciple of Agastya, spoke unto him, saying, \"There was a king,\nnamed Dacaratha. His eldest son, the strong Rama, hath come (to this\nasylum) along with his wife, Sita, for seeing the ascetic.--Named\nLakshmana, I am his younger brother, obedient and devoted to him.--Thou\nmayst have heard of it. Having entered this horrid forest, in consonance\nwith the mandate of our sire, we desire to see the reverend one. Tell\nthis unto him.\" Hearing Lakshmana's words, that ascetic, saying. \"So be\nit!\", entered the chamber of the sacrificial fire, for the purpose of\ncommunicating (the news unto Agastya). Entering in, Agastya's beloved\ndisciple, with joined hands communicated unto that foremost of ascetics,\nincapable of being repressed,[11] exactly what Lakshmana had told\nhim,--\"For seeing the reverend one, and serving him as well, those\nsubduers of their foes, Dacaratha's sons, Rama and Lakshmana,\naccompanied by Sita, have entered this asylum. It now behoves thee to\ncommand what is to be done next.\" Hearing from his disciple that Rama\nhad come along with Lakshmana and the highly virtuous Vaidehi, Agastya\nsaid, \"By luck it is that after a long time, Rama hath come to see me. I\nhad mentally wished for his arrival. Go thou; and let Rama, having been\nrespectfully received, come before me. Why hast thou not brought him\nthyself?\" Thus addressed by the high-souled and righteous ascetic, the\ndisciple saluting him, with joined hands, said, \"So be it.\" Then issuing\nout, the disciple said unto Lakshmana, \"Where is Rama? Let him come and\nenter in.\" Thereat, going to the asylum in company with the disciple (of\nAgastya), Lakshmana showed unto him Kakutstha and the daughter of\nJanaka, Sita. Then joyfully communicating unto Rama the words of the\nreverend one, the disciple (of Agastya) duly took in that one worthy of\nbeing honored. And seeing the asylum teeming with mild deer, Rama\nentered in with Lakshmana and Sita. And there Rama beheld the place of\nBrahma, and that of Agni,--that of Vishnu, and that of the great Indra,\nthe place of Vivaswat, and that of Soma, and that of Bhaga, and that of\nDhata and Vidhata, and that of Vayu, and that of the high-souled Varuna\nhaving the noose in his hand, and that of Gayatri, and that of the\nVasus, and that of the monarch of the _Nagas_, and that of Garuda, and\nthat of Kartikeya, and that of Dharma. And it came to pass that,\nsurrounded by his disciples, the ascetic came (before Rama). And Rama\nsaw that one of flaming energy at the head of the ascetics; and the hero\nsaid unto Lakshmana, enhancer of auspiciousness, \"O Lakshmana, the\nrevered saint, Agastya, is coming out. I recognize that mass of\nasceticism by a certain kind of majesty (that characterizes him).\"\nHaving said this touching Agastya of the splendour of the sun, that son\nof Raghu took hold of his feet. Then, having paid him homage, Rama with\njoined hands stood there in company with Videha's daughter, Sita, and\nLakshmana. Thereat, embracing Rama and honoring him with water and a\nseat, and asking him questions anent his welfare, the saint said,\n\"Welcome!\" Offering oblations unto the fire, and presenting Arghya unto\nthe guests, and paying them homage, that ascetic entertained them with\nfood in accordance with the Vanasprastha mode of life; and then first\nsitting down, that foremost of ascetics, the pious Agastya, addressed\nRama cognizant of righteousness, staying with joined hands, \"O\nKakutstha, if an ascetic acts otherwise (in respect of a guest,) he in\nthe next world feeds on his own flesh, like a false witness. The\nsovereign of all the worlds, righteous, a mighty car warrior, worthy of\nbeing honored and worshipped, thou hast become our beloved guest.\"\nHaving said this, Agastya, according to his desire, worshipping Raghava\nwith fruits, roots and flowers, said unto him, \"O foremost of men, this\nmighty, celestial bow belonging unto Vishnu, and constructed by\nVicwakarma, and this best of arrows (named) Brahmadatta, infallible and\nresembling the sun, and this inexhaustible couple of quivers filled with\nsharpened shafts, like unto flaming fire; were granted unto me by the\nmighty Indra. And here is this mighty golden scabbard, and this sword\ndecked in gold. Having, O Rama, slain the mighty Asuras with this bow,\nVishnu in days of yore in battle secured the effulgent Fortune of the\ncelestials. O bestower of honor, do thou for securing victory, take this\nbow, these quivers, this arrow, and this scimitar, like the holder of\nthe thunderbolt, taking the same.\" Having said this that highly\nenergetic one, the reverend Agastya, consigning unto Rama all those\nweapons, again said.\n\n [11] Some texts:--_Effulgent_.\n\n\n\nSECTION XIII.\n\n\nRama, I am pleased with thee; good betide thee! And, O Lakshmana, I am\ngratified by thee. Ye are in trouble in consequence of the great fatigue\nthat ye have undergone on the way. And Janaka's daughter, the noble\nMaithili, is evidently eager (for rest). Of tender years and unknown to\nhardship, she hath come to the forest rife with troubles, being urged by\nthe love she bears unto her lord. Do thou, O Rama, conduct thyself so,\nthat Sita may find a pleasant time of it. By following thee to the\nforest, it is a hard task that she is performing. O son of Raghu, this\nhath been the nature of the fair sex from the commencement of creation,\nthat they gladden him that is well off, and forsake a person in\nadversity. And women imitate the instability of lightning, the sharpness\nof weapons,and the celerity of Garuda and the wind[12]. But this wife of\nthine is absolutely free from all these defects; she is worthy of being\nextolled and the foremost of those devoted to their lord, like Arundhati\namong the gods. This region, O Rama, will be adorned, since, O subduer\nof enemies, thou along with Vaidehi and Sumitra's son, wilt dwell here.\"\nThus addressed by the ascetic, Raghava, joining his hands, humbly\nobserved unto that saint resembling flaming fire, \"Blessed and beholden\nam I, since the foremost of ascetics is gratified with my merits as well\nas with those of my brother and wife. Do thou now direct me to a country\nwell watered, and abounding in woods, where rearing an asylum, I may\ndwell delightfully and pleasantly.\" Hearing Rama's words, that best of\nascetics, reflecting for a while, spoke these excellent words, \"Two\nYojanas hence, my child, is a region abounding in fruits and roots,\ncontaining countless deer, and beautiful--known by the name of\nPanchavati. Repairing thither, do thou, rearing an asylum, pass thy time\npleasantly in company with Sumitra's son, duly doing the mandate of thy\nsire. O sinless one, all this news relating to thyself, has from\naffection been known to me through the potency of my asceticism, as also\nthat relating to Dacaratha. Although thou hast promised to dwell with me\nin this ascetic grove, yet by virtue of my asceticism I know the desire\nthat is in thy heart. I therefore tell thee, repair to Panchavati. That\nis a charming woodland, and there Mithila's daughter shall dwell with\ndelight. And that tract is worthy of all praise, and, O Raghava, it is\nnot distant from here.--It is in the vicinity of the Godavari. Mithila's\ndaughter shall live there agreeably. And that spot abounds in fruits and\nroots, is frequented by various fowls, is retired, O mighty-armed one,\nand is sacred and beautiful. And thou of pure ways, and competent to\nprotect the ascetics, shall, O Rama, protect them. O hero, yonder is the\nmighty wood of Madhukas. Directing thy course to the asylum of Nagrodha\ntrees, go by the north of this Madhuka wood. Then arriving at a spot\nhard by a hill, (thou wilt) come upon the celebrated Panchavati, crowned\nwith blossoming woods.\" Thus accosted by Agastya, Rama along with\nSumitra's son, honouring the truth-speaking saint, greeted him. Then,\nhaving saluted his feet, they, taking the saint's permission, set out\nalong with Sita for the hermitage of Panchavati. And, taking their bows\nand quivers those sons of the king, of undiminished martial virtue, with\nintent minds bent their course to Panchavati by the way laid down by the\nMaharshi.\n\n [12] The commentator explains:--_They imitate the lightning in changing\n      their residence, the sharpness of weapons in severing affection,\n      and the celerity of Garuda or the wind in doing wrong.--T_.\n\n\n\nSECTION XIV.\n\n\nAs he was proceeding to Panchavati, Raghu's son saw a huge-bodied\nvulture of terrible prowess. And seeing him in the forest, the exalted\nRama and Lakshmana, as they were conversing With each other, knowing the\nbird to be (in reality) a Rakshasa, asked him, saying, \"Who art thou?\"\nThereupon, in soft and sweet words, he, pleasing them, said, \"My child,\nknow me for a friend of thy father.\" Knowing him to be a friend of his\nsire, Raghava paid him homage, and enquired for his name and lineage.\nHearing Rama's words, he mentioned his own lineage, and related the\norigin of all beings. \"O mighty-armed one, I shall describe (unto thee)\nfrom the very beginning the (history of) those that were Prajapatis in\ndays of yore. Listen, O Raghava. Of these, the first is Kardama, then\nVikrita, and then Sesha, Sancraya, the powerful Vahuputra, Sthanu,\nMarichi, Atri, the mighty Kratu, Pulastya, Angira, Pracheta, Pulaha,\nDaksha, Vivaswat, Arishtanemi, O Raghava, and the exceedingly energetic\nKacyapa. These had the west. The Prajapati Daksha, it hath been heard by\nus, O Rama, had sixty famous and illustrious daughters. Of these Kacyapa\nwed eight, with elegant waists;--Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kalika,[13] Tamra,\nKrodhavasa, Manu and Anala. Then, well pleased, Kacyapa again said unto\nthose damsels, \"Do thou bring forth sons like unto myself, who shall be\nlords of the three worlds.\" Thereat, Aditi, O Rama, Diti, Danu, and\nKalika, O mighty-armed one, consented,--the rest were of another mind.\nAnd of Aditi were born thirty-three deities, O repressor of thy foes,\n_viz_., the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, and the Acwinas, O subduer\nof enemies. And, my child, Diti gave birth to those sons, the renowned\nDaityas. Formerly, this earth girt with seas was in the possession of\nthese. And, O vanquisher of thy foes, Danu gave birth to a son, named,\nAcwagriva. And Kalika brought forth Naraka and Kalaka. And Tamra gave\nbirth to these five daughters celebrated in the world,-- Kraunchi,\nBhasi, Syeni, Dhritarshtri, and Suki. And Kraunchi gave birth to the\nUlukas, and Bhasi, to Bhasas, and Syeni to hawks and vultures possessed\nof energy; and Dhritarashtri to swans, all kinds of Kalahansas, and\nChakravakas, and that damsel, Suki, to Nata. And Vinata was Nata's\ndaughter. And Krodhavasa, O Rama, brought forth ten daughters, _viz._,\nMrigi, Mrigamanda, Hari, Bhadramada, Matangi, Sarduli, Sweta, Surabhi\ncrowned with every (auspicious mark), Surasa and Kadruka. And, thou\nforemost of the best of men, Mrigi's sons were all the deer, and those\nof Mrigamanda. were bears, Srimaras and Chamaras. And Bhadramada bore\none daughter, Iravati. And Iravati's son is the mighty elephant, who is\nthe lord of the worlds. And Hari's sons are lions and the nimble\nmonkeys. And Sarduli brought forth as her sons, Golangulas, and tigers;\nand the offspring of Matangi were mad elephants, O best of men. And\nSweta, O Kakutstha, gave birth to the elephants of the cardinal points.\nAnd, O Rama, Surabhi gave birth unto two daughters--the famous Rohini,\nand Gandharbi. Rohini produced kine, and the sons of Gandharbi are\nhorses. And Surasa, O Rama, gave birth to Nagas, and Kadru, to Pannagas.\nAnd Kacyapa's other wife Manu begot mankind--Brahmanas, Kshatriyas,\nVaicyas, and Sudras. From the mouth, it is known, sprang Brahmanas, from\nthe breast, Kshatriyas, from the thighs, Vaicyas, and from the feet,\nSudras. And Anala produced all trees bearing sacred fruits. Vinata (was)\nSuki's grand-daughter, and Kadru, Surasa's aunt. And Kadru gave birth to\na thousand Nagas with the holder of the Earth. And Vinata brought forth\ntwo sons,--Garuda, and Aruna. And from Aruna sprang myself and my elder\nbrother Sampati. O subduer of enemies, know me for Jatayu, the son of\nSyeni. If thou will, I shall become thy help during thy abode (in the\nwoods). And, O child, I shall protect Sita when thou shalt go out along\nwith Lakshmana.\" There Raghava paying homage unto Jatayu, and embracing\nhim joyfully, bent low; and that self-possessed one listened to the\nstory of Jatayu's friendship with his father, as related by him\nrepeatedly. Then consigning unto that bird of exceeding strength,\nMithila's daughter, Sita, Rama accompanied by Lakshmana went to\nPanchavati, destroying his foes and protecting the worlds.\n\n [13] Some texts:--_Kalaka.--T._\n\n\n\nSECTION XV.\n\n\nThen repairing to Panchavati filled with various animals and beasts of\nprey, Rama remarked unto his brother of flaming energy, \"(Now) we have\ncome to the place to which we had been directed by the ascetic. This, O\namiable one, is Panchavati furnished with blossoming woods. Do thou cast\nthy eyes around this forest, and (ascertain) what spot shall suit our\nasylum. Do thou find out such a place in the vicinity of a tank where\nthyself Sita and I may dwell happily, which is graced with the garniture\nof woods and delightful with liquid lapses, and whose neighbourhood\nyields fuel, flowers, Kuca and water.\" Thus addressed by Rama, Lakshmana\nwith joined hands, said unto Kakutstha in the presence of Sita, \"O\nKakutstha, even if I were to stay with thee for an hundred years, I\nshall remain thy servant. Thyself selecting some beauteous spot, do thou\ntell me--'Construct (an asylum).'\" Well pleased with the words of\nLakshmana, that highly effulgent one, after due reflection, selected a\nsite having every recommendation. Going to that romantic spot for\nrearing an asylum, Rama, taking the hand of Sumitra's son in his, said\nunto him, \"This place is level, graceful, and surrounded with blossoming\ntrees. Do thou duly construct an asylum at this spot. Hard by is seen a\nbeautiful pool, embellished with lotuses, resembling the sun, and\nbreathing balmy perfume. And, as told by that pure-hearted ascetic,\nAgastya, this is the graceful Godavari, bordered by flowering\ntrees;--swarming with swans and Karandavas, delighted with Chakravakas;\nthronged with herds of deer[14], not far, yet not so very near. And\nresounding with the cries of peacocks; charming; elevated; containing\nfull many a cave; do thou, O amiable one, behold these hills, covered\nwith trees in full flower; and they are shining like elephants painted\nwith diverse colors by persons with the utmost care; adorned with Salas,\npalmyras, Tamalas, dates, Panasas, Nivaras, Tinisas, and Punnagas. And\ncovered with mangos, and Tilakas, and Ketakas, and Champakas, and trees\nentwined by flowers and herbs and plants; and containing Syandanas,\nsandals, Nipas, Panasas, Lakuchas, Dhavas, Acwakarnas, Khadiras, Samis,\nKincukas and Patalas. This spot is sacred --this spot is charming--this\nspot abounds in beasts and birds. Here will I dwell, O Sumitra's son, in\ncompany with this bird[15].\" Thus addressed by Rama, the exceedingly\npowerful Lakshmana, slayer of hostile heroes, in a short time raised an\nasylum for his brother. And the exceedingly stout Lakshmana created\nthere for Raghava a spacious hut thatched with leaves made of clay,\nfurnished with pillars, constructed with long bamboos, graceful,--spread\nwith Sami boughs; tightly fastened with strong cords; covered with Kuca,\nreeds, and leaves; with its floor well leveled; and charming; beautiful\nto look at, and exceedingly excellent. And then going to the river\nGodavari, the lovely Lakshmana, performing his bath, and securing\nlotuses and fruits, came back (to the asylum). Then offering flowers,\nand duly performing rites for the peace (of the habitation), Lakshmana\nshowed the asylum which he had made unto Rama. Seeing the beautiful\nasylum along with Sita, Raghava experienced high raptures. And joyfully\nembracing Lakshmana with his arms, Rama said these exceedingly calm and\nsolemn words, \"Pleased am I with thee. Thou hast done a great deed, my\nbrother; for which I have granted thee my embrace by way of reward.\nWhile thou, his son, skilled in reading thought, grateful, and cognizant\nof righteousness art alive, O Lakshmana, my father is not dead.\" Having\nsaid this unto Lakshmana, Raghava-the enhancer of\nauspiciousness--experiencing felicity , began to dwell happily in that\nregion filled with fruits. And ministered unto by Sita and Lakshmana,\nthat righteous one lived there, like the immortals in heaven.\n\n [14] _Come to slake their thirst._--Ramayana.--T.\n\n [15] Jatayu.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XVI.\n\n\nAs the high-souled Raghava was dwelling there peacefully, after autumn\nhad departed, the welcome winter commenced. And it came to pass that\nonce on a time, when the night had passed away and day broke, that son\nof Raghu went to the romantic river Godavari for performing his bath.\nAnd as the humble son of Sumitra Rama's puissant brother bearing a water\npitcher in his hand was following Rama along with Sita at his back, the\nformer said unto Rama, \"O sweet-speeched one, now is come that season\nwhich thou hast ever held dear; and as if decorated by which comes on\nthe entire auspicious year. Now people have their persons rendered rough\nfrom dew; the earth is replenished with corn; water is difficult of\nbeing used; and fire becomes enjoyable. And men having worshipped the\ngods and the Pitris by celebrating Agrayana on the occasion of partaking\nnew rice, have at this season, their sins purged off. The provinces\noverflow with food, and abound in milk and articles prepared there-\nfrom; and kings bent on conquest, range about for surveying them. And on\nthe sun having veered steadily to the quarter presided over by the\nDestroyer[16], the north appears like a female without her _tilaka_[17].\nNaturally abounding in snow, and now having the sun at a great distance,\nthe mountain Himavan[18] justly beareth that name. At miday the days are\ndelightful to a degree to range in, feel highly agreeable, and have\npleasant suns; while shade and water are uncomfortable. And the days now\nhave mild suns, are covered with dew, severely cold, with the forests\nremaining idle[19], and the lotuses destroyed by frost. And now at night\npeople cannot lie down in unsheltered places; and the nights are\ninferred from the presence of Pushya. And at night the atmosphere (being\ncovered with vapour) looks brown; and it is bitter cold then; and the\nhours are long. And the good fortune of the Moon hath fallen to the Sun;\nand the disc of the former is reddish with vapour; and like unto a glass\nbreathed upon, it doth not shine clearly. And the moonlight furnished by\nvapour doth not appear pleasant; and like Sita pallid because of\n(exposure to) sunshine, is perceptible, but doth not look beauteous. And\nat this season the western wind naturally of gelid feel, being permeated\nat present with cold, blows with double coldness. And the forests\nenveloped in mist, and stocked with wheat and barley, look brilliant at\nsunrise, with Kraunchas and cranes crying (in chorus). Golden-hued paddy\nslightly inclined, appear graceful, with their heads like unto\ndate-flowers filled with rice. And the sun although high advanced, yet\nhaving its rays covered with thick mist, appeareth like the moon. And\nfeeble at the first part of the day, and of agreeable touch at mid-day,\nthe sunshine, being surcharged with mist, appeareth palish over the face\nof the earth. And in the woods, swards covered with green grass, and\nwith dew-drops on it, look handsome on the morning sun brightening it\nup. And wild elephants waxing exceedingly thirsty, draw away their\ntrunks, just as they touch beautifully clear and cold water. And those\naquatic fowls seated by, do not dip themselves in the water, like unto\ncravens shunning fight. And the rows of trees, shorn of their blossoms,\non being enveloped with dew at night and mist at morn, look as if they\nwere fast asleep. And the streams appear with their waters enveloped in\nvapour,and the cranes, perceived through their cries, and their banks\nhaving their sands wet. And what on account of the snow-fall, what of\nthe mildness of the sun, and what through the cold, water even when it\nis on a mountain top, tastes sweet. And lotuses afflicted by the cold,\nwith the stalks only left, and with their petals dropping down and their\npericarps and filaments shrivelled up, do not appear beautiful. And, O\nforemost of men, at this season, influenced by regard for thee, Bharata\nundergoing affliction of spirit, is performing mortifications in the\ncity. And forsaking kingdom, and dignity, and the many and various\nenjoyments, Bharata practising asceticism and restraining himself in\nrespect of food, in this winter lieth down on the bare earth. And he\nalso, for certain, at this hour of the day, surrounded by his subjects,\ndaily wendeth to the river Sarayu for performing his ablutions. Brought\nup in luxury, and exceedingly tender, how can he, afflicted with cold,\nperform his ablutions during the latter part of the night? Of eyes\nresembling lotus petals, grey-hued, endued with grace, with a navel\ndepressed, and mighty, Bharata understandeth righteousness, is\ntruth-speaking, of restrained senses (in respect of others' wives) and\nalso of subdued senses. And he speaketh fair, and is sweet-tempered, and\nlong-armed and the vanquisher of foes. And renouncing various pleasures,\nhe hath devoted himself unto the noble one. Thy high-souled brother hath\nsecured heaven, since he, resorting to asceticism, is imitating thee\nthat resident in the woods. The saying that people follow their mother\nand not their father, is falsified in the case of Bharata. How can\nmother Kaikeyi, whose husband is Dacaratha and son the righteous\nBharata, have such crooked way?\" As the virtuous Lakshmana was speaking\nthus from affection, Raghava, not bearing the blame cast upon his mother\n(Kaikeyi), said, \"My brother, thou shouldst by no means, tax our second\nmother. Do thou talk of that lord of the Ikshwaku race, Bharata. Albeit\nmy mind is firm as regards my sojourn in the woods, yet is my mind\nunsteady, being inflamed with affection for Bharata. I remember his dear\nsweet words, taking the heart, resembling ambrosia, filling the soul\nwith delight. When shall I, O son of Raghu, meet with the high-souled\nBharata, and the heroic Satrughna, and thyself?[20]\" Having bewailed\nthus, Kakutstha, coming to the river Godavari, there performed his\nablutions in company with younger brother and Sita. Then having offered\nhis adorations with water unto the gods and the Pitris, those sinless\nhymned the risen sun as well as the celestials. Having with Sita as the\nsecond and Lakshmana, performed his bath. Rama looked beautiful like\nthat lord the reverend Rudra in company with Nandi and the daughter of\nthe king of mountains.\n\n [16] _i. e._--The South.--T.\n\n [17] A mark made with colored earths or unguents upon the forehead and\n      between the eye-brows either by way of ornament or a sectarial\n      distinction.--T.\n\n [18] _Himavan_ means _having snow._--T.\n\n [19] 'Of antres vast and deserts idle.' _Othello_. Although not in\n      common use, the word is very picturesque, and hence the\n      adoption.--T.\n\n [20] Thyself, the meaning is evident when shall we all meet\n      together.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XVII.\n\n\nHaving bathed, Rfima, Sit! and Sumitri's son went to their own asylum\nfrom the banks of the Godavari. Arriving at the asylum, Raghava along\nwith Lakshmana, performing his morning devotions, entered the cottage.\nAnd honored of the Maharshis Rama happily dwelt in that cottage; and\nseated with Sita that mighty-armed one looked like the Moon in\nconjunction with Chitra. And he carried on various converse with his\nbrother Lakshmana. As Rama was thus seated with his mind engrossed in\nthat talk, A Rakshasi came to that region at her will. And that one\nnamed Surpanakha, sister unto the ten-necked Rakshasa, coming upon Rama,\nsaw him like a celestial, having a leonine chest, mighty-arms, and\nexpansive eyes resembling lotus leaves, with the powerful gait of the\nelephant, wearing a head of matted locks, with a resplendent\ncountenance, bearing regal marks. And beholding Rama dark-blue like the\nlotus, and becoming like Kandarpa himself, and resembling Indra, the\nRakshasi was maddened with desire. Rama was graced with a beauteous\ncountenance, that Rakshas had a hideous face; Rama had a slender waist,\nshe had a huge abdomen; he had expansive eyes, she had terrible eyes; he\nwas gifted with an elegant head of hair, she had coppery hair; Rama was\nof a dear presence, she was of an unsightly presence; Rama had a\nsonorous voice, she had a hedeous voice; Rama was youthful, the Rakshasi\nwas an old hag; Rama had mellifluous accents, she had harsh accents;\nRama was ever abiding by justice, she was unruly; Rama was handsome, she\nwas ugly. That Rakshasi being wrought up with passion addressed Rama\nsaying \"Wearing matted locks, and equipped with bows and arrows, why\nhast thou along with thy wife come to this region haunted by Rakshasas?\nIt behoveth thee to say what the object of thy visit is.\" Thus accosted\nby the Rakshasi, Surpanakha, that subduer of his foes from sincerity of\ndisposition began to relate everything:--\"There was a king named\nDacaratha endeued with the prowess of a celestial. I am his eldest son\nknown among men by the name of Rama. This is my younger brother (named)\nLakshmana, (ever) serving me. This is my wife, known by the name of\nSita. Commanded by my father and mother, I in obedience to their\nmandate, desirous of acquiring religious merits, have for the purpose of\nsecuring righteousness, come to this forest for dwelling here. I also am\nanxious to know thee. Whose daughter art thou? And what is thy name, and\nwhat is thy lineage? Possessed of a captivating form, thou appearest to\nme as a Rakshasi. Tell me truly why thou hast come here.\" Hearing these\nwords the Rakshasi, afflicted with lust, said, \"Listen, O Rama. I will\nrelate everything truly, I am a Rakshasi, capable of wearing shapes at\nwill. My name is Surpanakha. Striking terror into the hearts of all, I\nrange this forest alone. My brother is named Ravana.[21] Thou mayst have\nheard of him. And he that is given to long sleep --the mighty\nKumbhakarna, the righteous Bibhishana, who never serves the Rakshasas,\nand the brothers Khara and Dushana renowned in conflict (are also my\nbrothers). Rama, I have surpassed them all (in prowess). At first sight\nof thee, I approach thee, thou best of men, as my husband with (feelings\nof) love. I am endeued with power, and range about at will by virtue of\nmy strength. Become my husband for ever and a day. What wilt thou do\nwith Sita? Deformed and unsightly, she is not worthy of thee. I am fit\nfor thee. Do thou look upon me as a wife. This unsightly grim unchaste\nand human one with a lean abdomen, will I devour up, along with this\nbrother of thine. Then having thy wish, in company with me, thou wilt\nrange the Dandakas, surveying the various mountain summits and forests.\"\nThus addressed, Kakutstha having charming eyes, well skilled in speech,\nwith a smile, began to speak thus.\n\n [21] Another reading is: _my brother is named Ravana--a Rakshasa, and\n      lord of Rakshasas. He is the son of Viasavan. Thou mayst have\n      heard of him.--T._\n\n\n\nSECTION XVIII.\n\n\nWith a smile, Rama jestingly addressed Surpanakha who had been ensnared\nin the noose of love, in soft words, saying, \"Gentle one, I am already\nwedded; this is my beloved wife. To females like unto thee co-wife-hood\nis exceedingly miserable. This young brother of mine is good-looking,\nand is of an excellent character; he is graceful, and is still unwived.\nThe powerful one is named Lakshmana. He hath not yet tested the\npleasures of a wife's company, and is desirous of having a spouse. And\nhe is youthful and of an inviting presence. He will become a fit husband\nfor thee, considering this thy beauty. O thou of expansive eyes, seek\nthis brother of mine as thy husband, even as the solar beam seeks Meru.\n(By doing so), thou O supremely beautiful damsel, wilt not have to fear\na co-wife.\" Having been thus addressed by RAma, the Rakshasi intoxicated\nwith lust, at once leaving Rama, spake unto Lakshmana, saying, \"I am fit\nto be thy wife possessed of transcendental grace, having regard to this\nbeauty of thine. And with me thou wilt happily range these Dandakas.\"\nThus accosted by the Rakshasi, Sumitri's son, Lakshmana versed in\nspeech, with a smile appropriately observed unto Surpanakha, \"Why\nwishest thou to be the servant of me who am a servant myself?[22] O\nlotus-hued one, I am dependant on my noble brother, O thou of expansive\neyes, be thou securing the _summum bonum_, with a joyful heart, become,\nO superbly beautiful wench, the younger wife of the noble one of great\ngood fortune. Renouncing this frightful, unchaste, hideous, old wife\npossessed of a lean abdomen; he will devote himself unto thee. O paragon\namong damsels, O supremely charming lady, what man possessed of\ndiscernment, passing by such grace, would bear affection to a human\nfemale?\" Thus accosted by Lakshmana, that hideous one having a lean\nabdomen being incapable of understanding jest, took his words as true.\nThereupon as that subduer of enemies, the irrepressible Rama, was seated\nin the cottage in company with Sita, the Rakshasi, transported with\nlust, said unto him, \"Forsaking this deformed, unchaste, horrible old\nwife of thine possessed of a lean abdomen, thou dost not regard me.\nTo-day, thou looking on, I shall eat up this human female. And I shall,\nrid of a co-wife, happily range with thee.\" Having said this, even as a\nmighty meteor striketh Rohini, that one having eyes resembling live\ncoals, waxing exceedingly enraged, rushed towards that (damsel) with the\neyes of a doe. Thereupon, hindering the Rakshasi resembling the noose of\ndeath, as she was rushing on, the mighty Rama, growing wroth, said unto\nLakshmana, \"O Saumitri[23], what is the good of jesting with a base and\nwicked one? No use of doing it. Look, O amiable one, Vaidehi[24] is well\nnigh dead. It behoves thee, O foremost of men, to deform this frightful,\nunchaste Rakshasi of a huge abdomen, transported with lust.\" Thus\ndesired the exceedingly strong Lakshmana, fired with wrath, taking out\nhis sword, in the sight of Rama, cut off her nose and ears. Her ears and\nnose cut off, the terrible Surpanakha, uttering frightful cries, fled\namain into the forest whence she had come. And being deformed, and\ncovered with gore, the dreadful Rakshasi sent up many a roar, like\nclouds rumbling in the rains. And bleeding profusely, the grimvisaged\nRakshasi, lifting up her arms, and roaring, entered the mighty forest.\nThen, having been deformed, (the Rakshasi) approaching, her brother of\nfierce energy, Khara, come to Janasthana, (seated surrounded by numbers\nof Rakshasas), fell down to the earth, even as the thunder-bolt bursts\nfrom the sky. Then that sister of Khara, bathed in blood, and deprived\nof her senses through fright, related ail about Rama's arrival at the\nforest along with Lakshmana and his own wife, as well as the\ncircumstances connected with her being deformed.\n\n [22] The text is difficult to render literally:--_Why wishest thou to\n      be the female servant of me who am myself a male servant.--T._\n\n [23] We are obliged to use this epithet as it is in order to prevent\n      the too frequent recurrence of _Sumitra's son.--T._\n\n [24] _Videha's daughter_. We retain this epithet also for the reason\n      assigned above.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XIX.\n\n\nSeeing his sister deformed, and covered with blood, fallen on the\nground, the Rakshasa, Khara, fired with wrath asked her, saying, \"Arise!\nLeave off fear and amazement. Tell me plainly by whom thou hast been\nthus deformed. Who is it that with his finger-end hath by way of sport\nhurt a black venomous snake that was innocent? He that coming in contact\nwith thee hath to-day drunk virulent poison, winding a fatal noose round\nabout his neck, knoweth it not through ignorance. Endowed with strength\nand prowess, ranging about at will, wearing shapes at pleasure, and\nresembling the destroyer himself, going to whom hast thou come by this\ncondition? Who among the gods, Gandharbas or creatures or the high\nsouled saints is of such mighty energy as to have deformed thee? In this\nworld I do not see him that would do me wrong. Even as a crane afflicted\nwith thirst appropriated milk mixed in water (leaving the latter out),\nso by means of fleet and life destroying shafts will I among the\nimmortals take the life of that chastiser of Paka, the thousand-eyed\nmighty Indra. The frothy blood of whom, having his marrow pierced (by\nme) and slain by me in battle, doth the Earth wish to drink? Tearing off\nflesh from the corpse of whom slain by me in conflict, shall the birds\nso joyfully feed on it? Him, whom I shall wrong mightily, neither the\ngods, nor the Gandharbas, nor the Picachas[25], nor the Rakshasas, will\nbe able to rescue in fierce encounter. Recovering by degrees thy sense,\nit behoves thee to tell me what individual it was of execrable\ncharacter, who by his prowess, hath humbled thee in the forest.\" Hearing\nthese words of his brother, who was under the influence of extreme rage,\nSurpanakha. with tears in her eyes, said, \"Tender, and endowed with\nbeauty, possessed of youth and gifted with great strength, with\nexpansive eyes resembling white lotuses; clad in bark and dark\ndear-skins, subsisting on fruits and roots, having their senses under\ncontrol; leading an ascetic life and a Brahmacharya mode of existence;\nthere are two sons of Dacaratha the brothers Rama and Lakshmana\nresembling the Sovereign of the Gandharbhas and marked with signs\nbetokening royalty. I cannot ascertain whether they be celestials, or\nhuman beings. And between them I saw there a youthful female furnished\nwith grace, and having a dainty waist; adorned with every kind of\nornament. And it is on account of this female that I have like one\nunchaste and uncared for, have come by this condition at their hands.\nNor I wish in the midst of encounter to drink the frothy blood of that\ncrooked one as well as those two slain (in battle). Let this my prime\nwish be crowned there with fruition. Her and their blood will I drink in\ndreadful conflict.\" As she said this, Khara wrought up with boundless\npassion, said, \"Two human beings accoutred in arms, and wearing bark and\ndark deer-skins have in company with a female entered this deep Dandaka\nforest. Do ye return, after slaying them, as well as that wicked one.\nAnd this sister of mine will drink their blood. Ye Rakshasas, even this\nis my sister's dear desire. Repairing thither, speedily accomplish this,\nbearing them down by your native might. Seeing those two brothers slain\nby you. this one, exceedingly rejoiced, will drink their blood in the\nfield.\" Thus commissioned, those fourteen Rakshasas set out there like\nclouds driven by the winds, accompanied by Surpanakha.\n\n [25] A kind of foul spirits.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XX.\n\n\nThen the grim Surpanakha, coming to Raghava's asylum pointed out to the\nRakshasas those brothers in company with Sita. And they saw the mighty\nRama seated in the cottage in company with Sita, and ministered unto by\nLakshmana. And seeing her, as well as the Rakshasas who had come, Rama\nremarked unto his brother, Lakshmana of flaming energy, saying, \"O\nSumitra's son, do thou for a while guard Sita. I shall slay these that\nhave come to this asylum here.\" Hearing these words of Rama versed in\nthe knowledge of self, Lakshmana honored his speech by saying, \"So be\nit.\" And the righteous Raghava strung his mighty bow decked with gold;\nand addressed the Rakshasas, saying, \"We that have entered into this\nuntractable forest of Dandaka in company with Sita are the sons of\nDacaratha, the brothers, Rama and Lakshmana. Why do you intend to do\ninjury unto us. Subsisting on fruits and roots, having our senses under\ncontrol, carrying on asceticism and leading a Brahmacharya life, we are\npassing our days in the forest of Dandaka. It is to destroy you, wicked,\nand troublesome that I equipped with the bow have come here at the\ndesire of the saints. Stay there content you should not move further. If\nyou have a care for your lives, desist, ye rangers of the night.\"\nHearing those words of his, those fourteen grim Rakshasas bearing darts\nin their hands, exceedingly enraged, with their eyes reddened, breathing\nhigh spirits, harshly said unto the sweet-speeched Rama, having his eyes\nreddened, whose prowess they had not seen before, \"Having excited there\nour lord, the high-souled Khara, it is thou that shalt lose thy life no\nlater than this day, being slain by us in battle. What power hast thou,\nbeing one, to stay before us many, in the field,--what shall I say of\nthy coping with us in conflict? In consequence of the _parighas_, darts,\nand _pathifas_ discharged by our arms, thou wilt surely lose thy life,\nalong with thy prowess, and this bow which thou pressest with thy hand.\"\nHaving said this in wrath, those fourteen Rakshas uplifting their\nweapons and daggers rushed towards Rama and discharged darts at the\ninvincible Raghava. Thereupon Kakutstha by means of shafts decked with\ngold, cut off those fourteen darts of theirs. Seeing this, that\nexceedingly energetic one, waxing highly enraged, took out fourteen\n_narachas_, whetted on stone, resembling the sun. And even as Satakratu\nhurls the thunderbolt, Raghava drawing his bow and taking his aim at the\nRakshasas, let go those shafts. And those Rakshasas, their breasts\npierced with vehemence, and themselves bathed in blood, fell down to the\nearth, like snakes dropping down from an ant hill. And with their\nbreasts pierced, they, dripping with blood, deformed and deprived of\ntheir lives, lay on the ground like trees whose roots have been severed.\nSeeing them fallen on the ground the Rakshasi, beyond herself in wrath,\napproaching Khara, with her blood a little dried up, again in\ndistressful guise threw herself on the earth, like a plant exuding gum.\nAnd in presence of her brother, she set up a mighty roar; and then her\nface grown pallid, she dropped tears, emitting cries. Seeing those\nRakshasas slain in battle, Surpanakha again hastened (to her brother),\nand the sister of Khara, related detail the slaughter of those\nRakshasas.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXI.\n\n\nSeeing Surpanakha again lying on the ground, Khara in anger spake out\nunto that one, who had come to bring on evil, saying, \"I had but\nrecently commissioned for thy behoof those heroic Rakshasas living on\nflesh. Why then dost thou again weep? Bearing regard and attached unto\nme, and ever engaged in my welfare, they, assailed by others, are\nincapable of being slain; nor do they not obey my orders. What can it\nbe? I would hear of the occasion owing to which again, crying 'Ah lord,'\nthou rollest on the earth like a serpent. Why dost thou beweep like one\nforlorn, while I thy lord, am living? Arise! Arise! Do not fear, cast\noff thy stupor.\" Thus addressed, and consoled by Khara, that\nirrepressible one, wiping her eyes, spoke unto Khara, \"Having had my\nnose and ears cut off, I had come hither, covered with blood; and thou\nhadst consoled me. And thou also hadst despatched fourteen heroic\nRakshasas, for my behoof, for slaying the terrific Raghava along with\nLakshmana. But all those, bearing ill will (towards Rama), bearing darts\nand _pathsas_ in their haads, have been slain in conflict by means of\nweapons penetrating into the vitals. Seeing those possessed of great\nspeed, in a moment laid low on the ground,--as well as (witnessing)\nRama's mighty deed, great fear hath taken possession of me. O ranger of\nthe night, I am afraid, and agitated, and cast down. I have (at length)\nfound in thee a refuge, seeing fear on all sides. Wilt thou not rescue\nme who am sinking in this ocean of grief, having sorrow for its\nalligators and affright for billows? And these Rakshasas, living on\nflesh who had arrived at that place, have been slain by Rama with\nsharpened shafts. If thou hast any kindness for me as well as those sons\nof Rakshasas and, O ranger of mght, if thou hast strength and energy to\ncope with Rama, do thou kill this thorn of the Rakshasas, who hath set\nup his dwelling in the forest of Dandaka. If thou do not to-day slay\nthat destroyer of foes,[26] Rama, I shall banishing shame, give up my\nlife in thy very presence. Meseems, thou backed by thy forces[27] art\nincapable of staying in battle before Rama in high encounter. Thou\nplumest thyself on being a hero; but art really none such. Prowess hath\nbeen falsely attributed unto thee. Go off from Janasthana without delay,\nalong with thy friends. O Stainer of thy line, do thou in battle slay\nthose fool-hardy ones. But if thou fail in slaying those human beings,\nRama and Lakshmana, then how canst thou void of strength and of slender\nprowess, stay here? Overcome by the energy of Rama thou shalt speedily\nmeet with destruction. Dacaratha's son Rama, is endued with energy. His\nbrother is possessed of high vigour by whom I have come to be deformed.\"\nHaving thus bewailed long, that Rakshasi, possessed of a spacious\nabdomen, through sorrow, became bereft of her senses before her brother,\nand excercised with great grief cried, striking her abdomen with her\nhands.\n\n [26] Another reading is _that enemy of mine.--T._\n\n [27] Some texts--(Rama) _equipped with the bow.--T._\n\n\n\nSECTION XXII.\n\n\nOn being thus taunted by Surpanakha, Khara spoke these sharp words in\nthe midst of the Rakshasas, \"Arising from this thy humiliating censure,\nmy wrath is beyond compare. I can not bear it, like salt-water cast on a\nsore. From my prowess I count not Rama who is a human being possessed of\na frail life--him who slain by me shall to-day in consequence of his\nmisdeed give up existence. Restrain thy tears, and remove thy fear. I\nshall despatch Rama along with his brother to the abode of Yama. Thou\nshalt, O Rakshasi, quaff on the ground the hot blood of Rama of evil\nlife, slain by my axe.\" Overjoyed on hearing the words that dropped from\nKhara's mouth, she again through fickleness extolled that foremost of\nRakshasas, her brother. At first reprimanded by her and then praised,\nKhara spoke unto his general, named Dushana, saying, \"Do thou, O gentle\none, array fourteen thousand of those Rakshasas, gifted with furious\nvehemence, ever following my wish, who never turn away from the field;\nwho are hued like unto purple clouds, who revel in cruelty,[28] and who\nare elated (in consequence of their prowess). And thou gentle one, do\nthou at once bring my car as well as my bows, and pasty colored arrows\nand scimitars, and darts, and various whetted javelins. O thou versed in\nwarfare, for slaying this haughty Rama, I go in the very fore-front of\nthe high-souled Paulastyas.[29] As he said this, Dushana brought his\ngreat car hued like the sun, yoked with excellent steeds of various\ncolors. And thereupon in a passion Khara ascended that car resembling a\npeak of Meru, embellished with burnished-gold, furnished with golden\nwheels, open; having its pole studded with lapises; surrounded with\nfishes and flowers and trees and stones, and the sun and the moon and\ngold, and auspicious articles; and swarms of birds, and stars; having\nstreamers and swords; garnished with bells; and yoked with superb\ncoursers. And beholding that mighty army consisting of cars and arms and\npennons, Khara as well as Dushana, said unto that multitude of\nRakshasas, \"March forth!\" And then uttering tremendous roars, rushed out\nwith great vehemence four and ten thousands of those terrible Rakshasas\nequipped with clubs and _pattisas_ and darts and sharpened axes, and\nscimitars and discuses,--shining beautifully in their hands and saktis\nand dreadful _parighas_ and innumerable bows, and maces, and _mushalas_\nand _vajras_ fearful to behold, griped fast. And those following the\nwill of Khara issued out of JanasthSna. Seeing those Rakshasas of\ndreadful forms rushing out, Khara's car remaining a little away (from\nthe press), proceeded after a short space. Then taking the permission of\nKhara, the charioteer drove at speed those powerful steeds decked in\nshining gold. And driven with speed, the car of Khara--slayer of\nfoes--filled all directions with its rattle. And Khara, fired with\nwrath, and having piercing voice, hastening to destroy his enemy like\nthe Destroyer himself, again urged his charioteer with roars, like a\nmighty cloud showering down stones.\n\n [28] The North-West Province's text has some additional\n      _sloka_:--_Dreadful, wearing forms at will, possessing the pride\n      of the lion, having large mouth, high-souled, revelling in\n      cruelty, endeued with strength, of fierce energy.--T_.\n\n [29] _Lit.--Pulastya's sons_. The Rakshasas were commonly descended\n      from _Pulastya.--T._\n\n\n\nSECTION XXIII.\n\n\nAs those terrible and inauspicious forces were marching on, a mighty\nsable cloud with dreadful sounds began to shower down blood. And the\nsteeds yoked to his (Khara's) car, gifted with great celerity, dropped\ndown all of a sudden on the level high ways strewn with blossoms. A dark\ncircle bordered with red, resembling that of charcoal, appeared in the\nvicinity of the sun. And a frightful vulture, having a huge body,\napproaching the banner, sat upon the upraised golden flagstaff. And\nbeasts and birds having shrill voices, living on flesh, remaining near\nJanasthana, emitted various dissonant notes. And in the quarter lighted\nup by the fierce jackals having mighty voices, in dreadful cries\npresaged evil unto the Rakshasas. And terrific clouds surcharged with\nwater and blood, and resembling elephants with rent temples, enveloped\nthe sky. And a dense darkness appeared, capable of making one's hair\nstand on end, and no quarter was distinctly visible. And out of season,\nthere appeared evening hued like a cloth soaked in blood. And facing\nKhara, terrible beasts and birds set up cries. Kankas, Gomayas and\nvultures, portending fear, began to cry. Ever inauspicious in war,\njackals presaging evil, with their mouths belching forth flame, howled\nin the face of the forces. And comets, resembling _parighas_ appeared\nbeside the sun. That mighty planet Swarbhanu seized the sun when there\nwas no _parva_. And the winds blew violently; and the sun was without\nlustre. And when there was no night, stars wearing the sheen of\nfireflies, began to fall. And in the tanks fishes and fowls were inert,\nand the lotuses were withered. And at that hour the trees were shorn of\nfruits and flowers; and without wind there arose dust dusky like clouds.\nAnd the parrots uttered wild notes--_chichikuchi_. And meteors of\nterrific aspects fell with loud noises. And the earth with her\nmountains, woods, and forests, shook. And as the intellegent Khara was\nroaring from his car, his left arm shook, and his voice fell, and as he\nsurveyed around, his eyes moistened, and his head ached; yet through\nignorance, he did not desist. Witnessing these mighty portents capable\nof making one's hair stand on end, Khara with a laugh, addressed the\nwhole body of Rakshasas, saying, \"Even as a strong person from prowess\ncounts not a weak one, I do not dwell upon all these mighty portents,\ndreadful to behold, that have appeared. Even the stars will I bring down\nfrom heaven with my sharp shafts; and even Death will I engaged, bring\nto mortality. Without slaying Raghava puffed up with pride as well as\nLakshmana, by means of sharp weapons, I return not (from the conflict).\nLet that sister of mine, for whom Rama and Lakshmana have had sense\nperverted, attain her desire, by drinking their blood. I had never\nbefore met with defeat in conflict. Ye have witnessed it. I do not speak\na falsehood. Wrought up with rage, I shall slay in fight the sovereign\nof the celestials himself, going on his mad Airavata, with the\nthunderbolt in his hand,--what shall I say of those two, who are human\nbeings? Entangled in the noose of death, that mighty army of the\nRakshasas, hearing his challenge, experienced boundless enthusiasm. And\nanxious to see the encounter, there came high-souled saints, and\ncelestials, and Gandharbas, and Siddhas, with the Charanas. And these\npious ones assembled, spoke unto one another, \"Welfare unto those cows,\nand Brahmanas, and those that are prized by the worlds! As the\ndiscus-handed Vishnu vanquished the foremost Asuras, may Raghava rout in\nbattle those rangers of the night, the progeny of Pulastya! And saying\nthis as well as various other things, the supreme saints and the\ncelestials stationed in the sky conceiving curiosity (as to the issue of\nthe conflict), beheld the host of those Rakshasas, whose days had been\nnumbered. Then impetuously Khara issued in his car from the van of the\narmy.[30] And these twelve endowed with exceeding prowess, _viz._,\nSynagami, Prithucyama, Yaynacatru, Vihangama, Duryyaya, Karaviraksha,\nPurusha, Kalakanuka, Maghamali, Mahamali, Sarpasya, and Rudhiracana\nposted themselves around Khara. And Mahakapala, Slhulaksha, Hramathi and\nTriciras[31]--[These four going before the forces, went at the back of\nDushana]. Then as the planets dart towards the sun and moon, that heroic\nand dreadful army of Rakshasas, eager for victory suddenly rushed\ntowards the princes with great vehemence.\n\n [30] The N. W. P. text has a different _sloka. And seeing him come out\n      on the ground, they themselves came out.--T._\n\n [31] The sloka in the text is incomplete: The part within brackets,\n      taken from the N. W. P. recension completes it.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXIV.\n\n\nWhen Khara of fierce prowess had come to the asylum Rama in company with\nhis brother saw all those evil prognostics. And beholding those dreadful\nportents, Rama exceedingly distressed, apprehending some calamity to the\nRakshasas, observed unto Lakshmana, \"O mighty armed one, behold these\ngreat presages that have taken place, capable of annihilating all\nbeings, and which have for their object the utter extermination of the\nRakhasas! Yonder threatening clouds of assinine sable, showering down\nblood and uttering loud sounds are ranging the welkin. And, O discerning\none, rejoicing at the prospect of my fight, all these arrows emit smoke,\nand my bows plaited on the back with gold, are restless. Meseems from\nthe noise of the wild birds that impending on us is danger and\nuncertainty to life. Without doubt, there shall take place a mighty\nconflict. At this critical time, my arm shaking momentarily, betokens, O\nhero, victory unto us, and defeat unto the enemy. And thy face appeareth\npleasant with a delightful lustre. O Lakshmana, the pallid face of those\nthat prepare for conflict, auger shortening of life. We can hear the\nshouts of the Rakshasas as they roar, as also the blasts of the trumpets\nof those doomed to be wounded blown by Rakshasas of remorseless deeds. A\nconsiderate person that wisheth for his welfare, apprehending peril,\nshould prevent disaster ere it arrives. Therefore bearing arrows in thy\nhand, and equipped with thy bow, do thou, taking Videha's daughter, take\nrefuge in the mountain cavern, covered with trees and difficult of\naccess. That thou shouldst act contrary to my words, is what I do not\nwish. Swearing by my feet, go thou without delay, my brother. Thou art\nboth strong and a hero: Thou canst, without doubt, slay these\n(Rakshasas). But I wish to slay all these rangers of the night myself.\"\nThus accosted by Rama, Lakshmana, taking arrows and a bow, took refuge\nin an inaccessible cave along with Sita. Thereupon, saying, \"Ah! we have\nspoken it sharp,\" Rama put on his mail. And adorned with that mail\nresembling fire Rama appeared in the dark like a mighty flame streaming\nup. And uplifting his bow, and taking his arrows, that powerful one\nstood there, feeling all directions with the twangs of his bow-string.\nThen the high-souled gods and Gandharbas, Siddhas and Charanas came\nthere, with the intention of witnessing the fight. And high-souled\nsaints of the world, and the foremost Brahmarshis, of pious acts, coming\ntogether, spoke unto one another, saying, \"Hail to cows and Brahmanas,\nand all those in whom are established the worlds! May Raghava vanquish\nin fight those rangers of the night, the progeny of Pulastya, even as\nthe discus-handed Vishnu routed in battle the foremost Asuras!\" Having\nsaid this, they again spoke, eying one another, \"There are fourteen\nthousand of the Rakshasas of dreadful deeds, while the righteous Rama is\nsingle. How can fight take place (between two such parties)?\" Having\nsaid this, the Rajarshis, Siddhas, multitudes of the beet of the\ntwice-born ones, and celestials stationed in the sky were moved with\ncuriosity (as to the issue of the conflict). Then seeing Rama filled\nwith energy, remaining in the field, all beings from fear experienced\ngreat pain. And the peerless grace of Rama of energetic deeds became\nlike unto that of the high souled infuriated Rudra.[32] While the gods,\nGandharbas and Charanas were thus conversing, the forces of the\nRakshasas sending up solemn sounds, furnished with horrible armour, arms\nand flags, conversing in heroic parlance, roaring at each other,\nstretching bows, momentarily yawning,[33] sending forth shouts, and\nblowing trumpets. The universal uproar filled that (entire) forest.\nScared and terrified at the hubbul the rangers of the wood fled to\nquarters free from noise; nor did they cast their eyes backward. And\nthat army resembling the ocean, and rife with sounds, equipped with\nvarious weapons, with furious speed came towards Rama. And Rama also\nversed in warfare, casting his eyes arround, found the forces of Khara\nready for fight.[34] Then stretching his dreadful bow, and swiftly\ntaking out shafts, (Rama) for compassing the destruction of the entire\nbody of the Rakshasas, waxed furiously enraged. And like unto the\nflaming fire at the universal dissolution, he, growing wroth, was\nincapable of being looked at. And seeing him filled with energy, the\nsylvan deities were extremely pained.[35] And the aspect of the enraged\nRama appeared like that of the holder of Pinaka, intent upon destroying\nDaksha's sacrifice. Furnished with bows and ornaments and cars and mail\nhued like fire, that army of those subsisting on flesh, appeared like\nmasses of blue clouds at sunrise.\n\n [32] There is a variation in reading here; the sense, however, is the\n      same.\n\n [33] The commentator says the yawning was in consequence of the\n      soldiers having during the conflict indulged in liquor.--T.\n\n [34] Another text:--The holder of _pinaka.--T._\n\n [35] Another reading is:--The sylvan deities fled away.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXV.\n\n\nComing to the asylum, Khara in company with those that went before him,\nsaw that slayer of foes, the enraged Rama, holding his bow. And seeing\nhim, Khara possessing a shrill voice, raising his bow, commanded unto\nthe charioteer to drive towards Rama,--\" Drive on!\" At Khara's command,\nthe charioteer drove the steeds to where the mighty-armed Rama stood\nalone, holding his bow. And seeing him (Khara) entered the field, all\nthose rangers of the night--the counselors--uttering mighty shouts,\nenvironed him round. And Khara stationed on his car in the midst of\nRakshasas appeared like red bodied one risen in the midst of the stars.\nThen in battle Khara, afflicting Rama of incomparable energy with a\nthousand shafts, uttered a tremendous roar. Then all the rangers of the\nnight, waxing exceeding wroth, showered various weapons on that terrible\nbowman, the invincible Rama. And wrought up with rage, the Rakshasas in\nbattle assailed him with iron clubs, and darts, and _prasas_, and\nswords, and axes. And resembling clouds (in hue), the exceedingly strong\nRakshasas, having huge bodies, darted towards Kakutstha by means of\nsteeds and cars. And mounted on elephants resembling mountain-peaks,\nnumbers of Rakshasas, intent upon slaying Rama in battle, showered\narrows on him, as mighty clouds pour down showers on the monarch of\nmountains. And Rama was hemmed in by all those fierce-looking Rakshasas\neven as in the evening Mahadeva is surrounded by his courtiers. And as\nthe ocean resisteth the tide of a river, Raghava by means of arrows\nresisted the weapons discharged by the Yatudhanas. As a mighty mountain,\nassailed by the thunderbolt, doth not feel pain, Rama, having his person\npierced by terrible flaming weapons, did not feel pain. And pierced, and\nwith his person covered with blood, Rama, the descendant of Raghu,\nresembled the sun enveloped in evening clouds. And seeing him single,\nsurrounded by many thousands, the Gods, Gandharbas, Siddhas, and supreme\nsaints became sorrowful. Then Rama getting enraged, bringing his bow to\na circle, discharged sharpened shafts by hundreds and by thousands. And\nas if in sport, Rama in the conflict shot irrisistible (shafts)\nfurnished with Kanka feathers, and decked with gold, irrisistible,\ncapable of inflicting extreme pain, and resembling the noose of Death.\nAnd sportively discharged by Rama, those arrows deprived the Rakshasas\nof their lives, like the noose forged by death. And piercing the persons\nof the Rakshasas, those arrows, soaked in blood, going up to the sky,\nappeared with the splendour of flaming fire. And innumerable shafts,\nexceedingly fierce, capable of depriving the Rakshasas of their lives,\nwere let go from the circle of his bow. And with those Rama severed\nbows, in battle by hundreds and by thousands and flag ends, and shields,\nand mail, and many arms with embellished hands, resembling the trunks of\nelephants. And the arrows of Rama discharged from the string pierced and\ncut off steeds mailed in gold, yoked unto cars, together with the\ncharioteer; and elephants with their riders; and horsemen with horses.\nAnd slaying foot-soldiers, he despatched them to the abode of Yama. And\ncut off with _nalikas_ and, _narachas_, and sharp-pointed _vikirnas_,\nthe rangers of the night uttered dreadful howls of distress. And like a\nwithered wood afflicted by fire, that host harassed by the various\nmarrow-piercing[36] shafts shot by Rama, did not attain ease. And some\nheroic rangers of the night possessed of great strength, waxing furious,\nthrew[37] at Rama _prasas_, and darts and axes. Thereupon resisting by\nmeans of shafts those weapons of theirs, the mighty-armed Rama endeued\nwith prowess, took their lives in the conflict, and cut off the heads\n(of warriors). And having their heads, and shields and bow-strings,\nsevered, they fell as fall on the earth trees thrown down by blasts from\nthe wings of Suparna.[38] Those rangers of the night that remained\nthere, wounded by arrows, and losing heart, fled with speed to Khara, to\nseek his protection. Thereat, encouraging them, Dushana, taking his bow,\nran furiously in high rage against Rama, like the enraged Destroyer\nhimself. And rallied again (by Dushana) and, their fear dispelled\nthrough their having found refuge with him, they armed with _salas_,\n_talas_, and crags, darted against Rama. And bearing in their hands\ndarts, and clubs, and nooses, those exceedingly strong ones showered in\nbattle shafts and weapons. And the Rakshasas discharged vollies of trees\nand crags. And capable of making one's hair stand on end, that battle\nwas dreadful and furious and now on the side of Rama and now again on\nthat of the Rakshasas. And waxing exceedingly wroth, they bore on him\nhard from all sides. Then finding all directions entirely covered with\nRakshasas, and showers of shafts, that one gifted with mighty strength,\nsending up a terrific shout, fixed (on the bow-string) the exceedingly\neffulgent Gandharba weapon (for discharging it) among the Rakshasas.\nThen thousands of shafts went forth from the circle of his bow; and all\ndirections were covered with thronging arrows. And those Rakshasas,\nafflicted with arrows could not see Rama how he took out his dread\nshafts, nor how he discharged those excellent shafts; they only saw him\ndrawing his bow. And the darkness spread by the arrows enveloped the sky\nwith the sun. And Rama stationed there continued pouring in shafts. And\nthe earth was covered with shafts shot, and alighting, and alighted\nsimultaneously. And at places were seen Rakshasas by thousands slain,\nfalling, enfeebled, torn and riven. And cut off by Rama with arrows,\ndarts and _Patticas_ in that battle the fearful field was scattered,\nheads with turbans, arms with finger-fences; torn thighs and arms, and\nvarious ornaments, horses, excellent elephants and cars, shattered in\nnumbers, chouris, fans, and umbrellas, and pennons of various\ndescriptions. Beholding all those stain, the (remaining) Rakshasas, sore\ndistressed, could not (again) advance before that captor of hostile\ncapitals Rama\n\n [36] Another reading is, _sharpened.--T._\n\n [37] Another reading: _remaining before Rama, threw powerful\n      weapons.--T._\n\n [38] _Lit.--Of fair feathers_. A name of Garuda.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXVI.\n\n\nFinding his own forces slaughtered, the mighty-armed Dushana speedily\nordered five thousand Rakshasas, gifted with tremendous velocity,\ndifficult of being approached, who never turned from the field. And from\nall sides they incessantly showered darts and _patticas_, and scimitars,\nstones, and trees, and shafts. Thereupon by means of shafts the\nrighteous Raghava resisted that mighty destructive shower of trees and\nstones. Resisting that shower, Rama with his eyes staring, and\nresembling a bull, flew into a great rage, for the purpose of slaying\nthe whole body of Rakshasas. Then influenced by wrath, and flaming in\nenergy he on all sides covered the army along with Dushana with arrows.\nThen the general, Dushana, destroyer of enemies, getting wroth, opposed\nRaghava with arrows resembling thunderbolts. Then heroic Rama highly\nangered, severed his (Dushana's) mighty bow with shafts sharp as razors,\nand slew his four horses by means of as many shafts. And having slain\nthe steeds, he (Rama) cut off the head of the charioteer by means of a\ncrescent-shaped weapon, and pierced the (Rakshasa Dushna) in the breast\nwith a brace of shafts. His bow cut off, his steeds together with the\ncharioteer slain, and himself deprived of his car, he (Dushana) took a\n_parigha_ resembling a mountain peak, able to make one's down stand on\nend plated with gold, capable of afflicting celestial hosts, studded\nwith sharp iron _sankus_, and graced with the fat of foes;--of the touch\nof a thunderbolt, able to pierce the persons of enemies.[39] And takng\nup in that encounter the _parigha_ resembling a mighty snake, that\nranger of the night of cruel deeds Dushana, rushed towards Rama. And as\nDushana was rushing forward, Raghava by means of a couple of shafts cut\noff his two arms with the ornaments. And the huge _parigha_ escaping\nfrom (Dushana's grasp) fell forward on the field like the banner of\nSakra. And like a mighty elephant whose husks have fallen off, Dushana,\non his arms having been severed, fell down to the earth. Seeing Dushana\ndown on the ground, and slain in battle, all creatures, saying, \"well\ndone!\" \"well done!\" paid homage unto Kakutstha. In the meantime, three\ngenerals, getting wroth, being entrapped in the noose of death, rushed\nagainst Rama in a body--viz; Mahakapala, Sthulakshya, and the mighty\nPramathi the Rakshasa, Mahakapala, upraising a large dart, and\nSthulakshya, taking a _pathica_, and Pramathi, an axe. And as soon as\nRaghava beheld them advance, he resisted them by means of sharp and\nkeen-edged shafts, even as one receives guests that have come. And\nRaghu's son split Mahakapala's head,--afflicted Pramathi with countless\nshafts, and lodged the eyes of Sthulakshya with sharp shafts. And they\nfell down to the earth like mighty trees of many boughs. Thereat\ninstantly inflamed with wrath, Rama by means of five thousand shafts,\nsent as many thousands of Dushana's followers to Yama's abode. Hearing\nthat Dushana had been slain, Khara, waxing wroth, commanded his mighty\ngenerals, saying, \"Fighting with that vile man, Rama, along with his\nmighty forces Dushana hath been slain in battle, together with his\nfollowers. Let all the Rakshasas slay him with weapons of various\nshapes.\" Having said this in wrath, Khara darted towards Rama. And\ndischarging choice shafts, Syenagami Prithugriva, Jajnasatru, Vihangama,\nDurjaya, Paraviraksha, Parusha, Kalakarmuka, Hemamali, Mahamali,\nSarpasya, and Rudhiracana,--these twelve generals endeued with mighty\nprowess accompanied with their forces, proceeded vehemently against\nRama, discharging excellent shafts. Threat with shafts resembling fire,\nand decked with diamonds and with gold, (Rama) possessed of energy\ndestroyed the rest of his (Khara's) forces. And as the thunderbolt\nslayeth the mighty, Asuras, those shafts studded with gold, and like\nonto smoking fire, slew those Rakshasas. And in in the field Rama slew\nan hundred Rakshasa with an hundred Karnis, and a thousand (again) with\na thousand. And, their armour and ornaments severed, and their bows\nbroken in shivers, those rangers of the night fell down on the earth,\nbathed in blood. And as a spacious dais is covered with Kuca, the entire\nfield was scattered with the Rakshasas fallen in battle with hair\ndishevelled, and covered with blood. And at that time that fearful\nforest, with the Rakshasas slaughtered, and with its clay mired with\nflesh and blood, resembled hell itself. Fourteen thousand Rakshasas of\ndreadful deeds were slain by Rama single, a human being, fighting,\n(moreover) on foot. And the remnant of his (Khara's) forces were that\nmighty car-warrior, Khara himself, and the Rakshasa, Tricira; and (on\nthe other side) was that destroyer of foes--Rama. The rest of the\nRakshasas, gifted with great prowess, terrible and difficult of being\nwithstood, were all slain in battle by The dear brother of Lakshmana.\nThen seeing that dreadful army destroyed in terrible conflict by the\nmighty Rama, Khara ascending a great car, advanced before Rama, like\nIndra with the upraised thunderbolt.\n\n [39] The text may also mean--_able to rend the cities of foes.--T._\n\n\n\nSECTION XXVII.\n\n\nAs Khara was advancing before Rama, that leader of the army named\nTricira, approaching him, said, \"Do thou employ me, who am possessed of\nprowess; and thyself desist from this rashness. Behold the mighty-armed\nRama brought down in battle. I swear (unto thee) truly; I touch this\nweapon, (to say) that I will slay Rama, who deserves to be slain by all\nthe Rakshasas. Either I shall prove his death in battle, or he shall\nprove mine. Restraining thy martial ardour, do thou for a while become a\nwitness. Either, joyed in consequence of Rama being slain, thou shalt\nrepair unto Janasthana; or I being slain, thou shalt enter the field\n(against him).\" Thus satisfied by Tricara, from his desire to meet with\ndeath, the latter, on being permitted with \"Go,\" proceeded towards Rama.\nAnd like a hill with three summits, Tricira rushed towards Rama on an\neffulgent car yoked with steeds. And as a mighty cloud pours down\nshower, (Tricira) discharging vollies of shafts, uttered a roar\nresembling the sound of a wet kettledrum. And seeing that the Rakshasa\nTricira was advancing, Raghava resisted (his attack) by discharging\nsharpened shafts. And that encounter of those exceedingly powerful ones,\nRama and Tricira was fierce, like unto that between a lion and an\nelephant. Then struck on the forehead by a brace of shafts shot by\nTricira, the wrathful Rama enraged, and inflamed with anger, said, \"Ah!\nsuch is the strength of the heroic Rakshasas! I have been wounded in the\nforehead with shafts resembling flowers. Do thou also take the arrows\nshot from my bow.\" Saying this, (Rama) enraged, and influenced by wrath,\nwounded Tricira in the breast with fourteen arrows. And that energetic\none by means of four shafts having their joints bent, brought down his\nfour steeds. And by means of eight arrows (Rama) laid low the charioteer\nfrom the front of the car. And Rama with a shaft severed his upraised\nstandard. Then as that ranger of the night was descending from his\nbroken car, Rama pierced his breast with arrows,--and thereat he was\nstupified. Thereupon, that one of immeasurable prowess, out of anger by\nmeans of three shafts possessed of celerity, brought down Tricira's\nthree heads. And that ranger of the night present in the field,\nafflicted by the shafts of Rama, after his heads had fallen first, fell,\nvomitting smoking gore. And the Rakshasas remaining after the rest had\nbeen slain, belonging unto Khara' s original forces losing heart, began\nto flee like deer terrified at a hunter. And seeing them fly, Khara\nwaxing wroth, swiftly making them desist, darted towards Rama, like Rahu\ndarting towards the Moon.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXVIII.\n\n\nSeeing Dushana slain in fight along with Tricira, Khara, witnessing\nRama's prowess, was filled with fear. And seeing that irrisistible\nRakshasa host--even Dushana and Tricira--slain by the mighty Rama alone,\nand seeing the great courage that was made in the army, that Rakshasa,\nKhara, was seized with despondency. Then as Namuchi advances against\nVasava, Khara stretching his powerful bow, advanced against Rama. And\nKhara hurled at Rama narachas reveling in blood, resembling infuriated\nvenomous snakes. And repeatedly twanging his bow, Khara, mounted on his\ncar, began to range the field, displaying his weapons through his\nacquired skill. And that mighty car-warrior covered all sides with his\nshafts. And seeing this, Rama of a tremendous bow with shafts incapable\nof being borne, and resembling tongues of flaming fire, entirely\nenveloped the welkin, even as a cloud poureth down showers. And with the\nsharpened shafts shot by Khara and Rama, the entire firmament on all\nsides was thronged. And as each enraged was engaged in coping with the\nother, the sun, enveloped in a net-work of shafts, did not appear. And\nas a mighty elephant is struck with the goad, Rama in the conflict\nattacked (his opponent) with _nalikas_ and _narachas_ and sharp-pointed\n_vikirna_. And as that Rakshasa sat on his car, bow in hand, all\ncreatures saw him, as if he were the very Destroyer with the noose in\nhis hand. And at this time Khara thought that Destroyer of all his\nforces, established in his manliness, the exceedingly powerful Rama to\nbe overcome with fatigue. And seeing that one powerful like the lion,\nand gifted with the vigorous gait of the lion, Rama was not moved, as a\nlion seeing a puny deer (is not moved). And then as an insect falls into\na flame, Khara mounting a mighty car, resembling the sun, approached\nRama. And, displaying his lightness of hand, Khara severed the bow of\nthe magnanimous Rama, with the arrow (fixed on it) at the place where it\nis grasped. Then taking up seven other shafts, resplendent like the\nthunderbolt of Sakra, Khara, enraged, sent them into (Rama's)\nmain-joints, and then afflicting Rama of unparalleled energy with a\nthousand shafts, Khara sent up in that conflict a loud shout. And riven\nby the shafts discharged by Khara, Rama's mail resembling the sun fell\nto the ground. And pierced with those arrows, all over his body, and\ninflamed with rage, Raghava appeared in the field, like a smokeless\nflaming fire. Then that destroyer of foes, Rama, for compassing the end\nof his enemy, stringed another mighty bow, sending forth solemn\nsounds,--the redoubtable Vaishnava bow that had been conferred on him by\nthe Maharshi. And uplifting that superior bow, Rama rushed against\nKhara. Then with shafts having bent knots and golden feathers, Rama,\nwrought up with rage, severed in battle Khara's standard. And on that\nexceedingly graceful golden standard being hewn down it seemed as if the\nsun dropped to the earth at the behest of the celestials. And thereat\nKhara, understanding the import of things, fired with wrath, pierced\nRama's breast with five arrows, like one striking an elephant with a\ngoad. And Rama on being pierced with a good many shafts discharged from\nKhara's bow, and having his body bathed in blood, was highly wroth.\nThereupon that foremost of bowmen, and weilder of a mighty bow, taking\nsix shafts, let them go, after aiming at them. And with one shaft he\npierced Khara's head, with two his arms; and with three arrows headed\nlike half-moons, Rama wounded Khara in the chest. Then that highly\nenergetic one, influenced by anger, assailed the Rakshasa with thirteen\n_narachas_ whetted on stone and with one that exceedingly powerful one,\ncut the yoke of the car, with four the four steeds, with the sixth the\nhead of Khara's charioteer, with three the stout _trivenu_ of the car,\nwith two the wheel, and with the twelfth, severing as if in sport\nKhara's bow with his hand,[40] with the thirteenth, resembling the\nthunder-bolt pierced Khara in the encounter. Then with his bow\nshattered, deprived of his car, (Khara) having his horses slain as well\nas his charioteer killed, taking a mace in his hand leaped to the\nground, and stood there. And the celestials and Maharshis exceedingly\nrejoiced, assembled in the welkin in a body, and with joined hands\nextolled that feat of that mighty car-warrior Rama.\n\n [40] Another text reads: _with the arrow set.--T._\n\n\n\nSECTION XXIX.\n\n\nAnd to Khara deprived of his car standing with a mace in his hand, that\nexceedingly energetic one, Rama, preluding his speech with mildness,\nspake, \"Backed by this mighty host abounding in elephants and horses and\ncars, thou hast done an exceedingly wicked deed, execrated by all the\nworlds. Even if one happen to be the lord of the three worlds, one given\nto troubling creatures, and who is cruel and engaged in wicked acts, can\nnot exist. All persons destroy, like a snake that hath intruded itself,\nhim that doth cruel deeds, hostile to the interests of every one. People\ndelightedly behold the end of him that doing an action either from\ncovetuousness or desire, doth not like a Brahmain wallowing a Karaka,\nsee the consequence thereof. What, O Rakshasa, dost thou gain by\nslaughtering exceedingly pious ascetics engaged in righteous acts,\nliving in the forest of Dandaka? Like unto trees whose roots have been\nreduced, cruel persons, execrated of men, who perpetrate iniquitous\nacts, do not exist long. And as a tree puts forth blossoms in season,\nthe doer of sinful deeds, at the hour (of repentance) inevitably reaps\ntheir fruit in the shape of dreadful anguish, of the spirit). And, O\nranger of night, as the effect of having taken rice mixed with poison,\nappears without delay, even so also people readily reap the fruit of\ntheir own acts. O ranger of the night, it is to take the lives of the\nperpetrators of dreadful sins, who wish ill unto men, that I the king\nhave come. Today the gold-decked arrows discharged by me, piercing (thy\nbody), shall enter into the earth, cleaving it, like serpents falling\ninto an ant-hill. Slain in battle, thou shalt in company with thy army,\nfollow those people practising piety, whom thou hast devoured in the\nDandaka forest. Today let those great saints, who had formerly been\nslain by thee, stationed in the sky, behold thee slain (in turn) with my\narrows, and inhabiting hell. Do thou strike as thou lik. And thou that\nart of an odious race, do thou put forth thy energy. Today I will bring\ndown thy head, even as a palm falls to the ground.\" Thus addressed by\nRama, Khara enraged and beyond himself with passion, with eyes reddened,\nreplied, \"O son of Dacaratha, why having slain inferior Rakshasas in\nbattle, dost thou praise thyself without reason? Those foremost of men\nthat are puissant and powerful, do not, inflated with their energy,\nmouth (their own consequence). It is the mean-minded Kshatriyas of\nimpure heads that magnify themselves among men, even as thou O Rama,\ndost. What hero, when the hour of his death hath approached, publishes\nin the field his own lofty lineage and sings his own hymn. As brass\nwearing the semblance of gold, displays its own defect on being\nheated,[41] with a fire lit with Kuca,[42] so thou hast betrayed thy own\nlightness by this speech of thine. Thou dost not see me staying here\nmace in hand, like a moveless mountain dyed in metals, bearing mobile\nand immobile things. I can, mace in hand, deprive thee and the three\nworlds to boot clean of your lives, like the very Destroyer with the\nnoose in his hand. But I will not parley much with thee as much as I\ncould wish: the sun is going to set, and our fight shall be interrupted.\nFourteen thousand Rakshasas have been slaughtered by thee. I will for\ntheir deaths wipe their tears to-day.\" Saying this, Khara, highly\nenraged, hurled his mace[43] provided with golden rings at Rama, like\nunto the blazing thunder-bolt. Thereat, reducing to ashes trees and\nshrubs, that mighty flaming mace, discharged by Khara's arm, fell before\nRama. And Rama severed in many fragments that mighty mace, resembling\nthe noose of Death, as ascending the welkin, it was coming down.\nThereupon, like a she-serpent brought down by force of incantations, the\nmace fell to the earth shattered and riven.\n\n [41] _i.e. becomes dusky_, as Ramanuya intelligently remarks.--T.\n\n [42] Another reading is, _lit with husks._\n\n [43] Another reading is, _plaited with gold._\n\n\n\nSECTION XXX.\n\n\nCutting off the mace with his shafts, Raghava attached unto\nrighteousness with a smile said unto Khara these angry words, \"Thou\nvilest of Rakshasas, this is the utmost of thy might, which thou hast\ndisplayed. Rendered more nerveless at my hands, in vain dost thou storm.\nRiven by my shafts, thy mace, belonging unto thee who art prolix in the\nmatter of vocabulary, destroying thy confidence, hath saught the earth.\nAnd what thou hadst said,--'I will wipe the tears of the Rakshasas that\nhave been slain,' hath also proved false. As Garuda stole ambrosia, will\nI deprive thee, O Rakshasa, who art base, of a mean disposition and a\nfalse character, of thy life. To day the earth shall drink the blood\nvitiated with foamy bubbles, of thee, having thy throat severed, and\nriven by my shafts. Having all thy body covered with dust, and thy two\narms lopped off, thou shalt, difficult to win, take thy nap, embracing\nthe earth, like a damsel difficult to win. On thee, disgrace of\nRakshasas, lying down, and being fast asleep, this Dandaka shall be\nrefuge of those that shall resort to it for shelter. O Rakshasa, in thy\nJanasthana, with its (Rakshasas) slain by my shafts, ascetics shall\nfearlessly go about in the wood. Today Rakshasas, capable of exciting\nfear in others, rendered forlorn and with their friends slain, shall\nfrom fear, with their faces wet with tears, fly (this place). To day thy\nwives whose husband art thou of such a nature,--and who are of a like\nlineage (with thyself),--shall experience the sentiment of sorrow, and\nbe deprived of their all. Thou of a cruel disposition, thou of ignoble\nsoul, thou that art aye a thorn (in the side) of Brahmanas, it is for\nthee that ascetics, frightened and dispirited, have so long been pouring\nthe clarified butter.\" As Raghava, influenced by anger, said this in the\nfield, Khara from wrath, with accents rendered harsher, fell to\ncensuring (Rama). \"Thou art wondrous proud: and thou art fearless albeit\nfear is present unto thee. And come under the sway of death, thou dost\nnot understand what should be said and what left unspoken. Those persons\nthat have been fast bound by the noose of death, do not in consequence\nof their senses having ceased to perform their functions, descern what\nis proper and what improper.\" Saying this unto Rama, that ranger of the\nnight (Khara), pursing his brows, espied a mighty _sala_ hard by. And\nlooking about him on all sides in the field for a weapon, he uprooted\nit, biting his nether lip. And raising up the tree with his arms, and\nuttering a roar, that exceedingly powerful one aiming at Rama discharged\nit, exclaiming,--\"Dead thou art.\" And as it descended, the puissant Rama\ncut it off by means of a multitude of shafts, got into a mighty rage for\nthe purpose of slaying Khara in battle. Then Rama perspiring, with eyes\nreddened in wrath, pierced Khara in battle with a thousand shafts. And\nblood mixed with froth gushed by the sides of the shafts, like torrents\nflowing from fountain in a hill[44] stupified in battle by the shafts\nshot by Rama, and maddened by the smell of blood, Khara furiously made\nfor Rama. And as he (Khara) was rushing on, bathed with blood, Rama\nequipped with arms, suddenly summoning his strength walked backward two\nor three paces. Then with the view of bringing about (Khara's end) Rama\ntook up in the conflict an arrow resembling fire or another weapon of\nBrahma himself. And that righteous one shot at Khara that (arrow), which\nhad been conferred on him by the intelligent Maghavan. And discharged by\nRama from his bent bow that mighty arrow with the roaring of the\nthunderbolt fell at Khara' s breast. And burning in the fire of the\narrow, Khara fell down on the earth, like the giant Andhaka[45] in the\nforest of Sweta, consumed by Rudra. And threat Khara slain fell down\nlike Vritra slain by the thunder-bolt, or Namuchi by foam,[46] or Vala\nby Indra's _Acani_. After this, the celestials, assembled with the\nCharanas, struck with wonder joyfully sounded kettledrums and showered\nblossoms on Rama. \"In over half a moment Rama by means of sharpened\nshafts hath slain in mighty encounter fourteen thousand Rakshasas,\nwearing shapes at will, headed by Khara and Dushana. Ah! mighty is the\nfeat achieved by Rama knowing self. Ah! this mighty prowess, this mighty\nfirmness, show like unto those of Vishnu himself.\" Saying this all the\ndeities went to from where they had come. Then the Rajarshis in company\nwith supreme saints, with Agastya (at their head), gladly paying homage\nunto Rama, said the following words, \"It is for this that the chastiser\nof Paka, the great Indra, Purandra, had paid a visit to the sacred\nasylum of Sarabhanga. And the Maharshis had dexterously brought thee to\nthis place, for compassing the destruction of those foes--the wicked\nRakshasas. And it is owing to this, that, O son of Dacaratha, thou hast\nperformed this mighty deed. (Now) the Maharshis will carry on their\nproper pious offices in the Dandaka.\" After this, that hero, Lakshmana,\naccompanied with Sita came out of the mountain cavern, and joyfully\nentered the asylum. Then the victorious and heroic, Rama, honored by the\nMaharshis, entered the asylum, worshipped by Lakshmana. And seeing that\ndestroyer of foes, and bringer of comfort unto the Maharshis, her\nhusband, Vaidehi embraced him. And seeing the multitudes of Rakshasas\nslain, Janaka's daughter, beholding the undeteriorating Rama, ministered\nunto him with supreme joy. And with a delightful countenance again\nembracing that destroyer of foes, who had been honored by the delighted\nMaharihis, Janaka's daughter became exceedingly happy.\n\n [44] The text varies slightly in other texts.--T.\n\n [45] The Asura Andhaka was slain in the forest of _Sweta_ by Rudra.\n      This is related in the Puranas. Another reading is _Swetarayge\n      yathantaka like the Destroyer in the forest of Sweta_. Swa,\n      according to the _Kurma Purana Uttra Khanda_, in the Kalanyara\n      hill, by a kick with his left leg slew the Destroyer, engaged in\n      pennances, who had come to kill the Rajarshi Sweta, who was a\n      great votary of Siva.--T.\n\n [46] Namuchi was slain by a thunder-bolt laid over with foam.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXI.\n\n\nThen Akampana bestiring himself, speedily issuing out of Janasthana,\nspake unto Ravana, \"0 king, a great many Rakshasa living in Janasthana,\nhave been slain, and Khara also hath been slain in battle. I alone have\nwith much difficulty managed to come here.\" Thus addressed, the\nten-necked one, flaming up in energy, with his eyes reddened in wrath,\nsaid this unto Akampana, \"Who, having his days numbered, hath ravaged\nthe dreadful Janasthana? Who shall no more wend the way of all beings?\nDoing me a bad turn, Maghavan himself, or Vaicravana, or Yama, or\nVishnu, cannot attain happiness. I am the destroyer of the Destroyer\nhimself; and I burn even very Fire. And I can bring death itself to\nmortality. I can by my impetus resist the force of the wind. And when\nenraged, I can by my energy consume the Sun and Fire.\" Thereat,\nAkampana, with joined hands, from fear replied to the ten-necked Ravana,\nin faltering words, beseeching courage. Thereat that foremost of\nRakshasas, the ten-necked one, granted him courage. Then inspired with\nconfidence, Akampana without fear spoke, \"There is a son of Dacaratha,\nyouthful, resembling a lion[47], named Rama of broad shoulders, and\npossessed of excellent beauty of long and mighty-arms. (He) is\nsable-hued, of high fame, and of matchless prowess and vigor. It is he\nthat in Janasthana hath slain Khara with Dushana.\" Hearing Akampana's\nwords, that lord of the Rakshasas, Ravana, breathing like a mighty\nserpent, said these words, \"Tell me, O Akampana, hath Rama come to\nJanasthana, accompanied with the sovereign of the celestials and the\nbody of the immortals? Again hearing Ravana's words, Akampana described\nthe strength and energy of that high-souled one. (He) is named Rama, and\nis exceedingly energetic; the foremost of all bowmen-- furnished with\ncelestial panoply; and is possessed of pre-eminent prowess in warfare.\nLike unto him in strength, of red eyes, and gifted with a voice like the\nsound of a kettledrum, his younger brother, Lakshmana has a countenance\nresembling the full-moon. He hath met with him (Rama) as the wind\nmeeteth with a flame. He is endeued with grace, and is the foremost of\nmonarchs. It is he who hath ravaged Janasthana. The magnanimous gods did\nnot come there. No doubts need be entertained on this head. The\nfeathered shafts, plated with gold near the plumed part, becoming\nfive-mouthed serpents ate up the Rakshasas. Wherever oppressed with fear\nthe Rakshasas go, they see Rama stationed before them. In this way, O\nsinless one, hath Janasthana been exterminated by him.\" Hearing\nAkampana's words, Ravana said, \"I will go to Janasthana for slaying Rama\nwith Lakshmana.\" When he had said this, Akampana said, \"Hear, O king,\nthe true report of Rama's prowess and manliness. Enraged, the highly\nfamous Rama cannot by putting forth vigor be checked. And by means of\nhis shafts, he can make river in full flood turn its course. And he can\nbring down from the sky its stars and planets, and that graceful one can\nrecover the depressed Earth. And that lord can submerge all creatures by\nriving the continents of the sea, and with his shafts can resist the\nonset of the ocean, and the wind; and that illustrious one that foremost\nof persons by virtue of his vigor, destroying the worlds, can again\ncreate all creatures. O ten-necked one, forsooth, Rama cannot be subdued\nin conflict, either by thee or the world of Rakshasas, as heaven is\nincapable of being attained by a sinner. I deem him incapable of being\nslain by all the Gods and Asuras together. This alone is the means of\nslaying. Do thou heedfully listen to it! He has a wife of sterling worth\nin the world, and that slender-waisted one is known by the name of Sita.\nShe is in the full bloom of youth, and hath a symmetrical person--a\njewel among womankind embellished with jewels. And neither a goddess,\nnor a Gandharbi, nor yet an Apsari, nor a Pannagi is equal to her; and\nwhat is a human female? Thrashing him, do thou in the mighty forest,\ncarry away his wife. Without Sita, Rama shall cease to exist.\"\nThereupon, the lord of the Rakshasas, Ravana, happened to relish those\nwords; and reflecting (a while), that mighty-armed one addressed\nAkampana, saying, \"Excellent well. I will go there alone, accompanied by\nmy charioteer only. I will this very morning with a glad heart bring\nVaidehi to this spacious palace.\" Saying this, Ravana departed, lighting\nup all sides, on a sun-shiny car, yoked with mules. And coursing the\nfirmament, that mighty car of that foremost of Rakshasas looked like the\nMoon among clouds. And proceeding far, he, approaching the asylum (of\nTaraka's son), presented himself before him. And Maricha entertained the\nking with meats and drinks passing human. And having entertained him\npersonally with a seat and water (to wash the feet), Maricha spoke these\npregnant words, \"O king, O lord of the Rakshasas, is it well with the\nworlds? I am filled with fear: I apprehend that all is not right, since\nthou hast come hither (alone) in such post-haste speed.\" Thus addressed\nby Maricha, the highly energetic Ravana, versed in speech, said, \"My\nchild, the guards (of Janasthana) have been slain by Rama of untiring\nenergy; and all Janasthana, incapable of being slain, hath (by him) been\nbrought down in battle. Do thou, therefore, assist me in carrying away\nhis wife.\" Hearing these words of the lord of Rakshasas, Maricha said,\n\"What enemy of thine in the guise of a friend, hath spoken of Sita unto\nthee? And, O foremost of monarchs, who, having been, entertained by\nthee, doth not bear thee good will?[48] Tell me, who is it that hath\ntold thee, 'Bring Sita hither?' Who is it that hath set his heart on\nsevering the summit of the entire Rakshasa world? He must be thy enemy\nthat excites thee to this. Of this there is not the least doubt. He\nwishes to extract through thy agency the fangs of a venomous snake. Who\n(intends) to lead thee astray by imposing on thee such a deed? Who,\nking, hath struck in the head, thee that wast slumbering in peace?\nRaghava in war is like a mad elephant, having an unblemished ancestry\nfor his trunk, perspiration for his temporal exudation; and arms resting\nwell beside him for his tusks. O Ravana, thou art not competent even to\nlook at him. Thou ought not to rouse up the sleeping man-lion, that\nslayer of skillful Rakshasas resembling deer, with his sport in the\nfield, for his joints and down; arrows for his body and sharp scimitar\nfor his teeth. O Sovereign of the Rakshasas, thou ought not to plunge\nthyself into this dreadful, and abysslesss ocean, having the bow for its\nalligators, activity of arms for its shine, arrows for its billows, and\nengagement for its waters. Be propitious, O lord of Lanka! O foremost of\nRakshasas, with a contented heart, thou hadst better go thy way to\nLanka. Do thou ever sport with thy own wives: let Rama in company with\nhis wife, sport in the woods.\" Thus addressed by Maricha, the\nten-throated Ravana desisted, and entered Lanka the best of capitals.\n\n [47] Another reading is _Viranga: rupopeta: possessed of handsome\n      person._\n\n [48] Another reading is--_ko na nandati ninditi; who having been\n      insulted by thee, doth not rejoice (in thy prosperity)_, and,\n      therefore, in the garb of friend-ship, hath done thee this\n      wrong?--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXII.\n\n\nSeeing fourteen thousands of Rakshasas of dread deeds, together with\nDushana, and Khara, and Tricira, slain in battle by Rama single-handed,\nthat one resembling clouds, Surpanaka, again fell to send up mighty\nsounds. And witnessing Rama's deeds, incapable of being performed by\nothers, she, extremely agitated, went to Lanka, ruled by Ravana. And she\nsaw the effulgent Ravana in front of his palace, surrounded by his\ncounsellors, like Vasava surrounded by the Maruts; seated on a supreme\ngolden seat resembling the sun, and like unto a flaming fire on a golden\ndais kept alive by sacrificial offerings; unconquerable by high-souled\nsaints, celestials, Gandharbas and all creatures; terrible like the\nDestroyer with his mouth wide open; his persons containing scars[49] of\nwounds inflicted by the thunderbolt and the lightnings, in the war\nbetween the gods and Asuras; his breast bearing marks of attacks made by\nAiravata with the ends of his tusks;--having twenty hands and ten\nheads,--wearing elegant attire; broad breasted; heroic; marked with\nroyal signs; (in hue) resembling cool lapises; embellished in ornaments\nof burnished gold; having goodly hands, white teeth, and a huge face\nresembling a hill;--even him who in the war of the gods had been\nassailed an hundred ways with the descent of Vishnu's discus; whose body\nhad been cut with all the weapons of the celestials; (him) who furiously\ndisturbs the deep incapable of being disturbed; uproots mountain\nsummits, and tramples over gods,--the destroyer of righteousness, and\nthe violater of other's wives;--the employer of all celestial arms, and\nthe disturber of sacrifices;--who going to the city of Bhagab and\nvanquishing Vasaki, had carried off Takshaka's beloved wife; who, going\nto Kailaca, and defeating him having for his vehicle a human being, had\ncarried off the car Pushpaka coursing at every where at will; who\nendeued with prowess had devastated the divine Chaitraratha grove, the\ntank (situated there) and the Nandana wood,--as well as the gardens of\nthe gods; and, who, himself resembling a mountain summit, had by means\nof his upraised arms, obstructed the rising of these repressor of foes\nthe exalted Sun and Moon; who, possessed of calmness, having formerly\nfor ten thousand years carried on asceticism in the mighty forest,\noffered his own heads unto the self create one; who in conflict fears,\nnot death from either gods or Danavas or Gandharbas, or Picachas or\nbirds or serpents, from none save human beings; who, possessed of\nprodigious strength, forcibly takes away the clarified butter sanctified\nwith mantras from the sacrificial ground; the destroyer of sacrifices\nabout to be completed; of villanous nature; the slaughterer of\nBrahmanas; of cruel deeds; harsh and kindless, and ever bent on doing\nevil unto all creatures; and railing furiously at all creatures; the\ninspirer of fear in all beings. And the Rakshasi beheld her exceedingly\npowerful and cruel brother, wearing gorgeous apparel and ornaments, and\ndecked in a glorious garland,--seated, like the Destroyer at the time\n(of dissolution) ready (to destroy); the exalted chief of Rakshasas; the\ndelight of the race of Paulastya. Stupified with fear, the Rakshasi,\napproaching that destroyer of foes; Ravana, surrounded by his\ncounsellors, said these words. And transported with fear and desire,\nSurpanakha, given to fearlessly ranging every where, who had been\ndeformed by that high-souled one, showing (her mutilation), addressed\nthese harsh words unto Ravana of flaming and expansive eyes.\n\n [49] This reminds one of Milton: of Belzebub, he says,--\n      \"-------------- His person, Deep scars of thunder had\n      intrenched--_Par. Lost_,--Book 1\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXIII.\n\n\nThen the woe begone Surpanakha, in high wrath spoke harshly in the midst\nof the courtiers, unto Ravana, given to railing loudly against all\ncreatures, \"Intoxicated with enjoyments, acting as thou wilt, and\nwithout any control whatever, thou dost not see that a dreadful disaster\nis impending. The subjects do not esteem a monarch that is given to\nsensual enjoyments, is intent upon satisfying his lust and is covetous\nlike the fire in a cemetery. The king that doth not act at the proper\ntime, finds destruction along with his kingdom and acts. Even as\nelephants shun the muddy river, do people shun from a distance, the\nruler that doth not send out spies, who showeth not himself (unto his\nsubjects), and who hath lost his independence. Like unto rocks in the\nsea, those monarchs that do not administer their dominions, that are not\ndependent, do not prosper. Having incurred the hostility of the gods,\nthe Danavas and the Gandharbas of subdued souls and senses, how canst\nthou, who art fickle, and hast not employed spies, become the king? And,\nO Rakshasa, thou art childish and foolish; and doth not know what thou\nshouldst. How canst thou then become the king? O thou best of\nconquerers, those kings whose spies, exchequer and morality are not\nfree, are like the common herd. It is because kings know distant dangers\nthrough spies, therefore they are styled far-sighted. I believe thou\nhast no spies, and that thy counsellors are common folks, since although\nJanasthana with thy kinsman is destroyed, yet thou takest it not to\nheart. Fourteen thousands of Rakshasas of dreadful deeds, with Khara and\nDushana, have all been slain by Rama single-handed; Rama of untiring\nenergy hath inspired the saints with courage; the Dandakas have been\nbenefitted; and Janasthana hath been harassed. But thou, covetous and\nintoxicated and in the power of others, dost not understand that a great\ndanger is overhanging (thee). People do not in times of peril assist a\nsovereign that is wrathful, stingy, intoxicated, haughty and deceitful.\nEven his own kindred slay a sovereign that sets inmense store by his own\nself, is of light worth, regards himself highly, and irascible. They do\nnot serve him; nor do they fear when he intimidates them. Such an one is\nspeedily dethroned; and reduced to poverty and becomes like a straw.\nEven dry wood may serve a purpose; or stone, or dust; but no purpose is\ncapable of being served by a sovereign that hath been cast off his\nplace. Like a cloth that hath been worn, like a garland that hath been\ntrodden, a king that hath been dethroned, although able, is of no\nconsequence. But a king that keeps his wits about him, understands\neverything, is of controlled senses, and grateful, and of virtuous\ncharacter, endureth for ever. That king is honored by men, that sleeping\nwith his eyes, is awake as respects his eye of duty, and (the effects\nof) whose anger and favor, are seen (by all). But, thou Ravana, who hast\nnot by means of spies, acquainted thyself with the slaughter of\nRakshasas, art of evil understanding and bereft of all these virtues,\ngiven to disgracing others, ignorant of the proper distribution of time\nand place,[50] and never taking care to distinguish merits and defects,\nthou, thy kingdom being in danger, wilt speedily meet with disaster.\" On\nhis vices having been thus celebrated by her (Surpanakha), that lord of\nthe rangers of night, Ravana, musing awhile, was long plunged in\nthought.\n\n [50] The commentator, is silent here. The meaning evidently is, _thou\n      dost not discern the where and when of things.--T._\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXIV.\n\n\nSEEING Surpanaka speak harsh words in the midst of the courtiers,\nRavana, being enraged, asked her, saying, \"Who is Rama? And what is his\nprowess? And what his form? And what his power? And why hath he entered\nthe forest of Dandaka, difficult to range? And what Rama's weapons, by\nmeans of which he hath slain the Rakshasas? And Khara hath been slain in\nbattle, and Dushana and Tricira. Do thou, O thou of a pleasing person,\ntell me the truth. And who hath deformed thee?\" Thus addressed by the\nlord of the Rakshasas, the Rakshasi, transported with rage, commenced to\nduly narrate all about Rama. \"Rama the son of Dacaratha is long-armed,\nof expansive eyes, clad in bark and dark deer-skin, and like Kandarpa in\ngrace. And drawing a bow resembling that of Sakra, decked with golden\nrings, he discharges blazing _narachas_, like unto serpents of virulent\npoison. I do not see in the field, Rama drawing his bow: I only see the\nhost being slaughtered by a shower of shafts. And as Indra destroys (a\nfield of) goodly crops, by pouring down hail stones, fourteen thousand\nRakshasas of dreadful prowess, as well as Khara and Dushana were in a\nlittle over a moment slain with sharp shafts by Rama alone fighting on\nfoot. And he hath reassured the saints, and after having been deformed,\nI alone from fear of slaying a woman, have been let off by the\nhigh-souled Rama knowing self. His brother is endeued with mighty\nenergy, and in merit, is of equal prowess; and he is devoted to his\nbrother, and beareth him regard; the puissant one is named Lakshmana.\nAnd wrathful and invincible and victorious, and powerful, and\nintelligent and mighty, (he) is Rama's right-arm--his life ranging\nexternally. And Rama's virtuously wedded beloved wife, having expansive\neyes, and a face resembling the full-moon, is ever to the welfare of her\nlord. And that fair-haired, fair-nosed, and fair-thighed illustrious one\npossessed of beauty, graceth the forest like a goddess,--as if a goddess\nof wealth herself. Of the lustre of burnished gold, with her finger\nnails reddish and projecting, and graceful, that surpassingly lovely\nwench is named Sita--the slender waisted daughter of Videha. And neither\na goddess, nor a Gandharbi, nor a Yakshi, nor a Kinnari, had I seen\nbefore on earth, possessed of such beauty. He that shall have Sita for\nhis spouse, and who shall be warmly embraced by her, shall live longer\nin the world than the Lord of celestials himself. That good-natured\ngirl, unparalleled on earth in loveliness, who can well pride herself on\nher person, is a worthy wife for thee; and thou too art a fit husband\nfor her. It is to bring over for thee that one of spacious hips, and a\nhigh and well-developed bust, that I had put forth my endeavours. But, O\nmighty-armed one I have been disfigured by the wicked Lakshmana. As soon\nas thou hast seen Vaidehi having a countenance resembling the full moon,\nthou shalt be afflicted with the shafts of Cupid. If it is thy purpose\nto have her for thy wife, at once stretch forth thy right leg, for\nattaining success. If, O lord of Rakshasas, thou relishest my speech, do\nthou then, O Ravana, without fear, do as I tell thee. Understanding\ntheir incapacity, do thou, O lord of Rakshasas, for making her thy wife,\nby force carry away the frail Sita of a blameless person. Hearing that\nRama by means of straight coursing shafts hath slain the Rakshasas that\nhad gone to Janasthana, and seeing Khara and Dushana, killed, do thou\nascertaining thy course, adopt it.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXV.\n\n\nHearing those words of Surpanakha, able to make one's hair stand on end,\n(Ravana) ascertaining his course after issuing his orders to his\ncouncellors, departed. And proposing to himself that act, weighing its\ngood and evil, considering his capacity or otherwise, and (finally)\ndetermining his purpose, Ravana with a fixed mind went to the handsome\nstable. And going to the stable in disguise, the lord of the Rakshasasas\ncommanded the charioteer, saying, \"Yoke the car.\" Thus asked, the\ncharioteer possessed of fleet vigor, in a trice, yoked an excellent car\nafter his heart. And ascending the car coursing at will, made of gold\nand garnished with spectral faces as well as arrow decked with\ngold,--resembling a mass of clouds, the graceful ruler of the\nRakshasas--younger brother to the Lord of wealth--proceeded in that\nnoiseless (vehicle), past the lord of rivers and streams. And with\nchouris of white hair, and a white umbrella, having ten-faces,\nresembling (in hue) cool lapises, wearing ornaments of polished gold,\npossessed of ten mouths, and twenty arms, clad in elegant apparel,--the\nfoe of the celestials, and slayer of the foremost ascetics--having huge\nheads like unto the monarch of mountains, the lord of the Rakshasas,\nmounted on that chariot coursing at will, appeared beautiful like a mass\nof clouds in the sky, with cranes, in the midst of lightning. And that\none possessed of prowess beheld the shore of the sea, containing crags,\nscattered with trees bearing fruits and flowers of various kinds by\nthousands, bordered all around with pools furnished with cool and\ndelightful waters, ornamented with spacious asylums having daises,\ngraced with woods of plantain, beauteous with cocoanuts, and blossoming\n_sala_ and palmyra, and _tamala_, trees, grateful with supreme saints\nrigidly restraining their fear, and with serpents and fowls of fair\nfeathers and Gandharbas and Kinnaras by thousands; and pleasant with\nSiddhas and Charanas, that have controlled their lust; with those\ndescendants of Brahma--the Vaikhanas, the Mashas, the Valakhilyas, and\nthe Marichipas; swarming with females, divinely beautiful, dight with\ngorgeous ornaments and garlands, and Apsaras skilled in sport, by\nthousands; frequented by the wives of the celestials, and honored by\ngraceful girls; ranged by multitudes of deities and Danavas, feeding on\nambrosia; abounding with swans, Kraunchas, and frogs, echoing to (the\ncries of) cranes; containing stones resembling the lapis, and mild and\ncool by the influence of the ocean. And as he proceeded, the younger\nbrother of the Lord of wealth, saw on all sides spacious cars capable of\ncoursing at will, sable, furnished with fair garlands, and resounding\nwith trumpet notes,--and Gandharbas and Apsaras. And surveying by\nthousands woods of sandal exuding gum at their roots,[51] and of choice\n_aguru_, grateful unto the sense of smell; and woods and groves of\nexcellent and odorous takkola fruits; blossoms of the Tamala, and\nthickets of black pepper; heaps of pearls drying on the shore; rocks;\nthe best corals in masses;[52] summits of gold and silver;[53] charming\npellucid rills at places; and cities filled with corn and wealth,\nabounding in gems of women, and thronged with horses, elephants and\ncars--Ravana on the shore of the ocean beheld around a level and soft\nscene, resembling heaven itself--where breezes of delicate feel kept\nbreathing. And there he saw a fig tree, hued like clouds, surrounded by\nascetics; its branches stretched around an hundred Yoyanas, and the\nexceedingly powerful Garuda had ascended one of its boughs, taking an\nelephant and a huge tortoise, for the purpose of devouring them. And\nthat best of birds, the powerful Suparna by his weight suddenly broke a\nbranch containing full many leaves. And it came to pass that\nVaikhanasas, Mashas, Valakhilyas, Marichipas, Ayas, and Dhumras,--saints\nof the highest order--had assembled there. Thereat, moved by\ncommisseration (for the ascetics), the virtuous Garuda, taking with\npromptitude the broken bough measuring an hundred Yoyanas as well as the\nelephant and the tortoise, by one leg, at length eating up the animals,\nand by means of the bough, exterminating the country of the\nNishadas--that best of birds attained unequalled delight in consequence\nof having rescued the mighty ascetics. Thereat, attaining double energy\nby virtue of that delight that intelligent one set his heart on bringing\nambrosia. And tearing off the iron links of the network, and bursting\ninto the repository of gem, he carried away secreted ambrosia from the\nresidence of the great Indra. Kuvera's younger brother beheld this fig\ntree, named Subhadra, graced with the Maharshi, on which Suparna had\nleft his mark. Then repairing to the other shore of that lord of rivers,\nthe ocean, Ravana saw an asylum lying in the forest in a charming and\nsacred recess. And there he saw a Rakshasa, named Maricha, clad in a\ndark deer-skin, bearing a head of matted locks, subsisting on restricted\nfare. And approaching Ravana duly, the Rakshasa, Maricha, received the\nking with every hospitality passing human. And having entertained him\npersonally with meats and drinks, Maricha addressed him in weighty\nwords, saying, \"O lord of the Rakshasas, king, is it well with thee in\nLanka? And what for hast thou again come hither so speedily?\" Thus\naddressed by Maricha, that highly powerful one, skilled in speech,\nRavana said.\n\n [51] _Niryydsurasa mutanam, gen, (sandal), which forms the principal\n      ingredient in perfumes, containing odorous gums.--T._\n\n [52] Another reading is: _heaps of conch.--T._\n\n [53] Some texts read _sailam--hills.--T._\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXVI.\n\n\nO Maricha, hearken unto me, my child, as I relate everything unto thee).\nI am distressed; and in this distress of mine, thou art certainly my\ngreat refuge. Thou knowest Janasthana, where lives my brother Khara, and\nthe mighty-armed Dushana, and my sister, Surpanakha; as also that\nRakshasa subsisting on (human) flesh, the long armed Tricira, and many\nother heroic night-rangers besides, of high enthusiasm in\nbattles--Rlkshasas, who had been living there at my command, troubling\nin the mighty forest the ascetics carrying on their pious offices. And\nfourteen thousands of Rakshasas of dreadful deeds, heroic,\nhigh-spirited,-- Rakshasas possessed of exceeding prowess; while\nresiding n Janasthana of late,--clad in mail and equipped with various\nweapons, headed by Khara, met with Rama in the field. Getting enraged,\nRama in conflict without returning any harsh speech, by means of his\nshafts shot from his bow, --hath, a human being, and fighting on foot,\nwith his flaming arrows slaughtered fourteen thousand Rakshasas of\nfierce energy. And Khara hath been slain in battle, and Dushana also\nhath been brought down. And having slain Tricira too, (Rama) hath rid\nthe Dandaka of all fear. Having been expelled by his enraged sire, that\ndisgrace of Kshatriyas, the weak Rama, living in company with his wife\nhath effected the destruction of this army. He is of a vile character,\ncrabbed, foolish, covetuous, of uncontrolled senses, bereft of morality,\nsinful, and ever engaged in the evil of all creatures,--by whom,\nviolently without hostility my sister hath been deformed in the forest\nby having her nose and ears cut off. Of him will I carry off by force\nfrom Janasthana, his wife, Sita, resembling the daughter of a celestial.\nBe thou my help in it. For certain, O exceedingly strong one, if thou\nhelp me at my side, if my brothers also back me, I do not think much of\nall the celestials. Therefore, be thou my help; for, thou art capable, O\nRakshasa. In prowess in battle, and in indomitableness, there is none\nlike thee. Thou art a mighty hero commanding resources, and conversant\nwith potent illusory displays. Taking this to my heart, I have come to\nthee, O ranger of the night. Do thou listen as to the business in which\nby my command thou art to help me. Becoming a golden deer, marked with\nsilver spots, do thou range about in Rama's asylum in presence of Sita.\nSeeing thee helpless, in the shape of a deer, Sita will say unto her\nlord and Lakshmana also,--\"Do ye catch it.\" And when they shall have\ndeparted, I shall carry off from the empty asylum, Sita without let,\nlike Rahu depriving the Moon of his splendour. Then when Rama shall be\nsore afflicted because of the carrying off of his wife, I shall easily,\ncrowning my soul with success, safely bear away Sita. Hearing Rama's\nwords, the face of the high-souled Maricha became blank and he was\nseized with apprehension. And licking up his dried lips, with winkless\neyes, (Maricha) as if dead, and exceedingly distressed, eyed Ravana,\nsteadily. And alarmed because of Ravana, with his mind depressed,\nMaricha who well knew Rama's prowess in the forest, with joined hands in\nagitation spoke words lending to his own as well as Ravana's welfare.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXVII.\n\n\nHearing the words of that sovereign of the Rakshasas, the highly\nenergetic Maricha, skilled in speech, answered the Rakshasa chief,\nsaying, \"0 king, the speaker of soft words is common, but the speaker\nand the listner of unwelcome though beneficial words are rarities.\nVolatile, and employing no spies, thou surely dost not understand the\nexceedingly powerful Rama towering high in virtues, and resembling the\nillustrious Indra or Varuna himself. I shall be well, my child, if Rama\nfired with rage, do not render all the world bereft of Rakshasas; if\nJanaka's daughter hath not sprung to compass thy destruction, if a\ndreadful disaster do not befall thee because of Sita, and if having\nobtained for her lord thee that art wilful and wicked, the city of Lanka\nwith thee and the Rakshasas do not meet with utter extermination. The\nsovereign who is wicked, whimsical and of evil intent like thee,\nbringeth about his own destruction as well as that of his kingdom and\nrelatives. Rama, the enhancer of Kaucalya's delight hath not been\nabandoned by his father, nor is he devoid of propriety of conduct; he is\nnot avaricious, wicked nor the destroyer of Kastriya race. He does not\nlack religious merits or accomplishments, nor is he of a harsh\ntemperament and intent on causing misery unto creatures. Finding his\ntruthful sire imposed on by Kaikeyi he has sojourned unto woods. For\ncompassing the welfare of his father Dacaratha and Kaikeyi he hath\nentered the forest of Dandaka. Rama, O my child is not harsh or foolish;\nnor has he not control over his senses. Far from speaking untruth he\ndoes not know false stories even. It doth not behove thee therefore to\nuse such improper language towards him. He is an incarnation of virtue,\npious and truthful, and lord of all men as Basava of all celestials. How\ndost thou then wish to carry away by force his Vaidehi, protected by\nvirtue of her own chastity, like unto the rays of Sun? It doth not\nbehove thee to enter that fire of Rama who hath arrows for rays and bow\nand scimitar for fuel. It doth not behove thee, O Ravana, to approach\nRama renouncing thy kingdom, happiness and love of life, who is like\nunto death itself and has bow for his widened and flaming mouth, and\narrows for his rays and who is irrepressible, of mighty prowess, holding\nbows and arrows and repulsing the forces of the enemy. Incomparable is\nhis power; daughter of Janaka is his wife and lives in the forest\nconfiding in the mighty strength of his bow; thou shalt not be able to\ncarry her away. She is the beloved wife of that best of men having a\nleonine chest--and he holds his wife dearer than his life and is ever\nattached unto her. And young Sita beloved of the mighty Rama, and like\nunto the rays of flaming fire is ever incapable of being carried away by\nthee. Of what avail is this vain attempt O Rakshasa chief? No sooner\nRama shall see you in the battle thou shalt meet with thy end. Hard it\nis to attain life, happiness and kingdom, so it behoveth thee to act\nproperly, after consulting with thy ministers headed by Bivishana,\njudging Rama's merits and demerits and ascertaining his and thy own\nstrength and as well as thy welfare. Methinks thy approaching conflict\nwith the son of the Kocala chief forebodes no good unto thee; hear again\ntherefore O prince of the night-rangers, words sensible and lending to\nthy welfare.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXVIII.\n\n\nOnce on a time I was engaged in travelling all over the earth. I had in\nmy body, resembling a huge mountain, the strength of a thousand Nagas. I\nhad _parigha_ in my hands, crown on my head and golden ear-rings on my\nears and my body was of a dark blue colour like that of a cloud. Causing\nfright unto the people I used to wander through the forest of Dandaka\nand live upon the flesh of the Rishis. The pious ascetic Viswamitra\nbeing afraid of me went in person to the king Dacaratha and said, \"When\nI shall remain absorbed in meditation on the occasion of parva, let Rama\nprotect me O king, Truly am I afraid of this Maricha.\" Being thus\naddressed by the ascetic the virtuous-souled king Dacaratha replied,\nsaying \"Raghava is still under twelve years of age and hath not been\nwell disciplined in military arts. But I have soldiers enough, and if\npermitted by thee, O thou best of ascetics, I shall with my four-fold\nforces kill thy enemies, the rangers of the night.\" Being thus addressed\nthat ascetic spoke unto the monarch, saying, \"True it is that thou wert\nthe protector of the celestials in the War and thy exploits are well\nknown to the world, but no one shall be able to withstand the Rakshasas\nbut Rama. The highly energetic Rama, though a boy is sufficiently\nqualified to defeat the enemies; therefore, O Destroyer of foes, let thy\nsoldiery remain here and let me proceed along with Rama. May God bless\nthee.\" Saying this the ascetic Viswamitra being pleased went to his\nasylum along with Rama. Afterwards having been initiated for the\nsacrifice in the forest of Dandaka Rama having unstrung his mighty bow\ncame to the ascetic to protect the sacrifice. He had a gold chain round\nhis neck, a crest on his head and a bow in his hands; he had a pair of\nbeautiful eyes, and only one piece of cloth; his countenance was of\ngreen hue and exquisite beauty and even then mustaches or other signs of\nmanhood did not appear on his face. Beautifying the entire forest of\nDandaka with his own splendour Rama appeared like the newly risen moon.\nThereupon I resembling a cloud and having golden ear locks entered the\nasylum being proud of my power on account of the boons offered unto me\nby Brahma. Seeing me enter he took up his dart and attached string unto\nhis bow with proper care. Being under the influence of sheer foolishness\nI passed by him as a child and darted towards the sacrificial altar of\nViswamitra. Thereupon he wounded me with a sharpened sword capable of\ndoing away with the enemies and threw me away into the ocean situated at\na distance of hundred yojanas. He had no mind of killing me then and for\nthis he saved my life. I was thrown however into the deep ocean being\nhindered by the velocity of his arrows and having lost my consciousness.\nRegaining my sense after a long while I returned the city of Lanka.\nMyself saved thus, my followers however were all killed by Rama of\nunwearied activity though a mere child and a novice in the art of\nwarfare. It is for this that I do prevent thee; thou shalt be\noverwhelmed with calamities and meet with destruction if dost thou\nengage thyself in battle with him. In vain shalt thou bring about the\naffliction of the mirthful and sportive Rakshasas ever witnessing social\nfestivities. And in vain shalt thou for Sita compass the destruction of\nthe city of Lanka, adorned with diverse jewels and filled with golden\nedifices. Pious men living with a vicious man, meet with destruction for\nhis sins, though they themselves do not commit any misdeed, like unto\nfish (devoured by Garuda) living in a lake where snakes dwell. Thus\nshalt thou witness that for thy own folly the rangers of the night,\nadorned with celestial ornaments and having their body pasted with\nsandal, have been killed and brought down to the earth. And they\ndeprived of shelter have fled away to different directions, some with\ntheir wives and some alone, having their wives carried away (by the\nenemies). Thou shalt further observe that all edifices of Lanka, being\nenveloped with arrows and flaming fire have been burnt down to ashes.\nThere is no greater sin on earth than carrying away another's wife.\nThere are a thousand ladies in thy seraglio O king. Being attached unto\nthy wives do thou preserve the race of the Rakshasas, thy own line, thy\nwished for life, kingdom, wealth and dignity. Do not bring about Rama's\nmischief if dost thou wish to live happily with thy wives and friends. I\nam thy friend and do ask thee again and again to desist (from thy evil\nintentions); if dost thou encroach upon Sita surely shalt thou along\nwith thy kinsmen go to the abode of Yama being enfeebled by the arrows\nof Rama.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXIX.\n\n\nI was however somehow saved by Rama in that conflict. Listen what\nhappened afterwards. I was not humbled even by the danger of my life.\nOnce again I entered the forest of Dandaka accompanied by two Rakshasas\nassuming the shape of deer. I had a flaming tongue, huge teeth,\nsharpened horns and lived on the flesh of ascetics. Assuming such a\nterrible appearance I began to traverse with great vehemence the\n_Tirtha_, _Agnihotri_ and the place of worship; eating the flesh and\ndrinking the blood of the ascetics after killing them I began to hinder\nall religious services. I had a most ugly figure and was maddened with\ndrinking blood, and all the animals of the forest were exceedingly\nfrightened at me. White I was thus traversing the forest of Dandaka\nthrowing obstacles in the way of religious services I saw the pious\nascetic Rama living on a restricted fare, the honored Sita and the\nmighty Lakshmana, taking recourse to asceticism, moderate in eating and\never engaged in the welfare of created beings. Remembering his former\nenmity and aggrandisement, I, being extremely wrathful, in my deer shape\nand with my sharpened horns, darted towards him with a view to kill him,\nconsidering through my ignorance the effulgent Rama as none other but an\nascetic living in the forest. Then stringing his huge bow he darted\nthree sharpened arrows at me. Those three terrible arrows with bent\nknots resembling thunder-bolts, killing enemies and drinking blood and\nhaving the motion of Garuda and air, coalescing with each other came\nbefore us. Wicked as I am, I was fully aware of his prowess having been\nfrightend by him on a former occasion, and so I saved myself by\nescaping, but those two Rakshasas were killed. O Ravana, any how saved\nfrom the arrows of Rama and having got my life back I have resorted to\nthe life of an ascetic and have been carrying on asceticism here being\nabsorbed in _Yoga_.\n\nFrom that very day I see Rama wearing bark and deer skin even in the\nvery trees before me like unto Death with the noose in his hands.\nTerrified as I am I always seeing thousands of Rama around me. Me seems\nthe entire forest is inhabited by Rama only. O king of Rakshasas, I see\nRama even in the quarter where there is no Rama. Seeing him in my dreams\neven I look around like one awaken. O Ravana what more shall I speak\nunto thee, I am so much afraid of Rama that such words as Ratna (jewel)\nRatha (chariot) which begin with the letter Ra administer consternation\nunto me. I am fully apprised of the prowess of that descendant of Raghu;\nit doth not behove thee to enter into conflict with him; he can destroy\nVali and Namuchi. Ravana, whether dost thou fight with Rama or not, do\nnot mention him unto me if dost thou wish to see me. Many persons pious\nand devoted to asceticism on this earth have met with destruction for\nanother's misdeeds. And I shall meet with a similar fate for thy sins. O\nthou the ranger of night do whatever thou likest, I shall not follow\nthee. Truely is that highly intelligent and effulgent Rama of mighty\nprowess, like death itself unto the rangers of night. Though the wicked\nKhara of Janasthana hath been slain by him on Surpanakha's account, yet\nhow is he to blame for it? Do thou truly speak. Thou art my friend; it\nis for this and for thy welfare that I speak this truth unto thee. If\ndost thou not follow my words, thyself with all thy kinsmen, shall be\nslain in battle by Rama.\n\n\n\nSECTION XL.\n\n\nAs a person desirous of meeting with his end doth not take medicine,\nRavana, the king of night-rangers paid no heed to the appropriate and\nsound words of Maricha skilled in speech, foreboding good unto him.\nMoreover he addressed him with the following harsh words. \"O, Maricha,\nwhat thou hast spoken unto me, shall bear no fruit like unto seeds sown\ninto a desert-land. I shall not be frightened thereby to fight with that\nfoolish Rama--a human being of vicious deeds. Surely shall I before thee\ntake away from that Rama the destroyer of Khara his favourite wife, at\nwhose words he has sojourned into woods renouncing his father mother,\nkingdom and friends. I have made this firm resolution in my mind O,\nMaricha; even Indra, with the celestials and Ashuras shall not be able\nto shake it. It would have been proper for thee to give vent to these\nexpressions had I but asked thee for advice to ascertain my duty, the\npropriety or impropriety of my action, its way or losses. A wise\ncounsellor who wishes prosperity unto himself should always communicate\nunto his master his desire with joined hands whenever asked to do so. It\nis always proper to speak before monarchs such pleasant and favourable\nwords as are intended for the welfare of the master and are sanctioned\nby the royal etiquette. A respectable king doth not receive with good\ngrace friendly words even when they are expressed disrespectfully.\nSovereigns of superb prowess assume the semblance of five deities--Agni,\nIndra, Moon, Yama, and Varuna. Powerful kings, O Ranger of the night,\nassume haughtiness, power, a placid look and contentment and administer\npunishment unto the wicked. They are to be adored and honored therefore\non all occasions. Thou art ignorant of kingly morality and fully\nabsorbed in illusion. It is for this that thou dost out of thy\nwickedness of heart address me thy guest with these harsh words. I do\nnot ask thee O, Rakshasa about the propriety (of my conduct or about my\nwelfare. I did only ask thee for thy help. Listen what thou shalt have\nto do at my request in my aid; assuming the shape of a deer having\ngolden skin painted with silvery drops do thou proceed to the asylum of\nRama, and ranging at large before Vaidehi do thou after captivating her\ntake thy wished-for way. Vaidehi, being struck with wonder seeing thee a\ngolden deer capable of illusions, shall request Rama to get thee soon\nfor her. Kakuthstha issuing out of the asylum, thou shalt, at great\ndistance utter such cries as \"O Sita, O Lakahmana\" imitating his\n(Rama's) voice. Hearing those cries Lakshmana also, at the behest of\nSita, shall proceed to Rama. When both Rama and Lakshmana shall go\nelsewhere in this way I shall to my felicity carry away Vaidehi like\nunto the thousand-eyed deity carrying away Sachi. O Rakshasa, do thou go\nwherever thou likest after doing this. I shall confer on thee, O\nMaricha, half of my kingdom. O thou of auspicious look, do thou proceed\ntowards the forest of Dandaka to compass this end of mine; I shall\nfollow thee in my chariot. Acquiring Sita without any conflict, after\nimposing upon Rama I shall return to Lanka successful along with thee. I\nshall kill thee, O Maricha, if dost thou not obey my behest. I shall\ncompell thee to do this. No body can attain to prosperity and happiness,\nacting against his sovereign's will. Truly shalt thou risk thy life if\nthou approachest Rama, but thou shalt meet with sure destruction if dost\nthou act against my will . Consider about it, and do what thou thinkest\nproper.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLI.\n\n\nBeing thus commanded by Ravana like a king to act against his will\nMaricha fearlessly addressed the lord of the Rakshasas with the\nfollowing bold words, \"What person of impious deeds hath advised thee O\nranger of the night thus in order to exterminate thee with thy kingdom,\ncounsellors and children? Who of a vicious heart, O King, doth not feel\nhimself happy at thy welfare? Who hath pointed out unto thee the way of\nthy death under the cover of thy means? O Ranger of night surely do thy\nweak enemies wish to bring about thy destruction by making thee enter\ninto a conflict with a powerful man. What little-minded man of evil\nintent hath counselled thee thus? O Ranger of night, really do they\ndesire that thou dost bring destruction upon thyself by thy own actions.\nThou dost not exterminate thy counsellors O Ravana, albeit they are\nworthy of being destroyed. For they do not prevent thee entirely from\nthy evil course. Wise counsellors do always restrain a king who wends a\nvicious track being guided by his impulses and passions; but about thee\nthey are quite unmindful, though thou shouldst by every means be brought\nunder restraint. O thou the best of conquerors, O thou the ranger of\nnight, ministers by the grace of their sovereign attain virtue, wealth,\ndesires and fame. But those objects are never attained O Ravana when\nthey are not in good odour with their sovereign; moreover the subjects\nmeet with dangers when he is devoid of all qualities. O thou the best of\nconquerors, the king is the root of virtue and fame unto the subjects;\nhe should therefore be always protected by them. O ranger of night,\nproud kings of cruel temperament, acting against the subjects can never\nadminister their kingdoms. So do the ministers of cruel counsel meet\nwith their end like unto a chariot driven into a wild track by an\nunskilled charioteer. Many a pious person, on this earth, ever engaged\nin the performance of religious services, have, for the folly of other\npersons, met with destruction along with their relatives. Verily the\nsubjects, O Ravana, can never expect to prosper under the regime of\nhot-natured sovereigns acting against their subjects like unto deer\nunder the protection of a jackal. All the Rakshasas shall surely die, O\nRavana whose lord art thou, foolish, cruel and under the control of thy\npassions. I shall not be the least sorry if I do meet with a sudden\naccident--what I do deplore most is that thou shalt meet in no time with\ndestruction along with thy soldiery. Compassing my end Rama shall\nenterminate thee in no time--and blessed I shall be being killed by an\nenemy in the conflict. Surely dost thou know that no sooner shall I see\nRama I shall be done away with; thou shalt carrying away Sita meet with\nthy end along with thy kinsmen. And if dost thou bring Sita with me from\nthe asylum, none shall be saved,--me, thyself, the city of Lanka, and\nthe Rakshasas. Thou dost not relish my words O ranger of the night\nthough prevented by me, who wishes thee welfare; those men who range on\nthe verge of death, well-nigh finishing the term of their existence do\nnot receive with good grace the counsels of friends.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLII.\n\n\nSpeaking these harsh words unto Ravana, Maricha being afraid of him\nsaid, \"We shall both go. Surely shall I be deprived of my life by him\n(Rama) taking up his scimitar and having a bow and arrows in his hands,\nif I go before him again. Meeting with his prowess thou shalt never\nreturn with thy life; he is like the noose of Death unto thee though\nthou hadst baffled its power. Thou art vicious-souled, what can I do for\nthee? Be thou crowned with success O ranger of the night, I shall go.\"\nThe Lord of Rakshasas being pleased with Marietta's words embraced him\nwarmly and said, \"This is worthy of thy heroism that thou hast addressed\nthyself to act after my desire. Thou wert another Rakshasa before and\nhast now become true Maricha. Do thou now with me ascend this chariot\ncoursing in the air, crested with jewels and driven by asses having\nfaces of a demon. Enchanting Vaidehi thou shalt wend thy way and away\nshall I carry the daughter of the king of Mithila by force (when there\nshall be neither Rama nor Lakshmana by her.)\" Thereupon Taraka's son\nassented to Ravana's words, and both of them ascending the chariot like\nunto a heavenly car set out for the hermitage. And beholding diverse\ntowns, forests, mountains, rivers, kingdoms and cities they reached the\nforest of Dandaka and the asylum of Rama. And descending now from the\ngolden car the lord of Rakshasas together with Maricha beheld Rama's\nasylum. Taking him (Maricha) by the hand Ravana spake saying \"There\nstands the asylum of Rama surrounded by palm trees. Do thou do that for\nwhich we have come here.\" Hearing the words of Ravana, the Rakshasa\nMaricha assuming the wonderful shape of a (golden) deer began to range\nat large before Rama's hermitage. The points of its horns were like unto\n(two) excellent jewels, its countenance was diversified with white and\nblack colour, its face was like a red lotus, its ears were like unto two\nblue lotuses, its neck was little raised, its belly was like a saphire,\nits sides were like unto Madhuka flowers, its color was like that of a\nfilament of a lotus, its hoops were like unto _Baidurjas_ (a gem of a\ndark color); of lean thighs; of firm joints; its tail having the\ndiversified color of a rainbow was upraised. It was of a pleasant and\ncool hue and crested with various jewels.\n\nAnd in no time the Rakshasa assumed the shape of a beautiful deer. To\ntempt Vaidehi that ranger of the night, assuming a beautiful countenance\npainted with diverse metals, illumining the beautiful forest and Rama's\nasylum with its beauty, and ranging at large on the green field and\nliving on grass, began to proceed. That one of lively presence having\nits body painted with hundreds of silver drops and living on twigs of\ntrees began to range in the forest. Sometimes walking into the plantain\nhouse, sometimes walking around the forest of _Karnika_, sometimes\ncoming within the compass of Sita's vision, that best of deer having its\nback painted with gold began to range slowly around the hermitage. It\nbegan to walk at pleasure near Rama's asylum. Sometimes going, sometimes\nstopping, at one time running very swiftly and receding the next moment,\nthat best of deer began to range at large. Sometimes playing around,\nsometimes lying on earth and sometimes following the deer-herd having\ncome within the threshhold of the asylum and then followed again by them\nthat Rakshasa assuming the form of a deer came back to see Sita. He then\nbegan to range at large in the beautiful forest (extending far and\nwide). Seeing him other forest-deer came (by him) and smelling him fled\naway into different quarters. That Rakshasa, though expert in killing\ndeer, did not eat them up, though touching, inorder to hide his real\nself. In the meantime Vaidehi, of auspicious looks whose eyes inebriate\nlike wine, being engaged in plucking flowers, was going sometimes to the\n_Karnika_ grove and sometimes to the mangoe grove. That best of women,\never inured to living in the forest and possessed of a graceful\ncountenance, walking and plucking flowers, saw that jewelled deer,\nhaving its body deversified with pearls and diamonds. It had beautiful\nteeth and lips and had its down resembling silver. She began to behold\nwith affection and with her eyes expanded with surprise. That illusive\ndeer seeing Rama's wife began to move around as if lighting up that\nforest (with the fire of its beauty). Beholding that deer ornamented\nwith diverse jewels, and the like of which she had never seen before,\nthe daughter of Janaka was struck With immense wonder.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLIII.\n\n\nBeholding that deer with its sides painted with gold and silver, while\ncollecting flowers, Sita, having blameless limbs and beautiful hips and\nhaving the color of her body like that of pure gold became immensely\npleased and called aloud her husband and Lakshmana with scimitars in\ntheir hands. \"Do thou come soon, do thou come soon, O son of the\nworshipful Sire, along with thy younger brother\" --having called (her\nhusband) again and again in this strain she continued beholding that\ndeer. Being thus called by the daughter of the king of Videha those two\nbest of men Rama and Lakshmana, casting their looks around beheld that\ndeer. Seeing him Lakshmana, struck with fear, said \"Methinks, this deer\nis the Rakshasa Maricha. This vicious Maricha, O Rama, assuming the\nshape of a deer oftentimes kills at pleasure the kings who come here\na-hunting. He is cognizant of illusions, by virtue of which he has\nassumed this shape, O best of men; its countenance is perfectly fine\nlike the abode of Gandharbas and resplendent like the Sun; there is no\nsuch jewelled deer on earth. O Raghava, O Lord of earth, there is no\ndoubt that this is nothing but illusion.\" When Lakshmana spake thus Sita\nwith a pure smile being under the influence of enchantment contradicted\nhim, and being pleased said \"O son of the worshipful Sire, this deer\nhath attracted my mind, get it for me, pray, O thou of mighty arms; it\nshall be an object of sport for us. Many a beautiful deer range at large\nin the vicinity of our hermitage such as _Chamara_, _Srimara_, _Rik_,\n_Prishata_, _Banara_, and _Kinnara_. They are all very beautiful and of\nmighty strength; but O Prince, I have never seen before the like of this\ndeer. In energy, strength and beauty it stands above all deer. Its\nentire body is diversified with various colors, nay, it is a jewel\nitself. It moves before me, beautifying the forest with its\nresplendance, like unto Moon himself. Ah! what beauty, what beautiful a\nlustre, how musical a voice, this wonderful deer of variegated\ncountenance, hath indeed captivated my heart! If canst thou get by this\ndeer alive, O what wonder, what surprise! When shall we regain our\nkingdom after the expiry of the term of our banishment, this deer shall\nbeautify the interior of our palace. O Lord, truly shall this celestial\ndeer create surprise in Bharata, yourself, me and my mothers-in-law. O\nbest of men, if canst thou not get hold of it alive its skin shall also\nlook very beautiful (to us). Spreading on Kuca the skin of this golden\ndeer when killed do I wish to invoke the Almighty. It looks (no doubt)\nunseemly and terrible and smacks of wilfulness on the part of a wife to\ncommand her husband in this way, but I am sunk in surprise seeing the\ncountenance of the deer.\" Rama's heart was struck with surprise\nbeholding that wonderful deer having its down resembling gold, horns\nresembling exquisitely fine diamonds, color like that of the newly risen\nSun, and resplendance like that of the orbit of the planets. Being\nenchanted by its beauty and spurred on by Sita's words, Raghava pleased,\nspake unto his younger brother saying \"Behold, O Lakshmana, it has\nimmensely excited Vaidehi's desire. On account of its exquisite beauty\nit shall loose its life to-day. It has its equal no where on the\nearth--neither in the celestial garden nor in the Chaittraratha forest.\nThe hairs of its body being arranged in regular and contrary courses and\nbeing painted with golden drops do indeed look very beautiful. Do thou\nsee, while expanding its mouth, its tongue comes out resembling flaming\nfire like unto a thunder-bolt reaving the mass of clouds. Its face is\nlike a glass made of best blue saphire, its belly resembling a conch and\npearl, and it is very difficult to ascertain its shapes. Beholding it\nwho is there (on earth) whose heart is not enamoured? Its beauty\nresembles the rays of gold and is variegated with diverse hues of\njewels. Whose heart is not enveloped with surprise beholding such a\ncelestial beauty, O Lakshmana? Princes, with bows in their hands,\nwhile-a hunting in a deep forest destroy deer either for flesh or for\nsport. Moreover while engaged in sporting they collect many a jewel and\nvarious metals as gold and silver, in the woods. There is not the least\ndoubt that these wild riches filling up their coffers are comparatively\nfar better (than the wealth acquired by other sources) like unto the\nobjects of enjoyment, enjoyed at their fancy by the people inhabiting\nthe celestial region. The object which persons desirous of acquiring\nwealth follow without any discretion in their actions, is the true\ndefinition of wealth given by the political economists. Vaidehi of\nslender waist desireth to sit with me on the exquisitely fine golden\nskin of this gem of a deer, meseems no deer skin is so comfortable to\ntouch as this--neither the skin of _Kadali_, _Priaki_, _Prabeni_ nor of\n_Abiki_. Truly handsome in this deer and the one that rangeth in the\nwelkin, indeed these two deer only are celestial--the one that rangeth\nin the sky[54] (Mrigashira) and this that rangeth on earth. And if it be\na Rakshasa's illusion as thou sayest, O Lakshmana, then it must be\nkilled by me. This cruel vicious-souled Maricha made away with many\neminent ascetics, while traveling in the forest; and this Rakshasa\nassuming the shape of an illusive deer destroyed many kings --mighty\narchers while a-hunting in this forest; it is for this that this deer\nmust be killed. Formerly this _Batapi_[55] entering into the womb of\ntwice-born ones used to come out reaving them like unto the embryo of a\nmule. Once on a time this Batapi approached the eminent saint Agastya\nand was devoured by him. After the _Sradha_ ceremony had been over,\nfinding that Batapi desirious of assuming the shape of a Rakshasa the\ngreat saint Agastya said smiling \"Being blinded with thy prowess O\nBatapi, thou hast destroyed many eminent twice-born ones on this earth\nand for this that I do digest thee. Truly that Rakshasa O, Lakshmana,\nwho wisheth to surpass one like me who hath controlled his senses and is\never engaged in pious offices shall meet with his end like unto this\nBatapi. Therefore this Maricha approaching me shall be killed by me like\nunto Batapi being devoured by Agastya. Do thou therefore vigilently\nprotect Vaidehi with mail and armours on. It is our prime duty, O\ndescendant of Raghu, to protect Janaki. I shall either kill this deer or\nshall get hold of it. Look, O Lakshmana, Vaidehi is extremely anxious to\nget the skin of this deer, I shall therefore proceed at once, O son of\nSumil to catch this deer. The skin of this deer is the best of its kind;\nfor certain shall it loose its life today. As long as I do not kill this\ndeer, O Lakshmana, do thou with Sita remain with vigilance in this\nasylum. I shall in no time come back with its skin after killing it with\none arrow. Do thou stay here, O Lakshmana, with Janaki in constant fear\nand vigilance, along with the mighty Yatayu, intelligent and e engaged\nin pious offices.\n\n [54] This refers to _Mrigashira_, the fifth lunar constellation which\n      resembles a deer.--T.\n\n [55] The name of an _Asur_ devoured by Agastya.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLIV.\n\n\nHaving thus directed his brother, the highly energetic son of Raghu\nequipped himself with his gold-hilted scimitar And girting himself with\nhis bow bent at three places, which served him as an ornament,--as well\nas a couple of quivers that one of fierce energy sallied out. Seeing\nthat foremost of monarchs approach, that best of beasts from fear\ndisappeared; and then again showed himself. Thereat girt with the bow\nand sword, (Rama) rushed where the deer was; and beheld him illumining\nall before him with his beauty,--and bow in hand (Rama beheld) him in\nthat vast forest, darting away after gazing at him,--and sometimes\nseeming to have got beyond arrow range, and at others tempting Rama (by\nhis vicinity). And sometimes influenced by fear and bewildered, (the\ndeer) seemed to course the welkin; and in the forest now he became\nvisible and now vanished from sight. And like the autumual lunar disc\nenveloped by indented clouds, he momentarily showed himself, and anon\ndiscovered himself at a distance. And Maricha wearing the shape of a\ndeer, showing himself and disappearing from sight, drew Raghava a long\nway from the hermitage. Thereat Rama, eagerly anxious to secure the\ndeer, being foiled by the deer, and in consequence growing enraged,\nwearied out, rested under a shadow, on a sward. And that ranger of the\nnight, wearing the form of a deer, maddening Rama, discovered himself\n(again) at a distance surrounded by (other) deer. And Rama desirous of\ntaking (the beast), seeing him again, set off at speed. At the very\nmoment the deer disappeared from fear; and again showed himself at a\ndistance behind a tree. And seeing him, the exceedingly energetic and\nstrong Raghava, determined to slay him, growing wroth, taking out a\nflaming shaft, resembling the rays of the sun, powerfully drew his bow,\nand firmly setting the shaft, and aiming it at the deer, let go the\nblazing and burning weapon forged by Brahma, resembling a flaming\nserpent. And that best of arrows, like unto a thunderbolt, deeply\npierced the breast of Maricha, wearing the shape of a deer. Thereat\nbounding up high as a palmyra palm, that one whose saws had almost run\nout, uttered terrible sounds, lying on the earth. And while on the point\nof death, Maricha renounced his counterfeit shape. And remembering the\nwords of Ravana, the Rakshasa reflected, \"By what means can Sita send\naway Lakshmana, and Ravana carry off Sita staying in solitude?\" And\npierced to the marrow by that peerless shaft, Maricha, renouncing his\ndeer form, resumed his Rakshasa lineaments; and giving up his life\nattaining a huge person, considering the time had come (for availing\nhimself of the advice tendered by Ravana), began to cry with the voice\nof Raghava, \"Ah Sita! Ah Lakshmana!\" And seeing that grim-visaged\nRakshasa lying low on the ground, with his person bathed in blood, and\nrolling hither and thither, Rim a proceeded towards the asylum, thinking\nof Sita. and revolving within himself Lakshmana's words. While returning\nhe thought aside \"Lakshmana said before that this was Maricha's\nillusion!\" His words have been verified now. Truly have I killed\nMaricha. Maricha has given up his ghost exclaiming aloud Ah! Sita, Ah!\nLakshmana. I do not know what shall Sita do hearing the cry? And what\nshall the mighty-armed Lakshmana do?\" While pondering thus the hairs of\nthe virtuous-souled Rama stood on their end. Killing that Rakshasa\nassuming the shape of a deer and hearing his terrible cry Rama was\noverwhelmed with fear arising out of sorrow. Thereupon killing a deer\nand taking its flesh he hastened towards Janasthana.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLV.\n\n\nHearing that cry in the forest resembling her husband's voice Sita spake\nunto Lakshmana saying \"Do thou go and learn what has befallen Raghava.\nHe is crying aloud in pitiable accents; hearing them my life and soul\nare incapable of remaining any longer in their proper places. It\nbehoveth thee to save thy brother who is crying aloud in the forest; do\nthou immediately repair hence to save him, who is in need of thy help.\nHe hath been over-powered by the Rakshasas like unto a bullock brought\nunder the power of a lion,\" Remembering the behest of Rama, Lakshmana\ndid not go, though accosted thus by Sita. Extremely mortified, the\ndaughter of Janaka spake unto him saying \"O Son of Sumitra, thou art an\nenemy unto Rama, in the garb of a brother. Thou dost not proceed for the\nrelief of thy brother who hath been reduced to such a plight. Dost thou\ndesire, for fine, O Lakshmana, Rama's destruction? Truely being under\nthe influence of lust for me thou dost not follow Raghava! For this thou\ndost welcome Rama's disaster; thou hast no affection for him. For this\nit is that thou dost sit here without anxiety not seeing the highly\neffulgent (Rama). Rama, following whom thou hast repaired unto this\nforest, being in danger, of what avail is life unto me?\" Vaidehi\nSpeaking thus being influenced by sorrow, and with tears in her eyes,\nlike unto a deer, Lakshmana spake unto her saying \"O Vaidehi,\ncelestials, Danavas, Gandharbas, Rakshasas, Asuras, or Pannagas, there\nis none who can defeat thy husband. There is not the least doubt in\nthis. Worshipful madam! Celestials, Danavas, Gandharbas, Rakshasas,\nPicachas, men, Kinnaras, animals, or birds, there is none among them,\nwho can withstand Raghava, who equals the lord of celestials in warfare.\nIn fact there is none who can do away with Rama in battle. It doth not\nbehove thee therefore to accost me thus. Nor do I dare leave thee here\nalone in this forest without Rama. Even the mighty heroes, as the Lord\nof celestials, cannot subdue his prowess with all their strength. Even\nthe Almighty Himself, with the celestials and the three worlds, cannot\ndefeat him. Do thou therefore renounce grief and console theyself.\nSooner shall thy husband return killing the best of deer. It is not his\nvoice nor one sent by any deity. It is but an illusion of that Rakshasa\n(Maricha). O Vaidehi, thou hast been left unto my charge by the\nhigh-souled (Rama)--I therefore do not dare leave thee behind, O thou\nthe jewel of a damsel. We have made these night-rangers our enemies. For\ncompassing the destruction of Khara, O worshipful one, and devastating\nJanasthana, Rakshasas oftentimes use improper words unto us in this\nextensive forest. O Vaidehi, to create mischief unto the pious is the\nonly amusement of these Rakshasas--thou shoudst not therefore be anxious\nfor this.\" Being thus addressed by him her eyes were reddened with ire,\nand she spake these harsh words unto the truthful Lakshmana saying \"O\ncruel one! O thou the destroyer of thy line! it is a disgrace unto thee\nthat thou wishest to protect me (killing Rama). Methinks, this mighty\ndisaster of Rama is welcome unto thee, or else why shouldst thou seeing\nthis, speak thus, O Lakshmana. It is not a wonder that an evil desire\nlurks in thee who art a hypocrite and a cruel-hearted enemy. Verily art\nthou a monster of wickedness, that Rama repairing unto woods, thou hast,\nbeing lustful for me, followed him alone. Or hast thou been engaged by\nBharata to act thus? But thy or Bharata's intention shall not be\nsatisfied, O Saumitre. How shall I desire another man after serving the\nlotus-eyed Rama of dark blue hue as my husband? I shall renounce my life\nbefore thee, therefore, O Lakshmana; without Rama I shall not maintain\nmy being for a moment on this earth.\" Hearing these brazen words of\nSita, capable of making one's down stand on end, the self-controlled\nLakshmana with joined hands spake unto her saying \"Thou art a very\nGoddess unto me, I therefore dare not answer thee. What thou hast\nspoken, O Maithelee, is nothing surprising for females. Such is the\nnature of womankind on this earth. Women by nature are crooked, fickle,\ndevoid of religious knowledge, and bring about difference between father\nand son. O Vaidehi, O daugther of Janaka, truly am I incapable of\nputting up with these words of thine. They have pierced through both of\nmy ears like a heated _Naracha_. However the deities ranging in this\nwoodland are my witnesses-- may they hear thee. I spoke what was fair\nand have been thus addressed by thee with these harsh words. I do alawys\nobey my superior's commands. Fie on thee! Thy destruction is near at\nhand that dost thou suspect me, being influenced by this womanish\nnature. I shall go where Kakuthstha is, may good betide thee, O thou the\nbest of damsels! May the deities of the forest protect thee, O thou of\nexpansive eyes! Many a bad omen appear before me. May I see thee again\nwhen I shall come back with Rama.\" Being thus accosted by Lakshmana the\ndaughter of Janaka replied weeping and being bathed in tears. \"Without\nRama, O Lakshmana, I shall drink virulent poison, enter fire or dive\ninto the Godaveri. I shall destroy this body either by hanging or by\nfalling down from the top of a high object. I shall never be able to\ntouch another man but Rama.\" Speaking thus unto Lakshmana, Sita, being\nenveloped with grief, weeping, struck her belly[56] with her hands.\nSeeing the daughter of Janaka of expansive eyes weep thus in pitiable\naccents, Lakshmana losing his attention began to console her. Afterwards\nthe pure-hearted Lakshmana, having control over his senses, saluting\nSita with clasped palms and bending low a little proceeded where Rama\nwas, casting again and again his glance upon her as he went.\n\n [56] Properly it should be \"struck her breast.\" But it has a special\n      significance here, i. e.--she would not be satisfied until her\n      belly be filled with all the Rakshasas slain.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLVI.\n\n\nHaving been addressed with those harsh words the younger brother of\nRaghava, enraged, proceeded at once, being anxious to see Rama.\nThereupon the ten-necked one, availing of this opportunity came before\nVaidehi assuming the semblance of a mendicant. Wearing a soft silken\ncloth, with a lock of hair on his head with an umbrella and shoes and\nhaving on his left shoulder a rod and _Kamandalu_, the highly powerful\none assuming the appearance of a wandering devotee carrying three long\nbamboo staves appeared before Vaidehi in the forest when there was none\nof the brothers by her. He saw there the young and pious daughter of the\nking like unto an evening void of both sun and moon and as the highly\nterrible Rahu eyes Rohini forsaken by Moon. Seeing that terrible one the\ndoer of evil deeds, the trees of Janasthana did not move nor the wind\ndid blow. Seeing him eye Sita with his blood-red eyes, the fast\nstreaming river Godaveri even slackened its course out of fear. In the\nmean time the Ten-necked Ravana, enquiring about Rama's weak points\nappeared before Vaidehi in the guise of a mendicant. Like unto _Sani_\napproaching _chitra_, that impious one, assuming the appearance of a\npious man like a well covered with grass, approached Vaidehi who was\nbewailing her husband. And seeing that pious spouse of Rama--Vaidehi,\nRavana stood before her. Her lips and teeth were extremely fine, her\nface resembled the full moon and her eyes were like lotus-petals. She\nhad a yellow silken cloth on and sat in the thatched cottage,\noverwhelmed with grief and bathed in tears. And that ranger of the night\nwith a pleased heart approached Vaidehi. Seeing her that Lord of\nRakshasas was pierced with the shafts of passion. And speaking highly of\nher, surpassing in beauty the three worlds and resembling by the\nexcellence of her own person the very goddess of wealth herself Ravana\nuttering the name of God spake unto her saying, \"O thou having the color\nof gold and silver, O thou wearing silken cloth, O thou appearing like a\nlotus wearing a garland of lotus-petals, O thou of beautiful\ncountenance! Art thou Bashfulness, Beauty, Fame, Wealth, Apsara, Dignity\nor Rati herself who is ranging at will in this forest? All thy teeth are\nequal having their tops like unto the buds of _Kunda_ flower, beautiful\nand yellow. Thy eyes are expansive, clear, of bloody hue, and having\nblack pupils. Thy hip is fleshy and spacious. Thy thighs are like those\nof elephants, round, fleshy and perfectly strong. Thy nipples are bulky,\npointed, highly captivating like cold palm fruits, beautiful and\nornamented with diverse jewels. O thou of beautiful smile! O thou of\nbeautiful teeth! O thou of beautiful eyes! O fine damsel, thou dost\ncarry away my heart like unto a river carrying away its banks by its\nstream. The lock of thy hair is exquisitely fine, thy breast very close\nand thy waist is so thin that they may be got round even by fingers.\nThere is none so beautiful like thee--a Goddess, a Gandharbhi, a Yakshi\nor a Kinnari. I had never seen before on this earth a damsel so\nbeautiful as thou. This thy beauty the best on earth, thy youth, thy\ngrace and thy abode in the forest do agitate my mind. So it is well for\nthee to come (with me); it doth not behove thee to remain here. This is\nthe abode of terrible Rakshasas wearing shapes at will. Picturesque\npalaces, prosperous cities and sweet-smelling gardens are worthy of thy\nabode. O thou of dark-blue eyes, fine is thy garland, fine is the smell\nof thy person and fine is thy apparel--methinks fine is thy husband too.\nO thou of pure smile! whom dost thou belong to?--Rudras, Marutas, or\nVasus-- Meseems, O fine damsel thou art a very gooddes. No one comes\nhere--the Gandharbas, the celestials or Kinnaras; this is an abode of\nthe Rakshasas; how dost thou come here? Art thou not afraid of these\nmonkeys, lions, tigers, wolves, bears, herons and hyenas? Alone in this\nforest, art thou not afraid of these terrible elephants of fierce motion\nand maddened with the exuding of their temporal juice? Who art thou?\nWhose wife? What for dost thou range alone in this forest of Dandaka\nfrequented by terrible Rakshasas?\" Thus addressed was Vaidehi by the\nvicious-souled Ravana. Seeing him come under the guise of a twice-born\none, Maithelee worshipped him with diverse articles necessary for\nserving a guest. Offering him a seat first and afterwards inviting him\nto wash his feet she said unto that one of placid look \"cooked rice is\nready.\" Seeing Ravana approach with _Kamandalu_ and wearing a red cloth\nunder the guise of a Brahmana, Maithelee could not pass by him any way,\nand considering him a twice-born one by various signs invited him as if\na Brahmana saying, \"O Brahmana, do thou sit on this seat facing the\nright; do thou take this water (to wash thy feet); do thou enjoy these\nwell-cooked eatables growing in the forest and intended for thee.\"\nJanaki the wife of Lord of men inviting him thus, Ravana, casting a look\nupon her, addressed himself for his own destruction, to carry her away.\nShe was anxiously expecting the return of Rama who had gone a-hunting\nwith Lakshmana; she looked around and behold but on all sides the\nspacious yellow forest-land--there was neither Rama nor Lakshmana.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLVII.\n\n\n\"Being thus addressed by Ravana under the guise of a mendicant, desirous\nof carrying her away Vaidehi thought within herself--\"This person is my\nguest and a Bhahmin; he may curse me if I do not speak to him.\" Thinking\nthis for a moment Sita said \"May good betide thee! I am the daughter of\nthe high-souled Janaka, the king of Mithila, the beloved Queen of Rama\nand my name is Sita. Dwelling in the palace of Ikshakus for twelve\nyears, I enjoyed many things passing human and had all my desires\nsatisfied. On the thirteenth year king (Dacaratha) counselled with his\nministers about the installation of Rama. Accordingly everything\nnecessary for the installation being made ready, Kaikeyi, one of my\nmothers-in-law, begged of her husband a boon. Bringing my father-in-law\nunder control by means of her virtuous deeds, Kaikeyi begged, of that\ntruthful, best of monarchs, two boons namely the exile of my husband\ninto the woods and the installation of Bharata, and said \"I shall never\neat, drink or sleep and (if Rama be installed) I shall end my life.\"\nKaikeyi speaking thus, that lord of earth, my father-in-law begged her\nto accept diverse riches; but Kaikeyi did not agree. Then the highly\neffulgent Rama, my husband was twenty-five years old, and myself was\neighteen years old counting from my birth. My husband is known all over\nthe world under the name of Rama. He is truthful, good-natured, of pure\ncharacter, ever engaged in the welfare of all created beings, of\nmighty-arms and expansive eyes. Our father the king Dacaratha was\nentirely under the control of passions, and hence for the satisfaction\nof Kaikeyi did not install Rama. When Rama came to his father for being\ninstalled Kaikeyi spoke unto my husband the following cruel words, \"Do\nthou hear, O Raghava, how I have been ordered by thy Sire. This kingdom,\nrid of thorns is to be conferred on Bharata, and thou shalt have to\nsojourn into woods for years nine and five. Do thou therefore repair\nunto forest, O Kakuthstha and save thy Sire from untruth.\" Whereto Rama\nfearlessly replied 'So be it!' Hearing her words my husband of firm vows\nacted accordingly. He always maketh gifts and taketh none. He always\nspeaketh truth and never telleth an untruth. This is his best\nobservance, O Brahmana. His half-brother named Lakshmana is of mighty\nprowess. That best of men is Rama's help and the destroyer of foes in\nbattle. That brother of his named Lakshmana is of firm resolution and\ngiven to asceticism. With a bow in hand he hath followed (Rama) flying\nas an exile unto woods along with me. Thus that one (Rama) of firm\nresolution and ever engaged in pious offices wearing matted hair and\nassuming the semblance of an ascetic hath entered this forest of Dandaka\nalong with myself and his younger brother. O thou the best of twice-born\nones, we three being deprived of our kingdom by Kaikeyi have been living\nin this dense forest by virtue of our effulgence. Do thou take heart for\na moment and live here. Instantly shall my husband return with good many\nwild fruits and roots and with sufficient meat after killing many a\ndeer, hog and _Gosamp_. Truly do thou relate unto me thy name, _Gotra_\nand lineage. O thou twice-born one, why dost thou range alone in this\nforest of Dandaka?\" Sita the wife of Rama speaking thus, the mighty Lord\nof Rakshasas--Ravana replied with these harsh words--\"0 Sita I am that\nRavana, the lord of Rakshasas, whom fear the celestials, Asuras and\nhuman beings. O thou of blamless beauty, seeing thee of golden hue and\nwearing silk cloth I do not relish my own wives. I have brought many a\nbeautiful damsel from various quarters, do thou become my foremost Queen\namongst them. That great city in the midst of the ocean, Lanka,\nencircled on all sides by the sea and situated on the summit of a hill,\nis my capital. There shalt thou with me, Sita, walk in gardens, and thus\nthou shall no more long for living in the forest. If thou dost become my\nwife, O Sita, five thousand maid-servants decorated with divers\nornaments shall serve thee.\" That blameless daughter of Janaka, being\nthus addressed by Ravana, was highly enraged, and, passing by him,\nreplied, \"I am a dependant ot Rama, who is incapable of being shaken,\nlike unto a mighty mountain, incapable of being agitated, like unto a\nvast ocean, and resembling Mahendra in effulgence. I am a dependant of\nthat great and truthful Rama who is gifted with auspicious marks and\nlike unto a fig tree. I am dependant of that lion among men, Rama, of\nmighty arms, of a spacious breast and treading like a lion, I am a\ndependant of that son of a king, Rama, of mighty arms, having control\nover his passions, whose face resembles the full moon and whose fame\nhath spread far and wide over the earth. Why dost thou being a tiger\nwish for a she-lion? Thou shalt not be able to touch me like unto the\nrays of the sun. O thou wretched Rakshasa, when thou hast desired to\nsteal away Raghava's beloved spouse, surely dost thou see these trees\n(before thee) as made of gold. Dost thou wish to uproot the teeth from\nthe mouth of a lion, that enemy of deer, or from that of a serpent? Dost\nthou wish to clasp with thy hands the Mandara hill, or dost thou wish to\nwalk in peace after drinking poison? Dost thou wish to rub thy eyes with\npins and lick a razor with thy tongue? Thou dost wish to swim across an\nocean, having a rock tied unto thy neck. Thou dost wish to get at the\nSun and Moon, to bind a flaming fire with a piece of cloth and walk\nthrough iron-spikes, as thou hast wished to come by the worthy spouse of\nRama. Mighty is the difference between Rama and thee, like unto that\nbetween a lion and a jackal, a sea and a rivulet, nectar and gruel, gold\nand iron, sandal and mud, an elephant and a cat, a crow and Garuda, a\npeacock and a _madgie_ (an acquatic bird), or a duck and a vulture. Even\nif thou dost steal me, that mighty archer Rama, gifted with the prowess\nof the lord of celestials, living, surely shall I die, like unto a gnat\nsucking clarified butter.\" Addressing those words unto that wicked\nranger of the night, that innocent (Sita) shook like a plantain tree\nshaken by the wind. Thereupon Ravana, like unto Death in prowess,\ntrembling, began to relate unto her with a view to frighten (her) his\nrace, power, name and actions.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLVIII.\n\n\nAfter Sita had spoken these harsh words, Ravana, enraged, with a frown,\nreplied \"O thou of a beautiful countenance, I am the step-brother of the\nLord of wealth and my name is the mighty Ten-necked Ravana. May good\nbetide thee! Like unto people fearing Death, the celestials, Gandharbas,\nPicachas, Pannagas and Serpents fly in diverse directions being\nfrightened by me. I have subdued by my prowess, my step-brother, the\nLord of wealth in a conflict, quarrelling with him for some reason.\nThereat, that one carried by men, renouncing out of my fear this wealthy\nabode of Lanka, hath been living on that Lord of mountains, Kailaca. O\nthou auspicious one, by virtue of my prowess I have taken away that\nbeautiful chariot of his called Puspaka. Ascending that chariot thou\nshalt travel by the etherial route. O Maithilee, when I am excited with\nire, Indra and other celestials at the mere sight of my countenance fly\naway in divers directions out of fear. Wherever I live, the Wind bloweth\ncautiously and the Sun (of piercing rays) out of fear for me appeareth\nin the welkin like the Moon. What shall I say more? Wherever I live,\neven the leaves of the trees do not flutter and the currents of the\nrivers are stopped. Beyond the ocean stands my beautiful capital Lanka\nlike unto Indra's Amaravati, (the capital of the Lord of celestials),\nguarded on all sides by the terrible night-rangers and encircled by\nyellow walls. That beautiful city hath gate-ways of ornamented and\njewelled arches and golden apartments. It is filled with elephants,\nhorses and chariots, always resounds with the sounds of bugles, and is\nbeautified with gardens having divers trees of wished for fruits. O\nSita, O thou the daughter of a king, in this city shalt thou dwell with\nme. O large-minded damsel, thou shalt never think of earthly women. O\nthou of an exquisite countenance, enjoying these many things passing\nhuman, thou shalt not any more think of Rama--a human being of brief\nexistence. Placing his beloved son on the throne, king Dacaratha hath\nsent away his eldest son of weak prowess into the woods. O thou of\nexpansive eyes, what shalt thou do with that wretched ascetic Rama who\nhath been deprived of his kingdom? I am the lord of the whole world of\nRakshasas; being pierced by the shafts of Kama have I come by thee. It\ndoth not behove thee therefore to pass by me. O timid damsel, truly\nshalt thou repent afterwards if thou dost disregard me, like unto\nUruashee kicking Purarava. Rama is a human being and is not even equal\nto a finger of mine in battle. By thy good luck have I come unto thee--\ndo thou give thyself up unto me, O thou of a beautiful countenance.\"\nBeing thus addressed by him, Vaidehi exceedingly wroth and with\nblood-red eyes spoke unto that Lord of Rakshasas in the lonely forest,\nthese bold words. \"How dost thou wish to perpetrate such an impious deed\nafter introducing as thy brother that highly worshipful Kuvera adored by\nall the deities. O Ravana, surely shall all the Rakshasas meet with\ndeath, who have such a stupid, harsh and lustful person like thee for\ntheir king. One can breathe on this earth carrying away Indra's wife,\nSachi--but stealing me, the wife of Rama, no body shall be able to live\nin peace. O Rakshasa, it might be possible for one to live on this earth\ntreating contemptuously the wife of the holder of thunder-bolt, but\ninsulting me none shall escape the hands of Death even if he drinketh\nnectar.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLIX.\n\n\nHearing those words of Sita the highly powerful Ten-necked one striking\nhis hands together, increased his body too high. Thereupon, that one\nskilled in speech again spake unto Maithilee, \"Methinks thou hast run\nmad. Hast thou not heard of my valour and prowess? Stationing myself in\nthe welkin I can with my hands raise up the earth. I can drink up the\nwaters of the ocean. And engaged in conflict I can destroy Death itself.\nWith my sharpened shafts I can pierce the Sun and cut asunder the earth.\nThou art mad with thy beauty. Do thou look upon me, who am capable of\nillusions.\" When he had spoken thus, his yellow eyes became blood-red\nwith rage and assumed the semblance of flaming fire. Thereat Ravana, the\nyounger brother of the Lord of wealth, changing his placid countenance,\ninstantly assumed his own terrible shape resembling that of Yama. Highly\nexercised with ire, that ranger of the night became of ten countenances\nand twenty arms; his eyes were bloody and he appeared beautiful like\nunto blue clouds, being dressed in gold-hued apparel. Leaving aside the\nsemblance of a mendicant, that lord of Rakshasas, Ravana, increasing in\nbulk, assumed his own shape. And wearing a blood-red cloth he stood\nthere fixing his look upon that jewel of a damsel--Maithili. Thereupon\nRavana spake unto Maithili like unto the rays of the sun, having a head\nof black hair and wearing apparel and ornaments, saying, \"O thou fine\ndamsel, if thou dost wish to have a husband known all over the world, do\nthou surrender thyself unto me. I am a worthy husband (or thee. Do thou\nserve me for ever, thy praiseworthy husband. O fine lady, I shall never\ndo what thou dost not like. Renouncing thy attachment for a man, do thou\nplace thy love in me. O foolish girl, worthy of being adored by the\nlearned, for what quality art thou attached unto Rama of a limited life,\nwho hath been deprived of his kingdom and hath his desire frustrated,\nand who of an evil intent, hath, at the words of his wife, renouncing\nhis kingdom and kinsmen, been living in this forest--the abode of\nvoracious animals.\" Speaking thus unto Maithili, sweet-speeched and\nworthy of being sweetly addressed, that highly wicked Rakshasa, Ravana,\nbeing exercised with lust, approached towards Sita and got hold of her,\nlike unto Budha holding Rohini in the sky. With his left hand he held\nher, having eyes like unto lotus-petals, by the hair, and with his right\nhand got hold of her thighs. Seeing Ravana of sharpened teeth, and\nmighty arms, resembling the summit of a mountain and like unto death\nitself, the deties of the forest became highly terrified and fled in\ndifferent directions. Instantly appeared there the celestial car of\nRavana, decked in gold, drawn by asses and making a terrible sound.\nThereupon, that one emmiting terrible accents, remonstrated with Vaidehi\nin harsh words and clasping her ascended the car. The virtuous Sita,\nbeing thus caught by Ravana,began to cry aloud, addressing Rama, who had\ngone away to a distant forest. Ravana, racked with lust, rose high up\nwith her like unto the wife of a _Pannaga_, though she tried her best\n(to get rid of him), for she was not in the least attached unto him.\nBeing thus carried away by the ethereal track by that Lord of Rakshasas,\nSita began to cry aloud, like one mad, distressed and of deranged\nsenses. \"Ah! mighty Lakshmana, ever ministering unto the satisfaction of\nthy superiors, dost thou not know that I have been stolen away by a\nRakshasa assuming shapes at will? O Raghava, for virtue hast thou\nrenounced thy life, happiness and wealth,--dost thou not see that I have\nbeen carried away by one of mighty iniquity? O thou the subduer of\nfoes,thou dost always control the rebellious,--why dost thou not punish\nsuch a vicious Rakshasa? The vicious do not instantaneously meet with\nthe fruits of their actions; as for corn to ripen requires the\nassistance of time. For this iniquitous deed, which thou hast\nperpetrated, availing of the time and losing thy sense, thou shalt meet\nwith a mighty disaster from Rama, bringing about thy end. Ah! being the\nvirtuous wife of the virtuous and far-famed Rama, I have been stolen\naway. Now hath the desire of Kaikeyi and other relations been fulfilled.\nI invoke this Janasthana and these flowery Karnikas to tell Rama that\nRavana hath stolen away Sita. I invoke thee, O Godavari, having swans\nand cranes sporting in thy stream, to tell Rama that Ravana hath stolen\naway Sita. I salute and invoke the deities that live in this forest of\nmany trees to tell my husband of my being stolen away (by Ravana). I do\nseek the refuge of all deer, birds and other animals that live in this\nforest, and may they all communicate unto Rama the news of his dear\nspouse being carried away, and tell him that Sita, losing her control,\nhath been stolen away by Ravana. Even if I am taken away by Yama, and if\nthe mighty-armed Rama is apprised of it, surely shall he bring me back\nby the display of his prowess.\" Racked with sorrow that one of expansive\neyes, while thus bewailing in piteous accents, she espied Yatayu, the\nking of vultures, seated on a tree. Thereat the daughter of Janaka,\nbrought under the control of Ravana and terrified, began to cry and\nutter those piteous words--\"O worshipful Yatayu, do thou see that this\nvicious lord of Rakshasas hath ruthlessly carried me away like one\nhaving no husband. Thou wilt not be able to withstand this mighty,\nwicked and cruel night-ranger wearing emblems of conquest and having a\nscimitar in his hand. Do thou relate unto Rama and to Lakshmana\neverything about my being carried away from the beginning to the end.\n\n\n\nSECTION L.\n\n\nHearing these words Yatayu, who lay buried in a deep slumber, awoke and\nbeheld both Ravana and Janaki. Thereat the lord of birds resting on the\ntree, having a big sharp beak like unto the summit of a hill, addressed\nthese soft words unto Ravana, \"O brother Ten-necked one, I am conversant\nwith Puranas, of truthful vows and abide by religion. It doth not behove\nthee to perpetrate such an iniquitous deed before me. I am Yatayu, the\nmighty lord of vultures. Dacaratha's son Rama is the lord of all men\nlike unto Mahendra and Varuna. He is ever engaged in the welfare of all\nmen. This exquisitely beautiful and far-famed Sita whom thou art about\nto steal away, is the married wife of that lord of men. And how dost\nthou thyself being a monarch and engaged in the royal office of\nmaintaining subjects, carry away by stealth another's wife? O thou of\nmighty prowess, thou shouldst specially protect the wives of kings. Do\nthou therefore control thy base inclination of oppressing another's\nwife. A hero doth never perform what bringeth calumny upon himself. It\nbecometh every individual to save another's wife from the touch of a\nsecond man like unto his own wife. O son of Paulastya, at the instance\nof the king mild subjects perform many an action conducing to virtue,\nwealth and desire, though not mentioned in the _Sastras_. The king is\nthe virtue, the king is the desire and the king is the prime jewel of\nall subjects. Virtue, desire or sin--every thing ariseth from the king.\nO thou the best of Rakshasas, thou art vicious and unsteady; how hast\nthou come by rkhes like unto a sinner attaining to the abode of\ncelestials? A vicious person can never relinquish his sinful\nhabits--virtue doth never reside in the abodes of impious persons.\n\nThe mighty and the virtuous-souled Rama hath committed nothing wrong in\nthy city or thy dominions. Why dost thou then commit wrong by him? Khara\nof Janasthana is highly wicked and if Rama of blameless actions hath\nkilled him on Surpanakha's account how is he to blame? Why dost thou\nthen carry away the wife of that lord of men? Do thou soon leave off\nVaidehi. Like unto Indra burning down Vitrasura, Rama, looking with his\nterrible eyes like flaming fire, shall reduce thee to ashes. Dost thou\nnot understand that thou hast tied with cloth a virulent serpent? Dost\nthou not see that thou hast placed around thy neck the noose of death?\nIt is always proper to carry such a weight as doth not exhaust (him who\ncarries); it is always proper to take such a food as doth not cause\nillness. Who engageth himself in such an action as doth not confer\nvirtue, fame or glory, but bringeth about physical affliction only? O\nRavana, I am sixty thousand years old and have been administering\nregularly my ancestral kingdom. Old though I am, thou shalt not be able\nto carry away with safety Janaki in my presence, young, accoutered in\nmails as thou art with bow and arrows in thy hands and ascending a car.\nAs it is not easy to destroy, by the reasonings of Logic, Vedas and\nSruties containing eternal and immutable truths, so thou shalt not be\nable to carry away Vaidehi by force before me. If thou art a hero do\nthou fight. Or do thou wait for a moment, O Ravana, thou shalt also\nembrace the earth like unto Khara. Soon shall Rama clad in bark destroy\nthee in the battle field, who hadst many a time and oft destroyed in\nconflict the celestials and Danavas. These two princes Rama and\nLakshmana are at a distance, what shall I do now? O vile being,\nundoubtedly shalt thou, terrified, be destroyed by them. Myself drawing\nmy breath thou shalt not be able to carry away this beloved queen of\nRama, the pure-natured Sita having eyes resembling lotuses. It is my\nduty to do good unto the high-souled Rama and Dacaratha even at the\nsacrifice of my life. Do thou stand, O Ten-necked one. Behold for a\nmoment. O Ravana, I shall throw thee headlong from this car, like unto a\nfruit from its stalk. O ranger of the night, even to my utmost might I\nwill render thee hospitality in encounter.\n\n\n\nSECTION LI.\n\n\nWhile Yatayu, the king of birds, spake this, Ravana, the lord of\nRakshasas, wearing pendants made of pure gold, having his eyes reddened\nwith ire, darted towards him. Thereupon they began a terrible conflict\nin the welkin, like unto clouds driven by wind. There occured a mighty\nconflict between Yatayu, the lord of vultures, and Ravana, the lord of\nRakshasas, like unto two _Malyavan_[57] hills supplied with wings.\nThereat Ravana began to shower continually terrible and sharpened pikes,\niron arrows and _Vikarnis_ upon the mighty lord of vultures. Yatayu, the\nking of birds, began to withstand in conflict the arrows and weapons\ndarted by Ravana, and wounded Ravana's person with his feet supplied\nwith sharpened talons. Thereupon, to destroy his enemy, that mighty\nhero, the Ten-necked Ravana, being exercised with ire, took up ten\nterrible arrows like unto the sceptre of Death, and stretching the bow\nto the full he shot those straight-coursing sharpened shafts at Yatayu,\nthe king of birds. Beholding Janaki with tears In her eyes in that\nRakshasa's car, Yatayu, the king of birds, disregarding those arrows,\ndarted towards Ravana, and with his feet broke asunder his bow with the\narrows, adorned with pearls and diamonds. Thereat Ravana, almost beside\nhimself with wrath, taking up another bow, began to shower arrows by\nhundreds and thousands. Being covered with those arrows, the lord of\nbirds appeared like a bird lying in his nest. Pushing away these arrows\nby the wind of his wings, he again snapped that mighty bow with his\nfeet, and with a stroke of his wings shattered Ravana's flaming shield\nlike unto burning fire. Thereupon, moving away with the wind of his\nwings Ravana's blazing cuirass resembling flaming fire, Jatayu in that\nconflict made away with his fleet-coursing asses having the faces of\ndemons. Next crumbling into pieces with his impetus the mighty chariot\nof Ravana, coursing at will, flaming like fire, having steps studded\nwith jewels, and a wooden pole, and throwing down the umbrella and\n_chowris_ like unto the full moon along with the Rakshasas engaged in\ncarrying them,the effulgent and mighty lord of birds shattered the head\nof the charioteer with the strokes of his beak. Having his bow snapped\nand deprived of his car, horses and charioteer, Ravana fell down to the\nearth, taking Vaidehi on his lap. Beholding Ravana fallen on the ground\nand of broken conveyance, all creatures praised the king of vultures\nagain and again and worshipped him.\n\nThereupon, finding the lord of birds worn out on account of his old age,\nRavana, highly encouraged, again rose high up in the welkin, taking\nMaithili with him. He had all his weapons broken in the conflict, and\nhad but his dagger left to him. Beholding him proceed thus pleased,\ntaking the daughter of Janaka on his lap,--all his weapons having been\nlost, with his sword alone left,--the mighty and powerful lord of\nvultures, Yatayu, rose up and, darting towards Ravana, resisted him and\nsaid,--\"O Ravana of feeble sense, it is for the destruction of the whole\nline of Rakshasas that thou carriest away this spouse of Rama, having\narrows like unto thunderbolts. Like one thirsty drinking water, thou\ndost address thyself to drinking poison along with thy friends,\ncourtiers, four-fold forces, servants and relatives. Foolish persons\nunaware of the fruit of their actions, meet in a short time with their\nown destruction,--so shalt thou very soon meet with thy own end. Thou\nhast been bound up by the noose of Death; and, proceeding whither, shalt\nthou save thyself, like unto fish eating up baits with hooks for their\nown destruction? O Ravana, it is beyond thy power to defeat the\nKakutsthas. They shall not forgive thee for this thy encroachment upon\ntheir asylum. What hath been perpetrated by thee, coward, is blamed by\nall, and is the way taken recourse to by thieves and not by heroes. Do\nthou fight, O Ravana, if thou art a hero, or wait for a moment and thou\nshalt lie down on the earth like unto thy brother Khara. Truly hast thou\nfor thy own destruction engaged thyself in these impious acts, which are\nperpetrated by men on the eve of their death. What person doth that\nwhich leadeth solely into sin? Neither the lord of celestials nor the\nself-create Deity doth engage in such an action.\" Addressing these moral\nwords, the mighty Yatayu swooped on the back of that Ten-necked\nRakshasa. Like unto the rider of a mad elephant, the lord of vultures\nbegan to tear Ravana with his sharpened claws, and that one having for\nhis weapons his beak, talons, and wings, began to rive Ravana's back\nwith his beak and claws, and to uproot his hair. Being thus aflicted\nagain and again by the king of vultures, the Rakshasa shook, with his\nlips quivering in anger. Beside himself with anger, Ravana, holding\nJanaki fast by her left flank, struck Yatayu with his palms. Yatayu, the\nsubduer of foes, bearing the strokes, tore into pieces his ten left arms\nwith his beak. His arms cut off, instantly sprang up as many others,\nlike unto serpents issuing out of ant-hills, being exercised with the\npangs of poison. The mighty Ten-necked one, leaving aside Sita, out of\nanger bore down Yatayu with his fists and feet. Thereupon arose a mighty\nconflict between the lord of of vultures and the lord of Rakshasas of\nincomparable prowess. Yatayu addressing himself to displaying his\nprowess for the benefit of Rama, Ravana taking out his dagger, cut off\nhis two wings, two legs and two sides. The ranger of the night of cruel\ndeeds having sundered his wings, the king of vultures approaching\nwellnigh the verge of death, fell down on the earth. Beholding him\nfallen on the grand with his person bathed in blood, Sita. became\nexceedingly aggrieved and darted towards him like unto a friend. The\nlord of Lanka beheld Yatayu, fallen on the ground, resembling sable\nclouds, having a yellow breast and of exceeding prowess,--like unto an\nextinguished forest-fire. Then Sita the daughter of Janaka, having a\nmoon-like countenance began lamenting, clasping with her hands Yatayu,\ncrushed and fallen on the ground by the vehemence of Ravana's prowess.\n\n [57] A mountainous range described as one of the smaller mountains of\n      India proper, lying eastward of mount _Meru_.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LII.\n\n\nBeholding the king of vultures slain by Ravana, that one possessed of a\nface fair as the moon, striken with grief, broke out into lamentations,\nsaying, \"Throbbings of the eyes or other parts of the body, dreams,\nseeing birds or hearing their voices, are found to augur happiness or\nmisery to men. And, O Rama, although birds and beasts are scampering\naway before thee on my account, thou understandest not the mighty mishap\nthat has befallen thee. O Rama, this bird, who, moved by kindness, had\ncome to rescue me, owing to my (ill) luck, lies slain on the ground. O\nKakutstha, O Lakshmana, save me!\" Thus did that best of females,\nafflicted with fear, bewail; and those near (her) heard her\nlamentations. Thereat, that lord of the Rakshasas, Ravana, darted\ntowards Vadehi, who, with a faded wreath for her ornament, was bewailing\nin forlorn guise. Exclaiming repeatedly, \"Leave off!\" \"Leave off,\" the\nlord of the Rakshasas got at her, as she was clasping a mighty tree as\nif it were a creeper. And as she, bereft of the company of Rama in the\nwilderness, was wailing, saying, \"O Rama,\" \"O Rama,\" that one resembling\nthe Destroyer himself, with the view of compassing his own end, seized\nher by her hair. On Vaidehi being thus outraged, this entire world\nconsisting of mobile and immobile objects, had its nature altered. A\ndense darkness enveloped (everything). And the air did not breathe\nthere; and the sun grew dim. Espying with his divine vision that Sita\nwas overcome, that Deity, the graceful Great-father exclaimed, \"Our work\nis accomplished.\" And seeing Sita overpowered, the supreme saints\ninhabiting the Dandaka forest, concluding the destruction of Ravana to\nbe as good as accomplished without much ado, became at once delighted\nand aggrieved. As she went on weeping with \"O Rama,\" \"O Lakshmana,\"\nRavana--lord of Rakshasas --taking her, coursed through the sky. And\nthen the king's daughter hued like molten gold, clad in a yellow silken\ncloth, looked exceedingly beautiful like unto lightning. And on her\nyellow cloth streaming up, Ravana looked surpassingly graceful like a\nhill aflame with fire. And coppery fragrant lotus-leaves belonging to\nthe eminently auspicious Vaidehi showered upon Ravana. And her\ngold-glowing silken cloth, flying in the air, appeared like clouds\ncolored by the sunken sun. And her blameless countenance on Ravana's lap\nin the sky did not appear beauteous without Rama,--like a lotus without\nits stalk; it appeared like the moon risen tearing away dark clouds. And\nin the aerial regions her countenance on Ravana's lap furnished with a\nfair forehead and graceful hair glowing like the interior of a lotus,\nwithout scars, graced with white, shining, stainless teeth, having\nexcellent eyes,--lovely like the moon, having a shapely nose, a rubeous\nupper lip,--wearing the splendour of gold in the sky,--that captivating\ncountenance of hers in consequence of her weeping, and of being stained\nwith tears, as also owing to the violence it had undergone at the hands\nof the lord of Rakshasas--did not appear beautiful without Rama; like\nthe moon risen during the day. And furnished with the hue of gold,\nMithila's daughter beside the dark-bodied lord of the Rakshasas, looked\nlike a golden girth round a sable elephant. And Janaka's daughter,\nyellow-hued like lotus, having the lustre of gold.--and adorned with\nshining ornaments, coming in contact with Ravana, appeared like\nlightning embosomed among clouds. And in consequence of Vaidehi's\nornaments sending sounds, the lord of Rakshasas resembled an entirely\ndark rumbling cloud. And as Sita was being borne away, showers of\nblossoms, falling off from her head, were scattered all around on the\nearth beneath. And that blossomy shower all around, drawn up by the\nvehemence of the ten-headed Ravana, again alighted beside him. And the\nshowers of blossoms scattered around Vaicravana's younger brother,\nlooked like rows of burning stars round the foremost of mountains.[58]\nAnd the bangles studded with gems, loosened from Vaidehi's feet, fell on\nthe earth, like the lightning circle.[59] Of hue like the light red of\ntender twigs, Vaidehi set off the dark-bodied lord of Rakshasas, as does\na golden cover an elephant. Vaicravana's younger brother carried away\nSita, who, like a mighty meteor, filled the heavens with her splendour.\nAnd like stars of exhausted religious merit dropping down from the sky,\nher fiery ornaments began to fall to the earth with sounds. And the\nchain of the splendour of the moon, removed from Vaidehi's breast,\nfalling down, shone like the Ganga dropping from the sky. The trees\nfilled with various fowls, with their tops waving because of the wind\nblowing on high and swaying them, seemed to say, \"No fear,\" [unto Sita.]\nAnd the pools with their lotuses faded and their fishes agitated, seemed\nto sorrow for the desponding daughter of Mithila as for their friend.\nAnd following Sita's shadow, lions, and tigers, and other beasts and\nbirds, rushed from all sides in wrath. And the mountains, with their\nfaces washed with water-falls representing tears, and their summits\nresembling uplifted arms, seemed to lament for Sita, as she was being\ncarried away. And beholding Vaidehi carried away, the glorious Sun,\noppressed with sadness, had his rays dimmed and his disc darkened.\n\"Virtue is not; and where is truth? And there is neither sincerity nor\nkindness,--in a case in which Ravana is carrying away Rama's Vaidehi\nthus did all creatures lament in numbers. And the young of deer,\nafflicted with fear, wept with woe-begone faces. And the sylvan deities,\nlooking up now and again with eyes betokening fear, had their persons\nall in a tremble. For compassing his own destruction, the Ten-headed one\ncarried away the intelligent Vaidehi, bewailing bitterly, Sita, who had\ncome by such misfortune, sweet-voiced, crying, \"O Lakshmana\" \"O Rama,\"\nand casting glances on the ground many a time and oft,--the ends of her\nhair waving and her _tilika_ wiped out. Then oppressed with the load of\nfear, Sita of luminous smiles,--Mithila' s daughter, bereft of her\nfriends --not beholding either Rama or Lakshmana, became pale of\ncountenance.\n\n [58] Sumeru.--T.\n\n [59] Instead of _On the earth_--some texts have [bangles]\n      _sweet-sounding_.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LIII.\n\n\nSeeing him fly up into the air, Janaka's daughter, Maithili, became\naggrieved and exceedingly agitated, and great was the fear that\npossessed her. Her eyes expressing rage, weeping and fright, Sita, as\nshe was being carried away, weeping piteously, spoke to the grim-eyed\nlord of the Rakshasas, saying, \"Dost thou not, O base wretch, Ravana,\nfeel shame on account of this act--thou, who, knowing that I was alone,\nfliest away, carrying me? Coward that thou art, thou it was, who,\ndesirous of carrying me off, by the shape of a deer, hadst, by thy\n[powers of] illusion taken away my lord. And he also that endeavoured to\nrescue me, has been slain by thee--the ancient king of vultures, who was\nthe friend of my father-in-law. Great, forsooth, is found to be thy\nmight, thou vilest of Rakshasas; in that thou hast carried me off by\nsimply declaring thy name, but hast not won me in war. Why dost thou\nnot, O execrable one, take shame unto thyself, having perpetrated such a\nheinous act--having carried off another's wife in the absence of her\nhusband? This fell and foul act of thine fraught with unrighteousness,\nheroic persons shall bruit about the world. Fie on thy heroism and thy\ntruth,--of which thou didst apeak at that time; and fie also on this\ncharacter of thine, calculated to sully thy line in this world. What can\nI do (unto thee), as thou proceedest with speed? But stay thou for a\nmoment; and thou shalt not return with life. Shouldst thou come within\nthe range of the vision of those sons of the king, thou couldst not,\nalthough thou shouldst happen to be accompanied with thy army, live for\na moment. Even as a bird cannot bear the touch of a flaming fire in a\nforest, thou canst never bear the touch of their arrows. Effecting thy\nown welfare, do thou, O Ravana, leave me. If thou do not let me go, my\nhusband along with his brother would strive for thy destruction. As\nintent upon sensul enjoyment, thou endeavourest to ravish me, this very\nendeavour of thine, O mean wight, shall come to naught. Not beholding my\nlord resembling a celestial, I cannot, come under the sway of my enemy,\nbear to live long. As one dwelling on earth perceives objects in their\nreversed relations at the time of one's death, so thou dost not perceive\nwhat is for thy good or profit. Those moribund do not relish what would\ndo them good. I see thee with the noose of Death wound round thy neck.\nAs, O ranger of night, thou art not affected with fear, albeit the\nsituation is one calculated to raise one's apprehensions, it is clear\nthat thou wilt see the golden trees, the dreadful river Vaitarani\nflowing with blood, the terrible wood, O Ravana, rife with leaves in the\nshape of swords, and a sharp Salmali containing blossoms of shining\ngold, having lapises for its leaves, and bearing iron thorns. But, O\nshameless one, like a person that hath drunk poison, having done this\nwrong unto that high-souled one, thou wilt not be able to save thyself.\nO Ravana, thou art fast fettered in the noose of Death. Having done this\nfoul turn unto that high-souled one, repairing whither, shalt thou\nobtain respite? Shall not that strong and heroic Raghava, skilled in all\nweapons, who without his brother, in the twinkling of an eye, in battle\nslew fourteen thousand Rakshasas, slay thee, who carriest away his\nbeloved wife?\" Thus and in other ways, Videha's daughter, lying on the\nlap of Ravana, overwhelmed with fear and grief, indulged in piteous\nlamentations. And the wicked (Ravana) with a shaking frame carried away\nthe daughter of the king extremely distressed, speaking much, and\nspeaking piteously, uttering lamentations, and putting forth endeavours\n(to free herself.)\n\n\n\nSECTION LIV.\n\n\nCarried away (by Ravana), Vaidehi, not finding any defender, saw five\nprincipal monkeys stationed on the top of a hill. Thereat, that lady of\nexpansive eyes and surpassing charms, in the hope that they might convey\nthe intelligence unto Rama, flung off in their midst her gold-gleaming\nsilken sheet, and elegant ornaments. But the Ten headed one owing to\nhurry did not observe the throwing of the cloth along with the\nornaments. Those foremost of monkeys having tawny eyes observed with\nwinkless eyes the large-eyed Sita as she was giving way to grief. And\nthe lord of Rakshasas, passing beyond Pampa, directed his course towards\nthe city of Lanka, taking Mithila's daughter along with him, indulging\nin lamentations. Experiencing the height of delight, Ravana ravished\nher, taking her on his lap, like a sharp-toothed serpent of virulent\npoison. And speedily, like an arrow shot from a bow, he, coursing the\nwelkin, left behind woods and streams and mountains and pieces of water.\nAnd coming to the abode of Varuna, that refuge of rivers, the\nexhaustless ocean--the home of whales and alligators, he crossed over\nit. In consequence of the carrying away of Vaidehi, Varuna's abode, from\ngrief, had all its waves stilled and its fishes and mighty snakes\ninert.--And the Charanas uttered in the heavens these words, \"O\nTen-headed one, this is thy end.\" Thus did the Siddhas then say. And\ntaking Siti on his lap, representing his own Death,--who endeavoured (to\nliberate herself), Ravana entered the city of Lanka. And entering the\ncity of Lanka, vast, with all its highways well-arranged, and with\npeople thronging its gates, he entered his own inner apartment. Then\nRavana set Sita there, having eyes with dark outer corners, exercised\nwith grief and dole; as if Maya had set his own Asura Illusion (in his\nown palace). Then the Ten-headed one spoke unto some female friends of\nterrible visages, \"Let no man or woman behold Sita without my\npermission. And I command that, should she ask for pearls, or rubies, or\ngold, or apparel, or ornaments, the same should be rendered unto her.\nShe that, whether knowingly or unknowingly should say anything\nunpleasant to Vaidehi, would hold her life cheap.\" Having said this unto\nthe Rakshasis, the puissant lord of the Raksahsas, went out of the inner\napartment, and thought within himself as to what was to be done (next).\nAnd he saw eight flesh-eating Rakshasas of wondrous prowess. And seeing\nthem, the exceedingly powerful (Ravana), blinded by the bestowal of the\nboon, after extolling their strength and heroism, addressed them,\nsaying, \"Equipped with various weapons, do ye speedily take yourself to\nJanasthana,-- that field of carnage--which ere this contained the abode\nof Khara; and casting off fear at a distance, do ye sojourn in vacant\nJanasthana with all its Rakshasas slain (by Rama). A great many troops\nendeued with exceeding prowess, who had been posted in Janasthana, have,\nalong with Dushana and Khara, been slain by the shafts of Rama. Hence\nunprecedented is my wrath, towering above my patience; and great and\nfierce also is the hostility I have conceived against Rama. I wish to\navenge myself on my mighty enemy. Sleep find I none without slaying my\nfoe in fight. Slaying that slayer of Khara and Dushana, Rama, I shall\nattain delight like unto that attained by a pauper on gaining riches.\nStaying in Janasthana, ye shall gather true information touching Rama as\nto what he is about. Repair all ye rangers of the night carefully, and\nstrive yourselves always for slaying Rama. I have been well acquainted\nwith your strength in many a field, and it is for this that I set ye in\nJanasthana.\" Hearing these agreeable and weighty words of Ravana, those\nRakshasas, bowing down unto Ravana, left Lanka, and in a body invisibly\nproceeded in the direction of Janasthana. Having obtained Mithila's\ndaughter, Ravana experienced great joy in establishing her (in his own\nhouse); and having created high hostility with Rama, Ravana through\nblindness rejoiced greatly.\n\n\n\nSECTION LV.\n\n\nHaving commissioned those eight terrible and mighty Rakshasas, Ravana,\nin consequence of perversion of sense, considered himself as crowned\nwith success. And brooding over Vaidehi, he, sore pierced by the shafts\nof Kama, hastily entered his charming mansion, with the intention of\nseeing Sita. And entering that apartment, Ravana--lord of Rakshasas--saw\nthe distressed Sita in the midst of the Rakshasas, with a tearful\ncountenance, oppressed with a load of grief, like unto a bark sinking in\nthe ocean through the violence of the winds; like unto a doe separated\nfrom the herd of deer, and surrounded by dogs. Coming to Sita\ndisconsolate in consequence of stress of sorrow, remaining with her head\nbent down, that ranger of the night, the lord of the Rakshasas, forcibly\nshewed unto her that mansion resembling the mansion of the celestials,\nthick with palaces and lordly piles, inhabited by thousands of females;\ncontaining birds of vaious kinds; furnished with various gems; with\nbeautiful pillars of ivory gold and crystal and silver, studded with\ndiamonds and lapises. Ravana in company with Sita ascended the beautiful\ngolden stairs, resounding with the sounds of kettle-drums and\nembellished with ornaments of burnished gold. And those loftly edifices\nhad excellent windows made of ivory and silver, and covered with golden\nnets. The ground all over was decorated with ambrosia and gems. The\nTen-headed one in his own mansion shewed unto Maithilee large tanks and\npools covered with various kinds of flowers. (All this) Ravana shewed\nunto Sita overmastered by sorrow. And after having shewed unto Vaidehi\nthe whole of that goodliest of mansions, that wicked one, with the\nintention of tempting Sita, spoke unto her, saying, \"O Sita, leaving out\nold men and boys, I am the lord of thirty two _kotis_ of night-rangers\nof terrible deeds. And a thousand come forward whenever required for any\nservice.--If such is my sovereignty, all this is established in thee, O\nlarge-eyed lady, as well as my life. Thou art dearer unto me than life.\nO Sita, be thou the mistress of those numerous excellent women who are\nmy wives. Dear, be thou my wife. This is for thy good. Why shoudst thou\nact otherwise? Do thou relish my speech. Do thou bend thy mind towards\nme. It behoves thee to favor me, who am burning (in the heat of desire).\nThis Lanka measuring an hundred Yoyanas girt round by the ocean, is\nincapable of being harassed by the celestials themselves headed by\nIndra. Neither among the celestials nor Yakshas nor Gandharbas nor\nSerpents, find I any one that can match me in prowess. What wilt thou do\nwith Rama a human being of short life, poor, of small prowess,\npractising mendicancy? O Sita, bend thy mind unto me. I am a fit husband\nfor thee. O timed one, youth is uncertain. Sport with me here. And, O\nthou of a handsome countenance, do not wish for the sight of Raghava. O\nSita, what power hath he to come hither even in thought? None can fetter\nthe exceedingly fleet wind in the sky, or hold the bright flame of a\nburning fire. O beauteous one, in these three worlds I find no one that\ncan by his might carry thee away, who art protected by my arms. Do thou\ngovern at Lanka this extensive kingdom. The like of me and celestials\nand all that are mobile and immobile shall be thy servants. Laving thy\nlimbs with water, do thou gratify me. The evil that thou hadst done,\nhath been expiated by thy life in the forest: now do thou reap the fruit\nof thy good deeds. Here are garlands furnished with divine fragrance,\nand, O Maithili, superb ornaments. Enjoy thou all those along with me. O\nthou of shapely hips, the car called Pushpaka, resembling the sun, which\n(formerly) belonged to my brother Vaicravana, was through my prowess won\nby me in fight. And vast and beautiful is that car furnished with the\nspeed of the mind. Do thou, O Sita, at thy pleasure sport on it along\nwith me. Thy face stainless and lovely to look at, resembling the lotus,\ndoth not, O thou of a comely countenance, O magnificent damsel, appear\nbeautiful in consequence of thy being exercised with grief. When Ravana\nhad spoken thus, that best of females Sita muffling up her moon-like\ncountenance with the ends of her cloth, began to shed gentle tears.\nThereat the heroic ranger of the night, Ravana, said unto Sita,\ndistressed, sunk in thought, and deprived of her splendour through\nanxiety, \"O Vaidehi, banish bashfulness, which stands in the way of\none's duty. The yearning I feel after thee is in consonance with what\nthe sages prescribe. These tender feet of thine I press upon my heads.\nDo thou speedily shew thy favor unto me. I am thy slave (ever) obedient\nunto thee. Let not these words of mine spoken by me under the withering\ninfluence of love prove fruitless. Ravana hath never bowed his head to\nany female.\" Having said this, the Ten-headed one, come under the\nsubjection of the Destroyer, looked upon Maithili, Janaka's daughter (as\nhis own) saying, \"She is mine.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LVI.\n\n\nHaving been thus addressed, Vaidehi unaffected by fear, although\nexercised with grief, placing a blade of grass between herself and\nRavana, answered him, saying, \"There was a king named Dacaratha, the\nbridge of righteousness, like unto a mountain, ever bearing regard\ntowards the truth, and renowned among men, whose son is Raghava. He is\nnamed Rama, and is righteous-souled and celebrated over the three\nworlds. He is long-armed, of expansive eyes,--like unto a celestial--he\nis my husband. Born in the race of the Ikshwakus, he hath the shoulders\nof a lion and is possessed of exceeding effulgence--the same that along\nwith his brother, Lakshmana, shall take thy life. If thou hadst wronged\nme forcibly in his presence, thou wouldst have lain in battle in\nJanasthana even as Khara.\" All the mighty Rakshasas of grim visages,\nwhom thou hast extolled (before me) shall be deprived of their venom\nbefore Rama, as serpents are before Suparna. The shafts decorated with\ngold shot by the bow-string of Raghava, shall pierce their bodies, as\nthe waves of the Ganga (beat against) her banks, Although, O Ravana,\nthou mayst be incapable of being slain either by the gods or the Asuras,\nyet having roused the high hostility of Raghava, thou wilt not be able\nto liberate thy life. The strong Raghava will compass the end of what\nremains of thy life. Like the life of a beast tied to the sacrificial\nstake, thy own is incapable of being reclaimed, Should Rama look at thee\nwith eyes aglow with anger, thou, O Rakshasa, wouldst be consumed even\nas Manmatha was by Rudra. He who is able to bring down the Moon or\ndestroy him, and to drink up the ocean dry, will surely liberate Sita\nfrom here. Thy days are numbered, and auspiciousness hath bidden thee\nadieu. Thou art shorn of strength, and thy senses have been dulled. And\nit is owing to thee that Lanka shall be subject to widowhood. That thou\nby force hast for naught carried me away from the side of my husband\n--this sinful act can never conduce to thy felicity. That exceedingly\neffulgent lord of mine along with my husband's younger brother,\nsummoning up their energy, is fearlessly dwelling in the vacant Dandaka.\nBy means of an arrowy shower in conflict, he will take thy prowess and\nstrength, thy hauteur and wickedness out of thy person. When urged by\nthe Destroyer, the destruction of creatures is perceptible, then, coming\nunder the sway of the Destroyer, men become careless in their actions.\nHaving outraged me, thou, O worst of Rakshasas, thy time come; for\ncompassing thy own destruction as well as that of the Rakshasas and\nthose dwelling in thy inner apartment. A Chandala cannot tread the dais\nreared in the midst of a sacrifice beauteous with ladles, and vessels,\nand sanctified by the twice-born ones. So I, the religiously wedded wife\nof that one, ever intent on virtue, and (always) firm in my vows, is\nincapable, thou vilest of Rakshasas, of being touched by thee, a sinner.\nHow can the female that hath always sported with her mate amidst\nlotuses, cast her eyes on a shag staying among rushes. Do thou either\nbind or destroy this body deprived of sensation. This body will I not\nprotect, nor yet this life, O Ravana; and I shall not be able to bring\nblame on myself in this world.\" Having said these harsh words in wrath,\nVideha's daughter, Janaki, did not there again say anything unto Ravana.\nHearing Sita's words, harsh and calculated to make one's down stand on\nend, Ravana answered her in words tending to excite one's apprehension,\n\"Hear, O Maithili, my words. O damsel if, O thou of sweet smiles, within\nthis time thou do not turn thyself unto me, the cooks shall cut thee off\nin pieces to serve my morning meal.\" Having herself spoken thus,\nRavana,--challenger of foes-- growing exceedingly wroth, addressed the\nRakshasis in these words, \"Ye frightful Rakshasis terrible to behold,\nsubsisting on flesh and gore, do ye at once crush her pride.\" As soon as\nhe had said this, those frightfnl and terrible Rakshasis with joined\nhands encircled Maithili. Then the grim-visaged king Ravana, as if\nriving the earth by his tread, proceeding a pace or two, said, \"Do ye\ntake Maithili to the wood of _Asokas_. There surrounding her, do ye\nsecretly guard her; and there (sometimes) by storming, and (at others)\nby means of soft speech, do ye all strive to bring Mithila's daughter,\nlike a wild female elephant, under your sway.\" Thus commanded by Ravana,\nthose Rakshasis taking Maithili along with them, went to the _Asoka_\nwood, abounding with trees granting every desire, and filled with\nvarious kinds of fruits and flowers; and frequented by fowls fraught\nwith juices at all seasons. And as a doe comes under the subjection of\ntigresses, Janaka's daughter, Maithili, her frame worked up with grief,\ncame under the sway of the Rakshasis. And like a female deer fast bound\nby a trap, Janaka's timid daughter Maithili, agitated by the mighty\ngrief, did not attain respite. And greatly up-braided by the fierce eyes\n(of the Rakshasis), Maithili did not know repose; and, afflicted with\ngrief and fear, she, remembering her beloved lord along with Lakshmana\nswooned away.\n\n\n\nSECTION LVI.\n\n\nHaving slain the Rakshasa, Maricha, able to wear shapes at will, who had\nbeen ranging in the form of a deer, Rama speedily turned back along the\npath. On Sita having entered Lanka, the great father addressed the\ngratified Devendra of an hundred sacrifices, \"For bringing about the\nweal of the three worlds, and the woe of the Rakshasas, Sita hath been\ntaken into Lanka by the wicked-minded, Ravana. Devoted unto her husband,\nthe exalted lady always brought up in happiness, not seeing her husband,\nand seeing (on the other hand) environed by numbers of Rakshasis,--is\nhungering after the sight of her lord. The city of Lanka is situated on\nthe shores of the lord of rivers and streams. How can Rama get a\nknowledge of that blameless one, staying there? Brooding over the\nvarious ills she hath undergone, that exceedingly rare damsel is passing\nher days. Surely she will resign her existence. Great is the doubt that\nhath arisen as to Sita putting a period to her existence. Having thyself\nfrom here, do thou see the fair-faced Sita. Having entered the city of\nLanka, offer excellent clarified butter.\" Thus addressed by the reverend\nchastiser of Paka, Devendra in company with sleep, approached the city\nruled by Ravana. He then addressed sleep, saying, \"Go thou; and stupify\nthe Rakshasas.\" Thus accosted by Maghavat, that goddess, exceedingly\ndelighted, for securing success to the work of the celestials, covered\nthe Rakshasas with stupor. In the meanwhile, that god, the thousand-eyed\nlord of Sachi went to (Sita) staying in the woods, and spoke unto her\nthese words, \"I am the sovereign of the celestials. Good betide thee! I\nam here, O thou of luminous smiles! For securing success unto the work\nof the magnanimous Raghava, I will lend my aid unto thee. Do not, O\ndaughter of Janaka, grieve. Through my grace, he shall along with his\nforces cross over the ocean. And, O excellent wench, I have by my\nsupernal power, stupified the Rakshasis. And, O Sita, for this reason, I\nalong with sleep, taking these rice,--rice boiled in clarified butter,\nhave, O Vaidehi, come unto thee. If thou partake of these from my hand,\nthou shalt never beuteous one, be afflicted either with hunger or\nthirst, thou of thighs resembling _rambha_ (trunks), for years.\" Thus\naddressed, Sita, alarmed, said, \"How can I know thee for Devendra,\nSachi's husband, staying here? By the side of Rama and Lakshmana, I had\nbeheld the signs of the celestials. If, O Devendra, thou art thyself the\nsovereign of the celestials, show those unto me.\" Hearing Sita's words,\nthe lord of Sachi did accordingly. He did not touch the earth with his\nfeet, and his eyes remained winkless. He bloomed in youth, and the\nblossoms did not fade on his attire. Thereupon knowing him for Vasava,\nSita was overjoyed. And weeping, she spoke regarding Raghava, \"By luck\nit is that I had heard of that mighty-armed one along with his brother.\nAs is my father-in-law, the king, as is the master of Mithila, so art\nthou (unto me), thou whom I behold to-day; my husband hath now found a\nprotector.-- And by thy command, O Devendra, will I partake of this\n_payasa_ cooked with milk, which hath been offered unto me, and which\nshall enhance (the prosperity) of our race.\" Thereupon taking the\n_payasa_ from Indra's hands, that Maithili of luminous smiles (mentally)\noffered it unto her husband as well as Lakshmana. \"If my mighty lord\nlive along with his brother, let this through my reverence for them, be\ntheirs.\" She then partook of the _payasa_ herself. Having thus eaten it,\nthat one of excellent countenance, had her hunger and rising sorrow\nremoved; and attaining a mental tendency from Indra, Janaki grew glad\nwith reference to the Kakutshthas. And Sakra also for bringing about the\nsuccess of Raghava's work, with a pleased mind, went to the abode of\ncelestials. And greeting Sita again and again, that high-souled\ncelestial, in company with sleep went back to his own abode.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LVII.\n\n\nKilling the Rakshasa, Maricha assuming shapes at will and ranging in the\nshape of a deer, Rama vended speedily his way. And as he hurried\nhimself, eager to behold Maithili, jackals began to howl hideously at\nhis back. Hearing their harsh cries, capable of making one's hair stand\non end, Rama struck with fear at the voices of the jackals, became\nfilled with alarm. \"Ah! I consider this as inauspicious-- that these\njackals are crying. Escaping being devoured by the Rakshasas, may fair\nfortune befall Vaidehi! If Lakshmana should have heard the cries which\nMaricha, knowing my voice, and fixing on the means of harming me,\nuttered in the form of a deer, Saumitri, hearing that voice, leaving\nMithila's daughter and commissioned by herself, must have come near me.\nSurely, the Rakshasas in a body are desirous of slaying Sita. Becoming a\ngolden deer, Maricha, having allured me far, transformed himself into a\nRakshasa, as soon as he had been struck with my shafts; and exclaimed,\n'Ah! Lakshmana, slain am I.' It is doubtless, we having left (Sita),\nwhether all is well with her. I having raised the hostility of the\nRakshasas for the sake of Janasthana; and many and dreadful are the\nomens I see (around me).\" Thus reflecting as he heard the bowlings of\nthe jackals, the self-possessed Rama with hasty steps returned to the\nasylum. Raghava went back to Janasthana, alarmed in consequence of his\nhaving been drawn away by the Rakshasa in the form of a deer. And birds\nand beasts approached that high-souled one distressed and depressed in\nspirit; and staying on his left set up frightful cries. As he was\nwitnessing the exceedingly dreadful signs, Raghava saw Lakshmana coming\nwith a lacklustre (countenance); and Lakshmana came up to Rama. And\ndepressed in spirit, he was rendered still more sad by that one who,\nafflicted with depression shared his sorrow. And, seeing that\n(Lakshmana) had come, leaving Sita in that solitary wood frequented by\nRakshasas, his brother fell to reprimanding him. And taking Lakshmana's\nleft; hand, the son of Raghu in extreme distress sweetly spake these\nrough words, \"Alas! Lakshmana, thou hast committed a censurable act;\nleaving Sita, O mild one, thou hast come hither. Is it well with her? I\nmake no doubt, O hero, but that Janaka's daughter hath either been slain\nor devoured by Rakshasas ranging the forest. And, considering the many\nomens that take place before me, O Lakshmana, I do not know whether we\nshall light upon welfare of Janaka's daughter Sita being alive, O best\nof men. And as these multitudes of beasts and these jackals are crying\nfrightfully in the flaming direction,[60] I do not know, O thou of\nmighty strength, whether it is well with that daughter of the king. This\nRakshasa, who, wearing the shape of a deer, and, alluring me, had drawn\nme far, hath in some sort been slain by me with much ado; and he became\na Rakshasa at the time of his death. Yet my mind is poor and cheerless;\nand my left eye throbs. Doubtless, O Lakshmana, Sita is not,--she is\neither carried away, or dead, or is wandering on the way.\n\n [60] _i. e._ The quarter presided over by the sun, _viz._, the\n      East.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LVIII.\n\n\nSeeing Lakshmana cast down, cheerless, and come without Vaidehi, the\nrighteous son of Dacaratha, asked him, saying, \"Where, O Lakshmana is\nthat Vaidehi, who hath followed me unto the Dandaka forest, and leaving\nwhom thou hast come hither? Where is that one of a slender waist, who is\nthe help in trouble of me, deprived of my kingdom, dispirited, and\nrunning about the Dandakas? Without whom, hero, I cannot live for a\nmoment--where is that life's help of me Sita resembling the daughter of\na celestial? O Lakshmana, without Janaka's daughter (hued) like burning\ngold, I covet not the sovereignty of the celestials or the earth. Liveth\nVaidehi, dearer unto me than life? Shall this exile of mine be of no\navail? O Sumitra's son, on my dying for Sita and thy returning (to the\ncity,) shall Kaikeyi have her desire, and attain felicity; and shall\nKaucalya,-- her son dead, and herself wearing the guise of a female\nmendicant, humbly wait upon Kaikeyi when she shall have succeeded in\nobtaining the kingdom for her son? If Vaidehi live, I will then return\nto the asylum; but O Lakshmana, if that one of excellent character\nshould happen to be dead, I will also renounce my life. If, O Lakshmana,\nVaidehi ever preluding her speech with a smile should not speak to me\nwhen I arrive at the asylum, I shall give up my life. Do thou tell me, O\nLakshmana, whether Videha's daughter liveth or not; or whether, in\nconsequence of thy acting heedlessly, that forlorn wench hath been\ndevoured by Rakshasas. Of a tender frame, and a mere girl, Vaidehi,\nnever having experienced unhappiness being cast down, surely weepeth for\nmy separation. When that exceedingly wicked Rakshasa cried, \"Lakshmana\"\nat the top of his voice, wast thou also seized with fear? And I\napprehend that voice resembling mine was heard by Vaidehi; and,\ndespatched by her from fear, thou mayst have come hither swiftly to\nsee[61] me. Thou hast every way acted unwisely in having left Sita alone\nin the wood. By this thou hast afforded opportunity to the cruel\nRakshasas to repair the mischief (I have done them). The Rakshasas\nsubsisting on flesh are aggrieved because of Khara having been slain;\nand now, without doubt, those terrible ones have slain Sita. Alas!\nabsolutely sunk am I in peril, O destroyer of foes. What shall I do now?\nI fear such an event was appointed for me.\" Thus thinking of Sita,\nparagon among women, Raghava hastily went to Janasthana in company with\nLakshmana. Taking to task his younger brother of distressed visage,\nRama, afflicted with hunger and thirst, and dejected in spirits, sighing\nheavily with a countenance turned pale, entered the asylum and found it\nvacant. And entering his own asylum, that hero went to the play-grounds\n(of Sita) and remembering the sporting ground (of Sita) in that abode,\nhe was filled with grief and his down stood on end.\n\n [61] Some texts--_to rescue me.--T._\n\n\n\nSECTION LIX.\n\n\nWhen coming out of the hermitage, Raghu's descendant, Rama, after a\nwhile, from grief, spake these words to the son of Sumitra, \"When\nconfiding myself in thee, I had left Maithili with thee in the wood, why\nthen didst thou go oat, leaving her behind? O Lakshmana, directly I saw\nthee approach, renouncing Maithili, my mind, apprehending great wrong,\nbecame really aggrieved. O Lakshmana, seeing thee coming at a distance,\nrenouncing her, my left eye and arm as well as ray heart keep\nthrobbing.\" Thus accosted, Lakshmana having auspicious signs, afflicted\nwith great grief, said unto the aggrieved Rama, \"I have not come hither,\nof my own accord, renouncing Sita; but I have come to thee, having been\nurged thereto by herself with rudeness. The cries of \"O Lakshmana, save\nme,\" as if uttered by the master, came to the ears of Maithili. Hearing\nthose distressful accents, Maithili from affection [for thee], breaking\nout into lamentations, and overwhelmed with fear, spoke unto me, \"Off,\"\n\"off.\" On being repeatedly urged, with \"Go,\" I answered Maithili in\nthese words, tending to inspire her confidence, 'I do not see such a\nRakshasa, as can excite his fear. Do thou desist. These cries do not\ncome from him; but must have been uttered by some one else. How can he\nthat can rescue the celestials themselves, utter, O Sita, such a\nblame-worthy and base word as--save [me]? Some one far some purpose,\nassuming my brothers voice, is crying-- O Lakshmana, save me. O\nbeauteous lady, these words, Save me--must have been uttered by some\nRakshasa from fear. Thou shouldst not act like a mean woman. Do not be\noverwhelmed; and banish thy anxiety. There breathes no person, nor yet\nshall there be born any one in these three worlds who in the field shall\nvanquish Raghava in fight. Raghava is incapable of being beaten in\nbattle by the very gods headed by Indra.' Thus addressed (by me)\nVaidehi, deprived of her sense, shedding tears, spake unto me these\ncruel words, 'Thou cherishest the vile idea that on thy brother\nperishing, thou shalt come by me; but me thou shalt never have. As thou\ndost not go to him albeit he is crying loudly (for help), thou followest\nRama in consonance with a hint from Bharata. A foe going about in\ndisguise, thou followest Rama for my sake, prying into Raghava's draw\nbacks; and it is for this that thou dost not go (to him)?' Thus accosted\nby Vaidehi, I, with eyes reddened in wrath, and my nether lip swollen in\nire, rushed out of \"the asylum.\" When Saumitri had spoken thus, Rama\ntransported by grief, said unto Lakshmana, \"O gentle one, thou hast done\nwrong in having come out hither without her. Although thou knewest (full\nwell) that I was able to withstand the Rakshasas, yet didst thou sally\nout at the angry words of Mithila's daughter. I am not pleased with thee\nthat hearing her harsh speech spoken in wrath, thou hast come hither,\nleaving Vaidehi behind. Thou hast every way done wrong in not acting out\nmy mandate in consequence of being urged by Sita, and under the\ninfluence of indignation. That Rakshasa lieth low, being wounded by my\nshafts--that had drawn me away from the asylum wearing the form of a\ndeer. I hit him stretching my brow slightly and fixing the shaft on it;\nwhen, renouncing his deer-form he became a Rakshasa wearing a bracelet\nand began to emit distressful shrieks. Wounded by my shaft, he, assuming\nmy voice, and in accents capable of being heard from far, uttered those\ndreadful words fraught with dole, hearing which, thou hast come hither,\nrenouncing Mithila's daughter.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LX.\n\n\nAs Rama went on, his feet failed him, his left eye began to beat, and a\ntrembling came over his frame. Seeing again and again all these signs,\nhe continually kept on asking (Lakshmana), \"Is it well with Sita?\" Eager\nto behold Sita, he proceeded fast; but finding the abode empty, he was\nfilled with anxiety. And proceeding with swiftness, throwing about his\nlimbs, Raghu's son began to survey all around the hut. He then found it\nempty of Sita, like unto a tank in evil plight and bereft of\nlotuses--during the winter. And seeing the cottage empty, with its trees\nas if sorrowing, and its flowers faded, and its beasts and birds sunk in\ngloom,-- shorn of grace, worn out, forsaken by the sylvan deities,\nstrewn with deer-skins and Kuca, and twists of Kasa, he wept again and\nagain--\"Hath the timid one been carried off, or is she dead, or hath any\none eaten her up, or hath she vanished (from the earth), or hath she\ngone to the wood, or hath she gone to cull flowers and fruits, or hath\nshe gone to the pool for procuring water, or hath she repaired to the\nriver? Although he searched his beloved one carefully, yet he failed to\nfind her out in the wood-land. And that graceful one with his eyes\nreddened with grief, seemed like a maniac. And he rushed from tree to\ntree, and bewailing being sunk in an occean of grief traversed all the\nrivers and mountains. \"O _Kadamba_, hast thou seen where is that one\nfond of Kadamba groves? If knowest thou this do thou tell me of Sita\nhaving an auspicious countenance. O _Bilya_, tell me pray, if thou hast\nseen her, wearing silken cloth, resembling cool leaves and having breast\nlike unto _Bilya_ fruits. Or, O Aryuna, she was very fond of thee, tell\nme if liveth that daughter of Janaka of slender frame. This _Kakuva_\nknoweth for certain about Maithilee having thighs like unto _Kakuva_.\nYon stands beautifully that _Banaspati_ being enveloped with creepers,\nflowers and leaves and filled with the hum of _Vramaras_. Surely doth\nthis _Tilaka_ know about her who was fond of her. O _Asoka_, who doth\nremove sorrows, do thou make good thy name by making me, who am\nexercised with grief, see instantly my beloved (spouse). O _Tala_, if\nthou hast any pity on me do thou tell me whether thou hast beheld that\nfair damsel having breast resembling ripe _Tala_ fruits. Do thou tell me\nwithout fear, O Jambhu, if thou hast seen my dear one resembling in hue\nthe river Jambhu. O _Karnikar_, thou appearest very beautiful with this\nblossoming flowers, tell me if thou hast seen my dear devoted wife who\nwas fond of thee.\" Thus the highly famous Rama asking about Sita,\nnearing the various trees such as mangoe, Nipa, Mahasala, Panaca,\nKurava, Pomegranate, Vakula, Pumnaga, Sandal and Keta began to traverse\nthe forest like a maniac. Again addressed he the diverse animals--\"O\ndeer, knowest thou for certain about Janaki having the eyes of a doe; is\nshe engaged in play with the does? O elephant, methinks thou dost know\nabout the daughter of Janaka having thighs resembling thy trunk; pray\ntell me if thou hast beheld her. O tiger, fearlessly do thou relate unto\nme if thou hast seen my beloved Maithilee, having a countenance\nresembling Moon. O dear! O thou having eyes like unto lotuses! why dost\nthou fly away? Surely have I seen thee. Why dost thou not address me\nhiding thyself behind the tree? Wait, wait, O thou fair damsel, thou\nhast no compassion for me! Never hadst thou mock me before in this way!\nWhy dost thou neglect me now? O exquisitely fair damsel, truly have I\nfound thee out from this thy yellow silken cloth. I have seen thee\nflying away. Stand if thou hast any love for me. Or, O thou having a\nsweet smile, thou art not she; truly thou hast been killed or else thou\nwouldst not have neglected me at this time of dire affliction. True it\nis that she hath been devoured in my absence by the Rakshasas living on\nflesh having torn into pieces her limbs. Truly hath her face, resembling\nthe full-moon, having beautiful teeth a fine nose and white Kundalas,\nbecome of pale countenance being brought under the possession of the\nRakshasas. Her neck had the hue of sandal and was adorned with\nnecklace--that beautiful tender neck was eaten up by the Rakshasas, my\nbeloved wife wailing. Her arms were tender like leaves and adorned with\nvarious ornaments; truly have the Rakshasas eaten them up, shaken as\nthey were, by throwing them here and there. Alas! did I leave her alone\nonly to be devoured by the Rakshasas? And she hath been eaten up like\none weak and helpless albeit she has many friends. O Lakshmana, O thou\nof mighty-arms, hast thou seen where my dear wife is? O dear! O Sita!\nwhere hast thou gone?\" Bewailing again and again in this strain Rama\nbegan to range the forest. Sometimes leaping, sometimes walking in an\nuncertain direction, again and again he looked like one void of sense.\nAnd again intent on searching Sita he furiously engaged in traversing\nthe rivers, mountains, fountains and the woods. He could not wait\npaitently anywhere. Entering a vast forest he searched every nook and\ncorner for Maithilee; his desire was not satisfied and he again engaged\nwith great labour in the finding out of his dear spouse.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXI.\n\n\nBeholding the hermitage and cottage desolate and the seats strewn here\nand there, Rama the son of Dacaratha looked around. And finding Sita\nnowhere he raised up his beautiful arm and broke out into lamentations\nsaying, \"O Lakshmana where is Sita? Where has she gone hence? O\nSaumitri, who hath carried away my dear one or who hath devoured her? O\nSita, if wishest thou to mock me, hiding thyself behind the tree,\nenough--enough it is--console me who am exercised with grief. O pleasant\nSita, without thee these faithful little deer have engaged in meditation\nbeing bathed in tears. Without Sita I shall not breathe, O Lakshmana. A\nmighty grief hath overtaken me in consequence of her being carried away.\nMy father the monarch shall surely behold me in the next world and ask\nme 'I engaged thee in the observance of a vow; without fulfilling that,\nwhy hast thou come here? O shame on thee!' For certain shall my father\naddress me with these words relating to my passionate, false and base\nconduct. All my desires have now been baffled and I have lost all\ncontrol over myself and have been exercised with grief. O fine damsel, O\nthou of slender waist, where dost thou repair leaving me behind like\nunto fame renouncing a person of vicious nature? Without thee I shall\nrenounce my own life.\" Being desirous of seeing Sita, Rama afflicted\nwith grief began to bewail in this strain, but did not behold the\ndaughter of Janaka. Being sunk in grief on Sita's account he became worn\nout like unto an elephant fallen in mud. Thereat for his well being,\nLakshmana spoke unto him saying, \"O thou of mighty intellect-- do not\ngrieve. Do thou put forth thy endeavours along with me. There is that\nhigh hill, O hero, containing many a cave. Maithili who is fond of\nranging the forest and ever delighteth in beholding the flowery woods,\nmust have entered therein or have gone to the watering-place blooming\nwith flowerets and lotuses. She has gone to the river abounding in fish\nand _Banjulas_ or has hidden herself somewhere in the forest to frighten\nus and to know, O best of men, how we can search her out. O thou of\ngreat beauty, let us soon engage in quest of her. O Kakuthstha, if\nthinkest thou that she is somewhere in this forest, we shall leave no\nquarter untried. Do thou not grieve.\" After Lakshmana had spoken thus\nout of fraternal affection, Rama, with a composed heart, set out along\nwith him in quest of Sita. And searching every nook and corner of the\nmountains, rivers, ponds, table-lands, hills and summits they found Sita\nnowhere. And searching thus all the mountains Rama spake unto Lakshmana\nsaying \"Behold not I the auspicious Vaidehi on this mountain, O\nSaumitri.\" Ranging the entire forest of Dandaka, Lakshmana, sore\ndistressed, spake unto his brother of flaming energy, saying \"Surely\nshalt thou come by Maithili the daughter of Janaka like unto the mighty\narmed Vishnu obtaining this earth after having bound Vali.\" Being thus\naddressed by the heroic Lakshmana, Raghava, greatly afflicted with\nsorrow, replied in piteous accents--\"O thou of mighty intellect I have\nsearched every nook of this forest, this pool abounding in blown\nlotuses, and this mountain containing many a cave and fountain; but\nnowhere have I seen Vaidehi dearer than my life.\" Thus bewailing Rama,\nracked with sorrow consequent on Sita, being carried away, became poorly\nand afflicted with grief and swooned away for sometime. He lost his\nsense and his whole frame was worked with grief. Being grfeatly anxious\nand breathless he sighed hot and fast and began to lament. And sobbing\nagain and again the lotus-eyed Rama bewailed with his voice choked with\nthe vapour of grief, exclaiming \"Ah Sita!\" Thereat his dear brother\nLakshmana, aggrieved, consoled him with joined hands. But passing by the\nwords dropping from Lakshmana's lips Rama again and again bewailed not\nbeholding his dear Sita.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXII.\n\n\nNot beholding Sita the virtuous-souled Rama, of mighty arms, having eyes\nresembling lotuses, beside himself with grief, lamented (in many a way).\nPierced with the shafts of Manmatha, Raghava, as if beholding Sita\nthough he actually did not see her, uttered the following piteous\naccents--\"O my dear, thou delightest greatly in flowers. Covering thy\nown person with _Asoka_ twigs thou art increasing my grief. Thy thighs\nare like unto the trunks of plantain trees and thou hast hidden thyself\nbehind the plantain grove. But I percieve thee, O fair one, thou art\nincapable of keeping thyself hidden. O auspicious one, thou hast entered\nsmiling the _Karnikar_ grove. No more with thy pastime, O dear one,\nleading to my death. Moreover it is not proper to sport in this way in a\nhermitage. I know it full well, O my dear, that thou art by nature fond\nof pastimes. But O thou of expansive eyes, this cottage lieth desolate,\ndo thou come here. Evident it is that Sita hath either been devoured by\nthe Rakshasas or carried away by them, and therefore she doth not\napproach me, O Lakshmana, who am thus bewailing. These deer, O\nLakshmana, with tearful eyes have been as if declaring that Sita hath\nbeen devoured by the night-rangers. O chaste one, O thou of exquisitely\nfine hue, O worshipful madam, whither hast thou repaired? O Sita, truly\nhath the desire of Kaikeyi been fulfilled to-day. I came out with Sita\nand shall return home without her. How shall I enter again that inner\napartment void of Sita? Surely shall the people blame me as being cruel\nand destitute of energy. That I have no prowess hath already been\nmanifested in the destruction of Sita. When the king Janaka shall come\nto me after my return home from exile, to ask me of my welfare how shall\nI meet him? And surely shall he be overwhelmed with grief on his\ndaughter's account when he shall find me without Sita. Blessed is my\nfather since he is in heaven now. I shall not repair to that city\nprotected by Bharata. Without her even the heaven itself appears to me\nas desolate. Do thou therefore repair to the city of Ayodhya leaving me\nin this forest. By no means shall I breathe without her. Embracing him\nwarmly do thou tell Bharata, as instructed by me-- 'Rama hath given thee\npermission to administer this kingdom.' As ordered by me do thou with\nproper respect salute all my mothers Kaucalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra and\nprotect them all with great care and respectful compliments. O destroyer\nof foes, do thou relate at length unto my mother the story of Sita's\ndestruction.\" Rama bewailing thus, being overwhelmed with grief on\naccount of his separation from Sita having a head of fine hair,\nLakshmana became of pale countenance and was greatly distressed at\nheart.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXIII.\n\n\nThat son of a king, stricken as he was with grief consequent upon\nseparation from his dear one, was again overwhelmed with a terrible\ngrief after causing sorrow unto his brother. Sunk in the abyss of grief,\nRama, sighing hot and weeping piteously, spoke unto Lakshmana who was\nequally aggrieved, words worthy of being said on that occasion. \"Me\nthinks there is none other on this earth like me, the perpetrator of\nvicious crimes. My heart or soul is not riven though crushed again and\nagain without respite with a multitude of doleful events. Surely did I\nperpetrate many a vicious deed in my previous birth, the fruit of which\nI do now suffer and in consequence whereof misfortune after misfortune\nhath befallen me. Coming within the compass of my remembrance, the loss\nof my kingdom, the death of my father, the separation of my mother and\nother kinsmen culminates my grief. Repairing unto woods, O Lakshmana, in\nSita's company my grief was assuaged, nay I did not suffer physical\naffliction even. Without Sita these sorrows have grown anew like unto\nfire flaming again by means of fuel. Truly my wife, timid as she is,\nhath been carried away by a Rakshasa by the etherial track. Alas I\ndoubtless it is, that one of pleasant accents, wept piteously out of\nfear many a time and oft. For certain my dear wife's breast round and\nsprinkled as it was with red sandal paste, was bathed in blood (while\ndevoured by the Rakshasas)--but there is no death for me. That\ncountenance the beauty of which was enhanced by a head of curly hair and\nwhich used to emit forth tender, soft and clear accents, hath become\npale, being taken possession of by the Rakshasas like unto the Moon\nalmost devoured by Rahu. Surely have the Rakshasas subsisting on gore\ndrunk her blood in the sky tearing oft the neck of my dear one ever\ndevoted to pious observances. Surely did that one of beautifully\nexpansive eyes cry aloud poorly like unto a hind when she was drawn\nhither and thither by the Rakshasas encircling her in the forest in my\nabsence. O Lakshmana, sitting at the foot of this hill with me that\nlarge-hearted, pious Sita, of smilling countenance, used to address thee\non many a topic. This is Godavari, the best of rivers, my dear wife took\ndelight in her-- has she gone there?--But she never goes there alone. Or\nhas Janaki having eyes resembling lotus-petals hath gone to bring\nlotuses? But how is that possible, she never goes without me to bring\nlotuses. Hath she entered at her pleasure this forest filled with many\nflowery trees and diverse birds? But that is not possible too--she is\ntimid and feareth much to enter alone in this forest. O Aditya, knowest\nthou the pious and vicious actions of men; beareth thou testimony to the\ntruth and untruth of their actions--do thou tell me, pray, who am\nstriken with grief, whither hath my dear one repaired, or whether hath\nshe been killed? O Air, there is nothing on earth which is not within\nthe compass of thy vision, do thou relate unto me whether Sita\npreserving the fame of my ancestry, hath been killed or carried away or\nif she waiteth on the way.\" After Rama had bewailed thus being beside\nhimself with grief, Saumitri, ever treading the right path and not of\npoorly mind spoke words worthy of being said on that occasion.--\"Do thou\ntake heart renouncing thy grief and engage with energy in quest of Sita.\nPersons of high energy are never exhausted on the earth even in the face\nof arduous works.\" The highly powerful Lakshmana having spoken thus\nbeing afflicted with grief, Rama, the best of Raghu's descendants, did\nnot consider that worth pondering over. Renouncing patience he again\nindulged in excessive grief.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXIV.\n\n\nRama stricken with grief spake unto Lakshmana the following piteous\nwords saying, \"O Lakshmana, do thou speedily repair to the river\nGodaveri and learn if Sita hath gone there to fetch lotuses.\" Being thus\naddressed by Rama, the quick-paced Lakshmana went to the pleasant stream\nGodaveri. Reconnoitering full well the river containing many a\nwatering-place Lakshmana spake unto Rama saying, \"Searched have I all\nthe watering-places but have found her nowhere--anon I cried aloud but\nshe did not hear. I cannot trace whither hath Vaidehi of slender waist\nrepaired ever assuaging our mental affliction.\" Hearing Lakshmana' s\nwords, Rama, aggrieved and overwhelmed with sorrow repaired in person to\nthe river Godaveri. Arriving there cried he \"Where is Sita?\" Neither did\nthe world of creatures nor the river Godaveri apprise Rama of Sita's\nbeing carried away by the Lord of Rakshasas worthy of being slain.\nThinking of the terrible figure and monstrous actions of that\nvicious-souled Ravana, that river did not dare relate unto him anything\nabout Sita, albeit appointed by the creatures to relate the story\nconcerning her and accosted by Rama in piteous accents. Being thus\ndisappointed by the river in beholding Sita, Rama racked with her\nseparation spake unto Lakshmana saying \"O thou of auspicious looks, this\nriver Godavari doth give no reply. But O Lakshmana, returning without\nher what shall I say unto Janaka and Vaidehi's mother? Where hath that\nVaidehi gone who used to assuage my grief who had been deprived of\nkingdom and living in this forest on wild fruits and vegetables? Nights\nshall appear too long unto me, keeping late hours being deprived of my\nkinsmen and relatives and not beholding Vaidehi. I can range this\nMandakini, this Janasthana and this Pasrabana hill if I can find Sita\nthere. Behold, O hero, the high deer have been casting their looks again\nand again at men; methinks from their gestures, they intend speaking\nsomething uoto me.\" Beholding them, Raghava, the best of men, looked at\nthem and said in accents choked with vapour--\"Where is Sita?\" Being thus\naddressed by that Lord of men the deer rose up all on a sudden and\nlooked up to the sky facing the south and proceeded to the direction by\nwhich Maithili had been carried away. And moving by that way these deer\neyed the Lord of men and again and again fixed their looks upon that way\nand earth and passed along emitting cries which was marked by Lakshmana.\nHe marked with attention their movements and cries and spake unto his\nelder brother like one aggrieved saying--\"Being accosted by thee\nwith--'Where is Sita?' these deer have stood up all on a sudden and have\nbeen pointing to the south and earth-- let us therefore proceed in this\ndirection--it may be that we shall either meet with that worshipful\nmadam or find some mementos concerning her.\" Thereat Kakuthstha, gifted\nwith supreme beauty, proceeded towards the south being followed by\nLakshmana and casting his look upon the earth. While proceeding thus,\nconversing with each other the two brothers beheld some flowers\nscattered on the high-way.\n\nBeholding a collection of flowers scattered on earth, Rama, exceedingly\nsorry, spake unto Lakshmana in piteous accents saying \"O Lakshmana, 1\nhave come to know that these are the flowers of the forest I gave\nVaidehi; with these she decorated her hair. Me thinks the sun, the air\nand the famed earth have preserved them for my well-being.\" Having\nspoken these words unto Lakshmana, the best of men, the virtuous-souled\nRama, of mighty arms, addressed the mountain in front of him containing\nmany fountains, saying--\"0 thou the best of mountains, hast thou beheld\nin this picturesque forest-land, that exquisitely fine damsel racked\nwith my separation?\" Exceedingly wroth he accosted the mountain like\nunto a lion addresing a little deer, saying \"Show me my graceful Sita\nhued like gold before I crush down thy summits.\" Being thus addressed by\nRama on Maithili's account the mountain did not show him Sita. Again\naddressed him Rama--\"Thou shalt by the fire of my arrows, be reduced to\nashes--thy twigs and leaves shall be totally destroyed and no one shall\nresort to thee. O Lakshmana, I shall dry up this river Godavari if it\ntelleth me not about Sita having a moon-like countenance.\" Rama,\nexceedingly wroth, cast his looks around as if desiring to burn\neverything with his eyes and beheld footprints of the Rakshasas on the\nearth as well as those of Sita moving wildly hither and thither,\nterrified and desirous to see Rama, while pursued by the Rakshasas.\nBeholding these footmarks, the snapped bow, the quiver and the chariot\nbroken into many pieces, Rama, terrified spake unto his dear brother.\n\"Behold O, Lakshmana, the remnants of Vaidehi's golden ornaments, strewn\nhither and thither, and diverse garlands. Behold O Saumitri, the earth\ncovered with drops of blood resembling golden drops. Methinks, O\nLakshmana, Vaidehi hath been devoured by the Rakshasas assuming shapes\nat will, having sundered her in pieces. O Saumitri, there took place a\nterrible conflict between the Rakshasas, fighting with each other on\nSita's account. O gentle one, whose is this snapped bow lying on the\nbreast of the earth adorned and crested with pearls and diamonds? O\nbrother, this belongs either to the celestials or to the Rakshasas.\nWhose is this golden armour lying shattered on earth, resembling the\nnewly risen sun; in color and adorned with sapphire? Whose is this\numbrella lying broken on earth, containing a hundred rod and adorned\nwith celestial garlands? In whose conflict have these terrible asses, of\nlarge proportions, having faces of demon and with breast plates, been\nkilled? Whose is this shattered war-car lying upset on the ground and\nbroken flag resembling in lustre the burning gold? Whose are these\nterrible arrows feathered in gold, measuring four-hundred fingers, lying\nwithout blades on earth? Behold, O Lakshmana, these two quivers have\nbeen totally spoiled though filled with arrows. Whose charioteer is this\nwho hath been killed with reins and lash in hands? These foot-marks must\nbe some Rakshasa's. I made these Rakshasas my fatal enemies, assuming\nshapes at will and of crooked hearts. Poor Sita must have been either\ndead, carried away by them or devoured. Virtue did not save her from\nbeing carried away in this mighty forest. O Lakshmana, while virtue did\nnot protect Janaki being devoured or taken away by stealth, what person\nelse gifted with heavenly power, on this earth shall bring about my\nwell-being? For this it is that people through ignorance disregard the\never kind Almighty--the lord of creatures and the best of the\ncelestials. Truly shall the celestials regard me as one devoid of\nprowess, who am mild-tempered, kind, ever engaged in the welfare of the\nhumanity, and have controlled all my senses. Observe, O Lakshmana,\nobtaining me as the stay these accomplishments have been turned into so\nmany blemishes. Truly shall my prowess manifest itself to-day\novershadowing all my other accomplishments for the destruction of the\nRakshasas and all created beings like unto the rising of the Sun casting\nthe Moon into shade on the day of dissolution. None shall enjoy\nfelicity, O Lakshmana,--Yakshas, Gandharbas, Picachas, Rakshasas,\nKinnaras, or human beings. Today shall the welkin be filled up with my\narrows. Motionless shall I make all the animals inhabiting the three\nworlds. I shall arrest the movement of the planets and overshadow the\nMoon. Stopping the course of the wind and destroying the rays of the Sun\nand fire I shall envelope the earth with darkness, crush down the\nsummits of the mountains, dry up the pools, blow up the creepers,\ndemolish the Ocean and erradicate the trees. If the celestials do not\ngive me back my Sita I shall bring about the dissolution of the three\nworlds which would else have been wrought by time. O son of Sumitra,\ninstantly shall the celestials headed by Indra, meet with my prowess, if\nthey do not give back my Sita, ever advancing my wellfare. None shall be\nable to range the welkin. Behold Lakshmana, being perpetually crushed\ndown by my arrow's shot off my bow, the world shall be disturbed and\ndislodged and the animals and birds shall be confused and destroyed.\nStretching the bow to my ears I shall make the world, for Sita's sake,\nvoid of Pisachas and Rakshasas with my arrows incapable of being\nwithstood by created beings. To-day shall the celestials behold the\npower of my arrows coursing a long distance shot through my ire. Three\nworlds destroyed on account of my wrath, celestials, Danavas, Pisachas\nor Rakshasas,--none shall be saved. The dwellings of the celestials,\nAsuras, Yakshas and Rakshasas shall fall down sundered by my arrows into\ndiverse pieces. I shall dislodge the whole world by my arrows. If the\ncelestials do not give me back my Vaidehi dead or carried away or as she\nwas before, I shall destroy the whole world mobile or immobile and\ndisturb all with my arrows until I see her.\" Having spoken thus, Rama,\nwith his eyes reddened with ire and lips swollen, tying fast his bark\nand deer-skin, braided his matted locks. Having done this, being\nexceedingly wroth he looked like Rudra about to destroy Tripura. Thereat\ntaking his bow from Lakshmana and holding it fast, the effulgent Rama,\nthe conqueror of foes, fixed flaming arrows to it like so many serpents\nand said being exercised with ire like unto fire on the eve of\ndissolution.--\"O Lakshmana none shall be able to withstand me, who am\ninflamed with rage, as debility consequent on old age, death, time, duty\nare incapable of being averted from their destined ends by the animals.\nI shall bring about a mighty revolution in the world containing the\ncelestials Gandharba, human beings, Pannagas and the mountains, if I do\nnot get back, in her pristine beauty, my Sita, the daughter of the King\nof Mithila.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXV.\n\n\nRama highly aggrieved on account of Sita's being carried away,\naddressing himself to destroy the world like unto the fire of\ndissolution and casting his look, sighing again and again, upon the\nstringed bow like unto Mahadev desirous of burning down the whole world\nat the time of dissolution, Lakshmana, having his countenance dried up,\nbeholding his rage not seen before, began with folded hands--\"Ere this\nthou hadst been gentle, self-controlled and engaged in the welfare of\nall beings. It doth not behove thee now to renounce thy natural temper\nbeing influenced by ire. Ever manifested itself in thee, glory _par\nexcellence_ like unto splendour in the Moon, lustre in the Sun, motion\nin the wind and forgiveness in the Earth. It becometh thee not to\ndevastate the whole world for the crime of an individual being. Methinks\nfor certain, this shattered car must be the property of an individual\nperson, not of many. But I do not know whose is this car with yokes and\ndresses and what for it hath been shattered? Behold, O thou the son of a\nKing, this terrible spot bathed in blood and raked with hoofs and\nwheels. Surely here took place a conflict. O thou the foremost of those\nskilled in speech, it appeareth from these signs that this skrimish did\ntake place with one, not with two. Here are not to be seen the\nfool-marks of a large army. It therefore doth not behove thee to destroy\nthe whole world for one's individual offence. Kings, gentle and mild by\nnature, do always administer punishment, proportionate to the amount of\noffence. Thou art always the stay and the best refuge of all animals.\nWho shall think well, O Raghava, of the destruction of thy wife? The\ncelestials, Danavas, Gandharbhas, rivers, seas, and mountains--none can\nact unfriendly by thee as the learned priests cannot act improperly\ntowards those initiated by them. It is thy duty, O king, with bow in\nhand to search out the person who hath carried away Sita, along with me\nand the devotees. Explore shall we, with great care, the seas, the\nforest, the mountains, the fearful caves, the pools and the abodes of\nthe celestials and Gandharbas until we find out the person who hath\ncarried away thy wife. If the celestials do not return thee peacefully\nthy wife, O Lord cf Kocala, thou shalt adopt measures, befitting the\noccassion. Thou shalt then uproot the whole world, O lord of men, with\nthy gold-featherd arrows resembling the thunderbolt of Mahendra,if thou\ndost not come by thy wife by resorting to good conduct, self-control,\nlowliness and polity.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXVI.\n\n\nRama bewailing thus like one helpless being stricken with grief,\noverwhelmed with sorrow and losing control over himself, Lakshmana\ntouched his feet and consoling him instantly began:--\"By constant\nasceticism and manifold pious observances king Dacaratha obtained thee\nlike unto the celestials obtaining ambrosia. As I have heard from\nBharata, king Dacaratha died for thy separation, attached as he was unto\nthee for thy accomplishments. O Kakuthstha, if dost thou not bear\npatiently this impending peril what little-minded person else shall bear\nit? Compose thyself, O thou best of men. Peril overtaketh every body\nlike unto fire but vanisheth in no time. This is the nature of men.\nYayati, the son of king Nahusha, though attained to the state of\ncelestials, was however thrown down for an iniquitous deed. The hundred\nsons, that had been born unto our ancestral priest Vasishtha, were all\nkilled in one day. O lord of Kerala, even Vasumati, the mother of the\nworld, adored of all beings, meeteth with mesery consequent upon\nearth-quake. Even the mighty Sun and Moon witness eclipse who are the\neyes of the world and the very images of virtue and in whom the whole\nworld is stationed. O thou best of men, what of insignificant beings\ncased in this frail body, even the mighty creatures and celestials are\nsubject to the influence of destiny. I have heard, O best of men, even\nthe celestials headed by Indra are subject to happiness or misery. So it\ndoth not behove thee to bewail thus. O descendant of Raghu, it becometh\nthee not to lament like an ordinary person even if Janaki is dead or\nhath been carried away. O Rama, persons, highly experienced and\nascertaining right or wrong without being moved, do not lament even in\nthe face of mighty perils. O thou best of men, do thou, after due\nconsideration, ascertain what is proper or improper; persons of thy vast\nwisdom are cognizant of the right or wrong by dint of their\nunderstanding. Without proper exercise, actions, of unknown merit and\nuncertain issue do not bear fruits. O hero, many a time and oft ere\nthis, thou hadst given me the self-same counsel. Who is capable of\ncounselling thee who art the very preceptor of the gods? O thou of great\nintellect, even the celestials cannot measure thy mental acumen. Greatly\nbenumbed is thy wisdom with the slumber of grief, and I am to rouse it.\nO thou the best of Ikshakus, do thou engage in the destruction of thy\nfoes considering well thy celestial and human prowess. O thou best of\nmen, what necessity hast thou to destroy the whole world? Do thou rescue\nSita after finding out thy vicious enemy.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXVII.\n\n\nAfter Lakshmana had spoken these highly sound and pleasant words, Rama,\never taking to what is sound, accepted them. Thereupon that one, of\nmighty arms, slaking his flaming ire and reclining himself upon his\nbeautiful bow, addressed Lakshmana, saying, \"Do thou ponder over, O\nbrother, where shall we repair, what shall we do and by what means shall\nwe come by Sita?\" Whereto Lakshmana replied saying unto the highly\naggrieved Rama, \"It is proper for thee to search this Janasthana filled\nwith a multitude of Rakshasas and covered with diverse trees and\ncreepers. Here are many strongholds in the midst of mountains, clefts of\nrocks, many caves and numerous cavities filled with various animals.\nMany are the abodes here belonging to the Kinnaras and Gandharbas. Do\nthou, along with me, search all these places. Great men, of thy calibre,\ndo remain unagitated even in the midst of difficulties like unto\nmountains never shaken by the velocity of the wind.\" Hearing these\nwords, Rama, enraged, fixing sharp and terrible arrows to his bow, began\nto range the forest with Lakshmana. Thereupon he beheld, fallen on\nground, having his person bathed in blood, the king of birds--Yatayu,\nresembling a mountain peak, and spake unto Lakshmana, saying \"It is\nclear and beyond all doubt that Vaidehi hath been devoured by this\nRakshasa, assuming the shape of a vulture and ranging the forest. This\nRakshasa hath been reposing at ease after devouring that one of\nexpansive eyes; I shall kill him with terrible straight-coursing arrows,\nhaving flaming points.\" Fixing sharpened shafts to his bow, Rama,\nenraged, darted towards the vulture, as if moving the sea-girt earth.\nVomitting frothy blood Yatayu, the king of vultures, spoke unto Rama,\nthe son of Dacaratha, saying 'O thou of long life, that goddess, whom\nthou hast been searching in this vast forest like unto _Oshadhi_, and my\nlife have been carried away by Ravana. I saw her, O Raghava, carried\naway stealthily by the powerful Ravana, in thy absence as well as that\nof Lakshmana. Myself Hearing Sita, for her rescue, O Lord, Ravana was\nthrown down On earth by me in conflict having his car and unbrella\nshattered. This is his snapped bow and these are his broken shafts. And\nthis is his war-car, O Rama, shattered in fight. This is his charioteer\nlying On earth being killed by the velocity of my wings. Having sundered\nmy wings with his dagger, who had been exhausted, Ravana taking Sita,\nrose high up in the welkin. It behoveth thee not to kill me who had been\nwounded before by the Rakshasa.\" Hearing from him pleasant words\nrelating to Sita, Rama, leaving aside, instantly, his mighty bow,\nembraced him, and rolling on earth having lost self-control through\ngrief, began to lament with Lakshmana. Though highly composed by nature,\nhe was dverwhelmed with doubled grief. And beholding Yatayu, sigh again\nand again and breathing with difficulty in a helpless plight, Rama,\nhighly aggrieved, spake unto Lakshmana saying, \"I have lost my kingdom\nand have been living in this forest. My Sita hath been carried away and\nthis bird hath been killed (on my account)--This misfortune of mine can\nburn even the very fire. If for assuaging my grief I do enter the mighty\nocean, verily shall that misfortune dry up even that lord of rivers.\nThere is none so unfortunate as I, throughout this earth, mobile or\nimmobile, and it is for this bad luck that I have confronted this mighty\ndisaster. This mighty king of vultures is our father's friend and he\nlieth on earth, killed through the evil turn of my fortune.\" Uttering\nthese and various other words, Raghava, along with Lakshmana touched his\nbody manifesting his paternal affection. Embracing the king of vultures,\nbathed in blood, having its wings cut off, Raghava, fell on the ground,\nexclaiming 'where hath Maithilee gone like unto my life?'\n\n\n\nSECTION LXVIII.\n\n\nBeholding Yatayu fallen on the ground by the terrible Rakshasa, Rama\nspoke unto Lakshmana, having compassion for all, saying \"Verily for my\nservice this bird hath breathed its last, being killed by the Rakshasa.\nO Lakshmana, its voice hath been enfeebled, its vision weakened and its\nlife, greatly exhausted, lieth in a very little proportion in its body.\nMay good betide thee, O Yatayu; if thou art capable speaking again, do\nthou relate how Sita hath been carried away and thou hast been killed.\nWhy hath Ravana taken away by stealth the worshipful Janaki? What\noffence did I commit by him that he hath carried away my dear one? O\nthou best of birds, how looked the moon-like, pleasant countenance of\nSita at the time of her being carried away? What did she speak then?\nWhat is the prowess, appearance and action of that Rakshasa? Where doth\nhe live, O reverend Sir? Pray tell me, I do ask thee.\" Beholding Rama,\nlament like one helpless, the virtuous-souled Yatayu spake in faltering\naccents--\"Sita hath been carried away by Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas,\ncreating a mighty illusion producing wind and showers. O darling, myself\nbeing worn out that night-ranger, having sundered my wings, fled away\nwith Sita to the southerly direction. O Raghava, my life is about to\nexpire, my eye-sight hath grown of mistaken perception, I see trees\nbefore me made of gold having hair resembling _Ushira_.[62] Ravana hath\ntaken away Sita at a moment when a person regains soon his lost\nproperty. O Kakuthstha, this moment is called _Vindya_,[63] which Ravana\nhath not been able to perceive. (At this moment) the person who taketh\naway (a thing) is soon destroyed like unto a fish devouring a hook. Do\nnot therefore entertain the least doubt about thy coming by Janaki.\nDestroying him at the head of the battle thou shalt soon sport with\nVaidehi.\" Thereupon flesh and gore began to come out of the mouth of\nYatayu, the king of vultures, not loosing his sense even while treading\nthe verge of death. Thereupon the king of birds gave up his dear life\nuttering only.--\"Ravana is the son of Vishrava and brother to\nVaishravana (the lord of wealth).\" Rama again and again addressed him\nwith joined palms saying, \"Do thou speak! Do thou speak.\" And instantly\nYatayu's vital spark rose up in the sky, leaving his bodily frame.\nThereupon the king of vultures fell down on the earth by stretching\nforth his legs, body and head on the ground. Beholding the vulture dead,\nof huge proportions, resembling a hill and having red eyes, Rama,\naggrieved, spoke piteously unto Saumitri, saying--\"Living happily, for\nyears, in this forest of Dandaka inhabited by the Rakshasas, Yatayu\nhath, at last, given up his life. He lived for a long time, of an\nuplifted person, and hath now laid low on the earth. None can withstand\nthe course of destiny. Observe, Lakshmana, this vulture for my\nbenefaction, hath been killed by the powerful Ravana in his attempt to\nrescue Sita. For me, hath this Lord of birds, breathed his last,\nrenouncing his large ancestral kingdom. In every status of animal\ncreation, the heroic, the righteous and the honest, affording refuge\nunto all, are to be found, even amongst the birds. I do not feel so much\naffliction, O hero, for Sita's ravishment as I do for this vulture, who\nhath been killed for me. Like unto the highly famous, effulgent king\nDacaratha, this King of of birds is worthy of being adored and\nworshipped by me. O Saumitri, do thou bring fuels; I shall produce fire\ntherewith and burn the dead body of this king of birds who hath been\nkilled on my account. Placing on a funeral pile, I shall cremate, O\nSaumitri, the dead body of this king of birds who hath been destroyed by\nthe grim-visaged Rakshasas. Being consecrated and commanded by me, do\nthou, O highly powerful king of birds, attain to that excellent state of\nexistence, which is reached by persons ever performing pious\nobservances, by _Ahitagnis_[64] by heroes who are not afraid of entering\na battle-field and by persons who confer grants of land.\" Saying this\nthe virtuous-souled Rama, afflicted with sorrow, burned the body of the\nking of birds, placing it on the funeral pile, like unto his own\nkinsman. Entering the forest with Saumitri, Rama gifted with prowess,\nkilled plump high deer and stretched forth grass and twigs for offering\noblation to that bird. Taking off the flesh of those high deer and\nclustering it, Rama, of great renown, offered it to the vultures in that\npleasant forest-land, abounding in green grass. Thereupon for his speedy\narrival at the abode of celestials, Rama recited those _Mantras_ which\nare being uttered by the twice-born ones. Afterwards repairing to the\nriver Gadaveri the two princes offered water unto that kingly vulture.\nAnd offering water unto him according to the prescribed rites of the\n_Sastras_, those two descendants of Raghu, after bathing, performed the\n_Udaka_[65] ceremony for that king of vultures. Having been killed in\nbattle for an arduous but glorious work, that king of vultures,\nconsecrated by the ascetic-like Rama, attained to an excellent state.\nHaving performed the _Udaka_ ceremony for that best of birds and\nconsidering him in the light of a father they went away and entered the\nforest in quest of Sita like unto the two best of celestials--Visnu and\nVasava.\n\n [62] Andropogon muricatum--(Lat). The root of a fragrant grass. This\n      alludes to a terrible vision which is generally seen by a person\n      on the eve of death--a golden tree having hair.--T.\n\n [63] This refers to _Jatayu's_ astrological knowledge. _Vindya_ is\n      derived from the root _Vid_---to gain. Thus this moment is\n      favourable to the loser and unfavourable to the taker. Hence\n      Ravana carrying away Sita at this moment shall meet with\n      destruction.--T.\n\n [64] A _Brahman_ who has preserved a sacred fire kept alive perpetually\n      in a family, &c.,--from _ahita_--placed, _agni_--fire.--T.\n\n [65] Presentation of water specially to the manes as a religious or\n      obsequal rite.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXIX.\n\n\nHaving offered him the gift of water, those two descendants of Raghu\nwended their way in that forest in quest of Sita and proceeded towards\nthe south-west.[66] Then turning to the south, with bow and arrows in\nhand, they reached a track not wended by the people. It was a ghastly,\nimpenetrable forest, covered on all sides with groves, trees and\ncreepers. Proceeding by the southerly direction, those two mighty ones,\npassed hastily by that terrible, dreary forest. Thereupon, the highly\neffulgent descendants of Raghu entered the dense forest of _Krauncha_,\nsituated at a distance of six miles from _Janasthana_. It was a dense\nforest like unto a collection of clouds, as if smiling on all sides\nblooming with charming flowers of diverse hues and frequented by various\nanimals and birds. Waiting for sometime here and there they, exercised\nwith Sita's ravishment, explored the entire forest in quest of Vaidehi.\nProceeding three Krosas towards the East and passing by the forest of\nKrauncha the two brothers descried on their way the asylum of Matanga.\nHaving seen that dreary forest frequented by various animals and birds\nand covered with diverse trees and dense groves, the two sons of\nDacaratha beheld a cave in the mountain, deep as the region under the\nearth and ever enveloped with darkness. Arriving there they espied hard\nby a grim visaged Rakshasi, having a formidable figure, ever causing\nfright unto persons of feeble courage, loathesome, terrible-looking,\nhaving a huge belly, sharpened teeth, a high person and rough skin,\ndevouring voracious animals and looking fearful with dishevelled hair.\nBeholding there the two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, she neared the\nheroes and saying, 'come, we shall sport' assailed Lakshmana who had\nbeen going before his brother. And embracing him she spake unto Saumitri\nthe following words--\"My name is Ayomukhee; it is a great gain to thee\nthat thou hast become my beloved one, O my lord. Do thou sport with me,\nfor ever, O hero, in these mountainous strongholds and on the banks of\nthe rivers.\" Thereat, exercised with ire, Lakshmana, the subduer of\nfoes, uplifting his dagger, chopped off her nose, ears and breast.\nHaving her nose and ears cut off, that terrible-looking Rakshasi,\nemitting fearful cries, fled away whence she had come. On her departure,\nproceeding quickly, the two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, the conquerors\nof foes, reached a dense forest. Thereupon the highly effulgent and\ntruthful Lakshmana, possessing a pure character, spake, with folded\nhands, unto his brother of flaming energy--\"My left arm is throbbing, my\nmind is filled with anxiety and I perceive before me many a bad omen. Do\nthou put on thy habiliments, O worshipful one, and act by what I say for\nthy well-being. Methinks from these bad omens some calamity shall soon\nbefall us. O Rama, this terrible bird _Banchulaka_ is emitting fearful\ncries as if announcing our victory in the conflict.\" Thereupon while\nthey began to explore the entire forest with their prowess there arose a\nterrible sound as if breaking down the wood. The forest was enveloped on\nall sides with a mighty wind and everywhere was audible a roar filling\nthe wood-land. With a view to ascertain whence the sound proceeded,\nRama, with a dagger in hand, along with his younger brother, espied a\nRakshasha of huge proportions, having big thighs. The two brothers\nbeheld that Rakshasa stationed before them, having a huge body, devoid\nof head and neck and therefore a headless demon and having its mouth on\nits belly. Its body resembled a huge mountain and was covered with\nsharpened down; its look was terrible like unto sable cloud and its roar\nresembled the muttering where of. Its one terrible, expansive eye,\nseeing all, was on the forehead placed on its breast and shone forth\nlike unto the flaming fire and it had huge yellow eye-lashes. Its mouth\nwas greatly widened and covered with rows of huge teeth and it was again\nand again licking that terrible mouth. And stretching forth its two huge\narms extending over a _yojana_ it was devouring bears, lions and deer.\nIt was catching and throwing with its huge hands many an animal, bird\nand bear. Hindering the way-fare it was awaiting those two brothers. And\nproceeding a _Krosa_, they espied that fearful, grim-visaged, headless\ndemon, hindering all creatures with its arms, terrible-looking and\nappearing like a _kavanda_ from its very situation. Thereupon that one,\nof huge arms, stretching them forth, got hold of those two descendants\nof Raghu crushing them with its strength. Those two highly powerful\nbrothers, of mighty arms, with daggers and bows in their hands, were\nassailed and got hold of by that Rakshasha. Rama was heroic and patient\nby nature and consequently was not much afflicted; but Lakshmana was a\nmere boy and impatient by nature and was consequently greatly afflicted.\nBeing greatly distressed, the younger brother of Raghava spake unto him,\nsaying \"Do thou behold me, O hero, brought under the hold of this\nRakshasha, and re-nouncing me only, O Raghava, do thou get thyself off.\nAnd offering me as sacrifice, do thou escape at thy ease. Methinks for\ncertain, O Kakuthstha, thou shalt soon come by Vaidehi and regain thy\nanscestral kingdom. But remember me always, O Rama, when thou shalt find\nthyself placed on the throne.\" Being thus addressed by Lakshmana, Rama\nspake unto Saumitri--\"Fear not in vain, O hero; persons of thy prowess\nare never afflicted (with fear).\" Meanwhile the wicked headless, demon,\nof huge arms, the foremost of Danaves, addressed the two brothers Rama\nand Lakshmana --\"Who are ye two youthful figures having the neck of a\nbull and with mighty daggers and bows in your hands? Arriving in this\nfearful place ye have by chance come within the compass of my vision.\nTell me now what have ye to do here, and what for have ye come? I have\nbeen waiting here being hungry, and ye have come here having daggers and\nbows with arrows in your hands like unto two oxen having sharpened\nhorns. Nearing me quickly, it will be hard for ye to draw your vital\nbreath.\" Hearing those words of the vicious-souled _Kavandha_, Rama\nhaving his countenance dried up, bespake Lakshmana--\"O thou, having\ntruth for thy prowess, again and again, greater and worse calamities\nhave been threatening us. We have already met with a dire disaster\nleading to our death, consequent on my separation from my dear one.\nMighty is the course of Destiny in all creatures, O Lakshmana. Do thou O\nbest of men, behold even thyself and me stricken with calamity. But O\nLakshmana it is not very difficult for destiny to afflict all creatures.\nUnder the influence of destiny even the mighty heroes, well habited in\narmours are distressed like unto a bridge of sands.\" Addressing these\nwords unto Saumitri, the resolute, powerful and highly famous son of\nDacaratha, having truth for his prowess, composed himself by dint of his\nown understanding.\n\n [66] In this Sloka _west_ is mentioned and in the next one there is\n      reference to their turning to the _south_ and hence _west_ here\n      refers to south-west. T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXX.\n\n\nBeholding both the brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, clasping each other\nwith their arms, the headless demon spake:--\"O two best of Kshatryas,\nare ye waiting here beholding me hungry? O ye having lost your sense, ye\nhave been chosen by Destiny as my food.\" Hearing those words Lakshmana,\nsore distressed and determined to display his valour, addressed Rama\nwith words worthy of being said on that occasion. \"This vile Rakshasa\nshall seize both of us; let us sunder soon its two huge arms with our\ndaggers. This grim-visaged Rakshasa, of huge proportions, gifted only\nwith the strength of arms, defeating all other persons, hath addressed\nitself at last to destroy us. It is odious for the Kshatryas to make\naway with those who cannot defend themselves like unto animals brought\nfor sacrifice.\"[67] Hearing their conversation, the Rakshasa, inflamed\nwith rage, widening its terrible mouth, prepared to devour them up.[68]\nThereat Rama and Lakshmana, cognizant of time and place, pleased,[69]\nsundered its arms off its shoulders with their daggers. Rama, stationed\non the right side[70] cut off in no time its right arm with his dagger\nand the heroic Lakshmana, the left one. Having got its arms dissevered,\nthe terrible-voiced, _Kavandha_, of huge arms,roaring like unto the\nmuttering of clouds and resounding the heaven, earth and all the\nquarters, fell flat on the ground. Beholding both its arms cut off, the\ndemon, with its person bathed in blood, asked them poorly--\" Who are\nye?\" Being thus accosted by _Kavandha_, the mighty Lakshmana, gifted\nwith auspicious marks, spake unto it, about Kakuthstha. \"He is a\ndescendant of the Ikshwakus known on earth by the name of Rama, and know\nme as his younger brother, by name--Lakshmana. Being thwarted by mother\n(Kaikeyi) in his accession of kingdom, he, renouncing all, hath fled as\nan exile unto woods, and hath, along with me and his spouse, been\nranging this forest. While living in the dense forest the wife of Rama,\neffulgent like unto the celestials hath been ravished by a Rakshasa.\nSearching her, have we come here. Who art thou? And what for art thou\nranging this forest like unto a headless demon, having thy thighs broken\nand thy flaming face placed on thy breast?\" Being thus addressed by\nLakshmana with these goodly words, _Kavandha_, pleased, recollecting the\nwords of Indra, bespake him,--\"O two best of men, ye are welcome! By my\ngood luck it is that I do behold you. By my good fortune ye have\ndissevered my shoulders to-day. Do ye hear. I shall relate truly unto\nyou how have I, by my haughtiness, come by this unsightly shape.\"\n\n [67] The purport is:--Lakshmana wanted to chop off the arms of\n      _Kavandha_ and not to put an end to its life as it was not capable\n      of fighting, being a headless demon. And it is not proper for the\n      Kshatryas to destroy those who cannot fight.--T.\n\n [68] This has a special significance here--meaning to get hold of them\n      by stretching forth its arms.--T.\n\n [69] They were pleased because they cut off its arms with ease like\n      unto the trunks of a plantain tree.--T.\n\n [70] It may mean also _expert.--T._\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXI.\n\n\nO mighty armed Rama of great prowess, formerly my beauty, beyond\nconception, was known all over the three worlds, like unto the beauty of\nthe Sun, the Moon and Indra. I used to frighten everywhere the ascetics\nliving in the forest by turning this my beauty into a terrific form.\nOnce on a time assuming this terrible shape I assailed and enraged the\ngreat ascetic _Sthulashira_ collecting diverse wild fruits. Thereupon he\nimprecated curses upon me, saying \"Do thou retain this ghastly shape\nhated of all mankind.\" Upon my praying unto that angry ascetic for my\nrelief from that curse, he said--\"Thou shalt regain thy stalwart and\nbeautiful shape when thou shalt be burnt by Rama in a dense forest\nhaving got thy arms dissevered by him. O Lakshmana, know me to be the\nbeautiful son of Danu. Through Indra's curse in the battle field I have\nbeen metamorphosed into my present shape. After I had pleased him with\nhard austerites, the Grand-Father of the celestials conferred on me a\nlong life. And therefore I was inflamed with pride and assailed Indra in\na conflict, thinking within me, 'I have gained a long life--what can\nIndra do me?' Thereupon by his thunderbolt, having hundred edges, hurled\noff his hands, my thighs were shattered and my head thrusted into my\nbody. Myself praying for the close of my life, he did not despatch me to\nthe abode of Yama. He only said \"May the words of the Grand Sire prove\ntrue.\" Whereto I replied 'How shall I live long without any food, being\nsmitten by thee having a thunderbot in thy hand, and having my head,\nthighs and mouth crushed down?' Thereat Indra made my hands extending\nover a _Yajana_ and placed my mouth, having sharpened teeth, on my\nbelly. Thenceforth, stretching out my long arms I used to devour all\nlions, tigers, wolves and deer ranging the forest. Indra said to me,\nThou shalt attain to heaven when Rama, along with Lakshmana, shall cut\noff thy arms in a battle.' Acting under the conviction that Rama,\nresolved to destroy my person, shall surely come within the compass of\nmy arms, I do always assail with relish, O worshipful one, O thou best\nof kings, every animal I meet with in this forest. Thou art that Rama.\nMay good betide thee, O Raghava. Verily did the great ascetic speak unto\nme that none should be able to assail me but Rama. Being cremated by\nyou, I shall counsel you best and tell you with whom you should contract\nfriendship.\" Being thus addressed by Danu, the virtuous-souled Raghava\nspake before listening Lakshmana, \"My renowned spouse Sita was easily\nravished by Ravana after I had gone out of Janasthana along with my\nbrother. I know that Rakshasa's name only--but do not know his\nwhereabouts, his figure and his prowess. It behoveth thee to show proper\ncompassion for us, who have been stricken with grief, who are helpless,\nhave been ranging this forest in this way and are ever engaged in the\nwell-being of others[71] O, hero, we shall burn thee after collecting\nall the branches that have been broken down by the elephants and dried\nup in time, and digging a big trench. Do thou tell us who hath carried\naway Sita? And where? If dost thou know it truly do thou perform us this\ngood service.\" Thereat the Rakshasa, skilled in speech, spake unto\nRaghava, addressing him thus--\"I am not gifted with divine fore-sight\nand therefore do not know where Maithilee is. I shall let you know of\nhim who shall be able to tell you all about her, after I resume my\noriginal shape, being burnt (by thee). I shall furthermore tell thee, O\nRama, who knows that Rakshasa. Without being burnt I am incapable of\nbeing cognizant of that highly powerful Rakshasa who hath carried away\nthy Sita. By the influence of curse, I have lost my fore-sight and by my\nown improper actions I have been transformed into this ugly figure. Do\nthou cremate me according to the prescribed rites after throwing me into\nthe ditch before the sun, with his worn out carriers descends into the\nwestern horizon. Being burnt by thee in the ditch, with due ceremonials,\nO descendant of Raghu, I shall mention, unto thee, one who knows that\nRakshasa. O Raghava, O fleet-footed hero, do thou contract friendship\nwith him gifted with good qualities and he shall assist thee. There is\nnothing unknown to him, O Raghava in the three worlds. Formerly for some\nreasons he had travelled all over them.\"\n\n [71] This Sloka may be rendered in another way:--Do thou continue\n      benifitting us by showing proper compassion for us, who are\n      stricken with grief helpless and ranging the forest in this way.\n      We have however adopted here the commentator Ramanuya's\n      explanation.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXII.\n\n\nAfter _Kavandha_ had spoken thus, the two best of men, Rama and\nLakshmana took him to a mountain-cave and placed on fire. Lakshmana\nkindled the funeral pile, which was ablaze on all sides. Thereupon the\nfire began to burn down slowly the huge and corpulent body of _Kavandha_\nlike unto a lump of clarified butter. Afterwards the highly powerful\ndemon, shaking the funeral pile, rose up quickly like a smokeless flame\nof fire, wearing a clean cloth and a celestial garland. And the graceful\ndemon, wearing an unsullied cloth and having all its limbs crested with\ndiverse ornaments, rose from the pile high up in the welkin with a\ndelighted heart. Thereupon mounting on a famed car, brilliant and drawn\nby swans[72] and lighting up all the quarters with the effulgence of his\nperson, that highly powerful one, stationing himself in the heaven,\naddressed Rama, saying:--\"Do thou hear truly, O Raghava, of the means by\nwhich thou shalt come by Sita. There are six expedients,[73] O Rama, by\nvirtue of which kings acquire all objects. He, in whom misfortune hath\nculminated, should seek the company of one such.[74] Thou hast, O Rama\nalong with Lakshmana, met with the culmination of misfortune and for\nwhich thou hast been assailed with such a disaster as the ravishment of\nthy spouse. O thou best of my friends, it behoveth thee, therefore to\nmake friends with such a person. Or else I do not find any means for thy\nsuccess. Do thou hear, O Rama, what I relate. There liveth with four\nmonkeys a heroic, self-controlled monkey by name Sugriva, on that best\nof mountains _Rishyamuka_, situated on the banks of the lake Pampa,\nbeing driven by his enraged brother Vali, the son of Indra. That mighty,\npowerful, effulgent lord of monkeys, of immeasurable prowess and\ntruthful vows, humble, patient, intelligent, great, expert, bold,\ngraceful and puissant, hath been banished by his brother, O hero, for\nkingdom. Surely he shall befriend and assist thee in thy search for\nSita. Do thou not plunge thy soul in grief. O thou best of Ikshwakus,\nnone can withstand destiny on this earth, truly unavoidable is it\ncourse. Do thou proceed soon, O hero, to Sugriva of mighty prowess, and\nrepairing hence even to-day do thou contract friendship with him, taking\nvow in the presence of flaming fire[75] that ye shall not envy each\nother. Despise not that kingly monkey Sugriva, because he is grateful,\ncapable of assuming shapes at will, seeking protection and powerful. Ye\ntoo are able to accomplish his wished-for object. Benefitted by thee or\nnot, he shall engage in thy service. He was begotten of the Sun unto the\nwife of _Rikhyraja_. He hath been roaming the bank of Pampa being in\nconstant fear of Vali after creating enmity with him. Do thou make\nfriends with that monkey ranging the wood and inhabiting the Rishyamuka\nmountain after placing thy weapon in the very presence of fire as a\nwitness, because that best of monkeys knoweth minutely all the abodes of\nRakshasas, living on human flesh. There is no place under the sun of\nmany rays, O Raghava, O slayer of foes, unknown to him. Exploring, with\nall his monkeys, the rivers, huge mountains, strongholds and caves, he\nshall learn about thy spouse. He shall search that exquisitely fine\ndamsel Maithili in Ravana's abode, bewailing on thy separation; and to\nfind her out he shall despatch, O Raghava, many a monkey of huge\nproportions to various quarters. Whether on the summit of the mount Meru\nor in the region under the earth, that lord of monkeys, shall give thee\nback thy blameless spouse, killing all the Rakshasas.\"\n\n [72] By virtue of the pious observances performed by him in his\n      previous existence and for his being burnt by Rama that celestial\n      car appeared there.--T.\n\n [73] The six expedients are as follow--(1) _Sandhi_, peace, (2)\n      _Vigraha_, war-fare. (3) _Yana_, military expedition against an\n      enemy. (4) _Ashana_--halting. (5) _Daidhibhava_--sowing\n      dissension. (6) _Samashrarya_ seeking protection.--T.\n\n [74] This is a moral law referring to the sixth expedient, to be\n      resorted to by the kings--namely _Samashrarya_ or seeking\n      protection.--T.\n\n [75] This refers to the oriental custom of performing every sacred rite\n      in the presence of fire as witness. The Hindus regard the fire\n      with sacred reverence and for this in all their social and\n      religious ceremonials fire plays a very prominent and sacred\n      part--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXIII.\n\n\nHaving pointed out unto Rama the expedient for finding out Sita the wise\n_Kavandha_ began with the following significant words:--\"This is the\nway, O Rama, leading to the mount Rishyamuka, where stand, beautifying\nthe West, the _Jambu_,[76] _Priala_,[77] _Panaca_,[78] _Nagrodha_,[79]\n_Plaksha_,[80] _Tinduka_,[81] _Ashathya_,[82] _Karnikar_,[83]\n_Chuta_,[84] _Naga_,[85] _Tilaka_,[86] _Naktamal_,[87] _Neelashok_,[88]\n_Cadamva_,[89] _Karavira_,[90] _Agnimukhya_,[91] _Asoka_,\n_Raktachandan_,[92] _Paribhadraka_,[93] and many other trees. Ascending\nthose trees or lowering them by force on earth, do thou proceed living\non those fruits like unto ambrosia. Passing by this forest, O\nKakuthstha, thou shalt reach another abounding in trees blooming with\nflowers like unto the garden of celestials and _Uttarkuru_ where in all\nthe months of the year the trees produce fruits and honey and where all\nthe seasons dwell as in the forest of _Chaitkraratha_.[94] There stand\nbeautifully many a tree lowered down with the burden of fruits,\ncontaining towering branches, dense as a collection of clouds or a\nmountain. Ascending those trees and lowering them, Lakshmana shall offer\nthee, fruits like unto ambrosia. O heroes, ranging from forest to\nforest, from high mountains to hillocks, ye shall get at the lake Pampa,\nvoid of gravels and acquatic plants and hence there is no danger of\nfalling down to the people, having level watering-places, covered with\nsands and blooming with red and white lotuses. There emit forth musical\nnotes, swans, frogs, cranes and ospreys sporting in the lake Pampa. They\nare not filled with terror in view of human beings, inexperienced as\nthey are in the matter of destruction. O Raghava, do ye fare on those\nplump birds like unto a lump of clarified butter and diverse fishes such\nas _Rohita_,[95] _Chakratunda_,[96] and _Nala_.[97] O Rama, the devoted\nLakshmana, shall offer unto thee, various other best fishes, devoid of\nscale and fins, plump, filled with bones, having destroyed them with\nshafts and roasted them in fire. And after thou hadst feasted on them,\nLakshmana shall bring thee water for drinking on a lotus leaf, smelling\nlike a lotus, coming in contact with flowers, delicious, pleasantly\ncold, wholesome, void of impurities, transparent like silver and\ncrystal. And while roaming in the evening he shall point out unto thee\nfat monkeys ranging in the wood and lying in the hollows of mountains.\nAnd thou too, O best of men, shalt behold those fat monkeys, who had\ndrunk water, roaring like unto oxen appearing on the banks of a river to\ndrink water. And rambling in the evening, thou shalt assuage thy grief\nbeholding the pleasant water of Pampa and blossoming trees. There, O\nRaghava, the _Tilakas_ and _Naktamalakas_, crested with flowers and full\nblown white and red lotuses shall mitigate thy sorrows. There liveth no\nperson who wears garlands of those flowers. Garlands strung with those\nflowers never wither away, O Raghava, because the disciples of the great\nascetic Matanga lived there with concentrated hearts. Drops of\nperspiration, falling on the earth from the persons of those ascetics\nworn out with the burden of the wild fruits collected by them for their\nspiritual guide, have been transformed by virtue of their asceticism\nunto these garlands. These garlands do never wither, O Raghava, because\nof their origination from those drops of perspiration. Even at the\npresent day, O Kakuthstha, there liveth an immortal mendicant woman, by\nname _Savari_, who had waited in attendance upon those departed ones.\nBeholding thee, O Rama,who art adored of all creatures like unto the\nDeity Himself, that mendicant woman, ever engaged in pious observances,\nshall attain to the abode of celestials. O Rama, turning to the western\nbank of Pampa, thou shalt, O Kakuthshtha, behold the incomparable and\nsecret asylum of Matanga. Fearing the divine authority of that great\nascetic Matanga, the elephants, though there are many, dare not cross\nthe threshold of his asylum. O Raghava, this forest is widely known as\nMatanga-wood. Thou shalt sport, O Rama, with a delighted heart in that\nforest resembling the celestial garden--_Nandana_ and filled with\nvarious birds. There stands in front of Pampa the highly inaccessible\nmount _Rishyamuka_, ornamented with many a blossoming tree and guarded\non all sides by little serpents. That mount is highly munificient. It\nwas created by Brahma in the days of yore. A person, sleeping on the\nsummit of that hill and dreaming of an accession of wealth, really gets\nat it after the dream is over. A perpetrator of iniquitous deeds and\nengaged in impious observances ascending that hill, the Rakshasas seize\nupon him, asleep, and bruise him. Thou shalt hear the terrible roar of\nthe young elephants ranging in the asylum of Matanga, situated on the\nbanks of Pampa. Thou shalt furthermore observe many a quickly moving,\ninfuriated elephant, resembling clouds in hue and with red temporal\njuice oozing out of their heads, roaming here and there sometimes\nseparately and again in a band. Those mighty elephants, roaming the\nforest, return to their woody homes, drinking the pleasant, pure and\nsweet smelling water of Pampa. And do thou assuage thy grief, beholding\nthere the bears, wolves and _Rurus_ of a tender countenance like unto\nsapphire, who are harmless and never afraid of human beings. There is a\nhuge cave, O Rama, in that mountain, covered on all sides with rocks and\nwhere it is very hard to enter. At the entrance of that cave lies a\nbeautiful, wide lake of cool water, hedged on all sides with trees\nabounding in fruits. There liveth with other monkeys the virtuous-souled\n_Sugriva_, who sometimes resideth on the summit of the hill.\" Having\nthus addressed Rama and Lakshmana, _Kavandha_, highly powerful\nresembling the sun in effulgence and wearing garlands appeared beautiful\non the sky. Thereupon Rama and Lakshmana, preparing to proceed spoke\nunto that great one stationed in the sky, saying, \"Do thou go.\" Whereto\n_Kavandha_ replied, saying \"Do ye proceed to make good your end\" and\nbidding them adieu, who were well pleased, departed. Regaining his\npristine beauty and shining in grace and effulgence that _Kavandha_, who\nwas on the sky, fixing his looks upon Rama, and pointing out unto him\nhis way, said \"Do thou make friends with (Sugriva)\".\n\n [76] A fruit-tree, the rose apple--_Lat. (Eugenia Jambolana)_.--T.\n\n [77] A tree commonly _Piyal--Lat. (Buchanania latifolia)_.--T.\n\n [78] The bread fruit or _Jaka_ tree--_Lat. (Artocarpus\n      integrifolia)_.--T.\n\n [79] The Indian fig-tree--_Lat. (Ficus Indica)_.--T.\n\n [80] Waved leaf fig-tree--_Lat. (Ficus infectoria)_.--T.\n\n [81] A sort of ebony--_Lat. (Diospyros gtutinosa)_.--T.\n\n [82] A holy fig-tree--_Lat. (Ficus religiosa)_.--T.\n\n [83] The name of a tree commonly _Kaniyar--Lat. (Pterospermum\n      acerifolium)_.--T.\n\n [84] The mango--_Lat. (Mangifera Indica)_.--T.\n\n [85] A small tree--_Lat. (Mesua ferrea)_.--T.\n\n [86] A kind of tree commonly _Tila_.--T.\n\n [87] A tree--_Lat. (Galedupaarborea Rex)_.--T.\n\n [88] Blue _Asoka--Lat. (Jonesia Asock)_.--T.\n\n [89] A plant commonly _Kadamva--Lat. (Nauclea Kadamba)_.--T.\n\n [90] A fragrant plant--_Lat. (Oleander or Nerium Odorum)_.--T.\n\n [91] The marking nut plant--_Lat. (Semecarpius anacardium)_.--T.\n\n [92] Red Sandal.--T.\n\n [93] The coral tree--_Lat. (Erythrina fulgens)_.--T.\n\n [94] The garden of the deity _Kuvera_. It is derived from\n      _Chithraratha_--a _Gandharba_ in charge of the garden.\n\n [95] The Rohi fish--_Lat. (cyprinus Rohita Ham)_.--T.\n\n [96] A kind of fish resembling a wheel in appearance.--T.\n\n [97] A kind of sprat, according to some, a shrimp or prawn.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXIV.\n\n\nThereupon Rama and Lakshmana, sons of a kingly father, passing along the\nway, pointed out by _Kavandha_, leading to the lake Pampa, proceeded\ntowards the West. They wending their way desirous of seeing Sugriva,\nthere came within the compass of their vision many trees, grown on the\nsummits of the mountains, blossoming with flowers and abounding in\nfruits tasting sweet like unto honey. Passing the night on the summit of\na hill those two descendants of Raghu arrived at the western bank of\nPampa and espied the pleasant asylum of _Savari_. Getting at that\ncharming hermitage covered on all sides with trees and casting their\nlooks around they beheld that female mendicant-- _Savari_. No sooner had\nthat one of perfect asceticism beheld those highly intelligent Rama and\nLakshmana than she rose up with folded hands and touching their feet\noffered them duly water for washing their feet and mouth. Thereupon Rama\nspake unto that female ascetic, engaged in religious services, saying,\n\"O thou of sweet accents, hast thou got all hindrances to asceticism\nremoved? Is thy asceticism growing stronger every day? O thou having\nasceticism for thy wealth, hast thou restricted thy anger and fare? Hast\nthou observed the commandments and attained to mental felicity? Hast thy\nattendance upon thy spiritual guide borne fruits?\" Being thus accosted\nby Rama that old _Savari_, of accomplished asceticism and recognised by\nthe _Sidhas_, approaching Rama spake:--\"Favoured with thy presence my\nasceticism hath attained to its consummation. Blessed is my birth,\nfruitful is my service unto my spiritual guides and accomplished is my\nasceticism. O best of men, thou art the foremost of celestials;\nworshipping thee I attain to the abode of deities. O gentle one, slayer\nof foes, thou that dost confer honors on men, thyself casting thy\nauspicious looks upon me, consecrated I, by thy favour, shall attain to\nthe imperishable land of celestials. On thy setting foot on the mount\n_Chitrakuta_, the ascetics whom I served, ascending celestial cars of\nincomparable lustre, departed to heaven. Those great ascetics, cognizant\nof virtue, said to me, \"Rama shall come to thy holy asylum. Do thou\nreceive with great reverence that guest together with Lakshmana. On\nbeholding him, thou shalt attain to that best land of the celestials\nwhence none returneth. O best of men, I was thus told, by those great\nascetics, and for thee I have collected various wild fruits growing on\nthe banks of Pampa.\" Being thus addressed by _Savari_, the\nvirtuous-souled Raghava spake unto her conversant with the knowledge of\npast and future, saying, \"I have heard from Danu, in truth, about thy\ndivine authority as well as that of thy spiritual guides. If thou\npurposest so I wish to witness it with my own eyes.\" Hearing these\naccents dropping from Rama's lips, _Savari_ showing unto them the vast\nforest said, \"Do thou behold, O Raghava, this forest, crowded with deer\nand birds resembling a dense cloud. This forest is known as Matanga's\nwood. Here in this forest the pure-souled preceptors sacrificed unto\nfire their persons consecrated by the _Mantras_ as Mantra itself. This\nis that altar _Pratyaksthali_, ascending which my worshipful preceptors\nused to offer flowers unto the deities with hands trembling with toil.\nBehold, O best of Raghus, this altar of incomparable beauty, by virtue\nof their asceticism, hath been still shedding its lustre on all the\nsides. Behold, again, the seven seas have appeared here in conjunction,\nat their very thought, worn out with fasts and therefore incapable of\nmoving on. Even those barks, which they used to place on these trees\nafter ablution have not yet been dried up. These flowers, of blue colour\nwhich they offered unto the deities, being engaged in divine services,\nhave not yet been withered away. Thou hast observed this entire forest\nand heard every thing worth hearing. I purpose now to renounce my body\nbeing commanded by thee. I wish to approach those pure-souled ascetics,\nwhom I used to wait upon, and whom these asylums belong to. Hearing with\nLakshmana the speech of that pious one, Rama gained an excess of joy and\nexclaiming, \"Wonderful it is!\" again spake unto _Savari_ of keen\nausterities,--\"O gentle one, I have been worshipped by thee. Do thou\nrepair at thy ease and pleasure.\" Being thus addressed and ordered by\nRama, _Savari_, wearing matted locks, rags and the skin of an antelope,\nsurrendered herself unto fire and rose high up in the welkin like onto\nblazing fire. Adorned with celestial ornaments, wreathed with celestial\ngarlands, sprinkled with sandal-paste and wearing celestial cloth she\nappeared of exquisite grace and lighted up the quarters like unto\nlightning. By virtue of her devout meditation, _Savari_ repaired to that\nholy region when dwelt her spiritual preceptors--the pure-hearted\nascetics.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXV.\n\n\nAfter Savari had repaired unto heaven by virtue of her divine prowess,\nRama with his brother Lakshmana began to ponder over the pious influence\nof those great ascetics. Thinking within himself about the divine\nauthority of those great ones, the virtuous-souled Rama spake unto\nLakshmana, devoted and ever engaged in his well-being.--\"Beheld have I,\nO gentle one, the wondrous asylum of the pure-souled ascetics filled\nwith diverse birds and tigers rambling friendly with antelopes. O\nLakshmana, we have performed ablutions in the sacred waters of these\nseven seas and offered oblations unto our manes. Our misfortunes have\nended and prosperity hath appeared and my mind is now filled with\necstacy of delight. Me-thinks, best of men, auspiciousness shall soon\nappear unto us; do thou come, therefore, we shall proceed towards the\npicturesque lake Pampa. Yon appeareth in view, at no distance, the mount\nRishyamuka. Here dwells with four monkeys, the virtuous-souled Sugriva--\nSuryya's son, in constant fear of Vali. I am in a hurry to behold\nSugriva the best of monkeys, for my business--Sita's quest--is entirely\nat his hands.\" Unto the heroic Rama, speaking thus, Saumitri said.--\"Let\nus depart soon, I am in haste too.\" Issuing out of Matanga's asylum, the\nmighty Rama, lord of men, repaired with Lakshmana to the lake Pampa.\nExercised with grief, he arrived at the bank of that best of lakes,\nbeholding (as he passed along), vaious trees and pools, the mighty\nforest covered on all sides with huge trees and flowers and resounding\nwith the noise of lapwings, peacocks, woodpeckers and various other\nbirds and rattling of the bamboos. Beholding, from distance, Pampa of\nsweet, cool and pure water, Rama performed ablution at the Matanga Sara\n(a portion of Pampa) and paced slowly towards the lake. Thereupon\nDacaratha's son, stricken with grief, bathed in Pampa, covered with\nlotuses. It was adorned on all sides with _Tilakas_, _Asokas_,\n_Punagas_, _Uddalas_ and _Vakulas_. It was a lake girt on all sides with\npictueresque gardens, having its waters undulating beautifully and\ntransparent like unto crystal, and covered all around with soft sands.\nIt was filled with fish and tortoise, adorned with trees on its banks,\nencircled with creepers embracing her like companions and frequented by\n_Gandharbas_, _Kinnaras_, serpents, _Yakshas_ and Rashasas. It was\ncovered with trees and creepers of various kind, of cool water, and\nenveloped with beauty. It was, somewhere, of red hue, in contact with\nwater lillies, somewhere white with _Kumudas_, somewhere blue with blue\nlotuses like unto a blanket of diverse hues. It was filled with white\nand red lotuses and encircled with blossoming mangoe groves and\nresounding with the music of the peacocks. Beholding Pampa, ornamented\nlike a damsel with _Tilakas_, _Bijapuras_,[98] fig-trees,\n_Sukladrumas_,[99] flowery _Karavis_, blossoming _Punnagas_, groves of\n_Malati_[100] and _Kunda_,[101] _Vandhiras_,[102] _Nichulas_,[103]\n_Asokas_, _Saptaparuas_,[104] _Ketakas_,[105] _Atimuktas_,[106] and\nvarious others trees, Rama the mighty son of Dacaratha began to lament\nwith Lakshmana. \"There stands on its bank the mount Rishyamuka,\nabounding in various metals and covered with trees of varieagated\nflowers as mentioned before (by _Kavandha_). There dwelleth the famous\nlord of monkeys, Sugriva, the heroic son of the great Rikshyaraja. O\nbest of men, do thou approach the chief of monkeys.\" Rama, having truth\nfor his prowess, again spake unto Lakshmana, saying, \"O Lakshmana, how\nshall I live without Sita, who have been deprived of my kingdom, who am\npoorly and have Sita for my life?\" Having said this unto Lakshmana, who\nhad nothing else in view, that best of Raghus, racked with sorrow and\ngrief and oppressed by Cupid, entered the lake Pampa graced with\nlotuses. Proceeding slowly, observing the forest, Rama beheld and\nentered with Lakshmana Pampa, girt on all sides with beautiful woods and\nfilled with a multitude of diverse birds.\n\n [98] Common citron--_Lat. (Citrus-medica)_.--T.\n\n [99] _Lat. (Symplaces racemesa)_.--T.\n\n[100] Great-flowered Jasmine--_Lat. (Jasminum Grandiflorum)_--T.\n\n[101] A kind of Jasmine:--_Lat. (J. Multifiorum)_.--T\n\n[102] _Lat. (Memisa Sirisha)_.--T.\n\n[103] _Lat. (Barringtonia Acutangula)_.--T.\n\n[104] _Lat. (Abstenia Scholaris)_.--T.\n\n[105] _(Pandanus Odoratissumus)_.--T.\n\n[106] _Lat. (Gaertnera Racemosa)_.--T.\n\nEND OF THE ARANYAKANDAM\n\n\n\n\nKISHKINDHA KANDAM.\n\n\n\nSECTION I.\n\n\nRepairing with Lakshmana to the lake Pampa filled with red and white\nlotuses and fish Rama having his senses agitated began to lament. And\nbeholding there that lake his senses were stirred with delight. Troubled\nwith passion he spake unto Saumitri saying,--\"Behold, O Saumitri, how\nbeautifully appeareth Pampa of transparent water like unto Baidurja,\ngraced with full-blown red and white lotuses and various trees. Observe\nagain, O son of Sumitra, the picturesque wood-land around the lake,\nwhere trees, crowned with large branches resembling the summits of a\nmountain, appear like so many hills. Mental agony arising from Sita's\nravishment and Bharata's grief, have been grinding me who am already\nstricken with sorrrow. Verily conduceth to my felicity the pleasant lake\nPampa of cool water, scattered with various flowers, covered with\nlotuses, highly graceful, girt with variegated woods abounding in\nvoracious animals and frequented by deer and birds. This green common,\nchequered with yellow and blue, appeareth of enhanced beauty by the\nvarious flowers of the trees as if covered with a blanket of diverse\nhues. The tops of the trees rich with flowery bunches are gnarled with\ncreepers of blossoming tips. Now hath appeared, O Saumitri, the fragrant\nspring of pleasant breezes, when greatly prevaileth the influence of\nCupid and the trees are graced with fruits and flowers. Behold, O\nSaumitri, the beauty of the woods, showering flowers like unto clouds\npouring forth rain. Various trees growing on rocky surfaces, moved by\nthe wind have been scattering flowers on the earth. Behold, O Saumitri,\nthe wind is sporting as it were with flowers dropt, dropping and hanging\non the trees. The bees, driven off and singing, pursue the wind, moving\nthe flowery branches of the trees. While issuing out of the mountainous\nhollows the wind is singing as it were and making the trees dance with\nthe musical notes of the delighted cuckoos. The wind, making the tops of\nthe trees collide with each other, is as it were stringing them\ntogether. The sandal-cool wind, of pleasant touch, ever removing the\nexhaustion of toil, is blowing everywhere carrying with it pure\nfragrance. The trees in this nectar-smelling forest are sounding as it\nwere with the hum of bees. Hillocks overtopped with picturesque and\nflowery trees stand beautifully on this mountainous expanse. Trees with\nflowery tops, tossed by the airy currents and crested with the bees, are\nas if dancing in accompaniment with melodious strains. Behold, the\n_Karnikaras_ covered with flowers appear on all sides like unto human\nbeings decorated with golden ornaments and wearing yellow cloths. This\nspring, O Saumitri, sounded by the musical notes of the birds hath been\nkindling my grief who am without Sita. Cupid hath been smiting me the\nmore who am stricken with grief, and the cuckoos have been defying me,\ndisplaying their mirth, O Lakshmana. At the pleasant fountains the\ndelighted _Datyuahas_ with their warblings have been afflicting me who\nam possessed by Cupid. Formerly my dear one, while in the asylum,\ndelighted with the music of these birds, used to attain to a greater joy\naddressing me to hear them. Behold, birds of variegated hues, emitting\nforth diverse notes have been alighting upon the trees, groves and\ncreepers from various quarters. O Saumitri, birds and bees of melodious\nnotes accompanied by their co-mates and delighted with their mutual\ncompanionship are on the banks of this lake. There live happily flocks\nof delighted vultures. The trees sounded by the lascivious murmurs of\n_Datyuhas_ and _Punskokilas_ have been kindling my amour. The fire of\nspring having clusters of Asokas as its embers, the hum of bees as its\nsound, the redness of the twigs as its flame, hath been burning me. O\nSaumitri, of what avail is this life unto me, not beholding Sita of\nsweet accents, having eyes with their eye-lashes, and a head of curly\nhair. O blameless one, this season, when the groves become charming and\nthe border-lands resound with melodious strains of the cuckoos, is the\nmost beloved of my dear one. Methinks, this fire of distress,\noriginating from amorous trouble and enhanced by the influence of\nspring, shall soon burn me down. My amorous feelings shall attain to an\nintense height, as I do not behold Sita before, whereas see the\nbeautiful trees around. Sita, away from my vision and the spring, drying\nup perspiration, have been both inciting my _amour_. That one having the\neyes of a fawn and ruthless vernal breeze, O Saumitri, have been\noppressing me who am overpowered with anxiety and grief. These peacocks\nand pea-hens unfurling their wings like unto crystal lattices, have been\ndancing hither and thither. These maddened peacocks encircled by the\npea-hens, have been aggravating my amorous desire who am already\npossessed by the Cupid. Observe, O Lakshmana, there danceth with her\ndancing mate on the mountainous expanse, the pea-hen, troubled with\namorous sentiments. The peacock unfolding his charming wings is moving\nafter his dear mate mocking me as it were with his cry. Surely the\nRakshasa hath not brought my dear one in this forest of peacocks and\ntherefore they dance with their mates in this picturesque forest land.\nIt is unbearable for me to live without Sita in this season of flowers.\nBehold, O Lakshmana, this attachment is to be seen even amongst the\nbrutes. The pea-hen being influenced by passion is approaching her mate.\nSita of expansive eyes would have thus neared me being influenced by\n_amour_ had she not been carried away. In this season of spring flowers\nof this forest are of no avail to me. These pleasant flowers of the\ntrees have been uselessly falling on the earth with the bees. The birds\nexciting my desire have been delightedly warbling in flocks as if\nwelcoming each other. Surely Sita, under the influence of another\nperson, is lamenting in the same strain, as I do, if spring hath\nappeared there. Even if spring hath not appeared there how can Sita\nhaving eyes resembling full-blown lotuses live in my separation? If\nspring is there, what can it do her having a beautiful hip and loins,\nwho hath already been overpowered by a mighty enemy? Surely shall my\ndear wife of a slender make, having eyes like lotus-petals and of sweet\naccents renounce her life at the appearance of this spring? Methinks,\nfor certain, the chaste Sita shall not be able to maintain her being at\nmy separation. Vaidehi's attachment is entirely centred in me and mine\nin her. This cool breeze of a pleasant touch, carrying the fragrance of\nflowers appears like a fire-brand unto me who am thinking of my spouse.\nThat breeze appeareth painful unto me in Sita's absence which, ere this,\nhad been regarded by me as a source of pleasure in her company. This\nbird set up a cry in the sky at that time[107] and now sitting on the\ntree is crying delightedly. This bird flying up in the sky brought about\nSita's ravishment and this bird shall take me to her having expansive\neyes. Hear, O Lakshmana, the maddening notes of those birds sitting on\nthe tops of the flowery trees and setting up their melody. The\n_Vramaras_ are approaching the _Tilakas_ tossed by the wind like unto\nintoxicated damsels. This _Asoka_, enhancing the desires of the amorous,\nstands here, as if remonstrating with me by its clusters shaken by the\nwind. There appear, O Lakshmana, those blossoming mangoe trees like unto\npersons, exercised with passion and smeared with unguents of sandal.\nBehold, O Saumitri, O foremost of men, the _kinnaras_ are ranging at\nlarge in this varieagated forestland on the banks of Pampa. Here the\nfragrant red lotuses are shedding forth their splendour like unto the\nnewly risen sun. Here appeareth beautifully the lake Pampa of\ntransparent water, filled with blue and fragrant lotuses, swans and\n_Karandhabas_ and abounding in red lotuses like unto the virgin rays of\nthe sun and having their filaments crushed by the bees. And the\nbeautiful woods around the lake have been manifesting their beauty,\nfilled with _chakrabakas_ and the herds of elephants and deer desirous\nof drinking water. Behold, Lakshmana, the picturesque view of the\nlotuses oscillated by the ripples driven to and fro by the wind. I do\nnot delight in my life, not beholding Sita, having expansive eyes like\nunto lotus-petals and ever fond of lotuses. O how wily is the course of\nKama who hath been presenting unto my mind that auspicious one, hard to\nattain and of sweet-accents! Had I not been overpowered by this season\nof spring with blossoming trees, I would have been able to put up with\nthe present amorous infliction. The objects which appeared beautiful\nunto me while in the company of Sita, now seem shorn of all grace in her\nseparation. My eyes pant for beholding those lotus-petals, O Lakshmana,\nbecause of their resemblance with Sita's eyes. Issuing out of the trees\nand touching the filaments, the pleasant wind is blowing like unto\nSita's breath. Behold O Lakshmana, the flowery branches of the\n_Karnikaras_ on the summits of the mountain situated on the southern\nbank of Pampa. This prince of mountains, beautified with various metals,\nhath been throwing up dusts of diverse colors driven by the wind. O\nSaumitri, these mountainous expanses are burning in beauty with\nblossoming and beautiful _Kinsukas_ void of leaves. These fragrant\n_Malatis_, _Mallikas_, _Karavis_ and lotuses, growing on the banks of\nPampa, and fostered by Pampa's water, and _Ketakis_, _Sindhubaras_,\n_Basantis_, _Matulingas_, _Purnas_, _Kunda_ groves, _Chiribilyas_,\n_Madukas_, _Banjulas_, _Vakulas_, _Champakas_, _Tilakas_, _Nagas_,\n_Padmyakas_, blue _Asokas_, _Ankolas_, _Kurantas_, _Churnakas_,\n_Paribhadrakas_, and yellow _Lodhras_ on the hills like unto manes of a\nlion, are in flowers. There appear beautifully on the hills, blossoming\n_Chutas_, _Patalas_, _Kobidaras_, _Muchukundas_, _Arjunas_, _Ketakas_,\n_Uddalakas_, _Sirisas_, _Singsapas_, _Dhabas_, _Salmalis_, _Kingsukas_,\n_Raktas_, _Kuravas_, _Tinisas_, _Naktamalas_, sandal trees, _Syandanas_,\n_Hintalas_, _Tilakas_ and _Nagas_. Behold, O Saumitri, many a beautiful\nand blossoming tree growing on the banks of Pampa and gnarled by\ncreepers having flowery tips. Like unto inebriate damsels, these\ncreepers are embracing the trees, hard by, having their branches tossed\nby the wind. The breeze, delighted with various tastes is passing from\ntree to tree, mountain to mountain and forest to forest. Some fragrant\ntrees, covered with flowers and some with buds, appear beautifully\ngreen. Saying, 'this is sweet', 'this is pleasant' and 'this is\nfull-blown,' the attached bees are falling to the trees. And rising\nagain they are approaching the other trees growing on the banks of\nPampa. This forestland, strewn with flowers dropping spontaneously from\nthe trees like unto a bed sheet, hath become pleasant. O Saumitri, the\nmountainous levels variegated with flowers, are appearing like unto\nbeds. Behold O Saumitri, the origination of flowers in the trees at the\nexpiry of the winter. The trees as if vieing with each other, have\nblossomed in this season of flowers. The trees, O Lakshmana, with bees\nhumming around and with flowery branches are as if welcoming each other.\nThis swan, hath been sporting with its mate in the lucid water of Pampa\nexciting my amour. Truly does this lake like unto Mandakini itself,\ndeserve the accomplishments that are known all over the world. O best of\nRaghus, I do not desire Ayodhya or the dignity of Indra if that chaste\nSita, be found here and if I can live with her. I shall renounce all\ndesires and thoughts if I can sport with her in this picturesque and\ngreen forest-land. These trees, clothed in diverse flowery attires, have\nbeen exciting my thought in this forest, who have been deprived of my\ndear one. O Saumitri, behold this Pampa of cool water, enveloped on all\nsides with lotuses, and frequented by _Chakrabakas_, _Karandavas_,\n_Chraunchas_, _Plabas_ and high deer. Its beauty hath been further\nenhanced by the birds caroling. Diverse delighted birds have been\nexciting my passion, reminding me of my dear spouse, of blameless\ncountenance, having a moonlike face and eyes resembling lotus-petals.\nBehold on the yonder mountainous expanse of various colors, stags\nsporting with hinds and myself on the other hand forsaken by Vaidehi\nhaving eyes resembling those of an antelope. These deer ranging hither\nand thither have been distressing my soul. It is then only that I shall\nattain to mental quietitude if I can behold Sita on this charming\nmountainous expanse filled with birds and deer. It is then that I shall\ndraw my vital breath, O Saumitri, if Vaidehi, of slender waist, with me,\nenjoyeth the fine breeze of Pampa dispersing the fragrance of lotuses\nand _Saugandhikas_ and ever assuaging grief. Blessed are they, O\nLakshraana who enjoy this wild breeze of Pampa. How hath that\nexquisitely fine daughter of Janaka, my beloved spouse, having eyes\nresembling lotus-petals, brought under the control of another person,\nbeen living forsaken by me? What shall I speak unto that virtuous,\ntruthful king Janaka when he shall interrogate me about Sita's welfare\nin an assembly? Where is that Sita now who followed me in the track of\nvirtue, who am unfortunate and have been exiled unto woods by my Sire?\nHow shall I keep up (my being) being poorly, O Lakshmana, being forsaken\nby that Sita who followed me, deprived of kingdom and sense? My heart is\nsinking not beholding her fine spotless countenance, having eyes\nresembling lotuses and smelling sweet. When shall I hear again O\nLakshmana, the sweet incomparable and auspicious accents of Vaidehi,\nintervened by smiles and couched in an elegant and easy style? That\nchaste and exquisitely fine damsel even when afflicted in the woods used\nto welcome me under the influence of Cupid as if she were delighted and\nhad her sorrows removed. O son of a king, what shall I speak unto\nKaucalya in Ayodhya when she will ask mc of her high-souled\ndaughter-in-law's welfare and whereabouts? Do thou proceed, O Lakshmana,\nand join Bharata gifted with fraternal affection. I am incapable of\nliving any more without that daughter of Janaka.\" Thereupon Lakshmana\naddressed unto the high-souled Rama who was thus bewailing like one\nhelpless with the following pregnant and immutable words. \"Forsake thy\ngrief, O Rama. May good betide thee. Do not grieve O best of men. Even\nthe sinless persons lose their seuse when they are afflicted with grief.\nRemembering the grief consequent on separation do thou forsake thy\nattachment unto thy dear one. Out of an excess of oil even the wick\nburneth itself. O worshipful one, even if he hideth himself in the\nregion under the earth or in a darker quarter, Ravana shall not be able\nto draw his breath. Do thou procure information about that\nvicious-souled Rakshasa; either he shall give up Sita or meet with\ndestruction. Unless he gives back Sita, forsooth I shall kill him even\nif he enters with her into Diti's womb. Do thou, console thyself and\nrenounce thy poorliness of mind, O worshipful one. Without sufficient\nendeavours even men of energy do not regain their lost ends. O\nworshipful one mighty is the course of energy. And than this there is no\ngreater power on earth. And there is nothing unattainable in this world\nto one gifted with energy. Persons endowed with zeal do never wear away\nin their actions. And resorting to this energy only that we shall regain\nJanaki. Do thou not percieve that thou art high-souled and highly\neducated? And leaving behind grief do thou forsake thy amorous madness.\"\nBeing thus accosted by Lakshmana, Rama having his mind stricken with\nsorrow, attained to mental quietitude renouncing grief and dolour.\nThereupon Rama, of unimaginable prowess, passed slowly by the pleasant\nand charming Pampa with banks girt with trees shaken by the wind.\n\nThereupon the high-souled Rama, stricken with grief passed along\nbeholding the forest-land, fountains, caves and revolving aside (the\npregnant words of Lakshmana). And the high-souled Lakshmana, of\nunagitated mind, intent upon Rama's welfare and wending like unto an\ninfuriated elephant, cheered him up by means of moral and heroic\ncounsels. Beholding their countenances passing strange, that mighty\nchief, of monkeys, while ranging near the mount Rishyamuka, became\nhighly terrified and motionless. Observing them range there, that\nhigh-souled monkey, wending slowly like unto an elephant and stricken\nwith fear and grief, became exceedingly sorry. Espying the highly\npowerful Rama and Lakshmana there, monkeys, terrified, entered into that\nholy and pleasant asylum, a worthy refuge and having its inside always\nfrequented by them.\n\n[107] This refers to the time when Rama was united with Sita _i. e._ at\n      the time of his wedding, At that time the bird, flying up in the\n      sky set up an inauspicious cry indicating that in no distant time\n      he should be separated from her; and now his sitting on the tree\n      and cawing delightedly indicated that he should soon be re-united\n      with her.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION II.\n\n\nBeholding those two high-souled brothers Rama and Lakshmana, heroic and\nwith great scimitars in their hands, Sugriva became terrified. That best\nof monkeys, of a disturbed mind, cast his looks around and could not\nstand (patiently) at any place. Beholding those two of great prowess he\ncould not make up his mind to remain there and the heart of that\nterrified monkey, sank. Pondering over what is more and what is less\nimportant the virtuous-souled Sugriva became highly anxious along with\nthat monkey-herd. Beholding Rama and Lakshmana, Sugriva, the king of\nmonkeys, greatly exercised with anxiety spake unto his counsellors,\nsaying--\"Forsooth, these two heroes, in false guises and wearing bark,\ndespatched by Vali, have come here traversing the forest stronghold.\"\nBeholding these two mighty archers the counsellors of Sugriva, quitting\nthat mountainous expanse proceeded to another best of hills. Thereupon\nproceeding quickly the commanders of various monkey herds stood\nencircling the king of monkeys and the chief of leaders. The monkeys\nthus sharing in the misery and happiness (of their chief) proceeded\njumping from hill to hill shaking the summits thereof, with the velocity\n(of their persons). Thereupon those mighty monkeys, jumping, broke down\nthe flowery trees of that stronghold. Those best of monkeys, springing\nall around that mighty hill, proceeded terrifying the deer, the wild\ncats and the tigers. Stationed on that best of mountains the ministers\nof Sugriva, coming in the front of that monkey-chief, stood with clapped\npalms. Thereupon Hanuman, skilled in speech, spake unto Sugriva,\nterrified and afraid of Vali's wicked wiles, saying:--\"Let all the\nmonkeys renounce Vali's fear; in this best of mountains, Malaya--there\nis no fear of him. I do not behold, O best of monkeys, that wicked Vali\nof terrible looks, afraid of whom thou hast fled away and for whom thou\nart anxious. I do not observe here, O gentle one, the wicked-souled\nVali, thy elder brother of impious actions and whom thou dost fear and I\ndo not percieve any terror proceeding from him. O monkey-chief, truly\nmanifest is thy monkey-hood and it is through thy light-heartedness that\nthou art incapable of fixing thy soul. Gifted with intellect and\nknowledge do thou perform all by means of gestures. A king void of sense\ncannot govern all creatures.\" Hearing those pregnant words of\nHanuman,Sugriva said in better accents--\"Who is not terified beholding\nthose two mighty armed heroes, having expansive eyes, with bows, arrow,\nand daggers in their hands like unto two sons of a celestial? Methinks\nthese two best of men have been despatched by Vali. Kings have many\nfriends. And it is not proper for me to place confidence in them. People\nshould know that enemies, always treacherous by nature, range under\nfalse guises. And those foes, availing of their credulity, bring about\ntheir destruction whenever opportunity presents itself. Vali is\neminently expert in despatching business. Monarchs, cognizant of many a\nwily expedient, bring about others' destruction. It is proper to discern\nthem by means of disguised spies. O monkey, do thou proceed under a\nfalse guise and come by their intentions, examining them aright by their\ncountenances, gestures and words. Do thou ascertain their intention. If\ndost thou find them delighted, secure their confidence in my favour, by\neulogizing me again and again and giving out unto them my views. O best\nof monkeys,do thou ask them why they have entered this forest, if thou\ndost perceive that these two archers are pure-souled. Do thou determine\nthe fairness and unfairness of their purpose by means of their gestures\nand conversation.\" Being commanded by that chief of monkeys, the son of\nMaruta purposed to approach Rama and Lakshmana. Assenting to the words\nof the terrified and unconquerable Sugriva and saying 'Be it so,'\nHanuman, the high-souled monkey proceeded where the heroic Rama was with\nLakshmana.\n\n\n\nSECTION III.\n\n\nUnderstanding the words of the high-souled Sugriva, Hanuman, proceeded,\nspringing, from the mount Rishyamuka, towards the descendants of Raghu.\nThereupon renouncing his monkey shape, the son of Maruta, not confidihg\nin them, assumed the semblance of a mendicant. Approaching them humbly,\nHanuman paid obeisance unto them. And he eulogized them truly in words,\nsweet and pleasant. Greeting duly those two heroes, having truth for\ntheir prowess, that best of monkeys addressed them in sweet accents in\nconsonance with Sugriva's instructions. \"Ye are ascetics of celebrated\nausterities, resembling the Rajarshis and celestials and best of\nBrahmacharis, why have ye come here causing fear unto these deer and\nother wild animals of the forest? Surveying around the trees grown on\nthe banks of Pampa, ye have enhanced the beauty of this lake of\nauspicious water. Who are ye two youthful figures of mighty arms,\nwearing bark, patient, sighing and troubling these wild animals? Heroic,\nof leonine looks, gifted with mighty strength and prowess, slayers of\nfoes, and holding a bow like unto that of Sakra; graceful, of a pleasant\ncountenance, of prowess like unto a mighty bull, having hands resembling\nthe trunks of elephants, effulgent, great among men, youthful,\nbeautifying this chief of mountains with the effulgence of your persons,\nworthy of having kingdoms, and like unto celestials, why have ye come\nhere? Having eyes resembling lotus-petals, heroic, wearing matted locks,\nresembling each other, have ye come here from the celestial region?\nVerily the Sun and the Moon have come down to the earth of their own\naccord. Of spacious breast, heroic, having leonine shoulders, gifted\nwith high energy, stout like unto plump bulls and human albeit looking\nlike celestials, why are not your long, round arms, resembling\n_Paridhas_ and deserving all ornaments adorned? Methinks ye two are\nperfectly able to protect this entire earth, filled with forests and\noceans, and intersected by the mountains Vindhya and Meru. These thy\npainted and smooth bows appear like unto the thunder-bolts of Indra\nadorned with gold. And these beautiful quivers are filled to the brim\nwith sharpened and deadly shafts like unto flaming fire and serpents.\nAnd these two daggers, of mighty proportions, furnished with burning\ngold, appear like unto serpents, let loose. Why do ye not answer me\naccosting you thus? A certain heroic and virtuous monkey-chief, by name\nSugriva, hath been journeying on this earth, distressed at heart, being\ndriven away by his brother. I have come here being despatched by that\nhigh-souled Sugriva--my name is Hanuman, the foremost of monkeys. That\nvirtuous-souled Sugriva desires to make friends with you. And know me to\nbe his counsellor--a monkey, the son of _Pavana_, ranging every where at\nmy will, coming here, under the guise of a mendicant, from the mount\nRishymuka, for the welfare of Sugriva.\" Having addressed thus those two\nheroes--Rama and Lakshmana, Hanuman, conversant with words and skilled\nin speech, did not speak again. Hearing those words, the effulgent Rama,\nwith a delighted countenance, spake unto his younger brother,\nLakshmana--sitting by him. \"He is the counsellor of the high-souled\nSugriva, the lord of monkeys and hath approached me, soliciting my\nfriendship in his (Sugriva's) favour. Do thou welcome, with pleasant\nwords, O Saumitri, this monkey--Sugriva's minister, the subduer of foes,\naffectionate and skilled in speech. None can speak thus who hath not\nmastered the _Rig-veda_, borne well the _Yajur-veda_ and acquainted\nhimself thoroughly with the _Shyam-veda_. Forsooth he hath studied well\nall the Grammars, for he hath not used a single inelegant word though he\nhath addressed me with a number of them. And no defect was perceived on\nhis countenance, eyes, forehead, brows or on any of his limbs. His\nwords,--few, beyond all suspicion, pleasant, and uttered in a mild\ntone,--came out readily of his throat and breast. He has uttered\naccents, wonderful, ready, accomplished, auspicious and captivating.\nWhose heart is not moved by these wonderful words, proceeding from\nheart, throat and brain)? Even an enemy, who hath his sword uplifted,\n(is moved). O sinless one, how doth that monarch accomplish his objects\nwho hath not got such a messenger? Indeed whose emissaries are so\naccomplished, all his missions are fulfilled only by virtue of their\nwords.\" Thus addressed, Saumitri, skilled in speech, welcomed that\nmonkey--Sugriva's counsellor and son of Pavana. 'O learned one! We knew\nwell the accomplishments of the high-souled Sugriva. We shall find out\nthat king of monkey herds. O Hanuman, O best of monkeys, we shall go by\nwhatever thou shalt say, under the instructions of Sugriva.\" Hearing\nthese skillful words, that son of Pavana, delighted, revolving within\nhim the means for Sugriva's conquest, purposed to bring about a friendly\nunion between them.\n\n\n\nSECTION IV.\n\n\nHearing those words (of Rama) and learning his amicable feeling (in\nrelation to Sugriva} as also, seeing that Rama was willing to assist\nSugriva. Hanuman, getting exceedingly delighted, remembered Sugriva.\n\"Since this one of successful acts hath been come by and also this\nbusiness is in hand, the high-souled Sugriva will most probably obtain\nthe monarchy.\" Then transported with joy, that foremost of monkeys,\nHanuman, in these words, replied unto Rama, deft in speech, saying, \"Why\nis it, that accompanied with thy younger brother, hast thou come to this\ndense and trackless forest, garnished with the wood-lands of Pampa, and\nrilled with various kinds of ferocious beasts?\" Hearing those words of\nhis, Lakshmana, directed by Rama, informed (Hanunan) of all about Rama,\nthe son of Dacaratha. \"There was a king named Dacaratha. Possessed of\neffulgence, and attached unto righteousness, he, in consonance with his\nproper duties, for aye, governed the four orders. He hath no hater; nor\ndoth he hate any one. And in relation to all creatures he was like\nanother great-father. And he celebrated _Agnishtoma_ and other\nsacrifices with presents (to Brahmanas). This one is his eldest son,\nnamed Rama, famous among men. He is the refuge of all creatures, and\ncompetent to carry out the injunctions of his father. The eldest son of\nDacaratha, he is foremost of all his sons in merit. He bears marks of\nroyalty, and hath the prosperity of a kingdom. Deprived of his kingdom,\nin company with myself, he hath come hither with the view of dwelling in\nthis wood. And, O highly exalted one, this one of subdued senses is\nfollowed by his wife Sita even as at the decline of day the exceedingly\neffulgent Sun is followed by (his spouse) Splendour. I am the younger\nbrother of this one endeued with gratitude and of various lore. Subdued\nby his virtues, I, Lakshmana by name, have dedicated myself to his\nservice. Worthy of happiness, homage, and intent upon the welfare of all\nbeings, deprived of wealth and living in the forest, he hath his wife\ncarried off by a Rakshasa, wearing shapes at will. Nor have we yet (been\nable) to ascertain who is that Rakshasa that hath carried off his wife.\nA son of Diti named Danu, had, by virtue of an imprecation, undergone\nRakshasa-hood. He it is who had related unto us all about the capable\nSugriva.-- \"That exceedingly puissant one shall have a knowledge of the\nravisher of thy wife.\" Having said this, Danu beaming (with a halo) went\nto heaven. Thus have I related unto thee all as it fell out. Both Rama\nand myself have saught the shelter of Sugriva. Having given away profuse\nwealth and attained high fame, this one who formerly was the lord of the\nworlds, now wishes to make Sugriva his master. That one attached unto\nvirtue, that refuge (of all)--the son of that shelter (of all beings)\nhath come under the protection of Sugriva. That spiritual guide, who ere\nnow was worthy of being the shelter (of all) and who (actually) was the\nrefuge (of all creatures)--Raghava, hath saught the shelter of Sugriva.\nThat Rama in whose happiness and favor the subjects found their\nfelicity, seeketh the good graces of Sugriva. Famed over the three\nworlds, the eldest son of that monarch who had always and for aye\nhonored all the kings of the earth crowned with every virtue,--viz.\nRama, hath sought the protection of Sugriva, lord of monkeys. On Rama\nbeing overwhelmed with sorrow, tried by grief, and having come under his\nrefuge, it behoveth Sugriva along with the leaders of bands to show\nfavor unto Rama.\" When Sumatra's son shedding tears had spoken thus,\nthat one skilled in speech, Hanuman, answered in these words, 'Persons\nof such a stamp, endeued with understanding, of controlled anger and\nsubdued senses, should be seen by the master of monkeys; and such come\nwithin one's ken through blessed luck. He also hath been driven out of\nhis kingdom, and hath incurred the hostility of Vali. And his wife torn\naway from him, he dwelleth in this wood, in fear, having been\nexceedingly harassed by his brother. That son of the Sun, Sugriva, along\nwith us, will help thee in seeking out Sita. Having said these sweet and\nhurried words, Hanuman said unto Raghava, 'I will (now) repair unto\nSugriva.' When Hanuman had said this, the righteous Lakshmana duly\npaying homage unto the former, addressed Raghava, saying, 'From the glad\nway in which this son of the god of the wind is speaking, it appears\nthat he also seeks thy service; and, arriving (at this region) thou\nalso, Raghava, hast reaped success. He speaketh openly with a delightful\nlight in his countenance; and cheerfulness. (It seems) that the heroic\nHanuman, son unto the God of wind doth not speak anything that is\nfalse.' Then that vastly wise one Hanuman the son of the wind god\ndeparted, taking with him the heroic descendants of Raghu, for\n(presenting them) unto the monarch of monkeys. Renouncing the guise of a\nbeggar, and assuming the form of a monkey, that foremost of monkeys went\naway, placing those heroes on his back. And then the heroic monkey, the\nson of the wind-god, of wide fame, and great prowess, with his mind\nperfectly pure, considering himself as crowned with success, and\nexperiencing exceeding delight, arrived at that best of mountains in\ncompany with Rama and Lakshmana.\n\n\n\nSECTION V.\n\n\nHaving departed from Rishyamuka, and arrived at the Malaya hill, Hanuman\ninformed the king of monkeys of (the arrival of) the descendants of\nRaghu. \"O exceedingly wise one, this one that hath come here is Rama\nhaving truth for his prowess. This is Rama having truth for his prowess,\nin company with his brother, Lakshmana. Rama the son of Dacaratha, is\nborn in the race of the Ikshwakus. Ever doing the will of his sire, he\nhas been sent hither, in order that his father's verity may stand in\ntact. Rama, who hath come to the forest, is the son of him who hath\npropitiated Fire with _Rajasuyas_ and horse sacrifices,--dispensing\nDakshinas and kine by hundreds and thousands--and who hath governed the\nearth by asceticism and truthful speech. His son Rama hath come to the\nforest through a woman. While that high-souled one having his senses\nunder control was dwelling in the woods, his wife was carried off by\nRavana; and he (Rama) hath (in consequence) sought thy protection. Do\nthou, granting an interview unto the brothers Rama and Lakshmana--both\nof them worthy of homage-- who are eager for thy friendship, receive\nthem respectfully.\" Hearing Hanuman's words, Sugriva--lord of monkeys,\nbecoming visible (at his will), gladly spake unto Raghava, \"Sir, you are\nversed in morality, and bear love towards all. The son of the wind-god\nhath faithfully described your virtues unto me. That you, O lord, are\nanxious to contract friendship with me who am a monkey does me honor and\nis my gain. If you relish friendship with me, do you take this stretched\narm and my hand with yours,--and bind yourself fast with a vow.\" Hearing\nthese sweet words of Sugriva, (Rama) exceedingly delighted, pressed\nSugriva's hand with his. And contracting friendship with Sugriva, Rama\nexperiencing great joy embraced him warmly. Then that subduer of foes,\nHanuman, leaving off the guise of a beggar, in his native shape produced\na fire with two pieces of wood. Then worshipping that flaming fire with\nflowers, he, well pleased, carefully placed it between them (Rama and\nSugriva.) Then Sugriva and Raghava went round the fire; and (thus) they\nwere fastened in friendship. And with delighted hearts, both of\nthem--the monkey and Raghava began to gaze at each other, yet they did\nnot feel satiated. \"Thou art the friend of my heart. Our happiness and\nmisery are common,\"--Sugriva, rejoicing greatly, said these words unto\nRaghava. Then spreading a beautifully blossoming spray of Sala, full of\nfoliage, Sugriva made an awning and sat down with Raghava. Hanuman, the\nson of the wind-god with great joy gave unto Lakshmana a bough of a\nsandal tree, plentifully blossoming. Next Sugriva, feeling high rapture,\nwith his eyes expanded with joy, answered Rama blandly in sweet words,\nsaying, \"Oppressed have I been, O Rama; and here am always afflicted\nwith fear. Deprived of my wife, I have, agitated with apprehension,\nsought refuge in this dense wilderness. I am afflicted with fright, and\nworried by fear, with my senses bewildered in this wood. Wronged have I\nbeen by Vali, my brother; and I have incurred his hostility, O Raghava.\nAnd, O exalted one, do thou dispell the fear of me, who am tormented\nwith fear on account of Vali. And, O Kakutstha, it behoves thee so to\nact that I may not become subject to fear.\" Thus addressed, the powerful\nKakutstha, knowing righteousness, and devoted to virtue, answered\nSugriva, smiling, \"O mighty monkey, that the outcome of amity is good\noffices I am well aware of. I will slay that captor of thy wife Vali.\nThese infallible sharpened shafts of mine, resembling the sun, feathered\nwith the plumes of the Kanka, like unto the thunderbolt of the great\nIndra, having sharp heads and even knots, like infuriated\nserpents,--being let go with vehemence, shall alight upon the impious\nVali. Do thou today behold Vali slain with sharpened shafts, resembling\nvenomous snakes,--like unto a torn hill lying on the ground.\" Hearing\nthose words of Raghava fraught with his welfare, Sugriva supremely\nrejoiced, said these words, informed with rapture, \"Thou hero! Thou lion\namong men! by thy grace shall I obtain both my beloved and my monarchy.\nO God among men, do thou so deal with that foe, my elder brother, that\nhe may not again wrong me.\" The left eyes of Sita, the lord of apes, and\nnight rangers,--respectively like the lotus, gold, and flaming fire,\nthrobbed when the friendship between Rama and Sugriva was contracted.\n\n\n\nSECTION VI.\n\n\nSugriva well pleased again addressed Raghava, the son of Raghu, saying,\n\"O Rama, this servant of thine, foremost of my counsellors, Hanuman,\nhath related (unto me), the reason of thy arrival in this lone forest.\nThy wife, Maithili, daughter unto Janaka, separated from thee as well as\nthe intelligent Lakshmana, and weeping (in consequence) was carried off\nby a Raksha. Seeing for opportunities of doing mischief that Raksha,\nhaving slain Jatayu, hath caused unto thee the grief that comes of\nseparation from one's wife. But thou wilt soon be relieved from the\nsorrow that comes of separation from one's wife. Her will I bring like\nunto the ravished Devacruti. O repressor of foes, whether she be in the\nnether regions or under the sky, I will, bringing thy wife, make her\nover unto thee. O Raghava, know my words to be true. O mighty-armed one,\nlike unto poison, thy wife is incapable of being digested even by the\ngods and Asuras with Indra (at their head). O mighty-armed one, leave\noff sorrow, I will bring back thy beloved. From guess I find that it was\ndoubtless Mithila's daughter whom I saw when she was being carried away\nby that Raksha of terrific deeds. She was crying, 'Rama, Rama,\nLakshmana, Lakshmana,' and in the lap of Ravana she looked like the wife\nof the Snake-chief. Seeing me along with my four counsellors stationed\nat the hill, she dropped down her scarf and her ornaments. All these, O\nRaghava, I have taken and kept (with me). I will bring them. It behoveth\nthee to recognise them.\" Thereupon Rama spoke unto the sweet-speeched\nSugriva, 'Bring (them), at once, my friend. Why dost thou tarry?' Having\nbeen thus addressed, Sugriva swiftly entered a deep cavern in the\nmountain, with the view of doing what was dear unto Raghava. Then taking\nthe scarf as well as the ornaments. \"Look at this,\" (Saying this) the\nmonkey held them before Rama. And taking the sheet and the ornaments,\n(Rama) had his eyes filled with tears, like the moon covered by the dew.\nAnd from affection for Sita, (Rama,) his eyes filled with tears,\ndeprived of patience, fell down to the ground. And placing the elegant\nornaments on his bosom, he sighed again and again, like an enraged\nserpent in a hole. And seeing Sumitra's son at his side, Rama shedding\nceaseless tears, began to lament piteously, \"O Lakshmana, behold this\nscarf and these ornaments which Vaidehi, while being carried away, let\nfall from her person to the earth. Surely Sita, while being ravished,\nlet these fall on a sward, for these remain as before.\" Thus accosted,\nLakshmana spoke, saying, \"I do not know her bracelets; I do not know her\near-rings. But I know full well her bangles on account of my always\nbowing down unto her feet.\" Thereupon Raghava said these words unto\nSugriva, \"Tell me, O Sugriva, at what place didst thou see Sita, while\nshe, dear unto me as life, was taken away by the fierce-looking\nRakshasa? And where doth that Raksha, who hath brought on this high\nperil, and for whom I will slay all the Rakshasas, live? He, that hath\ncarried off Mithila's daughter, and roused my wrath, hath certainly for\nhis own end, opened the door of death. Tell me all about that ranger of\nthe night, that deceitfully hath carried away my dearest wife from the\nforest. My foe, O lord of monkey, will I to-day send to the\nneighbourhood of Yama.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION VII.\n\n\nThus addressed by the aggrieved Rama, the monkey, Sugriva, his accents\nobstructed by vapour and his eyes filled with tears, said with joined\nhands, \"I do not know the hidden abode of that exceedingly wicked\nRakshasa,--nor do I know his heroism and prowess, or the lineage of that\none sprung from a vicious race. O vanquisher of foes, leave off\nsorrowing. I promise unto thee truly, I will exert so that thou mayst\nobtain Maithili. Slaying Ravana with his hosts, and putting forth my\nmanliness capable of pleasing others, I will speedily act so that thou\nmayst be pleased. Do not be overwhelmed with grief: summon the fortitude\nthat is in thee. Such lightness of sense doth not become persons like\nthee. I also have experienced mighty disaster arising out of separation\nfrom my wife; but I do not weep in this wise,-- nor do I forsake my\nfortitude. A despicable monkey as I am, I do not grieve for her,--and\nwhat again shall I say of one that is magnanimous, endued with meekness\nand firmness, and great? It behoveth thee to restrain thy falling tears\nby patience. It behoveth thee not to resign that patience which is the\ndignity of persons possessed of the quality of goodness. Persons endued\nwith firmness of understanding by help of their intellect, do not in\ncalamity consequent on separation from dear ones, or on the occasion of\nloss of wealth, or of fear arising from thieves, wild beasts, &c, or of\nloss of life itself, lose their self-possession. He that is senseless as\nwell as he that suffers himself to be overwhelmed with grief, losing all\ncontrol over self, drown themselves in sorrow like a boat bearing a\nheavy load in water. I soothe thee from the love I bear towards thee. Do\nthou have recourse to manliness. It doth not behove thee to let grief\novercome thee. Those that indulge in sorrow, know no happiness; and\ntheir virtue[108] goeth out of them. Therefore it behoveth thee not to\ngrieve. The life even of him that is mastered by sorrow is in jeopardy.\nTherefore, thou foremost of monarchs, leave off that grief. Do thou\nentirely have recourse to fortitude. In the spirit of a friend I tell\nwhat is for thy good: I do not instruct thee. Honor the amity I bear\ntowards thee. It behoveth thee not to weep.\" Thus sweetly consoled by\nSugriva, Raghava with the end of his cloth wiped his face tarnished with\ntears. And after that lord, Kakutstha, had recovered his natural state\nthrough the words of Sugriva, he embraced Sugriva and addressed him,\nsaying, \"O Sugriva, that which, pleasing and profitable, proper and fit,\nought to be done by a friend, hath been done by thee. Solicited by thee,\nI have, O friend, regained my natural tone of mind. Such a friend is\nrare, specially at such a time. But thou shouldst strive to trace\nMaithili as well as bring about the destruction of that fierce Rakshasa,\nthe impious Ravana. Do thou also without reserve say what I shall have\nto do for thee. Like corn sown in a fertile field in the rainy season,\nevery concern of thine shall attain success. O best of monkeys, do thou\nverily consider as true the words that I have uttered through affection.\nFalsehoods have I never spoken before, nor will I ever say one (in\nfuture). This I promise to thee. I swear by truth itself.\" Hearing\nRlghava's words, and in special his promise, Sugriva felt exceedingly\ndelighted along with this monkey ministers. Thus fast bound in\nfriendship, the man and the monkey conversed with each other about\n(topics) which each thought fit, connected with their joys and griefs.\nHearing the words of that illustrious monarch of kings, that\nhero--greatest of monkeys--considered and felt in his heart as if his\nwork had already been accomplished.\n\n[108] In the sense of energy.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION VIII.\n\n\nSugriva, rejoiced at the words of Rama, said \"unto that hero, the elder\nbrother of Lakshmana, who was well pleased. \"I am, without doubt, worthy\nof being favored by the gods, since thou accomplished and furnished with\nvirtues art my friend. By thy help, O Rama, one can, O sinless one,\nobtain the kingdom of the celestials,--what is to be said of one's\nkingdom, O lord? I, who have, in the presence of Fire, gained for my\nfriend (thee) sprung from the Raghava race, am, O Raghava worthy of\nbeing honored by my friends and relations. Thou also shalt by and by\nlearn that I am a fit friend for thee; but I can not speak unto thee of\nthe qualities that abide in me. O free one, the felicity of high-souled\nand self-governed friends like thee abounds and is enduring. Pious\nfriends look upon the silver, and gold, and the elegant ornaments of\npious friends as common property. Whether rich or poor, happy or\nmiserable, good or bad, a friend is the greatest refuge (of his friend).\nWitnessing such affection, people can, O sinless one, forsake wealthy\ncomfort, and even their native land for the sake of their friends.\"\nThereat the graceful Rama, in front of the intelligent Lakshmana\nresembling Vasava, said unto Sugriva of a pleasing presence, --\"It is\neven so.\" The next day seeing Rama as well as the mighty Lakshmana\nseated on the ground, Sugriva briskly cast his eyes about the forest.\nAnd hard by that lord of monkeys discovered a _Sala_ tree, bearing a few\nbeautiful blossoms, with its wealth of foliage, decked by blade bees.\nThereat tearing off a beautiful bough full of leaves, Sugriva spread it\n(on the earth), and then sat down with Rlghava. And seeing them seated,\nHanuman breaking off a branch of _Sala_, humbly made Lakshmana sit down.\nSeeing Rama seated at his ease in that best of mountains abounding in\n_Sala_ flowers, and cheerful like the ocean, Sugriva from love spoke\nunto Rama sweet and excellent words, of which the letters vibrated with\ndelight. \"Wronged by my brother, I deprived of my wife and exceedingly\ndistressed, and exercised with fear, live in this foremost of mountains,\nRishyamuka. And, O Raghava, my senses wildered, having been oppressed by\nVali, and having incurred his enmity, I am afflicted with fear, and\ntormented with fright. O thou, that removest the fear of all creatures,\nit behoveth thee who am tormented by fear and am helpless, to extend thy\nfavor unto me.\" Thus accosted, that ever energetic one knowing\nrighteousness and devoted to it, Kakutstha, smiling, said unto Sugriva,\n\"Benefits make friends, while injuries denote enemies. Even this very\nday will I slay him that hath deprived thee of thy wife. O exalted one,\nthese feathered shafts of exceeding energy, sprung from the Kartikeya\nforest, decked with gold, furnished with the plumes of the Kanka,\nresembling the thunderbolt of the great Indra, having smooth knots, and\nsharp heads, are like enraged serpents. Thou shalt behold thy brother\nand enemy, who is named Vali slain by my shafts, and lying like a\ndislodged hill.\" Hearing Raghava's words, Sugriva--lord of hosts--felt\nexcess of joy and exclaimed, \"Excellent well! Excellent well!\" \"O Rama,\noverwhelmed am I by grief. Thou art the succour of those afflicted with\nsorrow. Having made thee my friend, I express to thee my grief. I have,\nin the presence of Fire by giving thee my hand, made thee my friend.\nThou art dearer unto me than life itself. This I swear unto thee by\nTruth. Having made thee my friend, I inspired with confidence am\nunbosoming myself to thee. The sorrow, that is in my heart, is\nconstantly enfeebling my mind.\" Having proceeded thus far, he, his eyes\nfilled with tears and his words faltering because of vapour, could not\nspeak aloud. And Sugriva suddenly restrained, before Rama, the force of\ntears, like unto the tide of a river. And having restrained his tears\nand wiped his fair eyes, that energetic one, sighing heavily, again went\non,--\"Formerly, O Rama, I was deprived of my kingdom and reproached in\nharsh language by the strong Vali. And he also took away my wife dearer\nunto me than life; and my friends have been imprisoned and been bound.\nThat wicked wight, O Raghava, seeks my life. Many monkeys commissioned\nby him have been slain by me. It was, O Raghava, in consequence of this\nfear that when I (first) saw thee, I did not come out. This is all the\nfear that oppresses me. My adherents are only these headed by Hanuman.\nIt is for this that although reduced to the greatest straits I have been\nable to preserve my life. These affectionate apes protect me on all\nsides. They go when I go, and stay when I stay. Why should I expatiate?\nIn brief, Vali my elder brother, famed for his prowess, is my foe. Even\nby his death my present pain would be removed. Both my life and my\nhappiness are bound up with his death. I have, O Rama, communicated unto\nthee, the way in which my grief might be removed. Whether in joy or in\nsorrow, a friend is the refuge of his friend.\" Hearing these words, Rama\nsaid unto Sugriva, \"What for arose hostility between thyself and Vali? I\nwish to hear this (related) faithfully. Having learnt the cause of your\nhostility, and ascertained your strength and weakness, I will, O monkey,\nunderstanding the irritation that hath ensued, compass thy happiness.\nGreat is my wrath, on hearing thee disgraced; and like a downpour in the\nrainy season my ire increases, shaking my very heart. Do thou cheerfully\nand confidingly speak while I fix the string to my bow. As soon as my\nshaft is off, thy foe is beaten.\" Thus addressed by the high-souled\nKakutstha, Sugriva, along with the four (other) monkeys, experienced\nexceeding delight Then with a cheerful countenartce, Sugriva began to\nunfold unto Lakshmana's elder brother the cause of their hostility.\n\n\n\nSECTION IX.\n\n\n\"My elder brother named Vali--destroyer of foes, was formerly highly\nhonored both by my father and myself. At the death of our father, the\ncounsellors, saying,--'This is the eldest son', made him, who was well\nloved (of all), lord of the monkeys in the kingdom. While he was\ngoverning the kingdom which had belonged to his father and grand-father,\nI, at all times, in humiliation, remained like a servant. There was one\nendued with energy, named Mayavi. He was the eldest son of Dunduvi.\nFormerly there arose a mighty hostility between himself and Vali. And it\ncame to pass that one night when all had fallen asleep, (Mayavi) coming\nto Kishkindha, began to emit roars in great wrath, and challenged Vali\nto an encounter. My brother, who was fast asleep, hearing those dreadful\nyells, could not bear them; but at once rushed out vehemently. And as he\nrushed out in wrath, for the purpose of slaying that foremost of Asuras,\nhe was opposed by his wives as well as myself, who humbled himself\nbefore him. But moving them aside, that exceedingly powerful one sallied\nout. Thereupon out of affection I also went out with Vali. And seeing my\nbrorher and me present from a distance, the Asura, seized with a panic,\nfled with speed. And as he was rushing on in fear and when we had\nproceeded further, the moon arising, discovered the way. And the Asura,\ncoming by a capacious and impregnable hole covered with grass (on the\nsurface), entered it amain; and we remained there. Seeing his enemy\nenter the hole, Vali, overcome by anger, and with his senses agitated,\nspoke unto me, saying, \"Do thou, O Sugriva, carefully stay at the mouth\nof the hole, while I entering in, slay my foe in battle.\" Hearing his\nspeech, that subduer of foes was besought by me (for permission to enter\nthe cave along with him). But making me swear by touching his feet he\nentered the cave. And after he had entered the cave, and as I remained\nat its mouth, a space of over a complete year rolled away. And seized\nwith sorrow (I reflected), 'As I do not see my brother, he must be\nlost'--and my mind was alarmed, apprehending his death. After a long\ntime, I saw frothy blood issuing from the cave. Thereat I was greatly\naggrieved. And roars of Asuras also reached my ears; but I could not\nhear the cries of my superior, engaged in conflict. And from these signs\nconcluding my brother to be slain, I, closing the mouth of the cavern\nwith a crag, huge as a hill, and afflicted with grief, after performing\nhis watery rites, came (back) to Kishkindhi, O my friend. And although I\ncarefully concealed (the matter), the counselors heard it all. There\nthey, assembled together, installed me (in the kingdom). And, as I was\nruling the kingdom with justice, it came to pass that after having slain\nhis foe, the Danava, that monkey (Vali) came to Kishkindha. Then seeing\nme installed, he, with his eyes reddened in wrath, slaying my\ncounsellors, spoke harsh words to me. And although I was capable of\nchastising him, yet my mind influenced by a sense of my brother's\ndignity, did not incline towards that sin. Having slain his foe, he then\nentered his city; and I, honoring that high-souled one, duly saluted\nhim. He withal did not with a glad heart utter his benediction. And, O\nlord, I, bowing, touched his feet with my crown; yet from anger Vali did\nnot extend to me his grace.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION X.\n\n\nThen wishing for my welfare I strove to propitiate my angry brother,\nwrought up with wrath, who was seated (there). By good luck it is that\nthou hast come off safely; and that thou hast slain the foe. O thou that\nrejoicest the forlorn, thou art the only protector of me who am\nhelpless. I hold this umbrella furnished with many ribs, resembling the\nmoon risen; as well as this chowri containing hair,--do thou accept my\nservice. O king, suffering greatly, I remained for a whole year at the\nmouth of the cave. And seeing blood issuing from the cave, I had my\nheart agitated with grief and my senses extremely overwhelmed. Then\nclosing up the mouth of the cavern with a mountain summit, and returning\nfrom that place, I again came back to Kishkindha. Seeing me enter in a\ndejected mood, the citizens and counsellors installed me, but it was not\ndone with my will. Therefore it behoves thee to forgive me. Thou art the\nking, O worthy of honor; and I am, as before, ever (thy servant). I was\nentrusted with regal power in consequence of thy absence. This kingdom\nconsisting of courtiers and citizens, remains now rid of its thorns. It\nwas established in me as a trust. And I protected it as such. Do not get\nwroth, O mild one, O destroyer of foes. I beseech thee with bent head,\nand, O king, with joined hands. With the view of preventing any one to\nwish to conquer this kingdom vacant (of its ruler), the citizens and\ncounsellors unanimously, by force, entrusted me with regal authority.\"\nAs I said this softly, the monkey reproaching me, said unto me 'Fie on\nthee,' and censured me greatly. And bringing together the subjects and\nfavorite counsellors, spoke unto me, before friends, highly improper\nwords. 'Ye know that formerly one night the mighty Asura Mayavi, getting\nenraged, challenged me (to a fight) desirous of an encounter with me.\nHearing his speech I sallied out of the palace, and was followed by this\nhorrible brother of mine. Thereat seeing me with one to assist me, and\nfinding that we had come upon him, that mighty Asura, fled, seized with\nfear. And fleeing on, he (at length) swiftly entered a huge hole.\nKnowing that he had entered that dreadful and large cave, I spoke unto\nmy brother of a crooked presence,--Without slaying (this Asura) I cannot\nreturn to the palace. Do thou wait at the mouth of the cave while I slay\nhim. _This one is stationed here_--thinking thus, I entered that\ninaccessible cave. And as I searched (for the Asura), one entire year\npassed away. And that wicked wight who had roused my alarm in\nconsequence of his disappearance, was (at length) slain by me in one\nday, along with his friends. Then as he emitted yells in the\nsubterranean region, the cave was filled with his blood and it became\ndifficult to come out of it. Having with ease slain my powerful foe, I\ncould not find the outlet of the cavern, its mouth having been closed.\nThen as I again and again cried \"Sugriva, Sugriva,\" I became exceedingly\nsorry for not receiving any reply. Thereat I threw down the stone after\nstriking it many times with my legs. Then coming out by its mouth, I\nhave come to this city. Seeking my kingdom, the crafty Sugriva had shut\nme up there, forgetting fraternal love.' Saying this, that monkey, the\nshameless Vali, exiled me with a single cloth on. O Raghava, I have been\ndiscomfitted by him, and been deprived of my wife. And from fear of him,\nI have wandered over the whole earth having forest and seas. And\naggrieved in consequence of my having been deprived of my wife, I have\n(at length) entered this best of mountains, Rishyamuka, which for a\ncertain reason[109] is incapable of being approached by Vali. Thus have\nI mentioned unto thee the great cause of this hostility, O Raghava,\ninnocent as I am, I have come by this mighty misfortune. O thou that\ninspirest the fear of all creatures, by chastising Vali it behoveth thee\nto grant thy grace unto me, who am tormented with fear in connection\nwith Vali, O hero.\" Thus accosted, that energetic one knowing\nrighteousness, smiling, began to address Sugriva in words fraught with\nmorality. These sharpened shafts of mine, resembling the sun, and never\nmissing, shall furiously fall upon the wicked Vali. So long as thou dost\nnot see that stealer of thy wife, so long only shall the impious Vali of\nvile character, live. By what I myself feel, I see that thou hast sunk\nin a sea of sorrow. But I will deliver thee; and thou shalt attain both\nthy wife as well as this kingdom. Hearing that speech of his, capable of\nenhancing joy and manliness, Sugriva overjoyed, spoke those words\ninformed with high sense.\n\n[109] In consequence of Matanga's curse.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XI.\n\n\nHearing Rama's words capable of enhancing joy and manliness, Sugriva\nhighly honored the former and extolled him, saying, \"Enraged, thou, with\nthy sharp and flaming shafts, capable of piercing into the vitals, canst\nburn up the worlds, like the sun at the universal dissolution. Heedfully\nhearing from me of Vali's strength, prowess and fortitude, do thou\nafterwards, ascertain what is fit. Before the sun rises, Vali can easily\nrange the ocean from west to east and from south to north. Ascending the\ntops of mountains, Vali possessed of prowess throws up their summits,\nand then again swiftly holds them. And displaying his strength, Vali\nvehemently crushes in the woods various stout trees. There was one\nassuming the shape of buffaloe named Dunduvi, resembling in splendour\nthe summit of Kailaca. That one possessed of prowess had the strength of\nan hundred elephants. That wicked one of a gigantic body inflated by his\nprowess and blinded by the boon he had received once went to that lord\nof streams--the Sea. Passing beyond the Sea, with waves upon him,--and\ncontaining heaps of gems, he said unto the mighty deep--\"Grant me\nbattle.\" Thereat the righteous-souled and mighty Ocean arose and, O\nking, said these words unto that Asura, who had been urged by Death. O\nthou that art skilled in fight, I am not competent to offer thee fight;\nbut listen to me who will tell thee who shall offer the fight. There is\na monarch of mountains in a mighty forest, --the great refuge of\nasceticism, the worker of the weal (of all), an Asura, celebrated by the\nname of Himavan containing great cascades and furnished with many\nfountains and caves. He can compass thy incomparable pleasure.\nConcluding that the ocean was afraid, that foremost of Asuras, presented\nhimself in the wood of Himavan, like a shaft shot from a bow. Thereupon\nDundhuvi began to throw down many white crags resembling the foremost of\nelephants; and sent up shouts. Then resembling white clouds, mild and\npossessed of a pleasing shape, Himavan, stationed on the summit, spoke,\n\"O Dundhuvi, O thou that art attached to righteousness, it behoveth thee\nnot to distress me. I am the refuge of all those ascetics who are not\nexpert in military arts.\" Hearing those words of that intelligent lord\nof mountains Dundhuvi, with reddened eyes, said:--\"Afraid of me and\nhence void of energy if thou art incapable of fighting with me, do thou\nname him who is ready to fight with me who am desirous of entering into\nconflict.\" Hearing these words the virtuous-souled Himavan, skilled in\nspeech, spoke unto that great Asura, exercised with ire. \"O greatly wise\none, there lives in Kishkindha, of incomparable beauty, the mighty and\nhighly graceful monkey--the son of Sakra, by name Vali. That mighty wise\none, skilled in warfare, is capable of fighting with thee on equal terms\nlike unto Namuchi with Vasava. Do thou speedily repair unto him if dost\nthou wish for a conflict. He is always expert in military exploits and\nis hard to repress.\" Hearing Himavan's words, Dundhuvi, inflamed with\nire, went to Kishkindha--Vali's capital. Assuming the figure of a\nterrible buffaloe, with sharpened horns like unto a cloud big with\nwater, ranging on the sky in the rainy season, and approaching the gate\nof Kishkindha that highly powerful one set up a terrible roar, shakiag\nthe earth like unto the sound of a kettle-drum. Like onto an elephant he\nfelled, out of haughtiness, the trees around, and rent the earth with\nhis hoofs scraping it with his horns. Vali was in the female-apartment\nat that time, and unable to bear the sound came out with his wives like\nonto the Moon with stars. Thereupon that lord of monkeys and other wild\nanimals, spoke openly unto Dundhuvi, saying, \"O Dundhuvi, obstructing\nthis my city-gate, why dost thou set up a terrible roar? Dost thou know\nmy mighty strength? Do thou save thy own life.\" Hearing those words of\nthat intelligent lord of monkeys, Dundhuvi, with reddened eyes\nspoke:--\"O hero, it becometh thee not to speak thus before thy wives. Do\nthou enter into conflict with me and thy prowess shall be ascertained\nthereafter. Or I shall suppress my wrath for this night and do thou, O\nmonkey, enjoy till the rise of the Sun. Embracing all the monkeys,\ninviting all thy friends, do thou, that art the lord of the monkey\nherds, honor them with gifts. Do thou survey Kiskindha and make thy\nchildren kings. And do thou enjoy with thy wives--it is me that shall\ncrush down thy pride. He, who destroyeth a person who is given up to\ndrinking, reckless, emaciated and deprived of weapons, and one like\nthee, sunk in the abyss of voluptuousness, committeth the sin consequent\nupon the destruction of an embryo,\" Whereto replied Vali, laughing, unto\nthat wicked lord of Asuras, leaving aside all his wives, headed by Tara.\n\"If thou art not afraid of fighting, do not consider me as one given up\nto drinking only. Do thou regard this my attachment as a draught in this\nconflict, to be drunk by the heroes.\" Saying this, Vali, taking his\ngolden garland, conferred on him by his father Mahendra, addressed\nhimself for the conflict. Holding him by the horns, Vali, that lord of\nmonkeys, setting up a terrible roar, hurled Dundhuvi resembling a\nmountain. And bellowing a thundering voice, Vali crushed (him) down. And\nblood began to trickle down from the pores of his ears. Both of them\ndesired to subdue each other--and thus there arose a terrible conflict\nbetween Vali and Dundhuvi. Thereupon fought Vali equalling Sakra in\nprowess, by fists knees, legs, stones and trees. And thus there was a\nskirmish between the monkey chief and the Asura. And in this conflict\nAsura's strength was greatly reduced, while that of Sakra's son was\nhighly enhanced. Holding up Dundhuvi he threw him on the ground. And in\nthat dreadful skirmish Dundhuvi was greatly reduced. And there was a\nprofusion of blood falling from the ears of that one crushed down.\nThereupon that one of mighty arms fell down to the earth and breathed\nhis last. And taking up with his arms that lifeless one, the mighty Vali\nhurled him with great force at distance of a _yojana_. While thus thrown\ndown by force, drops of blood, falling from his mouth, driven by the\nwind, fell upon the asylum of the great Saint Matanga. O great one,\nbeholding the drops of blood there, the great ascetic, angered, thought\nwithin himself--\"Who might be the author of this sprinkling of blood?\nWho is that wicked-souled, vicious-minded, stupid person, who hath all\non a sudden sprinkled me with blood?\" Saying this, that best of saints\nissued out (of the hermitage) and surveyed a lifeless buffalo lying on\nthe earth, like unto a huge mountain. And apprehending by virtue of his\nasceticism that this hath been committed by a monkey, he imprecated a\nmighty curse on the perpetrator (of that iniquitous deed).--\"He shall\nnot enter here who hath spoiled the sanctity of my forest with showers\nof blood. And surely he shall be killed (on entering). Forsooth shall\nthat wicked one cease to exist if he strideth within a _yojana_ around\nmy asylum, who hath felled these trees by throwing the body of the\nAsura. His counsellors or any one related to him, who shall resort to\nthis my forest (shall meet with the self-same fate). They shall not live\nhere; hearing this from me let them take their own ways. And even if\nthey live here, forsooth, shall I curse them too. This my forest is\nbeing protected by me every day like unto my own son-- and the monkeys\nare always used to destroy its leaves, trees and roots. Forgive them I\nto-day--but if I find any tomorrow, he shall be turned into stone for\nmany thousand years.\" Hearing those words of the saint, the monkey herd\nissued out (of the forest). And beholding them (coming out of the\nforest) Vali spoke--\"Why have ye all--the dwellers of the Matanga forest\napproached me--Is it all well with you?\" Thereupon they related unto\nVali, wearing a golden garland, the cause of the Saint's curse by him\nand other monkeys. Hearing those words, Vali approached that great\nascetic and solicited him with folded hands. Disregarding him, the\nascetic entered into his asylum and Vali was overwhelmed with the fear\nof curse. O Lord of men, afraid of the curse that monkey chief purposed\nto repair unto the mount Rishyamuka. Knowing for certain, O Rama, that\nhe shall not enter this forest, I have been living here with my\nministers, devoid of fear and grief. Here is the collection of\nDundhuvi's bones, killed on account of his own haughtiness, resembling a\nhuge mountain. These are the seven huge _Sala_ trees, clothed in\nbranches, which Vali could simultaneously divest of leaves by virtue of\nhis prowess. I have related unto thee, O Rama, the incomparable prowess\nof his. Do thou tell me now, O hero, how canst thou destroy him in the\nconflict?\" Unto Sugriva speaking thus, Lakshmana smiling\nreplied:--\"Performing what, shalt thou confide in (Rama's ability) to\ndestroy Vali?\" Thereupon Sugriva bespake him--\" These seven _Sala_\ntrees, before thee, the mighty Vali, formerly pierced, all at a time,\nwith one shaft. If Rama can aim at one of these only with one arrow and\nif he can, O Lakshmana, throw the bones of this dead buffalo at a\ndistance of two hundred bows--I shall consider Vali slain.\" Having\naddressed Rama thus, Sugriva, having blood-red eyes, thought aside for a\nmoment and again spoke unto Kakuthstha:--\"He is heroic and proud of his\nprowess--his heroism and strength are known all over the world. He is a\nmighty monkey and incapable of being repressed in a battle. His actions\nare such as are above the power of the celestials. Revolving them within\nmyself and terrified I have repaired to this mount Rishyamuka. And\nthinking of that lord of monkeys, unconquerable and irrepressible I dare\nnot leave this Rishyamuka. And exercised with fear and anxiety,\ntherefore, I have been wandering in this mighty forest along with my\ndevoted counsellors, headed by Hanuman. And having secured in thee a\nworthy and sincere friend, O best of men, O thou that art loving unto\nthy friends, I have taken thy shelter like unto Himavat himself.\nCognizant am I of the prowess of my highly powerful and wicked brother,\nbut I have never witnessed thine in a conflict, O Raghava. I do not\ncompare thee with Vali, nor do I disregard or frighten thee--forsooth\nhave I greatly been alarmed by his terrible actions. O Raghava, thy\nwords, patience and figure are the proofs of thy heroism--truly do they\nbespeak of thy valour like unto fire hidden by ashes.\" Hearing those\nwords of the high-souled Sugriva, Rama, smiling, spoke unto that monkey,\nsaying--\"O monkey, if thou dost not confide in my valour, soon shall I\ncreate thy confidence about my warlike abilities.\" Having thus addressed\nSugriva and consoling him, the highly powerful Raghava, of mighty\narms--Lakshmana's elder brother, lifting up easily with his thumb the\ndried frame of that Asura-- Dundhuvi--hurled it at a distance of ten\n_yojanas_. Beholding that Asura's body thrown thus, Sugriva, again\naddressed unto the heroic Rama, before Lakshmana and the monkey herd,\nthe following pregnant words:--\"Friend, formerly this body was wet and\ncorpulent, and it was thrown with great difficulty by my brother Vali,\nmad with voluptuousness. And O Raghava, it is now divested of flesh and\nhence light like unto grass and consequently it has been hurled by thee\nwith ease, O descendant of Raghu. And unable am I to ascertain who is\nthe mightier? There is a good deal of difference, O Raghava, between a\nbody, wet and dried. There is still doubt, O worshipful one, which of\nyou is the mightier? Truly shall thy strength be manifested in the\npiercing of one of these _Sala_ trees. Having stringed the bow like unto\nthe trunk of an elephant and stretching it to thy ears, do thou shoot\nthis mighty arrow. Doubt that is none that this arrow flung by thee\nshall bore this _Sala_ tree. There is no need of discussion any more; do\nthou perform O king, what dost thou think proper for me, contracted, as\nthou hast, friendship with me, with a solemn vow. Like unto the sun\namongst the planets, like unto the Himalaya amongst the mountains, like\nunto the lion amongst the quadrupeds thou art the foremost of men in\nprowess.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XII.\n\n\nWearing those pleasant words of Sugriva, the highly effulgent Rama, to\ncreate his confidence, took up his bow. That one, conferring honors upon\nothers, holding his terrible bow and a shaft, darted it towards the\n_Sala_, filling all the quarters with a sound. The arrow, clear as the\ngold itself, hurled by that one of mighty strength, perforating the\ntrees,entered into the mountainous expanse and the sevenfold regions of\nthe earth. And that shaft, gifted with wonderful velocity, piercing all\nthe trees entered again into the quiver. Having beheld those seven trees\nbored by Rama's arrow, that monkey chief attained to an excess of\nsurprise. Thereupon Sugriva, exceedingly glad, and delighted with his\nactions, bowing down his head on the earth and stretching his ornamented\nperson on the ground, addressed with clasped hands, that heroic\ndescendant of Raghu--Rama, the foremost of those conversant with\nreligious lore, with the following pious words--\"O best of men, O lord,\nwhat of Vali, thou art capable of destroying with thy arrows, in the\nconflict, even the celestials headed by Indra. O Kakutstha, who can\nstand before thee in a battle, who hath pierced the seven trees, and the\nmountain, and the earth with one arrow? Obtaining thee as my friend like\nunto Mahendra and Varuna, my grief hath been removed and I have attained\nto an excess of delight. Do thou, O Kakutstha, even to-day destroy, for\nmy welfare, my brother Vali. This I do pray unto thee with folded\nhands.\" Thereupon embracing- Sugriva, of a pleasant countenance and like\nunto Lakshmana, the highly wise Rama spoke unto him, saying, \"Soon shall\nwe repair unto Kishkindha.--Do thou go before, Sugriva, and invite thy\nfalse brother, Vali, to battle.\" Thereupon proceeding quickly to\nKishkindha, Vali's capital--they all stood waiting in that dense forest,\nhiding themselves under the trees. With a view to call Vali, Sugriva,\ntying fast his cloth (around the waist) set up a terrible roar, as if\nrending the sky (therewith). Hearing the terrible uproar of his brother,\nthe mighty Vali, highly angered, issued out of his city, like unto the\nSun from the western shores (where he sets). Thereupon there arose a\nmighty conflict between Vali and Sugriva like unto the planets Mercury\nand Mars fighting with each other on the sky. The two brothers,\nexercised with ire, struck each other with palms like unto Acani and\nwith fists resembling adamant. Thereupon Rama, with bow in hand, beheld\nthose two heroes resembling each other, like unto two Acwins. And\nRaghava did not discharge that mortal shaft untill he could perfectly\nascertain who was Vali and who was Sugriva. In the mean time, being\ndefeated by Vali, Sugriva fled away and not beholding Raghava, proceeded\ntowards Rishyamuka. And wearied, worn out with blows, and having his\nperson bathed in blood, he, followed by Vali, angered, entered that\nmighty forest. Beholding him enter that forest, the highly powerful Vali\ncould not pursue him there for fear of the curse but said:--\"Thou art\nreleased to-day.\" And Raghava too, with his brother and Hanuman, entered\nthat forest, where the monkey chief Sugriva was. Beholding Rama approach\nwith Lakshmana, Sugriva, stricken with shame and casting his looks on\nthe earth, addressed him poorly, with the following words:--\"Accosting\nme with 'do thou call (Vali),' displaying thy valour and making me\nstruck by the enemy, what improper, conduct hast thou shown by me? Thou\nshouldst have spoken me then truly, O Raghava, --\"I shall not destroy\nVali\" and I would not have gone there. The high-souled Sugriva speaking\nthus poorly, Raghava again spoke unto him, saying:--\"Do thou hear, O\nSugriva, O worshipful one, why I did not discharge my arrow then. By\nornaments, dress, stature and movements thyself and Vali are just the\nsame, O Sugriva. By voice, by words, by looks or by valour, O monkey, I\ncould not make out any distinction. O best of monkeys, being thus\nsurprised by the similarity of your countenances I could not discharge\nthat foe-destroying and quick-coursing shaft. I was so afraid of thy\nresemblance with Vali that I thought that lest the mortal shaft might\ndestroy thee. O hero, O lord of monkeys, if any disaster befalleth thee,\nwho art already overwhelmed with miseries, through my ignorance or\nchildishness, they shall be known all over the world. Mighty is the sin\nthat ariseth from the destruction of one who hath been offered shelter.\nMyself, Lakshmana, and that exquisitely fine damsel--Sita--are all at\nthy service--thou art our only refuge in this forest. Do thou again\nenter into conflict, therefore, and do not fear, O monkey. And do thou\nbehold even, in this very moment, Vali, moving restlessly on the breast\nof the earth, wounded by my shaft. Do thou make some mark on thy person,\nO lord of monkeys, by which I shall be able to recognize thee when\nengaged in a duel (with thy brother). O Lakshmana, plucking this\nauspicious _Gaja_ flower, do thou put it round the neck of the\nhigh-souled Sugriva.\" Thereat that highly graceful one with the garland\naround his neck appeared like unto a cloud. And appearing in a graceful\nperson and attentive to Rama's words he again entered Kishkindha with\nhim.\n\n\n\nSECTION XIII.\n\n\nThereupon the high-souled Rama, along with Sugriva, proceeded from the\nmount Rishyamuka to Kishkiudha, maintained by Vali's prowess, raising up\nhis gold crested mighty bow and taking his battle arrows like unto\nAditya. The mighty Sugriva, bending low, proceeded before the\nhigh-souled Rama and Lakshmana. They were followed by the heroic\nHanuman, the mighty Nala and Neela, and the highly powerful Tara, the\nleader of the monkey herd. They beheld as they proceeded, trees, lowered\ndown with the weight of flowers, rivers of clear water flowing to the\nocean, mountain hollows, hills, caves, cavities, and principal peaks and\ncharming rills. They beheld on their way, pools filled with water clear\nas _Baidurya_ and beautified with lotuses--full blown and buds, and\nresounded with the cries of _Karandhabas_, swans, geese, _Banchulas_,\nwater-fowls, _Chakrabakas_, and various other birds. They surveyed all\naround in the forest-land, deer ranging fearlessly at large and grazing\non tender grass. They beheld frightful wild elephants having white\nteeth, ranging alone--the destroyers of river banks and enemies of\npools. And observing many an infuriated monkey like unto elephants,\nresembling so many moveable mountains riving the mountainous expanses\ncrusted with dust, and many other wild beasts and birds the followers of\nSugriva wended their way. They proceeding quickly, Rama, the descendant\nof Raghu, beholding the forest filled with trees, spake unto Sugriva,\nsaying--\"These trees skirted by plantain groves, dense as a collection\nof clouds, appear as clouds in the sky. Great is my curiosity, O friend,\nto learn what are these. And I wish to have my curiosity removed by\nthee.\" Hearing the words of the high-souled Raghava, Sugriva began to\ndescribe that great forest.--\"In this extensive asylum, O Raghava,\nremoving the toil (of the travellers) filled with gardens and trees and\nabounding in delicious fruits, roots and water, dwelt seven Saints,\nhaving control over their senses. Those seven Saints, dwelling on the\nmountain, passed days and nights in water with their heads down and\nafter seven nights used to live upon air. In this wise, passing seven\nhundred years they repaired bodily unto heaven. By virtue of their\nasceticism, this asylum is walled by trees and incapable of being\nconquerred even by Indra, the celestials and the Asuras. Birds or other\nwild animals do not enter this asylum; whoever entereth this by mistake\nnever returneth. There is audible, O Raghava, the sound of the dressing\nof Apsaras. their sweet-winged accents and that of their music and\ndrums; and herein pervadeth the celestial fragrance. Hereburneth the\nfire _Treta_; and the smoke and cloud sable like unto the wings of a\npigeon envelope the tops of the trees. And there appear the trees,\nhaving their tops saturated with smoke and cloaked with clouds, like\nunto so many _Baidurya_ hills. Do thou, O Raghava, O virtuous-souled\none, make obeisance unto them along with thy brother Lakshmana, with\nconcentrated heart and folded palms. There resteth no sin in their\npersons, O Rama, who bow unto those self-controlled Saints.\" Thereupon\nRama, along with his younger brother Lakshmana, made obeisance unto\nthose high-souled ones. And having paid homage (unto the sacred memory\nof those great ones) the virtuous-souled Rama, his (younger) brother\nLakshmana, Sugriva and other monkeys, proceeded with delighted hearts.\nAnd wending a distant way from that hermitage of the seven great ones,\nthey beheld Kishkindha, hard to conquer and occupied by Vali. Thereupon,\nRama, his younger brother and the monkeys taking their weapons, entered,\nto encompass the destruction of their enemies, the city (of Kishkindha)\nreared by the prowess of Indra's son.\n\n\n\nSECTION XIV.\n\n\nThey all, repairing quickly unto Kishkindha, Vali's capital, stood\nwaiting in the dense forest, hiding themselves behind the trees. Casting\nhis looks all around in the forest, Sugriva, having a huge neck and fond\nof woods, became exceedingly enraged. Setting up a terrible uproar and\nrending the sky with his cry (Sugriva) encircled by his kinsmen, invited\n(Vali) to battle. Thereupon roaring like unto a huge cloud, preceded by\na mighty wind, Sugriva, gifted with leonine motion, and resembling the\nnewly risen Sun, finding Rama expert in business, spake unto him,\nsaying:--\"Thou hast readied Kishkindha, Vali's capital, adorned with\ngold, filled with pennons and instruments and surrounded by monkeys. Do\nthou make good thy promise, O hero, thou hadst made before to encompass\nthe destruction of Vali like unto the season making the creepers filled\nwith fruits.\" Being thus accosted by Sugriva, the virtuous-souled\nRaghava, the slayer of foes, addressed him with the following\nwords:--\"Uprooting the _Gaja_ creeper, Lakshmana, hath placed it around\nthy neck as an emblem (to distinguish thee). Thou dost appear more\nbeautiful, O hero, with this creeper around thy neck like unto the sun\non the sky engarlanded by the stars. I shall, O monkey, by the discharge\nof one shaft in the conflict destroy thy fear and enmity proceeding from\nVali. Do thou show me, O Sugriva, thy enemy, in the guise of a brother.\nWounded (by my shaft) Vali shall roll in the dust in the forest. And if\nregaining his life he comes in thy view, do thou leave this field,\nshowering abuses upon me. Thou didst behold seven _Talas_ riven by a\nsingle shaft of mine and did thou therefore consider Vali destroyed\nto-day by my prowess in the conflict. Though fallen in distress before,\nI never spoke an untruth, being always guided by an inclination to\nacquire virtue. Like unto the deity of hundred sacrifices causing the\nrice fields bring forth their fruits by means of profuse showers, I\nshall fulfill my promise by dint of my prowess. Do thou therefore\nrenounce all doubts about it. Do thou call Vali, wearing a golden\ngarland. Do thou make such a sound, O Sugriva, as may bring out that\nmonkey chief (from his city). He hath subdued his breath, is proud of\nvictory and fond of warfare; thou couldst not repress him before.\nForsooth that Vali shall come out, leaving the company (of his wives).\nHearing the war cry of his enemy, he shall never put up with it,\nspecially, as he boasteth of his prowess before his wives.\" Hearing\nRama's words. Sugriva, having a gold-yellow hue, set up a terrible roar,\nas if riving the sky. Terrified by that sound, the kine, losing their\ncountenance do move hither and thither like unto damsels, oppressed on\naccount of their kings' neglecting (to protect them). And the deer fly\naway like unto the horses defeated in a warfare. And the birds fall down\non the earth, like unto planets, losing their purity. Thereupon\nconfiding in Rama's words, that son, of Suryya (Sun) having his energy\nenhanced by means of his prowess resembling the ocean agitated by the\nwind, began to roar like unto cloud.\n\n\n\nSECTION XV.\n\n\nWhile residing in the female apartment, Vali heard the uproar of that\nhigh-souled Sugriva--his wrathful brother. And hearing that mighty roar,\nshaking the whole world of creation, his pride was in no time, crushed\nand he attained an excess of ire. Thereupon, Vali, having a golden hue,\ngreatly exercised with wrath, instantly lost the effulgence of his\nperson like unto the sun possessed by Rahu. And looking terrible by his\nteeth and having eyes resembling burning fire in consequence of ire he\nappeared like unto a pond, having the lotuses thereof uprooted with\ntheir stalks and fibres. And hearing that unbearable sound, the monkey,\nissued out speedily, as if riving the earth with his foot marks.\nEmbracing him warmly and showing her affection, Tara, afraid and\nmortified, addressed him with the following words, presaging his future\nwelfare:--\"Do thou renounce, O hero, this thy ire, coming like the\ncourse of a river, like unto one, leaving aside the garland, which he\nused in the night, after rising from bed. O monkey chief, do thou engage\nwith him in conflict, tomorrow. O hero, thy enemy is very insignificant\nand hence there will be no deterioration on thy part. Thy hastily\nissuing out doth not please me; do thou hear, why I do prevent thee.\nFormerly this Sugriva invited thee angrily to battle and being defeated\nand wounded by thee fled away. That one, who had been defeated and\nharassed by thee formerly, is now calling thee. Indeed it hath excited\nmy fear. His pride, his energy, and his terrible uproar do indicate that\nthere is nothing insignificant (at the bottom). I do not think Sugriva\nhas come here without any to assist him. Forsooth he hath taken shelter\nof some body, and securing which he hath been setting up such a terrible\nuproar. That monkey is clever by nature and gifted with intellect. And\nSugriva shall not desire friendship with any one without having a test\nof his prowess. Hearken, O hero, I shall relate unto thee today, the\nauspicious words, I heard ere this, from the prince Angada. He hath\nrelated unto me all about Sugriva, what be heard from bis emmissaries\nwhile journeying in the forest. The two heroic sons of the king of\nAyodhya--Rama and Lakshmana, incapable of being defeated in a battle and\nborn in the race of Ikshawkus, have repaired unto woods. To accomplish\nSugriva's welfare, those two heroes, hard to repress, have come here. He\nis the main stay of thy brother in the battle; Rama hath sprung up like\nunto the fire of dissolution and is the repressor of enemy's prowess. He\nis the refuge of the saints and the prime shelter of the afflicted. He\nis the protector of those grinded by their enemies and is the only\npossessor of fame. He is gifted with knowledge and intellect and ever\nabideth by his sire's commandments. Like unto Himalaya, the king of\nmountains, containing diverse metals, he is the mine of various\naccomplishments. It doth not behove thee therefore to enter into\nconflict with that high-souled Rama, incomparable in prowess and hard to\nconquer in battle. Hearken, O hero, I desire to speak something more --I\ndo not wish to excite thy wrath. Do thou instantly confer upon Sugriva,\nthe dignity of heir apparent (to thy throne). O hero, O king; do not\nquarrel with thy younger brother. I do consider it thy welfare to\ncontract friendship with Rama and regain Sugriva's affections,\nrenouncing all thy inimical feelings. This thy younger brother, even\nwhen remaining at a distance, should always be maintained by thee.\nWhether by thee, or at a distance, he is always thy best friend--I do\nnot find his equal on earth. By conferring on him gifts and honors do\nthou receive him back. And do thou renounce thy enmity and let him sit\nby thee. Methinks, that large-necked Sugriva is thy best friend--there\nis no other resource for thee than to secure thy brother's friendship.\nIf thou dost wish to go by my desire, if thou dost regard me as thy\nwell-wisher, do thou perform what I do request thee for thy welfare. Be\npleased and hear my beneficial words. It doth not behove thee to yield\nto the influence of ire --thy conflict with that son of the king; of\nKocala, gifted with the prowess of Sakra, will not conduce to thy\nwelfare.\" Thereupon Tara spoke unto Vali these suitable and well-meaning\nwords--but they did not satisfy him, possessed by Kala, as he was, on\nthe eve of his destruction.\n\n\n\nSECTION XVI.\n\n\nAfter Tara, having a moon-like countenance, had spoken thus, Vali,\nremonstrated with her and said--\"O thou of exquisite loveliness, my\nbrother, and specially my enemy, is roaring lowly and haughtily--and how\nshall I put up with it? O timid damsel, heroes, who have never been\ndefeated and have never fled away from the battle field, had rather meet\nwith death than put up with this ignominy. I am incapable of bearing\nthis proud uproar of Sugriva, having a defective neck and desirous of\nentering into conflict with me. Fearing danger from Raghava, thou needst\nnot entertain any anxiety on my account. Why shall that virtuous-souled\nand grateful Rama perpetrate iniquity? Do thou therefore return with my\nother wives. Why do thou follow me again? Thou hast already shown thy\nfriendship and respect for me. I shall repairing thither, only fight\nwith Sugriva. I shall crush down his pride and not destroy him. I shall\ndeal with him mercifully in the battle as thou dost wish and being\nstruck with fists and trees he shall fly away. Forsooth, that\nvicious-souled one shall not be able to withstand my pride and\nproficient skill in warfare. O Tara, thou hast already displayed thy\nattachment unto me by giving me good counsels. By my life, do thou go\nback with the other members of my household, I shall only return after\nbringing about the discomfiture of my brother in the battle.\" Thereupon,\nTara, dexterous and of sweet accents, embracing Vali, went round him,\nwith tears trickling from her eyes. And having performed _Sastayana_ or\nthe ceremony of benediction, that one gifted with a knowledge of\nMantras, and desirous of Vali's success, went, overwhelmed with grief,\nto the inner-apartment in the company of other females. After Tara had\ndeparted to her own quarters with her female companions, he issued out\nof the city sighing like an enraged serpent. And the quick-paced Vali,\nexceedingly wroth, sighing, cast his looks around with a view to behold\nhis enemy. And that highly efiulgent one espied Sugriva, having a golden\nyellow hue, tightly clothed, standing firm on the earth and shining like\nunto burning gold. And beholding Sugriva stationed thus, the greatly\nenraged Vali, of mighty arms, put on his clothes tightly well. Highly\npowerful and closely habited, he, clinching his fists, proceeded towards\nSugriva, and waited for the action. Sugriva too, clinching his fist and\nexceedingly wroth, proceeded towards Vali, wearing a golden garland. And\nbeholding Sugriva, adept in warfare, having his eyes reddened with ire,\nadvance quickly, Vali spake:--\"Behold, I have clinched this terrible\nfist, arranging close my fingers; and one blow from me will take away\nthy life.\" Being accosted thus by Vali, Sugriva, exercised with wrath,\nspake unto him, saying,--\"This my fist shall strike thee on thy head\ntaking away thy life.\" Thereupon being struck by Vali, waxing wroth and\napproaching him quickly he began to vomit out gore like unto a mountain\nhaving springs. And Vali too was struck down by Sugriva, fearlessly\ntaking up a _Sala_ tree, like unto a mountain clapped by a thunderbolt.\nBeing thus smitten by the tree and overwhelmed with the strike of _Sala_\nhe was troubled like unto a heavily laden boat in the midst of an ocean.\nAnd these (two brothers) gifted with mighty strength and prowess and\nmotion of _Suparna_, and having huge persons fought with each other like\nunto the Sun and Moon on the sky. They were inimical to each other and\nintent on finding their mutual dark sides. And Vali, gifted with\nstrength and prowess, fared better in the conflict, and that highly\npowerful son of Sun--Sugriva, was worsted. And having his pride crushed\ndown by Vali and strength greatly reduced, Sugriva in anger pointed him\nout unto Rama. Thereupon there took place a mighty conflict between them\nlike unto _Vitra_ and _Vasava_ by means of trees with branches, hills,\nnails, hard as thunderbolts, fists, knees, legs and arms. And these two\nmonkeys ranging in the forest, fought with each other, having their\npersons bathed in blood, and roaring like unto clouds. And Raghava again\nand again beheld the weak points of that monkey chief Sugriva, losing\nhis strength by and by. And beholding that chief of monkeys greatly\ndistressed, the highly powerful and heroic Rama cast his looks upon his\nshaft, having the destruction of Vali in view. And fixing on his bow an\narrow resembling a serpent, he stretched it like unto Death drawing out\nhis cycle of time. Being terrified by the sound of his stringing of the\nbow the birds and beasts, dismayed as on the eve of dissolution, fled\naway into different quarters. And a mighty shaft, like onto thunderbolt\nand resembling flaming fire, being hurled by Rama, alighted on the\nbreast of Vali. Being wounded by that shaft that highly powerful chief\nof monkeys, gifted with prowess fell down on the earth. Like unto\nSakra's banner in the full-moon of Aswin, Vali, with his throat choked\nwith vapor, losing all sense and sighing hard, fell dead down to the\nground. As the great God Hara emitted forth fire with smoke from his\nmouth, so that best of men like unto Death hurled an excellent, flaming\nand foe-destroying shaft, resembling gold and death itself. Thereupon\nbeing bathed in blood that son of Vasava, fell senseless on the ground,\nin the conflict like unto a blossoming Asoka growing on a hill and\nSakra's banner struck down on the earth.\n\n\n\nSECTION XVII.\n\n\nThereupon Vali, adept in warfare, wounded by Rama's shaft, fell down to\nthe ground like unto a felled tree. Ornamented with burning gold, he\nstretched the whole length of his person on the ground like unto the\nbanner of the Lord of celestials, loosened and thrown (off the chariot).\nThat lord of monkeys being levelled to the ground, his kingdom appeared\nlike unto the sky, shorn of the Moon. Though struck down to the earth,\nneither vitality, effulgence nor prowess did renounce the body of that\nhigh-souled one. That excellent gold and jewel-crested garland conferred\non him by Sakra maintained the vitality, effulgence and prowess of that\nlord of monkeys. Being adorned with that golden garland, that heroic\nlord, of monkey-herds, appeared like unto an evening cloud. Though\nfelled to the ground, his beauty appeared as if divided into three,\nnamely, his garland, his body and the shaft piercing his heart. The\narrow thrown off Rama's bow pointing out unto him the way to the\ncelestial region, became an excellent means to that hero. Beholding the\nbroad-chested and mighty-armed Vali, Mahendra's son, wearing a golden\ngarland and having a flaming countenance and yellow eyes, thus struck\ndown to the earth, resembling a flameless fire in the field of battle,\nlike unto Yayati, slipped from the abode of the celestials on the wane\nof his peity, like unto a tree falling down to the earth at the time of\nDissolution, hard to repress as Mahendra himself, incapable to withstand\nlike Upendra, Rama, followed by Lakshmana, approached and beheld him.\nAnd paying respects unto that hero falling on the earth like unto a\nflameless fire and eying him again and again those two highly powerful\nbrothers, Rama and Lakshmana neared him. And beholding that highly\npowerful Raghava and Lakshmana, Vali addressed them with the following\nbold and pious words. And thereupon Vali, of mitigated prowess, waning\nvitality, motionless and stretched on the ground, spoke unto Rama, proud\nof warfare, saying these pregnant words.--\"What merit hast thou reaped\nby destroying me, who was not engaged in fight with thee? I was\nexercised with ire, being engaged in conflict (with another person) and\nfor thee I have met with destruction. People speak highly of thee, O\nRama, on this earth, describing thee as coming of a high family, gifted\nwith manliness and prowess, ever engaged in the welfare of thy subjects,\ncompassionate, energetic, of firm resolution and knowing time.\nPunishment, control of passions, forgiveness, piety, firmness, truth,\nprowess and suppression of the wicked--these all are the royal virtues.\nAnd knowing thy high pedigree, and all these thy accomplishments I\napproached Sugriva with a hostile intention, albeit prevented by Tara.\nBefore I saw thee I had thought within myself:--'Forsooth Rama shall not\ndestroy me, engaged as I am with another person and hence not prepared\nto fight with him.' I do now know thee as one who hath spoliated his\nsoul through impious actions, feigning religion while in truth an\nirreligious person, resorting to all vicious deeds, like unto a well\ncrusted with grass, unrighteous while passing under the cloak of honesty\nand religion like unto a hidden fire. I have not done thee any wrong\neither in thy kingdom or in thy city. Nor have I passed by thee. Why\nhast thou then destroyed me, who am a monkey ranging always in the\nwoods, living on fruits and roots and who have come here to fight with\nanpther person? It appears that thou art of a kingly father and of a\ngraceful countenance. And, O king, there are marks of piety on thy\nperson. Who, born in the race of Kshatryas, versed in religious lore,\nhaving his doubts removed and marks of peity on his person, perpetrates\nsuch an iniquitous deed? Thou art born in the family of Raghus and known\nall over the world as being pious. Being clothed in righteousness why\ndost thou commit such an unrighteous act? Chastisement, charity,\nforgiveness, piety, truthfulness firm- ness, prowess and the punishment\nof the iniquitous are the virtues of a king, O prince. We are, O Rama,\nwild beasts ranging in the forest and living on roots and fruits--our\nnature is such--but thou art a man, O king. Land, gold and silver are\nthe causes of dissension. But who is there who is avaricious enough to\nget by our forest habitations and fruits? The royal virtue consists in\nhumbly and freely administering discipline, favour and punishment. Kings\nby no means, should follow their whims. But thou art angry and unsteady\nby nature, capricious, perfectly narrow-minded in the discharge of thy\nroyal duties and dost use thy bow and shafts (any where and every time).\nThou hast no attachment for virtue, no comprehension of right things and\nart always guided by thy passions albeit thou art a lord of men. O\nKakutstha, destroying me sinless, with thy shaft and perpetrating such a\ndigraceful act, how shalt thou relate it unto the pious. Those, who\ncommit treason, destroy Brahmins and kine, who are theives and always\nengaged in the destruction of animals, and who are athiests and marry\nbefore their elder brothers are married, do all go to hell. The\nvillainous, the avaricious, those who kill their friends and elope with\ntheir preceptor's wives, do always visit the land of the vicious. And\nthere is not the least doubt about it. My skin is npt worthy of thy\ntouch and my bones and hairs should always be avoided by the Virtuous.\nAnd my flesh is not worthy of being eaten by persons of thy piety. A\nhedge-hog a porcupine, an iguana, a hare and a tortoise--these five\nanimals only, having five toes, are worthy of being eaten by the\nKshatryas and Brahmins, O Raghava. The wise, O RLma, do not touch my\nskin and bones and my flesh is not worthy of being taken--I am that\n(monkey) having five toes who have been killed by thee. Alas!\ndisregarding the well meaning and truthful words of Tara, I have placed\nmyself under the control of _Kala_ (Death). O Kakuthstha, the Earth hath\ngot thee as her husband like unto a good natured damsel being wedded to\na husband who hath forsaken his own religion. How art thou, who art\nwicked, narrow-minded, a liar and ever intent upon bringing about\nothers' misfortune, born of the loins of the high-souled Dacaratha? I\nhave been killed by an elephant--Rama, disregarding the virtue of the\npious, breaking the chord of character, and neglecting the goad of\nreligion. Perpetrating this inauspicious, and improper act, blamed of\nthe worthy what shalt thou speak unto the pious when thou shalt return\nin their company? The prowess, thou hast displayed towards me, careless,\nO Rama thou dost never employ for the suppression of the iniquitous. O\nson of a king, hadst thou fought with me openly thou wouldst have,\nforsooth, seen the abode of Death being killed by me. O Rama, like unto\na serpent destroying persons asleep, thou, that art under the control of\nvice, hast killed me, who am hard to repress, keeping thyself out of my\nsight in the battle. I have been killed by thee, desirous of\nencompassing Sugriva's well being. Hadst thou apprized me of thy object\nbefore, I would have got thee thy Maithili in the course of a day, and\nbrought, by the neck, that vicious-souled Rakshasa--Ravana, the ravisher\nof thy spouse without putting an end to his life in the battle. Whether\nin the deep ocean or in the region under the earth, I shall bring thy\nMaithili like unto an _Ashyatari_.[110] It is perfectly proper that\nSugriva shall inherit my kingdom on my ascension to heaven. And it is\nequally improper that I have been viciously killed by thee in the\nbattle. Every one in time meets with death and hence there is nothing to\nbe sorry for me. But do thou think of a proper reply thou shalt give to\nthe people (when asked about the cause of my destruction).\" Having said\nthis, that high-souled Son of monkey-chief, greatly distressed being\nwounded by (Rama's) shaft and having his countenance dried up, became\nsilent, fixing his look upon Rama, resembling the sun.\n\n[110] Here is an allusion. A prince of _Daityas_, named Hayagriva, stole\n      the _Vedas_ at the end of _Kalpa_; in the recovery of them he was\n      slain by Vishnu after his descent as _Matshya_.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XVIII.\n\n\nAnd thus Rama was addressed by Vali, wounded and senseless, with those\nmodest, pious and auspicious words. And being thus reproached he spoke\nunto that excellent lord of monkeys, gifted with virtue and other\naccomplishments, resembling the Sun shorn of its lustre, a cloud which\nhas already discharged its waters and fire extinguished.--\"Not cognizant\nof virtue, knowledge, passion and custom, why dost thou blame me like a\nchild? Why dost thou purpose to address me thus out of fickleness,\nconsequent upon thy monkeyhood not asking thy wise elders recognized by\nthe preceptors? This land, abounding in hills and woods, belongs to the\nIkswakus. Along with it was conferred on them the power of administering\nfavour and chastisement unto beasts, birds and human beings. The\nupright, virtuous and truthful king Bharata, cognizant of virtue,\nknowledge and passion and ever engaged in adminstering favour and\npunishment, governs this kingdom. That king is said to be cognizant of\ntime and place; in him dwelleth modesty, truthfulness, prowess and a\nlove for discipline. Ourselves and other kings, being commanded by him\nto practise piety, have been journeying in this wide world desirous of\nmultiplying virtue. That foremost of monarchs, Bharata--lover of virtue,\ngoverning this entire earth, who dares perpetrate an iniquity? Stationed\nin the excellent virtue of our own and placing Bharata' s commandments\non our heads, we shall consider how we shall punish them who go astray\n(from the path of virtue). Thou hast oppressed virtue and perpetrated a\ngross iniquity. Thou hast placed thyself under the control of thy\npassions and deviated from the track of royal duties. The elder brother,\nfather, and the instructor--these three should always be regarded in the\nlight of a father if they tread the paths of virtue and morality. A\nyounger brother, a son and an accomplished follower should always be\nregarded as sons. And virtue is always at the bottom of all such\nconsiderations. O monkey, the religion of the good is indeed very subtle\nand can comprehend great things--the immortal soul can understand what\nis good or bad. Fickle as thou art, how canst thou comprehend what is\nproper, consulting with thy monkey companions who are equally stupid and\nlight-hearted, like unto one, born blind, leading with another such? I\ndo fairly speak unto thee that it is not anger only that has led me to\nbring about thy destruction. Do thou consider why I have killed\nthee--thou hast ravished thy brother's wife renouncing that\never-existing virtue. Thou, the perpetrator of many evil deeds, hast got\nby Ruma, the wife of thy brother --the high-souled Sugriva. O monkey,\nthou hast thus violated the path of virtue. And thus I have punished\nthee who hast ravished thy elder brother's spouse. O thou, the leader of\nmonkey-herds--I find no other alternative than to punish him who acts\nagainst humanity and violates the sacred sanctions of custom. I am a\nKshatrya coming of a high pedigree. I cannot put up with thy immoral\nconduct. _Sastras_ sanction the destruction of one who under the\ninfluence of passion ravishes his own daughter, sister and younger\nbrother's wife. This is Bharata's commandment--the lord of earth, and we\nhave been satisfying his orders. Thou hast disregarded virtue. A wise\nman, living in virtue, cannot let go one who hath passed by the\nsanctions of morality. Bharata hath sanctioned the destruction of the\namorous; and we, O lord of monkeys, following his orders, though proper,\nto encompass the destruction of one like thee who hath spoliated virtue\nand morality. Like unto Lakshmana, I have contracted friendship with\nSugriva. And with a view to regain his wife and kingdom, he resolved to\nengage in my well-being. I too also promised the same before the\nmonkeys. And how can a man of my position neglect to make good his\npromise? For these causes of very great moment, favoured by virtue, I\nhave administered unto thee this condign punishment. Do thou now approve\nit. Thy discomfiture is quite of a piece with the sanctions of\nmorality-- and to assist friends is one of the codes of religion. Hear,\nManu hath composed a couple of couplets tending to the purification of\ncharacter and highly prized by the virtuous as well as myself. Those\nwho, perpetrating iniquity, bear with fortitude the punishment,\ninflicted by their soverign get at the abode of the celestials being\npurified like unto the pious. People are freed from their sins, when\nthey confessing their crimes, are either punished or forgiven. But the\nmonarch who doth not punish the perpetrator of an evil deed, is visited\nby a mighty sin. Formerly an iniquity, like one perpetrated by thee, was\ncommitted by a devotee who was punished severely by my forefather\n_Mandhata_. And other lords of earth punish in the same way the authors\nof misdeeds. What more, the perpetrators of crime, themselves undergo\npenances and are thus released from their sins. Therefore do not repent\nany more, O best of monkeys. The punishment, I have inflicted on thee,\nis in consonance with the sanctions of morality. We are not our own\nmasters. Hearken, O best of monkeys, there is another argument (for thy\ndestruction); and hearing which, O great hero, it behoveth thee to\nrenounce thy ire. Many persons living on flesh, either lying in ambush,\nor openly catch and pierce by means of net, noose and trap, many a deer,\nterrified and trusted, taking to their heels or quarrelling with their\ncompanions, careful or careless. They are not to blame in this and I do\nnot cherish, O best of monkeys, any mortification or ire for this. And\neven many royal ascetics, versed in religious lore, go a-hunting; and\nhence thou hast been killed by me with a shaft, O monkey, in the\nconflict. And I am justified in killing thee, whether thou dost fight or\nnot since thou art a monkey. There is no doubt, O best of monkeys, that\nthe monarchs confer life and piety auspicious and hard to attain. It\ndoth not therefore behove any one to injure them, to blame them and to\nuse improper words by them--since they are the celestials ranging on\nthis earth under the semblance of man. Not knowing virtue and growing\nangry why dost thou blame me who am following the religion of my\nforefathers?\" Being thus accosted by Rama, Vali, greatly mortified and\ninformed of the principle of religion, observed no delinquency in\nRaghava. Thereupon that lord of monkeys spake unto Rama, with folded\nhands, saying \"There is not the least doubt, O best of men, in all that\nthou hast said. An inferior person can by no means address his superior\nimproperly. It doth not behove thee, O Raghava, therefore to blame me\nfor those unpleasant words which I used towards thee, out of\nfoolishness. Thou hast acquired a practical mastery over the principles\nof religion and art ever engaged in the welfare of thy subjects. Thy\neternal power of ascertaining the crime and meeting its condign\npunishment is perfectly clear. Do thou know me as the foremost of\nsinners and one who hath deviated from the track of morality. Do thou\nconduct me, with pious words, to a better land.\" Vali, having his throat\nchoked with vapour, addressed again and again, Rama, with piteous\naccents, saying:--\"I do not mourn so much for me, Tara, or other friends\nas for my son Angada, eldest and wearing a golden _Angada._[111] Brought\nup by me from his very infancy, he shall by my separation, wear away\nlike unto a pond having its liquid contents drunk up by an elephant. He\nis my only son, dear and born of Tara. A mere child and of unripe\nunderstanding as he is, that one of mighty strength should always be\nprotected by thee, O Rama. Do thou regard favourably Sugriva and Angada.\nThou art their protector, and chastiser punishing them for their sins. O\nking, O lord of men, it behoveth thee to regard Sugriva and Angada in\nthe same light in which thou regardest Bharata and Lakshmana. It\nbehoveth thee to so arrange as Sugriva may not disregard that chaste\nTara who is blameable for my folly only. He, who is favoured by thee,\nabideth by thy commandments and acteth after thy heart, can acquire\nkingdom, attain to heaven, and govern the earth. Desiring to have my\ndestruction brought about by thee, I entered into conflict with my\nbrother Sugriva, albeit prevented by Tara.\" Having addressed Rama thus,\nthe lord of monkeys stopped. Thereupon Rama consoled Vali, of clear\nunderstanding with the following moral words, acceptable unto the\nSaints. \"O best of monkeys, do thou not consider ourselves as well as\nthyself blameable. We are more conversant, than thou, with the\nprinciples of religion. They never lose their virtue being proficient in\nthe mode of ascerting crime and punishing it--one administering\npunishment unto the criminal and the criminal receiving it. And\ntherefore receiving punishment (from me) thou hast been released from\nthy sins and acquired a knowledge of religion. Do thou therefore\nrenounce thy grief, thy illusion and the fear that is lurking in thy\nheart. It is impossible for thee, O foremost of monkeys, to withstand\nthe course of dispensation. There is not the least doubt, O lord of\nmonkeys, that Angada shall be brought up by me and Sugriva in the same\nway as he was by thee.\" Hearing these sweet, collected and pious words\nof the high-souled Rama,--the represser of the enemies in a battle,--the\nmonkey again addressed him with the following pregnant words--\"O lord, O\nthou having Mahendra's prowess, I do propitiate thee for my having\ninsulted thee with improper words, senseless as I was being wounded by\nshafts. Do thou forgive me, O lord of monkeys.\"\n\n[111] A bracelet worn on the upper arm.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XIX.\n\n\nBeing thus accosted with reasonable words, that lord, of monkeys, lying\non the ground and wounded with shafts, gave no reply. Having his limbs\ndissevered by stones, being struck with trees and wounded by Rama's\nshaft, he became sensetess at the approach of death. His spouse Tara\nheard that Vali, the foremost of monkeys, had been killed in the\nconflict by Rama's shaft. Hearing the heart-rending news of her\nhusband's demise, she, big with a child, issued out of the mountain cave\nwith a troubled heart. And beholding Rama with a bow in his hand, the\nmighty monkeys, followers of Angada, fled away, terrified. Thereupon\nTara observed those monkeys flying away terrified like unto deer\nalienated from their herd, having lost their king. And the chaste lady,\nracked with sorrow, spoke unto those monkeys, afraid of Rama, wounded\nwith shafts and exercised with grief, saying:--\"O monkeys, why are ye\ndying away, terrified and distressed, leaving behind that foremost of\nkings before whom ye were used to fight? Hath Vali been killed by Rama,\nwaiting at a distance with fleet and distant coursing shafts, being\nrequested by Sugriva for kingdom?\" Hearing the words of that wife of the\nmonkey, they, wearing shapes at will, addressed that damsel with words,\nworthy of being said on that occasion,--\"O thou, having thy son alive,\ndo thou go back and bring up thy son Angada. Death himself, under Rama's\nsemblance, hath snatched away Vali. He was killed by (Rama's) shafts,\nresembling thunderbolts, as if clapped by thunder itself, having bored\ntrees and big stones (hurled by Vali). That king of monkeys, having\nSakra's prowess, being made away with, this host of monkeys have been\ntaking to their heels being overwhelmed with consternation. Let the\nheroes defend the city and install Angada on the throne. And on his\nbeing installed the monkeys shall serve Vali's son. O thou having a fine\ncountenance, the monkeys shall enter this stronghold, although it is a\nfavourite place with thee. Herein dwell many forest-rangers, wifeless\nand having wives. And we are really afraid of them, avaricious, and\nformerly deprived of their wealth by us.\" Hearing those words of the\nmonkeys, lying at a little distance, that lady, smiling sweet, spoke\nunto them, words worthy of herself--\"That great lord of monkeys, my\nhusband, being dead, what shall I do with my son, my kingdom and myself?\nI shall place myself at the feet of that high-souled one, who hath been\nkilled by Rama's shaft.\" Having said this, (Tara) proceeded, overwhelmed\nwith grief, weeping and striking her bead with her hands. While\nproceeding, she espied her husband lying on the ground like unto the\ndestroyer of the lords of monkeys who have never been discomfitted in a\nbattle field, hurling mountains like unto Vasava hurling thunderbolts;\nemitting a roar like unto a big cloud assisted by a mighty wind;\nresembling Sakra in prowess and like unto a cloud accompanied by rain;\nthe represser of repressers; a mighty hero discomfitted by an equally\npowerful one; like unto a lion killed by a tiger for flesh; worshipped\nof all mem; like unto a _chaitya,_[112] adorned with pennons and altars,\nscattered and broken by Garuda with a view to kill serpents. And she\nespied Rama reclining his person on a mighty bow, his younger brother\nand her husband's younger brother. Passing them by and getting at her\nhusband and beholding him killed in battle, she, losing her senses fell\ndown to the ground. And thereupon rising again like one asleep, she,\nbeholding her husband engarlanded by death, cried aloud, exclaiming \"O\nson of worshipful sire.\" And beholding Tara like unto a she-elephant and\nAngada, bewailing in this wise, Sugriva attained to an excess of grief.\n\n[112] A pile of stones.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XX.\n\n\nBeholding her husband lying dead on the ground with the life-destroying\nshafts of Rama, Tara, having a moon-like countenance, approaching,\nembraced him. And seeing him slain with shafts like unto an elephant,\nresembling a lord of mountains and an uprooted tree, Tara, racked with\ngrief began to bewail--\"O hero, O foremost of monkeys, O powerful one, O\nthou terrible in warfare, why dost thou not welcome me to-day who am\nguilty of some iniquity by thee? Rise, O best of monkeys, and lie down\non a better bed; monarchs do not stretch themselves on earth. O lord of\nearth, indeed earth is thy favourite wife; since renouncing me, thou,\nthough dead, art serving her with thy body. Evident it is, O hero, that\nwhile engaged in a lawful conflict, thou hadst created another city of\nKishkindha,in the region of the celestials. All thy enjoyments with me\nin nectar-smelling woods, have been brought to a close. Thou, the lord\nof monkey-herds, being slain, I am deprived of joy and hope and am sunk\nin the abyss of grief. Forsooth, my heart is uncommon hard, since\nbeholding thee on the ground it hath not been sundered into thousand\npieces being overwhelmed with grief. Sugriva's wife was carried away and\nbanished by thee and this is the result of thy action, O foremost of\nmonkeys. O lord of monkeys, out of thy ignorance thou didst neglect all\nmy well meaning words which I said, being intent on thy welfare and\nbenefit. O worshipful one, thou shalt captivate today, the hearts of the\ndexterous Apsaras, proud of their youth and beauty. Forsooth, thou hast\nbeen by force brought under the control of _Kala_, since thou hast been\ndiscomfitted by Sugriva, albeit thou art above the control of others.\nDestroying Vali unseasonably, while engaged in conflict with another\nperson, and perpetrating such an iniquitous deed, Kakuthstha doth never\nrelent. Unused to miseries before how shall I, being an object\ncommiseration, put up like one helpless, with my widow-hood and grief.\nHow shall the heroic and youthful Angada, brought up in luxury and\nhappiness, be regarded by his uncle, senseless with wrath? Do thou cast\nfor good, O my son, thy looks towards thy pious sire, for since now it\nwill be hard for thee to see him again. Do thou console thy son, favour\nme with orders, smell his head, as thou art going to journey in a\nforeign land. By destroying thee, Rama,hath performed a great action,\nsince by this he hath been released from his vow unto Sugriva. O\nSugriva, do thou gain thy ends and get back thy Ruma; devoid of anxiety\ndo thou govern thy kingdom--thy enemy, thy brother hath been slain. O\nlord of monkeys, why dost thou not welcome me, thy beloved spouse, who\nam bewailing thus? Behold, thy other wives are also mourning in the same\nwise.\" Hearing the bewailings of that she-monkey, others, taking Angada,\ndistressed and overwhelmed with grief, began to cry piteously.--\"O hero,\nhaving _Angada_ on thy arms, why art thou proceeding on a journey for\ngood in a foreign land leaving behind (thy son) Angada. It doth not\nbehove thee (to leave aside) thy dear son, gifted with diverse\naccomplishments and wearing a charming and beautiful cloth. O thou of\nlong arms, O lord of monkeys, if I have offended thee in any way, do\nthou forgive me, after ascertaining my crime. O hero, I touch thy feet\nwith my head.\" Bewailing thus piteously with other she-monkeys, Tara,\nhaving a blameless countenance, stationing herself where Vali was,\nresolved to put an end to her being by fastings.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXI.\n\n\nThereupon beholding Tara fallen (on the ground) like unto a star dropt\ndown from the sky, Hanuman, the lord of monkey-herds, consoled her again\nand again.--\"Animals, unagitated, attain to happiness or misery, as an\noutcome of their actions performed (in their previous existence) by\nmerits or demerits. Why dost thou mourn for others, thyself being an\nobject of moruning? Why dost thou feel commisseration for the poor,\nthyself being poorly? In this body like unto a babble who is there who\nmourneth for another? It behoveth thee now, O thou having thy son alive,\nto look after prince Angada and think of those duties which remain to be\nexecuted by thee (after the demise of Vali). Do thou know that life and\ndeath of the animals is very unsettled. It is therefore proper to\nperform what tends to the welfare of afterlife. It doth not behove thee,\nO learned damsel, to mourn like others. He even, who (while living) was\nsurrounded by thousands of monkeys cherishing hopes, hath met his\ndestined end. This hero discharged his royal duties in consonance with\nthe sanctions of morality and was gifted with various kingly\naccomplishments such as conciliation, charity and forgiveness. He hath\nattained to the land of kings and it becometh thee not to mourn for him.\nO blameless damsel, all these foremost of monkeys, this thy son Angada,\nthis kingdom of the monkey chief, do belong to thee. Do thou soon\ndespatch, O passionate lady, these two (Angada and Sugriva) exercised\nwith grief as they are (for the performance of Vali's funeral rites).\nAnd abiding by thy commandments let Angada govern the earth. Let Angada\nperform all those ceremonies, which should be gone through by sons\naccording to the _Sastras_ and which are for the well-being of the king;\nthis is the time for the performances of those funeral rites. Performing\nthe funeral ceremonies of the lord of monkeys do thou install Angada.\nAnd beholding thy son thus established on the throne thou shalt be able\nto pacify thy grief?\" Hearing those words of Hanuman, Tara, racked with\ngrief consequent upon the loss of her lord, bespake him who was standing\nthere:--\"I would rather die with this hero who hath been slain than have\na hundred sons like Angada. I cannot myself govern this kingdom nor can\nI confer it upon Angada. Such duty devolves upon his (Angada's) uncle\nSugriva now. O Hanuman, do thou not consider that I shall confer this\nkingdom upon Angada--O best of monkeys, father is son's friend (in this\nrespect) not mother. There is no other resource for me tending to my\nwelfare both in this world and the next than taking refuge onto this\nlord of monkeys. It is becoming for me to serve this bed which hath been\nresorted to by the hero, slain (and lying before me.)\n\n\n\nSECTION XXII.\n\n\nVali, ranging on the verge of death, casting his looks around and\nsighing faintly, espied his younger brother Sugriva before him.\nWelcoming that lord of monkeys with clear accents, Vali addressed him\naffectionately saying:--\"O Sugriva, do thou not take to thy heart the\nimproper conduct I have shown towards thee, being attracted by\ninevitable foolishness, subject as I was to sin. Methinks, O brother, it\nis not our fortune to enjoy at the same time the double bliss of\nfraternal affection and the enjoyment of kingdom, or else why has it\nhappened otherwise? Do thou acquire to-day this kingdom of the\nforest-ranges and know me as one who hath departed to the abode of\nDeath. Soon shall I renounce my life, kingdom, my exquisite grace and my\nblameless fame. It behoveth thee, O hero, O king, to perform what I\nshall speak unto thee in this plight, however difficult it might be. Do\nthou behold Angada fallen on the ground with tears in his eyes--a little\nboy, incapable, brought up in luxury and deserving happiness. Do thou\nmaintain this my son, dearer than my life, like unto thy own son, born\nof thy loins, satisfying all his wants in my absence. O best of monkeys,\nlike unto me, thou art his father, protector, conferrer of gifts and\nremover of fear. This graceful son of Tara equals thee in prowess and\nshall precede thee in the destruction of Rakshasas. This youthful\nAngada, Tara's son, gifted with energy and strength, shall perform\nbefitting exploits displaying his prowess in the battle. Surasen's\ndaughter is wonderfully expert in ascertaining subtle things and giving\ncounsels in the time of danger. Do thou, without the least doubt perform\nwhat shall the chaste lady instruct thee to do; for Tara's advice never\ngoes without effect. It behoveth thee to perform Raghava's service\nfearlessly or else thou shalt be visited with sin: on his being insulted\nthou shalt be injured. O Sugriva, do thou put on this celestial golden\ngarland--herein dwelleth the bounteous Sree who shall renounce me after\nmy death.\" Having been accosted thus by Vali, out of fraternal\naffection, Sugriva renouncing joy again became pale like unto the Moon\npossessed by Rahu. Renouncing his inimical feelings, being thus\naddressed by Vali and carrying out his words energetically Sugriva\naccepted the golden garland as ordered (by him). And conferring (upon\nSugriva) that golden garland and beholding his son before him, Vali,\nresolved upon death, spake unto Angada, saying:--\"Do thou place thyself\nnow under the control of Sugriva, ascertaining time and place, putting\nup with misery for thy welfare and injury. O thou having long arms,\nSugriva shall not regard thee much, if dost thou remain in the same wise\nin which thou hadst been brought up by me before.[113] O slayer of foes,\ndo thou never mix with Sugriva's enemies, and place thyself always under\nSugriva's control, having subdued thy senses and being intent upon thy\nmaster's (Sugriva's) welfare. Do thou not cultivate too much of\nfriendship nor be wanting in it--for both of these extremes are sources\nof disasters. Do thou therefore follow the golden mean.\" After he had\nsaid this, his eyes became expanded, his teeth were opened and his\nappearance became ghastly. And greatly pained by shafts he breathed his\nlast. And thereupon, the monkeys, the foremost of those who go jumping,\nhaving lost their chief, bewailed and cried. On that monkey chiefs\ndeparture to the land of celestials, Kishkindha was divested of her\nlord, and gardens, hills and woods were all rendered lonely. That best\nof monkeys, who fought a dreadful battle with the high-souled\n_Gandharbas_, being dead, all other monkeys became of pale countenance.\n\"Vali entered into a terrible conflict with the mighty-armed Golava and\nfought for ten years and five, for nights and days without respite. And\non the sixteenth year, Golava was killed. Bringing about the destruction\nof that wicked _Gandharba_, Vali, having terrible teeth, saved us all\nfrom fear. How hath he been killed to-day?\" Like unto kine, incapable of\nenjoying peace in a mighty forest filled with lions, their chief being\ndead, these forest-rangers could not attain to felicity on the demise of\nthat lord of monkeys. Thereupon, Tara, sunk in the gulf of disaster,\neying the countenance of her deceased lord, fell down to the ground\nembracing Vali like unto a creeper clinging for its support to a mighty\nbut broken tree.\n\n[113] The significance of the passage is as follows:--Thou wert a mere\n      child while I brought thee up. But now thou art a grown up young\n      man and this is the time for thee to serve thy elders. Do thou\n      therefore serve Sugriva.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXIII.\n\n\nThereupon smelling the face of that lord of monkeys, Tara again\naddressed her deceased lord, known all over the world, saying:--\"O hero,\ndisregarding my words, thou art lying on the uneven earth, hard and\nfilled with gravels. O lord of monkeys, the earth is dearer unto thee\nthan I, since thou art lying there embracing her and art not welcoming\nme. O hero, O dear, O brave lord, wonder it is that God under the\nsemblance of Rama, hath placed himself under the control of Sugriva;\nhithertofore he shall be regarded as a hero. Why art thou not awake,\nhearing the bewailings of bears and monkeys who used to wait upon thee,\npowerful, as well as that of Angada and myself? Alas! thou art lying on\nthis bed of the heroes, being slain in the battle, where formerly, thy\nenemies destroyed by thee, used to lie down. thou born of a pure family,\nO thou that art fond of warfare, O my dear, O conferror of honors,\nwhither hast thou departed making me husbandless? Let not the wise,\nhenceforth, confer their daughters upon the heroes. Alas! behold me, the\nwife of a hero, made a widow in no time. Shattered is my honor and\ndestroyed is my happiness and I am sunk in the deep abyss of grief.\nForsooth, this my firm heart is not sundered into hundred pieces,\nbeholding my husband slain! Thou art my friend, my dear husband and a\ngreat hero--and thou hast met with destruction, being struck by another\nman. A husbandless woman is always styled by the wise as widow, although\nshe might have a son and enough of riches. O hero, thou art lying down\nin a pool of blood issuing out of thy own person, like unto thy own bed\nhaving a red-dyed bed-sheet. Thy body is on all sides besmeared with\nblood and dust and I am incapable of embracing thee with my arms, O best\nof monkeys. Surely hath Sugriva satisfied his hostile intention to-day,\nwhose fear hath been removed by one shaft, discharged by Rama. Thyself\ndeparting to the land of the dead, I have been eying thee simply, being\nprevented from touching thy person by the shaft piercing thy\nheart\".[114] Thereupon Neela took out that shaft from the person of\n(Vali) like unto a flaming serpent lurking in a mountain cave. There\nbeamed the shaft extracted from his body like unto the rays of the Sun,\nstationed on the summit of the setting hill. And there poured forth from\nall his wounds, streams of blood, like unto showers of melted copper and\nother metals falling from a mountain. And (Tara) washed, with tears, her\nheroic husband's body covered with dust and wounded with weapons.\nBeholding her husband thus slain and besmeared with blood, she spake\nunto her son, Angada, having coppery eyes,saying:--\"Behold this terrible\ndeclining stage of thy Sire. Here is the end of his hostilities\ncollected by his impious actions. O my son, do thou bow unto thy kingly\nfather, the conferrer of honors, who hath departed to the abode of\nDeath, having a flaming person like unto the rising Sun.\" Thus accosted,\nAngada rose up and, saying, \"I (do touch my Sire's feet),\" embraced his\nfather's feet with his plump arms. (Thereupon Tara said)--\"Saying 'Do\nthou live long' why dost thou not welcome Angada, to-day as before, who\nhath bowed unto thee? I am with my son, standing by thee who art dead,\nlike unto a cow with her calf, having the bull slain by a lion. How hast\nthou, without me, thy wife, bathed in the water of Rama's shafts, at the\nend of thy battle-like sacrifice? Why do I not behold here that\nfavourite golden garland of thine, which was conferred on thee by the\nlord of celestials, pleased in a battle? Royal grace hath not renounced\nthee, O conferrer of honors, albeit thou art dead, like unto the rays\nnot quitting the king of mountains, even after the Sun is set. Thou\ndidst not act by my wholesome words, nor could I prevent thee. And I am\nnow destroyed with my son, along with thee in the battle. Truly hath\nSree (goddess of wealth) renounced me.\"\n\n[114] The meaning is:--Lest by my touching that shaft thou feelest a\n      greater pain.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXIV.\n\n\nBeholding Tara emerged in a deep and mighty ocean of grief, Vali's\nyounger brother was overwhelmed with penitence, in consequence of the\nunbecoming destruction of his brother. And seeing her countenance full\nof tears, the high-souled (Sugriva), racked with grief and repentance,\napproached slowly Rama along with his followers. And nearing him, with a\nbow in his hand, having arrows like unto serpents, famed and having\nauspicious marks on his person, he spake unto Raghava, seated there,\nsaying--\"O lord of men, thou hast fulfilled thy promise by carrying it\nout into practice; and as for wretched me, O son of a king, I shall\nrefrain today from all enjoyments. This queen lamenting piteously, these\nsubjects and retinue bewailing, being overwhelmed with grief, this king\nbeing slain, how can kingdom please me? O Rama out of anger, and\npassion, and on account of my being insulted by him, I did formerly\ndesire to bring about my brother's destruction. But that lord of\nmonkey-herds being slain, best of Ikshwakus, I am truly pierced to the\nquick with anguish. I do prefer living for good in the mount Rishyamuka,\nearning my livelihood somehow or other, to the accession of heaven by\ndestroying (Vali). This highly intellectual and high-souled one spake\nunto me \"Do thou range at large, I do not wish to destroy thee.\" Such\nwords were really becoming of him, O Rama. And these words and this\naction become me (vile as I am). How can a brother, O Rama, however\navaricious he night be, relish the destruction of his qualified brother,\ncomparing the happiness of a kingdom, with the grief (consequent upon\nhis brother's demise)? He did not desire to slay me, lest his greatness\nmight be spoiled; but alas! through my wicked sense, I performed an\niniquity by taking the life of my brother. Being struck by him with\nbranches of trees, while I fled away and wept, he, consoling me, said\nonly \"Do not do this again. \" He all along maintained his fraternal\nfeelings, his honesty and piety; but (woe to me) I have displayed my\nwrath, passion and monkey-hood. O friend, like unto the lord of\ncelestials perpetrating sin by destroying Biswarupa, I have been, by\nbringing about the destruction of my brother, visited with this sin,\nbeyond comprehension, avoidable, undesirable and invisible. Indra's sin\nwas shared by earth; water, trees and women; but who is there who will\nbear and desire to participate this monkey's sin? Perpetrating such an\nimproper and irreligious act, tending to the decay of my family, I do\nnot deserve the respect of my subjects and the heir-apparentship; what\nof kingdom, O Raghava. I am the perpetrator of a vile and disgraceful\nsin, blamed of all in this world. And like unto a current of rain going\ndownwards, this mighty grief hath overcome me. This mighty and\ninfuriated elephant of a sin, having the destruction of a brother as its\nbody, repentence, as its trunk, head, eyes and tusks, hath been crushing\nme like unto the banks of a river. Alas! O best of kings, this\nunbearable sin hath been driving away all pious feelings from my heart\nlike unto alloy leaking out of discolored gold when molten in fire, O\nRaghava. Methinks, for me, O Raghava, these mighty monkeys and Angada\nare almost half-dead (with grief). A good-natured and obedient son is\nrare. Where is to be found Angada's equal? O hero, there is no such land\nwhere I may meet again my brother. The heroic Angada shall not live\nto-day--and if he lives, his mother shall live to bring him up.\nForsooth, without her son, she shall not live long. Therefore shall I\nenter this flaming fire with a view to place myself on the same level\nwith my brother and his son and all these mighty monkeys shall engage in\nquest of Sita, abiding by thy commandments. O son of a king, they shall\nall carry out thy orders even in my absence, do thou,therefore, order me\n(to enter fire) who am the destroyer of my own race, have performed an\ninquity and do not deserve living any more.\" Hearing the words of Vali's\nyounger brother, who was bewailing thus, Rama, the heroic descendant of\nRaghu and the slayer of foes, remained stupified for some time with\ntears in his eyes. In the mean-time, Rama, patient like unto the\nprotector of the world, worked with curiosity, looked again and again\ntowards the bewailing Tara sunk in the gulf of disaster. Thereupon the\nprincipal counsellors raised up the brave spouse of the lord of monkeys,\nhaving graceful eyes and lying ou the earth, embracing her husband. And\nsnatched away from her husband and trembling, she beheld Rama, with bow\nand arrows in his hand, burning like unto the Sun by virtue of his own\neffulgence. And beholding him gifted with all royal marks, having\nbeautiful eyes and never seen before, that one, having the eyes of a\nfawn, thought within herself. \"This great one must be Kakuthstha.\" And\nthe worshipful Tara, worked with grief, and overwhelmed with disasters,\nbewailing, neared quickly that high-souled one, resembling the lord of\ncelestials and hard to approach. And having reached the pure-souled\nRama, who had his ends fully attained in battle, the high-minded Tara,\nhaving her frame worked with grief, spake unto him, saying:--\"Thou art\nimmeasurable, hard to approach, highly pious, prudent, of controlled\nsenses and increasing fame, forgiving like unto earth and of blood-red\neyes. Thou hast bow and arrows in hand, art highly powerful and of a\ntough body. And renouncing human grace that hast assumed the grace of a\ncelestial person. Do thou slay me with that self-same shaft with which\nmy dear one was slain. And thus slain, O hero, I shall be near him, for\nValii doth not relish the company of any other woman but me. O thou\nhaving eyes resembling clean lotus-petals, this (hero) departing to the\nabode of celestials and not beholding me there, shall not delight in the\ncompany of _Apsaras_, wearing diversified garments and copper-colored\ncorronets. Even in the land of celestials, O hero, Vali shall turn pale\nwith grief in my separation, like unto thee in the picuresque dale of\nthe Lord of mountains, separated from the daughter of the king of\nVideha. Thou knowest well that a handsome man is greatly afflicted with\nthe separation of his spouse; and knowing this, do thou slay me, and\nVali shall not be tormented with grief consequent upon my absence.\nHigh-souled as thou art, thou art thinking that thou shalt, slaying me,\nbe visited with a sin arising from the destruction of a female. But do\nthou kill me, O son of a king, knowing me as the soul of Vali, and thou\nshalt not be responsible for destroying a woman. According to the Vedas\nand various other sacred texts, wives are inseparably blended with their\nhusbands. And the wise say that there is no other gift better than that\nof a wife in this world. Thou shalt, O hero, confer me religiously upon\nmy dear one and by this gift thou shalt be saved from the sin consequent\nupon killing me. It doth not behove thee not to kill me, who am\nexercised with grief, without my lord, snatched away from him and\nreduced to such a (pitiable) plight. O lord of men, I cannot live long\nwithout that highly intelligent lord of monkeys, having an elephantine\ngait and wearing an excellent golden garland.\" Thus accosted, the\nhigh-souled lord consoling Tara, spake unto her the following\nwell-meaning words.--\"Do thou not lose thyself, O wife of a hero. This\nwhole world of creation is being guided by God's dispensation. And by\nHim is administered misery or happiness as people say. These three\nworlds cannot neglect His dispensations and are entirely subject to Him.\nThy son shall attain to the heir apparentship of the throne and thou\nshalt enjoy excellent joy therefrom. This hath been decreed by the\nAlmighty. Wives of heroes do never relent.\" Being thus consoled by the\nhigh-souled (Rama) gifted with prowess, and the slayer of foes, Tara,\nthe wife of a heroic husband, and wearing a graceful garment, ceased\nbewailing.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXV.\n\n\nThereupon, Kakutstha, with Lakshmana, equally aggrieved, said, consoling\nSugriva, and Tara together with Angada.--\"Grief and lamentations do not\ntend to the welfare of the deceased. It therefore behoveth ye to perform\nthe after ceremonies. Ye have satisfied the worldly practice with a\nprofuse discharge of tears. It is not proper to delay the performance of\nappointed actions. Time is the prime cause in this world, and the source\nof the accomplishment of actions. And Time it is that leads men to\nactions. No one is the lord of another person, and no one leads him to\nactions. People are subject to their actions of previous existence and\nTime aids them. Even the Eternal being cannot withstand the ways of\nTime. He never decayeth and no one else can withstand the course of\nTime. It hath no friend, no cause and no one can overcome it. It hath no\nkinsman, no relation; even it is not subject to itself. The wise can\npercieve the work of Time. Piety, wealth and desire are all subject to\nit. Vali, the lord of monkeys, hath attained to his own true state,\nreaping the fruits of his actions, acquired by virtue of his royal\naccomplishments --namely, forgiveness and charity. The abode of the\ncelestials, which was conquered by this high-souled one by his former\npiety, hath now been occupied by him after resigning his body. This is\nthe best course of Time that hath been attained to by the lord of\nmonkey-herds. No more with lamentations therefore; do thou perform the\nactions that are worthy of being performed on this occasion.\" After Rama\nhad spoken thus, Lakshmana, the slayer of foes, addressed Sugriva,\nsenseless with grief, with the following sound words:--\"Sugriva, do thou\nperform the funeral ceremonies of Vali along with Tara and Angada. Do\nthou collect for cremation many a dry fuel and celestial sandal. Do thou\nconsole the unfortunate Angada, who is beside himself with grief. Do not\nconduct thyself like an ignorant person, for this city is now under\nthee. Let Angada bring clothes, garlands, scents, clarified butter, oil\nand other necessary articles. O Tara, do thou go and bring soon a\nconveyance; for speediness is a special virtue on an occasion like this.\nLet the monkeys dress themselves who can convey this hearse. The\npowerful and the capable only shall carry Vali\". Having thus addressed\nSugriva, Lakshmana, the enhancer of Sumitra's joy and the destroyer of\nfoes, stood before his elder brother. And hearing the words of\nLakshmana, the counsellor respectfully entered the cave with a view to\nbring the conveyance. And taking that conveyance carried by the monkeys\nand worthy of being carried by the heroes, he issued out again of the\ncave. It had a celestial throne and was like unto a war-chariot and had\ntrees and birds painted on it. It was painted on all sides with the\nfigures of foot soldiers, had latticed windows and was like unto the car\nof the _Siddhas_--spacious and artistically and stoutly built by\nartizans with beautiful carvings like unto a wooden hill. It was\nornamented with excellent ornaments and beautiful garlands, sprinkled\nwith red sandal and skirted with strong ribs. It was covered with\nflowers and lotus-garlands, crusted with precious clothes and had the\ncolour of the rising Sun. Beholding such a conveyance, Rama spake unto\nLakshmana, saying--\"Do thou soon conduct the funeral service of Vali.\"\nThereupon Sugriva, along with Angada, placing Vali on the conveyance,\nbegan to bewail.\n\nAnd placing the lifeless body of Vali on it, he covered it with various\nornaments, garlands, and clothes. Thereat Sugrira, the king of monkeys,\nordered for the performance of Vali's funeral rites. \"Let the monkeys go\nbefore, scattering many a precious jewel and let the conveyance follow\nthem. Let the monkeys perform the obsequies of our master with such\ngrandeur as befits the riches of the kings on this earth.\" With a view\nto perform the funeral ceremonies of Vali, the . counsellors and other\nmonkeys, having lost their king and embraced Angada, proceeded weeping.\nAnd other subject monkeys followed them. And all other she-monkeys,\nheaded by Tara, having lost their lord, bewailed, exclaiming again and\nagain--\"O hero, O hero\".--And they, thus bewailing piteously, followed\ntheir lord. And in response to the bewailings of she-monkeys, hills and\nforests, as if, bewailed on all sides. Monkeys, ranging in the forest,\nmade funeral piles on the banks of the hill-streams and in solitary\nwatery nooks. Thereupon laying down from their shoulders the conveyance,\nthose foremost of monkeys stationed themselves in a corner, being\nstricken with grief. And Tara, beholding her husband's body on the\nconveyance, placed his head on her lap and bewailed, overwhelmed with\ngrief. \"O lord of monkeys! O my lord! O my dear one! O thou used to\nluxuries! O thou having long arms! O my darling! behold me. Why dost\nthou not behold these monkeys, racked with sorrow? O conferrer of\nhonors, thy countenance looks as if beaming with joy; although thou art\ndead, and thou appearest as if alive, having the hue of the setting Sun.\nO monkey, Death himself, under the semblance of Rama, is attracting\nthee, who with one shaft in the battle, hath rendered us all widows. O\nbest of kings, these she-monkeys cannot go by jumping. Dost thou not\npercive that they have travelled so far on foot? Those thy wives, having\nmoon-like countenances, have always thy welfare in view. Why dost thou\nnot, O best of monkeys, cast thy looks towards them and Sugriva? O king,\nthese thy counsellors, thy wives headed by Tara, and all these citizens\nare bewailing around thee. O slayer of foes, do thou despatch thy\ncounsellors to the city and we shall all enjoy in this forest, excited\nwith _amour_.\" The other she-monkeys, worked with sorrow, raised up Tara\nbewailing thus being exercised with grief consequent upon the demise of\nher husband. Thereupon Angada along with Sugriva, overwhelmed with\ngrief, weeping, placed his Sire's body on the funeral pile. And putting\nfire duly, he circumambulated his Sire, bound for a journey for good.\nHaving duly cremated Vali's body,the foremost of monkeys arrived at a\nriver of auspicious water with a view to perform the watery ceremony.\nAnd all these monkeys along with Sugriva and Tara, placing Angada before\nthem, sprinkled water. And the highly powerful Kakuthsha, equally\naggrieved like Sugriva, being as poorly, cronducted duly the obsequious\nceremonies of Vali. Thereupon cremating Vali, gifted with unequalled\nprowess, slain with one shaft of the foremost of Ikswakus, and like unto\nflaming fire, Sugriva appeared before Rama who was in the company of\nLakshmana.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXVI.\n\n\nAnd thereupon those foremost of monkeys waited there, surrounding\nSugriva exercised with grief and wearing wetted cloth. And they all,\napproaching the mighty-armed Rama of unwearied actions, stationed\nthemselves with folded hands like unto the great ascetics around the\nGrand-Father (of the celestials). Thereupon Hanuman, the son of Marut,\nresembling a golden hill and having a countenance resembling the rising\nSun, spake with folded hands, saying:--\"By thy assistance, O Kakuthstha,\nO lord, this great ancestral kingdom of the highly powerful monkeys,\nhaving sharpened teeth, incapable of being acquired by the high-souled\nones, hath been attained to (by Sugriva). Being commanded by thee, he\nalong with his friends, entering this city, shall perform the royal\nduties. And being duly bathed he shall worship thee particularly, with\ngarlands, jewels, scents and _oshadhis_. It behoveth thee to enter this\npleasant mountain cave and satisfy these monkeys by installing (Sugriva\non the throne).\" Being thus accosted by Hanuman, the highly intelligent\nRaghava, skilled in speech and the slayer of foes, replied:-- \"O gentle\nHanuman, abiding by my Sire's mandate, I shall not enter a hamlet or a\ncity for these fourteen years. Let Sugriva, the foremost of monkeys,\nenter this magnificent celestial cave and do ye all instal him speedily\non the throne.\" Having thus addressed Hanuman, Rama spake unto Sugriva,\nsaying:--\"Conversant with customs as thou art, do thou instal this\ngenerous and heroic Angada, gifted with prowess and honoring customs, as\nthe heir-apparent of the throne. This brave and eldest son of thy elder\nbrother-- Angada, is truly worthy of the heir-apparentship. O gentle\none, this month of _Srabana_, which is the first of those four months\nwhich make up the rainy season, hath set in and this is not the time\ntherefore to institute any enquiry about Sita. Do thou therefore enter\nthy auspicious city and I shall live in this mountain along with\nLakshmana. Pleasant indeed is this mountain cave, spacious, filled with\nair, water and many lotuses. Thou shalt engage in endeavours to bring\nabout the destruction of Ravana, after _Kartika_ sets in. This is not\nthe proper time, O gentle one, and do thou enter thy own city. And being\ninstalled on the throne do thou enhance the joy of thy friends.\" Being\nthus commanded by Rama, Sugriva, the foremost of monkeys entered the\npleasant city of Kishkindha, reared by Vali. Encircling that lord of\nmonkeys thousands of them entered the city. Beholding the lord of\nmonkeys, the subjects bowed unto him, lowering their heads on the\nground. Welcoming the subjects and raising them up, the highly powerful\nSugriva entered the pleasant inner apartment of his brother. On his\nentering the city, his friends installed the highly powerful foremost of\nmonkeys--Sugriva, on the throne like unto the celestials placing the\nthousand-eyed Deity (on the kingdom). The monkeys brought for him a\ncopper-colored golden umbrella, white chowries, a magnificent golden\nstaff, diverse jewels, various seeds and medicating drugs, roots and\nflowers of glomerous fig trees, white clothes, white sandal paste,\nfragrant garlands, flowers growing in water and on land, celestial\nsandal and various scents, fried grain, gold, _Priyangu_ honey,[115]\nclarified butter, curd, tiger-skin, a pair of excellent sandals,\n_gorochana_[116] and red _Arsenic._ Carrying all those things there came\nsixteen maids, highly delighted. Thereupon those monkeys pleased the\nforemost of twice-born ones with jewels clothes and eatables, with a\nview to instal that best of monkeys. And these conversant with _mantras_\nthrew clarified butter, sanctified by _mantras_, into flaming fire\nburning on a _Kuca_ bed. And placing him on an excellent throne facing\nthe east, uttering duly _mantras_ in that golden room situated on the\nsummit of the picturesque palace and beautified with magnificent\ncoverlets and garlands, and collecting pure water from various rivers,\nsacred places and oceans, those foremost of monkeys kept it in golden\njars. Gaya, Gabaksha, Gabaya, Sarava, Gandhamadana, Main da, Divida,\nHanuman and Jambuban, installed Sugriva with auspicious horns of a bull\nand golden jars according to the rites prescribed by _Sastras_ and\nsanctioned by the great saints like unto the celestials installing the\nthousand eyed Deity with pure, fragrant water. Sugriva being installed\nthus, these high-souled and foremost of monkeys, by hundreds and\nthousands, began to clatter with delight. Abiding by Rama's words,\nSugriva, the lord of monkeys, embracing Angada, conferred on him the\nheir-apparentship of the throne. And Angada being thus installed, those\nbest of monkeys, highly delighted, adored the high-souled Sugriva,\nextolling him again and again. Angada and Sugriva being thus\nestablished, they all, greatly delighted, praised again and again the\nhigh-souled Rama and Lakshmana. And the city of Kishkindha, filled with\nstoutly built people and adorned with pennons and flags, appeared\nbeautiful in the mountain cave. Communicating unto the high-souled Rama\nthe news of installation, the highly powerful lord of monkey hosts\n(Sugriva) getting back his wife Ruma, regained the kingdom like unto the\nlord of celestials.\n\n[115] A medicinal plant, and perfume, commonly known by the name\n      _Priyangu_ and described in some places as a fragrant seed.--T.\n\n[116] A bright yellow pigment prepared from the urine of a cow, or\n      committed in the shape of scibulae by the animal, or according to\n      some found in the head of a cow.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXVII.\n\n\nOn Sugriva being installed and the monkeys entering the cave, Rama,\nalong with his younger brother, got at the Prasrabana hill, resounded\nwith the noise of tigers and deer, filled with terrible lions, covered\nwith diverse trees, creepers and bowers, inhabited by bears, monkeys,\n_Gopuchyas_ and cats, resembling a collection of clouds and always\nauspicious. Rama, along with Saumitri, selected for his habitation, a\nspacious cave, situated on the summit of that hill. Making the above\ncondition with Sugriva, Rama, the pure-souled descendant of Raghu, spake\nunto his humble younger brother Lakshmana, the enhancer of wealth, the\nfollowing sound words, worthy of being spoken on that occasion--\"O\nSaumitri, O slayer of foes, in this pleasant and spacious mountain cave\nfilled with air, we shall pass the rainy season. O son of a king, this\nsummit of the hill is excellent and picturesque, beautified with white,\nblack and coppery stones, filled with diverse metals and river frogs,\ncovered with diverse trees and pleasant creepers, resounded with the\nmusical notes of various birds and cries of peacocks and beautified with\nvarious flowery trees,such as _Malati_, _Kundas_, _Sindubara_,[117]\n_Sirisa_,[118] _Kadamba_, _Arjuna,_[119] and _Sarja_.[120] O son of a\nking, this pond filled with full blown lotuses shall always be near our\ncave. This cave shall be worthy of our habitation, O gentle one, having\nits north-eastern part low and the western part high. There is, O\nSaumitri, at the entrance of the cave, a level, beautiful, spacious\nstone, black like unto collyrium. Behold O my brother, on the north, the\nsummit of the hill, resembling collyrium and a rising cloud. There\nappears on the south a beautiful white hill resembling the Kailaca\nfilled with various metals. Behold before the cave the mudless stream,\nflowing towards the east like unto _Janhavi_[121] in the _Trikuta_[122]\nmountain. This rivulet appears like unto a damsel ornamented and\nclothed, being filled with various trees, such as--_Sandal_, _Tilaka_,\n_Sala_, _Tamalas_, _Atimuktas_,[123] _Padmaka_, _Saralas_,[124]\n_Asokas_, _Baneeras,_[125] _Timidas_, _Vakulas_, _Ketakas,_ _Hintalas_,\n_Tinicas_, _Neepas_, _Vetashas_, _Kritamalakas_ growing on her banks.\nThis rivulet resounded with various notes of hundreds of various birds,\nfilled with _Chakrabakas_ attached to each other, crowded with geese and\n_Sarasas_, having picturesque banks, and various jewels, is as it were\nlaughing on all sides. Here it appears covered with violet lotuses, here\nwith red lotuses and there again with celestial white water-lilies. This\npleasant and picturesque stream is filled with various water fowls and\n_Chakravakas_ and served by many a saint. Behold there the rows of\npleasant sandal trees and those _Kukuvas_ which have grown up as it were\nlike unto mental emotion. Picturesque indeed is this place, O slayer of\nfoes, and we shall happily live here, O son of Sumitra. At no distance,\nO son of a king, from this place is situate the pleasant city of\nSugriva--Kishkindha, filled with forests. Hear then, O best of\nconquerors, the sound of music, and the clatter of monkeys mingled with\nthe sound of _Mridangas_. Forsooth is rejoicing Sugriva--the foremost of\nmonkeys, getting back his wife, regaining his kingdom, and attaining to\nregal splendour.\" Having said this, Raghava, along with Lakshmana, dwelt\nin that _Prasravana_ hill abounding in caves and bowers. He did not\nattain to a best felicity although he lived in that pleasant hill filled\nwith many things. Pondering over the ravishment of his spouse, dearer\nthan his life, beholding the setting of the Sun in particular, he did\nnot go to sleep, although he laid himself on the bed in the night. His\nyounger brother Lakshmana, equally aggrieved, spoke unto Kakutstha, thus\nbewailing being exercised with grief and almost beside himself with\nsorrow, consequent upon Sita's bereavement, saying:--\"It doth not behove\nthee to lament thus, being exercised with grief--it is not unknown unto\nthee that people, thus bewailing do exhaust themselves by and by. O\nRaghava, thou art devoted to pious actions and the services of the Deity\nin this world-- and pious, energetic and dost believe in the existence\nof God. Without being persevering thou shalt not be able to destroy in\nconflict thy enemy--that terrible, willy Rakshasa. Do thou renounce thy\ngrief and take recourse to energy and thou shalt be able to slay that\nRakshasa with all his family. What of the destruction of Ravana, thou\nart O Kakutstha, capable of uprooting the earth with oceans, forests and\nhills. Rains have set in and do thou wait for the autumn when thou shalt\nencompass the destruction of Ravana with his kingdom and kinsmen. I,\ntoo, am exciting thy latent energy like unto fire hidden in ashes with\noblations. Welcoming the auspicious and well-meaning accents of\nLakshmana, Raghava again spake unto him the following affectionate\nwords:-- \"O Lakshmana, truly do thy words become thee, affectionate,\ndevoted, truthful and intent on my welfare as thou art. Renouncing this\ngrief standing in the way of all business, I shall call forth, the more,\nthis my energy on the occasion of displaying my prowess. I shall live\nhere, awaiting the autumn and abiding by thy words and awaiting as well\nSugriva's pleasure and the clear currents of the rivers. Heroes\nreceiving favours always return them; the ungrateful lose the friendship\nof the honest.\" Considering Rama's words as highly sound and welcoming\nthem therefore, Lakshmana, with folded hands, spake unto Rama of\ngraceful appearance, displaying his own intelligence--\"O lord of men, I\nfully approve of all thou hast said. The monkey-chief shall soon engage\nin our service. Resolved on the destruction of thy enemy, do thou spend\nhere this rainy season awaiting the autumn. Subduing thy wrath, and\nawaiting the autumn, do thou with me spend these four months in this\nhill filled with deer, capable as thou art of encompassing the\ndestruction of thy enemy.\"\n\n[117] A small tree--Vitex negundo.--T.\n\n[118] A kind of tree--Acacia Sirisa.--T.\n\n[119] A tree--Pentaptera arjunee.--T.\n\n[120] The _Sala_ tree (Shorea robusta) another tree (Pentaptera\n      Arjuna).--T.\n\n[121] The river Ganges--literally~the daughter of _Janhu_ a saint. The\n      Ganges is called so on account of her supposed origination from\n      the thigh of the great saint.--T.\n\n[122] The name of a mountain--literally it means--having three\n      peaks.--T.\n\n[123] A tree (Dalbergia onjeimaisis)--Mountain ebony.--T.\n\n[124] A sort of pine, (Pinis longifolia)--T.\n\n[125] A sort of cane or ratan, (Calamas Rotany).--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXVIII.\n\n\nThereupon encompassing the destruction of Vali, installing Sugriva and\ndwelling on the summit of the Malyabana hill, Rama spake unto Lakshmana,\nsaying, \"This is the time --the beginning of the rainy season--do thou\nbehold the sky enveloped witn clouds resembling so many hills. The sky,\ndrinking the liquid contents of the ocean through the rays of the Sun,\nand being _enceinte_ for nine months, is giving birth to showers.\nAscending the sky by the steps of clouds, one can ornament the Sun with\ngarlands of _Kutajas_ and _Arjunas_. Like unto a wound covered with a\ntorn cloth, the sky is enveloped with cool clouds, coppery with the rays\nof the setting Sun, and yellow at another end. The sky, having mild\nbreezes as its breath, sprinkled with sandal-like evening rays and\ncovered with yellow clouds, is appearing as it were like one stricken\nwith _amour_. The earth, afflicted with perspiration and filled with new\nwater, is emitting forth vapour like unto Sita racked with sorrow.\n_Ketaka_ smelling breezes may be drunk up in the cavity formed by\nputting the hands together, like unto cold water discharged off the\nclouds and mixed with camphor. This hill, having blown _Arjunas_ and\n_Ketakas_ and rid of its enemies like unto Sugriva, hath been bathed\nwith showers. These hillocks, having clouds for dark deer-skins, heavy\nshowers for sacred threads and having caves filled with air, are\nappearing like so many _Brahmins_ who have finished their studies. The\nsky, being struck by thunders like unto so many golden lashes, is, as\nif, groaning under a deep mental agony. Methinks, the lightning, shining\nby the violet clouds, is appearing like unto the poor Vaidehi at the lap\nof Ravana. These quarters, enveloped with clouds and having therefore\nthe Moon and stars hidden, are indeed very pleasant unto those who are\nunder the influence of Cupid. Behold, O Saumitri, on the summits of the\nhill the flowery _Kutajas_ enveloped with the vapour arising out of the\nearth, gladdened at the approach of the rainy season and exciting my\n_amour_ who am stricken with grief. (In this season) the dust is\nwatered, the air is saturated with dews, all the evils of the summer are\nstopped, the kings no longer proceed on royal marches and those\njourneying in a foreign land return their native homes. The\n_Chakrabakas_ along with their mates are proceeding, being desirous to\nlive in the _Manasa Saravara_; and in consequence of incessant rains,\nchariots and other conveyances cannot pass along the wayfares. Somewhere\nhidden, somehere open, the sky, covered with clouds, appears like a vast\nocean, being encircled here and there with hills. There speedily pass by\nthe hill streams, being resounded with the cries of peacocks, carrying\nwith the current _Sarja_ and _Kadamva_ flowers and having their coppery\ncontents mixed with the metals of the mountain. People (in this season)\nlive upon many a sweet rose-apple; and ripe mangoes, of diverse colors,\nbeing shaken by the wind, fall on the earth. The clouds, resembling the\nsummits of a mountain, having lightnings for pennons and cranes for\ngarlands, are muttering like unto infuriated elephants in a field of\nbattle. The forest-lands, having their green pastures emerged in water,\nwith peacocks dancing all around with joy and clouds discharging their\nwatery volumes incessantly, are appearing more graceful in the evening.\n(In this season) clouds, surrounded by cranes and heavily laden with\nwater, are constantly moving, sometimes resting on the high summits of\nthe mountains and emitting a muttering sound. And rows of cranes, fond\nof clouds, rising up in the sky, delighted and moved by the wind, are\nappearing like a garland of white lotuses, spread along the welkin. And\nthe earth, covered with green grass and variegated with newly born\ninsects, is appearing like a damsel clothed with a white blanket spotted\nhere and there with lac. (In this part of the year) sleep is gradually\novercoming the great God _Narayana_, the river is flowing speedily\ntowards the ocean, the delghted cranes are approaching the clouds and\nthe damsels are proceeding towards their lovers. The peacocks are\ndancing at the forest skirts, the _Kadamva_ trees are covered with\nflowers, the bulls have become attached unto kine and the earth has\nbecome charming with corns and forests. The rivers are flowing by; the\nclouds are discharging waters; the infuriated elephants are emitting\nterrible roars; the forest-lands are growing more charming; persons,\nseparated from their wives, are growing more anxious; the peacocks are\ndancing with delight and the monkeys are greatly comforted for Sugriva's\nattaining to the kingdom. By the fountains in the forests, the\ninfuriated elephants delighted with the fragrance of the _Ketaka_\nflowers and maddened with the noise of the water falls, are emitting\nterrible roars along with the peacocks. The black bees, resorting to the\nbranches of the _Kadamba_ trees and overwhelmed with showers, are, as\nif, slowly discharging their temporal juice-- namely the honey of\nflowers collected by them ere while. The branches of rose-apple trees\ncontaining enough of fruits like unto a collection of char coal are so\nappearing as if the black bees are drinking the juice thereof. The dense\nclouds, ornamented with pennon-like lightnings and emitting terrible\nroars, are appearing like so many elephants, mad after fighting. The\ninfuriated lord of elephants, following in the track and ranging in the\nhills and forests, hearing the muttering of clouds and taking it for the\nuproar of another elephant, has turned back, with a view to enter into\nconflict with him. Somewhere the bees are humming, somewhere the\npeacocks are dancing --somewhere are ranging the infuriated\nelephants--and in this way the forest-land has assumed diverse\nappearances. It appears like unto a drinking-place,covered with\n_Kadambas_, _Sarjas_, _Arjunas_ and lotuses growing on land, filled with\nwater resembling honey and with the dance and cries of mad peacocks. The\nbirds, having their wings discolored, being wet with water, delighted\nand thirsty, are drinking the drops of clear water falling on leaves and\ndischarged by the Lord of celestials.[126] The sonorous humming of the\nbees, being accompanied by the gutteral sound of the frogs and the\nmutterings of the clouds, resembling the sound of _Mridangas_, an\norganised music, as if, hath begun in the forest. Sometimes dancing,\nsometimes setting up loud cries, sometimes placing themselves against\nthe tops of the trees, the peacocks, having beautifully ornamented\nexteriors, have commenced music in the forest. And rising from their\nperpetual sleep by the muttering of clouds, the frogs, assuming various\nshapes and making diverse sounds, are setting up cries being distressed\nwith new watery showers. The rivers, carrying _Chakrabakas_ as their\nbreast and leaving behind their old banks, are approaching, being\nexcited, their own lord with various new presents. Clouds, big with new\nwaters coming in contact with violet ones are appearing as such; and\nsometimes, touching the hills burnt by forest-fire, are appearing like\ndeep-rooted hills. The elephants are ranging in this charming\nforest-land, carrying the fragrance of _Neepas_ and _Arjunas_, having\nits green swards filled with _Indragopas_[127] and with delighted,\npeacocks dancing all around. The black bees, delighted, are drinking\nhoney, embracing the shower-distressed and new filaments of the lotuses\nand _Kadamva_ flowers. (In this season) the elephants are infuriated,\nthe bulls are delighted, the lions have grown more powerful, the hills\nare charming-- the kings are devoid of all active pursuits, and the Lord\nof celestials is engaged in sport with clouds. The clouds ranging in the\nwelkin and discharging heavy showers, are roaring like unto ocean; and\nthe rivers, ponds and pools are deluging the earth with their watery\ncontents. (In this season) heavy showers set in--the wind bloweth\nmightily and the rivers breaking down their banks flow quickly\nblockading the wayfares. The mountains are, as if, displaying their own\nbeauty and grace being as it were bathed by the cloud-like jars,\nconferred by the lord of celestials and brought by the wind like unto a\nking sprinkled by men. The sky is enveloped with clouds and neither the\nsun nor the stars can be seen-- the earth is satisfied with new\nshowers--and the quarters being covered with darkness cannot be seen.\nThe high summits, of the mountains, being washed by showers and\nbeautified by far-stretching waterfalls resembling pearls, are appearing\nmore graceful. The heavy mountain waterfalls, losening the rocks and\nstretching over the caves filled with the cries of peacocks, are\nappearing like a pearl-necklace. And the quick streaming waterfalls, of\nthe mountains, washing the summits of the hills, and resembling the\npearls, are being deposited in the cave at the foot. And watery drops\nresembling the pearls of the necklaces used by celestial damsels are\npouring on all sides. The setting of the Sun is announced by the birds\ntaking to their nests, lotuses growing pale and _Malatis_ blossoming.\nThe royal marches are all stopped, and the soldiers, who have already\nmarched are waiting in the way--hostility and wayfares have been equally\nblockaded by water. This month of _Bhadra_ is the time of studying for\nthose Brahmins, who chant _Sama Vedas_. Having roofed all his houses and\nstored up his food, Bharata, the king of Kocala hath set upon the\nperformance of _Ashara_ sacrifices. The river _Saraju_ is now brimful\nwith water. Seeing me return as if Ayodhya herself is making a\ndelightful noise. Clearly manifest are now all the signs of the rainy\nseason and Sugriva, rid of his enemies, established on the vast kingdom,\nand regaining his wives, hath attained to best felicity. And I am, O\nLakshmana, waning everyday like unto the banks of a river, being\nseparated from my spouse and deprived of my vast kingdom. Immense is my\ngrief, inaccessible is this rainy season and mighty is my enemy, Ravana;\nmethinks it is impossible for me to bring about the discomfiture of my\nfoe. Owing to the unfitness of the season (for marching against my foe)\nand the wayfares being inacessible, I cannot possibly request Sugriva\n(to march) although he is prepared to abide by my mandate. Moreover\nafter a good deal of affliction he has regained his wives, and my\nservice is of very great difficulty; so I do not wish to request that\nmonkey-chief now. Forsooth, shall Sugriva think of the benefits (he has\nreceived from me) after enjoying rest for sometime, when the time for\naction shall arrive. Therefore I shall, O Lakshmana, live here, awaiting\nthe pleasure of Sugriva and the clear currents of the rivers (the\nautumn). Heroes receiving benefits, do always return them. The\nungrateful lose the good wishes of the great ones.\" Being thus accosted,\nLakshmana, with folded hands, respecting highly his words, spake unto\nthe graceful Rama, pointing out his own welfare. \"Forsooth shall that\nlord of monkeys carry out all thy wishes. Do thou therefore spend here\nthe rainy season, awaiting the autumn.\"\n\n[126] According to Hindu mythology Indra is the god of rains.--T.\n\n[127] An insect (Coccinella of various kinds).--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXIX.\n\n\nBeholding the clear welkin, void of clouds and lightnings, filled with\n_Sarasas_ and sprinkled with the charming rays of the Moon, Hanuman, the\nson of Marut, versed in religious lore and political economy, and\nconversant with effects proper to the time or season, approaching the\nLord of monkeys, addressed him with various sound, reasonable and\npleasant words, well-meaning, true and teaching the means of acquiring\nforgiveness, piety and wealth. Acquiring riches Sugriva hath grown\ncareless for the collection of righteousness and wealth, is following\nthe track of the vicious, and is addicted to the satisfaction of sensual\nappetites--having all his actions stopped and desires attained--and\ngiven to enjoyments with damsels. Having attained all his desires and\nwishes, his own wife and the much-desired-for Tara, Sugriva is sporting\nwith them, day and night, without any affliction, like unto the Lord of\ncelestials with _Gandharbas_ and _Apsaras_. Placing all the royal\naffairs at the hands of the counsellors, without looking to them, and\nconfiding fully in their abilities he is living like one under the\ninfluence of passions--\"Thou hast attained thy kingdom, fame, and thy\nvast ancestral wealth. It now behoveth thee to perform thy duties by thy\nfriends. Truly doth his kingdom, fame and prowess increase who is\ncognizant of the seasonableness of time and doth good to his friends. O\nking, truly doth he attain to a vast kingdom, who hath the same wealth,\nsoldiery and body with his friends. It becometh thee, therefore, who art\ncrowned with a good character, and who dost wend a blameless track, to\nwork out thy friend's well-being (as promised by thee). He who doth not\nengage in the service of his friends renouncing all business, becometh\nvoid of all energy and involved in unnecessary troubles. And he, who\nengageth in his friend's service after the proper season is over, does\nnothing to his well-being, though he performs a great thing. O slayer of\nfoes, soon shall the time for performing thy friend's service, be over;\ndo thou therefore encompass Raghava's good, namely the searching out of\nVaidehi. O king, Rama, conversant with the seasonableness of time and\nwise as he is, is not informing thee of it, though the proper time is\npast; and though he is in hurry, he is waiting for thee. Raghava as well\nas Lakshmana, who are the instruments of thy attaining to this vast\nkingdom, and thy friends for so long a time, are persons of incomparable\nprowess by virtue of their unequalled accomplishments. He hath already\nperformed thy service, and it behoveth thee now, O lord of monkeys, to\ncommand the foremost of monkeys to engage in his service. To engage, out\nof season, in a service, uncalled for, is not blameable; but to defer\nthe performance of an action in proper time after promising is indeed an\nobject of censure. O lord of monkeys, thou dost engage even in the\nservice of one who doth thee no good, then why shalt thou not engage in\nthe benefit of Rama who hath favoured thee by encompassing the\ndestruction (of Vali) and securing for thee thy kingdom? O lord of\nmonkeys and bears, truly thou art gifted with prowess and strength, why\ndost thou not prepare thyself for satisfying Dacarathee's commands?\nDacarathee himself is capable of subduing the celestials, Asuras and\ngreat serpents--he is simply awaiting the fulfilment of thy promise. He\nhath performed a great service at the risk of his life--we shall\ntherefore find out Vaidehi whether she is in this earth or in the\nwelkin. Even the celestials, Danavas, Gandharbas, Asuras, Marutas,\nYakshas are afraid of him in the battlefield--what of the insignificant\nRakshasas. O lord of monkeys, it therefore behoveth thee to do good by\nall means unto the powerful Rama, who benefitted thee before. O lord of\nmonkeys, who is there amongst us, who shall not at thy command proceed\nunto water, sky or the region under the earth? O blameless one, there\nare more than one _koti_ of invincible monkeys under thee, do thou\ncommand, who shall proceed and to what quarter?\" Hearing these words of\nHanuman, said on a very proper occasion, the intelligent Sugriva, made\nup his mind for a worthy end. Thereupon the highly intelligent Sugriva\nordered the ever active Neela, to collect soldiers from various\nquarters. \"Do thou so arrange as all my hosts and soldiers with their\ncommanders soon come here. Do thou soon bring here at my behest all the\nenergetic and quick-coursing monkeys and commanders spreading their\nconquests to the end of the earth. (After their arrival) do thou thyself\ninspect and count all those monkeys. He who shall not reach here within\nfifteen days shall be punished with the loss of his life. There is no\nneed of scrutinizing my orders. Abiding by my order, do thou see along\nwith Angada all the elderly monkeys.\" Having thus arranged, that best of\nmonkeys entered the inner apartment.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXX.\n\n\nSugriva having entered his palace, and the sky being cleared of the\nclouds, Rama, racked with grief, passing the rainy season and beholding\nthe yellow welkin, the clear disc of the Moon, the autumnal night\nsprinkled with the rays of the Moon, the _amour_-stricken lord of\nmonkeys, the ravishment of the daughter of Janaka, and the season\nwell-nigh expired, became overwhelmed with sorrow and senseless. And\nregaining his sense after sometime, the highly intelligent king--Raghava\nbegan to think of Vaidehi although always present in his mind. And\nbeholding the clear sky void of lightnings and clouds and filled with\nthe noise of _Sarasas_, Raghava began to lament piteously, stationing\nhimself on the summit of the hill ornamented with metals of golden hue.\nAnd beholding the autumnal sky he engaged in the meditation of his\nbeloved spouse. How shall that _Sarasa_-voiced damsel be pleased to-day,\nwho, while sporting in the hermitage, used to warble like _Sarasas_, to\ninvite them. Beholding _Asana_ trees, as if covered with golden flowers\nand not beholding me how shall that damsel be pleased? How that\nexquisitely fine damsel having a sweet voice shall be pleased to-day,\nwho used formerly to awake at the sounds of the drakes? Hearing the\nnoise of her companions--_Chakrabakas_, how shall that one, of expansive\neyes resembling lotuses, live? Without her having the eyes of a fawn, I\ndo not attain to felicity to-day, ranging at large by ponds, streams,\npools and in forests and woods. Forsooth shall Cupid excited by the\napproach of the autumn, distress her the more on account of my\nseparation and her personal charms.\" Thus bewailed that best son of a\nking like unto the bird _Saranga_ soliciting water from the lord of\ncelestials. And the graceful Lakshmana, returning from the picturesque\nmountain-summits where he had sojourned in quest of fruits, beheld his\nelder brother. And beholding in that lonely forest his brother, racked\nwith anxious thoughts hard to bear and almost beside himself (with\ngrief) the high-minded Saumitri, prompted by his brother's grief, spoke\nunto him very poorly, saying:--\"O worshipful one, what hast thou\nperpetrated by placing thyself under the control of passions and\ndefeating thy manliness? Thy deep and devout meditation hath been\npurloined by thy grief; and it is by religious contemplation that thy\ngrief shall be terminated now. O brother, after going through the\nceremonies of bathing and so forth, and acquiring peace, do thou bring\nall thy time under thy control by virtue of the concentration of soul;\nand being of unmitigated strength do thou resort to power and help, the\nkey-notes for the accomplishment of thy great object. O lord of men,\nJanaki, husbanded by thee, is not capable of being easily possessed by\nothers. O hero who getting at a flame of fire, doth not burn himself?\"\nThereupon Rama spoke unto Lakshmana, gifted with royal marks, addressing\nhim with natural and resolute words and saying:-- \"What thou hast said,\nis sound, well-meaning, sanctioned by polity and speaks of piety, wealth\nand forgiveness. It should therefore, without the least doubt, be\nperformed by me. It behoveth me to engage in contemplation about the\neternal truth regarding the Deity and in ascetic observances. Or else O\nPrince, it is not proper to think of the fruits of a difficult, highly\ndeveloped and energetic action.\" Thereupon thinking of Maithelee, having\neyes resembling lotus-petals, Rama spoke unto Lakshmana with a dried\ncountenance. \"Having satisfied the earth with a profuse discharge of\nwater, produced crops and thus, finished his work, the thousand eyed\nDeity is sitting silent. O son of a king, the clouds, muttering a long\nand deep sound and approaching the hills and trees, are calmed having\ndischarged their liquid contents. Having made the ten quarters dark\nblue, the clouds, resembling blue lotuses, have become calm, like unto\nelephants without temporal juice. O gentle one, high gales accompanied\nwith rains, big with water and fragrant with _Kutaja_ and _Arjuna_\nflowers being driven before hither and thither, have now become silent O\ninnocent Lakshmana, the sounds of clouds, elephants, peacocks, and\nfountains, have been all stopped. Hills, having variegated summits,\nbeing washed by dense clouds and thus free from dirt and impurities, do\nappear elegant being sprinkled by the rays of the Moon. Forsooth hath\nthe autumn set in, dividing its grace in the branches of _Saptachada_\ntrees, in the rays of the Sun and Moon with stars and in the gaits of\nthe excellent elephants. Surely hath the autumnal grace resorted to many\nthings. And it hath appeared more profusely in the lotuses blossomed by\nthe first rays of the Sun. Scented sweet with the flower of _Saptachada_\ntrees, borowing the musical notes of bees, following the wind and\nsubduing the pride of infuriated elephants, the autumn is appearing very\nelegant. The swans are playing with _Chakrabakas_ having splendidly\nspacious wings, fond of cupid, crusted with the filaments of lotuses,\nand arriving at the banks of the rivers. The autumnal grace is appearing\nmore elegant being divided in infuriated elephants, in proud kine, and\nin streams of clear currents. Beholding the sky divested of clouds,\nwithout manifesting the beauty of their tails and renouncing their\nattachment unto their beloved mates, amusements and beauty, the peacocks\nare as if all engaged in meditation in the forest. The forest-lands are\nas if a-blaze with many a sweet-scented picturesque _Priyaka_ trees,\nhaving a golden hue and their tops lowered down with the weight of\nflowers. The gaits, of the elephants rendered idle with a profuse\ndischarge of temporal juice, fond of forests and water lilies, smelling\nthe fragrance of the flowers of _Saptachhada_ trees and accompanied by\ntheir mates, have become slow. The sky is clear like unto a sword--the\nstreams have become of feeble currents--the wind, cool and scented with\nthe fragrance of white esculent waterlilies, is blowing--and quarters\nhave become devoid of darkness. The mud has been dried up by the rays of\nthe Sun and the earth is filled with dust--this is the time for\npreparation for inimical kings (to enter into conflict). The bulls,\nhaving their beauty enhanced by the autumn, and their body covered with\ndust, delighted, infuriated and hence desirous of entering into\nskirmish, have been setting up terrible roars in the midst of kine. The\nshe-elephants, moving slowly, fond, passionate and accompanied by other\nmembers, have been following their passionate mates, in the forest,\nembracing them. Leaving behind their excellent ornaments--the tails, the\npeacocks, getting at the banks of the rivers, have been going away\npoorly and with depressed hearts as if being remonstrated with by the\n_Sarasas_. Having terrified the _Karandavas_ and _Chakrabakas_ with\ntheir mighty roars, the elephants, having cleft trunks and being\nagitated again and again, have been drinking water in the ponds filled\nwith full blown lotuses. The drakes have been jumping delightedly into\nthe rivers, mudless, covered with sands, full of clear water, filled\nwith kine and resounded with the notes of _Sarasas_. Now hath stopped\nthe noise of rivers, clouds, fountains, water, the high winds, the\npeacocks and the mirthless frogs. And venomous snakes of vareiagated\ncolors, having lived for a pretty long time during the rains without\nfood, have on the approach of the autumn, come out of their dens,\nhungry, in quest of their prey. The red-dyed evening hath renounced the\nwelkin, being delighted at the touch of the rays of the Moon and opening\na little her eyes--the stars. Having the rising Moon for her elegant\ncountenance, the stars for her excellent open eyes and the rays for a\npiece of white garment, the night appeareth like a damsel wearing a\nwhite cloth. Having fed on ripe white rice, the excellent rows of\ndelighted _Sarasas_ are flying quickly up to the sky like unto a\nwell-strung garland shaken by the wind. The water, of the lake filled\nwith sleeping drakes and water lilies, is appearing like the sky in the\nnight, devoid of clouds and filled with the Full Moon and stars. The\nponds, having the drakes scattering hither and thither for their girdles\nand engarlanded with full blown lotuses and water lilies, are appearing\nlike so many damsels ornamented with diverse ornaments. The sound set up\nby the wind in the dawn like unto that of a pipe accompanied by the\nmusic of a trumpet, being mixed with the noise of the caves and bulls\nare as if multiplying each other. The banks of the rivers are being\ndressed by the newly blossomed flowers shaken by the mild breezes and\nKacas. like unto clean, washed silken clothes. The black bees, bold,\ngiven to drinking honey, rendered yellow with the filaments of lotuses\nand _Asana_ flowers, delighted and accompanied by their mates are\nfollowing the wind in the forest. The clear water, the blossoming\nflowers, the noise of _Craunchas_, the ripe white rice, the mild\nbreezes, the clear Moon announce the approach of the Autumn--the\nremovers of the rains. The rivers, having fishes for their girdles, have\nbecome of slackened course like unto damsels moving slowly in the dawn\nbeing enjoyed by their husbands. The mouths of the rivers, filled with\n_Chakrabakas_, covered with aquatic plants and clothed with _Kacas_ are\nappearing like unto the countenances of damsels pasted with yellow\npigments. The most powerful Cupid hath taken up his terrible bow in this\nforest filled with _Asana_ flowers appearing like unto arrows and the\nhum of delighted bees. Having satisfied the people with a profuse\ndischarge of water, filled the rivers and pools and covered the earth\nwith crops, the clouds have disappeared renouncing the sky. The rivers\nin this season of autumn have been gradually showing their banks. O thou\nof excellent looks, the ponds (in this season) appear exquisitely fine,\nbeing filled with _Kurara_ birds and _Chakrabakas_. O son of king, this\nis the time of preparation for inimical kings, desirous of defeating one\nanother. O son of a king, this is the best time for royal marches, but I\ndo not find Sugriva preparing himself for that end. There appear on the\nsummits of the hills flowers _Asanas_, _Saptaparnas_, _Kavidaras_,\n_Bandhugeebas_, and _Tamalas_. Behold, O Lakshmana, the banks of the\nrivers filled with swans, _Sarasas_, _Chakrabakas_ and _Kuraras_.\nStricken as I am with grief, these four months, the season of rains,\nappeared unto me like a hundred year, not beholding Sita. Like unto\n_Chakrabakas_ following their mates, Sita, taking the terrible forest of\nDandaka for a picturesque garden, used to follow me there. O Lakshmana,\nSugriva, is not inclined to show any commiseration towards me, who am\nseparated from my beloved spouse, deprived of my kingdom, banished and\nstriken with sorrow. Regarding me as one without any to back him,\ndeprived of his kingdom, insulted by Ravana, wretched, of a distant\nland, under the influence of amour and therefore seeking his help,\n(Sugriva hath not felt pity for me). O subduer of foes, O thou of\nexcellent looks, for these reasons, I have been insulted by that\nvicious-souled king of monkeys--Sugriva. Having appointed the time to\ninstitute enquiries about Sita, that wicked-minded one hath now forgot\nit on the accession of his new dignity. Do thou therefore repair to\nKishkindha and speak of me unto that stupid lord of monkeys--Sugriva,\naddicted to rural enjoyments. And do thou tell him--'He, who breaks his\npromise made unto a powerful benefactor who solicits his favour, is\nregarded by people as vile. He is a true hero and an excellent person\nwho verifies his words whether good or bad. Ungrateful they are who do\nnot, after attaining their ends, engage in the service of those of their\nfriends who have not accomplished their objects; even those living on\nraw flesh do not feed on their gore after their death'. And ask him if\nhe wishes to behold in battle-field the golden bow resembling a\nlightning. And ask him more, if he wishes to hear the terrible twang of\nmy bow resembling the noise of thunder, when I am enraged in battle. O\nhero, O son of a king, when apprised of my prowess assisted by thee,\nwill he not recapitulate in his mind (that he may be destroyed by us\nlike unto Vali)? O conqueror of enemies' cities, does not that lord of\nmonkeys, after accomplishing his object, think of the conditions under\nwhich our friendship was contracted? Does not that lord of monkeys think\nthat he has spent four months in enjoyments, having promised and\nappointed the season, after rains, (for making) enquiries about Sita\"?\nDoes not Sugriva feel pity for us, who are racked with sorrow, being\naddicted to drinking with friends and counsellors? Do thou go, O hero, O\nthou of mighty strength and relate unto Sugriva these my angry words. 'O\nSugriva, do not neglect thy promise and wend the way trodden by Vali. I\nkilled Vali only with my shaft in the battle-field; but if thou dost\ndeviate from the path of truth I shall destroy thee along with thy\nkinsmen and relatives.' O thou best of men, do thou speedily relate unto\nhim all those benefits which we shall reap by his actions, for the\nproper season is well-nigh past. O best of monkeys, do thou carry out\nthy promise remembering the eternal existence of virtue. Do thou not\nbehold the spirit of Vali in the abode of Death, being killed by the\nshaft discharged by me.\" Beholding his elder brother thus enraged and\nbewailing, the fiery-spirited Lakshmana, the best of men, became enraged\nwith Sugriva.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXI.\n\n\nLakshmana again addressed his high-minded elder brother, the son of a\nking, influenced by passion, stricken with grief, and poorly, with the\nfollowing words. \"That monkey shall not follow the actions of the pious,\nshall not think of the great fruit (the accession of kingdom) reaped by\nour friendship; he shall not enjoy the riches of the monkey-kingdom\nbecause he has not the right understanding to make good his promise.\nOwing to the wane of his understanding in consequence of thy favour he\nis addicted to rural enjoyments and hath forgot to return thy benefits.\nO hero, killed let him espy his elder brother Vali. It is not proper to\nconfer kingdom upon that wicked-minded one. I am unable to bear the\noutburst of my ire--forsooth shall I kill to-day--that liar Sugriva. May\nthe son of Vali with other principal monkeys engage in quest of that\ndaughter a king.\" Beholding him rise up from the seat with bow in his\nhand and greatly wrought up with anger and hearing him thus announce his\nintention about the destruction of Sugriva, Rama, the slayer of foes,\nspake unto him the following humble words worthy of being spoken on that\noccasion. \"Persons like thee on this earth do not perpetrate the crime\nof destroying their friends. He is truly a great hero and an excellent\nperson who subdues anger by his right understanding, O Lakshmana, it is\nnot proper for thee to bring about the destruction of thy friend; do\nthou follow thy former friendship and good feelings. Avoiding harsh\nwords do thou address Sugriva, who has violated his promise, with\nsoothing words.\" Being thus duly counselled by his elder brother, that\nbest of men, the heroic Lakshmana--the slayer of foes, entered the city.\nThereupon the highly intelligent Lakshmana of right understanding, and\never intent upon the welfare of his brother, taking up a bow like unto\nIndra's, resembling the summit of a hill and terrible as Death himself,\nentered, wrought up with ire, the abode of the king of monkeys like the\nhill Mandara. Intelligent like _Vrihaspati_ and ever abiding by his\nelder brother's behest, Lakshmana, revolving in his mind what he should\nsay as well as Sugriva's answers, and enveloped with the fire of anger\narising from the excitement of his brother's _amour_, and therefore\ndispleased, proceeded quick as air. And on he proceeded, felling down by\nhis velocity, _Sala_, _Tala_, and _Asvakarna_ trees, throwing aside the\nmountain summits and other trees, breaking rocks into pieces with his\nfeet and striding very quickly like unto a fleet-coursing elephant. And\nthat best of Ikshwakus, beheld that splendid city of the king of\nmonkeys, hard to enter, surrounded by monkey-herds, and mountains. And\nhaving his lips swollen with anger for Sugriva, Lakshmana beheld the\nterrible monkeys walking outside the city. Beholding that best of\nmen--Lakshmana, the monkeys resembling elephants entered the mountainous\nstronghold and took up the summits of the hill and huge trees. And\nobserving them armed, Lakshmana was doubly inflamed with anger like unto\nfire kindled with fuels. And beholding Lakshmana, highly enraged,\nterrible as Death himself at the time of dissolution, the monkeys\nstricken with fear, fled away, by hundreds, into various quarters.\nThereat those foremost of monkeys, entering the palace of Sugriva,\ncommunicated unto him, Lakshmana's ire and approach. That amorous chief\nof monkeys, attached unto Tara, paid no heed to the words of those\nforemost of monkeys. Thereupon those terrible monkeys, resembling hills,\nelephants and clouds, went out of the city being commanded by the\nminister. Some of them had sharpened teeth and nails, some were\ngrim-visaged, some had teeth like those of tigers, some had the strength\nof ten elephants, some had the strength of a hundred elephants and some\nhad that of a thousand elephants. Thereupon Lakshmana, angry, espied the\ncity of _Kishkindhda_ hard to enter and surrounded by mighty monkeys\nwith trees in their hands. And getting over the ditch around the city\nwalls, those terrible-looking monkeys stationed themselves openly. And\nmeditating upon Sugriva's error and his brother's interest, the\nself-controlled Lakshmana, heroic, proceeded onwards. Sighing hot and\nhard, that best of men--Lakshmana, with reddened eyes appeared like unto\nsmoky fire. He appeared like unto a terrible serpent of five mouths,\nhaving the top of the arow for his tongue, the bow for his expanded hood\nand his own prowess for the poison. Beholding him like the flaming fire\nof dissolution and enraged lord of serpents, Angada, out of fear, became\nexceedingly sorry. Thereupon the far-famed Lakshmana, having his eyes\nreddened with ire, spoke unto Angada, saying\"--O child, do thou inform\nSugriva of my arrival. O conqueror of foes, do thou tell him:--\nLakshmana, the younger brother of Rama, being stricken with grief on\naccount of his brother's disaster, hath come to thee and is waiting at\nthe gate. If it pleaseth thee, do thou make good thy promise.' Saying\nthese words do thou speedily return, O my child, O conqueror of foes.\"\nHearing Lakshmana's words, Angada, overwhelmed with grief, aproaching\nhis uncle said--'Saumitree hath arrived here.' Being greatly agitated\nwith harsh words, Angada, with a pale and poorly countenance issued out\nspeedily and approaching, touched first the king's feet and afterwards\nwith reverence Ruma's feet. That one of exceeding prowess first touched\nthe feet of his uncle then saluted again his mother and afterwards\ntouching the feet of Ruma related unto them every thing in full. That\nmonkey, possessed by _amour_ and under the influence of liquor, being\nasleep could not hear (what Angada had said). Beholding Lakshmana highly\nenraged, the monkeys, possessed by fear, began to make noise as they\nwere welcoming him. They, approaching Lakshmana began to set up a\nterrible roar like unto thunder and resembling the uproar of lions and\nthe noise of water-falls. By that terrible sound awoke that\nmonkey-chief, having coppery eyes, agitated, adorned with garlands and\npossessed by liquor. Hearing the words of Angada, the two counsellors of\nSugriva, intelligent and of magnificent looks, along with him,\napproached that lord of monkeys. And those two ministers _Yaksha_ and\n_Pravaba_, to give him proper counsels, informed (that monkey-chief) of\nthe arrival of Lakshmana. Satisfying Sugriva with words pointing out his\nwelfare, they sitting by him, spake unto that lord of wind resembling\nthe king of celestials, saying:--\"Of those two great and truthful\nbrothers Rama and Lakshmana, who are born as men, worthy of attaining to\nkingdom and who have gained for thee thy kingdom, Lakshmana, with a bow\nin his hand, is waiting at thy gate. And afraid of whom, the monkeys,\ntrembling, are setting up terrible roars. That Lakshmana, Raghava's\nbrother, having words for his charioteer, and perseverance for his\nchariot, hath approached thee at his brother's command. O blameless\nking, by that Lakshmana--Tara's darling, Angada hath been despatched\nunto thee. O king, of monkeys, that highly powerful one, having his eyes\nfull of ire, is waiting at thy gate, as if burning down with his eyes\nall the monkeys. O king, along with thy children and friends do thou\nrepair unto him speedily and bowing unto him with thy head down do thou\npacify his wrath. And do thou, O king, with a composed heart, perform\nwhat the virtuous-souled Rama hath ordered thee to do and thus fulfil\nthy promise.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXII.\n\n\nHearing the words of Angada as well as of Lakshmana' s wrath, the\nself-controlled Sugriva along with his counsellors, left his seat.\nAscertaining the weight and lightness of the present occasion, that one,\nexpert in counsels and abiding by their advice spake unto the expert\ncounsellors, saying:--\"I have not done him any wrong, nor have I spoken\nunto him any improper word. I do not know why Raghaya's brother\nLakshmana hath become offended with me. Lakshmana hath been falsely\napprised of my imaginary weakness by my enemies, always looking to my\ndark sides. It behoveth ye all, to ascertain now speedily according to\nyour knowledge and right understanding (the cause of Lakshmana's wrath).\nI do not fear Lakshmana or Raghava; but friends enraged without any\ncause do invariably produce fear. It is easy to contract friendship but\nvery difficult to sustain it; for owing to the fickleness of our minds,\na very slight cause brings about separation. I have not done him any\ngood proportionate to what the high-souled Rama had done for me; and it\nis for this reason that I am afraid of him.\" Being thus addressed by\nSugriva--Hanuman, the foremost of monkey-counsellors, spoke, according\nto his own understanding, saying:--\"It is no wonder, O lord of monkeys,\nthat thou hast not forgot the unexpected benefit, (thou hadst received\nat the hands of Rama). To encompass thy well-being, Vali, powerful as\nthe Lord of celestials, was fearlessly destroyed by the heroic Raghava.\nThere is not the least doubt, that Raghava, out of love, is enraged with\nthee, and hath despatched his younger brother Lakshmana, the enhancer of\nprosperity. O thou foremost of those conversant with time, the\nauspicious autumn, green with _Saptachhada_ flowers, hath set in and\nthou, given up to enjoyments, doth not percieve it. The sky, having the\nclouds removed, is full of clear stars and planets. The quarters, the\nponds and rivers are all clear. O best of monkeys, finding thee\nforgetful, Lakshmana hath come here to inform thee that the proper time\nhath arrived. Do thou patiently hear all these harsh words of the\nhigh-souled Rama, racked with sorrow and separated from his spouse,\nwhich Lakshmana, shall relate unto thee. Thou hast acted improperly\ntowards him, and I do not find any thing tending to thy welfare but thy\nsatisfying Lakshmana with folded hands. The kings should be addressed\nwith auspicious words by their counsellors always ministering unto them\nproper counsels. And it is for this reason, I am addressing thee with\nthese sound words. Raghava, taking up his bow, while enraged, can bring\nunder subjection the entire world, inhabited by the celestials, _Asuras_\nand _Gandharbas_. Remembering his former service, it doth not behove\nthee, grateful as thou art, to excite his wrath, who should be pleased\nagain. Bowing unto him, with thy children and friends, do thou, O king,\nsatisfying thy promise, seek his shelter like unto a wife placing\nherself under the control of her husband. O lord of monkeys, it doth not\nbehove thee, to neglect even in thought, the behests of Rama and his\nyounger brother; for thou art fully aware of the prowess of Raghava like\nunto the lord of celestials, and passing human power.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXIII.\n\n\nThereupon, Lakshmana, the slayer of foes, commanded, entered, at the\nbehest of Rama, the pleasant city of Kishkindha situated in the centre\nof caves. Beholding Lakshmana, the highly powerful monkeys, having huge\npersons and waiting at the gate, stood all with folded hands. And seeing\nDacaratha's son highly enraged and sighing again and again, the monkeys\nstood silent and did not interrupt him. The graceful Lakshmana espied\nthat huge picturesque and celestial cave adorned with jewels and flowery\ngardens. It was filled with palatial buildings, various jewels and\nflowery trees, producing at all times wished-for fruits. It was\nbeautified with good-looking monkeys--children of the celestials and\n_Gandharbas_ wearing celestial garlands and clothes and assuming shapes\nat will. It was fragrant with the sweet smell of sandal wood, _Aguru_\nand lotuses and its highways were equally fragrant with the smell of\nhoney. And Lakshmana beheld there many spacious buildings like unto the\nhills _Vindhya_ and _Meru_ and rivers of clear water. And he also\nsurveyed the picturesque dwellings of Angada, Mainda, Divida, Gavaya,\nGabaksha, Gaja, Sarava, Vidhutmali, Sampati, Suryaksha, Hanuman,\nBeerabahu, Subahu, Nala, Kumuda, Sushena, Tara, Jambaban, Dadhibaktra,\nNeela, Sunetra and Supatala like unto sable clouds adorned with\nexcellent garlands, filled with rice and jewels and beautiful damsels.\nUnobstructed the highly powerful Saumitri entered the picturesque abode\nof Sugriva like unto the Sun entering into a collection of dense clouds.\nThe abode of this lord of monkeys was like unto the palace of the Lord\nof celestials, ornamented with the tops of white buildings resembling\nthe summits of the Kailaca hill and flowery trees producing at all\ntimes, wished-for fruits; covered with beautiful trees having cool\nshades and bearing celestial fruits and flowers resembling the\nmolten-gold. And that virtuous-souled one, crossing the seven rooms\nfilled with conveyances and seats beheld the secret apartment (of that\nmonkey-chief), having many a gold and silver bed-steads with excellent\ncoverlets and fine seats. No sooner had he entered the inner apartment\nthan he heard a musical sound, well-measured and accompanied by the\nmusic of the stringed instrument. And that highly powerful one beheld in\nthe abode of Sugriva many a beautiful damsel proud of their youth and\nbeauty, sprung from respectable families, adorned with splendid\nornaments, engaged in stringing excellent garlands. And he observed\nSugriva's servants, well fed, contented, not hurry in offering their\nservices and without splendid ornaments. Hearing the sounds of women's\ngirdles and their _Nupurs_,[128] the graceful Lakshmana became highly\nashamed. And highly enraged at the sound of the ornaments, the hero\nfilled all the quarters with the twang of his bow. Lakshmana of\nmighty-arms stood silent in a nook, thinking of his improper conduct of\nentering into (Sugriva's) seraglio, albeit he was wrought up with ire in\nconsequence of Sugriva's neglecting Rama's service. Thereupon Sugriva,\nthe lord of monkeys, being apprised of Lakshmana's approach by the twang\nof his bow and terrified, trembled on his throne, and thought\naside:--\"Forsooth hath Saumitri, fond of his brother, come, whose\napproach was announced by Angada before. Informed before by Angada of\nhis approach, and made doubly sure by the twang of the bow, that monkey\ncame to know of Lakshmana's arrival and turned pale. Thereupon Sugriva,\nthe foremost of monkeys, wrought up with fear, addressed the fine\nlooking Tara with the following well-meaning words:--\"O beautiful lady,\ndost thou know, why hath the mild-natured younger brother of Rama,\narrived here enraged? O blameless lady, dost thou perceive any cause of\nthe Prince's wrath? Forsooth, that best of men, is not enraged for a\nslight cause. Considering aright, dost thou speedily inform me if I have\nperformed any improper act towards Rama. O fine lady, do thou approach\nhim in person and pacify him with soothing words. Beholding thee, that\npure-souled one shall not be worked with ire; great men do never behave\nroughly towards the females. Approaching him do thou console him and\nthereafter I shall see that conqueror of foes having eyes resembling\nlotus-petals.\" Thereupon Tara, with faltering feet and eyes wild with\nwine, the golden chains of her zone flowing (about her hips),--graced\nwith auspicious marks, saught Lakshmana's presence with downcast looks.\nBeholding Tara, the queen of the lord of monkeys, Lakshmana, the\nhigh-souled son of a king, restraining his anger on the approach of a\nfemale, stood with his head hung down, conducting himself like an\nascetic. Renouncing modesty under the influence of liquor, and finding\nthe king's son well pleased, Tara spake unto Lakshmana, bold and loving\nwords, in order to console him. \"O son of a king, what is the cause of\nthy wrath? Who is there who hath not abode by thy commands? Who can\nremain without anxiety, beholding fire in a forest filled with dried\ntrees?\" Hearing the soothing words of Tara, Lakshmana, undaunted, spoke\nagain, greatly manifesting his friendship:--\"O thou intent on thy\nhusband's welfare, dost thou not perceive that thy husband is by and by\nlosing piety and wealth, being addicted to amorous enjoyments? O Tara,\nthy husband doth not think of us who are moved with sorrow-- but is\naddicted to sensual enjoyments only, being surrounded by parasites.\n(Having promised that he would institute enquiries about Sita after four\nmonths), that lord of monkeys hath well-nigh spent the entire period,\nbeing influenced by liquor and addicted to enjoyments along with thee.\nFor the attainment of piety and wealth, drinking is not a proper course.\nIt is by drinking that people lose piety, wealth and desire. He who doth\nnot return the services of his benefactor, loseth piety. He who loseth\nfriendship with a qualified friend, loseth wealth. He is the best friend\nwho is gifted with wealth and is truthful; and thy husband hath\nrelinquished such a friend gifted with these two qualities. And,\ntherefore, he doth not abide by the virtue of preserving friendship. O\nthou expert in business, this being the case, do thou advise us as to\nwhat we should do.\" Hearing the sweet words of Lakshmana consonant with\npiety and wealth, Tara again addressed him about Rama's business, yet\nremaining unaccomplished, with words inspiring confidence,--\"O son of a\nking, this is not the time for displaying thy wrath; it is not proper to\nbe angry with one's own friends. O hero, it behoveth thee to put up with\nthe error of him who hath thy welfare in view. O prince, who,\naccomplished with excellent virtues, gets enraged with one of inferior\nmerits? O prince, who, like thee, an offspring of asceticism, is worked\nup with ire against the virtue of forgiveness? I know the (cause of the)\nwrath of that heroic monkey's friend. I know the time for action. I know\nwhat thou hast done for us. I know what is due from us to thee. And, O\nforemost of men, I also know the irrisistible force of Kama. I know by\nwhom Sugriva has been taken captive, and that his heart is not now in\nthe work. As thou hast come under the governance of anger, thy mind has\nnot felt the influence of desire. Even a human being that hath conceived\nlove, does not stay for place or time or interest. Do thou forgive that\nlord of the monkey race, thy brother, influenced by carnality, who is by\nthee, and who through the urgency of lust, has banished shame. Even\nMaharshis finding delight in religion and asceticism, setting their\nhearts upon satisfying lust, (ultimately) become fast bound by\nignorance. But this is a monkey, volatile by nature, and hath,\nfurthermore, been enjoying regal state--why should _he_ not act thus?\nHaving thus said unto Lakshmana of immeasurable intelligence words\nfraught with high import, that female monkey, her eyes drooping with\nlanguor, again sadly spake in this wise for the behoof of her husband,\n\"O foremost of men, although Sugriva has come under the sway of desire,\nhe hath, to secure thy good, ere this issued orders for preparations to\nbe made. And monkeys by hundreds and thousands and _kotis_, inhabiting\nvarious mountains, possessed of exceeding prowess, have already arrived\n(here). Do thou therefore, O mighty-armed one, come. (Having rushed\ntowards the inner apartment), thou hast not suffered in character. For\nthe good to behold others' wives in a friendly spirit, cannot bring on\nunrighteousness.\" Permitted by Tara, that long-armed repressor of foes,\nurged on by (the required) speed, entered the inner apartment. There\nseated on a superb seat spread with a costly carpet, he found Sugriva\nresembling the sun himself, his person decked with noble ornaments, of a\ndignified presence, famous, wearing gay garlands and attire, invincible\nlike unto the great Indra. And surrounded by dames adorned with elegant\nornaments and wreaths, Sugriva with his eyes still more reddened in\nwrath, looked like the Destroyer himself. Then deeply embracing Uma, the\nlarge-eyed hero of the hue of fine gold, seated on an excellent seat,\nsaw the powerful Saumitri having expansive eyes.\n\n[128] An ornament for their toes or feet.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXIV.\n\n\nSeeing that foremost of men, Lakshmana, exercised with wrath, as he\nentered in without let, Sugriva was seized with sadness. And seeing\nDacaratha's son, wroth, and breathing hard, and flaming up in energy,\nand burning in consequence of the calamity that had overtaken his\nbrother, that chief of monkeys started up, leaving his golden seat, like\nunto the mighty ornamented standard of the great Indra. And as Sugriva\nrose up, Uma and the other females rose up, like unto stars appearing in\nthe sky when the full moon has risen. And with eyes reddened, and his\nhands folded, the graceful Sugriva came (before Lakshmana) and stood\nthere like a mighty Kalpa tree. And the wrathful Lakshmana spake unto\nSugriva stationed among women, having Uma for his second, and resembling\nthe moon with the stars, saying,--\"The king that is nobly endowed by\nheredity, and is kind, that hath subdued his senses,and is grateful and\ntruth-telling, obtains renown in this world. And who is more wicked than\nthat king who, rooted in unrighteousness, makes false promises unto\nfriends intent upon his welfare? He that speaks a falsehood with\nreference to a horse, becomes guilty of the deaths of an hundred horses:\nhe committing himself to a falsehood relative to a cow, reapeth the\ndemerit of slaying a thousand kine; while he that uttereth an untruth\ntouching a person, destroys self as well as his kindred. That ungrateful\nwight that, having at first attained benefit at the hands of his\nfriends, doth not requite it, is, O lord of monkeys, worthy of being\nslain by all creatures. Seeing an ingrate wretch, the wrathful Brahma\nsang the (previous) _sloka_, bowed down unto by all the worlds. Do thou\nunderstand that, O monkey. The pious provide deliverance for the\ncow-killer, the wine-biber, the thief, and the violator of vows; but for\nthe ungrateful person there is no deliverance whatever. Thou art ignoble\nand ungrateful and lying, O monkey, since, having been formerly\nbenefitted by Rama, thou dost not requite his services. Having been\nbenefitted by Rama, thou, anxious to repay his kindness, shouldst exert\nthyself in search of Sita. But, of false promises, thou hast been\nindulging in gross enjoyments,--nor doth Rama know thee for a serpent,\ncroaking like a frog.[129] A sinful wretch and of wicked soul, thou hast\nobtained the kingdom of the monkeys through the agency of the eminently\nvirtuous, kind and high-souled Rama. Thou dost not acknowledge the good\noffices rendered unto thee by the high-souled Raghava; and therefore,\nslain by means of sharpened shafts, thou shalt soon see Vali. The way\nthat hath been wended by the slain Vali, is not yet narrowed. Do thou, O\nSugriva, desist in time: do not walk in the wake of Vali. Do not behold\nthe shafts resembling thunder-bolts shot from the bow of that best of\nthe Ikshwakus. Then, attaining happiness, thou shalt pass thy days in\npeace. Nor do thou mentally neglect Rama's business.\"\n\n[129] Crying through the voice of the frog in its mouth. Another meaning\n      is, \"croaking like a frog, to allure frogs to it.\"--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXV.\n\n\nWhen Sumitra's son, Lakshmana, had spoken thus, flaming in energy, Tara\nof face fair as the moon, said unto him, \"O Lakshmana, thou ought not to\nspeak thus: and this lord of monkeys does not deserve to hear this harsh\nspeech from thy lips, in especial. Sugriva is not ungrateful, or\ncunning, or heartless; nor doth he, O hero, deal in falsehood; nor is he\ndeceitful. Nor hath the heroic monkey, O hero, forgotten the good,\nincapable of being done by others in battle, that the hero, Rama, hath\ndone in his behalf. And, O afflictor of foes, through Rama's grace,\nSugriva hath here attained fame and the enduring empire of the monkeys,\nas well as Uma and myself. Having lain down miserably before, Sugriva,\nnow that he hath attained this supreme happiness, doth not heed his\nurgent duties, like the ascetic Vicwamitra. Attached unto Ghritachi, O\nLakshmana, the pious and mighty ascetic, Vicwamitra looked upon ten\nyears as one day; and that best of those conversant with time,\nVicwamitra of mighty energy, did not perceive that the time (for doing a\ncertain act) had arrived. What is to be said of other people? O\nLakshmana, it behoveth Rama to forgive one who hath all the bodily\nexigencies, who is fatigued, and who is not satisfied with the pleasures\nof Kama. Nor, O Lakshmana, doth it behove thee, without ascertaining the\nexact import of things, to become suddenly subject to wrath, like any\ninferior person. O chief of men, persons endowed with the quality of\ngoodness, like unto thee, do not suffer themselves to come under the\nsway of passion, without (at first) needfully revolving matters. I crave\nthy favor with concentrated mind, thou that knowest morality. Renounce\nthe mighty grief that springs from thy ire. This is my conviction that\nfor compassing Rama's welfare, Sugriva can resign Uma and myself, and\nAngada, and the kingdom and wealth and corn and animals. Slaying that\nworst of Rakshasas, Sugriva will bring Raghava with Sita, like unto the\nmoon accompanied by Rohini. Without slaying hundreds, of thousands of\nKotis, and thirty six Ayutas, thousands, and hundreds of irrepressible\nRakshasas wearing shapes at will, (Rama) can not slay Ravana, by whom\nMaithili hath been carried away. They are incapable, O Lakshmana, of\nbeing slain (by Rama) in battle, unless he is supported (by others).\nRavana is a wily warrior, and hence is the special need of Sugriva. That\nknowing lord of monkeys, Vali, had told me all this. I do not know how\nRavana had secured this host: I say what I had heard from Vali. For\nrendering thee assistance, the foremost monkeys have been despatched in\norder to summon to the conflict numerous principal monkeys. Expecting\nthese powerful and exceedingly strong ones, for attaining Raghava's end,\nthis lord of monkeys doth not (yet) sally out. Things, O Saumitri, have\nbeforehand been so satisfactorily arranged by Sugriva, that this very\nday the mighty one will be joined with all those monkeys. This very day\nbillions of bears and thousands of _golangulas_ as well as innumerable\nKotis of monkeys flaming in energy shall join thee. Therefore, O subduer\nof enemies, banish thy anger. Seeing this thy face wrought up with\nwrath, and thy eyes appearing like red sores, the wives of the best of\nmonkeys experience no peace, and they are agitated by the fear that\nexercised them of late.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXVI.\n\n\nHumbly addressed in these words informed with morality, Sumitra's son,\nresuming his native mildness, accepted them. On his accepting the\nspeech, the lord of monkeys like a wet cloth cast off from him the fear\nhe had conceived on account of Lakshmana. Then Sugriva--lord of\nmonkeys-- tore away the gaudy and variegated garland on his neck--\npotent with many a virtue, and became deprived of energy. And that\nmaster of all the monkeys, Sugriva, gladdening Lakshmana of dreadful\nprowess, humbly observed unto him, \"Thou son unto Sumitra, by the favor\nof Rama have I received back my lost luck, my fame, and this eternal\nmonarchy of the monkeys. O king's son, who is capable of repaying even\nin part an action like that of the divine (Rama) renowned by means of\nhis own acts? By virtue of native energy, and merely with my help, the\nrighteous Raghava shall recover Sita and slay Ravana to boot. What need\nof assistance to him who with a single shaft rived seven giant trees, a\nmountain, and the Earth. O Lakshmana, what is the use of help to him the\nsounds of whose stretching bow made the Earth tremble with her\nmountains? O best of men, when that foremost of men shall set out for\nslaying his enemy, Ravana along with those going before him, I will\nfollow him. If through my confidence, or presuming upon our amity, I\nhave transgressed in any way, (Rama) ought to excuse his servant,--for\nthere is no servant that doth not transgress.\" When the high-souled\nSugriva had said this, Lakshmana became well pleased, and he spake from\nlove,--\"Having, in especial, thee endeued with humility, my brother, O\nmonarch of monkeys, is every way strong, O Sugriva. Such is thy\nstrength, O Sugriva, and such thy self-denial, that thou art fully\nworthy to enjoy the good fortune of the king of monkeys. O Sugriva, by\nthy help, the puissant Rama shall speedily slay his foe. Of this there\nis not the least doubt. O Sugriva, what thou, virtuous, grateful and\nnever turning away from fight, hast said is fit and proper. What knowing\nperson, excepting, O foremost of monkeys, thyself and my elder brother,\ncan speak so? Resembling Rama himself in strength and prowess, thou, O\nchief of monkeys, hast been ordained his help by the gods. But, O hero,\ndo thou speedily go out with me and soothe thy friend aggrieved for the\nravishment of his wife. And do thou, my friend, forgive what rough\nspeech, on hearing the utterances of Rama sunk in grief, I have given\nthee.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXVII.\n\n\nThus addressed by the magnanimous Lakshmana, Sugriva said unto Hanuman,\nstaying beside him, \"Those that dwell on the summits of Mahendra,\nHimavat, Vindhya and Kailaca; on Mandara, the peaks of Pandu and the\nfive hills; on mountains wearing the hue of the infant sun, and ever\nbright; and those inhabiting the West, beyond the sea; on mountains in\nthe mansions of the sun, looking like the evening sky; and those\ndreadful foremost of monkeys that inhabit Padmachala, those monkeys\nthat, resembling collyrium-like clouds, and having the strength of the\nlord of elephants, dwell in the Anjana hill; monkeys, possessing the\nsplendour of gold, inhabiting the caverns of Mahacaila; those resorting\nto the sides of Meru, as well as those dwelling in the Dhumra mountains;\nand those, having the hues of the infant sun, dwelling in the Maharuna\nmountain, drinking the Maireya wine; and those dwelling in mighty fair\nand fragrant forests and romantic hermitages all round, lying on the\nskirts of woods,--do thou at once bring all these--all the foremost\nmonkeys of the world, by means of gifts and conciliation, and through\nthe agency of more than usually fleet monkeys. I know those monkeys that\nI have first despatched, to be gifted with great velocity[130],--yet,\nfor urging speed upon them, do thou send other foremost of monkeys. Do\nthou directly bring up here those monkey-chiefs that are given up to\nlust or are dilatory. Those wicked ones, that finding fault with the\nroyal mandate, do not (come in) at my command within ten days, must be\nslain. Let those hundreds and thousands and _kotis_ of leonine monkeys\nthat abide by my mandate, hie (hence) at my behest. Let (monkeys)\nresembling clouds or mountains, cover up the sky; and let the foremost\nmonkeys of dreadful forms march hence at my command. Let all the monkeys\non earth, acquainted with motion, hying themselves and summoning speed\nat my command, bring all the monkeys.\" Hearing the words of the\nmonkey-king, the son of the Wind-god despatched powerful monkeys in all\ndirections. Despatched by the king, the monkeys, ranging the sphere of\nbirds and stars, immediately went through the welkin. And on oceans and\nmountains, in forests and tanks, the monkeys began to send away all the\napes on behalf of Rama. Hearing the mandate of that king of kings,\nSugriva, resembling the Hour of death, the monkeys, conceiving fear for\nSugriva, set out. And monkeys resembling collyrium (in hue), numbering\nthree _kotis_, endeued with huge might, set out from the Anjana hill for\nthe place where Raghava was. And ten _kotis_ having the splendour of\nmolten gold, inhabiting the mountain where the sun sets, set out. And a\nthousand _kotis_, hued like the lion's mane, came from the peaks of\nKailaca. And of those dwelling in Himalaya, subsisting on fruits and\nroots, numbering a thousand and _kotis_, a thousand appeared. And\nthousands of dreadful monkeys of terrible deeds, hued like charcoal,\nnumbering _kotis_, rushed suddenly from Vindhya. And there exists no\nrecord of the number of those inhabiting the shores of the ocean of\nmilk, and the dwellers in the Tamala forests, as well as those\nsubsisting on cocoanuts. And, as if drinking up the sun, the mighty\nmonkey host came from forests and caves and rivers. And it came to pass\nthat those heroic monkeys that had gone away to spur others on, found a\nmighty tree on Himavat. On that sacred mount in days of yore there took\nplace a pleasing Mahecwara[131] sacrifice. There the monkeys found\ngrateful fruits and roots sprung from the streams of sacrificial\noblations, and resembling ambrosia. He that partakes of those excellent\nfruits and roots sprung from the sacrificial ingredients, doth not\nexperience hunger for a month. Those prime monkeys, feeding on fruits,\ngathered those sapid fruits and roots and medicinal herbs. And for\ncompassing the good of Sugriva, repairing thither, the monkeys brought\nordorous blossoms from the sacrificial ground. And all those foremost of\nmonkeys, taking all the monkeys of the earth, hastily set off in the van\nof the herds. And in a short while, those fast-fleeting apes speedily\nreached Kishkindha, where the monkey Sugriva was. And taking the healing\nherbs and the fruits and roots, the monkeys made them over to Sugriva,\nand said, \"Having traversed mountains, rivers and forests, all the\nmonkeys of the earth bend their steps towards thee in obedience to thy\ncommand.\" Hearing this, Sugriva--lord of monkeys--was well pleased, and\nwith a glad heart accepted all those presents.\n\n[130] The commentator slips the sense here. According to him, the\n      meaning is, _Those monkeys whom I have first sent, are known to\n      me.--T._\n\n[131] The celestial horse-sacrifice.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXVIII.\n\n\nHaving accepted all those presents, (Sugriva), after soothing the\nmonkeys, dismissed them. Having dismissed the thousands of apes, who had\nperformed their task, he deemed himself as well as the mighty Raghava as\nhaving secured success. Then Lakshmana in sweet words spoke unto the\nexceedingly strong chief of monkeys--Sugriva-- gladdening him, \"If it\nplease thee, O placid one, I will go out of Kishkindha.\" Hearing\nLakshmana's soft speech, Sugriva, highly delighted, said, \"Be it so. Let\nus go. I abide by thy behest.\" Having said this unto Lakshmana of\nauspicious marks, Sugriva dismissed the women with Tara at their head.\nThen Sugriva in a loud voice summoned the foremost monkeys, saying,\n\"Come (hither).\" Hearing his words, those monkeys that could present\nthemselves before the females, did so with joined hands. To them, who\nhad presented themselves, said the king, of splendour resembling that of\nthe Sun, \"Do, ye monkeys, bring hither a car.\" bearing his words,\nmonkeys uniting vigor with celerity, brought a car lovely to behold.\nSeeing the car brought up, the lord of monkeys said unto Sumitra's son,\n\"O Lakshmana, ascend speedily.\" Having said this, Sugriva in company\nwith Lakshmana swiftly ascended the golden car resembling the sun, yoked\nwith numerous steeds. With a pale umbrella held over his head, and white\nchowris waving around, with conchs and trumpets blowing, eulogized by\nbards, Sugriva marched out, having obtained supreme regal\nauspiciousness. And surrounded by hundreds of high-spirited apes and\narmed people, he proceeded whither Rama was staying.-- And having\narrived at the excellent spot which was the home of Rama, that highly\nenergetic one alighted from the car along with Lakshmana. And having\ncome to Rama, Sugriva (stood) folding his hands. And when Sugriva had\nfolded his hands, the monkeys also did so. And beholding the mighty host\nof the monkeys resembling a tank filled with lotus buds, Rama was\nwell-pleased with Sugriva. And raising up the monkey-king who had bent\nhis head at Rama's feet, Raghava embraced him from love and regard.\nHaving embraced Sugriva, that righteous one said unto him, \"Be seated.\"\nAnd seeing Sugriva seated on the ground, Rama said, \"He, O best of\nmonkeys, is a king who, O hero, in season follows righteousness,\npleasure and profit, always dividing the same (among all.) He that,\nrenouncing righteousness and the good, devotes himself to pleasure\nsolely, is like a man that falling asleep on the top of a tree, wakes\nwhen he hath fallen down. That king is verily virtuous that, engaged in\nuprooting foes and advancing friends, attends to all the three ends. O\ndestroyer of foes, the time is come for exertion: do thou, O lord of\nmonkeys, bethink thyself along with thy monkey ministers.\" Thus\naddressed, Sugriva said unto Rama, \"O mighty-armed one, my lost luck,\nand repute, and the entire monkey kingdom I have received back through\nthy gift, owing to thine and thy brother's grace, thou foremost of\nvictors. He that, having received a good office, doth not requite it,\nreapeth obloquy among persons. These hundreds of prime monkeys. O\ndestroyer of enemies, have come here, bringing with them all the monkeys\nof the world. O Raghava, bears and monkeys, heroic\nGolangulas--acquainted with woods and forests and strongholds, and of\nterrible shapes--and monkeys who are the sons of deities, wearing forms\nat will--stay on the way, O Raghava, surrounded by their own armies.\nAnd, O hero, O repressor of foes, monkeys surrounded by hundreds, and\nhundred thousands, and _kotis_, and _ayutas_, and _sankus_,[132] and\n_arvudas_, and hundreds of _arvudas_, and _madhyas_, and _antyas_, wait\n(here). And _samudras_, and _parardhas_ of monkeys--leaders of\nherds--inhabiting Meru and Vindhya, resembling clouds or hills, and in\nmight resembling the great India, are on their way unto thee, O king.\nThey will join thee for battling the fiend in the field; and, slaying\nRavana in fight, shall bring Mithila's daughter.\"\n\nThereat the puissant son of the Earth's lord, witnessing the\npreparations made by the heroic monkey, remaining under his command,\nappeared like a blown blue lotus.\n\n[132] A _Sanku_ is a thousand _Arvudas_; a _Madhya_ is an _Arvuda_ ten\n      times; an _Antya_ is a _Madhya_ ten times; a _Samudra_ is a\n      _Madhya_ twenty times; and a _Parardha_, a _Samudra_ thirty\n      times.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXIX.\n\n\nAs Sugriva was speaking thus with joined hands, that best of the\nrighteous, Rama, embraced him with his arms, and then replied, \"That\nIndra poureth down showers, is no wonder, nor that this thousand-rayed\nSun dispells darkness from the sky; nor yet that, O mild one, the Moon\nby his rays causes the clear night. (And in a similar way), friends like\nthee bring delight, O subduer of foes. O mild one, that whatever is\ngraceful, should be harboured in thee is not strange.[133] I know, O\nSugriva, that thou always speakst what is for my good. Assisted by thee,\nmy friend, I shall in battle vanquish all my foes. Thou being my friend\nand my ally, shouldst assist me. That worst of Rakshasas hath carried\naway Maithili, to bring down destruction upon himself, even as Anuhlada\nravished Puloma's daughter, Sachi, deceiving her sire. That Ravana I\nwill at no distant date slay with my sharpened shafts, even as that\nslayer of enemies, he of an hundred sacrifices--slew the haughty father\nof Paulomi.\" Presently appeared volumes of dust, and the hot and fierce\nrays of the sun were hid in the sky. And darkened by the gloom, all\nsides became bewildered. And the entire earth with her mountains,\nforests, and woods, trembled. Then the whole ground was covered with\ninnumerable monkeys gifted with great strength, and having sharp teeth,\nand resembling kings of men. Then surrounded by leaders of monkey-herds\nand retinues numbering hundreds of _kotis_, and monkey chiefs from\nrivers, and mountains, and seas, endowed with prodigious strength, and\nother apes inhabiting forests, having voices resembling clouds--and\nmonkeys hued like the infant sun, or white like the moon, or colored\nlike the filaments of the lotus, or pale, having their homes in the\nGolden mountain--in all, numbering ten thousand _kotis_,--appeared the\ngraceful and heroic monkey, named Satavali. Then, having the splendour\nof the Golden hill, the puissant sire of Tara was seen at the head of\nmany thousand _kotis_. Then Uma's father, that lord, the father-in-law\nof Sugriva, arrived, accompanied with other thousands of _kotis_ (of\nmonkeys),--resembling the filaments of the lotus, of face like unto the\nyouthful sun, intelligent, the foremost of monkeys--supreme among them\nall. And Hanuman's father, the graceful Kecarin, appeared in company\nwith many thousands of monkeys. And Gavaksha--sovereign of\nGolangulas--endowed with dreadful might, appeared, surrounded by\nthousands of _kotis_ of monkeys. And Dhumra of bears endowed with\nterrific speed--destroyer of foes--appeared, surrounded by two thousand\n_kotis_. And the leader of herds, named Panama, of exceeding prowess,\ncame, accompanied with three _kotis_, mighty and dreadful. And the\nleader of herds, named Nila, of huge body, resembling a mass of blue\ncollyrium, appeared with ten _kotis_. Then the exceedingly powerful\nGavaya--leader of herds, having the splendour of the Golden mountain,\narrived with five _kotis_. And that powerful leader of herds--Darimukha,\ncame, surrounded by thousands of _kotis_, and took up his post by\nSugriva. And Mainda and Dwivida--sons of Acwi both--of mighty strength,\nappeared with _kotis_ upon thousands of _kotis_ of monkeys. And the\npowerful and heroic Gaya (came), surrounded by three _kotis_. And the\nking of bears, Jambavan by name, (came), surrounded by ten _kotis_, and\nenlisted himself under the command of Sugriva. And (the monkey) named\nRumana, possessed of energy, and strong, came swiftly, surrounded by an\nhundred _kotis_ of powerful monkeys. Then, followed at his back by\nhundreds and thousands of _kotis_, came the monkey, Gandhamadana. Then\ncame the young prince Angada, in prowess resembling his\nsire,--accompanied by a thousand _padmas_ and an hundred _sankhas_. Then\nappeared at a distance, accompanied by five _kotis_ of monkeys endowed\nwith dreadful prowess,--Tara, having the splendour of a star. And then\nappeared Indrajanu, the heroic monkey and leader of herds--lord of\neleven _kotis_--surrounded by them. Then followed Rambha, resembling the\ninfant sun, accompanied by an _ayuta_, a thousand, and an hundred. Then\nappeared to the view the stout monkey, named Durmukha, heroic lord of\nherds, surrounded by two _kotis_. And Hanuman showed himself, surrounded\nby a thousand _kotis_ of monkeys, resembling peaks of Kailaca, of\ndreadful vigor. And the exceedingly energetic Nala came, attended with\nan hundred _kotis_, a thousand, and an hundred monkeys, living in trees.\nThen surrounded by ten _kotis_ (of monkeys), came the shapely Darimukha\nbefore the high-souled Sugriva, from a country bordering on a river. And\nSarabha, Kumuda, Vahni, the monkey Rambha,--and many other\nmonkeys--lords of herds--passing ennumeration--wearing shapes at will,\ncame, covering the entire earth with her mountains and forests. And all\nthe monkeys of the world were some of them coming and others putting up.\nAnd monkeys-- some of them dripping, and some leaping, and some\nroaring--gathered round Sugriva, like clouds gathering round the sun.\nAnd, crying in various tones, prime monkeys furnished with arms, with\nbent heads spoke humbly to that lord of monkeys--Sugriva. And other\nforemost of monkeys, gathering together duly, came before Sugriva with\njoined hands. Sugriva standing with joined hands, expeditiously informed\nRama of the arrival of the monkey-leaders in hot haste; and then spake\n(to them), saying, \"O chiefs of monkeys, stationing the forces duly near\nmountain-rills and all the woods, let him that is conversant with the\narmy, ascertain who have come and who have not.\"\n\n[133] The commentator in his usual way of reading between the lines,\n      says that the sense is--_That thou hast gathered forces for\n      serving thy friend, is not strange. O placid one, it is well._ I\n      give the sense the _sloka_ naturally yields.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XL.\n\n\nXhen that lord of monkeys, the successful Sugriva, spake unto Rama--lion\namong men and destroyer of hostile hosts-- saying, \"Those foremost\nmonkeys endeued with strength and capable of wearing any shape at will,\nand possessed of the splendour of the mighty Indra,--that inhabit my\nterritories, have come and stationed themselves. And these monkeys--\ndreadful, and resembling Daityas and Danavas--are accompanied by\npowerful monkeys of terrific prowess, who have displayed their virtue in\nmany a field,--and are of famed renown in battle and, powerful, and who\nhave mastered languor and are celebrated in prowess and sterling in\ntheir profession. O Rama, these _kotis_ of apes that have arrived,\ninhabiting earth and water and various mountainous tracts, are at thy\nservice. All abide by thy command--all are intent upon the welfare of\ntheir master, and, O subduer of foes, they are competent to bring about\nthy end. And in company with many thousands and innumerable ones that\nhave shewn their ability in many a field, have come monkeys dreadful,\nand resembling Daityas and Danavas. If, O lion among men, thou conceive\nthat the time is ripe, tell it (unto me). It behoves thee to command\nthose forces, remaining under thy sway. Although I am full well\nacquainted with the work in which they are to be employed, yet thou\nought to order them as to what they are to accomplish.\" When Sugriva had\nspoken thus, Dacaratha's son, Rama, embracing him with his arms, said,\n\"O placid one, do thou learn whether Videha's daughter is alive or not;\nas well as ascertain the country, where, O thou endowed with eminent\nwisdom, liveth Ravana. Having come at Vaidehi and Ravana's abode, shall\nI then appoint the time along with thee. O lord of monkeys, I am not the\nmaster in this matter, nor Lakshmana: thou art the cause of this\nundertaking, as well as, O monarch of monkeys, the lord. Do thou\ntherefore, O lord, command these as to what is to be done by them in my\nbehalf. O hero, thou certainly knowest my business. My second friend\n(Lakshmana being first), thou art potent, wise, conversant with\nseasonableness, cognizant of profit, and engaged in our welfare.\" Thus\naddressed, Sugriva in presence of Rama and the intelligent Lakshmana,\nsaid unto a leader of herds and lord of apes, named Vinata, having the\nsplendour of a hill, blazing and emitting sounds as those of clouds, \"O\nforemost of monkeys, accompanied with apes resembling the sun and the\nmoon, thou cognizant of time, place and morals, and sagacious in\ndeciding course of action,--surrounded by hundreds and thousands of\nactive apes, march towards the Eastern quarter, furnished with woods,\nforests and hills. There, in mountain fastnesses, and forests and\nrivers, do thou search Videha's daughter, Sita, as well as the abode of\nRavana. And while on the search around for Rama's beloved wife, Sita,\ndaughter-in-law unto Dacaratha, thou shouldst search the beautiful\nBhagirathi, and the Sarayu, and the Kauciki; the Kalindi, and the\ncharming Yamuna, and the mighty hill bordering thereon; and the\nSaraswati, and the Sindhu, and the Sona with water resembling ruby; and\nthe Mahi and Kalamahi, garnished with woods and hills,--the large\ntracts--Brahmamalas, Videhas, and Malavans, and Kacikosalas, and\nMagadhas, and Pundras, and Angas; and grounds native to silkworms, and\ncontaining mines of silver; and mountains and cities embosmed in the\nsea. Do thou also search through the houses in Mandara, --belonging to\npeople having ears resembling cloths, reaching their nether lips, and\nmouths resembling iron, --one-footed and fleet withal; and whose\ndescendants never deteriorate;--and to anthropophagi; and hunters\ndwelling on islands; having sharp hair, gold-hued, pleasing, and\nsubsisting on raw fish; and to creatures--tiger-man forms--terrible to\nbehold; and, ye dwellers of woods, do ye carefully search those places\nthat are accessible by crags and bounds,--and the island of Yava,\nadorned by seven several kingdoms, and the island of Suvarna, and\nRupayaka,--thronged by gold miners. And, going beyond the island of\nYava, (one comes upon) the hill called Sisira, which pierceth the\nheavens by its peaks, and is inhabited by gods and demons. In all these\nmountain fastnesses, cascades and woods, do ye together search for the\nrenowned wife of Rama. Then, arriving at the rapid red waters going\nunder the name of Sona,and repairing to the other shore of the ocean,\nthe abode of Siddhas and Charanas, do ye search all round for Ravana in\ncompany with Sita in the sweet sacred spots and picturesque woods. And\nye should explore forests, mountain-sprung streams, wild tracts subject\nto storms, and mountains containing caverns. Then it behoves you to\nexamine horrible ocean islands, heaving with waves, terrific,\nresounding,--of haughty bearing in consequence of winds. There,\nhuge-bodied Asuras, hungering for a long period, permitted by Brahma,\ncapture creatures, resorting to shades. And adroitly arriving at that\ngreat sea, like unto clouds at the universal dissolution, inhabited by\nmighty snakes, sending loud sounds,--and there, after passing the\nterrific sea of red waters called Yellow, ye will behold a mighty\nknarled Salmali, There, built by Vicwakarman, peak-like, gigantic,\nresembling Kailaca, (towereth) the mansion of Vinata's offspring, named\nMandeha. There, grim Rakshasas named Mandehas, resembling hills, of\ndiverse shapes, capable of inspiring fear, hang head foremost on the\nrocks. Day after day at sunrise, these Rakshasas heated (by solar rays)\nand struck dead by Brahma energy,[134] again and again (hang on the\ncrags). Then wilt thou, O thou that art hard to repress, proceeding,\nview the sea named Kshiroda, having the hue of pale clouds, and looking\nlike a necklace, because of the ripples (on its surface). In it there\nare the mighty white mountains going by the name of Rishada, covered\nwith trees bearing oderous blossoms; as well as the tank known under the\nname of Sudarcana, swarming with swans and shining silver lotuses having\ngolden filaments. Desirous of sport, resort to this tank delighted\ntroops of Vivudhas and Charanas, Yakshas, Kinnaras and Apsaras. Leaving\nbehind Kshiroda, ye monkeys, ye will soon after behold the Jalada sea,\nstriking terror into all beings. There presideth that mighty ire-born\nEnergy of him,[135] (embodied in) the mouth of a mule. This wondrous\n(universe) containing mobile and immobile things and fraught with great\nimpetus, is the aliment of this Energy. There are heard the cries of\nfeeble creatures inhabiting the sea, who began to wail on witnessing the\nmouth of the mule. On the north of the Swadu sea, lie thirteen _yojanas_\n(of land), named Jatarupacila,[136] exceeding spacious, and of the\nsplendour of gold. There, ye monkeys, ye will behold that serpent, the\nholder of Earth--resembling the moon, and with expansive eyes like\nlotus-petals--seated at the summit of the mount,-- that one worshipped\nof all deities, having a thousand heads,-- the god Ananta, clad in blue\napparel. And by the dais (there) at the top of the mount is the golden\npalm, planted by that high souled one,--which is like a banner. The\nchief of the celestials reared it in the Eastern region. After that is\nthe fair Rising mountain. Its golden peak measuring a hundred _yojanas_,\nreaching unto the heavens, rises nobly, with mountains at its base; and\nlooks beautiful with Salas, palms, Tamalas, and flowering\nKarnikaras,--golden, splendid and resembling the sun. There,[137]\nspreading a _yojana_ around, towering up ten, is the peak named\nSaumanasa--all certainly of gold. There, formerly on the occasion of\ninvading the earth with three paces, that foremost of persons, Vishnu,\nplanting his first foot, planted the other on the summit of Meru. The\nsun, having passed by Jamvudwipa on the north, and, arriving at that\nmighty and eminent summit, (Saumanasa), again becometh visible to the\ndwellers of Jamvudwipa. There are seen those Valakhilya Maharshis, named\nVaikhanasas,--wearing the hue of the sun, leading an ascetic mode of\nlife. This is the island of Sudarcana, before which all creatures\ninspire energy and have their sight granted to them. You should search\nfor Ravana with Vaidehi all round the top of that mountain as well as in\nits forests and woods. (Here) the first twilight enfolded in the glory\nof the golden hill and that of the high-souled Sun, appeareth roseate.\nAs this is the first gateway of both Earth and Heaven, and as the sun\nfirst rises in this quarter, this is called the East. Ye should search\nthe breast of its mountain, and fountains, and caves for Ravana in\ncompany with Vaidehi. Beyond that, is the exceedingly impassable Eastern\nquarter, thronged by the celestials,--covered with darkness and devoid\nof the sun and the moon. Do ye search for Janaki in all those rocks,\nwoods and streams as well as in such spots as I have not mentioned. Ye\nforemost of monkeys, the monkeys are competent to proceed thus far.\nBeyond this, of the tract without sun and without limit, I know nothing.\nMeeting with Vaidehi and (arriving at) Ravana's mansion, do ye, having\nreached the Rising hill, turn back, when it shall be a full month. Do\nnot stay longer than a month. If ye do, ye shall be slain by me. Having\nattained your end, do ye turn back, having met with Maithili. Having\nadroitly explored (the tract) loved of Mahendra, plated with woods, do\nye, ye monkeys, having come at Sita--the beloved wife of that descendant\nof Raghu--desist, attaining happiness.\"\n\n[134] The commentator explains: _energy darted from the three\n      orders.--T._\n\n[135] Sage Aurvi.--T.\n\n[136] Lit. _of gold and stone.--T._\n\n[137] The commentator says that this locative refers to the summit of\n      the Rising hill.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLI.\n\n\nThen having sent away that mighty host of monkeys, Sugriva despatched to\nthe South others competent to perform tlie several tasks entrusted to\nthem. And appointing the exceedingly mighty Angada as the leader of\nthose heroic monkeys, that hero, the lord of monkey bands, conversant\nwith the countries intended to be explored, despatched heroes endowed\nwith speed and prowess, headed by Angada, Nila the son of Fire, and the\nmonkey Hanuman, and the exceedingly energetic Jambavan, son unto the\nGreat-father, and Suhotra, and Sarari, and Saragulma, Gaya, Gavakshya,\nand Gavaya, Sushena, Vrishabha, Mainda, Dwivida, and Gandhamadana, and\nUlkamukha and Ananga--sons of Fire both. And the lord of monkeys began\nto describe unto the monkey-chiefs those tracts in those directions,\nthat were difficult of access. \"Ye will behold Vindhya having an hundred\nsummits, and brushed with various trees and shrubs, and the romantic\nriver Narmada, frequented by mighty serpents; and the Godavari,[138] and\nthat mighty river, the captivating Krishnaveni, and the Mekhalas and\nUtkalas, and the cities of Dacarna; and Avravanti and Avanti, and the\nVidarbhas and Nishtikas and the charming Mahishakas.[139] And ye will\nsee also the Matsyas and Kalingas and Kaucikas all round, and the forest\nof Dandaka, with mountains, rivers and caverns; and the river\nGodavari,[140] and the Andhras, and Paundras, the Cholas, the Pandyas,\nand the Keralas. Then shall ye repair to the mountain Ayomukha,[141]\nplated with ore, having taking summits, graceful, furnished with\npicturesque flowering woods,-- the mighty mountain having groves of\nexcellent sandal. At the foot of the Malaya mountain endeued with\nexceeding energy, ye will behold the noble stream Kaveri, of pleasant\nwaters, where sport troops of Apsaras. (There) you will see that\nforemost of saints, Agastya, resembling the sun. Permitted by that\ngratified high-souled one, ye will cross over the great river,\nTamraparni, abounding in alligators. Like a youthful female in relation\nto her lover, she (Tamraparni), with both her waters as well as islets\nconcealed under beautiful sandal woods, bathes in the sea. Proceeding\n(therefrom), the monkeys shall see the grand golden gates belonging to\nthe walls of the capital of the Pandyas. Then arriving at the main, ye\nshall ascertain your ability or otherwise of crossing the same. In the\nbosom of the deep there, Agastya hath placed that foremost of\nmountains--the charming Mahendra, having picturesque plateaus; golden,\nand beautiful,--with a portion of it sunk in the great ocean. For aye,\nHe of a thousand eyes at _Parvas_ visiteth this mountain embellished by\nvarious blossoming trees and creepers; beauteous with divinities, and\nsaints, and the foremost Yakshas and Apsaras; thronged by numbers of\nSiddhas and Charanas; and of surpassing loveliness. On its other shore\nis an island extending over an hundred _yojanas_, inaccessible to\nmen[142] and of splendid aspect. Do ye explore it all round. There, in\nparticular, ye must every way search for Sita. That country belongs to\nthe impious Ravana, worthy of being slain--the lord of Rakshasas, like\nunto the thousand-eyed (deity) in splendour. In the midst of the\nSouthern sea belonging to him (Ravana), there is a Rakshasi, named Anga,\nwho procureth her prey by casting her shadow. Having (by your search)\nsatisfied yourselves as to those countries where ye might suspect Sita\nto be, do ye, your doubts dispelled, proceeding beyond that, (Lanka),\nsearch for the spouse of that monarch endeued with unbounded energy. In\nthe sea extending over an hundred _yojanas_, a lovely hill, named\nPushpitaka, the abode of Siddhas and Charanas; resembling the rays of\nthe sun or the moon,-- resting on the waters of the ocean, looks\nsplendid, piercing the heavens with its giant peaks. Of this (mountain),\nthere is a particular golden summit, which the sun approaches. It is\nincapable of being beheld by the ungrateful or the atheistical. Bowing\nyour heads down unto this hill, let the monkeys search on. Leaving\nbehind that irrepressible one, (ye will come upon) a mountain difficult\nof approach, extending over fourteen _yojanas_, named Suryyavan. Passing\nby that also, (ye will see) a mountain, named Vidyut, filled with trees,\nbeautiful at all seasons, and bearing all desirable fruits. There,\nfeeding upon excellent and costly fruits and roots, and drinking\ndelicious honey, let the monkeys pass beyond it. There is the hill named\nKunjara, grateful both to the eye and the mind,--where Vicwakarma had\nbuilt the abode of Agastya.[143] There (rises) that stately golden pile,\nadorned with various gems, extending over one _yojana_, and ten in\nheight. In it[144] also there is that palace, which is the abode of\nsnakes; having spacious ways, incapable of being captured, guarded\naround, and protected by dreadful snakes and sharp-toothed serpents of\nvirulent poison; where dwelleth Vasuki, the exceedingly terrible king of\nsnakes. Proceeding heedfully, ye must explore that Bhogavati palace; as\nalso whatever concealed places may lie there. Going beyond that place,\n(ye will see) the mighty mountain named Rhrishava, in the form of a\nbull, full of all gems, and possessed of grace,-- where are produced\nexcellent _Gocirshaka_, _Padmaka_, and _Haricyama_ sandals, and which in\neffulgence resembles fire. But, seeing that sandal, ye must by no means\nask any questions: certain Gandharbas, named Rohitas, are on guard over\nthat wood--the lords of Gandharbas, in splendour like unto five\nsuns,--Cailusha, Gramani, Ciksha, Cuka, and Babhru. After that,\n(Rhishava), at the extremity of the Earth is the abode of persons of\npious acts, whose bodies are composed of the Sun, the Moon and Fire. And\nthere reside persons who have won the heavenly regions. After that are\nthe awful regions of the ancestral manes, which ye must not approach.\nThis is the metropolis of Yama, covered by deep gloom. Ye heroic monkey\nchiefs, ye can seek thus far. Further there is no course for those\nendeued with motion. Having examined all these, as well others that may\ncome within your ken, it behoves you, after having ascertained Vaidehi's\ncourse, to return (hither). He that, returning within a month, shall\nsay,--\"I have seen Sita,\" shall pass his days in happiness, enjoying\naffluence like mine own and indulging all pleasures. He shall be dearer\nunto me than life itself, and none dearer (unto me) than he; and\nalthough he might commit innumerable wrongs, still should he become my\nfriend. Possessed of immeasurable strength and prowess, and sprung from\nlines crowned with sterling virtues, do ye strive manfully in such a\nglorious way that the king's daughter may be recovered.\"\n\n[138] The commentator says, \"The Godavari flowing through the countries\n      to the east of the Vindya mountains.\"--T.\n\n[139] Some texts read--Rishtikas instead.--T.\n\n[140] The tract, according to Ramanuja, watered by the Godavari in the\n      vicinity of Dandaka.--T.\n\n[141] Another name of this hill is Malaya.--T.\n\n[142] \"Because,\" says the commentator, \"of the profusion of gold in\n      it.\"--T.\n\n[143] _i. e. in that hill._\n\n[144] _i. e. in that hill._\n\n\n\nSECTION XLII.\n\n\nHaving despatched those monkeys in a southern direction, Sugriva spoke\nunto the monkey named Sushena, resembling a mass of clouds. Approaching\nhis father-in-law, Tara's father, possessed of dreadful prowess, the\nking, bowing and with joined hands, spoke unto him. And Sugriva\ncommanded the Maharshi's son, Maricha, and the mighty ape, Archishmat,\nsurrounded hy the heroic foremost of monkeys,-- possessing the splendour\nof Mahendra, gifted with sense and vigor; and resembling the offspring\nhimself of Vinata in brightness; and Marichi's son,--the Marichas--the\nmighty Archirmalyas,--all these sons of the saint[145] --(to march)\ntowards the West, saying,--\"Ye monkey-chiefs, let twice hundred thousand\nmonkeys led by Sushena (set out) to search Vaidehi. Ye foremost of\nmonkeys, do ye explore the Saurashtras, the Bahlikas, the\nChandrachitras, and (other) populous and fair provinces and spacious\ncities, and Kukshi, dense with _Punnagas_,[146] and filled with\n_Vakulas_ and _Uddalakas_; as well as the tracts covered with _Ketaka_\ntrees; and auspicious streams bearing their cool waters westward; and\nthe forests of ascetics; and mountains embosoming woods. There having\nexplored tracts resembling deserts, and cold cliffs towering high, and\nthe West, covered with mountain ranges, and extremely difficult of\naccess,--and proceeding at a little more to the west, it behoves you to\nhave a view of the sea. And proceeding on, ye monkeys, ye shall see (the\nocean), whose waters abound in whales and alligators, ye monkeys.[147]\nThen the apes shall sport in tracts covered by _Ketakas_, and dense with\n_Tomalas_ and woods of cocoanuts. There shall ye look for Sita and the\nmansion of Ravana, in hills and woods on the shores of the sea; and\n(explore) Murachipattana, and the delightful Jatapura, and Avanti, and\nAngalapa, as well as in the wood (called) Alakshita, and spacious\nmonarchies, and emporiums. There is a mighty mountain where the Sindhu\nfalls into the sea, Somagiri by name; having an hundred summits and tall\ntrees. In its plateaus there are certain birds (called) Sinhas. These\nlift up to their nests whales and elephants. The proud elephants carried\nto the nests and remaining on the summits of the mountain, possessing\nthe roar of clouds,having been gratified (with food), range around this\nextensive table-land filled with water. The monkeys, capable of wearing\nshapes at will, should swiftly search its golden summit towering to the\nsky and filled with graceful trees. Proceeding further, the monkeys\nshall behold the golden summit of Pariyatra rising from the sea and\nextending over an hundred _yojanas_. There dwell all around in a body\nfour and twenty _kotis_ of ascetic Gandharbas, resembling fire,\ndreadful, practicising impiety, and like unto flames of fire. The\nmonkeys of dreadful prowess should not present themselves before those,\nnor should they take any fruits from that country. Those heroes are hard\nto approach; and they are truthful and possessed of great might. And\nthere they of dreadful prowess stow away their fruits and roots. There\nye should needfully search for Janaki. Ye have no fear whatever from\nthem; do ye only follow your native nature as monkeys. There, in hue\nlike lapises, abounding in various kinds of trees and plants, is a\nmighty hill of an adamantine basis, called Vajra; beautiful, famous, and\nmeasuring an hundred _yojanas_ in height and area. There let the monkeys\ncarefully explore the caves. On the fourth side of the Ocean is a\nmountain named Chakravan. There Vicwakarma forged the discus (called)\n_Sahasrara_. There, slaying Panchajana and the Danava, Hayagriva,[148]\nthe Best of male beings obtained the discus as well as the conch. In\nthose beautiful plateaus and huge caves, ye should everywhere search for\nRavana with Videha's daughter. Sunk in the depths of the sea, is a very\ngreat mountain named Varaha, having golden peaks and measuring four and\nsixty _yojanas._ In it is a city named Pragjyotisha, all of gold. There\ndwells the wicked Danava named Naraka.[149] There do ye everywhere\nsearch for Ravana along with Vaidehi in the beautiful plateaus and huge\ncaves. Passing beyond that foremost of mountains, whose sight betrays\nthe secret of its bowels being freighted with gold, (ye shall come upon)\nthe mountain Sarvasauvarna, furnished with fountains and cascades.\nComing to it, elephants, and boars, and lions, and tigers, on all sides\nroar ceaselessly, wrought up by the echoes their own cries have\nproduced. This is the mountain named Megha, where the graceful\ngreen-horsed vanquisher of Paka, Mahendra, was installed king by the\ngods. Having passed by that mountain protected by Mahendra, ye shall\nrepair to sixty thousand hills of gold; in hue like the infant sun, and\nblazing on all sides and embellished by blossoming golden trees. In the\nmidst of them is established as king, Meru, best of mountains. Formerly\nthe Sun being well pleased, conferred a boon on this mountain, and he\naddressed the mountain, saying,--'By my grace all the hills that are\nunder thy protection, shall be golden day and night; and also those gods\nGandharbas and Danavas that shall dwell in thee, shall be filled with\nreverence for me and to the boot attain a golden glory.' Coming to the\nexcellent mountain Meru, Vicwadevas, the Vasus, the Maruts and the\ncelestials, adore the Sun in the western twilight. Adored by them, the\nSun, becoming invisible, repaireth to the Setting hill.[150] In half a\n_muhurta_, the Sun swiftly passes over this (mountain), measuring, as it\ndoes, ten thousand _yojanas_. On its peak rises an edifice; resembling\nthe sun (in splendour); consisting of palatial mansions built by\nVicwakarma; and graced by goodly trees rife with various birds,--the\nresidence of the high-souled Varuna, bearing the noose in his hand.\nBetween Meru and the Setting hill, towers a tall palm having ten heads.\nGolden and graceful, it shineth on a variegated dais. In all these,\ndifficult of access, as also in rivers and tanks, ye should thoroughly\nsearch for Ravana along with Vaidehi. There dwells there the righteous\nand famous Merusavarni, sanctified by virtue of his own asceticism, and\nlike unto Brahma, himself.[151] Bowing down your heads to the earth, ye\nshould ask the Maharshi Merusavarni, resembling the sun, touching\nMithila's daughter. On the departure of night, the sun dispells the\ndarkness of the world to this extent, and then enters the Setting hill.\nYe foremost of monkeys, the monkeys are able to proceed thus far. Beyond\nthis, of what is sunless and boundless I know nothing. Having come to\nVaidehi and Ravana's mansions, and arrived at the Setting-hill, do ye\nreturn on the month being complete. Ye must not stay above a month; and\nif ye do, ye must be slain by me. And along with you goeth that hero, my\nfather-in-law. Ye, abiding by his orders, should listen to all that he\nsayeth. My mighty-armed father- in-law. gifted with great strength, is\nmy spiritual preceptor. All of you possessed of prowess, yourselves\ncertainly constitute the measure whereby to ascertain the wisdom or\notherwise of a course. Making this one also into a measure, survey the\nwestern quarter. Having requited the good that hath been done to us, we\nshall attain our end. De ye also determine what else is agreeable (unto\nRama), and in consonance with place, season and profit, should be\nperformed by you in the matter of this business.\" Then those monkeys--\nthe monkey chiefs headed by Sushena, having heard Sugriva's deft speech,\nset out for the quarter protected by Varuna.\n\n[145] Marichi.--T.\n\n[146] _Rottleria Tinctoria.--T._\n\n[147] The grammar of these slokas is exceedingly vicious; and it has\n      cost the Translator no small amount of labor to assign the\n      necessary logical _nexus_ in a good many places.--T.\n\n[148] Lit. _horse-necked.--T._\n\n[149] _i.e. in the Varaha hill.--T._\n\n[150] The commentator remarks: \"Although not expressly stated, it is\n      implied that the islands to the west of it are also to be\n      searched.\"--T.\n\n[151] Like unto Prajapati dwelling by Mahameru.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLIII.\n\n\nHaving directed his father-in-law to proceed to the West, that best of\nmonkeys, the all-knowing king Sugriva, lord of apes, then spake unto the\nheroic monkey, named Satavala, words fraught with good unto himself as\nwell as unto Rama,--\"Surrounded by hundreds and thousands of rangers of\nthe forest like thyself, in company with the offspring of Yama as well\nas the counsellors in a body, do thou, O thou possessed of prowess,\nentering the northern quarter furnished with the Hima caila, search\neverywhere for the illustrious spouse of Rama.--Having performed this\ntask satisfactorily, and brought about what is dear unto Dacaratha's\nson, we shall, O best of those that achieve success, be freed from our\ndebts. The high-souled Raghava hath done us good. If we can serve him in\nturn, our life shall be crowned with success. Even the life of him that\naccomplishes the work of one to whom the former is not obliged, is\nsuccessful,--what then is to be said in respect of him that hath served\none formerly? Pondering this, those that are engaged in our welfare,\nshould so act that Janaki may be discovered. And this formemost of men\nis worthy of being honored by all creatures; and Rama--captor of hostile\ncapitals--hath also found delight in us. Endowed with sense and prowess,\ndo ye explore these many inaccessible places, rivers and mountains.\nHaving searched there Mlechahhas, Pulindas, Surasenas, Prasthalas,\nBharatas, Kurus, and Madrakas, and Varadas, as well as the cities of\nKambojas, Yavanas and Sakas, do ye explore Himavan. And in tracts of\nLodhras and Padmakas, and in Devadaru woods[152] do ye search thoroughly\nfor Ravana along with Videha's daughter. Then, coming upon the hermitage\nof Soma, frequented by gods and Gandharbas, do ye repair to the mountain\ncalled Kala possessing spacious plateaus. In those mighty mountains, as\nalso in others and in their caves, do ye search for that exalted lady,\nthe blameless wife of Rama. Having passed beyond that mighty mountain\ncontaining gold in its womb, it behoves you to go to the mountain called\nSudarcana. Then (lies) the mountain called Devasakha, the home of\nfeathered tribes; abounding in various fowls,and embellished with\ndiverse trees. In its golden tracts, fountains and caves, do ye search\nfor Ravana along with Videha's daughter. Going beyond it, (ye come upon)\na vacant land, measuring an hundred _Yojanas_, without mountains, or\nrivers, or trees; and void of all living beings. Speedily passing that\ndesert land capable of making one's hair stand on end, ye shall feel\ndelighted, on coming to the pale Kailaca. There (ye will behold) the\ncharming mansion of Kuvera,resembling pale clouds, of burnished gold,\nbuilt by Vicwakarma; where (lies) the spacious tank overflowing with\nlotuses and lilies, thronged with swans and Karandavas, and frequented\nby troops of Apsaras. There king Vaicravana, the lord of Yakshas, bowed\ndown unto by all creatures,--the graceful giver of riches--sporteth\nalong with the Guhyakas. In the offshoots belonging to Kailaca\nresembling the moon, as also in their caverns,do ye thoroughly search\nfor Ravana in company with Vaidehi. And coming to the Krauncha\nmountain,ye shou1d,having your wits about you, enter its inaccessible\ncavern; for that is well known as difficult of entrance. There dwell\ncertain Maharshis, high-souled, of effulgence resembling that of the\nsun--complete god-like shapes,--who are sought by the deities\nthemselves. And ye should thoroughly explore the other caves of\nKrauncha, its plateaus and peaks; its passes and sides. (Then is) the\ntreeless Manasa--abode of birds--the scene of Kama's austerities. Way\nthere is none for creatures, or for gods, or for Rakshasas. That also\nmust be explored by you,--that mountain with plains and plateaus. Going\nbeyond Krauncha, (ye shall see) the mountain, named Mainaka. There is\nthe residence of the Danava, Maya, reared by himself. Mainaka also with\nits plains, plateaus and woods must be searched by you. There are all\nover, the homes of females with faces resembling those of horses. Going\nbeyond that part, (ye shall come to) the asylum inhabited by Siddhas;\nwhere are ascetics--Valakhilyas, Siddhas and Vaikhanasas. Saluting those\nSiddhas, who have been cleansed of their sins on account of their\nasceticism, ye should in humble guise ask them concerning Sita. There is\nthe Vaikhanasa tank filled with golden lotuses; and ranged by graceful\ncranes of the hue of the infant sun. Kuvera's vehicle, the elephant\nknown (by the name of) Sarvabhauma, ever rangeth that country in company\nwith she-elephants. Going beyond that expanse of water, (ye come upon) a\nsky void of stars, and where the sun and the moon have been put out; and\nthat land is visible by the rays, as if of the sun, proceeding from (the\npersons of) self-luminous, god-like ones, who are reposing there, after\nachieving success in austerities. Leaving behind that region, (you come\nto) a stream named Sailoda. On its both banks are bamboos named Kichaka.\nThese take the Siddhas to the other shore and bring them back again.\nThere (are seen) the northern Kurus, the abode of those that have\nacquired religious merit. And there are tanks there with their waters\ncrowned with golden lotuses. There are rivers by thousands with copious\nblue lapis leaves. And the pools here,resembling the tender sun, are\nembellished with assemblages of golden red lotuses. And that tract is\nevery where filled with costly gems, and jewels, and woods of blue\nlotuses, having filaments splendid like gold; and with round pearls and\ncostly jewels. And the rivers there have islets covered with gold; and\nare crowded with lovely hills of gold, bright as fire, furnished with\nall kinds of precious stones. And the trees there, thronged with birds,\nbear flowers and fruits daily; and, charged with savoury juices,\npublishing superb perfumes, and of delicious feel, they confer every\nwish. Other excellent trees bring forth attires of divers kinds, and\nornaments decked with pearls and lapises,--coveted alike by males and\nfemales[153]. And other excellent trees bear fruits fit to be partaken\nat all seasons. And other excellent trees bring forth precious beds\ndight with costly jewels and furnished with variegated covers. And other\ntrees bring forth charming wreaths, and costly drinks, and various kinds\nof viands. And females adorned with every accomplishment, and endowed\nwith youth and beauty, and Gandharbas and Kinnaras, and Siddhas and\nNagas and Vidyadharas, of blazing splendour, ceaselessly sport there in\ncompany with females. And all of righteous deeds, and all engaged in\namorous disports, and all furnished with desire and profit,--dwell in\nthat place in association with their females. And there are continually\nheard there the sounds of instruments and the voice of song mixed with\nsweet hilarous laughter, capable of taking all creatures. No one is\ndepressed there; nor doth any one there want any desirable object; and\nday after day the delightful qualities find their developement there.\nPassing beyond that is the Northern ocean. In the bosom (of the deep) is\nthe mountain named Somagiri, golden and of great dimensions. Albeit\nwithout the sun, yet through the brightness of the Soma mountain, tbe\nland shines forth with all the loveliness and reality of one warmed by\nthe sun. There that Soul of the Universe, the adorable Sambhu, fraught\nwith the spirits of the eleven Rudras--that lord of the\ngods--Brahma--dwelleth, surrounded by the Brahmarshis. Ye cannot proceed\nto the north of the Kurus; nor is there way in that region for any other\ncreatures. And that mountain is named Soma, incapable of being entered\neven by the gods. Sighting this, you should speedily turn back. Ye\nforemost of monkeys, the monkeys are competent to proceed thus far.\nBeyond that, of regions sunless and limitless I know nothing. Ye should\nsearch all these which I have described (unto you); and ye should also\nturn your attention to others besides, which I have omitted to mention.\nYe that are comparable unto the wind or fire, by accomplishing the work\nof beholding Videha's daughter, ye will do what is held as exceedingly\ndear unto Dacaratha's son as well as highly grateful to me. Then, having\nachieved success, do ye, along with your friends, honored by me, and\ncrowned with every virtue, ye monkeys, with your enemies slain, range\nthe earth in company with your wives,--the support of all beings.\"\n\n[152] Belonging, according to the commentator, to Himavan.--T.\n\n[153] The present text, according to Kataka, drops a _sloka_, whose last\n      line is, Beings possessed of powerful effulgence, sport here\n      always in company with females.\"--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLIV.\n\n\nSugriva had declared his conviction that he relied particularly upon\nHanuman. And convinced as to the ability of that best of monkeys to\naccomplish the work, Sugriva, that lord of all the dwellers of the\nwoods, well pleased, spoke unto Hanuman, son unto the wind-god,\nsaying,--\"O foremost of monkeys, neither on the earth, nor in the\nsky,[154] nor in the etherial regions,[155] nor yet in water, find I any\nobstacle to thy course. The entire worlds with Asuras, and Gandharbas,\nand Nagas, and men, and gods, with oceans, and the earth and the regions\nbeneath--are well known unto thee. And thy motion, vehemence, energy and\nfleetness are, O hero, O mighty ape, even like those of thy sire, the\npowerful wind-god; and there exists no creature on earth that is like\nunto thee in energy. Therefore do thou bethink thee how Sita may be\nrecovered. Even in thee, O thou versed in policy, are strength, and wit,\nand courage, and policy, and conduct in consonance with season and\nplace.\" Thereat, understanding that success in the task depended upon\nHanuman, and also knowing what Hanuman was, Raghava reflected,--\"This\nlord of monkeys is every way confident concerning Hanuman; and Hanuman\nhimself is even more confident of achieving succes in the work. He that\nhath been tested by his deed, and who hath been considered worthiest by\nhis master, having been commissioned in this business,--success in the\nwork is certain.\" Then beholding that monkey who was the fittest for the\ntask, that exceedingly energetic one, (Rama), with his mind and senses\nexhilarated, considering himself as already crowned with success, felt\nthe excess of joy. And well pleased, that subduer of enemies handed to\nHanuman a ring inscribed with his name, as a sign unto Ihe king's\ndaughter. \"By this sign, O foremost of monkeys, Janaka's daughter will\nbe able to see thee fearlessly, as one that hath come from me. Thy\nfirmness, O hero, and sterling prowess, as well as Sugriva's saying,\ntell me greatly of success.\" Thereupon, taking that (ring), and raising\nhis joined palms to his head, that foremost and best of monkeys,\nsaluting (Rama's) feet, went away. Then taking with him that mighty host\nof monkeys, that hero, the son of the wind, resembled the moon of bright\ndisc in the sky, garnished by the stars, after the clouds have departed.\n\"O thou of excessive strength! I take refuge in thy might. O thou\nendowed with the prowess of the foremost of lions! do thou, O son of the\nWind, O Hanuman, exert thyself so, summoning the great strength thou art\nmaster of, that we may obtain Janaka's daughter.\"[156]\n\n[154] _Antariksha_--regions above the earth in which the birds fly.--T.\n\n[155] _Amvara_--Upper air.\n\n[156] The commentator says that this speech is equally attributable to\n      Rama and Sugriva. But I think, it would fit Rama's lips to a\n      nicety--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLV.\n\n\nSummoning all the monkeys, that foremost of monkeys, king Sugriva, spake\nunto them all touching the success of Rama's work. \"The monkey-chiefs,\nknowing the stern command of their lord, should search in all these\nplaces.\" Then, covering up the earth like locusts, they marched away.\nExpecting tidings of Sita, Rama remained that month in the vicinity of\nthat cascade, in company with Lakshmana. And that heroic monkey Satavali\nswiftly set out for the northern regions covered by the monarch of\nmountains. And that leader of monkey herds, Vinata, proceeded towards\nthe eastern quarter. And that monkey, Hanuman--leader of\nmonkey-herds--in company with Tara, Angada and others, went to the\nSouth, inhabited by Agastya. And that lord of monkeys, Sushena, lion\namong monkeys, went to the terrible western quarter, protected by\nVaruna. Then, having properly despatched (his forces) in all directions,\nthat general of the monkey hosts, being pleased, gave himself up to\nsport. Thus despatched by the king, the monkey-chiefs proceeded apace\nrespectively towards their destined quarters. And the monkeys possessed\nof great strength cried and howled and roared and shouted and rushed and\nsent up loud ululations. Thus despatched by the king, the leaders of\nmonkey-herds, said, \"We shall bring back Sita, and slay Ravana. I alone\nshall slay Ravana engaged in conflict. And slaying (him), I shall this\nvery day swiftly carry off Janaka's daughter, trembling because of\nfatigue, (saying unto her), 'Rest thou.' I single-handed shall recover\nJanaki even from the nether regions. I shall uproot trees and rive\nmountains. I shall cleave the earth and vex the deep.\" (And some said),\n\"I can, without doubt, clear a Yojana at one bound;\" and another said,\n\"I can clear an hundred;\" and a yet another, \"I can more than an\nhundred. And neither on earth, nor in sea, mountains, woods, nor nether\nregions, can my course be obstructed.\" Thus did the apes proud of their\nstrength, severally speak in presence of the sovereign of the monkeys.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLVI.\n\n\nOn the monkey-chiefs having departed, Rama said unto Sugriva,--\"How is\nit that thou knowest all the quarters of this earth?\" Thereupon, the\nself-controlled Sugriva, bowing low, said unto Rama,--\"Do thou listen to\nmy words. I shall relate everything. When Vali pursued the Danava\nDunduvi,[157] wearing the form of a buffalo, towards the Malaya\nmountain, Mahisha entered a cave of that mountain. And Vali also,\ndesirous of slaying the Asura, entered Malaya. And I was made to stand\nat the mouth in humble guise; nor did Vali issue out, although a good\nyear rolled away. Then the cave became filled with blood gushing out\nvehemently. Seeing this, I became amazed, and exercised with the poison\nof grief on account of my brother. And I, losing my sense, thought that\nmy superior had for certain been slain. And I placed a crag huge as a\nhill at the mouth of the cave. (And thought I), 'Mahisha, unable to\nissue out, needs must meet his end.' And despairing of his (Vali's)\nlife, I retraced my steps to Kishkindha. And obtaining the spacious\nkingdom along with Tara and Uma, I began to pass my days in peace in\ncompany with his counsellors. Then came that foremost of monkeys, having\nslain him (Mahisha). Thereupon, I, influenced by fear, in consideration\nof his dignity, made over to him his monarchy. But Vali, his senses\nexercised with sorrow, anxious to slay me, in company with his\ncounsellors, pursued me, who took to my heels. Hotly pursued and chased\nby Vali, I surveyed various streams and woods and cities. And I surveyed\nthe earth like the hoof-print of a cow, or the image reflected from a\nmirror, or a fire-brand whirled (in the air.)[158] Then repairing to the\nEast, I see various trees, and mountains, and charming caves, and\ndiverse tanks. And there I behold the Ascending mountain decked with\ngold,--and that daily abode of Apsaras--the sea of milk. And chased by\nVali, and flying on, I suddenly veered round, and then again, master,\noff I went. And changing that direction, I again made for the South\ncrowded with trees belonging to Vindhya, and embellished with sandal\nwoods. Then seeing Vali in the mountain among trees, from the south I,\npursued by Vali, betook myself to the western quarter. And beholding\nvarious countries, and arriving at that foremost and best of mountains--\nAsta[159]--I turned to the north; and (passed) Himavat, and Meru, and\nthe Northern sea. But pursued by Vali, refuge find I none. Then out\nspake Hanuman endeued with understanding, 'O king, now I remember me how\nthat lord of monkeys, Vali, was cursed by Matanga in this very\nhermitage. If Vali enters (into this asylum), his head becomes cleft in\nhundred. There we shall dwell happily without anxiety,' O king's son,\nthereupon, we went to the Rhisyamuka mountain, nor did then Vali enter\nthere from fear of Matanga. Thus, king, did I actually see all the\nworld. And from that place I came to this cave.\"\n\n[157] The real name of this Danava is mayavi. He is confusedly called\n      Dunduvi and Mahisha, the latter, in consequence of the implication\n      that his father having assumed the shape of a buffalo, he has also\n      a like shape.--T.\n\n[158] The commentator remarks that \"like the hoof-print of a cow\"\n      espresses the ease with which Sugriva travelled the earth; \"like a\n      fire brand whirled\" conveys his vehement speed; and \"like the\n      image reflected on a mirror\" signifies the lucidity of his\n      perception.--T.\n\n[159] The Setting hill.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLVII.\n\n\nThe principal monkeys, having been ordered by the monkey-king, speedily\nwent in all directions to their destinations for the purpose of seeing\nVaidehi. And on all sides they explore watery expanses, and streams, and\nlawns, and commons, and cities, and tracts rendered impassable by\ntorrents. And the leaders of monkey-herds search all those countries,\ndescribed by Sugriva,--containing mountains, woods and forests. Engaged\nduring the day in search of Sita, at night the monkeys seek the ground\n(for sleep). In every place, by day coming to trees aye enjoying every\nseason, and crowned with fruits, the monkeys prepared their beds at\nnight.[160] Counting that day[161] as the first, the principal monkeys,\nafter the month had run out, resigning all hope, came to the Fountain\nand met with the monkey-king. And having explored the Eastern regions,\nas directed, the exceedingly strong Vinata not having been able to see\nSita, came back, in company with his counsellors. And then that mighty\nape, Satavali, daunted in spirits, arrived with his forces, after having\nsearched all through the North. And having searched the West in company\nwith his monkeys, Sushena, on the month being complete, presented\nhimself before Sugriva. And coming to Sugriva seated along with Rama\nbehind the Fountain, and saluting the former, Sushena said unto Sugriva,\n--\"Searched have been all the mountains, and deep woods, and streams,\nand islands embosomed in the ocean, and the various provinces. And also\nsearched have been all the caves which have been described by thee; and\nsearched have been all the groves entertwined with plants; and thickets;\nand difficult and uneven grounds. And huge animals have been sought out\nand slain (by us). And all the impracticable places we have explored\nagain and again. O lord of monkeys, possessed of great strength and\nnobly born, it is Hanuman who will be able to ascertain the whereabouts\nof Mithila's daughter. And the Wind's son, Hanuman, hath followed even\nthe path by which Sita hath gone.\"\n\n[160] The sense is rather obscure, it being difficult to understand the\n      relation their beds bore to the neighbouring trees.--T.\n\n[161] _i.e._ the day of their departure.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLVIII.\n\n\nThe monkey Hanuman in company with Tara and Angada swiftly set out for\nthe quarter assigned by Sugriva. And having proceeded far along with all\nthose foremost of monkeys, he explored the caves and woods of Vindhya;\nspots inaccessible in consequence of streams intervening in front of\nmountains; and tanks; and tracts filled with trees; and various\nmountains rife with wild trees. And having searched in all directions,\nthe monkeys could not find Maithili, Janaka's daughter Sita. And\nsubsisting on various fruits and roots, they were overcome with fatigue,\nafter searching dreadful forests, void of water, still and tenantless,\nas well as other forests of a similar nature. And having searched that\ncountry as well mighty forests containing caves, those leaders of\nmonkey-herds fearlessly explored other places, difficult of access,\nwhere the trees are fruitless, and without flowers and foliage; where\nthe streams are waterless, and where roots even are rare; where there\nare no buffaloes, or deer, or elephants, or tigers, or birds--or any\nother animals that are found in forests. And there are there neither\ntrees, nor annual plants, nor creepers, nor herbs,--and in that place\nthere are no pleasant pools, with cool leaves, and filled with blown\nlotuses; and it hath been renounced by the black-bees. There dwelleth a\nMaharshi, Kandu by name, an eminently pious, and truthful ascetic,\nirascible, and irrepressible because of his practice of self-discipline.\nIn that wood his son, a boy of ten years, his sands having run out,\nbreathed his last; and it is for this that the mighty ascetic hath come\nunder the influence of passion. And cursed by that high-souled one, the\nentire mighty forest hath become unfit to harbour (any creatures);\ndifficult of entrance; and devoid of birds and beasts. They[162]\ncarefully search the skirts of its woods, mountain-caves, and the\nsources of its streams. And those high-souled ones, devoted to the good\nof Sugriva, did not find Janaka's daughter, or her ravisher, Ravana. And\nentering (into a wood), they saw a terrible Asura, concealed by the\nshrubs and plants--of dreadful deeds, and cherishing no fear even of the\ngods. And seeing that dreadful Asura, seated like a hill, and resembling\na mountain, they all tightened their cloths. And that strong one also,\nsaying unto the monkeys, \"Destroyed are ye,\" and uplifting his clenched\nfist, rushed after them in rage. And as he darted suddenly, Angada, the\nson of Vali, knowing, \"This is Ravana,\" administered unto him a slap.\nStruck by Vali's son, that Asura, his mouth vomitting blood, fell down\nto the earth like a hill toppled down. And on his having breathed his\nlast, the monkeys, elated with victory, thoroughly searched that\nmountain cavern. And when they had satisfied themselves that the cave\nhad been searched all through, the dwellers of the woods entered another\nfearful mountain cavern. And after having searched (that place) also,\nthey came out fatigued; and with desponding hearts sat them down at a\ndistance under the shade of a tree.\n\n[162] _i.e._ the monkeys.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLIX.\n\n\nWhen the eminently wise Angada, fatigued, spake unto all the monkeys,\ncheering them,--'Woods, and mountains, and rivers, and impenetrable\nwilds, and valleys, and mountain caverns have been thoroughly searched.\nBut Janaki we have failed to find anywhere,--or that wicked wight, the\nRakshasa that hath ravished Sita. And we have spent a great part of the\nterm that had been assigned by Sugriva of stern commands. Therefore,\nbanishing languor, sadness, and invading drowsiness, do ye together\nsearch all round. Do ye so search Sita, that she may be found out (by\nus). High spirits, ability and forwardness in action, are said to\nconduce to success. Therefore it is that I speak thus unto you. Ye\ndwellers of the wood, do ye to day rummage this impenetrable wood;\nrenouncing grief, do ye again search through this forest. Those who act,\nfor certain behold the fruit of their endeavours; but if people once\ngive way to grief, they cannot again attain vigor. Ye monkeys, king\nSugriva is irascible; and inflicteth sharp punishments. He should be\nalways feared, as also the magnanimous Rama. I tell you this for your\ngood. Act accordingly, if ye list. And do ye also express what else ye\nare capable of.\" Hearing Angada's words Gandhamadana said in candid\nwords faint from thirst and fatigue,--\"What Angada hath said unto us is\nworthy of him, and is beneficial and good. Do you follow his speech. Let\nus afresh search hills, caves and rocks, vacant forests and mountain\ncascades,--in accordance with what the high-souled Sugriva hath laid\ndown. Let all in a body rummage the wood, and the mountain caverns.\"\nThere rising up, the mighty monkeys again began to range the South close\nwith forests belonging to Vindhya. And the monkeys ascended the Silvern\nHill resembling the autumnal welkin, graceful, and furnished with\nsummits and valleys. And eager to behold Sita, those excellent monkeys\nbegan to search the Lodhra wood, and the Saptaparna forests. And\nascending its top,[163] those ones endeued with immense prowess,\nexperiencing fatigue, could not find Vaidehi, the beloved spouse of\nRama. And having surveyed that hill having many a grot, so far as the\neye could range, the monkeys looking all round, descended (the\neminence). And having descended to the earth, the monkeys, bewildered,\nand losing their consciousness, rested for a while at the foot of a\ntree. And their fatigue having gone off a little, the monkeys, having\nbeen refreshed for a while, again prepared to explore the whole South.\nAnd the monkey chiefs, headed by Hanuman, having set out (on the\nsearch), began to range all through Vindhya.\n\n[163] _i. e._ the top of the Silvern Hill.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION L.\n\n\nThe monkey, Hanuman, in company with Tara and Angada searcheth the caves\nand woods of Vindhya,--caverns all around haunted by lions and tigers,\nand in vast inaccessibls cascades in that foremost of mountains. And\nthey came to the south-western summit of the mountain. And when they\nsojourned there, their (appointed) term had not expired. And that\nspacious country, consisting as it did, of caves and grots and woods,\nwas difficult to search. And there the wind-god's offspring searched all\nover the mountain. And each apart remaining at no great distance from\nthe others, Gaya, Gavakha and Gavaya, Sarava, Gandhamadana, Maindi,\nDwivida, and Hanuman, Jambavan, the youthful prince Angada, and Tara,\nremaining in sight of the wood, after having searched the South--lands\ncovered with mountain ranges, were searching (about), when they espied\nan unenclosed cavity, difficult of entry, named Vrikshavila, guarded by\na Danava. And tried by hunger and thirst, worn out with fatigue, seeking\nfor water, they found that cavity surrounded by trees and plants. And,\nwith their bodies drenched and reddened with lotus dust, Kraunchas and\nswans and cranes and Chakravakas, came out of the cavity. And drawing\nnigh to that fragrant and inaccessible cave, those superior monkeys were\nstruck with amaze, and became eager (to enter into it). And with their\nminds filled with doubt, those vigorous foremost of monkeys gladly\napproached that cave; abounding in diverse animals, resembling the\nresidence of the lord of Daityas,[164] dazzling, and dreadful, and\nimpenetrable on all sides.--Then Hanuman the son of the wind-god,\npossessed of the splendour of a mountain-summit, cognizant of woods and\nforests, said unto the grim-visaged apes, \"Having explored the South,\n(containing) countries enveloped with mountain chains, we have ail got\nfatigued, but we have failed to find Mithila's daughter. And from yonder\ncave come out swarms of swans and cranes and _kraunchas_ and\n_chakravakas_, drenched with water. For certain here is a well or a\nwatery expanse. And at the mouth of the cave there are these cool\ntrees.\" Hanuman having said this, all the monkeys went into the cave\ncovered with darkness; without the sun or the moon, capable of making\none's down stand on end. And seeing lions, and birds and beasts (ranging\naround), those tiger-like monkeys entered that cave covered with\ndarkness. And (there) neither their ken, nor their vigor, nor yet their\nprowess was baffled: and their speed resembled the wind, and their sight\nremained unimpaired albeit in darkness. And those foremost of monkeys\nrushed into the cavity; and beheld displayed (before them) an excellent\nand charming scene. And embracing each other in that fearful cave rife\nwith various trees, they passed over an hundred _yojanas_. And deprived\nof their sense, and tried with thirst, and bewildered, and thirsting for\nwater, they for a time vigilantly descended in darkness down the cave.\nAnd emaciated, with woe-begone faces, and spent, those monkeys\ndespairing of their lives, (at last) saw light. And those mild ones,\ncoming to a spot free from darkness, saw golden trees, possessed of the\nbrightness of flaming fire. And Salas and palms, and Tamalas, Punnagas,\nVanjulas, and Dhavas, Champakas, Naga trees, Karnikaras in flower; with\nvariegated golden bunches and twigs, and crests of clusters, and\nplants,--embellished with golden garniture; resembling the infantine\nsun,--on daises composed of lapises;--golden trees with resplendent\nbodies, having the hues of purple lapises; and lotus-plants flocked with\nfowls; and (spots) surrounded by large golden trees, like unto the\ninfantine sun; and tanks with large fishes of gold and lotuses,\ncontaining pleasant waters--all these they saw there. And the monkeys\nsaw there golden as well as silvern vehicles, and elegant dwellings all\nround veiled with nets of pearls; having golden balconys; with their\ngrounds paved with gold and silver; and furnished with lapis lazulis.\nAnd on all sides they saw trees bearing fruits and flowers resembling\ncoral; and golden black bees, and honey all round, and various spacious\nseats and beds about dight with gold and jewels. And searching in that\ncave, the exceedingly effulgent heroic monkeys saw heaps of golden,\nsilver and bell-metal vessels; and heaps of excellent _aguru_ and\nsandal; and pure fruits and roots; and costly vehicles and various kinds\nof sapid honey; and loads of costly attire; and lots of variegated\nwoolen cloths and deer-skins; as well as a female, from near. And they\nfound her there, wearing a black deer-skin,-- a female ascetic, with\nrestrained fare--as if flaming in energy. Amazed, the monkeys sat them\ndown in a body. And then Hanuman asked her,--\"Who art thou? And to whom\ndoth this cave belong?\" And Hanuman like unto a hill, bowing down unto\nthe old women with joined hands, asked her, saying,--'Who art thou? And\ntell me, to whom belong this edifice and the cave as well as all these\njewels.\"\n\n[164] _i. e._ the subterranean regions.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LI.\n\n\nHaving said this unto that female clad in a piece of black deer-skin,\nHanuman asked that highly religious ascetic practising pious offices,\n\"Having rashly entered this cave enveloped in gloom, we have been\nexercised with hunger and thirst; and are extremely faint. And, having\nentered this mighty cave underneath the earth, we have become thirsty.\nAnd seeing all these wonderful phenomena, we have become afflicted, and\nbewildered; and have lost our sense. To whom belong these golden trees\nresembling the infantine sun; and the pure fruits and roots; and the\nhouses and vehicles of gold and silver,--veiled in networks of jewels,\nand furnished with golden windows? And by whose energy are these golden\ntrees (here), bearing flowers, crowned with fruits, grateful to the\nsight, and breathing rich odour? And golden lotuses spring in lucent\nwater,--how golden fishes are discovered in it along with tortoises!\nHave these sprung from thy power; or do they owe their existence to the\nascetic energy of any other? It behoves thee to relate all this unto us\nwho are ignorant of everything.\" Thus addressed by Hanuman, the female\nascetic practising righteousness, and engaged in the welfare of all\nbeings, replied unto Hanuman,-- \"O foremost of monkeys, there is one,\nnamed Maya, spreader of illusions. By him hath this entire golden grove\nbeen constructed through his wonderful power of construction. He that\nhath reared this excellent golden grove, and this charming mansion, was\nformerly the Vicwakarma[165] of the principal Danavas. Having for a\nthousand years practised austerities in this vast foiest, he obtained a\nboon from the Great-father,-- in virtue of which he had attained\nconsummate mastery in his art, as well as absolute control over the\nmaterials required therein. Having accomplished everything, that\npowerful one, commanding every enjoyment, for a time happily dwelt in\nthis mighty forest. Then he, happening to conceive a passion for an\nApsara, Hema (by name), Purandara,vigorously wielding his thunder-bolt,\nstruck him dead. Then Brahma conferred on Hema this fine forest and this\ngolden mansion, with the perpetual privilege of enjoying every pleasure\nherein. I, Sayamprabha by name,--the daughter of Merusavarni, guard this\nhouse of Hema, O foremost of monkeys. Hema, skilled in dance and song,\nis my dear friend. Having received her blessing, I guard this vast\nforest. What is thy errand? And why is it that ye have arrived at these\nlone woods? And how have you managed to see this inaccessible forest?\nHaving partaken of these fruits and roots intended for use, and drunk,\ndo ye detail all this to me.\"\n\n[165] The name of the celestial architect.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LII.\n\n\nThen to all the monkey-chiefs, after they had rested, the female\nascetic, engaged in righteous practices, eagerly said these words,--\"Ye\nmonkeys, if your pain hath gone off in consequence of the fare of fruits\nwhich you have partaken, and also if it be fit to be heard by me, I\nwould listen to your narration.\" Hearing her words, Hanuman, the son of\nthe wind-god, in all candour began to relate everything faithfully. \"The\nSovereign of all this world, resembling Mahendra or Varuna, Rama, the\ngraceful son of Dacaratha, entered the woods of Dandaka, in company with\nhis brother, Lakshmana, as well as his spouse, Vaidehi. His wife hath\nbeen forcibly carried off by Ravana. His friend is that heroic king, the\nmonkey named Sugriva. By that monarch of the foremost monkeys have we\nbeen despatched (hither). And we have, joining company with these prime\nmonkeys headed by Angada, come to the South, protected by Yama, and\ninhabited by Agastya. And we have been commissioned, 'Do ye all search\nfor the Rakshasa Ravana, wearing forms at will, along with Videha's\ndaughter, Sita'. Having searched through the forest as well as the ocean\non the South, we, becoming hungry, sat down at the foot of a tree. And\nwith pallid countenances, we all, absorbed in thought, sank in a wide\nsea of anxiety, which we could not cross. And casting our eyes around,\nwe spyed a huge cave covered with trees and plants and enveloped in\ngloom. And (it came to pass that) from this (cave) came out swans,\ndrenched with water, with drops of water on their wings,--and plumed\n_kuravas_ and cranes. 'Let us enter here', said I unto the monkeys. And\nthey also arrived at that conclusion.[166] And thereupon they,\nbestirring themselves, entered into the cave. And firmly griping each\nother's hands, they at once made entry into the cave covered with\ndarkness. This is our errand; and it is on this job that we have come.\nAnd having come to thee, hungry and exhausted, we,who had been sore\ntried by hunger, have been entertained with fruits and roots, agreeably\nto the code regulating hospitality. And as thou hast saved the monkeys,\nwho were weary and suffering from hunger, tell (me),--what benefit shall\nthe monkeys do thee in return?\" Thus addressed by the apes, the\nall-knowing Sayamprabha replied unto the monkey-chiefs, saying,--\"Well\npleased am I with the fast-footing monkeys. But by one engaged in my\nduties, there is no work that is desiderated.\" Thus accosted in\nexcellent words fraught with asceticism and righteousness, Hanuman spoke\nunto that one of faultless eyes, saying,--\"We all take refuge in thee,\npractising piety. The term that had been fixed by the high-souled\nSugriva in respect of us, shall all be spent in this cave. Therefore it\nbehoveth thee to deliver us from this place. And it behoveth thee to\nsave us, exercised with fear for Sugriva,--who, happening to override\nSugriva's command, shall lose our lives. And, further, O thou that\npractisest righteousness, great is the task that is to be performed by\nus. But if we stay here, that work of ours shall remain unaccomplished.\"\nThus addressed by Hanuman, the ascetic said,--\"Once entering, hard it is\nfor any one to return (hence) alive. But by the potency of my asceticism\nacquired through self-discipline, I shall deliver all the monkeys from\nthis den. Ye foremost of monkeys, do ye close your eyes. No one is able\nto issue out of this place without closing one's eyes.\" Then\nthey,eagerly desirous of going out, closed their sight[167] with their\nhands furnished with tender fingers. And the magnanimous monkeys, with\ntheir faces covered with their palms, were in the twinkling of an eye,\nliberated from the den by her. And then the pious anchoret spoke unto\nthem there. And when they had come out of the fearful den, cheering them\nup, she said,-- \"This is the fair Vindhya mountain filled with various\ntrees and herbs. This is the Pracravana hill; and this is the great\ndeep. Fair Fortune! I go to my abode, ye foremost of monkeys.\" Having\nspoken thus, Sayamprabha entered that captivating cave.\n\n[166] Namely, _that water was to be found there_.--T.\n\n[167] The text has _nimilitah--and thus they closed their eyes_. This\n      redundant epithet has been left out in the translation, as it\n      would render the version extremely awkward.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LIII.\n\n\nThen they saw the ocean--abode of Varuna--shoreless, resounding, rife\nwith dreadful billows. Exploring the mountain fastness of Maya,[168]\nthey spent the month that had been set by the king. Then sitting down at\nthe foot of the Vindhya mountain, containing blossoming trees, at that\ntime[169] those high-souled ones indulged in reflections. And beholding\nvernal trees bending beneath the load of flowers, and environed by\nhundreds of plants, they were inspired with apprehension. And each\nknowing that spring had appeared, they, the term apppointed for their\ntask having run out, dropped down on the ground. Thereat, with bland\nwords properly honoring the aged apes and the rest dwelling in the\nwoods, that monkey having the shoulders of a lion or a bull, and plump\nand broad arms--the youthful prince Angada, endowed with high wisdom,\nspoke,--\"We have come out at the mandate of the monarch of monkeys.\nWhile we sojourned in the cave, a full month had passed away, ye\nmonkeys. Why do yoti not understand this? We set out, engaging that our\nterm of search should reach no further than the end of Kartika;[170] but\nthat hath expired. Now, what next is to be done? having received the\norders (of the king), ye, conversant with morality, engaged in the\nwelfare of your master, expert in every work,incomparable in execution,\nand renowned in every quarter, have come out, commanded by the lord of\nmonkeys. Now, having failed to attain our object, we shall meet with\ndeath, There is no doubt whatever about this. Who, having been\nunsuccessful in doing the mandate of the king of monkeys, enjoyeth ease?\nNow all the rangers of the forest should fast unto death. Naturally\nstern, Sugriva, established as our master, shall not forgive us, when we\nrepair there, after having disgressed thus. Sita not having been found\nout, Sugriva, for certain, shall commit this sin.[171] Therefore it is\nfit that, forsaking our sons, and wives, and wealth, and homes, we this\nvery day sit down to starve ourselves to death. Death at this place is\npreferrable to the unequal punishment (we must meet with at the hands of\nSugriva). And, further, I have not been installed heir-apparent by\nSugriva: I have been sprinkled by that foremost of kings, Rama of\nuntiring energy. Entertaining enmity against me of old, the king, seeing\nthis lapse, must be firmly determined to take my life by means of a\nsevere sentence. What is the use of suffering my friends to look on my\ndisaster at the last moment of my existence? Therefore even on this\nsacred shore of the sea shall I sit down to starve myself.\" Hearing the\ntender prince speak thus, all those principal monkeys pathetically\nobserved,-- \"Sugriva is harsh by nature, and Raghava loveth his wife\ndearly. The time appointed having passed by, seeing us (come) without\nattaining success in the task, and seeing us arrive without obtaining a\nsight of Vaidehi, (Sugriva) shall certainly slay us from the desire of\ndoing what is agreeable to Raghava. Those who have transgressed, cannot\ncome to the side of their master. Having come hither as the principal\nservants of Sugriva, we shall either see Sita or obtain information\nconcerning her, or else, O hero, we shall repair to the mansion of\nYama.\" Hearing the speeches of the monkeys afflicted with fear, Tara\nsaid,--\"No use of indulging in grief. If ye relish it, let us all\nentering the cave, dwell there. This place abounding in flowers and\nwaters, meats and drinks,-- which hath been brought forth by the power\nof illusion, is incapable of being approached. Here we have no fear from\nPurandara, or Raghava, or the king of monkeys.\" Hearing the welcome\nwords of Angada, the monkeys, being convinced, said,--\"Do thou this very\nday so order that we may not be slain.\"\n\n[168] Named Rhikshavila.--T.\n\n[169] _i. e._ at the beginning of winter.--T.\n\n[170] _October._\n\n[171] _i. e._ slay us.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LIV.\n\n\nWhen Tara, bright as the moon, had spoken thus, Hanuman felt as if\nAngada had already deprived (Sugriva) of his kingdom.[172] Hanuman\ndeemed Vali's son as endowed with intelligence consisting of eight\nelements; with power of four kinds; and the four and ten virtues; as\never fraught with energy, strength and prowess; as growing in grace like\nthe moon during the lighted fortnight; as resembling Brihaspati in\nintelligence; and in prowess, his own sire; and as ever listening to\nTara's counsels, as Purandara listens to the counsels of Sukra. And\nHanuman versed in all branches of learning, finding Angada Backward in\nthe affair of his master, began to inspire him with fear.[173] He,\nwealthy in words, laying under contribution the second of the four\nmeans,[174] had created division among those monkeys. On their being\ndivided, he (Hanuman) set about raising Angada's apprehension by various\nfear-fraught speech, referring to punishments. \"O Tara's son, thou art\nfor certain more capable of fight than even thy sire; and thou art also\nable to hold the monkey-kingdom as firmly as he. But, O foremost of\nmonkeys, the monkeys are always inconstant in character. Bereft of their\nwives and sons, they shall not bear thy behest. And they shall never\ntake to thee. This I tell thee in presence of all. And I will tell thee\nwhat. Thou neither by the virtues of conciliation, charity and the rest,\nnor by chastisement, shalt succeed in drawing to thy side this Jambavan,\nor Nila, or the mighty ape Suhotra, or myself. A strong one wronging\nanother that is weak, can live; therefore a weak person anxious for\nself-preservation, should never wrong (a strong individual). Thou\nconsiderest that this cave may serve for thy protectress,[175] having\nheard of it (said by Tara); but to rive the same is but light work for\nthe shafts of Lakshmana. Formerly this was cleft a little by Indra, with\nhis thunderbolt hurled (against it)[176]; but now Lakshmana would pierce\nit like a leaf-stalk, by means of his keen arrows. Lakshmana hath many\nan iron arrow like Indra's thunderbolt or that of the sky,[177] capable\nof riving even mountains. O subduer of enemies, soon as thou shalt set\nup here, the monkeys, making up their minds, shall forsake thee.\nRemembering their wives and sons, ever anxious (on account of Sugriva),\npining for domestic happiness, and aggrieved (at their pitiable plight),\nthey shall turn their backs upon thee. Then forsaken by thy kindred as\nwell as friends seeking thy welfare, thou shalt be struck with affright\neven at a quaking blade of grass. If thou make head (against Sugriva),\nthe sharpened shafts of Lakshmana, terrible, of exceeding impetuosity\nand mighty vehemence, and incapable of being baffled, shall be eager to\nslay thee. On the contrary, if thou in humble guise present thyself\n(before him) along with us, he shall establish thee in the kingdom, in\nconsideration of thy being the next heir. A righteous sovereign, steady\nin vow, clean, and truthful in promise, thy uncle, who cherishes\naffection for thee, shall not by any means chastise thee. And he loves\nthy mother, and his life is for her; and she hath no other son.\nTherefore, O Angadu, go along with us.\"\n\n[172] The sense is very obscure. One meaning is that Hanuman thought\n      that Angada acquiescing in what Tara had said, must remain\n      there,--and ultimately endeavour to wrest the kingdom from\n      Sugriva. Another meaning is: Hanuman conceived that remaining\n      there in peace, Angada would consider his Position as enviable as\n      if he had extorted the kingdom from Sugriva.--T.\n\n[173] Touching Tara.--T.\n\n[174] Referred to above.--T.\n\n[175] The word meaning _cave_ is feminine in Sanskrit.--T.\n\n[176] The commentator interprets the passage differently: \"Formerly\n      Indra did a little damage herein--_i. e._ merely slew Maya, the\n      architect of the mansion.\" This is ingenuity. I give the plain\n      sense.--T.\n\n[177] _Vajracani--Vajra_ is the thunder-bolt in the hand of Indra, and\n      _Acani--_ the thunder-bolt produced by clouds.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LV.\n\n\nHearing Hanuman's speech, uttered meekly, fraught with morality, and\nreflecting honor upon Sugriva, Angada said,-- \"Firmness, and mental\nsanctity, mercy, candour, prowess, and patience, are not in Sugriva. He\nthat, while her son is living, appropriateth the beloved queen of his\nelder brother, mother unto him by morality, is hated of all beings). How\ncan he that could cover up the mouth of the cave, when he had been\ndesired by his brother gone on martial mission, to guard the same,--(how\ncan _he_) know morality? Whose good office rememhereth _he_ who could\nforget the renowned Raghava himself of mighty deeds, after having, in\nthe name of truth, taken his hand? How can he reap religious merit, that\ndirected us to search Sita here, from fear of Lakshmana, and not from\nfear of unrighteousness? What noble person, in especial, sprung in his\nrace, shall any longer repose confidence in that impious one of unstable\nsoul who hath run amuck of morality? Meritorious or otherwise, how can\nSugriva, having installed in the kingdom me, son (of his enemy) and the\nenemy sprung in his race,--suffer me to live? How can I, whose counsels\nhave been revealed, who have transgressed, and who have been deprived of\nmy power, repairing to Kishkindha like one forlorn and feeble, live? For\nthe sake of his kingdom, Sugriva, wily, cunning and cruel, shall put me\nin solitary confinement. For me fasting to death is better than being\nconfined and suffering the consequent misery. Do ye grant me your\npermision; and go to your homes, ye monkeys. I vow before you, to the\npalace I will never repair. At this very spot will I fast for death; as\ndeath is good for me. Bowing unto the king as well as unto the powerful\nRaghava, ye should communicate my well-being unto Sugriva--lord of\napes--and my health and peace unto my mother Uma. And it behoves you\nalso to console my mother, Tara. Naturally fond of her son, and\noverflowing with tenderness, that lorn one, hearing of my death at this\nplace, shall certainly renounce her life.\" Having said this, Angada,\nsaluting the elders, with a woebegone face entered the earth covered\nwith grass. When he had entered, those foremost monkeys, stricken with\nsorrow, weeping shed warm tears from their eyes. And censuring Sugriva\nand praising Vali, they, surrounding Angada, determined to starve\nthemselves to death. Taking to heart the speech of Vali's son, those\nprime monkeys, sipping water, sat down facing the East. And sitting on\nthe edge of the water on grass pointing to the south, the foremost\nmonkeys, wishing for surcease, thought within themselves,--\"Even this is\nfit for us.\" And as they spoke of the exile of Rama and the demise of\nDacaratha, the carnage in Janasthana, the slaying of Jatayu, the\nravishment of Vaidehi, the slaughter of Vali, and the ire of Rama, the\nmonkeys were seized with fear. When those monkeys resembling\nmountain-summits had entered in, they set up cries, which, like unto the\nrumbling of clouds, making the sky resound, made that mountain with its\nrills reverberate.\n\n\n\nSECTION LVI.\n\n\nWhen the monkeys had been seated in that mountain, with the intention of\nputting a period to their existence through fasting, a king of vultures\nhappened to come to that quarter. And that long-lived bird was named\nSampati, the beautiful brother of Jatayu, famous for his strength and\nprowess. Issuing from a cavern of the mighty mountain Vindhya, he,\nseeing the monkeys seated, well pleased, said-- \"Verily man[178] reapeth\nthe fruit of his former acts; and therefore it is that this food\nordained to that end, comes to me after a long time. I shall feed on\nthese monkeys, one by one, slaying them one after another.\" Eying those\napes, the bird expressed himself thus. Hearing this speech of the bird\ncoveting his food, Angada faintly spoke to Hanuman, \"Behold! through\nSita's simplicity[179] this one--the very son of the Sun, Yama--hath\ncome to this place, to exterminate the monkeys. Rama's work hath not\nbeen done; nor the royal mandate. And this disaster hath arrived\nunthought of by the monkeys. Ye have in detail heard all that, inspired\nwith the desire of doing what is good unto Vaidehi, that king of\nvultures, Jatayu, did here. In this way, all creatures, even the brute\nspecies, compass the welfare of Rama, renouncing their lives, as we do.\nIt is because of the love and tenderness[180] they bear towards (Rama),\nthat people do good unto each other. And therefore the righteous Jatayu,\nof his own accord laying down his life, hath done the pleasure of Rama.\nWe also, overcome with fatigue and (almost) dying, have come to this\nforest; but Mithila's daughter we find not. Happy is that king of\nvultures, having been slain by Ravana in battle. He hath got quit of the\nfear of Sugriva, and hath also attained supreme state. In consequence of\nthe death of Jatayu and that of king Dacaratha, as well as owing to the\nravishment of Vaidehi, (the lives of) the monkeys have come into\njeopardy. Rama's and Lakshmana's abode in the forest with Sita,\nRaghava's slaying of Vali with a shaft, the slaughter of innumerable\nRakshasas by the enraged Rama, and (finally) this mishap--all these owe\ntheir orgin to the bestowal of the boon on Kaikeyi.\" Seeing the monkeys\nstretched on the earth, and hearing their piteous words describing their\ngrief, that magnanimous king of vultures, with his mind agitated, said\n(this). And hearing the words that issued from Angada's mouth, the\nsharp-beaked and high-toned vulture, said,-- \"Who is it that, making my\nmind tremble, speaketh of the death of my brother, Jatayu, dearer unto\nme than life? How happened in Janasthana the fight between the Rakshasa\nand the vulture? It is after a long time that to-day I hear the name of\nmy brother. I wish to alight from this mountain-fastness. I have been\nwell pleased by listening after a long time to the celebration of the\nvirtues of my younger brother, cognizant of qualities and worthy of\nbeing extolled by reason of his prowess. Ye foremost of monkeys, I wish\nto hear of the destruction of Jatayu, who dwelt in Janasthana. And how\ncould Dacaratha, whose beloved eldest son is Rama, dear unto his\nsuperiors, be the friend of my brother? I can not move in consequence of\nmy wings having been burnt by the solar rays. But I wish that ye may\ntake me down from this mountain.\"\n\n[178] Although out of character, the epithet _naram--man (acc.)_--is\n      used by the vulture.--T.\n\n[179] Another reading is _Gridhra padesana--through the vulture's\n      cunning_. This the commentator considers as preferrable.--T.\n\n[180] The commentator explains in pure orthodox fashion: _Because\n      everything is in Rama, people serve each other from the love and\n      tenderness, which pertain to him.--T._\n\n\n\nSECTION LVII.\n\n\nHearing his accents faltering through grief, the leaders of\nmonkey-herds, alarmed by his action,[181] did not repose confidence in\nhis speech. Seated for the purpose of fasting to death, the monkeys,\nseeing the vulture, with terror thought within themselves,--\"He shall\neat us all up. If he eat us up, who have sat down to fast to death, we\nshall secure success, and speedily attain our end.\" Then those\nmonkey-chiefs resolved thus. And descending from the summit of the\nmountain, Angada spoke unto the vulture,--\"There was a lord of monkeys\nnamed Rhiksharaja, endowed with prowess. That king, O bird, was my\ngrandsire. He had two virtuous sons, exceedingly powerful both--Vali and\nSugriva. My father, Vali, was famed in the world for his deeds. And it\ncame to pass that mighty monarch of all this earth, descendant of the\nIkshwakus, the great and graceful car-warrior, Rama, son unto Dacaratha,\nintent upon the injunction of his sire, resorting to the path of\nrighteousness, entered the woods of Dandaka in company with his brother,\nLakshmana and his wife Vaidehi. And his spouse was forcibly carried away\nfrom Janasthana. And the friend of Rama's father, the king of vultures,\nnamed Jatayu, saw Videha's daughter, Sita, as she was being carried away\nin the sky. And after having thrown down Ravana from his car, and placed\nMaithili on the ground, (that vulture) old and overcome with fatigue was\n(at length) slain by Ravana in battle. Thus slain by the powerful\nRavana, the vulture, having had his funereal obsequies performed by Rama\n(himself), hath attained excellent state. Then Raghava made friends with\nmy uncle, the high-souled Sugriva; and he also slew my sire. My father\nhad debarred Sugriva from the kingdom along with his counsellors; but\nRama, having slain Vali, installed him (Sugriva). And established in the\nmonarchy by him (Rama), Sugriva is (now) the master of the monkeys and\nking of all the foremost monkeys. By him have we been sent. Despatched\nhither by Rama, we have searched for Sita all round, but Vaidehi we have\nnot found, as one doth not find the solar splendour at night. And it\ncame to pass that, having heedfully explored the Dandaka forest, we\nthrough ignorance entered a cave lying open before. That cave, thou must\nknow, was constructed by the illusive energy of Maya. And there we spent\na month--the term which had been fixed by the monarch. Doing the behests\nof the king of monkeys, we, having over-stayed the term which had been\nappointed, have from fear sat here down for the purpose of fasting unto\ndeath. On that Kakutstha being wrought up with wrath, as well as Sugriva\ntogether with Lakshmana, we, repairing thither, shall lose our lives.\"\n\n[181] _Karmana (instru) by his action._ The commentator explains:\n      _alarmed by his speech about eating up the monkeys_. The passage\n      is obscure.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LVIII.\n\n\nWhen the monkeys, whose lives had well nigh departed out of them, had\nspoken these piteous words, the vulture, in solemn accents, with tears\nin his eyes, said unto the monkeys, --\"Ye monkeys, ye have said that my\nyounger brother, named Jatayu, hath been slain in battle by the powerful\nRavana. On account of my age and want of wings, I, although hearing\nthis, bear it. Nor have I strength to-day to clear scores touching my\nbrother's enmity. Formerly, while engaged in the destruction of Vritra,\nhe and I, burning for victory, soared in the sky near the flaming sun,\ngarlanded by glory. Thence impetuously wheeling round, we went to the\ncelestial regions along the etherial way. And it came to pass that,\ncoming midway of the sun, Jatayu was faint. Witnessing my brother\nseverely struck by the solar rays, and exceedingly stupified, I from\naffection shadowed him with my wings. Thereat, my pinions scathed, I\ndropped down on Vindhya, ye foremost of monkeys; and staying here, I\ncould not know the circumstances that have befallen my brother.\" Thus\naddressed by Jatayu's brother, Sampati, the eminently wise prince Angada\nanswered,--\"if thou art indeed the brother of Jatayu, having heard what\nI have related, tell (us) if thou knowest touching the abode of that\nRakshasa. Tell us if thou knowest anent that short-sighted worst of\nRakshasas, Ravana, whether staying far or near.\" Thereat, rejoicing the\nmonkeys, the exceedingly energetic elder brother of Jatayu spoke words\nworthy of him,--\"Ye monkeys, my pinions have been burnt; and I am a\nvulture shorn of strength. Therefore I will help Rama well by my words.\nI know the realms of Varuna, and Vishnu's Trivikrama[182] worlds, the\nwars of the gods and Asuras, and the churning for ambrosia. And albeit\nage hath deprived me of energy, and albeit my life hangs loosely on me,\nyet, if this is Rama's work, it should be done by me first. I have seen\na youthful and beautiful female, adorned with all ornaments, carried\naway by the wicked Ravana,--the lady (all the while) crying, 'O Rama!'\n'O Rama!' 'O Lakshmana!' And taking her ornaments from her person, she\nwas throwing them on the ground. Her silken cloth seemed like the solar\nsplendour on the summit of a mountain; and herself beside the sable\nRakshasa, looked like the lightning in the welkin (beside clouds). From\nyour relation of Rama, I conclude that she must be Sita. Now listen to\nme as I tell you about the abode of that Rakshasa. Son unto Vicravana\nand brother unto Vaicravana, the Rakshasa named Ravana resides in the\ncity of Lanka. And the lovely city of Lanka, reared by Vicwakarma, lieth\na full hundred _yojanas_ hence on an island in the sea; furnished with\ngolden gateways, filled with variegated daises, lordly gold-gleaming\npalaces; and girt round with great walls hued like sunshine. There\nstayeth Vaidehi, forlorn and clad in a silken cloth,--confined in the\ninner apartment of Ravana, and carefully guarded by Rakshasis. In Lanka\nprotected all round by the sea, ye shall behold Janaka's daughter,\nMaithili. At the end of the ocean after a full hundered _yojanas_,\narriving at its southern shore, ye shall see Ravana. Ye monkeys, do ye\nhie thither speedily with vigor. I perceive by my knowledge that having\nseen (that place), ye shall come back. The first course belongs to\nfork-tailed shrikes and others living on grain; the second, to those\nthat live on animals and fruits; the third is ranged by Bhashas; the\nfourth by Kraunchas, Kuvaras and hawks; the fifth by vultures; the sixth\nbelongs to swans endowed with youth and beauty; and the next to the\nVainateyas. We have derived our origin from Vainateya.[183] (By\ndespatching you thither), I shall avenge the heinous deed perpetrated by\nthe cannibal, as well as the wrong done by Ravana unto my brother.\nResting here, I see Ravana and Janaki. We have excellent _Sauparna_[184]\nclairvoyance. For this reason, as well as owing to the energy consequent\non our feeding on certain kinds of flesh, we, ye monkeys, can see a\nlittle further than an hundred _yojanas_. Therefore (the Deity) hath\nordained such food for us as are fraught with the power of making one\nsee from a great distance. And the abode of cocks and others being\nunderneath trees, their sight is limited to the extent which they\nrequire to see. Do ye look about for means to cross over the salt\nwaters. Having met with Vaidehi, do ye, having achieved success, come\nback. I wish to be taken by you to the ocean--abode of Varuna. I will\noffer water unto (the manes of) my high-souled brother, who hath gone to\nheaven.\" Thereat those heroes, the monkeys possessed of exceeding\nenergy, carried to the destined spot on the shore of the ocean, Sampati,\nwhose wings had been scathed. Then carrying that lord of vultures back\nto the self-same place, the monkeys, furnished with information\n(concerning Sita), experienced great joy.\n\n[182] _i. e._ the worlds enveloped by his three steps during his Dwarf\n      Incarnation.--T.\n\n[183] Aruna, son unto Vinata.--T.\n\n[184] Clairvoyance attained by success in knowledge respecting the\n      spiritual Golden eyes. Thus far the commentator. We leave the\n      abstruse point to the apostles of theosophy and spiritism for\n      illucidation.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LIX.\n\n\nThen hearing that ambrosial speech of the vulture-king, the\nmonkey-chiefs, being delighted, kept on parleying (on that topic). Then\nJambavan--foremost of monkeys--together with all the monkeys, arising\nsuddenly from the ground spoke unto the vulture-king, saying,--\"Where is\nSita? By whom hath she been seen? And who hath carried away Mithila's\ndaughter? Do thou tell ue all about this, and (thus) prove the path of\nthose rangers of the woods. Who is there that doth not take heed of the\nforce of Dacarathi's[185] and Lakshmana's arrows, speeding with the\nvehemence of thunder?\" Thereat, cheering up those monkeys, who had risen\nfrom their attitudes of fasting, and who were all attention to hear news\nconcerning Sita, he (Sampati), well pleased, said these words,--\"Listen\nas to how I came to know of the ravishment of Vaidehi, Sita, at this\nplace; and who it was that told me where that one of expansive eyes is.\nFor a long time I lay here, old, and of feeble life and energy. That\nbest of birds, my son named Suparcwa, coming to me, at the proper hour\nmaintained me with food. Gandharbas are exceedingly lascivious; serpents\nare exceedingly wrathful; fear is excessive in deer; and we have\nexcessive hunger. Once on a time my son, going forth about sunrise to\nprocure food for me who was suffering from hunger and (accordingly)\neager for it, came back in the evening without any flesh. Hurt (by my\nspeech uttered) in consequence of my non-receipt of food, that enhancer\nof my joy, asking my forgiveness, said these words fraught with\nfact,--'Father, taking to my wings at the proper time for procuring\nflesh, I (went) and stood, obstructing the pass of the Mahendra\nmountain. There stood I looking down, obstructing the way of thousands\nof creatures ranging the sea. There I saw somebody resembling a mass of\ncrushed collyrium, going away, taking a female resembling the rising sun\nin splendour. Seeing them, I had made up my mind that they should serve\nfor thy fare, when he humbly in a pacific manner begged for way. Even\namong the mean, there is none on earth that can slay people who assume a\nmild attitude. What shall I say, alas! of superior ones like myself? And\nsummoning celerity, he went on as if pushing off the sky by his energy.\nThen the rangers of the air and other beings worshipped me. And the\nMaharshis said unto me,--_By luck it is that Sita is still living_[186]\n--_He together with a female, having passed by thee, certainly augurs\ngood fortune unto thee_.[187] --Then those eminently handsome Siddhas\nspoke thus unto me.--_This is Ravana, the king of the Rakshasas_, said\nthey unto me. And I (stood), beholding the wife of Rama, son unto\nDacaratha,--throwing off her ornaments and silken apparel, overwhelmed\nby might of sorrow, with hair dishevelled crying out the names of Rama\nand Lakshmana. This O father, is the reason of my passing the time.'\nThat best of those skilled in speech, Suparcwa, said all this unto me.\nEven hearing of this, I could not think of putting forth prowess. How\ncan a bird bereft of wings, undertake any thing? But listen! I will tell\nyou as to what I am capable of through speech, intellect and merit, and\nwhat ye can exert your manliness in. I will do what is agreeable unto\nyou by my words and my intention. That which is Dacarathi's work is also\nmine. Of this there is no doubt. Ye, foremost in intelligence, strong,\nintellectual, and incapable of being overcome by the gods themselves,\nhave been despatched by the monarch of monkeys. And Rama's and\nLakshmana's shafts furnished with the feathers of the Kanka, are\ncompetent to afflict or save the three worlds. And although the\nTen-necked one is endowed with strength and energy, yet to you who are\ncompetent, nothing is hard to accomplish. There is no need of delay.\nMake up your minds. Persons like you do not give way to laziness in\nenterprise.\"\n\n[185] _Lit._ Dacaratha's son. The term it applied in especial to\n      Rama.--T.\n\n[186] The commentator supplies the elipsis thus,--\"_Coming within thy\n      ken_ by luck, Sita is living.\"\n\n[187] The passage is obscure. The commentator has glossed over this\n      _sloka_, and the meaning is none the clearer for his\n      explanation.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LX.\n\n\nWhen the vulture had offered oblations of water unto the manes of his\ndeceased brother and finished his ablutions, the monkey-chiefs sat down\nin that charming mountain, surrounding him. And inspired with confidence\n(in the words of the Nicakara), Sampati, from delight, said unto Angada,\nwho was seated, surrounded by all the monkeys,-- \"Remaining silent, do\nye, ye monkeys, needfully hear what I say. I will tell you truly how I\ncame to know Maithili. My body being affected by solar heat, and my\nwings burnt by the rays of the sun, O sinless one, I formerly fell to\nthis summit of Vindhya. On regaining my senses after six nights, during\nwhich I was insensible, I looked around in bewilderment, but could not\nrecognise anything whatever. Then closely viewing oceans and mountains,\nrivers and tanks, and woods and countries, my thoughts came back to me.\nAnd seeing this place abounding in cheerful birds, containing woods and\ncrested with summits, I for certain concluded it to be Vindhya on the\nshores of the Southern sea. And here lay a sacred asylum, honored even\nby the celestials, and here dwelt a saint named Nicakara, of fierce\nausterities. And after Nicakara cognizant of virtue had gone to heaven,\nI bereft of that saint, passed eight thousand years in this mountain.\nDescending with difficulty from the uneven top of Vindhya, I again\ncame[188] to the earth covered with sharp-pointed grass. I was eager to\nsee the saint; and (therefore), with much ado I came to him; and Jatayu\nand myself saw that saint many a time and oft. A fragrant breeze blew\nabout the hermitage; and no tree was found that did not bear flowers and\nfruits. Approaching the holy asylum, I, desirous of beholding the\nworshipful Nicakara, waited at the foot of a tree. Then at a distance I\nsaw the saint, flaming in energy and irrepressible,--returning\nnorthwards. And as creatures gather round a giver, bears and _Srimaras_,\ntigers, lions, and various reptiles, were going along, surrounding him.\nAnd knowing that the saint had arrived (at his home), the animals went\naway, as go away forces together with counsellors, when the sovereign\nhath entered (his palace).--The saint was glad on seeing me. Then\nre-entering his asylum for a short space, he came out and enquired for\nmy mission. 'O mild one, in consequence of thy feathers having undergone\nalteration, I cannot recognise thee. Thy two wings have been blasted by\nfire; and thy powers in thy frail frame are (in the same condition).\nAforetime I saw two vultures like unto wind in speed,--kings of\nvultures, brothers, wearing shapes at will. Thou art I know, elder, O\nSampati; and Jatayu is younger to thee. Assuming human forms, you had\ntaken hold of my feet. Now, what ailment hath attacked thee? And why\nhave thy plumes fallen off? And who hath dealt this punishment unto\nthee? Do thou tell all this unto me, who am asking thee'.\"\n\n[188] While the saint was staying here.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXI.\n\n\nThereat Sampati related unto the ascetic all about his fearful,\narduous,and rash act of following up the sun. '\"O reverend sire, in\nconsequence of my body suffering from sores, I, my senses bewildered\nfrom shame, and myself fatigued, cannot utter words. From pride for\npower of flight, I and Jatayu, being intoxicated by conceit, began to\nvoyage the sky afar off, with the view of testing each other's prowess,\nbinding ourselves by the vow that we would follow the Sun so long as he\ndid not enter that mighty Setting mountain,--and appear before the\nascetics on the summit of Kailacya. And simultaneously plunging (into\nthe aerial deep) we saw on the earth beneath separate cities resembling\ncar-wheels; and here the sound of musical instruments; and there the\ntinklings of ornaments. And (at places) we beheld many a damsel clad in\nred attire, engaged in singing. And swiftly darting up into the sky and\napproaching the path of the Sun, we saw a wood interspersed with swards.\nAnd we saw the earth covered with crags and masses of rocks, and\nintersected by streams resembling threads. And Himavan, and Vindhya, and\nthat mighty mountain, Meru, appeared on the earth like elephants in a\ntank. Then we began to sweat, and to be filled with regret; and fear\nseized us both. And we became bewildered; and fainted away\nfrightfully.[189] And we knew not the south, or the west, or the quarter\npresided over by Fire;[190] and the world that was still burning at the\nend of a yuga, appeared (unto us) as if it had been consumed quite.[191]\nAnd my mind, combined with my eyes waxed feebler. And then fixing with\nmight and main my eyes as well as my mind (on the sun), I could by a\nviolent exercise of my energy behold the sun. And the sun shining,\nappeared unto us like the earth in extent. Then, without asking me\nJatayu dropped to the earth. Seeing him, I at once descended from the\nsky and Jatayu was not burnt in consequence of having been shielded by\nmy wings. And scathed through the agitation[192] I fell through the\naerial way. I guessed that Jatayu fell in Janasthana. And I myself, my\nwings blasted, and rendered inert, fell on Vindhya. Deprived of my\nkingdom, and my brother, and my wings, and my prowess, I wishing to put\na period to my existence, will hurl myself headlong from this summit of\nthe mountain.\"\n\n[189] Consequent on Jatayu having dropped down.--T.\n\n[190] South-east.--T.\n\n[191] The passage is obscure. This is however, all the explanation that\n      the commentator has to give.--T.\n\n[192] Ramanuya comments: \"the confusion seized them as the sun was\n      midway. They lost ail sense of direction. The faint\n      succeeded\".--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXII.\n\n\nHaving said this unto that foremost of ascetics, I smitten with grief,\nbegan to weep. Thereat, after, reflecting for a while, that reverend one\nsaid,--\"Thy wings together with two smaller ones shall grow again; as\nalso thy sight, energy, prowess and strength. And having heard of it,\nand also seen it through ascetic power, I know that a great deed is\ngoing to take place. There shall be a king named Dacaratha, increaser of\nthe Ikshwaku race. He shall have a son, named Rama, endowed with\nexceeding energy. And he (Rama) shall repair to the forest in company\nwith his brother, Lakshmana; that one having truth for prowess, having\nbeen commissioned to that effect by his sire. A fiend named Ravana, the\nlord of Rakshasas, incapable of being slain by either the gods or the\nDanavas, shall carry off his (Rama's) spouse in Janasthana. And albeit\ntempted by viands and objects of enjoyment and desire, the famous and\nhighly virtuous one, plunged in grief, shall not pertake of those\nthings. And knowing that Videha's daughter (hath been fasting for many a\nday), Vasava shall offer Vaidehi _payaca_ like unto ambrosia, difficult\nof being procured even by the gods. Receiving that food, Maithili,\nknowing that it hath come from Indra,[193] took up a little of it from\nthe surface, and dropped it to the earth for Rama. Whether my husband as\nwell as his younger brother live, or they have attained godhead, let\nthis food serve for them.' Rama's envoys, having been despatched\nthither,[194] shall come hither. Thou shouldst relate unto them all the\nfacts connected with the queen of Rama. Do not by any means go hence;\nand in this case, whither, again, wilt thou repair? Do thou stay here\nfor season and place. Thou shalt regain thy wings. I could this very day\nfurnish thee with wings. But, by staying here in this condition, thou\nwilt be able to compass the welfare of the worlds. Even thou shalt do\nthat act in behalf of those sons of the king, of the Brahmanas, of the\nspiritual preceptors, of the ascetics, and of Vasava. I also am desirous\nof beholding the brothers, Rama and Lakshmana. I do not wish to hold\nthis life long. I would renounce my life.' That Maharshi, conversant\nwith the nature of things, told me this.\"\n\n[193] From the fact of the food not touching the earth, and other signs.\n      It is humorous to read the explanation of the commentator as to\n      the reason of Indra's supplying Sita with food. \"If Sita remained\n      fasting, Ravana would forego his attachment for Vaidehi, on seeing\n      her altered appearance; and thus his destruction could not take\n      place. Further, if he saw Sita retaining her former loveliness, he\n      could conclude that Sita, as also Rama, were superhuman character,\n      and that as such they could not be agents for his destruction\n      according to the prophecy \"Ravana shall be slain by a human\n      being.\" This inducing him to persist in his bellicose attitude\n      towards Rama, would bring down rain upon his head.\"--T.\n\n[194] For going to Lanka.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXIII.\n\n\nHaving praised me with these and many other words, and bidden me adieu\nthat one skilled in speech, entered his own habitation. Issuing out\ngently from the cave of that mountain, I, ascending Vindhya, was\nexpecting you. The space covered by the time intervening between then\nand to-day is a little over an hundred years;[195] and laying up in my\nheart the speech of that ascetic, I have been awaiting season and place.\nSetting out on his great journey, on Nicakara having gone to heaven, I\ndistracted with various thoughts, have been consumed by grief.[196] My\nrising intention of doing away with myself I have suppressed in\nconsideration of the words of the ascetic. The reason which he had\nimparted unto me for preserving my life, hath removed my pains, even as\na flaming fire (dispells darkness). And knowing the prowess of the\nimpious Ravana, I said in rage to my son, versed in speech,--'Hearing\nher lamentation, and knowing them[197] bereft of Sita, why didst thou\nnot deliver her?' My son did not do this good office unto Dacaratha,\ninfluenced by affection for him.\" As he was speaking thus in the midst\nof the monkeys, his wings sprang up in presence of the rangers of the\nforest. Thereupon, seeing his person furnished with grown pinions hued\nlike the infant sun, he experienced incomparable raptures, and addressed\nthe monkeys, saying,-- \"By the grace of that Rayarshi of immeasurable\nenergy, my wings, which had been burnt up by the rays of the sun, have\ngrown again. To-day I have got (back) the strength and prowess which I\npossessed while my youth was yet present. Do ye strive every way. Ye\nshall meet with Sita. And my getting (back) my wings inspires (us) with\nconfidence as to success.\" Having said this unto all the monkeys, that\nranger of the sky and best of birds. Sampati, anxious to ascertain his\npower of flight, flew up from the mountain summits. Hearing his words,\nthose powerful monkeys, with vigour (enhanced), seeing success before\nthem, felt the height of joy. Then those foremost of monkeys, in vigor\nresembling the Wind, getting occasion for displaying their prowess,\nintent wpon searching the Janaka's daughter, set forward towards the\nquarter crested by Abhijit.[198]\n\n[195] The commentator says \"The period is one hundred and eight\n      years.\"--T.\n\n[196] For the loss of my plumage.--T.\n\n[197] Rama and Lakshmana.--T.\n\n[198] _Abhijitabhimukhan (acc.) Abhijit_--the name of a star. _Abhijit_\n      may also mean--he who is to be conquered. Then the sense would be,\n      \"the region in which Ravana was.\"--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXIV.\n\n\nHaving heard all this related to them by the vulture-king, the monkeys\npossessing the strength of lions, filled with delight, bounded and set\nup a roar. Hearing from Sampati that Ravana was to be slain, the monkeys\ngrowing glad, came to the ocean, with the desire of seeing Sita. And\ncoming to that country, these ones prossessing dreadful prowess, beheld\n(the sea) reflecting the image of this entire mighty world. And arriving\nat the northern side of the Southern sea, those exceedingly powerful\nheroic monkeys took up their quarters there. And seeing the sea, here as\nif asleep, there, as if playful, and at another place with surges\nmeasuring mountains; and thronged with the foremost Danavas inhabiting\nthe nether regions; and capable of causing one's hair to stand on end,\nthose powerful monkeys were seized with sadness. And seeing the sea,\nincapable of being crossed even as the sky, all the monkeys began to\nlament, saying,--\"What is to be done?\" And that best of monkeys--\n(Angada), seeing the army cast down because of the sight of the sea,\nbegan to comfort the monkeys, afflicted with fear. \"We should not\nindulge in grief. Grief is injurious.-- Grief destroys a person even as\na wrathful serpent doth a boy. He that, when the time is come for\ndisplaying his prowess, indulges in sorrow, growing weak in energy,\nfails to attain his object.\" That night having passed away, Angada in\ncompany with the monkeys, joined by the old ones, again took counsel\nwith them. And that monkey-host surrounding Angada, resembled the host\nof Maruts environing Vasava. Who save Vali's son (stationed) at one\nplace and at another Hanuman, could be capable of stilling that force?\nThen saluting the elders as well as the army, the graceful Angada--\nrepressor of foes--spoke words fraught with sense,--\"What person, endued\nwith exceeding energy, shall now leap over the main? Who shall serve\nthat subduer of enemies, Sugriva, ever intent on truth? What monkey can\nleap over an hundred _yojanas_? Who shall deliver leaders of herds from\na mighty fear? By whose favor shall we, crowned with success and\nrendered happy, returning from this place, shall behold our wives and\nour sons, and our homes? By whose favor shall we joyfully meet Rama, and\nthe mighty Lakshmana, and that dweller in the woods, Sugriva? If any\nmonkey among you is competent to bound over the deep, let him at once\nconfer on us Dakshina in the shape of deliverance from fear.\" Hearing\nAngada's speech, none said anything. And that host of monkeys wavered.\nThen that foremost of monkeys again addressed those monkeys,\nsaying,--All of you are the foremost of strong ones, and of steady\nprowess. And ye have sprung in blameless lines, and are ever honored (by\nthe king). And yet no one of you can promise to undertake this journey?\nYe best of monkeys, unfold your respective powers in bounding.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXV.\n\n\nHearing Angada's speech, those foremost monkeys one after another began\nto speak, touching their respective competence in coursing--Gaya, and\nGavaksha, and Gavaya, and Sarabha, and Gandhamadana, and Mainda, and\nDwivida, and Angada, and Jambavan. And Gaya said.--\"I can leap over ten\n_yojanas_\" And Gavaksha said,--\"I shall go twenty _yojanas_\" And the\nmonkey Sarabha said to those monkeys,--\"Ye monkeys, I shall go thirty\n_yojanas_.\" And the monkey, Rhishava, said to those monkeys,--\"I shall,\nwithout doubt, go forty _yojanas_\" And the exceedingly energetic monkey,\nGandhamadana, said,--\"I shall, for certain go fifty _yojanas_.\" And the\nmonkey Mainda said unto the monkeys there,--\"I shall undertake to leap\nover sixty _yojanas_.\" And then the highly energetic Dwivida said,--\"I\nshall, for certain, go seventy _yojanas_. And the highly powerful\nSushena, possessed of strength--foremost of monkeys said-- \"I declare\nthat in motion I am equal to eighty _yojanas_.\" As they were speaking\nthus, the oldest of them all, Jambavan, saluting them,\nanswered--\"Formerly we had power of motion. But now we have waxed\nexceeding old. Although this is so, yet we can not overlook this, as\nboth Rama and the monkey-king (by sending us) have become sure of\nsuccess. At present do thou understand the course that is ours. I shall\ngo ninety _yojanas_. There is no doubt whatever about this.\" Jambavan\nsaid this unto those choice monkeys. But (formerly) my prowess in\nleaping was forsooth not such.[199] Of old in the sacrifice of\nVirochana's son, the eternal Lord Vishnu, when he had covered the entire\nuniverse with three steps, was circumambulated by me. But I who was all\nthis, have waxed old, and my vigor sits feebly upon me. In my youth,\nhowever, my strength was exceeding great and incomparable. Now I can\nonly by my own energy, course thus far. But such a bound shall not bring\nsuccess on our undertaking. After this, saluting the mighty monkey,\nJambavan, the wise Angada spoke straight sense, saying,--\"I can go over\nthis mighty hundred _yojanas_; but there is no certainty as to my power\nof returning.\" Thereat, Jambavan, cognizant of speech, said unto that\nforemost of monkeys,--\"O foremost of leonine ones, we know thy power of\nmotion, thou art capable of coursing a hundred thousand _yojanas_, as\nwell as of coming back. But we say that even this is what is fit. My\nchild, the master must on no account be commanded by his servants. O\nforemost of monkeys, all these should be commanded by thee. Thou art our\nspouse, and (at the same time) occupying the position of our husband.\nThe master is the spouse of the army. This is the way of the world, O\nrepressor of foes! O subduer of enemies, thou art the root of this\nbusiness. Therefore, my child, thou shouldest always be maintained by us\nlike a wife. The root of any work must be preserved. This is the policy\nof those versed in business. The root existing, all the virtues,\nobtaining fruit, certainly meet with suceess. Thou, O thou having truth\nfor prowess art the instrument of this undertaking, and, O subduer of\nenemies, furnished with sense and vigor, thou art the occasion herein.\nAnd, O foremost of monkeys, thou art both our superior, and our\nsuperior's son; and resorting to thee we are enabled to accomplish our\nobject.\" Thereat that mighty monkey, Angada, son unto Vali, answered the\nexceedingly wise Jambavan, when he had spoken,--\"If I go not, nor any\nother powerful monkey, then we should for certain again sit ourselves\ndown to fast unto death. Without doing the mandate of the intelligent\nlord of monkeys, we, repairing thither, shall not behold ourselves\nalive. He is extreme both in showing favor and in anger. Disregarding\nhis order, we shall, going there, meet with destruction And his ire\nshall, not take any other course. Therefore it behoves thee, capable of\nseeing issues, to reflect.\" Thus addressed by Angada that powerful and\nheroic monkey Jambavan answered Angada in excellent words,\nsaying,--\"That business, O hero, shall not moult a feather. I shall\ndespatch even him who shall bring about success.\"--Then that heroic\nmonkey ordered the foremost of monkeys, the highly heroic monkey\nHanuman, who stood apart, convinced (of the wisdom of Jambavan's\ndecision.)\n\n[199] _i. e._ it was greater.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXVI.\n\n\nSurveying the monkey-host consisting of many hundreds and\nthousands,--crest-fallen, Jambavan thus spake unto Hanuman,--\"O hero\namong the monkey-multitude, best of those versed in all branches of\nlearning, staying apart in silent, why dost thou not speak? O Hanuman,\nthou art alike in energy and strength, equal to Sugriva, monarch of\nmonkeys, and to Rama and Lakshmana. Arishtanemi's son, the mighty\nVainateya,[200] famous by the cognomen of Garutroin, is the foremost of\nbirds. Many a time and oft I have seen that exceedingly powerful,\nmighty-armed one, endowed with strength of will,--raise up serpents in\nthe ocean. The strength that is in his wings is equal to the might and\nvirtue of thy arm. Thy energy and prowess are not surpassed by him. And\nthy strength, and thy understanding, thy energy, and thy vigour, O\nforemost of monkeys, (is known among all creatures). Why dost not thou\nprepare thyself furnished with everything that is noble or great, (for\nthis feat)? That foremost of Apsaras,--the famous Punjikathala, more\nfamed under the name of Anjana, is the spouse of the monkey Kesarin.\nFamed over the three worlds, and incomparable on earth by virtue of her\nbeauty, by an imprecation, my son, she was born in the monkey-race,\ncapable of wearing shapes at her will. Once on a time, that daughter of\nthe high-souled lord of monkeys, Kunjara,--endeued with youth and\nbeauty,-- decked in a delightful garland, and clad in silk, --assuming a\nhuman form, was ranging on the summit of a mountain, resembling a mass\nof clouds in the rainy season. And it came to pass that as that one of\nexpansive eyes was standing on the summit of the mount, the Wind gently\nstole away her elegant yellow cloth with crimson skirts. And he had a\nsight of her fair and fine face, together with her well-developed\nbreasts. And soon as the Wind saw that illustrious one of spacious hips\nand slender waist, and whose every limb was lovely,-- he was amain\novercome by desire. And all his frame possessed by _Manmatha_, and\ndeprived of self, the Wind embraced that blameless one by means of his\nlong arms. Thereat, influenced by fear, that one of excellent vows\nsaid,-- 'Who is it that desireth to lay violent hands upon my chastity?'\nHearing Anjana's words, the Wind answered,-- 'I do not wrong thee, O\nthou of shapely hips. Let not fear enter thy heart. As, O famous damsel,\nby embracing thee, I have mentally entered into thy womb, thou shalt\nbear a son, intelligent and endeued with prowess. And, gifted with great\nstrength, and possessing exceeding energy, and having vast vigor, he\nshall equal me in bounding and leaping.' Thus addressed, O mighty\nmonkey, thy mother, O long-armed one, O foremost of monkeys, gave birth\nto thee in a cave. And in that mighty forest, thou, a child, desirous of\neating, seeing the Sun risen, and taking him to be a fruit, sprang up\nand leaped into the sky. And, O mighty monkey, going three thousand\n_yojanas_, thou, struck by his energy, didst not feel poverty of spirit.\nAnd, seeing thee rushing through the heavens, O mighty monkey, Indra,\ngrowing wroth, hurled his thunder-bolt at thee. Thereat, breaking thy\nleft jaw, thou (didst fall) on the mountain-top. From this circumstance,\nthy name hath been known as _Hanuman_.[201] Witnessing thee beaten back,\nthat bearer of perfumes himself, the Wind, that breaketh everything\nbefore him. in wrath did not blow through the three worlds. Thereat, all\nthe gods--lords of the universe--influenced by fear in consequence of\nthe triune world waxing agitated, began to pacify the wrathful Wind. And\non the Wind being mollified, Brahma conferred on him a boon, saying,--'O\nchild, O thou of true prowess, (thy son) shall be incapable of being\nslain in battle by means of weapons.' And seeing him[202] sustain no\n(serious) injury consequent on the impact of the thunder-bolt, He of a\nthousand eyes, pleased in his soul, also conferred on (thee) an\nexcellent boon, O lard, saying,--'Thy death shall take place according\nto thy will.' Thou, endowed with dreadful vigor, art the son of Kesari\nby his wife; and, resembling the Wind in energy, thou hast sprung from\nhis loins. Thou art the son of the Wind, my child--equal to him in the\npower of leaping. Now we are without our lives. And now thou, endowed\nwith dexterity and vigor, and like another king of the monkeys,[203] art\nbefore us. On the occasion of Vishnu's enveloping the earth with three\nsteps, I, O child, had circumambulated the earth with her mountains,\nwoods and forests, one and twenty times. Then, commissioned by the gods,\nwe had gathered annuals, which being cast on the deep, caused ambrosia\nto come out after churning. At that time, great was our strength. But\nnow I have grown old, and my prowess hath left me. At present we have\nthee, furnished with every virtue. Therefore, possessed of vigor, do\nthou bestir thyself, and bound over (the main). Thou art the most\nqualified of all. This entire monkey host is eager to behold thy\nprowess. O redoubtable monkey, do thou arise! Do thou leap over the\nmighty ocean. Thy motion, Hanuman, surpasseth that of all beings. All\nthe monkeys are depressed. Why, O Hanuman, dost thou overlook this? Put\nforth thy vigor, O thou endowed with mighty vehemence, like Vishnu\ncrossing over the three worlds in three steps.\" Exhorted by the foremost\nof monkeys, that one famed for his speech, that monkey,the offspring of\nthe Wind-god, gladdening the monkey-hosts, wore (a fit) shape for\ncrossing the ocean.[204]\n\n[200] Offspring uf Vinata, Garuda's mother.--T.\n\n[201] _Hanu_--means _jaw_. _Hanuman_ means--_he with the (fractured)\n      jaw.-- T._\n\n[202] Hanuman.--T.\n\n[203] Sugriva.--T.\n\n[204] Here is another epithet of Hanuman--_Pavamatmaja_--son unto the\n      Wind-god. Left out on the score of redundency.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXVII.\n\n\nSeeing that foremost of monkeys enlarge his person for crossing over an\nhundred _yojanas_, and suddenly filled with energy,(the monkeys) at once\nrenounced sorrow, and, filled with delight, set up ululations and fell\nto eulogizing the mighty Hanuman. And, struck with amazement,they,\n(staying) all round, joyfully gazed (at him); even as creatures beheld\nNarayana, when stretching forth his three steps, he prepared himself\n(for the succeeding feat). And, eulogized by them, the wondrous mighty\nHanuman increased; and, flourishing his tail from joy, attained\nstrength. And as, extolled by the principal elderly monkeys, he became\nfraught with effulgence, his beauty was great. As a lion fills himself\nwith vigor in an open cave, so the son of the Wind-god filled himself\nwith energy. And the face of him, as that intelligent one was filling\nhimself with force, was aflame like a frying-pan, or like unto fumeless\nfire. Rising in the midst of the monkeys, Hanuman with his down standing\non end through joy, saluting the aged monkeys, said,--\"Wind, the friend\nof Fire, shattereth mountain-summits; and, ever blowing in the eye of\nthe sky, he is possessed of strength, and is of immeasurable (might).\nBegot from his loins, I am the son of the fast-coursing and high-souled\nWind, coursing swiftly. I am his equal in all these\naccomplishments[205]. I can, without once stopping, circumambulate the\nextensive and heaven-cleaving mountain, Meru, for a thousand times. And,\ndashing the ocean with my arms, I can deluge the world with its\nmountains, rivers and lakes. Lashed by the force of my legs and thighs,\nthat abode of Varuna, the sea, out which have sprung the ferocious\naquatic animals, overleaps its continents. And for once that lord of\nbirds, Vinata's offspring, living on serpents, courseth through the\nwelkin, I can course through it a thousand times. And I can touch the\nflaming effulgent Sun ere, beginning his journey from the Rising hill,\nhe ascends the Setting hill. And, ye foremost of monkeys, I can,\nfiercely rushing on, come again without touching the earth. And I can\nbound beyond stars and planets, suck up the oceans, and rive the earth.\nAnd a monkey, I can, leaping, crush mountains; and, leaping, I can drain\nthe mighty ocean dry. And, when I shall leap in the sky, flowers from\nvarious shrubs and trees shall follow me to-day. And then my course,\n(flecked with flowers), shall resemble even the sky (studded with\nstars). And, ye monkeys, then all creatures shall see me, now ranging\nthrough the profound firmament, now shooting up, and now descending on\nthe other shore). Resembling Mahameru, me ye shall behold, ye monkeys,\nmaking my way, covering up the sky, as if devouring up the heavens. I\nshall, leaping and concentrating my energy, scatter the clouds, shake\nthe hills, and suck up the ocean. The strength of Vinata's son, or the\nWind-god's, or mine, (surpasses that of every other creature). None save\nthe sovereign of birds, or the exceedingly mighty Wind, can follow me in\nflight. In the twinkling of an eye I shall spread through the\nunsupported sky, like lightning darting from clouds. And at the time of\nleaping over the ocean, my form shall resemble that of the energizing\nVishnu, when He had assumed the triune energy. I perceive through my\nintelligence, (and my mental motion tallies), that I shall behold\nVaidehi. Therefore, ye monkeys, rejoice. In vehemence like unto Garuda,\nI shall, I conceive, go an _Ayuta yojanas_. I can, suddenly summoning\nenergy, bring hither ambrosia from the very grasp of Vasava or Brahma,\nhimself.[206] I shall leap sheer over Lanka. Even this is my\nimpression.\" Filled with delight, the monkeys there amazed see that\nforemost of monkeys, endued with immeasurable might, storming. And,\nhearing his speech capable of removing the grief of kindred, that best\nof monkeys Jambavan, transported with joy, said,--\"O hero! O son of\nKesari! O offspring of the Wind! the huge sorrow of thy kindred hath, my\nchild, been destroyed by thee. And these foremost of monkeys assembled,\nwho wish for thy welfare, shall, with intent minds, perform acts tending\nto thy weal,--so that thou mayst succeed in thy undertaking. And by the\ngrace of the saints, and with the permission of the aged monkeys, and by\nthe blessing of the superiors, do thou bound over the mighty main. Till\nthou return, we shall stay on one leg.[207] The lives of all these\nrangers of the forest shall go along with thee.\" Then that tiger-like\nmonkey said unto those rangers of the woods,--\"None in this world would\nbe able to sustain my impetus in the act of bounding. Here are these\nsummits, firm and spacious, of this mountain, Mahendra, thronged with\ncrags. I shall rush forward from these summits of Mahendra, interspersed\nwith trees and adorned with masses of ore. And as I leap over a hundred\n_yojanas_, these mighty summits shall sustain my impetus.\" Then he\nequalling the Wind, that monkey, the son of the Wind-god, pounder of\nenemies, ascended that best of mountains, Mahendra; covered with various\ntrees and flowers, furnished with swards; ranged by deer; containing\nplants and blossoms with trees bearing fruits and flowers daily; having\ntigers and lions and infuriated elephants; swarming with maddened birds;\nand abounding with fountains. Ascending (Mahendra), that foremost of\nmonkeys endeued with exceeding strength, and resembling Mahendra himself\nin prowess, began to range from one mighty summit to another. Thereat,\nhurt by the arms of that high-souled one, that mighty mountain began to\ncry,[208] like a mighty mad elephant tormented by a lion. And water\nrushed out of masses of rocks scattered around. And that mighty mountain\nhad its deer and elephants afflicted with afright; and its giant trees\nshaken: and its spacious uplands deserted by various Gandharva couples\nengaged in drinking and dalliance, and by birds flying away, and by\nbevies of Vidyadharas; and its huge serpents distressed, and its cliffs\nand peaks toppling down. And with its serpents hissing, with their\nbodies half issuing (from their holes), the mountain seemed as if it\nshone with pennons displayed. And the heap of crags forsaken by saints\nexercised with fear and agitation, looked doleful, like a wayfarer left\nin a vast forest by his companions. And that intelligent, magnanimous\nand heroic monkey--destroyer of hostile heroes,--endowed with speed,\nconcentrating his soul on his energy, mentally went to Lanka.\n\n[205] _i. e._ pertaining to leaping.--T.\n\n[206] Vasava, Indra, carries celestial ambrosia, and Brahma, that which\n      is the aliment in _Yoga_--or spiritual rapture.--T.\n\n[207] _i. e._ practise austerities on thy behalf.--T.\n\n[208] Through the voices of the animals inhabiting it. -- T.\n\nEND OF KISHKINDHAKANDAM.\n\n\n\n\nSUNDARA KANDAM.\n\n\n\nSECTION I.\n\n\nThen that repressor of foes[209] resolved to follow the path of the\nCharanas, in quest of the place where Sita was carried off by Ravana.\nAnd bent on achieving a hard task, in which he had no help-mate and none\nto withstand the monkey, with his neck and head raised, resembled the\nlord of kine.[210] And frightening fowls, and crushing trees with his\nbreast, and slaughtering numbers of beasts, that exceedingly powerful,\nintelligent and staid one began to range at ease in lapis-hued lawns\nresembling water, like a lion bursting in energy. And on the level of\nthat foremost of mountains, filled with nonpareil Nagas, and embellished\nwith natural and unmixed metals, red and dark-blue, and black and pale,\nand pale-red, and lotus-hued, and variegated; and crowded with god-like\nYakshas and Kinnaras and Gandharvas and Pannagas, excellently\nattired,--Hanuman stationing himself, resembled a Naga in a lake. Then\njoining his hands to the Sun, Mahendra, Wind,[211] the Self-create, and\nall Beings, he set his heart upon his journey. Then having,with his face\nto the East, joined his palms to his Sire, that blessed one began to\nattain proportions for journeying towards the South. And sure as the sea\nincreases on the occasion of a _Parva_, (Hanuman) determined on his\nleap, experiencing exhilaration, began, in the midst of the foremost\nmonkeys, to increase for the behoof of Rama. Attaining measureless\nmagnitude, he desirous of crossing over the ocean, pressed the mountain\nwith his arms and legs. And roughly handled by the monkey, the mountain\nanon shook for a while; and all the blossoms showered down from the tops\nof the trees. And covered all over with heaps of fragrant flowers thrown\noff from the trees, the entire mountain wore one floral look. And\nafflicted by that one of first-rate prowess, that mountain shed water,\nlike an elephant in rut. And hard beset by that powerful one, the\nmountain Mahendra put out the golden, silvern and collyrium sheen (that\nappertained thereto). And the mountain began to cast forth huge crags\ncontaining red arsenic; and its middle resembled smoke embosoming a\nsparkling flame. And sore tormented by the monkey engaged in harassing\nthem, all the creatures dwelling in the caverns cried in frightful\ntones. And that mighty chorus[212] of the creatures consequent on the\nmountain's agony filled the entire earth, all the cardinal points, and\nthe groves. And snakes bringing out their spacious hoods marked with\nblue streaks, vomitting fierce fire, began to bite at the rocks with\ntheir fangs. And those gigantic crags, bit at by those enraged (snakes)\nof virulent venom, flamed up with fire and were shivered unto a thousand\nfragments. And those medicinal herbs that grew there, albeit endowed\nwith the virtue of neutralizing poison, could not tame the fierceness of\nthe venom of those serpents. Then, conceiving that the mountain was\nbeing riven by Brahma Rakshasas, the ascetics, becoming agitated, as\nwell as the Vidyadharas together with their females, began to flee away.\nAnd forsaking their golden seats and cans on the drinking grounds, and\ncostly vessels, and water-pots plated with gold, and diverse suckable\nviands and meats of various kinds, and bucklers of bull hides,\ngold-hafted swords,--beings with wreathes on their necks, inebriate,\nbearing red garlands and unguents, having red eyes resembling lotuses,\nflew into the firmament. And fair ones decked in chains and bangles and\nKeyuras and bracelets,[213] struck with amaze, with a smile rose in the\nsky along with their paramours. And witnessing this mighty phenomenon,\nVidyadharas and Maharshis, mounted into the sky, gazing at the mountain.\nAnd they heard the words of spirit-pervaded ascetics, and Charanas, and\nSiddhas, stationed in the azure sky: \"This mountain-like Hanuman, son of\nthe Wind, endeued with exceeding vehemence, is anxious to cross over the\nmain--abode of Varuna. And undertaking an arduous task in the interests\nof Rama and monkeys, this one wishes to go to the other shore of the sea\nhard to reach.\" Hearing this speech of the ascetics, the Vidyadharas saw\nin the mountain that foremost of monkeys of immeasurable might. And that\none resembling fire shook and bristled his down; and he set up a\ntremendous roar resembling a mighty (rumbling) cloud. And springing up,\nhe lashed his tail furnished all over with hair and folds, like the king\nof birds handling a serpent. And the tail of that one endued with\nexceeding impetus, bent and brandished, seemed like a gigantic serpent\ncarried off by Garuda. And the monkey planted his arms resembling mighty\nclubs, fast (on the mountain); and his waist became slender; and his\nlegs were contracted. And contracting his arms[214] and neck, that\ngraceful and powerful one summoned energy, and strength, physical and\nmental. And looking at his way from a distance, Hanuman, raising his\neyes up, and fixing his gaze at the sky, suspended his breath in his\nbreast. And planting his feet firmly, that one endowed with mighty\nstrength, Hanuman, foremost of monkeys, contracting his ears up, sprang\nforward; and that best of monkeys spoke unto the monkeys, saying,-- \"As\na shaft shot by Raghava, courses like the wind, so will I course to\nLanka ruled by Ravana. And if I fail to find Janaka's daughter in Lanka,\nI shall with the self-same speed repair to the regions of the\ncelestials. And if I do not find Sita in Lanka, after taking so much\ntrouble, I shall bring the Rakshasa king bound. Either attaining\ncomplete success, I shall come hither (back); or uprooting Lanka, with\nRavana in it, I shall carry it hither.\" Having observed this, the monkey\nHanuman, foremost of monkeys, endowed with speed, without pausing for\nthought, suddenly sprang up. And that powerful monkey deemed himself\nlike unto Suparna. And as he flew up, the trees situated in that\nmountain, in consequence of his violent rush, shrinking their boughs,\nrolled over on all sides. And drawing up blossoming trees filled with\nmaddened lapwings, by the vehemence of his flight, he coursed on in the\nclear sky. And those trees borne up by the vehemence of his flight,\nfollowed the monkey for a while, like friends following a friend that\nhath set out for a far country. And pulled up by the impetus of his\n(rushing) thighs, _Salas_ and other mighty trees followed Hanuman, as an\narmy follows its monarch. And surrounded by innumerable trees having\ntheir tops crested with flowers, Hanuman wearing a mountain-like\nappearance, was wonderful to behold. And those trees that were more\nponderous, plunged into the salt sea, as plunged the mountains into\nVaruna's abode, afflicted with the fear of Mahendra.[215] And strewn\nwith various sprouts and buds and blossoms, the monkey resembling a mass\nof clouds, looked lovely like a hill filled with glow-worms. And\nuprooted by the force of his rush, those trees, their flowers fallen\noff, plunged into the sea, like friends returning to their homes (after\nhaving accompanied their friend some way). And blown by the wind caused\nby the monkey, the various variegated flowers of the trees in\nconsequence of their lightness, showered down on the sea. And covered\nwith heaps of fragrant flowers of diverse hues, the monkey resembled a\nmass of clouds embellished by lines of lightning. And the waters (of the\nocean) strewn with blossoms carried off by his motion, appeared like the\nsky garnished with charming stars (cresting the same). And his arms\nstretched in the sky, seemed like five-hooded snakes issuing from a\nmountain. And he appeared as if he was drinking up the mighty deep with\nits multitudes of waves, or as if that redoubtable monkey was desirous\nof sucking up the sky itself. And as he coursed the orbit of air, his\neyes flashing like lightning, resembled two craters[216] aglow on a\nmountain. And the eyes of that foremost of tawny-hued ones resembled the\nsun and the moon stationed in a vast yellow aureola. And beside his\ncoppery nose, his face looked coppery, as looks the solar disc on the\napproach of eve. And the uplifted tail of the Wind-god's offspring\nengaged in bounding, appeared beautiful in the sky like the raised\nstandard of Sakra. And the exceedingly wise son of the Wind, Hanuman,\nhaving white teeth, with his tail coiled up, looked handsome like the\nsun with his disc. And on account of his waist being deeply coppery,\nthat mighty monkey appeared like a mountain running a mighty torrent\nmixed with minerals and red chalk. And the wind that had got into the\narmpits of that leonine monkey who was crossing over the main, roareth\nlike clouds. And as a meteor consisting of many smaller ones, darting\nfrom above falleth down (to the earth), rushed on that foremost of\nmonkeys. And then that stalwart monkey resembling the careering sun,\nresembled a mad elephant fettered by the middle, whose bulk has\nincreased immensely. And as he coursed above, on account of the\nreflection cast by his body (on the bosom of the deep), the monkey[217]\nlooked like a bark swayed by the breeze. And wherever that mighty monkey\nwent about the sea, the state of things appeared to undergo a violent\nconvulsion owing to impetus imparted by his body. And that mighty monkey\npossessed of exceeding speed, rushed on, raising multitudes of surges on\nthe sea by his breast resembling rock. And the wind begot of the monkey\nas well as that of the clouds, issuing out, made the dread-sounding\nocean roll violently. And pushing up multitudes of high-heaving billows\nfrom the salt waters, that tiger-like monkey rushed on, separating earth\nand heaven. And that one endeued with vehement speed passed over surges\nin the mighty main resembling Mandara or Meru; as if counting them[218].\nAnd the waters lashed up to the clouds by the force (of his speed),\nlooked like autumnal clouds overspreading the sky. And then whales and\nalligators and fishes and tortoises appeared plainly visible, like the\npersons of individuals, when the cloth hath been taken off them. And\nsea-serpents, seeing that tiger-like monkey proceeding in the sky, took\nhim for Suparna himself. And the shadow of the leonine monkey, measuring\nten _yojanas_ in width and thirty length, seemed the more handsome in\nconsequence of his deed. And that shadow resembling masses of white\nclouds, falling on the salt waters and following the wind-god's son,\nseemed exceedingly beautiful. And that exceedingly energetic mighty\nmonkey possessed of a gigantic body, appeared splendid in the\nunsupported aerial way, like a winged mountain. And the deep beside the\ncourse that was being vehemently pursued by that elephantine monkey, was\nsuddenly turned into a water-course.[219] And coursing through the\nregions of fowls like the monarch of the feathered race, Hanuman,\npushing away masses of clouds, resembled the wind himself, And collossal\nclouds scattered by the monkey, pale and crimson and blue and\n_mangistha_-hued, looked exceedingly lovely, And now entering into the\nclouds, and now emerging from them, he looked like the moon, sometimes\nhid and sometimes visible. And beholding that monkey engaged in bounding\nwith celerity, gods, Gandharbas and Danavas began to strew blossoms (on\nhim). And as he was leaping,the Sun did not burn him; and the Wind\nministered unto him, for the success of Rama's work. And the saints\nhymned his praises, as he was leaping on in the sky. And applauding the\nranger of forests, they raised the voice of song. And _nagas_ and\nYakshas, and various (races of) Rakshasas, eulogized (him), on beholding\nthat tiger-like monkey, Hanuman, in the act of bounding. And Hanuman,\nthat lord of monkeys, being engaged in the act of bounding, the Ocean,\nwishing glory unto the race of the Ikshwakus, thought within himself,\n\"Truly shall I be blamed of all persons if I do not assist this lord of\nmonkeys-- Hanuman. Reared I have been by Sagara, the foremost of the\nrace of the Ikshwakus--and this monkey is their counsellor. It therefore\ndoth not behove me to tire him out. It becometh me to do that by which\nthe monkey may take rest in me and, relieved, may happily traverse the\nremaining way.\" Having arrived at this wholesome resolution, the Ocean\nspake unto that best of mountains, Mainaka, hued in gold and situate in\nthe waters, saying, \"O lord, thou hast been placed here by the king of\ncelestials as an outer gate against the Asuras inhabiting the region\nunder the earth. Thou too, from then, hast been waiting at this gate,\nunapproachable by the Asuras, rising up again and again and whose\nprowess is well-known (unto the Lord of celestials). O mountain, thou\nart capable of expanding thyself upwards, downwards and on thy sides. I\ndo command thee therefore, O best of mountains, to rise up. That best of\nmonkeys, the energetic Hanuman, the performer of mighty deeds, engaged\nin Rama's service, worn out with fatigue, waiteth above thee. Beholding\nthe exhaustion of that leader of monkeys, it behoveth thee to rise up.\"\nHearing the speech of the Ocean, the golden mountain Mainaka, covered\nwith tall trees and creepers, rose up instantly from his watery bed.\nLike unto the Sun of bright rays rising out of the watery expanse, he\nuplifted himself from the Ocean. Being thus commanded by the Ocean, the\ngreat mountain, covered on all sides with water, immediately brought\nforth his peaks. The sky was as if cleft by these golden summits like\nunto the rising of the Sun, inhabited by _Kinnaras_ and large Serpents.\nThe golden summits of that mountain being thus lifted up, the dark-blue\nsky assumed the golden hue. And by those highly resplendent golden peaks\nthat best of mountains assumed the brilliance of a thousand suns.\nBeholding before him that up-heaved mountain in the midst of the salt\nOcean, Hanuman regarded it, as a barrier for aye. Like unto Wind\ndispersing clouds, that mighty monkey with great velocity crushed down\nthose up-lifted peaks with his breast. Being thus crushed down by that\nmonkey, the best of mountains, being apprized of his prowess, began to\nshout with joy. Thereupon, with a glad heart assuming the semblance of a\nman and stationing himself upon his own summit, that mountain-chief\naddressed Hanuman, saying, \"O best of monkeys, forsooth hast thou been\nengaged in this arduous task. Coming down on my peak do thou take rest.\nThis ocean was reared by one born in the family of Raghus. And beholding\nthee engaged on Rama's behoof he is worshipping thee. The best and\neverlasting virtue consists in returning benefits unto one who hath\nbenefitted us. Bent on returning benefits unto Raghu's race, he\ndeserveth respect from thee. And to welcome thee properly I have been\ndespatched by him with the message--'Traversing over a hundred _yojanas_\nthis monkey hath been worn out with fatigue; let him voyage to the\nremaining way after resting for a while on thy summit. Do thou\ntherefore, O best of monkeys, remain here and take rest. And feasting on\nthese many fragrant and sweet fruits and roots, O foremost of monkeys,\ndo thou relieve thyself of the toil and proceed. O leader of monkeys, my\nrelation with thee is replete with many virtues and known all over the\nthree worlds. O Son of Maruta, O best of monkeys, I know thee to be the\nforemost of all monkeys. Even an ordinary guest should be adored by him\nwho abideth by virtue, what of thee great as thou art? O thou lion among\nmonkeys, thou art the son of Maruta, the foremost of celestials and art\nhis equal in speed. Thou that art conversant with virtue, being\nworshipped, Maruta himself receiveth offerings. Thou art therefore\nworthy of my adoration. Hearken, there is another reason for it. O\nworshipful one, in olden times, the mountains, gifted with wings, began\nto range all quarters with velocity like unto Garuda. They moving thus,\nthe celestials, the asceties, and all creatures became almost faint with\nfear of their falling down. Highly enraged therefore, the thousand-eyed\nDeity, the performer of hundred sacrifices, sundered with his\nthunderbolt, the wings of hundreds and thousands of them. When with his\nthunderbolt, the Lord of celestials, wroth, approached me, I was all on\na sudden thrown down by the high-souled Wind. O best of monkeys I was\nthus cast down in this salt ocean and preserved unhurt by thy ancestors\nhaving my wings hid. I shall therefore adore thee and thou art object of\nmy worship O Maruta! And this my relation with thee, O foremost of\nmonkeys, is pregnant with many virtues. The time for returning benefits\nhaving arrived, O high-souled one, it behoveth thee to afford me and the\nocean, satisfaction with a blessed heart. O best of monkeys, relieve\nthyself of the fatigue and accept my affectionate offerings, who am\nworthy of thy respect.[220] Happy am I to see thee.\" Being thus accosted\nby Mainaka, the best of mountains, Hanuman, the foremost of monkeys\nsaid, saying:--\"Pleased am I and thou hast shown me enough of\nhospitality. Do thou give up thy wrath.[221] Business wants me to go\nsoon and the time is well-nigh spent. Besides I have promised that I\nshall not halt at any intermediate place.\" Thereupon touching the hill\nwith his hand that highly energetic monkey wended, smiling, his aerial\nway. Thereat the ocean and the mountain respectfully looked towards him\nand adored and welcomed him with blessings worthy of the occasion.\nLeaving the mountain and the ocean and rising high up, he proceeded in\nthe clear welkin traversing the aerial way.[222] Rising high up and\ncasting his look down on the hill, that foremost of monkeys proceeded by\nthe unsupported aerial track. Beholding this singularly arduous work of\nHanuman, the celestials, the _Siddhas_ and the ascetics all praised him.\nAll the celestials and others living on its summit, were highly pleased\nwith the mountain arrayed in gold and having beautiful sides. And the\nthousand-eyed Vasava was also pleased. And greatly pleased that highly\nintelligent Sachi's lord, himself, addressed that best of mountains\nhaving picturesque sides, saying:--\"Greatly delighted am I, O lord of\nmountains, O thou having golden peaks. 'No fear' I do declare unto thee.\nProceedest thou therefore, at thy ease, O gentle one! Greatly hast thou\nhelped Hanuman, crossing fearlessly and unceasingly, over hundred\n_yojanas_ to that he might not fall in danger. This monkey, is goiug in\nthe interests of Rama, Dacaratha's son--and thou hast welcomed bin to\nthe best of thy might. Therefore I am greatly pleased with thee.\"\nBeholding that lord of celestials the performer or an hundred\nsacrifices, highly gratified, that best of mountains attained to an\nexcess of joy. And having received boons (from Indra) the Mountain\noccupied again its pristine place. And Hanuman in a short time crossed\nover the main. Thereupon the celestials along with Gandharvas, Siddhas\nand the ascetics, spake unto Surasa the mother of serpents, resembling\nthe Sun, saying:--\"The highly effulgent son of Wind named Hanuman is\ncrossing over the main. Thou art required to throw obstacles in his way\nfor a while. Assuming therefore the semblance of a terrible,\ngrim-visaged Rakshasa, resembling a huge mountain and having terrible\nteeth and a face with coppery eyes, do thou touch the welkin. We are\nanxious to learn if he defeateth thee by some means or cometh by grief.\"\nThus addressed the Worshipful Surasa, having been honored by the\ncelestials, deformed and horrible and capable of exciting the fear of\nall beings, and obstructing Hanuman as he was coursing on, said,--\"O\nforemost of monkeys, thou hast been ordained as my fare by the gods\nthemselves. I will eat thee up,--do thou enter my mouth. Even this is\nthe boon that was conferred on me by the Deity.\" Having delivered\nherself thus speedily, the opening her mouth wide, stood before the son\nof the wind-god.\" Thus accosted by Surasa, (Hanuman) with a glad\ncountenance, said,--\"Rama, son unto Dacaratha, had entered the Dandaka\nforest in company with his brother, Lakshmana, and his wife, Vaidehi. He\nhaving created hostility with the Rakshasas, his illustrious wife, Sita,\nwhile he was engrossed in some work, was carried away by Ravana. At\nRama's command, I go to her as his envoy. It behoveth thee, living in\n(Rama's) dominions, to lend him thy help. Or having seen Mithila's\ndaughter, as well as Rama of untiring deeds, I will enter thy mouth.\nThis I promise thee truly.\" Thus addressed by Hanuman, Surasa, capable\nof wearing forms at will, said,--\"None shall pass me without being\ndevoured by me,--even this is the boon that I have received.\" Then\nseeing him go away, the mother of the Nagas, Surasa, derious of essaying\nthe strength of Hanuman, spoke. \"O best of monkeys, thou shalt have to\ngo, to-day, after entering my mouth. Even this is the boon that was\nconferred on me by the Deity.\" Having said this swiftly, she extending\nher capacious mouth wide, stood in front of the wind-god's son. Thus\naddressed by Surasa, that foremost of monkeys, waxing wroth,\nsaid,--\"Extend thy mouth so, that thou mayst contain me.\" Having said\nthis unto Surasa, having her mouth measuring ten _yojanas_, Hanuman\nenlarged himself as many _yojanas_. Thereat Surasa enlarged her month\ntwenty _yojanas_. And beholding her[223] extended mouth with a long\ntongue, wondrous dreadful, like unto hill itself, and resembling clouds,\nmeasuring twenty _yojanas_, the intelligent son of the wind-god,\nHanuman, enlarged, made himself measure thirty _yojanas_. Threat,\nSurasa, extended her mouth forty _yojanas_, and thereupon the heroic\nHanuman attained the altitude of fifty _yojanas_. And Surasa enlarged\nher mouth sixty _yojanas_; and the heroic Hanuman anon heightened\nhimself seventy _yojanas_. And Surasa widened her mouth eighty\n_yojanas_; and Hanuman like unto Fire raised himself ninety _yojanas_.\nAnd Surasa enlarged her mouth an hundred _yojanas_. Thereat diminishing\nhis person like unto a cloud, the wind-god's son at that moment measured\none thumb only. Then entering her month and coming out of it, that\nexceedingly powerful and graceful one, stationing himself in the sky\nspoke thus. \"0 descendant of Daksha, I have entered into thy mouth. I\nbow down unto thee. I will repair to where Vaidehi is. Thy boon hath\nproved true. Seeing him out of her mouth like the Moon out of the mouth\nof Rahu, the venerable Surasa spoke unto the monkey in her native form,\nsaying,--\"For compassing thy end, go, O foremost of monkeys, O mild one,\nat thine ease. And bringing unto Vaidehi tidings touching the\nhigh-souled Raghava do thou meet her.\" Witnessing that third act[224] of\nHanuman's hard to perform, all beings extolled the monkey exclaming,\n\"Excellent! Excellent!\" Then he, resembling the wind in rush, arrived at\nthe irrepressible ocean--abode of Varuna--went on, enveloping the\nwelkin, on the aerial way, visited by showers, ranged by fowls and\nGandharbas, graced by the iris; embellished by shining vehicles rolling\non, drawn by lions, or elephants, or tigers, or bird-serpents; presided\nover by eminently pious and righteous persons who have won the regions\nof heaven; and therefore appearing as if adorned by the (five) Fires; of\nthe touch of _Acani_ or _Vayra_; (ever) served by Fire bearing\nsacrificial oblations; garnished by planets and stars and astral\nluminaries, and the Sun and the Moon; thronged with Maharshis, and\nGandharbas and Nagas, and Yakhas; and pure, and speckless;--the support\nof the universe--inhabited by Vicwavasu; lorded over by the elephants of\nthe king of the celestials; the orbit of the Sun and Moon, endowed with\nauspiciousness constituting the canopy of this live world; blameless;\nand made by Brahma; crowded with countless heroes, and Vidyadharas. And\nthe wind-god's son Hanuman, scattering clouds like the very Wind\nhimself, coursed on in the aerial way like Garuda. And mighty clouds,\nhued like _Kalaguru_[225] red, and yellow and sable, on being dispersed\nby the monkey, burst into brilliance. And again and again entering into\nthe clouds and emerging out of them, he resembled the Moon during the\nrains now entering (into clouds) and now issuing out of them. And\neverywhere Hanuman, son unto the wind-god coursing through the\nunsupported sky, looked like the monarch of mountains furnished with\nwings. And it came to pass that beholding him in the act of bounding, a\nRakshasi named Sinhika, of great age, and capable of wearing forms at\nwill, thought within herself,--\"Today after a long lapse of time I shall\nhave my fare. This mighty creature hath after a long time come within my\npower.\" Having thought thus in her mind, she seized (Hanuman's)\nshadow.[226] On his shadow being secured, the monkey reflected,--\"As a\nmighty bark is retarded in its course in the sea by adverse wind, have\nI, my prowess paralysed, been suddenly obstructed in my career.\" Then\nlooking above and below and sideways, the monkey saw a mighty creature\narisen from the salt waters. And seeing that one of a distorted\ncountenace, the wind-god's son thought,--\"This one is, without doubt,\nthe creature of wonderful form, possessed of exceeding prowess,--given\nto securing its prey by means of its shadow,--which had been described\nby the monkey-king. And concluding her to be Sinhika, from her act,[227]\nthe intelligent monkey attaining a gigantic body, increased himself,\nlike a mass of clouds during the rains. And seeing the enlarged body of\nthe mighty monkey, she extended her mouth measuring the sky and the\nnether regions. And roaring like unto a mass of clouds, she rushed\nagainst the monkey. Thereat, that intelligent and mighty monkey marked\nher deformed and huge mouth, her body and its asticulated members. And\nthe redoubtable monkey hard as the thunderbolt, contracting himself in a\nmoment, threw himself into her mouth. And the Siddhas and Charanas saw\nhim sink in her mouth, as the full Moon is taken by Rahu during a\nParva.-- Then tearing her limits by means of his sharp claws, the\nmonkey, endowed with the celerity of thought, vehemently sprang forward.\nThen slaying her by his acuteness of sight, endurance and skill, that\nheroic, self-controlled monkey again began to swell himself amain. Her\nheart having been crushed out by Hanuman, she, rendered lifeless, fell\ninto the water. The self-create had created him for compassing her\ndestruction. And seeing Sinhika speedily slain by the monkey, and\nfallen, creatures ranging the sky addressed that foremost of monkeys,\nsaying,--\"Terrible is the deed that thou hast performed to day. Mighty\nwas the creature that hath been slaughtered by thee. Compass thou thine\nwished-for end without let, O foremost of monkeys. He, O chief of\nmonkeys, that, like thee, is endowed with endurance, sharp sightedness,\nsense, and ability, doth not feel depressed in action.\" Honored by these\nand wished well as to his purpose, that monkey, worthy of being honored,\nset out, enveloping the sky, like him that subsisteth on serpents.[228]\nAnd it came to pass that as he had almost arrived at the other shore (of\nthe ocean), he looking about on all sides at the end of an hundred\n_yojanas_ saw a range of woods. And as he went on. that best of monkeys\nsaw an island decked with diverse trees, and groves pertaining Malaya.\nAnd he surveyed the sea, and lands bordering thereon, and trees growing\non the sea shore, and the countenances of the spouses of the Sea, And\nsurveying his own person resembling a mighty mass of clouds, and as if\nclosing up the sky, that self-possessed one ascertained his course of\naction. \"Soon as the Rakshasas shall behold my enlarged body and the\nvehemence of my motion, they shall be seized with curiosity concerning\nme.\" Thus thought that magnanimous one. Thereat diminishing that person\nof his resembling a mountain, that self-possessed one, purged of\nignorance, resumed his natural shape. And diminishing that form into the\nsmallest compass, Hanuman remained in his native form, like that\ndepriver of Vali's prowess, Hari, after he had placed his three steps.\nAnd thus wearing various graceful forms, that one, acting after\nreflection, having come to the other shore of the ocean incapable of\nbeing reached by others,-- on looking over his (immensely magnified\nperson), reduced his body (to its former size). And that high-souled one\nresembling a cloudy pavilion, alighted on the (foremost) summit of the\nsplendid mountain, Samva; crested with picturesque peaks; and abounding\nin _ketakas_, _uddalakas_ and cocoanuts. And reaching the shore of the\nsea, and beholding Lanka on the top of that foremost of mountains, the\nmonkey, renouncing his native form, fell on that mountain, agitating\nbirds and beasts. And having by main force bounded over the ocean\nheaving with surges, and rife with Danavas and Panagas, he alighting on\nthe shore of the mighty main, beheld Lanka like unto Amaravati.\n\n[209] Hanuman--T.\n\n[210] Bull.--T.\n\n[211] _Pavana._ The commentator takes this word in its literal meaning.\n      _He that purifieth contemplative spirits by imparting knowledge_.\n      Ramanuya would interpret the epithet as meaning Rama. This is\n      reading into the author a sense which the passage does not plainly\n      yeild.--T.\n\n[212] Another reading is: _sa mahasatwasannada--The clans of these\n      mighty creatures.--T_\n\n[213] _Parihara_, according to Kataka, implies _excellence_. Tirtha says\n      it means _bracelets_. I follow him.--T.\n\n[214] Above his shoulders.--T.\n\n[215] The legend is that Indra or Mahendra--i. e. Indra the Great--once\n      took into his head to clip the pinnions of all the mountains.\n      Hence the fright--T.\n\n[216] _Parvatasthavivanalam_--like two fires on a mountain. It evidently\n      means _two active craters_ in a mountain. At least this rendering,\n      without missing in sense, imparts a material sublimity to the\n      passage rarely paralleled in literature. The commentator, however,\n      takes the word to mean forest-conflagration.--T.\n\n[217] Under water.--T.\n\n[218] by his progress.--T.\n\n[219] The sense is hard to hit. The commentator says, that agitated by\n      Hanuman's speed, the clouds began to pour down showers on the\n      ocean.--T. _\n\n[220] For his relationship with Wind whose son was Hanuman.--T.\n\n[221] Wrath in consequence of his inability to accept his offerings.--T.\n\n[222] _Pitupanthanam_--the text means \"his father's path\"--Wind being\n      Hanuman's father the passage means--\"aerial way.\"--T.\n\n[223] _Tat dristwa--Seeing this_, occurs twice in this passage, I render\n      it once only.--T.\n\n[224] The third feat, remarks Ramanuya, is Hanuman's issuing oat of\n      Surasa's mouth. The preceding two are not mentioned.--T.\n\n[225] A kind of alco or agallochum.--_Wilson_.--T.\n\n[226] Brahma had conferred on her a boon that she should secure her prey\n      by pulling at it by means of its shadow.--T.\n\n[227] _i. e. of securing his shadow.--T_.\n\n[228] Garuda.\n\n\n\nSECTION II.\n\n\nHaving crossed over the ocean incapable ot being repressed, that one\nendowed with great strength, staying at the plateau of Chitrakuta, and\nhaving refreshed himself, cast his eyes on Lanka. And covered with\nshowers of blossoms poured down by the trees, that monkey possessed of\nprowess then appeared there like Pushpamaya.[229] And having cleared an\nhundred _yojanas_, that monkey gifted with first-rate prowess, did not\nheave sighs or feel any fatigue. \"I am competent to bound over many\nhundreds of _yojanas_. What then is this end of the ocean measuring an\nhundred _yojanas_ only?\" And that foremost of those endowed with energy\nand the prime of monkeys,--gifted with speed, went to Lanka,[230] having\ncrossed over the mighty main. And seeing blue lawns, and perfumed woods,\nreplete with honey and filled with mountains, he held his way by the\ncentral thoroughfare, And that foremost of monkeys, the energetic\nHanuman, went by hills filled with trees, and ranges of blossoming\nwoods. And stationing himself in that mountain, the offspring of the\nWind-god beheld woods and groves and Lanka established at the brow of\nthe mountain. And that elephant of a monkey surveyed _Saralas_, and\n_Karnikaras_, and dates in full flower, _Piyalas_, _Muchulindas_,\n_Kutajas_ and _Ketakas_, _Piyangus_ warm with aroma, and _Nipas_, and\n_Saptachchhadas_; _Asanas_, _Kovidaras_, and flowering _Karaviras_, and\ntrees bearing blossoms, filled with swans and _Karandavas_, and covered\nwith lotuses and lilies; and charming sporting hills[231] and various\nwatery expanses; and extensive tracts covered with diverse trees bearing\nflowers and fruits at all seasons, and gardens exceedingly beautiful to\nbehold. And drawing near unto Lanka embellished with lilies and\nenvironed by a moat tilled with lotuses, that one graced with\nauspiciousness, that graceful monkey, Hanuman, beheld Lanka vigilantly\nguarded by Ravana, in consequence of Sita having been carried\naway,--with Rakshasas bearing fierce bows ranging all around,--that\nmighty and captivating capital surrounded by a golden wall, filled with\nedifices resembling cliffs and looking like autumnal clouds, and\nelevated yellowish highways; abounding in hundreds of banners mounted on\nthe walls, and beautified with pennons and streamers with noble golden\ngateways painted with plants; and resembling the metropolis of the very\nsovereign of the celestials. And that graceful monkey saw Lanka situated\non the top of the mountain, filled with splendid yellow-white palaces,\nlike unto a city stationed in the sky: ruled by the lord of Rakshasas\nand reared by Vicwakarma himself. And the monkey, Hanuman, beheld Lanka,\nas if moving in the sky: with her walls furnished with daises for her\nhips, the immense waters and woods for her cloth, _Sataghnis_ and darts\nfor her hair-ends: and pennons on her walls for ear-rings,--built as if\nby the agency of the Mind; and constructed by Vicwakarma himself. And\narriving at the Northern gate resembling the mansion of Kailaca, and\ncleaving, as it were, the welkin, and as if holding the firmament with\nlofty and glorious edifices, and observing the sea; his dreadful enemy,\nRavana; the city teeming with poisonous snakes,--as well as the method\nof defence (displayed in it)--the monkey reflected,--\"Even if the\nmonkeys came here, they should fail to achieve success; for Lanka is\nincapable of being taken in battle by the celestials themselves. Even if\nthe mighty-armed Raghava should reach this terrible-looking and\nimpregnable Lanka reared by Ravana, what could he do? Opportunity find I\nnone either for conciliation with the Rakshasas, or for (winning them\nover) by gifts, or for sowing dissensions among them, or for conquering\nthem in fight. Of all the monkeys, four only endowed with (exceptional)\ncelerity,--viz., Vali's son, Nila, the intelligent king, and myself,\nhave the power to come over here. When I have ascertained whether\nVaidehi is alive or not, I shall, after interviewing Janaka's daughter,\nthink about this.\" Then that elephantine monkey, stationed on the summit\nof that mountain, for a while bethought himself as to the success of\nRama.[232] \"I cannot in this form succeed in entering the city of the\nRakshasas, guarded by wily and powerful Rakshasas. I should, while\nengaged in searching for Janaki, deceive all the strong and highly\nenergetic Rakshasas gifted with prowess. For attaining this mighty\nobject, it behoveth me to enter Lanka, at night in a shape invisible yet\nwell suited to the end in view.\" And beholding the city in that state,\ndifficult of being subdued by the celestials and Asuras (combined),\nHanuman, sighing momentarily, thought within himself,--\"How can I,\nwithout being discovered by the impious lord of Rakshasas, Ravana,\nsucceed in seeing Janaka's daughter, Maithili? How can the work of Rama\ncognizant of self (be so managed that it) may not be brought to naught?\nHow can I see Janaka's daughter singly in secret? Actions on the very\neve of success, on being obstructed by adverse season and place, and\nthrough the agency of unreflecting envoys, come to nought, even as\ndarkness is dispelled on sunrise. And in respect of what should be\nundertaken and what not, even the certain decision (of a master assisted\nby his counsellors), because of a heedless messenger, doth not appear in\nall its beauty: messengers (foolish) yet proud of their knowledge, bring\nevery business to nought. How can I so manage that my business may not\nsuffer? How can I avoid recklessness? How can my bounding over the deep\nbear fruit? On my being seen by the Rakshasas, the work of Rama\ncognizant of self, desirous of the destruction of Ravana, shall be\nmarred. Even if I wear a Rakshasa form, I cannot anywhere remain\nundiscovered by the Rakshasas. What shall I say of any other form? Even\nthe wind, I conceive, doth not stray here, unperceived. Nothing whatever\nis here that is unknown to the Rakshasas of redoubtable deeds. Should I\nstay here embodied in my native form, I shall come by destruction; and\nthe interest also of my master shall suffer. Therefore, diminishing\nmyself, I shall at night, for compassing the welfare of Raghava, enter\nLanka in my own form. Entering at night Ravana's capital difficult of\naccess, I shall, obtaining entry into every dwelling seek Janaka's\ndaughter.\" Having made up his mind thus, the heroic Hanuman, extremely\neager to see Vaidehi, wished for the setting of the sun. On the sun\nhaving set, at night the Wind-god's son, contracting his person,\nreducing himself to the dimensions of a cat, became wonderful to behold.\nAnd at dusk, the powerful Hanuman, springing up, entered the charming\ncity of Lanka with its well divided highways; furnished with rows of\nedifices having golden pillars, and net-works,--resembling the\nmetropolis of the Gandharbas. And he saw that splendid city containing\nseven-storied and eight*storied edifices, studded with crystal and\nadorned with gold. And the dwellings of the Rakshasas were embellished\nwith these (ornaments). And graceful golden gateways belonging to the\nRakshasas everywhere lent splendour unto Lanka adorned all over.\nBeholding Lanka, wonderful and of inconceivable loveliness, the mighty\nmonkey, desirous of beholding Vaidehi, became depressed and delighted at\nthe same time. And he (entered Lanka) engarlanded with yellow edifices\njoined together, with the ornamented arches of her gateways furnished\nwith nets of precious gold; famed (all over the world); ruled by the arm\nof Ravana, and vigilantly guarded by night-rangers of dreadful strength.\nAnd as if ministering unto him,[233] the Moon furnished with many\nthousands of rays arose with the stars in the midst of the sky,\nspreading lunar light over all creatures. And that heroic monkey beheld\nthe Moon possessing the sheen of a conch, and hued like milk or the\nlotus-stalk, arisen and afloat (in the welkin), like a swan swimming in\na tank.\n\n[229] A monkey so named.--T.\n\n[230] Descending, remarks the comentator, from the mountain-summit.--T.\n\n[231] Sporting hills according to Kataka. According to others, _akrira_\n      means a grove in general.---T.\n\n[232] About rescuing his wife.--T.\n\n[233] Hanuman.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION III.\n\n\nAssuming the quality of goodness and energy on mount Lamva furnished\nwith elevated summits, and resembling long masses of clouds, Hanuman,\nson unto the Wind-god capable of concluding in harmony with season,\npossessed of exceeding strength--an elephant among monkeys--entered\nLanka by night, affluent with charming woods and waters--the city\ngoverned by Ravana; beautified with edifices resembling autumnal clouds;\nsounding like unto Vitapavati[234] herself--with infuriated elephants\n(stationed) at her graceful gateways; containing white gates with\nornamented arches; resembling the handsome Bhogavati inhabited and\nprotected by serpents. And suddenly coming to that (city) resembling\nAmaravati, scattered with clouds charged with lightning, having hosts of\nluminaries, and tumultuous with the roars of blustering blasts,--girt\nround by a mighty golden wall,--ringing with the tinklings of tiny\nbells; and embellished with pennons,--he growing exceedingly\nexhilarated, made towards the wall. And beholding the city all round,\nfurnished with golden doors; having quadrangular courts composed of\nlapises; ornamented with plastered jeweled pavements studded with all\ngems, crystals, and pearls; with mad elephants of burnished gold and\nspeckless white silver; with stairs of lapises,--(doors) devoid of dust\nwith their centres composed of crystal and with stately halls;\nelegant,--and adjoining mansions seeming as if reaching up to the\nheavens; resounding with Kraunchas and peacocks; frequented by swans;\nand everywhere resonant with the sounds of trumpets and ornaments. And\nthen beholding the city Lanka, resembling Vaswokasara,[235] and\nappearing to mount to the welkin, the monkey Hanuman was filled with\nrapture. And seeing the delightful, divine and prosperous city of Lanka\nbelonging to the lord of Rakshasas, that one endowed with prowess\nthought within himself,--\"This city protected by the forces of Ravana\nwith their hands holding upraised arms, is incapable of being forcibly\nsubdued by any other. This place can be easily entered by Kumuda, and\nAngada, as well as by that mighty monkey, Sushena; and also by Mainda\nand Dwivida. And there is way also for the offspring of the Sun, and\nthat monkey, Kucaparva, as well as of that foremost of monkeys, Rikshya,\nand myself.\" And having witnessed the prowess of Raghava, as well as the\nvigor of Lakshmana, the monkey was filled with joy. And that redoubtable\nmonkey beheld the metropolis of the monarch of the Rakshasas; having for\nher cloth the sea; for her pendants, cow-stalls and stables; for her\nbreasts, turrets mounted on the walls for discharging missils,--decked\nout like a damsel; with her darkness dispelled by bright lights and the\nmighty planets. And as he was entering, that tiger-like mighty monkey\nson unto the Wind-god was met by the city in her native shape. And\nseeing that best of monkeys, Lanka, ruled by Ravana, arising of herself\nwith her countenance rendered deformed, stood before the heroic son of\nthe Wind; and, emitting a tremendous roar, addressed the offspring of\nthe Wind god, saying,--\"O thou that hast the woods for thy home, who art\nthou? And on what errand hast thou come hither? Tell me while yet thou\nhast thy vital powers left in thee. O monkey, for certain thou art\nunable to obtain entry into this Lanka, protected by the forces of\nRavana, and carefully guarded on all sides.\" Thereat, the heroic Hanuman\nspoke unto her staying in front of him,--\"I shall tell thee all about\nthat anent which thou questionest me. Who art thou that having deformed\neyes stayest at the gate of this city? And what for, O frightful one,\ndost thou rail at me in wrath?\" Hearing Hanuman's speech, Lanka, capable\nof wearing forms at will, waxing wroth addressed the Wind-god's\noffspring, saying,--\"I, who am incapable of being repressed, abiding by\nthe mandate of the high-souled sovereign of the Rakshasas, protect this\ncity. Thou art unable to enter this city, passing me by. Thou shalt\nto-day, losing thy life and slain by me, sleep (the sleep of death). O\nmonkey, I am the City of Lanka myself. I every way guard (all that is\nhere.\") Hearing Lanka's words, Hanuman, son unto the Wind-god,--foremost\nof monkeys--exerting himself (to secure victory), stood like another\nhill. And seeing her appear in the form of a deformed female, that\nforemost and best of monkeys endeued with intelligence, possessed of\nprowess, said,--\"I will behold the city of Lanka, crowned with turrets,\nwalls and ornamented arches, it is for this that I have come here. Great\nis my curiosity. I come forsooth to see the woods and groves and gardens\nof Lanka here, --as well as her principal edifices.\" Hearing these words\nof his, Lanka capable of wearing forms at will, again addressed him in a\nspeech fraught with disonant letters: \"O thou of perverse understanding,\nO worst of monkeys, without (in the first instance) vanquishing me, thou\ncanst not to-day behold this city ruled by the monarch of the\nRakshasas.\" Thereat that tiger of a monkey said unto that female ranger\nof the night,--\"After seeing this city, O gentle one, I shall go away\neven as I have come.\" Thereupon, setting up a mighty and terrible roar,\nLanka filled with vehemence, struck at Hanuman with her palm. And that\ntiger-like monkey, the energetic offspring of the wind-god, on being\nlustily struck by Lanka, emitted a tremendous roar. And (Hanuman)\nfastened the fingers of his left hand into a box, and transported with\nrage, dealt it unto her. And considering that she was a female, he did\nnot give way to excessive wrath. And struck at (by Hanuman), that ranger\nof the night, of a deformed face, her body overcome, suddenly dropped to\nthe earth. And the energetic and heroic Hanuman, seeing her measure her\nlength,--in consideration of her being a female, was filled with\ncompassion. Thereat, exceedingly agitated, Lanka addressed the monkey,\nHanuman, in humble words, with their letters faltering,--\"O mighty-armed\none, be propitious unto me! Do thou save me, O best of monkeys, O placid\none. Those that are gifted with strength and are endeued with exceeding\nvigor, ever bear regard unto the dignity of the scriptures. By thy\nprowess, O monkey, hast thou, O hero, O thou gifted with wondrous\nstrength, vanquished me myself, who am the City of Lanka. Listen to this\nnarration, which I, O foremost of monkeys, deliver unto thee; as to bow\nthe self-create Himself conferred a boon on me.' When a certain monkey\nshall by his prowess, bring thee under his sway, then shalt thou\nunderstand that a fear is come unto the Rakshahas'. And that time, O\nplacid one, hath come unto me, in consequence of my meeting with thee.\nThe truth ordained by the self-create knoweth no turning. The\ndestruction of the unrighteous king Ravana together with all the\nRakshasas, hath come about in consequence of Sita (having been carried\naway). Therefore, O best of monkeys, do thou enter the city ruled by\nRavana; and accomplish such tasks as thou wishest to. Entering this\nsplendid city lying under an imprecation, governed by the chief of the\nRakshasas, do thou at thy will happily repairing everywhere, search for\nthe chaste daughter of Janaka.\"\n\n[234] Alaka, the city of Kuvera, King of Yakshas.--T.\n\n[235] Alaka\n\n\n\nSECTION IV.\n\n\nHaving by his vigor vanquished the excellent City of Lanka capable of\nwearing forms at will, that exceedingly energetic foremost of monkeys,\nHanuman, eudeued with prodigious prowess, leaped sheer over a wall,\nwhere doorway there was none; and that elephantine monkey gifted with\ngreat strength entered Lanka by night. And entering the city of Lanka,\nthat one (ever) compassing the welfare of the monkey-king, set his left\nfoot on the heads of his foes.[236] And entering in by night, the\noffspring of the Wind-god furnished with strength, proceeded along the\nhigh-way strewn with blossoms. And the monkey held his sway in the\ncharming city of Lanka, resounding with grateful sounds mixed with\nlaughter, and ringing with trumpet blasts. And with multitudes of\nmansions marked with the thunderbolt and the hook, and adorned with\ndiamond windows, the charming metropolis looked splendid, like the\nwelkin with clouds. And then Lanka, with handsome and variegated\nmansions of Rakshasas, resembling white clouds and arranged like\nlotus-leaves; and adorned on all sides with structures superscribed\n'Vardhamana,' shone forth in all its glory. And that graceful one\nserving in the interests of the king of monkeys, ranging for Rama's\nbehoof, beheld (Lanka) adorned with variegated wreaths; and was highly\ndelighted. And moving from house to house, that foremost of monkeys\nobserved on all sides various dwellings of diverse forms and color, and\nheard charming songs chanted in the three octaves[237] by damsels\nmaddened with amour, resembling celestial Apsaras. And he also heard the\njinglings of zones and the clash of bangles; and sounds of footsteps on\nstairs of edifices belonging to high-souled ones; and sounds proceeding\nfrom clapping hands; and the roaring of lions here and there. And\n(Hanuman) heard there in the mansions of the Rakshas, _Mantras_ recited\nby persons engaged therein, and those occupied in Vaidika studies. And\n(Hanuman) saw goblins and Rakshasas storming and eulogizing Ravana; and\nmighty swarms of Rakshas stationed, covering the highway. And in the\ncentral courtyard, he found innumerable spies of the Rakshasa (Ravana),\nsome initiated, some bearing matted locks, some with their heads shaven,\nand some clad in cow-skins, some in cloths and some going stark naked;\nand (he found there persons) carrying handfuls of _darbha_ for their\nweapons, and (having) the sacrificial fire-place for their arms; and\nthose bearing in their hands clubs and concealed weapons,[238] or\nholding rods as their aims, or having a single eye or a single\ncomplexion,[239] or having a single breast dangling down; and those\nlooking dreadful with uneven attire;[240] and dwarfs frightful to\nbehold; and bowmen; and swordsmen; and (warriors) carrying _sataghnis_\nand clubs for their arms; those bearing excellent _parighas_ in their\nhands, or blazing in curious mail; persons not exceedingly fat, or\nexceedingly lean; not unduly tall, or unduly short; not extremely fair,\nor extremely dark; not unduly crooked, or unduly dwarfish; and those\ndeformed, or many-formed, or endowed with beauty, or possessing\nsplendour; standard bearers; and flag bearers. And (Hanuman) saw also\nvarious weapons; and those having for their arms darts and _vrikshas_,\nor bearing _patticas_ and _asanis_, or having _Kshepanis_[241] and\nnooses in their hands, saw that mighty monkey, or wearing wreaths, or\nhaving their persons daubed with pastes, or adorned with noble\nornaments, or clad in various kinds of raiment; and many a one ranging\nwherever he listed; and those holding sharpened javelins; and mighty\nones bearing _Vajras_; and hundreds and thousands of warriors garrisoned\nin the central courtyard and engaged in vigilantly guarding the\ninterior,--having been directed by the lord of the Rakshas,--saw the\nmonkey. And having seen that edifice situated in front of the inner\nappartment, that mighty monkey saw the famous mansion of the Rakshasa\nchief, pinnacled on the mountain-top, with huge golden arches over the\ngateway; surrounded by a moat enriched with pale lotuses; and completely\nguarded by a wall; resembling heaven itself; magnificent; resonant with\ngrateful sounds; resounding with the neighing of horses and wondrous\nsteeds; and adorned with cars and vehicles, chariots and dainty horse:\nelephants[242]; and four-tusked elephants resembling masses of white\nclouds;--and possessing graceful gateways. And the monkey entered the\npalace protected by the Rakshasa chief,--guarded by maddened beasts and\nbirds, and thousands of goblins endowed with exceeding great prowess.\nAnd he (Hanuman) entered Ravana's inner apartment girt round with a wall\nconsisting of blazing gold and _Jamvunada_;[243] having its top\ndecorated with costly gems and pearls; and worshipped with excellent\nblack _Aguru_ and sandal.\n\n[236] The literal meaning is that, leaping over the wall, Hanuman first\n      set his left foot on the hostile soil; and this act of his, as\n      tending to the discomfiture of the foe, is looked upon by the\n      author in the light of Hanuman setting his left foot on the heads\n      of the Rakshasas. The setting of the left foot on an enemy's\n      dominions, is considered by the scriptures as very\n      inauspicious.--T.\n\n[237] The three octaves referred to are _Mandra_ or the base tone,\n      _Madhya_, or the middle tone, and _Tara_ or the high tone. These\n      constitute the entire diapason of Hindu Music.--T.\n\n[238] _Kuta_. The commentator says the word stands for a particular kind\n      of weapons. Wilson has _concealed weapon_ for its English\n      equivalent.--T.\n\n[239] _The same complexion_ gives sense. But I render the passage\n      literally.--T.\n\n[240] _Bhugnavastran_.--Perhaps the text is corrupt.\n      _Bhugnavahtran--person of deformed faces_--would render sense.--T.\n\n[241] A short arrow thrown from the hand, or shot through a tube.\n      _Wilson_.--T.\n\n[242] Elephants of the size of horses.--T.\n\n[243] _Jamvunada_ is a kind of gold having sixteen diverse colors.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION V.\n\n\nAnd as if ministering unto him (Hanuman), arose the many thousand-rayed\nMoon in the midst of the stars, enfolding all creatures with his\nluminous canopy. And that highly heroic monkey beheld the Moon hued like\nthe sheen of conch, or milk, or lotus-stalk, arisen and afloat (in the\nheavens),-- like a swan swimming in a pool. And that intelligent one\nfrom the earth beheld the Moon arrive at the mid-heavens; momentarily\nbeaming out in lunar light; appearing (splendid) as if in conjunction\nwith the Sun himself,--and like a bull loitering in his stall. And he\nsaw the mild-rayed (Moon), chasing away the remorse of all; swelling the\nsea; and displaying all creatures,--attain the middle of the sky. And\nthat Lakshmi who on earth remains on Mandara, at eve in the sea, and on\nthe lotus on water, looked exceedingly lovely, stationed beside the\ncharming Moon. Like a swan in a silver cage, like a lion in a cave in\nMandara, like a hero on a haughty elephant, appeared the Moon in the\nmiddle of the sky. And with (the mark of) the horn the Moon resembled a\nsharp-horned bull, or a mighty white hued hill with towering summits, or\nan elephant with his horns plated with gold. And, with his dirt composed\nof particles of cool water removed; and the darkness dispelled in\nconsequence of the vicinity of the mighty planet;[244] and with his\nspots appearing clear because of his shining appearance, appeared the\nhare-marked[245] worshipful Moon in full splendour. And like a lion on\ncoming out of his cavern, or a lordly elephant on entering into the\nthick of a mighty encounter, or a monarch on obtaining a\nkingdom,--appeared the Moon in full splendour. And now appeared the\nrevered Mid-night, chasing away darkness with the Moon displayed,--when\nflesh-eating (Rakshasas) lend full liberty to their vicious appetite for\nflesh; and when disputes between lovers cease,[246]--and which bringeth\ndown heaven itself.[247] The sounds of strings sweet unto the ear spread\naround; females sleep beside their husbands; and night-rangers, given to\nastounding and terrible acts, are, in the same way, out, indulging in\ntheir sports. And the intelligent monkey saw mansions crowded with\n(Rakshasas), some inebriate with wine and others with wealth; and\nabounding in cars and horses and golden seats; and fraught with the\ngrace got of heroism. And (Rakshasas) were parleying,--moving about\ntheir plump arms,--railing at each other; and throwing intemperate\nspeeches at each other. And (Hanuman saw) Rakshasas striking at their\nchests (by way of challenge), sinking on the persons of their beloved,\nwearing diverse habiliments, or stretching their tough bows. And (he)\nsaw debonair damsels daubing their frames with pastes; and others,\nagain, sleeping,--and fair-faced wenches smiling,--and others sighing\nhard under the influence of anger. And with gigantic elephants roaring,\n(the place), honored by pious persons,--with its heroes heaving\nsighs[248]--looked exceedingly beautiful like a lake in which serpents\nare sighing forth. And in that apartment (Hanuman) saw persons of\ncommanding understandings,[249] endowed with a soft tongue,--instinct\nwith the spirit of reverence--the foremost men of all this world,-- and\nbearing euphonious appelations,and clad in diverse attires. And\nbeholding those well-formed people, whose conduct was of apiece with\ntheir many virtues, (Hanuman) rejoiced exceedingly. And he saw some\nhaving beautiful forms; and others deformed,--and both possessed of\nsplendour. And (Hanuman) saw there their wives worthy of noble ornaments\nand endowed with eminent beauty; of spotless character; possessing great\npotency; like unto stars in point of excellency of conduct,--displaying\nside-glances and other tokens of dalliance, --engaged in dear drinking.\nAnd at dead of night Hanuman saw some females blazing in beauty,\naffected simultaneously with bashfulness and bliss, on being embraced by\ntheir paramours, like birds embracing their mates. And the sensible\nHanuman saw there other females seated in stately halls,-- lying in\nhappiness on the laps of their lovers,--beloved of their lords--intent\non virtue,--married women,--under the influence of Madana. And Hanuman\nsaw some without sheets, like unto golden streaks,--paragons among\nwomen-- of the hue of molten gold,--and some of a moon-like complexion,\nendeued with loveliness,--bereft of their beloved. And that exceedingly\nheroic monkey saw females in their homes experiencing the height of joy\nin the company of their beloved dear unto their souls; charming with\nblossoms; filled with gladness; and enchaining the hearts of their lords\nwith their loveliness. And Hanuman saw crowds of faces like unto the\nMoon displayed,--with elegant eyes furnished with lovely lashes, and\nside-long looks; and multitudes of ornaments resembling beautiful lines\nof lightning. But Hanuman saw not Sita, of the highest lineage,--ever\nabiding by the way of righteousness; born in a royal line,--like unto a\ndelightful and well-begot plant,-- of a slender frame,--sprung from the\nmind (of Brahma himself); established on the eternal road (of chastity);\nhaving her gaze fixed on Rama; always engrossed in the contemplation of\nRama,--the mind itself of her lord,--who had entered through and through\ninto the heart of her graceful lord,--ever superior to all other women;\noppressed with the grief of separation; and having her throat afflicted\nwith the vapour of grief; who formerly had her throat graced with that\nbest of ornaments--the _nishka_; of excellent eyelashes; having a\nmellifluous voice; like unto a peahen ranging in the woods; (now) like\nunto an indistinct lunar lining, or a streak of gold covered with dust,\nor the color of a sore-scar, or a gold-leaf broken off by the wind. And\nnot finding, (after so long a search) the Sita of the lord of men,-- the\nspouse of Rama; best of those skilled in speech the monkey, deeming\nhimself as having suddenly lost his skill in search, was overwhelmed\nwith sadness.\n\n[244] The sun. It is a planet in Hindu cosmogony.--T.\n\n[245] The spots are fabled as the marks of hares on the lap of the\n      Moon.--T.\n\n[246] _i. e._ in consequence of sleep.--T.\n\n[247] A beautiful characterization of sleep, reminding one powerfully of\n      \"Macbeth hath murdered sleep,\" &c.--T.\n\n[248] In expectation of an access of warriors.--T.\n\n[249] According to the commentator, _Vuddkipradhanan_ means _persons\n      possessing many virtues_. I differ from him.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION VI.\n\n\nWending about at will on the roofs of seven-storied edifices, that\nmonkey capable of assuming any form that he chose, began to range Lanka\nwith speed. And (at length) that auspicious one arrived at the mansion\nof the Rakshasa chief, surrounded by a shining wall hued like the Sun;\nprotected by terrible Rakshasas, like a mighty forest by lions. And as\nthat foremost of monkeys saw the mansion, with fretted arches plated\nwith silver and embellished with gold,-- beautifully abounding in\nsplendid courts and gateways; containing elephant-drivers, and heroes\nknowing no fatigue; ever coursed by irrisistible steeds drawing cars,\nand curious vehicles, Covered over with skins of lions and tigers,\nresounding with bells hung thereon, and embosoming effigies of ivory,\ngold and silver,--the locality of mighty cars, and the home of mighty\ncar-warriors; filled all around with many thousands of divers beauteous\nand dainty birds and beasts; well protected by meek Raksha warders at\nthe outskirts; thronged about with magnificent dames of the first order;\ncontaining gems of joyous damsels--the abode of the foremost\nRakshasas--sounding like the sea with the sounds of superb ornaments;\naffluent with regal insignia and excellent sandals; crowded with mighty\nones, like a vast forest with lions; reasonant with trumpets and drums;\nand ringing with the blares of conchs; where the ever adored offspring\nof the Parvas was always worshipped by the Rakshasas; solemn like the\nsea; and resounding like the ocean itself,--the mighty mansion of the\nhigh-souled(Ravana); clad in costly jewels; scattered with precious\ngems--as that mighty monkey beheld (Ravana's residence), he set about\nsearching for Sita.[250] And that mighty monkey concluded. \"This is the\nornament of Lanka bodied forth beautifully to the view, covered with\nelephants, steeds and chariots.\" And there in the vicinity of Ravana's\nmansion,[251] Hanuman began to range the dwellings of the Rakshasas from\none to another, as well as all the gardens (located there). And without\nexperiencing any agitation, he observing (everything), ranged the\npalaces. Then that one endowed with wondrous motion, with a bound\nentered Prahasta's palace; and then with another, that (monkey)\npossessed of energy entered the abode of Mahaparcwa. Then that mighty\nmonkey entered into the abode of Kumbhakarna, resembling a mass of\nclouds; and thereafter that of Vibhishana; and then that of Mahodara,\nand then that of Virupaksha; and then the abode of Vidyujjibha, and then\nthat of Vidyunmala;--and then that mighty monkey with a bound entered\ninto the abode of Vahudanshtra. And then that leader of monkey-bands\ngifted with great speed leapt into the abode of Suka, and next into that\nof the intelligent Sarana, and next into that of Indrajit. And that\nforemost of monkeys went to the mansion of Jambumala, and of\nSumala,--and (then) to the abode of Rashmiketu, and Suryyasachu. And\n(next) that powerful monkey leapt into the mansion of Vajrakaya; and\n(next) the Wind-god's offspring entered the house of Dhumraksha, and\n(next) that of Sampati, and the grim Vidyudrupa, and Phana, and Vighana,\nand Sukanabha, and Chakra, and Satha, and Kapatha, and Hraswakarna, and\nDanshtra, and the Rakshasa Lomasa, and Yudhyonmatta, and Matta, and the\nhorseman, Dhwajagriva, and of Vidyujjibha and Vijibha, and of\nHastimukha, and of Karala, and Vicala, and of Sonitaksha. The\nillustrious offspring of the Wind, Hanuman, one after another, leapt\ninto all these noble edifices. And that redoubtable monkey observed the\naffluence of all these (Rakshasas) possessed of prosperity. And having\nbounded over the mansions of all situated around, that one blessed with\nauspiciousness, at length came to the very mansion of the monarch of the\nRakshasas. And that tiger-like monkey--the best of his species--ranging\naround, saw Rakshasis of frightful eyes, alternately mounting sentry\nover the couch of Ravana-- bearing darts and maces in their hands, and\nequipped with javelins and clubs. And (there) in the residence of that\nlord of the Rakshasas, he beheld various bands of Rakshasis, as well as\nRakshasas of gigantic frames, upraising various kinds of weapons; and\nsteeds of exceeding fleetness, red, and white, and black; and first-rate\nelephants, possessed of eminent grace, capable of crushing hostile\nelephants, and well trained in arts relative to their species--like\nAiravata himself in conflict. And there in that mansion he saw (all\nthese elephants), destroyers of hostile hosts--like unto pouring clouds,\nor hills, sending up fountains, rumbling like unto clouds, and\ninvincible in battle by foes. And that monkey, son unto the Wind-god,\nsaw in the mansion of the lord of Rakshasas, Ravana, hosts by thousands;\nand cars of various forms of glittering gold, furnished all over with\ngolden net-works, resembling the risen sun; and graceful grots; and\npicture galleries; and sporting saloons, mountains composed of\nwood,[252] captivating structures dedicated to dalliance, and dwellings\nfor day-dalliance,[253]--saw he in the mansion of the Rakshasa monarch.\nAnd he beheld that charming mansion resembling Mandara, filled with\nplaces for peacocks[254]; thronged with pennons and flagstaffs,--a very\nmine of countless gems,--a field of treasures spread around,--where\npersons of intrepid calmness were engaged in acts tending to the safety\nof the treasures,--resembling the mansion herself of Kuvera. And on\naccount of the lustre shed by the gems, as well as the energy of Ravana\nhimself, that mansion appeared splendid like the ray-furnished Sun in\nall his glory. And the chief of monkey-bands saw bed-steads and seats of\ngold and white vessels. And Hanuman entered the mighty mansion,\ncontaining clay formed by _Madha_[255] and _Asava_;[256] filled with\ngemmed cans; charming; free from impediments; resembling the mansion\nherself of Kama,--like the abode of Kuvera,--resonant with the sounds of\nbangles and the tinklings of zones, as well as with the beat of\n_mridanga_-hides and other eloquent musical instruments; with palaces\nclose on each other; thronged with hundreds of females (like unto)\njewels; and containing capacious enclosures.\n\n[250] The syntactical co-herence is, as is natural in so colossal a\n      sentence, grievously loose here. I have, however, tried my best to\n      supply the _lacuna_ in the passage.--T\n\n[251] Ramanuja says that _Hanuman began to range the dwellings about the\n      wall environing Ravana's mansion.--T._\n\n[252] Designed for sport.--T.\n\n[253] The conception of day-dalliance met with in _Vidya Sundara_ of\n      Bharata Chandra Roy, the Bengali poet, is found to have first\n      originated with Valmiki.--T.\n\n[254] Sportive peacocks.\n\n[255] Spirituous liquor distilled from the blossoms of the _Bassia\n      latifolia._ According to some, a spirit distilled from grapes.--T.\n\n[256] Spirit distilled from sugar or molasses.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION VII.\n\n\nAnd that one endowed with strength saw that row of structures fitted up\nwith golden windows, studded with lapis lazulis, and containing birds;\nlike unto a mass of clouds in a season of great rains, crowned with\nlightning, and fraught with fowls. And he saw various structures close\nto one another, to which excellent conchs, arms and bows lent lustre; as\nwell as huge and splendid towers belonging to edifices resembling\nmountains. And the monkey beheld mansions, treasuring various kinds of\nwealth, which were held in regard by both gods and Asuras,--devoid of\nevery defect; and which had been won (by Ravana) through his own\nmight.[257] And (Hanuman) saw the mansions of the lord of Lanka, located\nin strict conformity with aesthetic laws,--appearing as if they had been\nconstructed by Maya himself,--which had on the earth beneath every\nexcellence. And then he saw the mansion of the lord of Rakshas himself,\nsurpassing the best structures; like unto a mass of towering clouds;\ncaptivating; boasting of a beauteous golden appearance; worthy of his\nown power,--and of incomparable loveliness; appearing as if the\ncelestial regions had dropped down on the earth; blazing in beauty;\nteeming with countless gems; like unto the brow of a mountain strewn\nwith the blossoms and the dust thereof of various trees; and illumined\nby the foremost females,--appearing like a mass of clouds containing\nlightning, or the witching welkin furnished with grace, afloat with\nexcellent swans. And (Hanuman) saw the car variegated with countless\ngems; like unto the top of a mountain variegated with innumerable\nmetals; or like the firmament garnished with the moon and the\nplanets,--or like clouds of diverse hues fused into a homogeneous whole.\nThe place in the car designed as the seat of the many, was filled with\nrows of hills;[258] its hills were filled with trees; its trees were\nfilled with flowers; and (finally) its flowers were filled with leaves\nand filaments. And (in it), where white mansions were reared, there were\ntanks filled with fair flowers; and lotuses furnished with filaments;\nand picturesque woods; and liquid lapses. And the mighty monkey beheld\nthere the great chariot going after the name of _Pushpa_, appearing\nbeautiful, wheeling round in the splendour of the gems--which had\nsurpassed even the cars pertaining to the abodes of the celestials. And\n(in that car) were birds made of lapis iazulis; and (other) birds\ncomposed of silver and coral; and variegated serpents made of various\nprecious metals; and fair-bodied steeds resembling those of superior\nbreeds; and there were constructed birds having graceful mouths; and\nfair, tapering, playful and contracted plumage, bearing blossoms made of\ncoral and gold,--like unto the very plumage of Kama himself. And there\nwere elephants possessed of graceful trunks, bearing fillaments; and\nwith their trunks bearing lotus leaves,--engaged (in showering water on\nLakshmi); as well as the goddess, made with fair arms, seated on a pool\nwith a lotus in her hand. Thus entering that graceful mansion, like unto\na mountain containing charming caverns, (Hanuman) was seized with\nwonderment. And once again (entering that charming mansion), like unto a\ntaking and fragrant tree during spring furnished with holes, Hanuman was\nseized with wonderment. Then ranging by bounds that honored city ruled\nby the arms of the Ten-faced one, he, not finding the highly regarded\nand extremely distressed daughter of Janaka, who had won over her grief\nby contemplating the virtues of her lord,--(was affected witb sorrow).\nAnd, not seeing Janaka's daughter, then the heart of that high-souled\none, honored for his character by the world, of schooled self, ever\nranging by the way chiming in with morality, and having the scriptures\nfor his eye-sight--as he ranged about,--was oppressed with grief.\n\n[257] _Swavalenarjitam_.--Another meaning is: _(mansions) into which\n      Hanuman found entry through his own might.--T._\n\n[258] Composed of gold and gems.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION VIII.\n\n\nStaying in that mansion, that intelligent monkey, the offspring of the\nWind-god, beheld that splendid aerial car, beauteous with excellent\njewels, and furnished with windows of burnished gold. And the car,\nembellished with transcendentally beautiful figures,--belauded by\nVicwakarma himself constituting the acme (of his art),--which, mounting\nthe welkin, looked like a mark of the Sun's orbit,--appeared .\nresplendent. And there was nothing in that car which was not made\nskilfully;--nothing that did not look like a precious jewel (sprung\nspontaneously on its person),--and the style displayed in its various\nparts surpassed anything that could be found in the cars of the\ncelestials themselves,--and everything in that car was executed in the\nhighest style of excellence--(that car) obtained (by Ravana) in virtue\nof prowess sprung from asceticism and contemplation (of the Deity);\ncapable of repairing wherever (the owner) wished to wend; displaying\nvarious kinds of constructive skill; composed of materials procured from\ndiverse sources,--such as were worthy of a celestial car; fleet-coursing\nin consonance with the wish of its master; incapable of being\napproached;[259] equal to the wind in celerity; the source of happiness\nunto ious, high-souled, and pious ones--possessors of (word missing)\nfineless'[260] and high rapture; coursing through the firmament in a\nvariety of ways,--the congeries of all wonderful things,--adorned with\nranges of chambers; captivating to the mind; stainless as the autumnal\nMoon; furnished with splendid summits, like the crest of a mountain;\nwhich was borne by rangers of the night, given to mighty meals, ranging\nthe sky, with faces graced with ear-rings; and by thousands of ghosts\npossessed of terrible speed, having expansive, winkless and rolling\neyes. That heroic first of monkeys saw that excellent car, beauteous\nwith vernal blossoms,--fairer than the month of spring and furnished\nwith flowers.\n\n[259] By the impious. Another reading is _duravaram_--incapable of being\n      approached by the enemy.--T.\n\n[260] _Vide Othello_.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION IX.\n\n\nAnd located within that excellent mansion, Hanuman, son unto the\nWind-god, saw a superior and grand structure, stainless and spacious;\nhalf a _yojana_ in width and one in length,--belonging to the lord of\nthe Rakshasas, and abounding with many a palace. And searching for\nVideha's daughter, the large eyed Sita, that slayer of enemies, Hanuman,\nranged all through (this edifice). And Hanuman beheld the goodly edifice\nwhere the Rakshasas used to dwell in common. And (at length) that one\ncame upon the mansion itself of the lord of Rakshasas, having\nthree-tusked and four-tusked elephants, and protected by persons with\nupraised arms, and covering a capacious area. And (Hanuman beheld) the\nresidence of Ravana, thronged with his Rakshasi wives, as well as with\nprincesses forcibly brought thither (by him),-- like unto the sea\nteeming with alligators and _makaras_, abounding in _timingilas_ and\nfishes and snakes, and agitated by the force of the wind. The same\nenchanting splendour that is in Vaicravana or the ray-riding Moon,\nremained ever constant and abiding in Ravana's abode. And the prosperity\nof king Kuvera, or Yama, or Varuna, was here present in the house of the\nRaksha,--or even surpassed by the prosperity (of Ravana). In the midst\nof that mansion the Wind-god's offspring found another,[261] excellently\nconstructed, having innumerable mad elephants;--that noble car\nembellished with all gems, entitled _Pushpaka_, which had been\nconstructed in heaven by Vicwakarma for Brahma himself,-- which Kuvera\nobtained from the Great-father through high austerities,--and which,\nvanquishing Kuvera by his prowess, the Rakshasa chief got possession of.\nAnd the mighty monkey ascended the splendid car _Pushpaka_, containing\nfigures of wolves,--made of _Karttaswara_ and _Hiranya_; graced with\nranges of goodly pillars; as if blazing in splendour; throughout\ngarnished with narrow secret rooms and saloons, piercing the heavens,\nand resembling Meru or Mandara, and like unto the flaming Sun; skilfully\nreared by Vicwakarma; with golden staircases and graceful and grand\nraised seats, rows of golden and crystal windows, and daises composed of\nsapphires, emeralds and other superb gems; embellished with noble\n_vidrumas_, costly stones, and round pearls, as also with plastered\nterraces; pasted with red sandal, like unto gold, and furnished with a\nsacred aroma; and resembling the sun new risen. And stationed\nthereon,[262] Hanuman smelt the rich odour of viands and drinks that was\nspreading on all sides;-- and like one dear friend smelling another, he\nalso smelt the mighty Air, impregnated with aroma, which seemed like\nembodied Odour. And (the Air) said unto Hanuman,--\"Come here, where that\nRavana is.\" Then (descending from _Pushpaka_ and repairing to that\nsleeping apartment of Ravana), Hanuman saw the same, grand and graceful;\nbelonging to Ravana; of transcendent beauty; comely like unto a lovely\nlady; diversified with jewelled staircases; illumined with heaps of\ngems; with its terraces constructed of crystal; having statues of ivory,\npearls, diamonds, coral, silver and gold; adorned with jewelled pillars;\nand embellished all round with pillasters; and upheld on all sides by\nstraight, elevated and gorgeously ornamented pillars of equal\ndimensions, resembling prodigious wings,--(the mansion) appearing to\ntower to the sky; containing spacious and parti-colored woolen cloths\nbearing the marks of the Earth;[263] extensive as the Earth is, with\nkingdoms and dwellings; resounding with the roars of infuriated\nelephants; redolent of divine fragrance; furnished with gay canopies;\ninhabited by the sovereign of the Rakshas; cloudy with _aguru_ and\n_dhupa_; spotless; of a swan-like whiteness; engarlanded with flowers\nand leaves like unto the dappled and brilliant cow (of Vasishtha);\nbringing delight unto the heart; and enhancing the grace (of all\ncreatures); removing sorrow; noble; and the generatrix of Grace herself.\nAnd as soon as Hanuman entered the mansion protected by Ravana, it like\na mother regaled his senses with their proper objects. \"This must be\n_swarga_, or the region of the immortals, or the city of Amaravati, or\nthe supreme Siddhi--\"[264] thought the Wind-god's offspring. And he saw\nthe golden lamps (shorn of their brightness),[265] like unto gamblers\nworsted at dice by others exceedingly skilful, and, in consequence,\nplunged in thought. And (Hanuman) conceived that (Ravana's sleeping\napartment) was in a conflagration, on account of the display of the\nlamps, Ravana' s energy, and the splendour of the ornaments. And when\nthe night had been half spent, (Hanuman) saw thousands of superb dames,\nadorned in various attires, and bearing apparels of diverse hues, and\nwreaths,--who having given up sport, and come under the influence of\nwine and sleep,-- were fast asleep on woolen sheets. And in consequence\nof the silence that reigned (in that apartment) embellished with\n(ornaments), it resembled a large lotus-grove, where the swans and the\nblack bees are silent. And the Wind-god's offspring beheld the\ncountenances of those beauteous women, with closed eyes,--having their\nlashes shut through languor; and odorous with lotus-perfume. And their\nfaces appeared like lotuses blowing on the expiry of night and closing\ntheir petals by night. \"These lotus-faces like unto very lotuses\nthemselves, ever the six-footed ones[266] seek once and again.\" Thus\nthought with discrimination the graceful, mighty monkey; and on account\nof their perfections, he confessed those countenances to be equal to\nwater-sprung[267] (lotuses). And that apartment, in consequence of being\ngraced by those women, appeared splendid, like the autumnal, complacent\nsky decorated with the stars. And surrounded by them, the Rakshasa chief\nresembled the fair Moon encircled by the stars. \"Those stars that drop\nfrom the firmament on their virtue deteriorating, have assembled here in\na body,\" thus thought the monkey at that time. And the shine, form, and\nsplendour of those females resembled, forsooth those of magnificently\ndisplayed, noble and lustrous stars. And on account of their having been\nbereft of consciousness through sleep, induced by fatigue brought on by\ndrink (and dance), their hair was dishevelled, and their full wreaths\nand goodly ornaments lay scattered about. And some of those paragons had\ngot their beauty-spots, smudged; and some, their bangles loosening off;\nsome, their chains running to one side. And others had their pearl\nnecklaces burst,-- and their cloths getting away (from their persons),\nand the chains of their zones straying irregularly;--resembling way-worn\nmares. And others again were without their ear-rings, and had their\ngarlands torn and crushed; and resembled blossoming creepers, trodden\ndown in a vast forest by mighty elephants. And the pearl chains of some\nsinning females resembling moon beams, having got topsy-turvy, was lying\nlike sleeping swans between the breasts of the damsels. And the lapis\nchains of some resembled water-crows;[268] and the fine golden chains\nturned upside down of others appeared like ruddy geese. And those ladies\nresembled rivers having hips for banks; containing swans and Karandavas,\nand beautified with ruddy geese. And those sleeping females appeared\nlike streams; having _Kinkinis_ for their ripples; and large gold\nlotuses;[269] marks[270] of amorous encounter on their persons for\nferocious aquatic animals; and perfections,[271] for their banks. And on\nthe tender frames, as well as on the tops of the breasts, of some\ngraceful scratches consequent on pressure, appeared like ornaments. And\nthe scarf-ends of some stirred by the air that was blowing about their\nfaces, flapped on them again and again. And at the nether part of the\nfaces of Ravana's wives, they (the scarf-ends)appeared beauteous like\nuplifted streamers of exceeding elegance, composed of many-hued golden\nyarn. And the ear-rings of some dames possessed of a pleasant sheen,\nstirred by the air that was breathing about their faces, were undulating\ngently. And the sweet breath of their faces, naturally fragrant, and\nredolent of sugar and dsava, was then regaling Ravana. And out of fear\nsprung from sleep and intoxication, some of Ravana's wives were again\nand again smelling the faces of those, co-wives with them, taking the\nfaces to belong to Ravana. And from their hearts being firmly fixed on\nRavana, those excellent women, having their sense af separateness\nremoved, (albeit thus dealt with), did what was dear unto them.[272] And\nother females, making their gay scarf-ends (for their sheets), and\nmaking their arms, their pillows, were lying down there. And some were\nlying on others' bosoms and others again, on the arms of the latter. And\nsome lay on the laps of others; and others, again, on the breasts of the\nlatter. And they reposed on each other's thighs, flanks, waists, and\nbacks; and coming under the influence of wine and amour, they lay on\neach other's persons. And those females having elegant waists, receiving\npleasure from the contact with others' persons, were sleeping there,\nwith their hands fastened by each other. And that garland of females\nstrung by the threads of their hands, appeared beauteous, like a real\nwreath strung on a thread, with maddened black bees (seated thereon).\nAnd that multitude of females in a medley appeared like an assemblage of\nblooming plants in the month of Chaitra,[273] with its wreaths formed in\nconsequence of their coming in contact with one another, and of its\nclusters touching each other, on account of the breeze blowing;--with\nthe plants encircling the graceful (necks of the trees),--and rife with\nBhramaras chasing each other.--And although the ornaments of those women\nwearing ornaments, attires and wreaths, were put on proper places; yet\n(on account of the profusion of the ornaments themselves, as well as\nbecause of the circumstance of the dames' sleeping),[274] it was\ndifficult to ascertain which ornament belonged to one damsel and which\nto another. And it seemed as if, Ravana having attained rest (through\nsleep), the flaming golden lamps furnished with various rays, were\ngazing at the girls with winkless eyes. Daughters of Rajarshis, of\nVipras, of Daityas, of Gandharbas. and of Rakshasas, having come under\nthe influence of desire, had become his wives. And all those women had\nbeen procured by Ravana because he sought fight (with their relations)\nand some haughty dames, rapt with desire, had of themselves come to this\nplace. And there was no woman there, who had been won by force by\n(Ravana), possessed as he was of prowess; but they had all been subdued\nby his qualities. And save the surpassingly worthy daughter of Janaka,\nno female (had been brought), who had set her heart on another, or who\nhad known any other before. And there was none who, being his wife, was\nnot of high extraction; none who was defective in grace; none who was\nnot of sterling merit; none who was not decked out in ornaments and\nattire; and none who was infirm; and none who was not an object of\ndesire of her lover. And the lord of monkeys endowed with uprightness of\nsense, thought,--\"If the righteously wedded wife of Raghava were as one\nof the wives of the king of the Rakshasas, it would well for him.\" Again\nreflected he,-- \"Sita is crowned with chastity and other virtues; and\nthe powerful lord of Lanka, assuming an illusory form, hath with much\nado perpetrated this ignominious act.\"\n\n[261] _The car Pushpaka_, according to Tirtha, whose view is accepted by\n      Ramanuja. According to Kataka, _Vesma_ means a _bedchamber of\n      husband and wife.--T._\n\n[262] _i. e._ on Pushpaka.--T.\n\n[263] _i. e._ four-cornered, The Earth, in Hindu cosmogony, is a flat\n      surface having four corners.--T.\n\n[264] _Svarga_ is the region where persons reap the fruit of\n      Jyotishtoma, etc. _Siddhi_ is Illusion spread by Gandharbas.--T.\n\n[265] By the superior splendour of Ravana.--T.\n\n[266] _Shatpada_--six-footed--a name of the black bee.--T.\n\n[267] _Salilodbhavas_,--water-sprung--a name of the lotus.--T.\n\n[268] _Kadamva_--a drake; or, according to some, a teal; a gander; or\n      the species _gallinula porphyria.--T._\n\n[269] _i.e._ the faces of the females are meant. Another meaning is,\n      _gold for large lotuses.--T._\n\n[270] Vilasa may also mean arch displays by way of coquetry.--T.\n\n[271] _Yasa_, according to some, here means _grace_.--T.\n\n[272] The sense is very imperspicuous only by reason of the unskilful\n      use of the pronouns. _The damsels kissed did not resent the act;\n      but kissed the kissers in turn.--T._\n\n[273] March-April.\n\n[274] In consequence also, remarks the commentator, of the uniformity\n      running through the ornaments, as well as of the close contact of\n      the persons of the ladies.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION X.\n\n\nAnd there Hanuman employed in looking around, saw a grand dais made of\ncrystal; and embellished with jewels; comparable to one belonging to the\ncelestial regions; furnished with superb and costly sofas, having their\nparts painted and composed of ivory, gold, and lapis lazulis; with\nhighly precious canopies. At one place thereof he saw a white umbrella,\nadorned with beautiful wreaths, resembling the lord of the stars\nhimself. And Hanuman saw a splendid sofa garnished with gold, bearing\ngarlands of _acoka_ blossoms,--flaming like fire; around which persons\nkept waving with their hands _chowris_ furnished with hair[275]; rife\nwith perfumes of various kinds; odorous with rich _dhupa_, spread with\nexcellent sheets; covered with the skins of rams; and decked on all\nsides with chaplets of gorgeous flowers. And that excellent and mighty\nmonkey beheld therein the heroic sovereign of the Rakshasas, Ravana,\nresembling a mass of clouds; with flaming and brilliant ear-rings;\nhaving reddened eyes; of gigantic arms; wearing a cloth composed of\ngolden threads; his person daubed with fragrant red sandal; looking like\na crimson cloud at eve fraught with lightning; covered with noble\nornaments; endowed with eminent grace; capable of wearing forms at will;\nresembling Mandara affluent with trees and woods and shrubs;--sleeping,\nhaving given up sport at night; adorned with elegant ornaments; dear\nunto the daughters of the Rakshasas,--the source of happiness unto\nRakshasas;--who had ceased from drinking,--asleep on a shining\nbedstead,--and respiring like a (kissing) serpent.[276] And reaching\nthere, Hanuman, waxing wondrous agitated, shrank back, as if in fear.\nAnd then arriving at the staircase, the mighty monkey, stationing\nhimself on a dais in the middle of the stairs, gazed at the inebriate,\nRakshasa, resembling a tiger. And as the sovereign of the Rakshasas was\nsleeping, his graceful bed resembled a grand cascade, beside which\nstands an elephant breathing odour. And Hanuman saw the arms of the\nhuge-bodied lord of Rakshasas, fastened with bracelets,--stretched\n(there),-- like unto the banners of Indra; which had been wounded by the\ntusk-ends of Airavata, whose plump parts bad been riven by _vajra_; and\nwhich had been torn by the discus of Vishnu; well developed; having\nequal and elegant parts; with hard joints; fraught with strength; with\nthumbs having nails bearing auspicious marks; having rings (on the\nfingers); covered; formed like bludgeons; round; resembling the trunks\nof elephants; cast on the white bed like unto five-hooded serpents;\nsmeared and adorned with cool, fragrant, and excellent sandal resembling\nthe blood of hares; pressed by paragons; odorous with incense; resisting\n(in battle) Yakshas, and Pannagas, Gandharbas, gods and Danavas; and the\nmonkey saw his arms resting on the bed, like unto two beautiful and\nmighty serpents sleeping in the entrails of Mandara. And with both those\nwell developed arms of his, the lord of Rakshasas resembling a hill,\nlooked handsome like Mandara with its summits. And breath bearing the\naroma of the mangoe, and the _Pannaga_, the sweet scent of the _Vakula_,\nthe savour of viands fraught with the six kinds of tastes, and the\nperfume of wines, came out of the mighty mouth of the sovereign of the\nRakshasas, filling, as it were, that entire chamber. And (Hanuman)\nbeheld (Ravana), with his countenance, aglow with ear-rings and decked\nwith a golden diadem embellished with pearls and jewels; daubed with red\nsandal; and adorned with; an elegant chain; having a large, broad, and\nfull-developed breast; with a white silken cloth on, falling off his\nperson; furnished with blood-red eyes; covered with costly yellow\nsheets; appearing like a mass of unrighteousness; breathing like a\nserpent, or an elephant asleep in the mighty Ganga during the\nrains;--four lamps set on the golden pilars illumining four sides; even\nas lightnings display the entire surface of a mass of clouds. (And\nHanuman) also saw in the mansion of the Raksha chief, the wives of that\nhuge-bodied one dear unto his wives,--lying at his feet. And that\nprotector of monkey-bands saw them, having countances resembling the\nMoon displayed; decked out with elegant ear-rings; bearing unfading\ngarlands[277] by way of ornamentation; lying on the arms and lap of the\nlord of the Rakshas. And the monkey saw women bearing noble\nornaments,--lying down. And he saw golden bracelets and ear-rings at the\nnether ends of the women's ears,--set with diamonds and lapises. And\nwith their fair countenances resembling the Moon, graced with comely\near-rings, that terrace looked beautiful, like the welkin embellished\nwith stars. The slender-waisted wives of the sovereign of the Rakshasas,\novercome with languor consequent on drink and amorous encounter, were\nfast asleep at the very places where they were seated. And another\ntranscendentally beautiful damsel possessed of lovely limbs, skilled in\ndance, was fast asleep, betraying comely movements (during sleep). And\nanother was seen asleep, embracing a _vina_,--like a lotus with\nspreading petals, resting by the side of a raft. And another dark-eyed\nwench was asleep with her _mudduka_[278] on her lap, like a loving\nmother having a boy. Another damsel possessed of graceful limbs and a\nshapely bust, was lying down, hugging her kettle-drum,--like a woman\nembracing her lover, obtained after a long time. And one lotus-eyed\nfemale was asleep, embracing her _vina_; like an amorous damsel hugging\nher fair paramour. And another girl of restrained self, given to\ndancing, had come under the sway of sleep, embracing her _vipanchi_[279]\nlike a female sleeping with her lover. And another having inebriate\neyes, was fast asleep, embracing her _mridanga_ with her charming,\nplump, and tender limbs, resembling gold. Another female of faultless\nfeatures, endeued with a slender frame, having been overcome by\nlassitude consequent on drink, was asleep.with her _panava_ on the ends\nof her lower garment, held fast with her hands. Another woman was\nsleeping soundly, embracing her _dindima_[280] with another bound at her\nback; like a female taking both her lover and her child. Another damsel\nhaving eyes resembling lotus-petals, having come under the influence of\nliquor, was asleep, firmly holding her _aramvara_[281] with her hands.\nAnother woman, intoxicated by wine, was discovered asleep, with her\nwater-vessel upset; and, in consequence, appearing like a well-washed\nvariegated wreath in spring. Another, coming under the masterdom of\nslumber, was sleeping, holding with her hands her twin breasts\nresembling golden jars. And another lotus-eyed and moon-faced fair one,\ncoming under the governance of slumber, (was asleep), embracing another\nfurnished with shapely hips. And eminently beautiful dames were asleep,\nembracing musical instruments; like wenches pressing lustful (lovers),\nwith their breasts. And that monkey saw that lady, endeued with beauty,\nlying down apart in an excellent bed; adorned with ornaments containing\npearls and jewels; and as if decorating that charming mansion with her\ngrace. And the monkey saw there the yellow-hued Mandodari, having the\nsplendour of gold; the object of (Ravana's) desire; beautiful\nexceedingly,--the mistress of the inner apartment,--lying down. And\nseeing (Mandodari) adorned with ornaments, the offspring of the Wind-god\nguessed,--\"This one endowed with the wealth of youth and beauty might be\nSita.\" And demonstrating great joy, that leader of monkey-bands rejoiced\nexceedingly. And thereat, (Hanuman) struck at his arms with his hands,\nkissed his tail, exhibited signs of glee, frolicked, sang, darted\ntowards the pillars, shot up to the top thereof, and jumped down to the\nearth,--manifesting his monkey-nature.\n\n[275] The commentator throws out a conjecture that artificial figures\n      are here meant; which mechanically performed the function herein\n      assigned to them.--T.\n\n[276] The commentator, however, interprets: _like an elephant_. Serpent\n      is, I fancy, a happy rendering of _naga.--T._\n\n[277] _i. e._ celestial females.--T.\n\n[278] A kind of musical instrument.--T.\n\n[279] A kind of _Vina.--T._\n\n[280] A kind of musical instrument.--T.\n\n[281] A kind of musical instrument.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XI.\n\n\nThen resigning that line of thought,[282] that mighty monkey, regaining\nhis equanimity, set out in another direction of thought touching Sita.\n\"Separated from Rama, that lady is incapable[283] of of sleeping, or\neating, or decorating (her person), or drinking. And she is incapable of\nassociating with any other person, although he were the sovereign of the\ncelestials himself. And even in all heaven there is none who is equal to\nRama. She is some other.\" Assuring himself of this, that foremost of\nmonkeys, eager to behold Sita, again began to range in that place set\napart for drinking. Some were tired out with sporting; some with\nsinging; some with dancing; and some were fast asleep through\nintoxication. And some supported themselves on _murajas_, _mridangas_,\nor _chelikas_; and some women were sleeping on excellent sheets. And\nthat leader of monkey-bands saw (that place of drinking) filled with\nthousands of women, adorned with ornaments engaged (in their sleep) in\ndepicting each other's loveliness; and explaining the sense of songs;\nconversant with season and place; understanding the meanings of words\nchiming in with season and place[284]; and skilful at play. And at other\nplaces also he saw thousands of superb and youthful dames fast asleep,--\nemployed in talking of each others beauty. And that leader of monkey\nbands saw (women) versed in season and place, and understanding the\nmeanings of words consonant with season and place. And in the midst of\nthem all, the lord of the Rakshasas looked splendid like an ox in a\nspacious stall in the midst of stately kine. And surrounded by them, the\nRakshasa chief appeared beautiful like a gigantic elephant in a forest,\nsurrounded by female elephants. And in the abode of the huge-bodied\nRakshasa chief, this tiger-like monkey saw that place of drinking,\nfurnished with every object of desire. And in that place set apart for\ndrinking, he saw heaps of the flesh of buffaloes, deer, and boars,\narranged separately. And that tiger-like monkey saw in capacious golden\nvessels flesh of fowls and peacocks, which remained (after the repast).\nAnd Hanuman saw the flesh of boars, and _Vadhrinasas_[285] _Sulyas_,\ndeer, and peacocks, seasoned with curds and _Sauvarchala_;[286] and\n_Krikalas_,[287] and goats of various kinds.-flesh of hare\nhalf-fed,--_Ekacalyas_,[288] and buffaloes,--all chopped and dressed;\nand lickable and drinkable viands sharp and mild; and edibles sharp and\nmild; and _Ragakhandavas_[289] containing sugar and acid, capable of\nimproving a vicious palate. And with large and costly stray bangles and\nbracelets; and scattered cans,-- and diverse kinds of fruit; and wreaths\nof flowers, the pavement attained exceeding beauty. And with elegantly\njointed bedsteads, arranged (around), the scene of wassail appeared\naflame without fire. And with meat consisting of many ingredients,\nfraught with diverse tastes, seasoned with many substances, and dressed\nby skilful cooks,--arranged separately in the scene of revel; and with\nnoble and pleasant wines, natural[290] and artificial,--_asavas_ from\nsugar; and _Madhvika_[291] and _asavas_ from flowers and fruits; and\nimpregnated separately with different kinds of fragrant dust,--the\npavement, furnished with inuumerable garlands, surrounded with golden\nwater-vessels and crystal bowls, and golden water-pots, looked\nexceedingly beautiful. And the monkey saw that foremost of all places\nset apart for drinking, containing silvern and golden jars. And that\nmighty monkey saw golden wine-vessels studded with gems, all filled with\nwine; and some with half full of liquor, some with their wine entirely\nexhausted, and some full of liquor. And (at some spots) he saw various\nkinds of viands, and at others wines ranged in rows, and at others the\nwine-vessels remaining half full. And there were many bedsteads\nbelonging to fair ones, remaining vacant; and at some places excellent\nwomen were sleeping touching each other. And at one place, a female,\nborne down by the force of sleep, forcibly possessing herself of\nanother's cloth, and wrapping herself therewith,--went to the bed of\nthat one, and was indulging in sleep.--And with their breath, their\nvariegated wreaths and the cloth on their persons were stirring gently,\nas if with a mild-blowing breeze. And laden with the odours of cool\nsandal and of sweet-tasting _Sidhu_;[292] and of diverse wreaths and\nflowers, and with perfumes of various kinds,--and entranced[293] with\n(the aroma of _sandals_ suitable for use after ablution, and of\n_dhupas_, the air, impregnated with excellent scent, was there breathing\naround the car Pushpaka. And in the residence of the Raksha, there were\nsome wenches sable, yet exceedingly witching; and some were dark-hued;\nand the frames of some were of a golden brilliance. And their beauty, in\nconsequence of their coming under the governance of sleep, and their\nbeing bereft of their senses by Madana, resembled that of lotuses in a\nsleep. Thus that highly energetic monkey saw everything thoroughly in\nthe inner apartment of Ravana,--but he saw not Janaka's daughter. And\nseeing those females, that mighty monkey, apprehending loss of\nrighteousness, was seized with an exceeding great fear[294]. \"Beholding\na female, who is the religiously wedded wife of another, while she is\nasleep[295], verily causeth loss of righteousness. My sight surely never\nseeketh others' wives; but I have beheld this one that hath ravished\nanother's spouse.\" And that intelligent one, intent on attaining a\nknowledge of things capable of being arrived at on grounds of judgment,\nagain reflected effectively as to his course of action: \"All these\nunsuspecting wives of Ravana have been beheld by me; yet there are no\nsigns that my mind hath undergone any alteration. In respect of the\nenlistment of the senses on behalf of any course of action good or evil,\nit is verily mind which is the cause; and herein my mind is righteously\ndisposed. And I could not search for Vaidehi elsewhere; for in the\nmatter of search, people always search for women even among women. And\npeople search for creatures among the species to which they happen to\nbelong: none searcheth for a lost lady among female deer. Therefore have\nI with a pure heart explored the entire inner apartment of Ravana; but\nJanaka's daughter I see not.\" And Hanuman endowed with prowess saw the\ndaughters of gods, and Gandharbas, and Nagas; hut he saw not Janaki. And\nnot seeing her, that hero, having beheld other magnificent dames, coming\nout of that place, set about searching for Sita (afresh). And leaving\nthe place of wassail, the graceful offspring of the Wind-god, taking\nextreme care, again began to search for Sita all about (another\nquarter).\n\n[282] _i.e._ that Mandodari was Sita.--T.\n\n[283] The text has _na saptum arhati; lit., it behoveth (Sita) not to\n      sleep_. The sense, however, is as given above.--T.\n\n[284] All this, remarks Ramanuja, appeared from their talk during\n      sleep.--T.\n\n[285] A species of birds, having, according to _Vishnudharma_, dark\n      throats, red veins, and white wings. According to others, a kind\n      of goats.--T.\n\n[286] A kind of salt.--T.\n\n[287] A kind of partriges.--T.\n\n[288] A kind of fish.--T.\n\n[289] According to some, a preparation of the juice of grapes and\n      pomegranates, mixed with sugar, etc. According to others, black\n      cakes having six kinds of relishes.--T.\n\n[290] Natural wines--such as _Kadamvari etc._, which require no\n      preparation--T.\n\n[291] From honey. According to some, from grapes.--T.\n\n[292] Spirit distilled from mollasses.--T.\n\n[293] _Murchchhita_--The commentator says, means _spreading_. I,\n      however, here presume to go by my own light, feeble as that may\n      be. _Entranced_ will, I dare say, recommend itself to the poetical\n      in especial.--T.\n\n[294] Remembering,  says the commentator, the injunction of the\n      scriptures, \"None should see a nude female.\"--T.\n\n[295] _And therefore presumably incapable of taking care herself.--T._\n\n\n\nSECTION XII.\n\n\nAnd remaining in that mansion, (Hanuman) desirous of getting a sight of\nSita graced with a fair presence, went into bowers, and picture\ngalleries, and night-houses;[296] but her he did not find. And not\nfinding the beloved (spouse) of Raghu's son, that mighty monkey\nreflected,--\"Surely Sita is not alive,--for although I have searched\n(through and through), yet Mithila's daughter I have failed to find. And\nthat girl solicitous for the preservation of her chastity, and staying\nin the prime path of virtuous woman,--that chaste one--hath, for\ncertain, been slain by this chief of the Rakshasas, (ever) finding\ndelight in iniquity. And seeing the wives of the Rakshasa monarch,--of\nfrightful forms,-- monstrous; of lurid hue; having huge faces; with\nlarge horrid eyes,--the daughter of Janaka hath given up the ghost from\nfright. Failing to see Sita, and (thereby) annuling my prowess, and\nhaving long spent the appointed space in company with the monkeys, way\nhave I none to present myself before Sugriva, that monkey being puissant\nand given to meting out sharp chastisement. Having searched the inner\napartment through, and seen the wives of the Rakshasa, I do not see the\nchaste Sita. Therefore vain is the trouble that I take. What, alas!\nshall the monkeys assembled tell me when I shall go (to them)? 'O hero,\ntell us what thou hast done, repairing there.' And not having seen\nJanaka's daughter, what shall I answer? The term fixed (by Sugriva)\nhaving been past, certainly meet it is that I should fast to death. And\nwhat shall the aged Jambhavan, and what shall Angada, say? And what,\nagain, shall the assembled monkeys say to me when I shall have crossed\nover the main? But perseverence is the source of good fortune; and\nperseverence bringeth about supreme happiness. Search again I will,\nwhere I have not yet searched. Perseverence, for certain, ever bringeth\npeople to all profitable objects. Whatever one doeth with vigor, beareth\nfruit. Therefore will I put forth fresh dear efforts vigorously. I will\nsearch such places held by Ravana as I have not yet seen. I have again\nsearched the picture-galleries and the sporting-structures, and\nedifices, and roads passing through gardens, as well as the cars.\"\nHaving thought thus, Hanuman again set about searching the subterranean\nabodes, religious buildings, and many-storied mansions. And flying up,\nand coming down, and staying, and going at places, and opening doors,\nand shutting others, and entering and issuing out, and falling down as\nif darting up, that mighty monkey began to range on all sides. There was\nnot even space measuring four fingers in that inner apartment of Ravana,\nto which the monkey did not repair. And he saw the abodes of the\nnobility, the daises, the trees by the crossings the holes, and the\ntanks. And Hanuman saw there Rakshasas of various forms, frightful and\ndeformed; but he saw not Janaka's daughter. And Hanuman saw there the\nwives of Vidyadharas; but he saw not Raghava's beloved. And Hanuman saw\nthere transcendentally beautiful women--daughters of Nagas--having\ncountenances resembling the moon; but he saw not Janaka's daughter. And\nHanuman saw there daughters of Nagas forcibly brought by the lord of the\nRakshasas; but he saw not Janaka's daughter. Having seen other beauteous\nfemales, and not seeing her, the mighty-armed son of the Wind-god was\noppressed with sadness. Seeing that the endeavours of the monarch of\nmonkeys, as well as the bounding over the main, had come to nought, the\noffspring of the Wind-god was plunged in thought. Descending from the\naerial car, Hanuman, son unto the Wind-god, his senses deprived by\nsorrow, was again wrought up with anxiety.\n\n[296] Intended for stay at night.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XIII.\n\n\nAllighting from the car, Hanuman possessed of vigorous activity,--leader\nof monkey-bands--nearing the wall, looked like lightning within a mass\nof clouds.[297] And having gone round the mansions of Ravana, and not\nseeing Janaki, the monkey Hanuman said,--\"Striving after Rama's welfare,\nI have again searched through Lanka; but I do not see Videha's daughter,\nJanaki, having all her limbs endeued with loveliness. And I have\nexplored pools, and watery expanses, and tanks, and rivers, and streams,\nand marshes, and woods, and citadels, and mountains, yea,--all this\nearth; but Janaki I do not find. The vulture-king Sampati had told that\nSita was in the mansion of Ravana. But why do I not see her (here)? Or\ndoth Maithili Sita, daughter unto Janaka,[298] sprung in the Videha\nline, forcibly carried off (by Ravana) and completely in his power,\nabide by the mandate (of that monarch)? I conceive that while taking\nSita, the Raksha darted upward, he being influenced by fear of Rama's\nshafts; (and accordingly losing control over his movements), she fell\noff by the way. Or I fancy that while that noble lady was being carried\naway along the way ranged by Siddhas, she lost her life on beholding the\nocean. Or I think that on account of the vehement speed assumed by\nRavana, and also oppressed with his arms, that large-eyed noble lady\nhath been bereft of her life. For certain, while (Ravana) was soaring\nhigher and higher, Janaka's daughter, rolling (on the car), dropped down\ninto the sea. Alas! trying to preserve her chastity. the forlorn Sita,\npractising self-mortification, hath been devoured by this abject-minded\nRavana. Or that dark-eyed innocent one, hath been eaten up by tbe wives\nof the Rakshasa chief, actuated by wicked motives.[299] (Ever)\ncontemplating Rama's countenance, resembling the full Moon, with eyes\nlike lotus-leaves, she, exercised with sorrow, hath breathed her last.\nBewailing much with exclamations of 'Oh Rama and Lakshmana!' 'Ah\nAyodhya!' that lady Vaidehi hath renounced her body. Or secretly kept in\nRavana's mansion, that girl, like a female parrot in a cage, is weeping\nbitterly. How can the slender-waisted wife of Rama, born in the race of\nJanaka, furnished with eyes resembling lotus petals, come under the sway\nof Ravana? I shall not be able to say of Rama's beloved wife that she\nhath been sullied,[300] or that I have seen her, or yet that she is\ndead. To say this is censurable; not to say it is also such. What is my\ncourse? I find myself in a false position. Things having drifted to this\npass, what should I say, now that the time hath come?' Thus thinking,\nHanuman again reflected,--\"If without seeing Sita, I repair to the abode\nof the lord of monkeys, what then shall I gain as the object of my\nexertions? This my bounding over the main comes to nought; as also my\nentry into Lanka and the sight of the Rakshasas. And what shall Sugriva\nsay? Or the assembled monkeys; or those twin sons of Dacaratha; to me\nwhen I shall have come to Kishkindha? And if going there, I should say a\nharsh speech unto Kakutstha--'I have not seen Sita'--he shall renounce\nhis life. Hearing harsh, terrible, unsufferable, fierce and foul words\nconcerning Sita, calculated to set the senses on fire, he shall not\nexist. And seeing him come under misery, with his mind expiring, the\nintelligent Lakshmana, firmly attached (unto Rama), shall also cease to\nexist. And hearing that his two brothers are dead, Bharata also shall\ngive up existence. And seeing Bharata dead, Satrughna shall also\nrenounce his life. And beholding their sons dead, their mothers,\nKaucalya, Sumitra and Kaikayi, shall, certainly, resign their lives. And\nseeing Rama in that plight, the lord of the monkeys, Sugriva, grateful\nand having his heart fast fixed in truth, shall give up his life. And\nUma, aggrieved, heart-wrung, distressed and bereft of happiness, and\nassuming the garb of a female ascetic, because of grief for her husband,\nshall resign her existence. And oppressed with grief arising from Vali,\nand weighed down by sorrow, the queen Tara, also, resolving on death\nshall cease to exist. And in consequence of the death of his father and\nmother and the calamity befalling Sugriva, the prince Angada also shall\nnext forego his existence. And the dwellers of the woods overwhelmed\nwith grief got of (the decease of) their master, shall strike at their\nheads with their clenched fists and hands. And the monkeys\naffectionately cherished by the famous lord of the monkeys with soothing\nwords gifts and regard, shall resign there lives. And no more in woods,\nand rocks, or secret spots, shall the foremost monkeys, assembled\ntogether, indulge in sports. And they, along with their sons and wives,\nand counsellors, distressed on account the disaster that hath overtaken\ntheir master,--shall fall from the tops of mountains down to places even\nor uneven. And the monkeys shall take poison, or hang themselves, or\nenter into flaming fire, or fast, or fall on their own weapons. I fancy\nthat a loud wailing shall arise on my return (to that place); and the\nrace of Ikshwaku as well as the rangers of the woods shall meet with\ndestruction. Therefore I will not repair hence to the city of\nKishkindha; nor can I see Sugriva without Mithila's daughter. On my not\ngoing there and staying here, those righteous-souled Maharathas as well\nas the fast-fleeting monkeys, shall preserve their lives through hope\n(of hearing tidings concerning Sita.) And not having seen Janaka's\ndaughter, I will lead the _Vanaprastha_ mode of life, partaking (of\nfruits) falling into my hands or mouth, restraining my senses, and\nstaying at the foot of trees. Preparing a funereal pile on a tract\nbordering on the sea, abounding in fruits, and flowers, and water, I\nwill enter into flaming fire. And as I sit to fast, and for effecting\nthe separation of self from my body and centering my identity in the\nspirit crows and beasts of prey shall feed on my body. And I think the\nsages have enjoyed another way of exit. I shall, failing to see Janaki,\nenter into water. My illustrious and exalted garland of fame, begot of\nexcellent acts, hath perished for good in consequence of my not seeing\nSita.[301] Or restraining myself, I shall become an ascetic living\nunderneath trees; but return I will not, without obtaining a sight of\nthat dark-eyed damsel. If I return without seeing Sita, all the monkeys\nwith Angada shall cease to exist. Incalculable are the ills of my\nputting a period to my existence; (on the other hand) if I live, I may\ncome by good. Therefore my life I will maintain. If I live, it may\nconduce to happiness.\" Having thus indulged in a variety of harassing\nthoughts in his mind, that foremost of monkeys could not cross over to\nthe other shore (of the sea of distress). Then summoning energy, that\nelephantine monkey endeued with fortitude reflected,-- \"Or I shall slay\nthe Ten-necked Ravana possessed of great strength. Sita hath been\ncarried off; but by this I shall avenge myself. Or throwing him\nrepeatedly into the sea, I (shall take him) and present him to Rama,\neven as one presents a beast unto Pacupat.\"[302] Reflecting thus, the\nmonkey, not finding Sita, --agitated with sorrow and anxiety,\nthought,--\"So long as I do not find the illustrious spouse of Rama,\nSita, I will explore the city of Lanka again and again. If in consonance\nwith Simpat's speech, I bring Rama hither, Raghava, not seeing his wife,\nshall burn all the monkeys. (Therefore) even here I shall stay,\nrestraining my fare and mortifying my senses. All those principal\nmonkeys ought not to lose their lives because of any act to which I may\ncommit myself. This is the asoka wood, extensive and containing mighty\ntrees. This I shall explore, as it hath not yet been searched by me. And\nsaluting the Vasus, the Rudras, the Adityas, the twin Acwins, (and Rama\nand Lakshmana), I enhancing the sorrow of the Rakhas, shall go into it.\nHaving vanquished the Rakshas, I will bestow on Rama the lady of the\nIkshwaku race like the fruit of asceticism conferred on an ascetic.\"\nHaving thus reflected for a space, the mighty-armed offspring of the\nWind-god, his senses agitated with anxiety, arose. \"I bow unto Rama with\nLakshmana, and unto the revered daughter of Janaka, I bow unto Rudra,\nand Indra, and Yama, and Wind-god, and I bow unto the Moon, unto Fire\nand unto the Maruts.\" Having bowed unto them all, as also unto Sugriva,\nthe offspring of the Wind-god, surveying all the cardinal points,\nmentally entered the _Asoka_ wood. Having mentally entered the _Asoka_\nwood, that monkey, son unto the Wind-god, reflected as to what he should\ndo next. The sacred _Asoka_ wood, sanctified with every purifying rite\nand abounding in woods, needs must be full of Rakshas. And warders,\ndirected there to, forsooth, protect the trees; and that worshipful Soul\nof the universe[303] does not breathe here vigorously. I contract my\nperson in the interests of Rama, and in order that Ravana may not see\nme. May all the deities along with the saints confer success on me. And\nmay the revered self-create Brahma, and the deities, and the ascetics,\nand Fire, and wind, and the much invoked bearer of the _Vajra_,[304] and\nthe noose-handed Varuna, and the Moon and the Sun, the high-souled\nAcwinis, and all the Maruts--(confer) success (on me)! And all beings,\nand the lord of them all,[305] and others that, albeit not specified in\nthe scriptures, are yet visible in the way,--will confer success on me.\nWhen shall I behold the blameless face of that noble lady,--with its\nprotruding nose; having luminous smiles, having eyes resembling\nlotus-petals; and bright as the complacent lord of stars? Ah! to-day how\nshall feeble forlorn one that hath been borne down by the force of the\nmean, abject and grim-visaged (Ravana) fierce yet wearing (at the time\nof the rape), a dress tending to inspire confidence,-- come in my\nsight?\"\n\n[297] The commentator remarks: _By this the author insinuates that the\n      wall was of entire sapphire.--T._\n\n[298] _Knowing Brahma_, remarks Ramanuja.--T\n\n[299] Jealousy, according to the commentator.--T.\n\n[300] This is evidently the sense, having regard to the preceding\n      _sloka_, although the commentator gives the apparent meaning of\n      _vinastha_ perished.--T.\n\n[301] Tirtha reads _chiraratriyam_ for _chiraratrya_. Then the sense is:\n      This illustrious live-long fair-rooted and auspicious night\n      crowned with a garland of fame, hath borne no fruit, in\n      consequence of my not seeing Sita. The commentator, I presume,\n      refines a little too much.--T.\n\n[302] An appellation of Siva--lit. _lord of beasts_--in allusion to\n      animal sacrifices to Siva.--T.\n\n[303] The wind.--T.\n\n[304] Indra.--T.\n\n[305] Prayapati--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XIV.\n\n\nHaving reflected for a while, and mentally met with her, that highly\nenergetic one leapt from the wall of Ravana's mansion on to that (of the\n_Asoka_ wood). And all his frame filled with delight, that mighty\nmonkey, stationed on the wall, saw various trees having their tops\nfurnished with flowers through spring and the other seasons,--_salas_\nand _asokas_, _bhavyas_, _champakas_, _udalakas_, and _nagas_, and those\nbearing fruits resembling the mouths of monkeys; and those relative to\nmango woods.--with hundreds of plants. And (Hanuman) leapt into the\ngarden like an arrow let go from the bow string. Entering into the\ngrove, variegated all over; resonant with the notes of birds; filled on\nall sides with golden and silvern trees; many-hued with birds and\nbeasts; containing dainty tracts of trees like unto the risen Sun,--the\npowerful Hanuman saw the place surrounded with various kinds of trees,\nhaving fruits and flowers; frequented by maddened coels and _bhramaras_,\nwith creatures expressing happiness by their movements, birds and beasts\noverflowing with spirits; echoing with the cries of peacocks; furnished\nwith various species of fowls. And as he was searching for that\nsurpassingly beautiful and blameless daughter of the king, that monkey\nawakened the monkeys that were sleeping sweetly. And blown against by\nthe wind caused by the wings of the birds as they flew upwards, various\nand variegated trees showered down blossoms. And in the midst of the\n_Asoka_ wood, Hanumln, son unto the Wind-god, covered over with flowers,\nlooked lovely like a hill strewn with blossoms. And all creatures,\nbeholding that monkey embosomed among trees and darting on all sides,\ntook him for spring. And strewn with several masses of blossoms loosened\nfrom the trees, the Earth appeared beauteous like a damsel dight with\nornaments. And shaken in diverse ways by the motion of the light\nfleeting monkey, the trees showered many-hued flowers. And with their\nleaves and tops torn, and their flowers and fruits shrivelled up, the\ntrees looked like worsted gamblers bereft of their clothes. And shaken\nby Hanuman vehemently moving about, those excellent trees crowned with\nfruits, speedily cast off fruits, flowers and foliage. And moved by the\nWind god's offspring, the trees with their trunks left, and forsaken by\nthe fowls were incapable of harbouring any creatures. And like youthful\nfair ones with hair dishevelled, their paste worn off, their upper lips\nwith fair teeth sucked of their moisture; and having their persons torn\nwith nails and teeth; appeared the _Asoka_ wood with its trees\nshattered; and itself ground with the tail, hands and legs (of Hanuman).\nAnd that monkey with his vehemence scattered the clusters of shrubs,\nlike the wind violently scattering clouds in the rainy season. And\nranging there, the monkey saw beautiful pavements, jewelled, silvern aud\ngolden. And he saw there various pools filled with excellent water and\nhaving steps crusted with jewels. Their sandy soil was filled with\npearls and corals, and the ground inside was made of crystal. And their\nbanks were decked with diverse golden trees. They were beautified with\nfull blown lotuses, water-lilies, _Chakravakas_ and _Natyuhas_[306] and\nfilled with the notes of swans and _Sarasas_. They were encircled on all\nsides with big tanks having trees on their banks and water, clear and\nsweet like unto nectar. They were entwined with hundreds of creepers,\ncovered with _Santana_[307] flowers and filled with diverse groves and\n_Karaviras_ serving the purpose of windows.[308] And thereupon that\nforemost of monkeys beheld there a mountain--the most picturesque in the\nworld, resembling clouds, having high summits, covered on all sides with\npeaks and filled with hilly abodes and various trees. And that monkey\nbeheld there a river falling down from the mountain like unto a damsel\nfalling down from the lap of her beloved. And the branches of the trees\ntouching the water (of the stream) resembled a fair damsel prevented by\nher dear companions from forsaking the company of her beloved). And that\ngreat monkey beheld further down the stream turning back like unto the\ndamsel, pleased, going back to her dear one. And that foremost of\nmonkeys, Hanuman, the son of Maruti, beheld, at some distance, ponds\nfilled with lotuses and various birds. And he saw a big artificial pond\nfull of cool water having stairs crusted with excellent jewels and its\nsandy banks filled with pearls. It was embellished (on all sides) with\nvarious animals, diverse trees and big mansions made by Viswakarma[309]\nhimself. It was adorned all around with artificial fqrests and all the\ntrees there bore flowers and fruits, spreading their branches like unto\numbrellas and having golden and silvern pavements under them. And that\ngreat monkey beheld there one golden _Singsapa_[310] tree surrounded on\nall sides with golden pavements. And he saw the glebe, the hill streams\nand many a golden tree resembling fire. By the lustre of all those trees\nthat heroic monkey appeared as if made of gold like unto the Sun by the\ntouch of the mount Sumeru. And having seen those beautiful golden trees,\nshaken by the wind and making a sound like that of a _Kinkini_;[311]\nhaving flowery tops and new leaves he was greatly amazed. And climbing\nthat _Singsapa_ tree enveloped with leaves that monkey, gifted with\nvelocity, reflected--\"Perchance I may see Vaidehi, exercised with grief,\nanxious to behold Rama and wandering hither and thither at her pleasure.\nCertainly this is the picturesque _Asoka_ forest of that vicious-souled\none, embellished with sandal, _Champakas_ and _Vakulas_. Here is a\nbeautiful pond abounding in lotuses, thronged with birds and forsooth\nshall that royal spouse Janaki repair hither. She is the beloved queen\nof Raghava and expert in walking in the garden. And separated from Rama,\ncertainly shall Janaki repair hither. Or she having the eyes of a young\nantelope and adept in roaming in the forest, exercised with thought\ntouching Rama, shall come here. Or she having beautiful eyes and fond of\nranging in the forest, racked with sorrow in consequence of Rama's\nseparation, doth always frequent this forest.[312] Ere this, the chaste\nand worshipful spouse of Rama--Janaka's daughter, used to love always\nthe birds and animals of the forest. (The morning hath set in) and\nsurely the beautiful and graceful daughter of Janaka fond of performing\nmorning[313] ablutions, shall come to this river of pure water to\nperform them. Truly is this beautiful forest of Asoka the worthy abode\nof the beloved and chaste spouse of Rama, the lord of men. If that one\nof moon-like countenance breathes, forsooth shall she come to this river\nof cool water.\" Having arrived there and anxiously expecting the\nappearance of the spouse of that lord of men, the high-souled Hanuman\nhiding himself (on the Singsapa tree) enveloped with flowers and leaves,\nbeheld all.\n\n[306] A gallinule.--T.\n\n[307] One of the trees of heaven.--T.\n\n[308] Literally the passages means \"making a gap in that forest thickly\n      filled with trees.\" But Ramanuja interprets thus and we have\n      adopted his interpretation.--T.\n\n[309] The son of Brahma and artist of gods.--T.\n\n[310] A tree (Dalbergia Sisu).--T.\n\n[311] A kind of tinkling ornament.--T.\n\n[312] The commentator, Ramanuja interprets this _sloka_ as explaining\n      the cause of Sita's frequentiug the Asoka forest.--T.\n\n[313] _Sandhya_ literally means the point of time which connects day and\n      night. It however, generally means the period after sunset and\n      before the night sets to. But here with reference to the speech\n      which Hanuman began by the end of night, it means the morning.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XV.\n\n\nHaving stationed himself on the tree, casting his looks all around in\nquest of Sita and looking down on the earth he surveyed the entire\nforest of (_Asoka_). It was beautified with _Santanaka_ creepers and\nvarious trees, fragrant with celestial odours and was embellished on all\nsides. It resembled _Nandana_ or the celestial garden, and was filled\nwith various animals and birds, palaces and mansions; resounded with the\nnotes of _Kokilas_; adorned with the ponds abounding in silvern\nwater-lillies and lotuses; filled with many seats and coverlets and\nvarious houses having spacious courtyards; adorned with beautiful\nflowers of all seasons and trees bearing fruits. And the beauty of the\nblossoming _Asokas_ resembled the effulgence of the Sun. And stationed\nthere Maruti beheld trees as if devoid of leaves on account of the\nhundreds of birds, adorned with various flowers, resorting there. And he\nsaw there the earth touched by _Asoka_ trees, the removers of grief,\nhaving flowers growing from the roots and lowered down with their\nweight. And the entire quarter was as if ablaze with the beauty of the\nflowery _Karnikaras_ and _Kingsukas_. And there appeared in beauty many\nflowery _Punnagas_, _Saptaparnas_, _Champakas_, and _Udalakas_ having\ndeeply expanded roots. And there was a thousand of _Asoka_ trees, some\nof whom were 1ike gold, some were like the flame of fire and some were\nlike dark-blue collyrium. It was like the garden of _Nandana_ or like\nthat of Kuvera or perhaps it surpassed the both in excellence. And\nenveloped in charming, celestial grace beyond conception and having\nflowers for stars that forest appeared like a second sky. Aud covered\nwith hundreds of pearl-like flowers the forest looked like the fifth\nocean. And that garden was embellished with flowers of all seasons and\nhoney-smelling trees, and filled with diverse notes and various animals\nand birds. And that fragrant garden was rendered more charming with\nvarious other fragrances. And that foremost of monkeys beheld in that\ngarden of Asoka, a round palace, situated at a distance, fragrant as the\n_Gandhamadana_ mountain and high as the lord of mountains. (The palace)\nwas white as the Kailaca hill and built on a thousand pillars. All its\nstairs were made of coral and its pavements made of burning gold. Its\nbeauty was as if burning all along and stealing the vision of the\nlookers-on. It was spotless and on account of its height touched the\nwelkin. And thereupon he beheld there (Sita) wearing a soiled cloth,\npoorly, greatly reduced by fast, sighing again and again and encircled\nby a band of Rakshasees. She was (however) spotless like unto the rays\nof the moon on the first lunar day. And her graceful beauty could with\ngreat difficulty be perceived like unto the flame of fire enveloped with\nsmoke. And wearing a shattered and soiled yellow cloth and divested of\nall ornaments she appeared like a lotus stalk without lotuses.[314]\nOppressed, racked with grief, weakened and chaste as she was, she\nappeared like Rohini possessed by _Ketu_. She was greatly reduced by\nfast, stricken with grief and anxious thoughts, disturbed with sorrow\nand was poorly and her eyes were always full of tears. Separated from\nher kith and kin and not beholding Rama and Lakshmana[315] but the\nRakshasees, she appeared like a hind surrounded by dogs. Her braid of\nlong hair resembling a black serpent falling on her back it appeared as\nif the Earth was filled with dark-blue forests on the disappearance of\nthe rains. Sita was worthy of happiness only and never knew of misery\nand therefore she was (now) greatly oppressed with sorrow. And beholding\nthat one of expansive eyes rendered pale and feeble, Hanuman, by various\nconclusive arguments reflected within himself \"She must be Sita, for\nthis damsel looks just like her, whom I saw, when she was ravished by\nRavana, assuming shapes at will. Having the countenance of the\nfull-moon, beautiful eye brows, round breast, she is as if dispelling\nthe darkness from all quarters by virtue of her grace. Her throat was\nyellow, and her lips were like _Bimbas_.[316] She was of middle stature\nand her limbs were all well built. She had eyes resembling lotus petals\nand was like the beloved wife of Manmatha--Rati and was adorable unto\nthe whole creation like the rays of the full-moon. That one having a\ngraceful person was seated on the earth like a female ascetic having her\nsenses restrained. And she was sighing again and again like the timid\ndaughter-in-law of the lord of serpents.[317] Entangled by a mighty web\nof grief her grace was greatly lessened and she appeared like the flame\nof fire enveloped in smoke. She was like unto _Smriti_ of doubtful\nmeanings, fallen wealth, lost respect, hope without any desire for gain,\n_Sidhi_[318] of many troubles, sullied understanding and fame soiled\nwith false rumours. That innocent one was greatly distressed for not\nbeing able to attend upon Rama, and she having the eyes of a young hind,\nbeing oppressed by the Rakshasees was casting her looks hither and\nthither. And with a displeased countenance, having dark-blue and curling\neye lashes, and eyes full of tears, she was sighing again and again.\nWorthy of wearing ornaments but now without any, poorly, crusted with\nexecrations, she appeared like the rays of the stars enveloped by\ndark-blue clouds. And beholding Sita in that pitiable plight like unto\nlearning for want of practice, (Hanuman) was puzzled with doubts. And\nseeing her without ornaments he could with great difficulty make her out\nlike unto words having different meanings without the knowledge of\ngrammar. And beholding that blameless daughter of the king, having\nexpansive eyes, Hanuman, by various reasonings, reflected--\"Forsooth she\nmust be Sita. I see at her person all these ornaments, of which Rama\nmentioned unto me at the time of my departure. I behold on her ears\nexcellent ear-rings and nicely placed _Svadangstras_[319] and on her\narms jewelled ornaments rendered dark-blue by dirt for constant use.\nVerily these are the ornaments Rama mentioned unto me. I do not perceive\nthem which had been cast off by her. But these are the rest there is not\nthe least doubt about it. The monkeys had seen, her excellent yellow\ncloth made of golden fibres, on the hill. They had seen also her\nexcellent ornaments, which cast off by her, fell on the earth with a\nsound. Her cloth hath been shattered by constant use but her grace hath\nnot been rendered worse than its color. This one having a golden\ncountenance must be the beloved queen of Rama, who, albeit separated\nfrom him, hath not disappeared from his mind. This is that damsel on\nwhose account Rama being simultaneously burnt by affection, pity, grief\nand amour,--affection in consequence of his beloved spouse being\nravished, pity for his inability to protect one dependent on him, grief\nfor the loss of his beloved wife and amour for his dear one. Verily it\nappeareth from the grace of her person, from her well developed limbs\nand from Rama's beauty that this worshipful damsel having dark-blue eyes\nmust be his spouse. She has her mind fixed in him, and he in her and it\nis for this that she and the virtuous-souled (Rama) have been still\nmaintaining their being. Indeed my master Rama hath performed a mighty\ntask for breathes he still in her separation, without consuming himself\nin grief.\" And having beheld Sita in this plight, that son of the\nWind-god approached Rama in mind and showered praises on his master.\n\n[314] This passage has another meaning--_Padmini_ has two meanings--(1)\n      lotus (2) _Lakskmi_ or the goddess of wealth. The goddess of\n      wealth is generally described as sitting on a lotus.--T.\n\n[315] _Priyajanam_--literally means dear ones--but here it refers to\n      Rama and Lakshmana.--T.\n\n[316] A cicurbituceous plant with red fruits.--T.\n\n[317] The epithet has a special significance because through her the\n      destruction of the race of Rakshasas was brought about.--T.\n\n[318] Yoga or asceticism by virtue of which final emancipation from\n      existence is effected.--T.\n\n[319] A kind of ornament worn on the ears.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XVI.\n\n\nAnd having eulogized Sita, worthy of being praised and Rama, endeared by\naccomplishments that foremost of monkeys again engaged in meditation.\nAnd having reflected for some time, the powerful Hanuman, having his\neyes full of tears bewailed on Sita's account (in the following strain)\n--\"No one can withstand the course of destiny since Sita, being the\nspouse of the worshipful brother of Lakshmana, ever obedient unto his\nelders, hath been overwhelmed with grief. The worshipful damsel is\ncognizant of the prowess of Rama and the intelligent Lakshmana and for\nthis she is not entirely depressed like unto the river Ganges at the\napproach of the rainy season. As regards their character, age, conduct,\nfamily and other auspicious marks they are equal and hence Raghava\ndeserveth Vaidehi and this one of dark-blue eyes is his.\" And having\nseen her, gold-hued and conducing to the happiness of the people like\nunto the Goddess of wealth, Hanuman approached Rama in his mind and\nsaid:--\"For this (damsel) was killed the mighty Vali and\nKavanda--Ravana's equal in prowess. (For her too) was destroyed in\nbattle, the terribly powerful Rakshasa--Viradha, by Rama putting forth\nhis energy, like unto _Shambara_ killed by Mahendra. (It was for her)\nthat fourteen thousand Rakshasas of terrible deeds were destroyed at\n_Janasthana_ with arrows resembling the flame of fire. And Khara was\nkilled in battle, and Trishara was discomfitted and the mighty Dushana\nby Rama, knowing his ownself. And it was on her account that Sugriva,\nknown all over the world, came by the wealth of the monkeys hard to\nacquire and amassed by Vali. And it is for this (damsel) of expansive\neyes that I have crossed the effulgent lord of rivers and have seen this\ncity. And methinks it would have been all proper had Rama turned on her\naccount the whole earth bounded by oceans. If the kingdom over the three\nworlds and the daughter of Janaka be compared together, the former is\nnot equal to one hundredth part of Sita. This Sita, the daughter of the\nhigh-souled Janaka, the pious King of Mithila, firmly attached unto her\nhusband, rose, covered with dust, out of the earth, in a field delved by\na furrow. She is the well-known eldest daughter-in-law of the king\nDacaratha, of an adorable character and unchecked prowess. And She is\nthe beloved spouse of the pious and grateful Rama, knowing his ownself,\nand has been brought under the control of the _Rakshasees_. Renouncing\nall luxuries, and considering not the least about miseries, she actuated\nby her husband's love entered the solitary forest. And satisfied with\nfruits and roots and ever engaged in her husband's service, she lived in\nthe forest as much delighted as she was in her house. And that one of a\ngolden hue, never used to afflictions and who was wont to converse\nalways with a delighted countenance, hath now been suffering\nincomparable miseries. Like unto a thirsty wight longing for an abode\nwhere he might get a drink, Raghava panteth after seeing her, gifted\nwith an exalted character and oppressed by Ravana. As a monarch who had\nlost his kingdom, is greatly delighted when he regaineth it, forsooth\nshall Raghava, in like manner, be pleased when he shall come by her. She\ntoo hath been maintaining her being in the hope of seeing Rama again,\nseparated as she is from her friends and deprived of all comforts and\nluxuries. These _Rakshasees_, and these trees enveloped with fruits and\nflowers--forsooth she doth not behold, but is engaged with all her heart\nin medidations only touching Rama. Husband enhanceth the beauty of a\nfemale more than the dress (and therefore Sita) beautiful as she is,\ndoth not appear graceful, in her husband's absence. Forsooth my master\nRama hath performed a difficult act for he hath been still keeping up\nhis life in her separation without consuming himself in grief. My heart\nis greatly pained knowing that she, having dark-blue eyes, resembling\nlotus petals, worthy of happiness, hath been possessed by grief. She,\npatient as the Earth, having eyes resembling lotuses, who was ere this\nprotected by Raghava and Lakshmana, is now being guarded by Rakshasees\nhaving terrible eyes, under the trees. Being harassed with continued\nmiseries, the daughter of Janaka hath lost all her beauty like unto a\nwater-lily crushed with frost, and hath come by a miserable plight like\nunto a doe seperated from her mate. The branches of the _Asoka_ trees,\nlowered down with flowers are as if enhancing her grief as also the Moon\nof many thousand rays, at the expiry of the winter.\" Having reflected\nthus and arrived at the conclusion that she was Sita, that powerful\nleader of monkeys gifted with velocity stationed himself on that tree.\n\n\n\nSECTION XVII.\n\n\nThereupon the Moon, white as water-lily and of clear appearance\nproceeded far down the welkin like unto a goose traversing the blue\nwaters. With a view to befriend him, the Moon of clear rays, sprinkled\nthe Wind-God's son, with cool beams. And thereupon he beheld Sita,\nhaving a moon-like countenance, plunged in grief like unto a laden boat\nsunk in water. While beholding Vaidehi, Hanuman,the son of Maruta,\nobserved at some distance, a number of grim-visaged Rakshasees. Some had\none ear, some one eye, some had big ears some were without ears; some\nhad formidable ears and some had a nose projecting upwards. And some had\nthe upper part of their bodies unusually long and bulky, some had a long\nand slender neck, some had dishevelled hair, and some one's person was\nso thickly covered with hairs, that she appeared to have been cloaked in\na blanket. Some had long ears some had a long forehead, some had a long\nbelly, some had long breasts; some had long lips; some had their lips\nand chins stuck together, some had a long countenance and some had long\nknees. Some one was of short stature, some were tall, some crooked, some\ngrim-visaged, some dwarfish, some one was of terribly dark colour; some\nhad a disfigured countenance; some had coppery eyes and a fearful face.\nSome were terrible-looking, some copper-colored, some black, some angry\nand some fond of quarrelling with each other; and some had iron darts,\nhammers and mallets in their hands. Some had a face like that of a boar,\nsome had a face like that of a deer, some like that of a tiger, some\nlike that of a buffallo, some like that of a goat, and some like that of\na jackal; some had legs like those of a camel, some had those of an\nelephant, some those of a horse and some had their heads placed on their\nbreasts. Some one had only one hand some had only one leg. Some had ears\nlike those of a horse, some like those of a cow, some like those of an\nass, some like those of an elephant and others had ears like those of a\nlion. Some had very big noses, some had crooked and others were without\nany; some had noses like those of an elephant and others had their noses\non their foreheads. Some had their legs like those of elephants some had\nvery huge legs; some had like those of a cow, some had on their legs\nlocks of hair like unto pillars, some had a terribly huge head, some had\nbig breasts and others had spacious bellies, Some had faces and eyes\nbeyond ordinary proportions. Some had a long face and tongue. And some\nhad the face of a goat, some that of an elephant some that of a cow,\nsome that of a boar some that of a horse and some that of an ass. Some\nof the Rakshasees were grim-visaged and some hot-natured, quarrelsome\nand had darts and maces in their hands. And some terrible Rakshasees of\ndisfigured countenances, had smoky-coloured hairs. And they were all\ncontinually drinking wine--always fond of liquor and meat, and all their\nbodies were sprinkled with blood for their living on gore and flesh. And\nthat foremost of monkeys found all these grim-visaged Rakshasees seated\naround that mighty tree enveloped with branches. And the graceful\nHanuman observed at the foot of that tree that worshipful and blameless\ndaughter of the king Janaka. She was bereft of all effulgence, racked\nwith grief and all her hairs were soiled with dirt. She appeared like a\nstar fallen down on the earth on the wane of virtue. And famed though\nshe was all over the world for her chastity, it was difficult for her\nnow to see her husband. She had no excellent ornaments--her attachment\nunto her husband was the only ornament. She was imprisoned by the lord\nof Rakshasas and separated from all her friends, she appeared like a\nshe-elephant separated from her band and bound and attacked by a lion,\nand like the rays of the Moon enveloped with clouds at the expiry of the\nrainy season. Her beauty was greatly faded (in consequence of her\nhusband's separation) like unto a stringed instrument for want of a\nplayer. And ever engaged in her husband's welfare she was thoroughly\nunworthy of being brought under the control of the Rakshasas. Being sunk\nin the abyss of grief and encircled by those Rakshasees she appeared in\nthe forest of Asoka like unto Rohini possessed by Rahu. And Hanuman\nbeheld her there like a creeper divested of flowers. And having her\nperson soiled with dirt and shorn of all ornaments she appeared in her\nhidden grace like unto a lotus covered with clay. And the monkey\nHanuman, beheld that damsel, having the eyes of a young antelope,\nclothed with a soiled and shattered cloth. And though the countenance of\nthat worshfpful one was shorn of all grace, her heart did not loose its\nloftiness in consequence of her husband's prowess. And Sita, of\ndark-blue eyes, was protected by virtue of her own character. And\nbeholding Sita, having the eyes of a young antelope, and terrified and\ncasting her looks hither and thither like a hind and burning down the\ntrees enveloped with leaves by her breath; like unto a mass of grief and\nan upheaval of sorrow; having well-proportioned limbs, and appearing\ngraceful without ornaments, Maruti attained to an excess of delight. And\nbeholding her having inebriete eyes, Hanuman shed tears of delight and\nbowed unto Raghava. And having offered his obeisance unto Rama and\nLakshmana the powerful Hanuman, greatly delighted in seeing Sita;\nremained there hidden.\n\n\n\nSECTION XVIII.\n\n\nAnd beholding the forest filled with flowery trees and desiring to have\na full view of her, he, well-nigh, spent the night. And at that late\nhour of the night, he heard the chantings of the Vedas by the Rakshasas,\nconversant with the six supplementary parts of the Vedas,[320] engaged\nin the performance of sacrificial rites and knowing Brahma. And\nthereupon the mighty Ten-headed Rakshasa, having huge arms, awoke with\nthe sounds of those auspicious instruments pleasant unto ears. And\nawaking, that great and powerful lord of Rakshasas, having his cloth and\ngarlands loosened, began to think of Vaidehi. And that Rakshasa, puffed\nup with pride, was passionately attached unto her and so he could not\nrestrain his amour in him. And so adorned with all ornaments, he,\ncasting his looks on the roads containing jewelled and golden gates and\nappearing in grace, entered the forest of Asoka, filled with various\ntrees containing fruits and flowers of all seasons and with ponds;\nbeautified with various flowers; variegated with inebriete and wondrous\nbirds; filled with various beautiful wolves; thronged with various deer\nand covered with fruits fallen on the earth. And one hundred damsels\nfollowed in the train of the son of Pulastya[321] like unto the damsels\nof the celestials and Gandharvas following Mahendra. And among those\nfair ones, some carried _chowries_ and some fans. And some carrying\nwater in golden jars headed the train while others carrying the golden\nthrone covered with a coverlet followed it. And a favourite damsel\ncarried in her right hand a jewelled drinking bowl filled with wine. And\nanother carrying the white umbrella having golden ribs resembling the\nfull moon and goose, followed in the train. And in this wise the\nexcellent wives, of Ravana, having their eyes rendered sleepy with sleep\nand wine, followed their heroic husband like unto lightnings following\nthe cloud. Their necklaces and _keyuras_ were displaced, paste faded,\nhair dishevelled and they had drops of sweat on their faces. With sleep\nand intoxication, were reeling those fair ones of beautiful\ncountenances, having their hairs with garlands disbanded and their\npersons wet with perspiration. And in this way those beloved wives, (of\nRavana) having inebriete eyes, followed, out of amour and reverence,\ntheir husband. And their mighty husband, brought under the control of\namour and having his mind firmly attached unto Sita, proceeded slowly.\nAnd that monkey, son of Maruta, heard the sound of _kanchees_ and\n_nupuras_ of those excellent damsels. And the monkey Hanuman also beheld\nRavana, of extraordinary deeds and of inconceivable prowess and\nstrength, at the gate. His whole body was seen on all sides by the light\nof the lamps lighted with perfumed oil and carried by the Rakshasees\nbefore. He was inflamed with amour, pride and haughtiness and his\nexpansive eyes were coppery and idle. And he appeared like Cupid himself\njust appearing in view, leaving behind his bow and arrows. And holding\nhis excellent robe, covered with flowers, washed, set with jewels and\nwhite as the foam of the churned nectar, he placed it in its proper\nplace. And Hanuman, hiding himself on the tree, in the midst of many\nleaves and flowers, tried to recognise him as he approached. And\nbeholding him, that foremost of monkeys saw that highly famous king\nRavana, surrounded by his excellently beautiful and youthful wives,\nenter that forest of enjoyment filled with birds and animals. There was\na warder by name Sankukarna in that forest--highly powerful, wearing\nvarious ornaments and addicted to drinking. And by him was seen that\nlord of Rakshasas--the son of _Visravasa_. And that highly energetic\nmonkey beheld that effulgent (Ravana) surrounded by excellent damsels\nlike unto moon encircled by stars. And beholding him the monkey\nreflected--\"This must be Ravana--for he is the person whom I saw\nsleeping in an excellent apartment in that city.\" Thinking this, that\nhighly effulgent son of Maruta--Hanuman leaped (high upon another\nbranch). And effulgent as he was, that highly intelligent monkey hid\nhimself on a branch covered with leaves, being unable to stand before\nthe effulgence of that Rakshasa. And Ravana proceeded in that way, being\nanxious to behold the blue-eyed Sita, having spacious breast, excellent\nhips and a lock of black hair.\n\n[320] Grammar, Prosody, astronomy, pronounciation, the meaning of the\n      unusual terms and the ritual of the Hindu religion.--T.\n\n[321] Refers to Ravana, Pulastya being his father--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XIX.\n\n\nAnd thereupon beholding Ravana--the lord of Rakshasas, gifted with youth\nand beauty and adorned with an excellent dress, that excellent and\nblameless daughter of a king, Vaidehi, trembled like unto a plantain\ntree shaken by the wind. And having covered her belly with her legs and\nher breast with her hands, that one, having charming colour and\nexpansive eyes, cried aloud. And arriving there the Ten-necked one\nbeheld Vaidehi, guarded by the Rakshasees, poorly, racked with grief\nlike unto a boat sunk in an ocean. Subject to hard penances, she, seated\non the bare earth, appeared like a branch of a tree fallen on the\nground. Her limbs, where she used to wear ornaments, were covered with\ndirt and albeit worthy of ornaments, appeared without any like unto a\nlotus covered with clay and therefore shining very indistinctly. And she\nwas proceeding as it were unto that lion of a king--Rama, knowing his\nown-self, in her mind's charriot drawn by the horses of resolution. And\nnot beholding the end of her grief, that damsel, attached unto Rama, was\nkeeping alone and reduced to a skeleton and overwhelmned with anxious\nthoughts and grief. And she was troubled like unto the daughter-in-law\nof the lord of serpents, of impeded course by means of incantations, and\nstricken with grief like unto Rohini, possessed by _Ketu_. And although\nborn in a pious family, well behaved and good-natured and married\naccording to their rites, she appeared to have been sprung from a low\nrace and wedded according to their base ceremonials. She seemed like\nmighty fame disappearing, like respect disregarded, like intellect\nwaning and hope disappointed; like a sacred altar trampled, like royal\nmandate disobeyed, like the quarters burnt by a fire-brand; like\nofferings unto God soiled; like the disc of the full-moon stricken with\ndarkness, a lotus distressed, an army without a leader; like the ravs of\nthe moon enveloped with gloom, like a river of shallow water, like a\nsacrificial altar possessed by an outcast, like the flame of fire\nextinguished; like water fowls terrified and lotuses disturbed and\npetals crushed by the trunks of elephants. And her grace greatly\nfamished by the absence of her husband she appeared like a river whose\nliquid contents were dried up. And not cleaning her limbs she appeared\nlike a dark night. And that one of graceful limbs, tender and worthy of\nliving in a jewelled abode, being stricken with grief, seemod like a\ndried lotus-stalk just extracted from its bed. And she like the\ndaughter-in-law of the lord of elephants, caught, separated from her\nband and tied to a pillar, was overwhelmed with grief and was sighing\nagain and again. A long lock of dark-blue hair, taken not the least care\nof, was on her back; and with this she appeared like unto the earth\ncovered with dark-blue forests at the expiration of the rainy season.\nWith fasts and grief, anxiety and fear, she was greatly weakened and\nreduced and gave up eating and took recourse to asceticism only.\nStricken with grief, she seemed to have been offering prayers unto that\nforemost of Raghus for the destruction of the Ten-necked one, like those\nunto the deities with folded hands. And beholding blameless Maithilee,\nhaving expansive eyes with beautiful eye lashes, greatly attached unto\nRama, and weeping, Ravana tempted her for his own destruction.\n\n\n\nSECTION XX.\n\n\nWhereupon Ravana, with sweet words amd gestures, expressed his own\ndesire unto Sita, poorly, deprived of joy, encircled by Rakshasees and\nleading the life of an ascetic. \"O thou having thighs like the trunks of\nelephants, while thou hast, beholding me, hidden thy breast and belly,\nperhaps thou art afraid of exposing thy person unto me. I do long for\nthee, O thou having expansive eyes; do thou esteem me, O my dear one, O\nthou gifted with all accomplishments and pleasant unto all persons. O\nSita, here is no human being or any Rakshasa assuming shapes at will, do\nthou therefore renounce all fear from me. O timid damsel, for certain it\nis the virtue of the Rakshasas that they always visit others' wives or\ncome by them by force. In spite of this, O Maithilee, I do not touch\nthee for thou art not under the influence of amour--but for me, I am\ncompletely under its sway. Do not fear me, O worshipful damsel, confide\nin me, O my beloved one, and become attached unto me. Do not give way to\ngrief. A single lock of hair, to lie down on earth and useless\nfast--these do not become thee. Attaining me, O Maithilee, do thou enjoy\nexcellent garlands, sandal, ornaments, costly wines, beds, seats, songs,\ndancing and music. Thou art a jewel of a female; do thou not therefore\nremain in this guise. Put on thy ornaments therefore. How shalt thou\nremain unadorned obtaining me, O thou of a beautiful figure? This thy\nbeautiful youth is passing away, which like the current of a river when\nonce gone, doth not turn back. O thou of a fair look, having created\nthee, the artist of Gods, the maker of celestial beauties, hath ceased\nfrom his work, for a match of thy beauty I find in none. Who is there, O\nVaidehi, who can withstand the influence of amour, getting thee, gifted\nwith beauty and youth? (What of others) even Brahma, the grand-father of\nthe celestials, is moved. O thou having a moon-like countenance, and\nwell-developed lips, whatever limbs of thine, I behold, I find my gaze\nfixed therein. O Maithilee, do thou become my spouse, and renounce this\ndelusion. Do thou become the foremost queen of all my excellent wives. O\ntimid one, all the jewels that I have collected from the three worlds,\nand all my kingdom I shall confer on thee. O sportive damsel, for thy\nsatisfaction, I shall conquer the whole earth, engarlanded by many\ncities and bestow it upon Janaka. Find I none on this earth who can\nwithstand my prowess. Do thou behold my matchless prowess in battle. The\ncelestials, and Asuras are incapable of withstanding me, defeated as\nthey were by me in battle and their pennons struck down. Do thou\ntherefore desire me to-day, dress thyself in excellent robes and adorn\nthyself in beautifully brilliant ornaments. I shall behold thy dazzling\nbeauty when adorned with ornaments. For pity unto me, do thou embellish\nthyself with ornaments, O thou of a graceful countenance. O timid\ndamsel, do thou, at thy pleasure, enjoy all sorts of comforts and\nluxuries, and do thou, as thou desirest, confer wealth and land on\nothers. Do thou confiding in me, ask for thy wished-for objects and do\nthou command me like unto an unmannerly damsel. Thou shalt, by asking\nfavours from me, satisfy the desires of thy friends. O gentle lady, O\nthou of great renown, do thou observe my prosperity. What shalt thou do\nwith Rama, wearing bark, (O thou of pleasant presence. Rama hath ceased\nfrom his endeavours for gaining victory. He hath lost all his beauty,\nlives in the forest, is engaged in observances and always lies down on\nearth. I fear whether he is living still. O Vaidehi, Rama shall not be\nable to see thee like unto the rays of the moon covered with blue clouds\npreceded by _Valakas_.[322] Raghava shall never get thee back from my\nhands, like unto _Hiranyakasipu_ unable to regain his wife _Keerti_ from\nIndra. O thou of beautiful teeth, O thou having beautiful eyes, O\nsportive damsel, O timid one, thou dost steal my mind like unto Garuda\ncatching serpents. Beholding thee, wearing a shattered silken cloth,\nslender and without any ornaments, I do not find any attachment in my\nown wives. O daughter of Janaka, do thou exercise, thy supremacy, over\nall my wives, living in my seraglio and gifted with all accomplishments.\nO thou having black hair, all my wives are foremost in beauty over the\nthree worlds. And they shall all attend thee like unto Apsaras waiting\nupon the Goddess of wealth. O thou having beautiful eye brows and\nwell-developed hips, do thou, along with me, enjoy at thy pleasure all\nthe wealth and riches of Kuvera.[323] O worshipful damsel, in\nasceticism, strength or prowess, wealth or fame, Rama is not my equal.\nDo thou therefore at thy pleasure drink, enjoy and eat. I shall confer\non thee wealth and the whole earth. Do thou satisfy all thy desires in\nme, O fair damsel, and let thy friends be satisfied in thee. And adorned\nwith a beautiful golden necklace, O timid lady, do thou at thy pleasure,\nrange with me, in the forests, situated on the bank of the ocean, and\nfilled with flowery trees and black bees.\"\n\n[322] A kind of crane.--T.\n\n[323] The God of wealth or Pluto in Greek myth.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXI.\n\n\nHearing those words of that terrible Rakshasa, Sita, stricken with grief\nand of feeble voice, slowly replied-- Racked with grief, engaged in\nasceticism and weeping, Sita began to tremble. And that excellent\ndamsel, devoted unto her husband, began to think of him. Placing a twig\nbefore, that one, of beautiful smile, said--\"Do thou take back thy mind\nfrom me and place it in thy own wives. Like unto a sinner unworthy of\npraying for final emancipation, it doth not behove thee to expect to\ncome by me. Devoted unto one husband I shall never perpetrate such an\niniquitious act. I am born in a high and have been married in a pious\nfamily.\" Having accosted Ravana thus, the well-known Vaidehi, turning\nher back, again spake unto him, saying-- \"I should not live with thee\nsince I am another's wife and chaste. Have thy eyes always on religion\nand do thou follow in the track of piety. Like unto thine own wives,\nothers' are worthy of being protected by thee, O ranger of the night.\nMaking an example of thee, do thou enjoy with thy own wives. Forsooth\nthose vicious-minded, those of agitated senses, who are not satisfied\nwith their own wives, are brought to misery by others' wives. (Methinks)\nthere are no pious men here and even if there be any thou dost not\nfollow him since thou hast such an adverse understanding, against human\npractice and usage. Or the considerate people have spoken the truth, but\nthou, for the destruction of the race of the Rakshasas, considering that\nfalse, hast not followed it. Wealth, kingdom and cities--all are brought\nto naught when they are placed at the hands of a vicious and illiterate\nking. Obtaining thee, (therefore) as her king and for thy folly only,\nthis city of Lanka, abounding in jewels, shall soon be ruined. O Ravana,\nevery one delighteth in the destruction of that inconsiderate being, who\nbringeth about his own destruction and is engaged in the perpetration of\nevil deeds. And in this way, thyself, the perpetrator of vicious acts,\nmeeting with thy end, those persons who had been tyranized by thee,\nshall, delightedly, say--\"Oh! blessed are we since this terrible\n(Rakshasa) hath met with his end. With wealth or riches thou shalt not\nbe able to tempt me. As the rays of the sun belong to him, so I am\nRaghava's only. Having laid my head on the beautiful arms of that lord\nof men, how shall I place it again on another's? Like unto the knowledge\nof one God monopolized by the Brahmanas only, I am the spouse of that\nlord of earth only, cognisant of higher truths and marrying me according\nto the pious ceremonials. May good betide thee, O Ravana. Do thou take\nme unto Rama, stricken with grief as I am, like unto a she-elephant\nanxiously waiting in the forest brought to the lord of elephants. It\nbehoveth thee to make friends with Rama, that best of men, if dost thou\ndesire to maintain thy empire and dost not wish to bring about thy own\ndestruction. It is known to the world, that Rama knoweth well the\nsanctions of religion and is kind unto them who seek his shelter. Do\nthou seek his friendship, if dost thou wish to maintain thy life. Do\nthou propitiate him therefore who is kind to his dependents and it\nbecometh thee to take me respectfully unto him. Thou shalt meet with thy\nwell-being if dost thou in this wise confer me on that best of Raghus.\nAnd mighty is the disaster that shall befall thee, if dost thou follow\nany other procedure. Thunderbolt, even, when hurled, may leave thee,\nDeath himself may overlook thee--but there is no safety for thee, if\nRaghava. the lord of men is enraged. Thou shalt hear the terrible sound\nof the twang of Rama's bow, like unto the sound of the thunderbolt\nhurled by Indra. Soon shall arrows, bearing the names of Rama and\nLakshmana and having fiery heads like those of snakes, alight here. And\ncovered with _kanka_ leaves they shall undoubtedly cover the whole city\nand devastate it by destroying all the Rakshasas. Like unto Garuda\npulling up the snakes, the Garuda-like Rama shall pull up thy snake-like\nRakshasas. And like unto Vishnu recovering the effulgent Sree (the\nGoddess of wealth) from the Asuras, by crossing over the three worlds\nwith three foot-steps, my husband, the conqueror of foes, shall recover\nme from thee. Janasthana hath been devastated, the host of Rakshasas\nhath been killed, and thou hast been disabled. Truly thou hast\nperpetrated an impious deed. O Rakshasa, those two lions among men going\nout to enquire about the illusive deer, I was ravished by thee, entering\nthe empty hermitage, O vile wight. And like unto a dog incapable of\nstanding before a tiger, it would have been impossible for thee, to wait\nthere in the presence of Rama and Lakshmana. If dost thou engage in\nconflict with them, thy wealth and friends shall be of no avail unto\nthee (and thou shalt be dis-comfitted) like unto one-handed Asura Vitra\nby the two handed Indra.[324] Soon shall my husband, with the assistance\nof Lakshmana, draw out thy life with arrows, like unto the sun drying\nup, by his rays, shallow water. Whether dost thou repair to the abode of\nKuvera, or whether dost thou, terrified, take refuge unto the assembly\nof Varuna, thou shalt, for certain, be destroyed by the son of\nDacaratha, like unto a mighty tree broken down by thunderbolt.\n\n[324] The allusion is--the mighty Asura Vitra fought with Indra for a\n      long time even after he had his one hand chopped off.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXII.\n\n\nHearing those harsh accents, that lord of Rakshasas, replied unto Sita,\nof comely presence, with the following unpleasant words--\"It is\ngenerally found on earth that the more a woman is courted by a man, the\nmore she is brought under his influence. (But for thee) the more kindly\nI have been behaving towards thee, the more roughly I have been treated.\nTruly doth my love for thee keep in control the wrath like unto a good\ncharioteer restraining the swerving stead. O mighty is _amour_ unto men,\nfor on whom this _amour_ falleth, albeit she is an object of wrath,\nbecomes an object of kindness and affection. O thou of fair countenance,\nit is for this reason, that I do not destroy thee, although thou, who\nart engaged in false asceticism, art worthy of being killed and\ndishonored. O Maithilee, for each and every one of all those harsh words\nwhich thou hast used by me, dost thou deserve death.\" Having spoken thus\nunto Vaidehi, Ravana, the lord of Rakhasas, having his wrath subdued,\nagain bespake Sita: \"I shall wait for those two months, of which I have\nmade a contract, after which thou shalt have to share my bed, O thou of\na comely presence. And even then if thou dost refuse to regard me as thy\nhusband, my cooks shall mince thy limbs with steel and serve thee for my\nmorning meal.\" Beholding the lord of Rakshasas remonstrate with the\ndaughter of Janaka in this wise, the daughters of the celestials and\nGandharbas became exceedingly sorry. Some with lips, some with eyes, and\nsome with gestures of their faces, they all consoled Sita, thus\ndistressed by that Rakshasa. And thus consoled by them, and being proud\nof her good conduct and her husband's heroism, Sita thus addressed\nRavana, the lord of Rakshasas, \"Forsooth there is no person in this city\nwho desireth thy welfare and therefore preventeth thee from such an\nimpious deed. Who is there in the three worlds, who even dcsireth me in\nmind, who am the spouse of the virtuous-souled (Rama) like unto Indra's\nSachee. O thou the vilest of the Rakshasas, for using those vicious\nwords towards the spouse of Rama, of immeasured prowess, repairing\nwhither shalt thou escape vengeance? Like unto an infuriated elephant\nencountering a hare in the forest, thou shalt O Vile! a hare as thou\nart, meet with that elephant-like Rama. Thou art not ashamed of railing\nthat lord of Ikshwakus, so long as dost thou not come within his ken. O\nbase! why do not thy grim, terrible, coppery eyes, looking so viciously\nat me, fall down on earth. O vicious wretch, I am the spouse of that\nvirtuous souled (Rama) and daughter-in-law of Dacaratha--using these\nvile words towards me, why dost not thy tongue fall off? O Ten-necked\none, I can instantly reduce thee to ashes but for Rama's mandate and my\nascetic observances. Thou couldst not have ravished me in the presence\nof the highly intelligent Rama. And undoubtedly for thy destruction this\nhath been brought about by God. Thou art heroic and Kuvera's brother and\ngreat in prowess, why didst thou then take me by stealth after\ndespatching Rama away from the hermitage?\" Hearing those words of Sita,\nRavana, the lord of Rakshasas, whirling his grim eyes, looked towards\nthe daughter of Janaka. He was like unto a mass of blue clouds and his\narms and necks were long and spacious. He was gifted with elephantine\ngaits and his tongues and eyes were sharp and flaming. The top of his\ncrown was shaking and he had charming garlands around his neck and his\nperson sprinkled with paste. He had crimson-coloured garlands and\nclothes on and his charming arms were adorned with ornaments. Encircled\nwith a sword-belt around his waist he appeared like unto Mandara,\nentwined by a snake at the time of the churning of the ocean. With his\ntwo plump arms, that lord of Rakshasas appeared like unto the hill\nMandara with its two huge summits. And adorned with a pair of\n_Kundalas_[325] resembling the newly risen Sun he looked like a hill\ncovered with two Asoka trees enveloped with crimson flowers and leaves.\nHe was like unto _Kalpa_[326] tree and spring incarnate. And albeit\nadorned, he looked terrible like unto a _Caitya_[327] on the\ncremation-ground. And having his eyes red hot with ire, sighing again\nand again like unto a snake and casting his looks upon Sita, Ravana\naddressed her again, saying,--\"O thou following asceticism, this thy vow\nis without any meaning and beyond the pale of morality. Even shall I\ndestroy thee to-day like unto the Sun dispelling darkness with his\nrays.\" Having thus addressed Maithilee, the inimical king Ravana cast\nhis looks towards the grim-visaged Rakshasees. And among those\nRakshasees, some had huge ears, some had ears like those of kine, some\nhad ears as long as arms, some had long ears and others were without\nany. And some had legs like those of an elephant; some had like those of\na cow and some had legs covered with hairs. And some had one eye, some\nhad one leg, some had capacious legs and some were without any. And some\nhad huge heads and necks and some had breast and belly beyond\nproportions and some had faces and eyes above human size. Some had huge\ntongues and nails. And some were without noses. And some had leonine\nfaces, some had faces like those of kine and some had those of boars.\nAnd casting his look towards such Rakshasees, he said--\"Ye Rakshasees,\ndo ye all endeavour to bring Sita, the daughter of Janaka, under my\ncontrol. By good or bad conduct, by conciliation or gift, by threat or\nblandishment, do ye so endeavour as Vaidehi's soul might be bent unto\nme.\" And having ordered thus again and again, that lord of Rakshasas,\nstricken with amour and ire, addressed Sita, roaring fiercely. And\nthereupon approaching speedily and embracing the Ten-necked one, one\nRakshasee named Dhanyamalini bespake him:--\"Do thou sport with me, O\ngreat king. What shalt thou do with her?--O lord of Rakshasas--a human\nbeing,poorly and of a pale countenance. O great king, forsooth, the\ncelestials have not destined for her enjoyment all those objects which\nthou hast procured by thy prowess. And again he who desireth for an\nunwilling dame burneth his own person--and he who desireth for a willing\ndamsel, attaineth excess of delight.\" Having said this, the Rakshasee\ntook away Ravana by force. And that Rakshasa too, resembling a mass of\nclouds, laughing, turned back. And that Ten-necked one, strode away as\nif shaking the whole earth and passed within (his queen's) abode\nresembling the effulgent Sun. And encircling Ravana those daughters of\ncelestials Gandharbas and Nagas, entered into an excellent abode. And\nhaving remonstrated with and left behind, the firm and pious Sita with a\ntrembling person, Ravana, possessed by amour entered into his own\npalace.\n\n[325] A kind of ornament worn on ears.--T.\n\n[326] A fabulous tree granting everything desired.--T.\n\n[327] A monument or sculpture raised in honor of a deceased person on\n      the site of a funeral pyre.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXIII.\n\n\nHaving spoken thus unto Maithilee and commanded the host of the\nRakshasees, Ravana, a terror unto his enemies, went away. And after that\nlord of Rakshasas had gone away and entered his inner apartment, the\nhideous Rakshasees drew near Sita. And approaching Sita that terrible\nhost, almost faint with ire, addressed Vaidehi with the following harsh\nwords--\"Thou dost not regard it highly, Sita, that thou shalt become the\nchosen wife of that high-souled, and great Ravana, the Ten-necked son of\nPulastya.\" Thereupon another Rakshasee name4 Ekjata, with eyes rendered\ncoppery with ire, addressing Sita, having a small navel,\nsaid,--\"Pulastya is the fourth of the six Prajapatis,[328] a mind-born\nson of Brahma and celebrated in the world. And the glorious ascetic, by\nname Bishrava. was the mind-born son unto Pulastya, effulgent like unto\nPrajapatis. O large-eyed damsel! Of Visrava came Ravana terrible unto\nhis enemies. And it behoveth thee to become the consort of that lord of\nRakshasas. Scorn not the words I say unto thee, O thou of comely\npresence.\" Thereupon another Rakshasee named Harijata, having the eyes\nof a cat, and whirling them with ire, said--\"It becometh thee to be the\nwife of that lord of Rakshasas who smote the thirty three celestials and\ntheir lord in battle. Dost thou not desire to be his wife, who is\nheroic, of indomitable prowess and who doth not turn back in battle? And\nturning away in scorn from his beloved wife, highly esteemed, the mighty\nking Ravana, desireth for thee. And leaving his inner apartment enriched\nwith thousand of females and adorned with various jewels, Ravana shall\nadore thee.\" And then followed another Rakshasee by name Bikata--\"The\nking, who by his terrible prowess subdued the Gandharbas[329] and\nNagas[330] in battle, hath stood by thee. O foolish damsel, why dost\nthou not wish to be the consort of that high-souled lord of\nRakshasas--Ravana, gifted with wealth and riches.\" And then followed\nanother Rakshasee named Durmukhee.-- \"Why dost thou not approach him, O\nthou having expansive eyes, by whose fear, the sun doth not shine, and\nthe wind doth not blow. O dame, why dost thou not wish to be the consort\nof Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, at whose command the trees shower\nblossoms and the hills and clouds pour down water. Why dost thou not\nmake up thy mind to be the wife of Ravana? O damsel, O worshipful dame,\nwe have spoken thus for thy welfare. Do thou comply with our request or\nthou shalt surely die,\"\n\n[328] Prajapitis are the lords of the created beings first created by\n      Brahma.--T.\n\n[329] Heavenly singers and musicians who belong to the heaven of\n      Indra.--T.\n\n[330] Serpent-gods who dwell in the regions under the earth.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXIV.\n\n\nThereupon all those Rakshasees, having terrible faces again and again\npursued Sita with reproaches rough and rude.--\"Why dost thou not desire,\nO Sita, to live in his inner apartment, liked by all and abounding in\ncostly bedsteads. O woman, thou regardest highly to be the wife of a\nman. Do thou turn back from Rama--thy desire shall never be satisfied.\nDo thou spend happily thy days with our lord--Ravana, the Rakshasa\nchief, who makes his own the treasures of the three worlds. Thou art a\nwoman, O thou of comely presence, and therefore doth thy fancy cling to\nRama, O thou of a blameless countenance, who is a man, deprived of his\nkingdom, overwhelmed with disasters and hath his desires frustrated.\"\nHearing the words of those Rakshasees, the lotus-eyed Sita, with her\neyes full of tears said.--\"What ye have all said and which is against\nhuman usage and vicious, doth not find place in my mind. A woman cannot\nbe the wife of a Rakshasa. Eat me up if you will, I will never follow\nyour words. Poor or deprived of kingdom, he who is my hunband, is my\npreceptor. I am ever devoted unto him, like Subarchala[331] unto the\nSun. Like unto the great Sachi standing by Sakra, Arundhuti by\nVashishta, Rohini by the Moon, Lopamudra by Agastya, Sukanya by\nChyabana, Sabitree by Satyabana, Sreematee by Kapila, Madayantee by\nSandasa, Keshinee by Sagara and Damayanti the daughter of the king Veema\nby her husband Nala, I shall ever remain devoted to my husband Rama, the\nforemost of the descendants of Ikshawku.\" Hearing the words of Sita, all\nthose Rakshasees despatched by Ravana, almost beside themselves with\nire, again covered her with reproaches rough and rude. And Hanuman\nremained all along speechless and hidden on the _Shingshapa_ tree. And\nthat monkey heard all those demons remonstrate with Sita in this way.\nAnd those, influenced with ire, approached the trembling Sita and\nencircling her, licked again and again their long and burning lips. And\ntaking up instantly spears, they exceedingly wroth, menaced her,\nsaying--\"She is not worthy of having Ravana, the lord of the Rakshasas,\nas her lord.\" Being thus remonstrated with by those terrible Rakshasees,\nthat excellent damsel, shedding tears, neared the _Singshapa_ tree. And\nthe large-eyed Sita, encircled by the Rakshasees, remained there sunk in\ngrief. And all those hideous demons, showered reproaches, from all\nsides, on her, greatly reduced, of a poorly countenance, and wearing a\nsoiled cloth. Thereupon a grim-visaged demon, angry, having hideous\nteeth and a huge belly extending downwards, by name Vinata, spake,\nsaying:--\"O Sita, thou hast shown enough of attachment towards thy\nhusband. But, O gentle dame, excess of any thing tends to evil. We are\nsatisfied. And may good betide thee! Thou hast acted worthily like a\nwoman. Do thou hear, O Maithilee, what I say for thy welfare. Do thou\naccept, Ravana, the lord of the Rakshasa host, as thy husband. He\nwithstands powerfully his enemies like unto Vasava, the lord of the\ncelestials, charitable, kind unto all, and sweet-speeched. And forsaking\nRama, a poor wight, do thou take Ravana (as thy husband). Having thy\nperson sprinkled with celestial paste and adorned with excellent\nornaments, do thou from to-day O Vaidchi, O thou of comely presence,\nbecome the queen of all the worlds, like unto Sachee of the lord of the\ncelestials and _svaha_[332] of the fire. What shalt thou do with Rama, O\nVaidehi, poor and of limited life? This is what I say and if dost thou\nnot follow it we shall all instantly banquet on thee.\" And thereupon\nanother Rakshasee named Vikata, having her breast hanging long,\nexercised with ire, and clinching her fist, addressed, roaring, Sita--\"O\nfoolish daughter of the king of Mithila, we have put up with all thy\nfoolish words only out of compassion, and because thou art a feeble\nbeing. It will not lead to thy well-being if thou dost not hear our\nwords. Thou hast been brought here, the other side of the ocean,\ndifficult of being approached by others. Thou hast come within the\nterrible abode of Ravana O Maithilee, and hast been shut up in his room\nguarded by us all. And even, Purandara's[333] self cannot save you. Do\nthou therefore hear, O Maithilee, my well-meaning words. Why dost thou\nshed tears? Renounce thy useless grief. Do thou become happy and\ndelighted, renouncing thy continued melancholy. Do thou sport, O Sita,\nat thy pleasure, with the lord of the Rakshasas. We know, for certain, O\ntimid damsel, that the youth of the females, is very transient. And so\nlong as thy youth doth not fade, do thou pass thy days happily, O thou\nhaving inebrite eyes, with the lord of Rakshasas, in picturesque\ngardens, and mountain forests. Do thou take, O fair damsel, Ravana, the\nlord of the Rakshasas, for thy husband, and thousands of females shall\nbe placed at thy service. If dost thou not follow, what I say, O\nMaithilee, I shall taking out thy heart, banquet on it.\" Thereupon\nanother grim-visaged Rakshasee, named, Chandodora, shaking her terrible\nspear, said--\"Beholding this Sita having the eyes of a young antelope\nand her breast trembling with fear, my earnest desire, as I am\n_enciente_, hath been to banquet on her large eyes, lever, spleen, her\nplump hands, heart, other limbs and head.\" Thereupon another Rakshasee\nnamed Praghasa said--\"I shall grind the throat of this cruel woman. What\nare you doing, sitting there? Ye shall then relate unto the king that\nthe woman is dead. And undoubtedly he shall say 'Do ye eat her up.'\" And\nthereupon another Rakshasee named Ajamukhee said \"I do not like\nquarrels. Let us all divide her into equal portions. Bring soon our\nfavourite drink and various garlands.\" Then followed another Rakshasee\nby name Surpanakha,--\"I do fully concur with what Ajamukhee hath said.\nBring soon wine, the remover of all griefs. Banquetting on human flesh I\nshall dance before the queen Nikumbhila.\" Being thus threatened by those\ngrim-visaged Rakshasees Sita, resembling the daughter of a celestial,\nrenouncing patience, began to weep.\n\n[331] The wife of the sun.--T.\n\n[332] An exclamation used in making an oblation to the Gods. A\n      personification of the preceding as the wife of fire and Goddess\n      presiding over burnt offerings.--T.\n\n[333] Another name of Indra--the lord of the celestials.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXV.\n\n\nAnd those hideous Rakshasees thus threatning her with reproaches rude\nand rough, the daughter of the king Janaka began to weep. And being thus\naddressed by those Rakshasees, Vaidehi, of subdued soul, being greatly\nterrified, said, having her voice choked with vapour,--\"A woman can\nnever be the wife of a Rakshasa. Eat me up if you will, I shall never\nfollow your words.\" And being surrounded by the Rakshasees and\nthreatened by Ravana, Sita, resembling the daughter of a celestial,\nstricken with grief, could not console herself. And trembling, she\nshrank from their presence like unto a strayed fawn surrounded by\nwolves. And resorting to a flowery branch of an _Asoka_ tree, she sunk\nin grief, thought upon her lord. With tears she bathed her beautiful\nbreast and oppressed with woe, she could not reach the other bank of the\nocean of grief. Like a plantain tree shaken by the breeze, she shook and\nfell down trembling (on the earth). And being afraid of the Rakshasees,\nher cheeks forsook their native hue. And herself trembling, her pretty\nlong lock of hair also shook and appeared like a serpent moving this way\nand that. Overwhelmed with grief and beside herself with ire, the\ndaughter of the king of Mithila, wept and exclaimed sorrowfully,--\"O\nmother Kausalya! O queen Sumitra! true is the saying of the wise that\ndeath doth never approach untimely the male or the female. Or else I\nwould not have lived for a moment, separated from Rama and oppressed by\nthe Rakshasees as I am. Limited is my virtue, and therefore I am to die\nthe death of a poor deserted thing like unto a bark driven by the blast\nin the midst of the ocean. Debarred from my husband's sight and tortured\nby the hideous demons, I shall sink, oppressed with woes, like unto the\nbanks of a river, washed by the water. Oh blest are they who have been\nresting their eyes upon my grateful and sweet-speeched lord of leonine\ngaits, having eyes resembling lotus petals! And separated frpm Rama of\nsubdued soul, it is as difficult for me to breathe as for him who hath\ndrank up virulent poison. What mighty iniquity had I perpetrated in my\nprevious existence that I have met with this terrible disaster! I wish\nto renounce my life under this load of grief--but alas! I am surrounded\nby the Rakshasees and cannot meet Rama. Oh! cursed is this subject human\nlife, that they cannot renounce it even at their pleasure\"!\n\n\n\nSECTION XXVI.\n\n\nSaying this, the daughter of the king Janaka, bathed her countenance\nwith tears and hanging down her head began to lament. And she began to\nroll on the earth like unto a colt as if she was mad, possessed by a\ndevil and had lost her sense. \"I, the spouse of Rama, who was drawn away\nat a distance by the Rakshasa (Maricha) assuming shapes at will, was\nseized and borne away by Ravana. A captive of the Rakshasas, subject to\ntheir terrible threats and taunts, sunk in grief and anxiety,--I desire\nnot to keep my life. Of what avail are wealth, ornament and life unto\nme, who am living in the midst of the Rakshasas and separated from Rama,\nof the mighty car? Forsooth my life is made of stone, imperishable and\nimmortal since it is not riven asunder even by this mighty grief. Woe to\nme! who am unchaste and vile and my life is vicious, since breathe I\nstill in the absence of my lord. What of fixing my fancy on that\nnight-ranger, my meaner foot even shall not touch him? That (demon) who\nis courting me in this terrible way, doth not know himself, his own race\nand that I loathe him so much. What more shall I speak unto you, I shall\nnever consent to Ravana's prayer, I might be rent from limb to limb or\nburnt in fire. Raghava is grateful, true, wise and kind. I fear it is\nthrough my ill-luck that he doth not feel pity for me. Will he not take\nme back who alone slew the thousands of the Rashasas in Janasthana? I\nhave been captured by Ravana, a Rakshasa of feeble prowess. Forsooth my\nlord is capable of slaying this Ravana in conflict. Will not that Rama\nregain me, by whom was killed in the forest of Dandaka, Viradha, the\nforemost of the Rakshasa crew? Although situated in the midst of the\nocean, Lanka is unapproachable by others, but Raghava's arrows shall\nalso reach here. (I am at a loss to ascertain) why Rama of firm prowess,\ndoth not regain me, his beloved spouse who have been borne away by the\nRakshasa. Methinks Rama doth not know that I am here, or else, powerful\nas he is, he would not have put up with this insult. That lord of\nvultures, who could have informed Raghava, of my being borne away by the\nRakshasa, was killed by Ravana in the battle. O great was the work done\nby him, who, old as he was, for my sake, addressed himself to bring\nabout Ravana's destruction. If Raghava could know that I was here, he,\nexceedingly wroth, would have cleared the earth with his arrows, of the\nRakshasas. He would have then burnt down the city of Lanka, dried up the\ndeep and blotted out the name and fame of Ravana. And from each ruined\nhome would have risen the Rakshasa widows' groans and cries like unto\nthose of mine. And instituting enquiries, along with Lakshmana, he shall\nsoon reduce Lanka to this plight. And observed by them the enemy shall\nnot live for a moment. And in no time, shall Lanka, assume the\nappearance of a cremation ground, having all her high ways enveloped\nwith smoke issuing out of the funeral pyres, and filled with vultures.\nAnd soon shall this desire of mine be fulfilled. All these words of mine\ndo sound improbable now but they all indicate your misfortune. Besides\nfrom these bad omens, that are to be seen here, it appeareth, that Lanka\nshall soon be shorn of her grace. The lord of the Rakshasas, the vicious\nRavana being killed, forsooth shall Lanka, divested of wealth, appear\nlike a widow. This Lanka, which is now full of pious ceremonies, shall,\non the death of the Rakshasas and their master, appear like a\nhusbandless woman. For certain, shall I soon hear the cries and groans\nin every house, of the daughters of the Rakshasas worn with grief. If\nthat heroic Rama, having dark-blue eyes, comes to know that I am in the\nabode of the Rakshasas, the city of Lanka shall be burnt down with his\narrows and shall be stricken with darkness and shorn of grace and all\nthe foremost of the Rakshasas shall be destroyed. The time which was\nappointed by the vile and cruel Ravana, hath arrived. And that vicious\nwretch hath resolved to destroy me now. There is no crime which cannot\nbe perpetrated by those vicious demons. Mighty is the disaster that\nshall arise on account of this crime--the Rakshasas who live on flesh do\nnot know what virtue is. Forsooth shall the Rakshasa serve me for his\nmorning meal. What shall I do without my lord of comely presence?\nDebarred from my husband's presence, stricken with grief and not\nbeholding Rama, having dark-blue eyes, I shall soon meet with death.\nRama, the elder brother of Bharata, doth not know that I am still alive\nor else he and Lakshmana would have ransacked the whole world for me. Or\nrenouncing his body on this earth for my grief, the heroic elder brother\nof Lakshmana, hath repaired to the celestial region. Blessed are the\ncelestials, Gandharbas, Siddhas and mighty ascetics who are beholding my\nheroic lotus-eyed Rama. Or that highly intelligent royal ascetic\ndeairous of securing piety and freed from the troubles of life, hath no\nneed of a wife like me. Or people have fancy for what they see and which\ndisappeateth as soon as the object is out of sight. The ungrateful are\ncapable of renouncing their love, but not Rama. Or there might be some\nfolly in me. Or on the wane of my good luck have been separated irom the\nexcellent Rama. Death is more preferable unto me than life since I have\nbeen separated trom the high-souled heroic Rama, of unblemished\ncharacter and the slayer of foes. Or those two brothers, the foremost of\nmen, laying aside their weapons, and living on fruits and roots, have\nbeen wandering in the forest. Or those two heroic brothers Rama and\nLakshmana, have been, by treachery, put to death, by the vicious-souled\nRavana, the lord of Rakshasas. At this time of distress, I do with all\nmy heart long lor death,--(but alas!) even death is not approaching me\nin this my misery. Oh blessed are those high-souled, great ascetics\nabiding by truth and having their senses in control, who have no objects\nof love or displeasure. They are not distressed with misery for their\nobjects of love or grief for them whom they do not love. They are freed\nfrom them and I do bow unto those high-souled ones. Being forsaken by\nthe beloved Rama, knowing his ownself, and brought under the control of\nRavana, I shall renounce my life.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XXVII.\n\n\nBeing thus addressed angrily by Sita, some of those Rakshasees, beside\nthemselves with ire, proceeded to relate this unto the vicious-souled\nRavana. And approaching Sita those grim-visaged demons again addressed\nher with words rude and rough. \"O vile Sita, O thou bent on committing\nsin, we Rakshasees shall to-day devour thy flesh to the best of our\nsatisfaction.\" Beholding those vile demons threaten Sita, a Rakshasa\nmatron, wise and old, named, Trijata cried--\"O vile demons, do ye eat\nyour own persons[334] but do not devour Sita, the daughter of Janaka and\nthe esteemed daughter-in-law of the king Dacaratha. I dreamt a terrible\ndream last night which made my down stand on their end. And in that\ndream I foresaw the overthrow of the Rakshasa race and the conquest of\nher husband.\" And being thus addressed by Trijata, those demons,\nexercised with wrath and terrified, accosted her with the following\nwords,--\"Do thou relate (unto us) what sort of dream didst thou dream\nlast night.\" And hearing those words proceeding from the mouths of the\nRakshasees, Trijata began to describe the dream she had at the latter\nend of the night,--\"I saw Rama, wearing garlands and clothed in white,\nride in a celestial charriot, along with Lakshmana, made of ivory,\ntraversing the etherial regions and drawn by a hundred steeds. I saw in\nmy dream to-night, that Sita, clad in the purest white, appearing on a\nsnow-white hill beaten by the waves of the ocean, had at last met Rama,\nlike unto light joined to the Sun. And I again saw Rama and Lakshmana\nappear in effulgence, seated on a huge elephant, having four tusks and\nresembling a bull. Thereupon those two (brothers), resplendant like unto\nthe Sun by their own effulgence, and wearing white garlands and clothes,\nappeared near Janaka's daughter. And the lotus eyed Janaki, on the top\nof the hill situate on the welkin, first fell on the lap of her husband\nand then stationed herself on the neck of the elephant guided by her\nhusband. Then I saw Sita rubbing the Sun and the Moon with her two\nhands. And then that best of the elephants, with those two princes and\nthe large eyed Sita on him, stood high above Lanka. I again saw Rama,\nclad in white, and adorned with garlands, ride along with Lakshmana in a\ncharriot drawn by eight white bullocks. I again saw that highly\nenergetic, best of men--Rama, having truth for his prowess, along with\nhis brother Lakshmana and Sita flee to Northern realms, ascending a\ncelestial flowery charriot resembling (in brightness) the Sun. And I saw\nRavana too, shaved and shorn, besmeared with oil, wearing a crimson\ncloth, drinking honey, wearing a garland of Karavira flowers, fall down\non earth from the flowery charriot. And dragged by a woman, shaved,\nwearing a red cloth and garlands and sprinkled with crimson paste,\nRavana was again seen by me riding in a charriot drawn by asses. And\nquaffing oil, laughing and dancing, that one of agitated senses,\nforgetting himself sped on the charriot to the South.[335] And I again\nsaw Ravana, the lord of the Rakshasas, stricken with fear, fall,\nheadless, down on the earth. And then rising all on a sudden, and\nuttering obscene and inconsistent words like unto a maniac, Ravana\noverwhelmed with fear, and amazement, and intoxicated, fell into a mass\nof dirt, stinking and resembling the very hell. And again proceeding to\nthe South he entered into a lake devoid of mud and water. And a dark\nwoman, clad in a crimson cloth, and bedaubed with mud, dragged the\nTen-necked demon, entwining herself round his neck. Then followed the\nmighty Kumvakarna[336] and all the sons of Ravana, shaved and shorn and\nbesmeared with oil. And they all proceeded southward--the Ten-necked\ndemon on on a boar, Indrajit[337] on a porpoise, and Kumvakarna on a\ncamel. I saw only Biveesana, with a white umbrella and accompanied by\nfour courtiers, range in the welkin. And there was audible in the large\nassembly sound of music and stringed instruments. And all the Rakshasas\nwearing crimson clothes and garlands, were quaffing oil. I saw the royal\nand picturesque city Lanka with her steeds, cars and elephants, drowned\nin the ocean, having her gateways and ornamented arches broken. And in\nLanka, covered with dust, Rakshasa women, laughing; and making terrible\nsound, were engaged in quaffing oil. I saw all the leading\nRakshasas--Kumvakarna and others, dark-hued and wearing crimson clothes,\nemerged in an abyss of cow dung. Do ye therefore fly at some distance,\nand will find that Raghava shall regain Sita. And exercised with ire he\nshall destroy you all along with the Rakshasas. Raghava shall never\nbrook, his esteemed and beloved spouse, living in the forest, being\ntaunted and threatened by you. No more with rough words therefore; do\nyou console the lady and humbly pray her to forgive you. This I think\nproper. Surely shall she, divested of misfortune, be reconciled to her\nbeloved and excellent husband, regarding whom, in her misery, I have\ndreamt such a dream. Ye Rakshasees! You have threatened her, do ye\nimplore her forgiveness--no more with harsh words. Forsooth, from\nRaghava shall proceed the mighty disaster of the Rakshasas. If\nMaithilee, the daughter of the king Janaka, be pleased with you (for\nyour imploring her forgiveness) you might be saved from the mighty\ndisaster. I do not perceive any inauspicious mark on the person of this\nlarge-eyed dame. It appears from the paleness of her countenance that\nshe hath been overcome by misfortune. And I saw (in my dreamt this\nworshipful damsel, unworthy of any misfortune, stationed in the welkin.\nVerily I do perceive, before me, the satisfaction of Vaidehi's end, the\ndestruction of the lord of the Rakshasas and the conquest of Raghava.\nBehold I there, her left eye, spacious, as a lotus-petal, is dancing to\nhear this pleasant dream announcing the satisfaction of her own end. And\nher left arm is also dancing with joy, all on a sudden. And her\nexcellent beautiful left thigh, resembling the trunk of an elephant, is\nalso dancing as if indicating, that she shall at no distant date, be\nreconciled to Raghava. And the birds, again and again, entering their\nnests, and highly delighted are pouring forth their notes announcing the\nadvent of a happy occasion.\" Thereupon that modest dame, greatly\ndelighted in the prospective conquest of her husband, said-- \"If this be\ntrue I shall save you all.\"\n\n[334] The proper expression, I think, should be--\"Eat me.\" The\n      commentator Ramanuja explains _Atmanam_ as your own bodies.--T.\n\n[335] In the south is the region of Yama, the God of Death and hence his\n      going to the South is not an auspicious sign.--T.\n\n[336] Ravana's brother.--T.\n\n[337] Ravana's son--the name signifies the conqueror of the lord of the\n      celestials.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXVIII.[338]\n\n\nHearing those unpleasant words of Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, Sita,\nracked with sorrow on account of her husband, became terrified, like\nunto a she-elephant, worsted by a lion on the skirt of a forest.\nThreatened by Ravana and encircled by the Rakshasees, that timid damsel\nbewailed like a girl cast off in a lonely forest. \"Truly the sages say\nthat death in this world doth not come untimely. Or else would I have,\nvicious as I am, lived for a moment, being thus sorely threatened.\nForsooth, my mind, divested of happiness and full of misery, is firm or\nelse why is it not broken in sunder like unto the summit of a hill\nclapped by a thunderbolt. Nor am I to blame for this--I am worthy of\nbeing killed by this demon of uncomely presence. As a Brahmana cannot\nimpart instructions in Vedas unto the people of other castes so I shall\nnot confer my mind on Ravana. If that lord of the people doth not come\nwithin the appointed time, forsooth shall that vile lord, of the\nRakshasas, mince my limbs with his arrows like unto a surgeon cutting\noff the limbs of an embryo.[339] Two months shall pass away in no time\nand I shall have to suffer the pain of death, overwhelmed with sorrow as\nI am, like unto a thief, confined in stocks, at the command of the\nsovereign to receive death the next morning. Rama! Lakshmana! O Sumitra!\nO Rama's mother! O my mothers! I am worsted in this ocean of grief, like\nunto a bark, driven hither and thither by the blast, in the midst of an\nocean. Verily for me, those two powerful, lion-like sons of the king,\nhave been killed by (this demon) effulgent like the lightning and\nassuming the semblance of a deer. Unfortunate as I am, forsooth I was\ntempted then by death wearing the shape of a deer and thus foolishly\nlost Rama and Lakshmana, the sons of the worshipful sire. O Rama, O thou\nof truthful vows, O thou of long arms, O thou having the countenance of\na full moon! O my life! engaged as thou art in the welfare of the\npeople, dost thou not perceive that I am about to be killed by the\nRakshasas. Alas! this my devotedness unto my husband, my forgiveness, my\nlying down on the bare earth, my observance of religious vows, my\nwife-like virtues, are lost like unto service done for an ungrateful\nwight. In vain are my pious rites, and in vain is my devotedness unto my\nhusband--since I do not behold thee, am pale and feeble in thy absence\nand have given up all hopes of seeing thee. And duly satisfying thy\nsire's command, and returning successfully from the forest, thou shalt\nfearlessly sport with many a damsel having large eyes. (But for me) O\nRama, I was for my own destruction, devoted, soul and heart, unto thee.\nOh! fruitless is my asceticism and wifely virtue! Oh fie on me! I shall\nrenounce this my unfortunate life. I desire to do away speedily with my\nbeing by means of poison or a sharp weapon. But there is no one in this\ncity of the Rakshasas, who bringeth me this poison or weapon.\" Bewailing\nthus in various accents, and remembering Rama with all her heart, Sita,\nhaving her countenance dried up, and trembling, got at the biggest tree\nenveloped with flowers. And thinking thus, Sita, stricken with grief,\ntook up in her hand, her braid of hair and thought--\"I shall soon hang\nmyself with this braid and reach the abode of Death. And that one of\ntender person reached the tree, and holding a branch, began to think of\nRama, Lakshmana, and the glory of her race. And on her person were\nperceived many auspicious marks, well-known in the world, removing\ngrief, fostering patience, and announcing the advent of future welfare.\n\n[338] The sections 28 and 29 are not found in all the texts. They are\n      found in Bengal edition. Gorressio translates it and remarks--\"I\n      think the chapter XXVIII--The auspicious signs--is an addition, a\n      later interpolation by the Rhapsodists. It has no bond of\n      connection either with what precedes or follows it and may be\n      struck out without injury.\" We have however thought it proper to\n      give a full version.--T.\n\n[339] This passage clearly indicates that there were proficient and\n      skilled surgeons at the time when Ramayana was written.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXIX.\n\n\nLike unto servants waiting upon a wealthy person various auspicious\nomens waited upon Sita of a blameless and comely person, racked with\ngrief and divested of joy. And the large left eye of that dame having\ngraceful hairs, having dark pupils, white ends and thick eye-lashes,\nbegan to dance like a lotus shaken by a fish. And her beautiful, round,\nplump left hand, which, ere this, sprinkled with costly _aguru_ and\nsandal, used to serve for a pillow unto Rama, began to dance now again\nand again after a long time. And her well built plump left thigh,\nresembling the trunk of an elephant, dancing, announced that she would\nsoon behold Rama. And the gold-hued cloth, now covered with dust, of\nthat damsel of a comely person, having teeth like pomegranate seeds,\nslipped a little off its place. And being enlivened by those and various\nother auspicious omens, she attained joy like unto a seed, spoiled by\nthe wind and the sun, growing afresh in the rainy season. And her\ncountenance, having lips red as _Bimba_ fruits, beautiful eyes,\neye-brows extending to ears, curling eye-lashes and white teeth, again\nappeared graceful like unto the Moon released from the full grasp of\n_Rahu_.[340] Her grief and exhaustion were removed--sorrow was pacified\nand her heart was filled with joy. And she with her countenance appeared\nbeautiful like a lunar night beautified by the rays of the Moon.\n\n[340] Like the Moon when full eclipse is just over--In mythology Rahu is\n      the son of Sinika, a daitya, with the tail of a dragon whose head\n      was severed from his body by Vishnu, but being immortal this head\n      and tail retained their separate existence and being transferred\n      to the stellar sphere, became the authors of eclipses.--T,\n\n\n\nSECTION XXX.\n\n\nAnd the powerful Hanuman, heard from the beginning to the end (the\nbewailings) of Sita, the story of Trijata's dream and the threats of the\nRakshasees. And beholding the worshipful damsel, living in the forest of\nAsoka, like unto a celestial damsel in the garden of Nandana, the monkey\nentered in a maze of anxious thoughts. \"At length my watchful eyes have\nseen her, whom have been seeking in vain, the thousands and millions of\nthe monkeys in all directions and quarters. Truly have I seen her\nto-day, engaged as I have been as a spy to estimate the strength of the\nememy and am ranging secretly everywhere. I have seen minutely the city\nof the Rakshasas, and the strength of Ravana, the lord of Rakshasasas.\nIt now remains to console the spouse of Rama of incomparable power, and\nkind unto all, who panteth for her lord. I shall console this damsel,\nhaving the countenance of the full moon, who had never seen grief\nbefore, and who shall not soon reach its end. And if I go away without\nsoothing this chaste lady, who is almost senseless with grief, I shall\nbe blamed of neglect of duty. And if I go away, the royal daughter, the\nfamed Janaki, finding no means of safety, shall, for certain, renounce\nher life. She is worthy of being consoled like unto the great armed\n(Rama) having the countenance of the full-moon and anxious to behold\nSita. It is not proper to speak before the Rakshasas-- What shall I do\nthen? I am in very great difficulty. If I do not console her at this\nlatter end of the night, surely shall she renounce her life. How shall I\nanswer Rama, without consoling Sita of comely stature, when he will ask\nme \"What message from my Sita?\" And if I speedily repair hence without\nany information regarding Sita, surely shall Kakuthstha scorch me\nlifeless with the fire of his angry eyes. And if I urge my lord the king\n(Biveeshana) to bring his hosts here for Rama, in vain shall be his\ntoil[341]. And seizing the occasion when she shall be free from her\ndemonaic guards, I shall console her in her dire distress. And a puny\nmonkey as I am, I shall speak in Sanskrit[342] which men delight to use.\nAnd if I speak Sanskrit like a Brahmana, Sita shall be terrified\nconsidering me Ravana. Must I therefore use the language of a common\nman[343] or else I shall not be able to console the dame of a blameless\nperson. And beholding my monkey shape and hearing my human language she\nmight be afraid again, terrified as she had been before by the band of\nthe Rakshasas. And considering me Ravana wearing shapes at will, that\nlarge-eyed and high-minded dame, shall cry piteously for help. And Sita,\nmaking a sudden noise, those terrible Rakshasees resembling Death\nhimself and armed with various weapons, shall at once arrive there. And\nthereupon casting their looks all around and finding me out, those\nhighly powerful and grim-visaged demons shall try to kill or catch me.\nAnd beholding me leap from branch to branch and trunk to trunk of big\ntrees they shall be greatly alarmed. And espying my appearance while\nranging in the forest, those Rakshasees greatly terrified, shall fill\nthe wood with their wild shouts. And then they shall call (to their\nassistance) all those Rakshasees engaged in guarding the abode of the\nlord of the Rakshasas. And they, greatly agitated, shall with vehemence\narrive here, armed with darts, arrows, scimitars and various other\nweapons. And being surrounded by them on all sides, if I do kill that\nhost of demons, tired, I shall not be able to bound over the main. And\nif that host of skilled demons, succeed in making me a captive, I too\nshall be in their hands and Sita shall remain ignorant of my object. Or\nthe Rakshasas, pernicious as they are, shall kill the daughter of\nJanaka, and there shall the great work of Rama and Sugriva, be spoiled.\nAnd Janaki liveth in this secret place, girt by the ocean, guarded on\nall sides by the Rakshasas, difficult of being got at and having all\navenues to it shut up. If I am killed or captured by Rakshasas in\nbattle, I do not find any who can help Rama in his enterprise. Myself\nkilled, I do not find any monkey who can leap a hundred leagues across\nthe sea. I am capable of destroying thousands of Rakshasas, but I shall\nnot then be able to get at the other shore of the great ocean. Victory\nor defeat is uncertain in a battle--I do not (therefore) like to engage\nin such an uncertain (act). What wise man merges certainty in\nuncertainty? It is a great sin in me (I own) to talk with Sita--But she\nwill die if I do not talk with her. Works, almost accomplished, when\nentrusted to an inconsiderate emissary, are generally spoiled, out of\nseason and out of place, like unto darkness driven by the appearance of\nthe sun. All those works, which are generally taken in hand after duly\ndeliberating over their propriety and impropriety, are generally spoiled\nby those emissaries who are proud of their learning. What shall I do, by\nwhich my work is not injured, I am not blamed of foolishness and my\ncrossing over the main doth not become fruitless? What shall I do so\nthat Sita might listen to me without being terrified?\" Thinking over\nthis, the intelligent Hanuman arrived at a conclusion. \"I shall not\ndisturb her, speaking (all on a sudden) about Rama of unwearied actions,\ndear unto her and to whom, she is firmly attached. Uttering the name of\nRama, the foremost of the Ikshawkus, and of subdued soul and lauding his\npiety and fame in sweet accents, I shall so manage that Sita might hear\nand believe them.\" Beholding the spouse of that high-souled lord of the\nearth and engaging in this train of thoughts, Hanuman, stationed on a\nbranch of the tree, spoke the following sweet words.\n\n[341] For before that Sita shall renounce her life--T.\n\n[342] The language refined by the strict rules of grammar.--T.\n\n[343] This passage clearly indicates that Sanskrit if not spoken by men,\n      and women of the upper classes of the time when Ramayana was\n      written, was at least understood by them, and was commonly spoken\n      by men of priestly class and other educated persons.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXI.\n\n\nMeditating thus the highly intelligent monkey spoke in accents, sweet\nand in such a tone as they might be, heard by Vaidehi. \"There reigned a\nnoble and pious king named Dacaratha, highly glorious amongst the\nIkshawkus, the lord of the warrior-cars, steeds and elephants. Devoid of\nenvy, high-minded, kind, having truth for Us prowess, the foremost of\nthe Ikshawku race, wealthy and the enhancer of wealth; gifted with royal\nmarks; highly beautiful; the foremost of the kings; famous all over the\nworld of many oceans; the conferrer of happiness and himself happy. His\neldest and most beloved son was the Moon-bright Rama, wise and the\nforemost of those who know the science of the bended bow. He was the\nprotector of his own character, of his own kinsmen, of the whole world\nof creation and of virtue and subduer of foes. And banished by his old\nand truthful sire's commands, that hero, along with his wife and brother\n(Lakshmana) repaired to the forest. And while roaming a-hunting in the\nforest he slew many a heroic Rakshasa wearing shapes at will. And having\nheard of the destruction of the Rakshasas of Janasthana and of Khara and\nDushana, the illusive Ravana, assuming shapes at will, beguiling Rama,\nin the forest, stole away his consort--the Janaka's daughter. And\nroaming the country around in quest of the blameless and worshipful\nSita, Rama found a firm friend in Sugriva. And bringing about the\ndestruction of Vali, Rama, the conqueror of others' cities, conferred\nthe monkey-kingdom upon the high-souled Sugriva. And by Sugriva's\ndecree, thousands of monkeys, wearing shapes at will, have been\nsearching that worshipful dame in various directions. And by Sampati's\ncounsel and for that large eyed dame, I have leapt a hundred leagues\nacross the deep. I have at last got her. And such were the form, grace\nand the marks that Raghava mentioned unto me.\" Having said this, the\nforemost of the monkeys ceased. And greatly wondered was Sita hearing\nthose words. Thereupon that timid dame, having good curling hair,\nraising up her face covered with hairs, looked up to the _Singshapa_\ntree. And hearing the words of the monkey and casting her eyes to all\ndirections and quarters, Sita attained an excess of delight, being\nengaged in thoughts concerning Rama. And looking around her and upwards,\nshe beheld, like unto the rising sun, the Wind-god's son, gifted with\ninconceivable intellect,--the minister of the king of monkeys.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXII.\n\n\nAnd beholding that tawny-colored monkey like unto a mass of lightnings\nand wearing a white cloth, hidden on the tree, Sita's mind was greatly\nagitated. And she saw there the humble, sweet-speeched monkey, appearing\ngraceful like unto a collection of full-blown _Asoka_ flowers and having\neyes resembling burning gold. And observing that foremost of the\nmonkeys, sitting humbly, that daughter of the king of Mithila, again\ngreatly amazed, thought.--\"This monkey is the most terrible of his race\nand therefore hard to be got at and looked at.\" Thinking this she again\nsank in fear. And stricken with grief she again bewailed in piteous\naccents exclaiming,--\"O Rama! O Lakshmana!\" And she wept silently and\nlowly. And then beholding that best of monkeys approach her humbly, the\nfair daughter of the Mithili's king, thought,--\"Is this a dream mine\neyes have seen?\" And she again looked towards that Wind-god's son, the\nforemost of the monkeys, the best of those gifted with intelligence,\nhaving a huge disfigured countenance, highly accomplished and wearing a\ndress mentioned before. And beholding him Sita was almost out of breath\nwith fear. And regaining soon her sense the large-eyed damsel again\nthought, --\"I have seen a very inauspicious dream to-day--to see a\nmonkey in a dream is reckoned inauspicious by the sages. May good betide\nRama, Lakshmana and my Sire the king of Janaka. It is no dream, I have\nnot slept, worn with grief and trouble as I am. Apart from my lord\nhaving the countenance of the full-moon, I have no happiness. Thinking\nof Rama always and uttering his name, each sight I see and each sound I\nhear brings him to my eye or ear. And therefore his form appearing in my\nmind is distressing me to-day, who am entirely sunk in his thoughts. And\nthinking of him always I see him before me and hear his words. Methinks\nthis is but a phantom of the mind. And thinking this I still behold the\nsame. But an imaginary object can never have a form. And I still find a\ndistinct form addressing me. Be glory to Vachaspati, Indra, the self\nexistent Brahma, the lord of fire and may they so grant that the\ncreature who hath spoken before me, be real and not imaginary.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXIII.\n\n\nThereupon coming down from the tree, Hanuman, the highly effulgent son\nof Wind, having a coral-red countenance and attired in a humble guise,\napproached Sita and joining reverentially his palms, addressed her with\nthe following sweet words,--\"Who art thou, O thou having eyes like lotus\npetals and wearing a soiled silken cloth, who art waiting there holding\na branch of the tree? Why are the tears of sorrow flowing from thy eyes\nlike unto drops of water falling from lotus petals? Who art thou, O most\nfair of face, amongst the celestials, Asuras, Nagas, Gandharbas,\nRakshasas, and Yakshas and Kinnaras? Do the Rudra's[344] claim thy birth\nO thou fair damsel? Or the swift gods who ride the storm? Or the\nVasus?[345] Thou appearest to me as of a celestial race. Art thou\nRohini, the best and most accomplished of the stars, who, reft from the\nMoon, hath fallen down from the abode of the celestials? Who art thou O\nblessed dame, O thou having blameless eyes? Art thou, O lotus-eyed\ndamsel, the blessed Arundhuti, who hath fled in wrath or jealous pride\nfrom the side of her lord (Vashishtha)? Or O lovely damsel, who is the\nson, father, brother or husband gone from this world for whom thou art\nweeping? Yet by thy tears and sighs, by the earth thou art treading and\nby calling on a monarch's name it appears that thou art not a\ncelestial.[346] But from the marks on thy person it appeareth that thou\nart either the consort or the daughter of a king. Art thou that Sita, I\ndo ask thee, who had been stolen and borne away by Ravana from\nJanasthana? May good betide thee! From thy wretched plight, thy\nunrivalled beauty and thy ascetic garb, thou art, I ween, for certain,\nthe queen of Rama.\" Hearing those words of Hanuman and greatly delighted\nat Rama's name, Vaidehi spoke unto him--\"I am the daughter-in-law of\nDacaratha, knowing his own self, the foremost of the kings of the world\nand the slayer of the enemy's host, and the daughter of Janaka the\nhigh-souled king of Videha. My name is Sita and I am the consort of the\nhighly intelligent Rama. I lived twelve years in Raghava's abode,\nenjoying every earthly comfort and satisfying every desire. And at the\nbeginning of the thirteenth year the king, advised by his priest,\narranged for the installation of the descendant of Ikswakus (Rama) on\nthe throne. And while the articles for the installation were being\ncollected, the queen Kaikeyi addressed her lord saying--'I shall not\ndrink or eat for days and this shall be the end of my existence if Rama\nbe installed. If thou dost not wish to falsify the vow[347] thou made\nunto me, O best of kings, let Rama then repair to the forest.\" The\nmonarch was truthful and remembering his vow and hearing the unpleasant\nand vile words of Kaikeyi lost himself (in grief). And thereupon the old\nking abiding by truth, weeping, begged of his elslest son, the kingdom.\nThe graceful Rama liked his sire's command more than the installation,\nand resolving within him, promised to obey his words. Rama, having truth\nfor his prowess, never, for his life, takes back what he gives, never\nspeaks an untruth and always speaks truth. And leaving aside his costly\nattire, the highly glorious (Rama) renounced with all his heart the\nkingdom and gave me over to his mother. But myself wearing the garb of\nan ascetic, repaired speedily before him. Separated from him, I do not\nlike to live even in the celestial region. And the great son of\nSumitra,the enhancer of friends' joys, to follow his elder brother,\ndressed himself in bark and _kusa_. And thus abiding by our sire's\nbehest, and taking firm vows we entered a dreary forest never seen\nbefore. While that one, of unmitigated effulgence was thus living in the\nforest of Dandaka, I, his consort, was stolen by the vicious-souled\nRakshasa--Ravana. He hath kindly allowed me two months' respite after\nwhich I shall be slain.\n\n[344] The Rudras are manifestations of Siva.--T.\n\n[345] A kind of demi-gods of whom six are enumerated _viz_., Dhava,\n      Druva, Soma or the Moon, Vishnu, Anila or wind, Anala or fire,\n      Prabhusa and Prabhava.--T.\n\n[346] The celestials never shed tears nor touch the ground when they\n      walk.--T.\n\n[347] This refers to the vow which Dacaratha made unto Kaikeyi at the\n      time of the war going on between the celestials and the\n      Asuras.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXIV.\n\n\nHEARING those words of Sita stricken with grief, Hanuman, the foremost\nof the monkeys, replied in soothing words, \"O worshipful lady, by Rama's\ndecree I come as a messenger unto thee. He is safe and sound, O Vaidehi,\nand has asked of thy welfare. O worshipful dame, Rama, the son of\nDacaratha, the master of the Vedas, and the foremost of those conversant\nwith Vedas hath enquired of thy welfare. And the highly effulgent\nLakshmana, the beloved follower of thy husband, worn with grief, bows\nhis reverential head unto thee.\" Hearing of the welfare of those two\nlions among men, the worshipful dame, with all her frame worked up with\nrapture, again spake unto Hanuman, saying--\"Verily the wise saw of the\npeople appears to me to be true that once in a hundred years true joy\nappears to a living man\". Sita, at that time, attained such a wonderful\njoy, as would have been acquired by her in the company (of Rama and\nLakshmana). And they confidingly conversed with each other. Hearing\nthose words of Sita,racked with sorrow, Hanuman, the son of the Wind-god\ndrew a little nearer to her. The more Hanuman approached her the more\nSita suspected him as Ravana. \"Alas! Alas! why have I spoken to him? It\nis the Ravana, who hath appeared again in a new disguise.\" And leaving\noff the Asoka branch, that one having a blameless person, overwhelmed\nwith grief, sat down on the earth. In the meantime the mighty-armed\nmonkey bowed unto Janaka's daughter, but she, worked up with fear, did\nnot cast again her looks towards him. And beholding him bow unto her,\nSita, having a moon-like countenance, sighing, spake unto that monkey in\nsweet accents--\"If thou art that Ravana's self, who, changing thy shape\nby magic art, want to distress me again--this thy vile deed doth not\nbehove thee. Thou art surely that Ravana, whom I saw at Janasthana, in a\nmendicant's guise, renouncing his own shape, O night-ranger, O thou\nwearing shapes at will! it doth not behove thee to distress me who am\npoorly and famished with fasts. But no, thou canst not be (the fiend)\nwhom I suspect, since I have such joy from seeing thee. And may good\nbetide thee if thou art Rama's messenger. I do ask thee, O foremost of\nmonkeys, something about Rama that is pleasant unto me. O monkey, do\nthou relate the glories of my dear Rama. Thou art (thus) shaking my mind\nO gentle one, like unto water breaking down the banks of a river. Alas!\nthis dream has afforded me immense pleasure since, I, who have been\nseparated from my lord for so long a time, have beheld this monkey sent\nby Raghava. I do not sink even if I can behold in dream the heroic\nRaghava along with Lakshmana--but dream even is jealous of my\nwell-being. Nor do I regard this as dream. To behold a monkey in a dream\ndoth not lead to prosperity--whereas I have attained it.[348] Or is it\nmental derangement? Or have I been possessed by a devil? Or have I run\nmad? Or is it the sultry vapour floating over sands and appearing at a\ndistance like water? No, it is not madness--for derangement of mind is\nthe sign of madness--I have not lost sense and I do distinctly perceive\nme and the monkey.\" Thinking thus in many a way and ascertaining the\nstrength (of the monkey and the Rakshasa) Sita took him for the lord of\nthe Rakshasas, wearing shapes at will. And having arrived at this\ndecision, Janaka's daughter--Sita, ceased from talking with that monkey.\nAnd apprised of Sita's thought, Hanuman, the Wind god's son, (replied)\nin words sweet unto her and enhancing her delight--\"Bright as the sun\nthat lights the sky and dear as the moon to every eye, he pleases all\nhis subjects with bounties like unto those of Vaisrabana.[349] He is\ngifted with prowess like unto the greatly famed Vishnu, truthful and\nsweet-speeched like unto Vachaspati.[350] Graceful, grateful to the eye\nand beautiful like unto Kandarva's[351] self, he displays his wrath in a\nproper quarter--the foremost of men and of a mighty car. The whole world\nof creation (liveth safe) in the shadow of the arms of that high-souled\none. Thou shalt soon see the consequences he shall reap by whom,\nassuming the shape of a dear, Raghava was taken away from the hermitage\nand thou wert stolen away from that lonely place. And soon shall that\npowerful (hero) destroy Ravana in the battle, with fiery arrows,\ndischarged angrily. I have been sent by him as a messenger to thee. Worn\nwith grief in thy separation he hath enquired of thy welfare, as well\nthe highly effulgent Lakshmana, the enhancer of Sumitra's joy, bowing\nreverentially unto thee. The king of monkey hosts, by name\nSugriva--Rama's friend, hath also enquired of thy welfare, worshipful\ndame. Rama, Sugriva and Lakshmana, have thee always in their minds.\nBlessed are we, O Vaidehi, that thou dost still live, subject as thou\nart to the Rakshasees. Thou shalt soon behold Rama, and Lakshmana of a\nmighty car, and Sugriva of unmitigated prowess in the midst of the\nmillion of monkey hosts. I am Sugriva's minister, by name Hanuman. I\nhave entered this city of Lanka after crossing over the great main. And\nby means of my prowess and placing my feet on the head of the\nvicious-souled Ravana, I have come here to see thee. I am not he\n(Ravana) for whom thou art taking me, O worshipful dame. Do thou\nrenounce thy suspicion and rely on my words.\"\n\n[348] Here prosperity means joy--Sita attained an immense treasure of\n      joy on beholding Rama's messenger--Hanuman--T.\n\n[349] Another name of Kuvera, the god of gold.--T.\n\n[350] The god of speech.--T.\n\n[351] Cupid or the god of love in Hindu mythology described as the most\n      beautiful of the celestials.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXV.\n\n\nHearing the tale of Rama from that best of monkeys, Vaidehi, spoke in\nsweet accents, soft and low,--\"Where didst thou meet Rama, how didst\nthou come to know Lakshmana? How did the monkeys and men meet on terms\nof brotherhood? Do thou again relate unto me, O monkey, the regal signs\nthat deck the persons of Rama and Lakshmana-- and I shall then\nrelinquish all grief. Do thou relate unto me the form and grace of Rama,\nhis thighs and arms and as well as those of Lakshmana.\" Being thus\naddressed by Vaidehi, Hanuman, the Wind-god's son, began to give an\nexact description of Rama. \"If dost thou, by my good luck, O Vaidehi, O\nthou having eyes like lotus-petals, knowing me (as his messenger) ask me\nto describe thy lord's person as well as that of Lakshmana, I shall\nrelate them unto thee. Do thou hear, O large-eyed dame, what regal signs\nI have marked on the persons of Rama and Lakshmana. O daughter of\nJanaka, Rama has eyes like lotus-petals and a countenance resembling the\nfull-moon and is gifted with great beauty and goodness. In effulgence he\nis like the Sun, in patience like the earth, in intellect like\nVrihaspati[352] and in fame like Vasava.[353] He is the protector of the\nworld of creation and his own kinsmen. He follows right in all his ways\nand never swerves from his royal duties and is the slayer of foes. O\ndame, he upholds the dignity of the people of four-castes-- he confers\nhonors on the people and preserves them. He is worshipped by all like\nthe Sun, observes ascetic vows, knoweth well the time when the saints\nshould be honored and is conversant with the nature and procedure of\nactions. He is well acquainted with royal duties and abideth by the\ncommandments of the Brahmanas--is wise, gifted with a good character,\nhumble and the slayer of foes. He is the master of _Yayur_ Vedas and is\nadored by those who are well-versed in Vedas--is proficient in the\nscience of bended bow, Vedas and _Vedangas_.[354] He is\nbroad-shouldered, large-armed, has a conch-like neck and a beautiful\ncountenance. His throat is plump and his eyes are red--and he is famed\nall over the world under the name of Rama. He has the voice of a bugle,\nis of a cool hue and highly powerful, has equally proportioned limbs and\na green colour. His three limbs (thigh, fist and wrist) are hard and\nthree others (brow arms and scrotum) are long; and three (tops of the\nhairs, scrotums and knee-joints) equal and three (navel, abdomen and\nbreast) high. And three (the angles of the eyes, nails and palms) are\ncopper-colored-- three are cool and three (voice, navel and gait) are\ngrave. His belly and throat have three folds of skin. The sole of the\nfoot, the lines thereon and the nipples are equally bended. His neck,\neyes and back are short. He has three locks of hair on his head. He has\nfour lines on his thumb indicating his proficiency in the four Vedas.\nHis body is four hands tall; arms, thighs and cheeks are plump;\neye-brows, the hollows of the nose, eyes, ears, lips, nipples; wrists,\nknee-joints, scrotums, hips, hands, feet are all equally proportioned.\nFour teeth by the side of each row, are gifted with auspicious marks of\nthe _Sastras_. His gaits are like those of a lion, tiger, elephant or a\nbull. His lips and jaws are fleshy and elevated. His nose is long;\nwords, countenance, nails, down and skin are all cool; his two arms, two\nlittle fingers, two thighs and two legs are long; his face, eyes, mouth\ntongue, lips; palate, nipples, nails and feet are like lotuses, his\nbreast, forehead, neck, arms, navel feet, back and ears are spacious. He\nis gifted with grace, fame and effulgence. His paternal and maternal\nrace are pure. His armpit, belly, breast, nose, shoulders and forehead\nare high; his fingers, hairs, down, nails, skin, beard, eye-sight and\nintellect are thin and sharp. Raghava, with a due division of his time\nis engaged in acquiring piety, wealth emancipation and desires. He is\ntruthful and graceful, amasses wealth and thereby protects his subjects.\nHe is cognizant of the divisions of time and country and dear unto all.\nHis stepbrother Saumitri is gifted with incomparable prowess and is his\nequal in attachment, beauty and accomplishments. The person of that\ngraceful one is gold-hued whereas that of the highly famous Rama is\ngreen. And those two lions among men had no other delight but seeing\nthee. And they ransacking the whole world in quest of thee met us in the\nforest. And ranging the earth for thee they beheld Sugriva, of comely\npresence, the lord of monkeys, at the foot of the mount Rishvamuka\ncovered with trees, banished by his elder brother and resorting there in\nhis fear. And we were serving that truthful Sugriva, the lord of\nmonkeys, driven from the kingdom by his elder brother. And beholding\nthose two best of men, wearing bark and with bows in their hands, that\nbest of monkeys, stricken with fear, leaped above and stationed himself\non the crest of the hill. He then sent me to them. And thereupon by\nSugriva's decree I, approached with joined palms, those two foremost of\nmen gifted with beauty and royal marks. And they were pleased by me,\nbeing informed of the real facts. And then placing those two best of men\non my back I arrived at the top of the hill and communicated the truth\nunto the high-souled Sugriva. And conversing with each other those two\nlords of men and monkeys attained great delight. And they consoled each\nother narrating their respective misfortunes. And Rama then consoled\nSugriva, driven away by his greatly powerful elder brother Vali on his\nwife's account. Thereupon Lakshmana related unto Sugriva, the lord of\nmonkeys, the grief, of Rama of unwearied actions, in consequence of thy\nbeing borne away (by Ravana). And hearing Lakshmana's words, the lord of\nmonkeys became pale, like unto the radiant Sun possessed by Rahu. And\ncollecting all those ornaments which were thrown off by thee on the\nearth, when thou wert borne away, the leaders of the monkey hosts,\ndelighted brought them before Rama. But they could not make out thy\nwhereabouts. And all those ornaments, which were handed over to Rama,\nwere collected by me when they fell tinkling on the ground, Rama being\nbeside himself with grief. And placing them on his lap, the god-like\nRama bewailed in various accents. And they inflamed the more\nDacarathee's[355] grief. And being overwhelmed with grief that\nhigh-souled one laid himself low on the ground. And consoling him in\nvarious words, I raised him up again. And looking again and again with\nSaumitri, at those costly ornaments, Raghava handed them over to\nSugriva. Raghava burns in grief, O worshipful dame, in thy absence, like\nunto a volcanic mountain burning with a perpetual fire. For thee,\nsleeplessness, grief and anxiety are distressing Raghava like unto three\nfires[356] burning down the fire temple. Raghava is moved by thy\nseparation like unto a huge mountain shaken by a terrible earth-quake. O\ndaughter of a king, he is ranging at large in many a beautiful forest,\nriver and fountain--but he finds delight nowhere. O daughter of the king\nJanaka, bringing about the destruction of Ravana, with all his kith and\nkin, Raghava, the foremost of men, shall soon regain thee. And thus Rama\nand Sugriva entered into a friendly covenant, to encompass Vali's\ndestruction and to institute enquiries about thee. And thereupon\nreturning to Kishkindha with those two heroic princes, the lord of\nmonkeys killed Vali in battle. And destroying Vali by his prowess in\nbattle, Rama made Sugriva king over all monkeys and bears. And in this\nway, O dame, the alliance between Rama and Sugriva was made. And know me\nas Hanuman, their messenger who hath come to thee. Regaining his own\nkingdom, Sugriva summoned all the mighty monkeys and despatched them in\nvarious quarters in quest of thee. And the highly powerful monkeys,\nresembling mountains, commanded by that lord of monkeys, proceeded to\nall the regions of the earth. And terrified by Sugriva's decrees, those\nmonkeys, since then, have been ransacking the whole earth for thee. And\nI am one of them. And the beautiful and mighty son of Vali, by name\nAngada, hath proceeded with three armies under him. And many were the\ndays and nights that we spent, overwhelmed with grief and having lost\nour way on that best of mountains _Vindhya_. We gave up all our hopes\nfor the accomplishment of our end and our appointed time was well-nigh\nspent. And in fear of that lord of monkeys we addressed ourselves to put\nan end to our lives. Ranging the mountain strongholds, rivers and\nfountains and not finding thy reverence, we were ready to do away with\nour existence. And on the crest of that hill we took to fasting. And\nbeholding those foremost of monkeys engaged in fasting Angada, sunk in\ngrief, bewailed, O Vaidehi, mentioning thy rape, the destruction of Vali\nin that way, our fastings and _Yatayu's_ death. While we were thus\nwaiting, ready for death and giving up all hopes for the fulfillment of\nour master's behest, there appeared,as if the cause of our success, the\nmighty and powerful vulture,the brother of _Yatayu_, by name Sampati.\nAnd hearing of the destruction of his brother, he in wrath, said--'By\nwhom and where hath my younger brother been killed? I wish to hear this\nfrom you, the foremost of monkeys.' And Angada related unto him verily\n_Yatayu's_ destruction at Janasthana, for thee, by that grim-visaged\nRakshasa. And hearing of _Yatayu's_ death, Aruna's son became afflicted\nwith sorrow and informed us, O thou exquisitely fine damsel, of thy stay\nin the abode of Ravana. And hearing those words of Sampati, enhancing\nour delight, we all, headed by Angada, left that place. And leaping from\nthe crest of Vindhya mountain we reached the excellent brink of the\nOcean. Being greatly anxious to behold thee and delighted, those plump\nmonkeys headed by Angada, arrived at the banks of the main. And worked\nup with a strong desire to see thee, they again engaged in anxious\nthought. And beholding the ocean, the monkey hosts lost their heart. And\nremoving their fear, I leaped a hundred leagues across the deep and\nentered Lanka, at night, infested with demons. I have seen Ravana, and\nthee stricken with grief. O thou of a blameless person, I have related\nall unto thee in regular order. Do thou speak to me, O worshipful dame,\nI am Dacarathee's messenger. Do thou know me as the Wind-god's son, the\ncounsellor of Sugriva, who am engaged in Rama's service and have come\nhere for thee. It is all well with thy Kakuthstha, the foremost of those\nusing weapons, as well as with Lakshmana, O worshipful dame, gifted with\nauspicious marks, engaged in the worship of his superiors and in the\nwell being of thy lord. By Sugriva's decree, I alone have reached here.\nAnd I, ranging alone and wearing shapes at will, have come to this\nsouthern quarter, to find out thy whereabouts. By my good luck I shall\nbe able, with thy news, to remove the grief of those monkey hosts who\nare lamenting for thee. By my good fortune, my crossing over the main,\nhath not become fruitless. I shall be praised there, O worshiful dame,\nfor I have been able to see thee. And the highly powerful Raghava shall\nsoon regain thee, destroying, with all his sons and friends, Ravana the\nking of Rakshasas. There is a hill, O Vaidehi, named Malyabana, the\nforemost of all the mountains. There lives my father, the great monkey\n_Kesari_. Being commanded by the celestial ascetics, he once repaired\nthence to the mount _Gokarna_ and at the holy watering place of the lord\nof the rivers he brought about the destruction of (the Asura)\n_Samvasadana_. O Vaidehi, I was born, on the field, of that monkey. And\nI am known all over the world as Hanuman by my own actions. To create\nthy confidence, O Vaidehi, I have related thy lord's accomplishments.\nAnd forsooth, thou shall soon be taken, O worshipful dame, by Raghava.\"\nHaving her confidence formed by these reasonings and various marks,\nSita, worn with grief, took him for Rama's messenger. And Janaki\nattained an excess of delight and shed tears of joy from her eyes having\ncurling eye-lashes. And the beautiful countenance of that large-eyed\ndame, having spacious eyes, appeared like the Moon released from the\nhold of Rahu. She then took him for a real monkey and none else.\nThereupon Hanuman again spoke unto her, having a comely presence,--\"I\nhave related unto thee all this. Do thou be consoled, O Maithilee! Tell\nme now, what am I to do and what dost thou like. I shall soon repair\nhence. When the Asura _Samvasadana_ was destroyed in conflict by that\nbest of monkeys at the desire of the celestial ascetics, I was born of\nthe Wind, O Maithilee. I look like a monkey but am his equal in\nprowess.\"\n\n[352] The god of wisdom.--T.\n\n[353] The lord of celestials.--T.\n\n[354] A sacred science considered as subordinate to and in some sense a\n      part of the Vedas--six sciences come under this\n      denomination--_Siksha_ (pronounciation); _Kalpa_ (religious rite)\n      _Vyakarana_ (grammar) _Chandas_ (prosody) _Jyotish_ (astronomy)\n      and _Nirukti_ or explanation of difficult words.--T.\n\n[355] Son of Dacaratha--Rama.--T.\n\n[356] The aggregate of the three fires maintained by the Brahman\n      householder.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXVI.\n\n\nThe highly effulgent son of the Wind-god, Hanuman, to create Sita's\nconfidence, again addressed her with the following words:--\"O great\ndame, I am a monkey, the messenger of the highly intelligent Rama.\nBehold this precious ring with Rama's name engraven on it, given by thy\nhigh-souled lord and brought as a token to create thy confidence. Do\nthou take heart and may good betide thee, there will be an end of thy\ngrief soon.\" And taking the ring that used to deck her lord's finger and\nlooking at it, Janaki seemed to have actually got her lord. And her\ngraceful countenance, having large eyes, looked, with delight, like unto\nthe Moon released from the possession of Rahu. And greatly delighted at\nher husband's news that modest damsel, affectionately welcoming Hanuman,\napplauded that great monkey--\"O foremost of monkeys, thou art brave,\npowerful and wise, since thou hast alone smitten this abode of the\nRakshasas. Thou hast, with thy laudable prowess, leaped, a hundred\nleagues, across the ocean, the abode of marine monsters, taking it for\n_Goshpada_.[357] O foremost of monkeys, I do not consider thee as an\nordinary monkey, since thou dost not care or fear Ravana. O best of\nmonkeys, thou art worthy of my welcome, since thou hast been despatched\nby Rama, knowing self. Rama, hard of being got at, hath not sent thee,\nspecially to me, without a trial of thy prowess. By my good luck, is it\nall well with the virtuous-souled and truthful Rama and the highly\npowerful Lakshmana the enhancer of Sumitra's joy? And if Kakuthstha\nlives untouched by ill, then why does he not burn the earth, encircled\nby the ocean, with his ire like unto the fire of dissolution? Or they\nare capable of His comfitting the celestials in a battle but me-thinks\nby my ill-luck, the end of my miseries hath not arrived as yet. Is Rama\ngreatly pained? Does he grieve? Is that foremost of men making\npreparations for my rescue? Has he forgotten his work being overwhelmed\nwith fear and poorliness of heart? Is that son of the king performing\nstill his manly duties? Is that slayer of foes, desirous of acquiring\nvictory, pleasing his friends still with forgiveness and gifts and\ndealing his enemies with punishment, sowing dissensions amongst them,\nand with other expedients? Is he still gaining friends and are friends\ngathering around him? Is he welcoming his friends and are they honoring\nhim the more? Is that son of the king invoking the blessings of the\ncelestials? Hath he attained manliness and assistance from the\ncelestials? Hath Raghava lost all his affection for me for my living at\na distance from him? Will he save me from this disaster? Hath not Rama,\never used to happiness and unused to misery, been enfeebled by this\ndisaster? Is he informed always of the welfare of Kauslaya, Sumitra and\nBharata? Is not Raghava, worthy of honors, beside himself with grief in\nmy absence? Will not Rama rescue met Will not Bharata, ever devoted to\nhis brother, send out one Aksauhini of terrible soldiers under the\ncommand of his ministers for my rescue? Will not the graceful Sugriva,\nthe lord of the monkeys come to help me with hosts of monkeys having\nhuge teeth and nails? Will not the heroic Lakshmana, the enhancer of\nSumitra's joy, conversant with the use of weapons, burn down the\nRakshasas with his shafts? Shall I not behold soon that Ravana with his\nkinsmen hath been destroyed in battle by Rama with terrible weapons? Is\nnot the gold-hued and lotus-smelling countenance (of Rama) dried up in\nmy absence like unto lotus dried up by the rays of the sun in shallow\nwater? Does he still hold patience in his heart, who renouncing his\nkingdom for virtue and repairing, on foot with me even to the forest,\nwas not stricken with fear and grief? His love for his mother, father or\nany other person is not greater than or equal to his love for me. O\nmessenger, I shall keep my life so long I do not hear anything about my\ndear one.\" Having addressed that lord of monkeys with these highly sound\nand sweet accents, that graceful and worshipful dame ceased, with a view\nto hear again from him pleasant tales regarding Rama. And hearing the\nwords of Sita the terribly powerful Maruti, placing his joined palms on\nhis head said,--\"The lotus-eyed Rama doth not know that thou art here,\nand hence he hath not been able to rescue thee like unto Purandara\nregaining Sachee. And hearing about thee from me soon shall Raghava come\nassisted by a large army of monkeys and bears. And impeding the course\nof the unagitated deep and building, by means of his terrible shafts, a\nbridge across it, Kakuthstha, shall divest the city Lanka of all the\nRakshasas. And forsooth shall Rama destroy them, even if the celestials,\nor Death himself stand in his way. O worshipful dame, stricken with\ngrief in thy absence, Rama is restless like unto an elephant smitten by\na lion. I can swear, O worshipful dame, by the mounts Mandara, Malaya,\nVindya, Sumeru, Dardura and all the fruits and roots, that thou shalt\nbehold like unto the rising of the full moon, the countenance of Rama\nhaving beautiful eyes, graceful, _Bimba_-like lips and beautified with\nbeautiful _kundalas_. Thou shalt soon behold, O Vaidehi, Rama, on the\nmount Prasravana, like unto the performer of hundred sacrifices seated\non the back of the elephant (_Airavata_). Raghava doth not take meat nor\ndrink honey--he takes every day in the evening boiled rice and such wild\nfruits as are sanctioned by the _Sastras_. His heart is so much attached\nunto thee, that he does not drive away even flies, insects and snakes\nfrom his body. Rama is always engaged in meditations, overwhelmed with\ngrief, and he has no other thought but seeing thee. Rama hath no sleep\nand even when asleep that best of men awakes exclaiming in sweet\naccents, 'O Sita!'. He always welcomes thee sighing and saying \"O my\ndear love!\" whenever he beholds any fruit, flower or any object liked by\nthe ladies. O worshipful dame, he is always lamenting, exclaiming 'O\nSita!' and that high-souled son of the king, to regain thee, hath\nresorted to ascetic observances.\" On hearing about Rlma, Sita was\ngreatly delighted and she was equally grieved on hearing of his sorrow.\nAnd it appeared like the rising of the moon and the appearance of the\nclouds at the same time in an autumnal night.\n\n[357] A measure as much as a cow's foot-step will hold.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXVII.\n\n\nHearing those words, Sita having a moon-like countenance, again spoke\nunto Hanuman, words, sound and pious:-- \"O monkey, what thou hast said\nthat Rama is not attached unto any other thing and is worn with grief,\nis like nectar mixed with poison. Whether in the enjoyment of vast\nriches, or emerged in the abyss of miseries, Death is pulling a man,\nbinding him roughly with a chord. O best of monkeys, people cannot\nthwart the course of destiny. Behold me, Rama and Saumitri, therefore\nsunk in miseries. I do not know when shall Raghava get at the other end\nof the ocean of grief, by displaying his prowess, like unto one,\nswimming across the ocean when the boat is sunk. I do not know when\nshall my lord see me, destroying the Rakshasas, killing Ravana and\ndevastating the city of Lanka. Do thou tell him to come before this year\nexpires for till then I shall live. This is the tenth month and two\nmonths still remain, O monkey and that is the time appointed by the\ncruel Ravana. He was entreated very much by his brother Bivishana to\nrestore me but he paid no need to his requests. Ravana doth not desire\nto restore me (unto Rama) for he has been brought under the influence of\nDeath who is seeking him in battle. Bivishana's eldest daughter, monkey,\nby name Kala, hath related this unto me, being appointed by her mother.\nThere is a leading, steady, old, intelligent and educated Rakshasa,\ngifted with a good character, named Abindhya and highly respected of\nRavana who told him that the destruction of the Rakshasa race would\nproceed from Rama, but the vicious-souled one paid no attention to his\nwell-meaning words. I hope, O foremost of monkeys, that my husband shall\nsoon regain me for pure is my soul and he is gifted with many\naccomplishments. Raghava hath in him, O monkey, energy, manliness,\nstrength, kindness, gratitude and prowess. He brought about without his\nbrother's aid, the destruction of the fourteen thousand Rakshasas at\nJanasthana. What enemy is not troubled at this? The disaster-creating\nRakshasas can never be compared with that best of men. I am cognizant of\nhis prowess as Sachee is of Indra's. O monkey, Rama the Sun, with his\narrow-like rays, shall dry up the water--the inimical Rakshasas.\" Saying\nthis she was overwhelmed with grief on Rama's account, and Hanuman again\nspoke unto her having her countenance bathed in tears,--\"No sooner shall\nRaghava hear from me than he shall speedily repair hither followed by a\nhuge army of monkeys and bears. Or I shall release thee even to-day from\nthe grasp of that Rakshasa and these miseries. Do thou place thyself on\nmy back, O thou of a blameless person. And having thee on my back I\nshall leap over the main. I am capable of carrying the city of Lanka\neven with Ravana. I shall restore thee to-day, O Maithili, unto Raghava\non the mount Prasravana, like unto fire carrying unto Indra, the\nsacrificial offerings. Thou shalt behold to-day, O Vaidehi, Rama along\nwith Lakshmana, making preparations (for the destruction of his enemy)\nlike unto Vishnu, engaged in the destruction of demons. (And thou shalt\nobserve) that highly powerful one, anxious to behold thee and seated\nlike unto Purandara on the summit of that foremost of mountains. Do thou\nplace thyself on my back, O worshipful dame, do thou not neglect it, O\nbeautiful lady, and be thus reconciled unto Rama like unto Rohini\nrestored to the Moon. By the time, that we will take in talking thus,\nthou shalt reach Rama like Rohini restored to the Moon. Do thou\ntherefore place thyself on my back and I shall cross the ocean sailing\nby the aetherial way. O fair one, carrying thee from this place, none\namongst the inhabitants of Lanka shall be able to follow me. In the same\nway I have come here I shall return by the welkin, O Vaidehi placing\nthee on my back.\" Hearing those surprising words from that best of\nmonkeys, Maithilee, having her entire frame worked up with joy, again\nbespake Hanumin--\"Hanuman, how darest thou take me to such a long\ndistance? O lord of monkey hosts, this attests to thy monkey hood. O\nforemost of monkeys, little-bodied as thou art, how dost thou desire, to\ntake me hence to my husband the lord of men?\" Hearing the words of Sita,\nthe graceful son of the Wind-god Hanuman reflected aside--\"This is my\nfirst insult. The lotus-eyed dame is not cognizant of my prowess or\nstrength. Vaidehi should therefore learn that I can assume shapes at\nwill.\" Thinking thus, Hanuman, the foremost of the monkeys and the\nslayer of foes, showed himself unto Sita, in his true shape. And leaping\ndown from the tree, that best of monkeys began to increase himself to\ncreate Sita's confidence. His person appeared like the hill Mandara and\nthe flaming fire. And that best of monkeys having a copper-colored\ncountenance, thunder-like nails and teeth and mountain-like huge body,\nappeared before Sita and said--\"I am capable of carrying this Lanka with\nher lord, the mountains, forests gardens, buildings, walls and\ngate-ways. Do thou therefore confide in me, O worshipful dame, and be\nnot suspicious. And O Vaidehi, do thou remove Rama's grief as well as\nLakshmana's.\" Beholding the Wind-god's own begotten son, Hanuman,\nresembling a huge mountain, Sita, the daughter of Janaka, having eyes\nresembling lotus-petals, said,--\"O great monkey, I know thy strength and\nbravery, thy air-like motion and thy wonderful fire-like energy. What\nordinary man can come here crossing the incomparable ocean. O lord of\nmonkey hosts, I understand that thou art capable of returning and thou\nshalt be able to carry me. But I should consider now how the work might\nbe accomplished. O foremost of monkeys, I should not go with thee.\nPerhaps I might lose my sense with thy air-like velocity. When moving\nterribly thou shalt proceed high up in the welkin, perhaps I shall then\nfall down. No sooner I shall fall down into the ocean infested with fish\nand other animals than I shall be an excellent food unto them. O slayer\nof foes, I shall not be able to accompany thee. For seeing thee carry a\nwoman; they shall surely suspect thee. And finding me stolen, those\nterribly powerful Rakshasas commanded by the vicious-souled Ravana,\nshall follow thee. O hero, carrying me and encircled by those heroic\nRakshasas with maces and darts in their hands, thou shalt be beset with\ndangers. And on the sky the Rakshasas shall be armed with weapons and\nthou shalt be without any. How shalt thou be able to fight and protect\nme at the same time. And when thou shalt be engaged in conflict with\nthose Rakshasas of terrible deeds, I, O foremost of monkeys, stricken\nwith fear, shall fall down from thy back. O foremost of monkeys those\nterrible and powerful Rakshasas shall be able to defeat thee a little.\nAnd when thou shalt be defeated in battle I shall fall down and those\nvicious Rakshasas shall carry me away from thy hands or destroy me.\nVictory or defeat is uncertain in a battle. I shall thus be distressed\nby those Rakshasas setting up terrible roars and thy endeavours shall be\nfruitless, O best of monkeys. Thou art capable of destroying the\nRakshasas very easily (I admit)--but Rama's fame shall then be soiled if\ndost thou bring about their destruction. Or the Rakshasas taking me away\nshall keep me in such a secret place, that neither the monkeys nor\nRaghava shall be able to ascertain my whereabouts. And all thy\npreparations for me shall thus be useless. And mighty shall be the\nresult of Rama's coming with thee. O large armed one, the life of\nRaghava of unmitigated prowess, those of his brothers and of thy royal\nrace are all subject to me. And when they shall give up their hopes of\nreleasing me, they, worn out with grief and anxiety shall renounce their\nlives along with the monkeys and bears. O monkey, being guided by my\nlove for my husband, I do not like willingly to touch any body's person\nbut Rama's. When Ravana, by force touched my person, I had no other\nhelp, for I was then without my lord and therefore was subject to\nanother person. If Rama can take me away from here, destroying the\nTen-necked one with all the Rakshasas--he shall then perform the worthy\naction. I have heard of and myself seen the prowess of the highly-souled\n(Rama) unconquerable in a battle. There is none amongst the celestials,\nGandharbas, Nagas and the Rakshasas who can match him in a conflict\nBeholding that highly powerful Raghava, in a conflict, like unto Vasava\nin prowess, holding a wonderful bow and followed by Lakshmana, who can\nwithstand his prowess resembling the flaming fire? O foremost of\nmonkeys, who can withstand Raghava in a conflict, followed by Lakshmana\nmoving like an infuriated elephant and showering shafts like unto the\nrays of the sun at the time of Dissolution? O best of monkeys do thou\nspeedily bring here my dear one along with Lakshmana and the lord of\nmonkey hosts. O heroic monkey, do thou soon satisfy me, who am stricken\nwith grief in consequence of my long separation from Rama.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXVIII.\n\n\nHearing those words, that foremost of monkeys, skilled in speech, was\ngreatly delighted and again addressed Sita in the following words,--\"O\nworshipful lady, O thou of an auspicious presence, what thou hast said,\nspeaks well for a feminine nature and the modesty of a chaste damsel.\nAnd because thou art a female, thou art not capable of crossing on my\nback, the main extending over a thousand leagues. The second argument--I\nshall not touch any other person's body than Rama's, which thou hast\nproduced, O Janaki! O thou gifted with modesty! truly becometh thee, who\nart the spouse of that high-souled one. Who else than thee, O worshipful\none, can give expression to such words? Truly shall Kakutstha hear from\nthe beginning to the end, O worshipful dame, of thy actions before me,\nand all thou hast said. For many reasons, I gave vent to such words, O\nlady,--I am anxious to compass Rama's end, and my heart is melted with\naffection. It is very difficult to enter this city of Lanka, it is\nequally hard to cross over the main --but I am capable of doing all\nthese, and hence I gave utterance to all those words. I wish to take\nthee even today to the descendant of Raghu. It is for my devotion unto\nhim and regard for thee that I said so and for nothing else. If thou\ndost not wish to go with me, O thou of a blameless person, do thou give\nme such a token as might create Raghava's confidence.\" Being thus\naccosted by Hanuman, Sita resembling the daughter of a celestial, spoke,\ngently, words with their letters strung on the vapour of grief,--\"Do\nthou mention unto my dear lord (in my words) what had happened unto me\nwhile living in the hermitage at the foot of the mount _Pratyanga_,\nsituate on the north-east of Chitrakuta, abounding in roots, fruits and\nwater. 'At no distance from that place frequented by the ascetics flowed\nthe sacred stream Mandakini. While ranging in that woodland fragrant\nwith the odour of many flowers, thou, having thy person wet in\nconsequence of thy sport in the water, didst sit on my lap. A crow, at\nthat time, longing to feed on my flesh, tore my breast With its beak.\nAnd I threatened it with a pebble. But it continued tearing my breast as\nif it sat there to feed on my flesh and therefore did not fly off. Being\nenraged with that bird, as I tried to tighten the cloth around my waist,\nit gave way a little, and thou, rising up from thy seat and looking at\nme, didst laugh over it. And I was greatly enraged with thy laughter and\nashamed, and, being wounded by the crow, I approached thee. Thereupon,\ntired as I was, I sat on thy lap, and, exercised with ire, I was\nconsoled by thee laughing. Now I, having my countenance bathed in tears,\ngently rubbed my eyes. And I was seen by thee, O my lord, in that wise,\ngreatly enraged with the crow. O Raghava, I slept for sometime, at thy\nlap, out of exhaustion, and thyself in turn, slept at mine, O elder\nbrother of Bharata. In the meantime, that crow again suddenly\napproaching, tore my breast with its beak, as I awoke and was rising up\nfrom thy lap, O Raghava. Thereupon Raghava awoke with the shedding of\nblood. Beholding my breast wounded, that larged-armed hero wroth like a\nserpent, sighing, said,--O thou having thighs like the trunk of an\nelephant, by whom hath thy breast been wounded? Who wants to play with\nan angry five-hooded serpent?--Thereupon, casting his looks around, he\nespied the crow, sitting in my front with its claws besmeared with\nblood. That crow, best of birds, was the son of the lord of the\ncelestials in disguise. And gifted with air-like velocity, he speedily\nentered inside the earth. Thereupon that large-eyed hero, best of the\nintelligent, with his eyes whirling with ire, resolved to destroy that\ncrow. And taking a blade of _Kuca_ off his seat, he tied it to a\n_Brahma_ weapon. And that blade, facing the bird, appeared with its\nflaming face, like the fire that would destroy the world. And he hurled\nthat burning blade at the crow. And it pursued the crow high up in the\nwelkin. Being thus pursued, that crow, in order to save himself,\ntraversed various regions. And being then renounced by his father\n(Indra) and the great ascetics, he, ranging the three worlds, at last\nresorted to his (Rama's) shelter. And, placing himself on the earth, he\nsought his shelter, and Kakutstha, out of mercy, saved him, albeit\nworthy of being killed. And he spoke unto him, greatly famished, of a\npale countenance and lying on the earth,--It is impossible to render\nthis _Brahma_ weapon fruitless. Therefore, do thou speak (as to what is\nto be done.)--He then destroyed the right eye of the crow. Having given\nup his eye, he saved himself. Then bowing unto Rama as well as king\nDacaratha, the crow, liberated by that hero, went to his own abode.\n'Thou hadst on my behalf discharged the Brahma weapon even at a crow.\nWhy then, O lord of earth, dost thou forbear him who had carried me off\nfrom thee? O foremost of men, do thou dispense unto me thy kindness\ncapable of inspiring hope. O lord, possessing a lord in thee, I (now)\nappear as if I had none. That kindness is a prime virtue--I have heard\neven from thee; and I know that thou art exceedingly energetic and\npossessed of great strength and high courage,--unfettered by\nconsiderations of time and space, incapable of being agitated, thou in\ngravity resemblest the ocean, and like unto that lord of the earth\nfurnished with seas--Vasava. O Raghava, being thus the foremost of those\nacquainted with weapons, powerful, and possessed of strength, wherefore\ndost thou not direct thy weapon against the Rakshasas?' Neither _Nagas_,\nnor Gandharbas, nor the gods, nor the Maruts, are competent to resist\nthe onset of Rama in battle. If that puissant one still retains any\nregard for me, why doth he not by means of sharpened shafts make root\nand branch work with the Rakshasas? And why, taking the permission of\nhis brother, that repressor of foes, the heroic Lakshmana gifted with\ngreat strength, doth not deliver me? If those foremost of men be indeed\nequal to Indra and the Wind, and incapable of being repressed even by\nthe celestials, wherefore do they disregard me? Surely I must be guilty\nof some great crime, since although capable, those subduers of enemies\ndo not look at me.' Hearing Vaidehi's piteous words uttered with tearful\neyes, that leader of monkey-bands, the exceedingly energetic Hanuman,\nsaid,--\"O exalted one, I swear by truth, Rama turneth away his\ncountenance (from every work) in consequence of grief for thee. And Rama\nbeing seized with sorrow, Lakshmana burns in grief. Now that I have been\nable to obtain a sight of thee, this is no season for sorrow. O\nauspicious one, even now thou shalt witness the end of this woe. Filled\nwith hope from my sight of thee, those foremost of persons, those mighty\nprinces, shall reduce the worlds to ashes. And, O thou of expansive\neyes, slaying in battle the wicked Ravana with his allies, Raghava shall\ntake thee back to his palace. Now tell me what I shall communicate unto\nRaghava, and the highly powerful Lakshmana, and the energetic Sugriva,\nand all the assembled monkeys.\" Thus addressed, Sita again spoke unto\nhim, saying,--Do thou on my behalf, bowing down the head, enquire after\nthe welfare of that protector of men whom Kaucalya hath brought forth.\nDo thou on my behalf, and on account of my words, enquire after the\nwelfare of him, who, renouncing wreaths and gems of all kinds, and\nbeloved damsels possessed of transcendent beauty, and wealth such as is\ndifficult to obtain on this spacious earth; and who, honoring and bowing\nunto his father and mother, followed Rama,--in whom Sumitra hath an\nexcellent son,--of that righteous one, who, espousing the cause of his\nbrother, renouncing choice happiness, followeth his brother to the\nforest, ministering unto him; who is lion-shouldered, long-armed,\nintelligent, and of a prepossessing presence; who beareth himself\ntowards Rama as if he were his sire, and towards me, as if I were his\nmother; of that heroic Lakshmana who did not know when I was ravished\naway;--the servant of the elders, crowned with auspiciousness,--who is\ncompetent and reineth in his tongue; who is the foremost of those dear\nunto the king's son,[358] and worthy of my father-in-law; who is dearer\n[unto Rama) than even my own self; of Lakshmana, brother into Rama; that\nenergetic one who undertaketh even such tasks as he is not equal to, and\nseeing whom Raghava hath forgotten his deceased sire[359],--him for the\nsake of my words, thou must ask as to his welfare. Lakshmana is always\nmild and pure, and dear unto Rama. Do thou speak to him so, that, O best\nof monkeys, he may remove my miseries. O leader of monkey-bands, do thou\nbring about success on this undertaking. From this preliminary endeavour\nof thine, Raghava shall take pains on my behalf.--This also shalt thou\nsay again and again unto that hero--my lord,--'O son of Dacaratha, I\nshall keep on this life for another month; and this I swear unto thee by\ntruth that I will not live beyond this month. O hero, even as Vishnu\nrescued Kauciki from the nether regions,[360] it behoveth thee to rescue\nme, who have ignominiously been confined by the impious Ravana.\"--\nThereupon, saying,--\"Hand this unto Raghava,\" Sita gave to Hanuman a\nnoble and excellent jewel for the head[361], which was tied up in her\nattire. Then taking that best of gems, the hero tried to fix it on his\nfinger; but it did not enter into it.[362] And taking the gem, and\nbowing unto Sita and going round her, that foremost of monkeys remained\nby her side in humble guise. And experiencing rapture in consequence of\nhis seeing Sita, he mentally presented himself before Rama, and\nLakshmana graced with auspicious marks. And taking that costly and\nsuperb gem, which by virtue of some power, king Janaka's daughter had\nmanaged to hide (from the gaze of the Rashasis), Hanumlan, feeling\ndelighted like one, shaken by the wind blowing on the top of the\nforemost of mountains, and then getting away from it, prepared to set\nout.\n\n[358] Rama.\n\n[359] In consequence of the fatherly care of Lakshmana.--T.\n\n[360] According to Kataka, Kauciki is Earth, who was rescued by Narayana\n      from the subterranean regions. According to Tirtha, Kauciki is\n      Indra's Auspiciousness, who on the occasion of the destruction of\n      the Asura, Vritra, took refuge in the nether regions, and was\n      brought back by Vishnu.--T.\n\n[361] _Chudamani._ According to the commentator, the word means _a gem_\n      worn in the head.--T.\n\n[362] Another meaning is,--\"But fearing discovery on account of the\n      brilliance of the jewel, he desisted.\"--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXIX.\n\n\nHaving made over the gem, Sita said onto Hanuman,-- \"This sign is very\nwell known to Rama. Seeing this gem, that hero, Rama, shall recollect\nthree persons,--his mother, myself, and king Dacaratha, Thou, O foremost\nof monkeys, wilt again be commissioned on this business. Do thou bethink\nthee as to what thou wilt do afterwards, when thou hast been entrusted\nwith this task. O foremost of monkeys, thou art capable of compassing\nthis work. Therefore, think as to what course of his (Rama's) shall\nremove (my) misery. O Hanuman, undergoing toils, be thou instrumental in\nremoving my misery.\" Saying, \"So be it,\" the Wind-god's offspring of\nterrible prowess, bowing down the head, prepared to depart. Seeing that\n(Hanuman) was about to set out, that exalted one, Mithila's daughter,\naddressed that monkey, son unto the Wind-god, in words choked by the\nvapour of grief,--\"O Hanuman, do thou communicate good news to both Rama\nand Lakshmana, to Sugriva with his counsellors, and to all the aged\nmonkeys. And, O best of monkeys, in consonance with righteousness,\ncommunicate good tidings (unto Rama). And it behoveth thee to strive so\nthat the mighty-armed Raghava may rescue me from this sea of sorrow.\nAnd, O Hanuman, do thou speak so that the illustrious Rama may deliver\nme while I am still alive; and thereby do thou reap righteousness. Ever\nbreathing high spirits, Dacarathi,[363] hearing my words, shall attain\nan access of manliness for my deliverance. Soon as Raghava shall hear\nwords couching tidings of me, that hero shall duly resolve on displaying\nhis prowess.\" Hearing this speech of Sita, Hanuman, son unto the\nWind-god, with his joined hands raised to his head, said,--\"Soon shall\nKakutstha come, surrounded by the foremost monkeys and bears; and,\nvanquishing the foe in fight, shall remove thy grief. Find I none either\namong men, or Asuras, or celestials, that dares remain before him as he\ndischarges his shafts. For thee, in especial, he can stand in conflict\neven the Sun, Indra, nay--Yama himself, that offspring of the Sun. For\nthee, he prepareth himself to conquer the Earth bounded by the main; and\nvictory, thou daughter of Janaka, shall be Rama's.\" Hearing his words\nexcellently spoken and thoroughly true, Janaki honored them highly, and\nspoke (as follows). And gazing at him once and again as he prepared to\ngo away, Sita from affection honored the speech which had been uttered\n(by Hanuroan) out of attachment unto his master,-- \"If thou wish it, O\nhero, do thou, O subduer of enemies, stay here for one day. Having\nrested in some hidden nook, thou wilt depart to-morrow. O monkey, (if\nthou dost remain), thy vicinity shall for a moment remove the huge grief\nof me of slender luck. But even if thou go (passing to-day here), I\nhave, O tiger-like monkey, doubts as to thy return; and, accordingly,\ndoubt, certainly, as to my life. And the grief incident to my not seeing\nthee shall burn me greatly, even, O monkey, as grief burneth one that is\nalready consumed by sorrow over and over again. And, O hero, O lord of\nmonkeys, this doubt is also before me. How, alas! shall the mighty lord\nof monkeys, albeit backed by the monkeys and bears, cross over the\nmighty main hard to cross,--and (how shall) those forces consisting of\nbears and monkeys or those sons of the best of men (cross over the\nsame)? In all the three worlds, Vinata's offspring, thyself, and the\nWind-god, have alone the power of crossing over the deep.--Then, for the\naccomplishment of this work, difficult to compass, what, O hero, O thou\nbest of those conversant with business, what way dost thou see as to its\nsuccess? Or thou alone, O destroyer of hostile heroes, art quite enough\nfor the fulfilment of this purpose; and thou shalt reap, in the shape of\nfame, the fruit of thy achievement. But if (Rama) himself together with\nall his forces, conquering Ravana and (recovering me) in battle,\nreturned victorious to his own city,--this would be worthy of himself.\nIf blocking up Lanka with his army, that afflictor of hostile hosts,\nKakutstha took me (hence), that would be worthy of him. Do thou,\ntherefore, adopt such means that the high-souled heroic warrior may have\nan opportunity of putting forth prowess. Hearing those words fraught\nwith sense and reason and informed with affection, Hanuman, by way of\nreply said mildly,--\"O revered lady, that foremost of monkeys--the lord\nof bears and monkeys--Sugriva, possessed of truth, hath made up his mind\non thy behalf. That destroyer of Rakshasas, O daughter of Videha,\nenvironed by thousands of millions of monkeys, will come hither without\ndelay. And exceedingly powerful and mighty monkeys possessed of prowess,\nand speeding far with the rapidity of thought, are in his command.\nNothing can impede their courses, either upward, or downward, or tending\nin both directions; and those ones of measureless energy never\nexperience depression in the most arduous undertakings. Braced by their\nexalted spirits, these, resorting to the aerial way, have many a time\nand oft circumambulated the Earth containing mountains and meads. There\nare (in that army) rangers of woods, some equal and some superior to me.\nAnd near Sugriva there are none who are inferior to me. And since even I\nhave reached this place, what shall I say of those ones endowed with\nimmense might? Nor are superior (monkeys) sent on errands; it is only\nthe inferior ones that are sent. Then, O exalted one, thou needst not\ngrieve: let thy sorrow depart. Those leaders of monkey-herds will come\nto Lanka by one bound; and, like unto the risen Sun and Moon, those\nleonine men, having large numbers to back them, will come to thy side,\nriding my back. Those heroes and foremost of men, Rama and Lakshmana\nboth, coming to the city of Lanka, shall destroy her by means of their\nshafts. And slaying Ravana together with his adherents, Raghu's son,\ntaking thee, O paragon among women, shall return to his own city.\nTherefore, do thou take heart, good betide thee! Do thou remain, eagerly\nwishing for the time. It will not be long before thou shalt behold Rama\nresembling flaming fire. On the lord of Rakshasas being slain along with\nhis counsellors and friends, thou shalt meet with Rama, even as Rohini\nmeeteth with the Moon. O worshipful one, speedily shalt thou behold the\nother shore of thy misery, O Maithili; and thou shalt see Ravana slain\nby Rama by might of arm.\" Having thus solaced Videha's daughter,\nHanuman, son unto the Wind-god, again spoke unto Vaidehi, saying,--\"Soon\nshalt thou behold that destroyer of foes, Raghava of subdued soul, and\nthe bow-bearing Lakshmana also, come to the gate of Lanka. And soon\nshalt thou behold the assembled heroic monkeys, endowed with the prowess\nof lions and tigers, and the splendour of the monarch of monkeys, and\nhaving nails and teeth for their arms. And thou shalt, O noble one,\nbehold innumerable companies of choice monkeys, resembling hills and\nclouds,--roaring on the plateaus of Malaya in Lanka.\n\nLike an elephant tormented by a lion, Rama afflicted in the vitals by\nthe dreadful shafts of Manmatha, doth not attain ease. Do not weep,\nexalted one, in sorrow. Let not fear take possession of thy heart! Even\nas Sachi meeteth with Sakra, shalt thou, O auspicious one, meet with thy\nlord. Who is greater than Rama? And who is equal to Sanmitri?[364] And\nthese brothers resembling Fire and the Wind, are thy help. O revered\none, thou wilt not have to dwell long in this extremely dreadful place\ninhabited by the Rakshasas. The arrival of thy beloved one is not\ndistant. Just remain expecting (as best thou may), during the time that\nelapses between this and my meeting with Rama.\"\n\n[363] Dacaratha's son--T\n\n[364] _i. e._ Sumitra's son, Laksamana.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XL.\n\n\nHearing the speech of the high-souled offspring of the Wind-god, Sita\nresembling a daughter of the celestials, said in words fraught with her\nwelfare,--\"Even as the Earth with corn half-way towards harvest is\ngladdened on receipt of showers, have I, O monkey, been gladdened on\nseeing thee that speakest sweetly. Do thou so dispense thy kindness unto\nme that, with my desire attained, I may touch that tiger-like one with\nmy body reduced by grief. And, O foremost of monkeys, present this sign\nonto Rama, and tell him also for a sign that he had in ire buried the\ndart which destroyed a single eye of the crow. And tell him\nalso,[365]--'On my (first) tilaka having been wiped out, thou didst\npaint beside my cheek another made of red arsenic --this thou shouldst\nremember. Why, O thou endowed with prowess, resembling Indra the Great\nor Vanuna, dost thou disregard the ravished Sita, sitting in the midst\nof Rakshas? This jewel for the head I had preserved with care. In my\nmisfortune, O sinless one, I used to inspire cheerfulness by a sight of\nthis, resembling thyself. This graceful water-sprung (gem) I part from.\nHereafter, overwhelmed with grief, I shall not be able to live. For thee\nonly do I bear insufferable miseries, heart-cleaving speech, and\ncompanionship with Rakshasas. O destroyer of enemies, for a month longer\nwill I maintain being. Beyond that, O king's son, bereft of thee, I will\nnot live. This Rakshasa king is dreadful. (This being so), if I hear\nthee tarrying, I would not live for a moment.\" Hearing Vaidehi's speech\npathetic and uttered with tears, the highly energetic Hanuman, son unto\nthe Wind-god, said,--\"My revered one, I swear unto thee by truth itself\nthat Rama neglecteth every business because of grief for thee. And Rama\nbeing overwhelmed with woe, Lakshmana burneth in grief. Now that I have\nsucceeded in seeing thee after no end of ado, this is no time for\nlamentation. O fair one, this very moment thou shalt witness the end of\nthy woe. Those blameless princes-- foremost of men, gathering courage\nfrom my sight of thee, shall reduce Lanka to ashes. And, O thou of\nexpansive eyes, slaying in battle Ravana along with his friends,\nRaghu's, sons shall take thee back to their own palace. Now, O faultless\nlady, thou ought to give me such a sign as Rama shall certainly\nrecognise, and as shall more please him by far.\" \"Ah!\" (answered Sita),\n\"I have already furnished thee with an excellent sign. This ornament, O\nHanuman, when carefully examined by Rama, O hero, shall render thy words\ncredible.\" Thereupon, taking that best of gems, that graceful foremost\nof monkeys, bowing down the head unto that exalted one, prepared to\ndepart. Seeing that monkey-leader intent upon leaping up, and surcharged\nwith energy,--with his person enlarged, Janaka's daughter, with a\ntearful countenance, spake in woe-begone guise, her accents choked with\nthe vapour of grief,--\"O Hanuman, communicate tidings of my good health\nonto those lion-like brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, to Sugriva along with\nhis counsellors, and to all (the monkeys). And it behoveth thee so to\ncompass things that the mighty-armed Raghava may rescue me from this sea\nof sorrow. Do thou, going to Rama, make known to him the fierce current\nof my grief, as well as the railing of these Rakshasas. Good fortune be\nthy portion, thou exceedingly heroic monkey!\" Thus furnished with the\nintentions of the princess, the monkey, having gained his object, and,\ngrowing exceedingly exhilarated in his heart, reviewed the small work\nthat yet remained for him, became bent upon proceeding to the north.\n\n[365] Sita wishes Hanuman to use her own language to Rama.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLI.\n\n\nHaving been honored by her (Sita) in excellent words, the monkey\nproceeding, left that place, thinking,--\"A small work it is that\nremains. Beheld have I this dark-eyed lady. Passing by three means, I\nsee that I shall have to resort to the fourth. No _treaty_ with Rakshas\ncan answer the end. Neither can _gifts_ prevail with the wealthy. Nor is\nit possible to sow _dissensions_ among persons proud of their strength.\nThen, display of _prowess_ appeareth to me applicable in this case.\nWithout resorting to prowess, way find I none for ensuring success in\nthis matter. If the Rakshas find their foremost heroes fallen in battle,\nthey may temper their (martial ardour). He that, having compassed his\n(principal) purpose, accomplishes many more without marring the prime\none, is entitled to act He that doeth a small work is certainly not a\nworker,--he it is that knoweth to bring about success in diverse ways,\nis alone capable of securing the same.[366] Although my sole commission\nwas to effect this much,[367] yet if I repair to the abode of the lord\nof monkeys after having ascertained the strength of our ownselves and\nthat of the foe in the field, then I shall have done the mandate of my\nmaster. How can my arrival (at this place) be made to bring forth good\nfruit? How can I forcibly bring on engagement with the Rakshasas? And\nhow can the Ten-necked one in battle be made to form a just estimate of\nthe respective strength of myself and his forces? Coming in contact with\nthe Ten-necked one, with his three orders, forces and charioteers, I\nshall, reading the intention that is in his heart, as well as his\nstrength, --happily return from hence. This grove of the fell (fiend)\nresembling Nandana itself, containing various trees and plants, and\ncaptivating to eye and heart,--will I destroy; even as fire destroyeth a\ndry wood. This grove being ravaged, Ravana shall get into a fury. Then\nthe Rakshasa monarch shall summon up an army consisting of horses,\nelephants, and mighty cars, equipped with tridents, iron axes and other\narms,--, and mighty shall be the encounter that shall take place. And I\nwith unimpaired prowess battling with those terrific Rakshas, and\nannihilating that host despatched by Ravana, shall merrily journey to\nthe abode of the monkey-king.\" Then furious like the Wind, the offspring\nof the Wind-god possessed of dreadful prowess set about knocking down\nthe trees with impetuous violence. Then that hero, Hanuman, devastated\nthat garden of the damsels, resounding with the roars of mad elephants,\nand filled with diverse trees and shrubs. And with its trees crushed and\nits tanks damaged, with its fair peaks shattered in fragments and its\npools eloquent with the notes of birds, riven all over, with coppery and\nwithered sprays cast about (in all directions), and with its trees and\nplants shorn of their liveliness,--that wood was no longer\nbeautiful,--as if it had been burnt up by a forest-fire; and its plants\nresembled damsels with their apparel falling off. And that magnificent\nwood, with its arbours and its picture-gallerys destroyed, and its\nferocious animals, beasts and birds crying in distressful accents,--and\nits rocky structures and other mansions broken down, was bereft of its\nloveliness. And that grove of the inner apartment belonging to the\ndamsels[368] of the Ten-necked one, with its numbers of _acoka_ trees\nand plants cast about disorderly, was, in very sooth, through the might\nof the monkey, rendered a sight composed of plants, _etc._, tending to\nawaken the regret of the spectator.[369] Then having done what was\nwondrous disagreeable unto the mind of the magnanimous lord of the\nworld, that monkey desirous of coping alone with a vast host, stood by\nthe main entrance, flaming in effulgence.\n\n[366] The commentator explains this passage thus:--\"He that by great\n      pains accomplishes a small work, cannot be a great actor; but he\n      that bringeth about his end in a variety of ways through the\n      _minimum_ of effort, is the actor.\"--T.\n\n[367] _i. e._ see Sita.\n\n[368] _Promadavanasya--gen._--occurs twice in this passage. The\n      commentator, as usual, refines on the word,--to one he assigns a\n      literal sense; another he explains--_of the grove belonging to the\n      protector of the females_,--i. e. the wood, which, by arousing\n      their desire for Ravana, assured their stay there!--T.\n\n[369] There is a pun on the word _soka_--occuring twice. One of them,\n      originally _acoka_, but entering into a vowel combination with the\n      preceding word, is the name of a tree; and _Soka_ means _sorrow_.\n      The _acoka_ trees being shattered, inspired the onlooker with\n      _soka--sorrow_.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLII.\n\n\nThen on account of the cries of birds and the sounds of breaking trees,\nall the denizons of Lanka were seized with trepidation in consequence of\nfright. And agitated with fear, birds and beasts hurried (on all sides);\nand omen-boding evil unto the Rakshasas, began to appear (everywhere).\nAnd grim-visaged Rakshasis, awaking from their sleep, saw that wood\ndevastated, and that heroic mighty monkey. And observing them, that\nmighty-armed and powerful monkey endowed with immense strength,\nmagnified his dimensions, capable of striking terror into the Rakshasas.\nAnd beholding that exceedingly strong monkey resembling a mountain, the\nRakshasis asked Janaka's daughter, saying,--\"Who is this? And whence,\nand wherefore, hath he come here? And why did he carry on converse with\nthee? Tell us this, thou of expansive eyes. O lucky one, entertain no\nfear. And, O thou having eyes with dark outer corners, what is the talk\nthat this one hath held with thee?\" Thereat, the chaste Sita, having all\nher parts perfect, answered,--\"What is my power to read Rakshasas\ncapable of wearing forms at will? Ye know who he is and what he doeth.\nSerpents, without doubt, know the way of serpents. And, furthermore, I\nam very much frightened,-- nor know I who that one is. I take him to be\na Rakshasa,-- who hath come here through his capacity to put on any\nshape.\" Hearing Vaidehi's words, the Rakshasis swiftly took to their\nheels. Some remained,--and some departed to inform Ravana of the matter.\nAnd before Ravana, the Raksbasis of deformed visages informed him of the\nhideous and dreadful monkey. \"O king, in the heart of the _acoka_ wood\nthere is a monkey of a terrific body, who, possessed of immeasurable\nmight, stayeth, after having carried on a conversation with Janaki. Nor,\nalbeit questioned by us many a time and oft, doth Janaka's daughter,\nSita, having the eyes of a deer, intend to tell us who the monkey is. He\nmay be the emissary of Vasava, or of Vaipravana; or he may have been\nsent by Rama himself from eagerness to get at the whereabouts of Sita.\nAnd he it is that, wearing a wonderful form, hath destroyed thy charming\narbour of the interior, filled with beasts of various kinds.--And\nquarter there is none which hath not been destroyed by him; and only\nthat place where the exalted Janaki is, remained uninjured by\nhim,--whether for preserving Janaki, or from fatigue--it doth not\nappear. But what is his fatigue? She it is that hath been preserved by\nhim. And that overgrown Sincapa tree, affluent with elegant foliage,\nunder which Sita herself hath (always rested), hath been spared by him.\nIt behoveth thee to order sharp chastisement to be inflicted on that one\nof a fierce form, who, having carried on converse with Sita, hath laid\nthy wood waste. Who, O Sovereign of the Rakshasas,that hath not his life\nsevered from him,--converseth with Sita, who hath captivated thy heart?\"\nHearing the speeches of the Rakshasis, Ravana, lord of Rakshasas, with\nhis eyes rolling in rage, flamed up like the fire of a funeral pyre. And\nas fall drops of lighted oil from a flaming lamp,fell drops of tears\nfrom the eyes of the enraged Ravana. And that highly energetic one\nordered his heroic servants, resembling himself, to punish Hanuman. And\nfrom that mansion speedily issued eighty thousand of those retainers,\ncarrying in their hands maces and mallets[370],--having huge bellies,\nand large teeth, of dreadful forms, and possessed of unwieldy\nstrength,--all eager to engage in the conflict and take Hanuman. And\nhaving come near that monkey staying at the main entrance, those\nswelling spirits rushed on, even as insects rush into a flame. And\nequipped with variegated maces, and bludgeons, and golden\n_angadas_,[371] and arrows resembling the Sun, they approached that\nforemost of monkeys. And accoutred in maces, axes, and javelins, and\nbearing bearded darts and lances in their hands, they suddeuly\nsurrounded Hanuman and remained before him. And the graceful and\nenergetic Hanuman also, resembling a hill, flourishing his tail over the\nground, sent up tremendous roars. And attaining mighty proportions,\nHanuman, son unto the Wind-god, brandished his tail, filling Lanka with\nsounds. And at the sounds of his flourishing, as well as with those\nresounding ones set up by himself, birds began to drop down from the\nsky. And he loudly proclaimed,--\"Victory to the exceedingly strong Rama\nand to the mighty Lakshmana! And victory unto king Sugriva, protected of\nRaghava! I am the servant of the Sovereign of Kerala, Rama of untiring\ndeeds,-- (I am) Hanuman, the destroyer of hostile hosts, offspring of\nthe Wind-god. And a thousand Ravanas cannot cope with me in conflict,\nwhen I shall hurl crags and trees by thousands. In the very presence of\nall the Rakshas, shall I, having desolated the city of Lanka and paid my\nreverence to Maithili, go away, my end being compassed.\" They were\nstruck with affright at his roars; and they beheld Hanuman elevated as\nan evening cloud. And now knowing for certain that the monkey had been\ndespatched by his master, the Rakshasas commenced assailing him with\nvarious kinds of dire arms.[372] Environed on all sides by those heroes,\nthat exceedingly powerful one, staying by the main entrance, took up a\nterrific bolt. And taking that bolt, like Vinata's offspring handling a\ndarting serpent, he slew those rangers of the night. And grasping (the\nbolt), the Wind-god's son began to range the welkin and destroy (the\nRakshasas), like the thousand-eyed (deity) slaughtering Daityas with his\nthunder-bolt. And having slain those Rakshasas, who were the retainers\nof Ravana, the heroic offspring of the Wind-god--foremost of\nheroes--desirous of fight, stood at the gate. Then certain Rakshasas,\ngetting off from the field in fear, informed Ravana of the destruction\nof all his servants. Hearing that a mighty host of the Rakshasas had\nbeen slain, the king, with his eyes whirling in ire, ordered Prahasta's\nson of incomparable prowess, and invincible in battle.\n\n[370] _Kuta--hammer_. The commentator, however,says that it means a\n      weapon resembling a hammer.--T.\n\n[371] A bracelet worn on the upper arm.--T.\n\n[372] _Swamisandehanihcancah_--may also mean, _having been assured by\n      Ravana as to his firm resolve--i.e. the Rakshasas must fight with\n      Hanuman, however desperate the undertaking might prove.--T._\n\n\n\nSECTION XLIII.\n\n\nHaving slaughtered the servants, Hanuman, having reflected awhile,\nthought,--\"I have broken down the wood; but have not destroyed the\nedifice dedicated to the deities of the Rakshasas. Therefore, this very\nday will I demolish this structure.\" Having thought thus in his heart,\nthat foremost of monkeys, Hanuman, son unto the Wind-god, displaying his\nstrength, bounded unto the Chaitya[373] building, elevated like a summit\nof Meru. And having ascended the edifice resembling a mountain, that\nleader of monkey-bands, possessed of wondrous energy, looked like\nanother Sun risen (in the sky). And having broken down that superb\nedifice, the irrepressible Hanuman, flaming in auspicionsness, resembled\n(the mountain) Pariyatra. And magnifying his dimensions through his\nenergy, the offspring of the Wind-god fearlessly fell to striking his\narms with his hands, and thus filling Lanka, with the sounds. And at\nthose sounds of striking arms, capable of striking deafness into the\nhearer, birds began to drop down there, as well as the warders of the\nreligious mansion, with their senses overwhelmed. \"Victory unto Rama\nversed in arms! And unto Lakshmana endowed with immense strength! And\nvictory unto king Sugriva, who is protected by Raghava! Hanuman, son\nonto the Wind-god, destroyer of hostile hosts, is the slave of Rama of\nuntiring deeds. And not a thousand Ravanas can cope with me in conflict\nas I hurl stones and trees by thousands. Having destroyed the city of\nLanka and paid my respects to Mithila's daughter, I, my object gained,\nshall depart in the presence of all the Rakshasas.\" Having spoken thus,\nthat one of a prodigious person, seated on the _Chaitya_, emitted\ntremendous roars, striking terror into the Rakshas. In consequence of\nthat mighty cry, an hundred guards attached to the _Chaitya_ sallied\nout, taking various weapons--bearded darts, scimitars and axes; and they\nsurrounded the Wind-god's offspring, as he went on increasing his body.\nAnd they encountered that foremost of monkeys with various maces, and\naxes, and golden _Angadas_, and arrows resembling the Sun. And those\nnumbers of Rakshas, encountering that best of monkeys,resembled an\nextensive and mighty whirlpool in the Ganga. Thereat, the Wind-god's\nson, the mighty Hanuman,[374] waxing enraged, violently uprooting a huge\npiller of the edifice, plated with gold, and having an hundred borders,\nbegan to whirl it (in the air).[375] And the fire generated there thus,\nburnt down the entire edifice. Seeing that edifice in flames, the\ngraceful monkey-leader, having slain the hundred Rakshasas, like Indra\nslaying Asuras with his thunderbolt,--remaining in the sky,\nsaid,--\"Thousands of strong, high-souled and foremost monkeys like\nmyself, having been created, and remaining under the command of Sugriva,\n--including ourselves as well as other monkeys--are ranging all over the\nworld. Some are endowed with the strength of ten elephants, some with\nthe strength of an hundred, some have the prowess of a thousand\nelephants, and some the strength of elephants numbered by herds. Some\nare equal in strength to the Wind,--and there are there some\nmonkey-leaders who have no limit to their strength. Surrounded with\nmonkeys of this sort, having nails and teeth for their arms,--in\nhundreds and thousands and _kotis_ and _ayutas_, cometh our\nSugriva,--the slayer of all (foes). Neither this city of Lanka, nor you,\nnor yet Ravana, shall exist,--having created hostility with that\nhigh-souled hero of the Ikshwaku race.\"\n\n[373] A building designed for deities.--T.\n\n[374] _Marutatmaya_--son unto the Wind-god, left out on the score of\n      redundancy.--T.\n\n[375] The reader is powerfully reminded of a like feat of Manoah's\n      son--'the Herculean Samson.'--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLIV.\n\n\nCommanded by the lord of Rakshasas, Prahasta's son, the powerful\nJamvumali, having large teeth, went out bow in hand. And he wore a red\nwreath and attire, with a garland hung round his neck, and elegant\near-rings; and he was huge, and terrible, with his eyes\nwhirling,--invincible in encounter. And he impetuously stretched a\ngraceful bow, resembling the bow of Sakra, and roaring like _vajra_ and\nthe thunderbolt.[376] And the entire welkin, and all sides and quarters,\nwere suddenly filled with the mighty sounds of that bow as it was being\nstretched. And seeing him approaching in a car yoked with asses, Hanuman\nendowed with vigour both rejoiced and shouted. Thereat, the highly\nenergetic Jamvumali pierced with whetted shafts that mighty monkey,\nHanuman, who was seated on an awry plank at the gate serving as a perch\nfor pigeons.[377] He pierced that lord of monkey's face with half-moon\n(shaped) arrows, his head with one having its head made like a hook and\nhis arms with ten _narachas_.[378] And pierced by the arrows, his\ncoppery face looked beautiful like a blown autumnal red lotus shot at by\nthe solar rays.--And his naturally red countenance being painted with\nblood, looked lovely like a majestic red lotus in the sky, washed with\nthe honey of the red _acoka_.--Wounded by the shafts, the redoubted\nmonkey grew enraged. And he espied a huge and gigantic crag beside him.\nThereat, at once uprooting it, that one endowed with celerity and\nstrength hurled it (at his foe). And the enraged Rakshasa opposed it by\nten shafts. Witnessing his action rendered fruitless, the energetic\nHanuman of terrific prowess, uprooting a large _sala_, began to whirl it\n(in the air). Seeing the exceedingly strong monkey whirling the _sala_\ntree, the highly powerful Jamvumali dischanged a many shafts. And he\nsevered the _sala_ by means of four shafts, and wounded the monkey in\nthe arm with five, in the chest, with one, and with ten, between the\nteats. With his body covered all over with shafts, (Hanuman) getting\ninto a furious passion, taking up the same bolt, again began to swing it\nwith rapidity. And that terrific one gifted with exceeding impetuosity,\nhaving whirled the bolt with wondrous rapidity, let it light upon\nJamvumali's spacious breast. And (anon) there was neither seen there his\nhead, nor bis arms, nor his thighs, nor his bow, nor his car, nor his\nsteeds, nor his arrows at that place. And that mighty car-warrior,\nJamvumali, speedily slain, fell down to the earth, like a tree whose\ntrunk hath been crushed. Hearing Jamvumali as well as his exceedingly\npowerful servants slaughtered, Ravana became transported with anger, and\nhis eyes became reddened in wrath. And on the mighty son of Prahasta\nhaving been slain, the lord of the night-rangers, with his reddened eyes\nrolling in rage, speedily commanded the sons of his counsellors, endowed\nwith vast energy and prowess, (to encounter Hanuman in battle.)\n\n[376] For distinction between the two, vide ante.--T.\n\n[377] This is all that I can make of the commentator's gloss on\n      _toranavitanka_.--T.\n\n[378] Iron arrows.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLV.\n\n\nThen ordered by the lord of Rakshasas, the sons of his counsellors,\nseven (in number), in splendour resembling fire, issued forth from that\nmansion. And surrounded by a mighty army, furnished with bows, endowed\nwith wondrous strength, and accomplished in arms--the foremost of those\nacquainted with weapons--each burning for victory, with mighty cars\nyoked with steeds, covered with golden net-works, bearing pennons and\nstandards,and having sounds like those proceeding from\nclouds,--exultingly stretching with immeasurable prowess bows decked\nwith gold,--resembling clouds surcharged with lightning,--those warriors\nsallied out. Learning that the servants had been slain, their[379]\nmothers, along with their friends and kindred, were overpowered with\ngrief. And vieing with each other in eagerness, those (warriors) decked\nin ornaments of polished gold, confronted Hanuman staying at the gate.\nAnd with their cars sending roars, the Rakshasas, pouring showers of\nshafts, ranged (the field), resembling clouds during the rainy season.\nAnd covered with those arrowy showers, Hanuman had his person concealed,\nlike the monarch of mountains hidden by a downpour. And that\nswift-speeding monkey, coursing the cloudless sky, evaded those shafts\nof those heroes, as well as the impetuosity of their cars. And that\nhero, playing pranks with those bowmen, appeared like the masterful Wind\nplaying tricks with the bow-bearing clouds.[380] And sending up a\ndreadful shout, and thereby filling that vast host with fright, the\nenergetic Hanuman rushed on that Rakshasa army. And that subduer of\nenemies slew some with slaps, and some he rived with nails, and some he\nkilled by blows, and others with (the pressure of) his chest. And some\ndropped down on the ground at the very same spot at the sounds that he\nemitted. And on their being slain or falling on the earth, that army,\nafflicted with affright, began to fly in all directions. And the\nelephants roared in frightful tones, and the steeds fell down oa the\nearth.--And the Earth was covered with broken boxes, flagstaffs, and\numbrellas, (belonging to the cars), as also with the cars\nthemselves.--And rivers running gore were seen on the way, and Lanka\nuttered various frightful cries. And having slain those overgrown\nRakshasas, that exceedingly powerful and heroic monkey of terrific\npower, desirous of again coping with other Rakshasas, retraced his steps\nto the self-same entrance.\n\n[379] _i. e._ the mothers of the sons of the councillors.--T.\n\n[380] _i. e._ having the iris.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLVI.\n\n\nLearning that the sons of the counsellors had been slain by the\nhigh-souled monkey, the Ten-necked one suppressing the apprehension that\nwas in his heart, restored the balance of his mind. And he directed five\nof the foremost leaders of his forces, the heroic Virupaksha, Yupaksha,\nthe Rakshasa Durdharsha, Praghasa, and Masakarna, versed in polity,\nendowed with the speed of the Wind in conflict and alert on every\noccasion, to take Hanuman captive.\"Ye generals, do ye taking a mighty\nhost with steeds, elephants and cars, chastise that monkey. And coming\nto that dweller of the woods, ye had better act heedfully, and should\naccomplish this work in consonance with place and season. Having regard\nto his acts, I do not take him to be a monkey. He is a great being\nendowed with extraordinary prowess every way. My mind is not satisfied\nthat he is a monkey. He may have been brought into being by Indra,\nthrough ascetic might, for injuring us. Backed by you, I have defeated\n(deities), and Nagas, and Yakshas, and Gandharbas, and Asuras, and\nMaharshis. And, for certain, they have herein tried to do us some wrong.\nTherefore there is no doubt about this,--do ye by main force take him.\nAnd, ye generals, go ye, taking a mighty force with steeds, elephants\nand cars. Do ye chastise this monkey. This monkey of deliberate prowess\nshould not be disregarded by you. I have seen[381] monkeys of immense\nprowess,--Vali with Sugriva and the exceedingly powerful Jambavan, and\nNila the general, and others with Dwivida at their head. Their speed is\nnot dreadful, nor their energy, nor their prowess, nor their\nintelligence, nor their strength, nor their courage, nor their capacity\nto change shapes. Therefore ye should know him as some great being\nstaying in the form of a monkey. Exerting yourself to the uttermost, do\nye chastise him. These three worlds combined, with Indra, celestials and\nmortals, are incapable of long staying before you in the field of\nbattle. Still a person versed in polity, albeit anxious to secure\nvictory in battle, should carefully preserve self, as success in war is\nunstable.\" Thereupon, they, possessed of the energy of fire, accepting\nthe words of their master,rushed forth vehemently, accompanied with\ncars, mad elephants, fleet steeds, sharp and whetted weapons,--and\nforces of all kinds. Then those heroes saw that effulgent mighty monkey,\nshining in his native splendour, like unto the risen sun,-- possessed of\ngreat strength and immense speed, and magnanimity of mind,--seated at\nthe gate. And soon as they saw him, they, frightened at his appearance,\nassailed him with their respective terrible weapons. And Durdhasa\ndischarged at Hanuman's head five white iron[382] arrows with yellow\nheads, and possessing the lustre of lotus-leaves. Having been pierced in\nthe head with those shafts, the monkey, roaring, leapt into the sky,\nmaking the ten cardinal points resound. Then the exceedingly powerful\nand heroic Durdhara, mounted on a car, with his bow stringed, came\nforward, showering innumerable arrows by hundreds. Thereat, even as the\nwind driveth away rain-pouring clouds at the end of the rainy season,\nthe monkey, remaining in the sky, resisted (his antagonist) as he kept\non pouring his shafts. And sore beset by Durdhara, the Wind-god's son\nagain emitted cries, and that puissant one also increased himself. Then\ndarting far up in the air, the monkey suddenly descended on the car of\nDurdhara with extreme vehemence, like unto a mass of lightning alighting\non a mountain.--Thereat his eight steeds getting mangled, and the wheels\nand pole of his car having been broken, Durdhara leaving the car, fell\ndown to the earth, deprived of life. Seeing him down on the earth, those\nirrepressible subduers of enemies, Virupaksha and Yupaksha, waxing\nwroth, sprang up. And springing up suddenly, they by means of maces,\ndealt blows on the chest of the monkey, who was staying in the unclouded\nsky. Thereat resisting the furious rush of those gifted with ebullient\nenergy, that exceedingly powerful one descended to the earth with the\nviolence of the Fair-feathered (bird).[383] Then getting at and\nuprooting a _sala_ tree, that monkey, the Wind-god's offspring, slew\nboth of those heroic Rakshasas. Learning that those three had been slain\nby the monkey gifted with speed, the mighty and onrushing Praghasa\nlaughing in scorn advanced (in the encounter). And the energetic\nBhasakarna also came forward in rage, taking a dart. And (they) meeting\ntogether, Praghasa assailed the famous, tiger-like monkey with a\nsharp-edged axe, and Bhasakarna (attacked) the elephantine monkey with a\njavelin. And with his limbs wounded by them, and his hair wetted with\nblood, that monkey resembling in splendour the infant sun, grew\nfuriously enraged. And that elephantine monkey, the heroic Hanuman,\nuprooting a mountain-peak, with beasts, snakes, and trees (in it), slew\nthose Rakshasas; and, crushed by that mountain-summit, they were reduced\nto powder. On those five generals having fallen, the monkey slew the\nremaining forces. And as the thousand-eyed Deity destroyed Asuras, the\nmonkey destroyed steeds with steeds, elephants with elephants, warriors\nwith warriors, and cars with cars. And with horses and elephants, swift\nsteeds, with broken wheels and mighty cars, and Rakshasas slain, all the\nways were blocked up. And having destroyed in battle the heroic generals\nwith all their forces and vehicles, that hero in the same way rested at\nthe gate like Kala himself engaged in destroying people, when he hath\ngained respite.\n\n[381] There is a word--_sighra, soon_--in this _sloka_, of which I fail\n      to pertain the relation.--T.\n\n[382] This may rather look an incongruous mixture of images; but the\n      ironed arrows may have been _silvered_ over.--T.\n\n[383] Suparna--a name of Garuda.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLVII.\n\n\nHearing that the five generals had been slain by Hanuman alone with\ntheir vehicles and followers, the king, gazing at prince Aksha, who was\nready and eager to go to battle, commanded him to take the field. And\nthat puissant one of a bow decked with gold, on being commanded (by\nRavana) with a glance, started up, like unto fire on being fed by\nclarified butter by foremost regenerate persons on the sacrificial\nground. And that best of Nairitas[384] possessed of prowess, ascending a\ncar resembling the infant sun in effulgence, and surrounded all round\nwith networks of burnished gold, sallied forth in quest of that mighty\nmonkey. And (that warrior) in prowess resembling an immortal, sallied\nout ascending that car, obtained with long-contianed asceticism,\nembellished with a network of glowing gold, furnished with pennons,\nhaving a standard studded with gems, nicely yoked with eight excellent\nsteeds having the fleetness of thought, incapable of being overpowered\neither by celestials or Asuras, competent to course over uneven ground,\nof the lustre of lightning, sky-ranging, completely garnished, equipped\nwith quivers, with swords fastened to the banners in eight directions,\nwith darts and lances arranged in proper places, splendid with every\nobject in full measure, bearing golden threads, wearing the brilliancy\nof the sun and moon, and possessing the effulgence of the sun. And\nfilling the firmament and the earth containing mountains with sounds\nproceeding from steeds, elephants and mighty cars,--he, accompanied by\nhis forces, presented himself before the capable monkey, who was seated\nat the gate. And coming before the monkey, Aksha, having the gaze of a\nlion,with eyes betokening regard, gazed at Hanuman resembling the Fire\non the occassion of the universal dissolution at the end of a _yuga_,\nintent on destroying creatures, and who was seated and was influenced\nalike by surprise and regard. And seriously considering the impetuosity\nof the high-souled monkey as well as his prowess in relation to a\nfoe,--as also his own strength, he increased (in strength) like the Sun\non the expiration of a Yuga. And growing enraged, (Aksha), staying\ncalmly in the field, with concentrated soul, challenged Hanuman\ndifficult to resist in conflict and of prowess worthy to witness, with\nthree whetted shafts. And finding the monkey proud and untiring, capable\nof vanquishing his foe, and possessed of exalted spirits, Aksha took up\nhis bow and held his arrows in his hands. And wearing a golden corslet,\n_angadas_, and earings, and possessed of fiery vigor, he closed with the\nmonkey; and their meeting was something unparalleled on this earth,--and\nwas calculated to raise the respect[385] even of the celestials and the\nAsuras. And witnessing the mighty conflict of the prince and the monkey,\nEarth emitted cries, and the Sun did not burn, and the Wind did not\nblow, and the mountains shook, and the welkin sounded, and the main was\nvexed. And that hero, skilled in aiming, fixing and discharging arrows,\nshot at the monkey's head three fine-headed feathered shafts plated with\ngold near the feathers, and resembling venomous serpents. And with his\nrolling eyes washed with blood in consequence of the shafts having\nalighted at his head, Hanuman, resembling a new-risen Sun having arrows\nfor its rays, looked splendid like the light-engarlanded Sun. And seeing\nin battle that son of the foremost of monarchs, with his excellent\nweapons upraised and his beautiful bow, that best of the counsellors of\nthe lord of monkeys, rejoiced, and intent on encounter, increased\nhimself. And with his ire heightened, that one endowed with energy and\nprowess, like unto the ray-decorated (Sun) on the crest of Mandara,[386]\nbegan to burn with the fiery rays of his eyes, Aksha, along with his\nforces and vehicles. And as a mass of clouds showereth rain on a high\nhill, the arrow-showering Rakshasa resembling clouds, having the bow for\nhis rain-bow, discharged shafts at that foremost of monkeys,\nrepresenting a mountain. And then the monkey, having sounds like those\nof clouds, beholding in battle Aksha of terrific prowess in conflict,\nand strong in energy, strength and shafts, sent up shouts from elation\nof spirits. And as an elephant approacheth a deep pit covered over with\ngrass, (Aksha) from a spirit of childishness elated in conflict with his\nprowess, with his ire heightened, and eyes resembling blood, drew near\nthe monkey in the field. And as Aksha went on hastily pouring shafts,\nthat one uttering roars resembling the rumbling of clouds, looking\nterrible in consequence of his arms and thighs flung about, darted into\nthe sky with exhuberant energy. And as he leapt up, that strong and\npowerful one--foremost of Rakshasas--that car-warrior and the best of\nchoice car-warriors--rushed at (Hanuman), showering arrows on him, like\na cloud showering hail-stones on a mountain. And dashing in the midst of\nthe arrows like the wind, and thus baffling them, the heroic monkey of\ndreadful prowess in conflict, and endowed with the speed of thought,\nbegan to range the path of the air. And witnessing Aksha with regardful\neyes, as that one intent on contest, taking his bow, was covering the\nsky with various excellent arrows, the Wind-god's offspring was plunged\nin thought. Wounded in the arm with shafts by that high-souled, noble\nprince, that mighty-armed one, capable of adequately appreciating the\nnature of actions, thought on (Aksha's) prowess in battle. \"This\nexceedingly powerful one, endowed with the splendour of the infant sun,\nis doing dire deeds incapable of being done by a boy; and I am loth to\nslay one that hath shown himself equal to every martial feat. This one\nis high-souled, mighty in energy, of concentrated self, and capable of\nbearing extreme hardships in war; without doubt, by virtue of his\nactions, he is worthy of being honored by Nagas, Yakshas and ascetics.\nWith his mind braced by prowess and hope, that foremost of heroes eyeth\nme staying in the fore-front. The prowess of this light-handed (one), I\nween, maketh even the hearts of the celestials and Asuras tremble. If I\ndisregard him, he shall certainly vanquish me, for his prowess in battle\nincreaseth (fast). Therefore I must even slay him: it is not proper to\nsuffer an increasing fire.\" Thus reflecting on the strength of his foe\nand having ascertained his line of action, that puissant one endowed\nwith great strength, summoned energy and set his heart on slaying him\n(his antagonist). And remaining in the path coursed by the air, that\nheroic monkey, the offspring of the Wind-god, with his slaps slew his\neight powerful and excellent steeds, capable of bearing pressure and\ntrained to diverse circular movements. And successfully assailed by the\ncouncilor of that lord of monkeys, the car with its seat smashed, and\nits pole broken, and deprived of its steeds, fell to the earth from the\nsky. Thereat, forsaking that car, the mighty car-warrior sprang up into\nsky with his bow and holding his sabre,--and (resembled) an ascetic of\nfierce energy consequent on austerities, going up to heaven, renouncing\nhis body. Then the monkey possessed of the energy and vigor of the Wind,\napproaching him as he was ranging the air coursed by the king of birds,\nthe Wind and the Siddhas, at length fast caught hold of his legs. And as\nthe foremost of birds, Garuda taking a mighty serpent, whirls it, that\nforemost of monkeys, resembling his sire in prowess, whirling Aksha in\nthe conflict, violently dropped him on the earth. And with his arms,\nthighs and chest crushed, bleeding, (having his bones and eyes smashed,\nhis joints riven, and his tendons snapped, the Rakshasa lay on the\nearth, slain by the offspring of the Wind-god. And tormenting him\n(Aksha) on the earth, that mighty monkey caused great fright unto the\nruler of the Rakshasas; and he was gazed at by the assembled Maharshis\nand the orbit-coursing ones and all beings with Yakshas and Pannagas,\ncome to see him. And on the prince being slain, that monkey was gazed at\nby the celestials with Indra, who had been seized with extreme\nwonderment. And having slain in battle prince Aksha resembling a son of\nthe celestials and possessed of blood-red eyes, the hero (again) neared\nthe same gate, and waited there like _Kala_ bent upon destroying all\ncreatures.\n\n[384] Rakshasas.\n\n[385] _Sambhramaprada_, according to Ramanuja, means, _capable of\n      exciting_\n\n[386] The Sun is on Mandara in mid-day; therefore the meridian Sun is\n      meant here.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLVIII.\n\n\nOn prince Aksha having been slain by Hanuman, the magnanimous monarch of\nthe Rakshasas, wrought up by wrath, repressing his feelings, ordered\nIndrajit resembling a celestial, (to take the field against the foe.)\n\"Thou art the foremost of those bearing arms; and thou hast afflicted\neven the gods and Asuras (in battle); thy deeds have been witnessed by\nthe celestials with Indra; and thou hast procured a weapon[387] even\nfrom the Great-father. And coping (in conflict) with thy might of arms,\nall the celestials with the Maruts, headed by the lord of celestials\nhimself, could not stay in the field. And there is none in these three\nworlds (save thyself), who doth not come under the influence of fatigue\nin battle. And thou art preserved by the prowess of thy arms, and\nprotected also by thy ascetic merit; and being skilled in the knowledge\nof season and place, thou, methinks, art the foremost of them all in\nintelligence. And there is no deed which thou canst not perform in the\nfield; and there is nothing in counsel capable of being arrived at by\narguing on the lines prescribed by the scriptures, which thou art not\nequal to; and there is none in all the three worlds who doth not know\nthy strength and prowess in arms. And thy ascetic energy is like unto\nmine, as well as thy prowess and might in arms in battle. And having\nthee in the conflict, my mind assured (of victory), doth not experience\nsorrow. Slain have been all the servants, as also Jamvumali, and those\nfive generals, the heroic sons of my councilors, and the swelling forces\nincluding steeds, elephants and cars. And low lieth Mahodara, and prince\nAksha hath also been slain. O destroyer of foes, my mind did not feel\nthe same confidence in them that I do in thee.[388] And seeing this\nmighty host slain, as well as the prowess and energy of the monkey, and\nthe taking into consideration thine own strength, do thou put forth thy\nenergy according to thy strength, And on nearing the scene (of\nconflict), do thou, O foremost of those bearing arms, seeing thine own\nstrength and that of the foe, so exert thyself that the latter, (now)\nresting quietly in consequence of having created a carnage (on the\nhostile hosts), may wax enfeebled.[389] O hero, army can serve no\npurpose here; for hosts fly (before) Hanuman or are reduced to nothing.\nNeither can it avail to use arms of terrific power and resembling the\nthunderbolt. Nothing can resist the rush of the Wind-god's offspring;\nand this one like unto fire is incapable of being slain with weapons.\nRevolving well (in thy mind what I have remarked), do thou in order to\nthe attainment of success, with an intent mind remember the divine\nvirtue of this bow, and repairing (to battle) strive to vanquish the\nfoe, baffling his attacks.[390] O foremost of intelligent ones, (that I\nsend thee to battle) is certainly not proper; yet this course of action\nis endorsed by Kshatriyas and those following the morality of kings. O\nsubduer of enemies, one should be versed in various branches of learning\nas well as be masterful in war.[391] He that craves victory in fight,\nshould be acquainted with various branches of knowledge.[392]\n\nHearing the words of his father, (Indrajit) gifted with celestial\nprowess, determined to fight, instantly circumambulated him. Excited\nwith a desire for fight and worked up with energy, Indrajit, eulogized\nby the friendly Rakshasas, set out for battle. And that highly effulgent\nand graceful son of the lord of the Rakshasas, having expansive eyes\nresembling lotus-petals,--issued out like unto the rising of the ocean\nduring a _parva_.[393] Thereupon Indrajit of unbearable prowess, equal\nto the lord of the celestials, ascended a car drawn by four horses,\nhaving sharpened teeth and resembling Garuda in velocity. And that\nmaster of a car and foremost of bowmen, conversant with the use of all\nweapons --the best of those using swords--proceeded soon in his car\nwhere Hanuman was. And hearing the sound of his car and the twang of his\nbow, that heroic monkey attained an excess of delight. And taking up a\nbow and sharpened darts, Indrajit, versed in the rules of war, proceeded\ntowards Hanuman. And as he issued out for battle, greatly delighted,\nwith arrows in his hands, all the quarters became dark, and jackals\nbegan to set up terrible cries. And there arrived the _Nagas_, the\n_Yakshas_, the _Maharshis_, the planets, and the Siddhas, and the birds,\ncovering the welkin, and, greatly delighted, began to make a noise. And\nbeholding that car having a flag like that of Indra, approach very\nquickly, the monkey began to emit terrible roars and increase himself.\nAnd Indrajit too, seated on the celestial car and having a painted bow,\nbegan to stretch it, emitting a sound resembling that of thunder.\nThereupon closed in conflict those two greatly powerful (heroes)--gifted\nwith swift movements and fearless in battle--the monkey, and the son of\nthe lord of Rakshasas, like unto the lords of celestials and Asuras. And\nbaffling the shafts of that hero of a mighty car, an accomplished bowman\nand a finished warrior, the immeasurably powerful monkey increasing\nhimself began to range in the welkin.[394] Thereupon the heroic\n(Indrajit)--slayer of foes--began to discharge incessantly shafts,\nlarge, sharp, well-feathered, painted in gold and swift-coursing like\nunto thunder. And hearing again the noise of his car, the sounds of\ndrums, bugles, and war-drums, and the twangs of the bow, he again leaped\nup (in the sky). And baffling the aim of (Indrajit), who had always an\neye on it, that great monkey ranged at a distance from those shafts. And\nagain facing the arrows and stretching his hands, the Wind-god's son\nagain leaped up. And those two heroes,gifted with swift movements and\nversed in the art of war, engaged in a combat, admired of all beings.\nAnd Hanuman could not find out the short-comings of the Rakshasa, nor\ncould that high-souled one detect the weak points of the son of the\nWind-god. And these two gifted with celestial prowess, engaged in\nconflict, became unbearable unto each other. And seeing him unhurt\nthough aimed at with infallible arrows, the high-souled (Indrajit),\ncontrolling his senses, engaged in deep and devout meditation[395] (to\nrealize the true identity of Hanuman). Thereupon, that son of the lord\nof Rakshasas pinned his thoughts upon that foremost of monkeys, and,\nfinding him incapable of being slain, he began to devise plans how he\ncould be bound. And that hero, foremost of those versed in the use of\nweapons, discharged at that best of monkeys the highly powerful weapon\nconferred on him by Brahma, the Great-father of the celestials. And\nknowing him incapable of being slain, Indrajit conversant with the use\nof weapons, bound that large-armed son of the Wind-god with that weapon.\nAnd being bound up by that Rakshasa with the weapon, the monkey became\nmotionless and fell down on the earth. And thinking that he was bound up\nwith a Brahma weapon, he did not feel the least pain in consequence of\nBrahma's blessing. And that heroic monkey began to think of the boons\nconferred on him by the Great-father of the celestials. And thinking\nthat the weapon was conferred by the Self-create and consecrated by\nsacred Mantras, Hanuman began to think of boons conferred by the\nGreat-father. \"In consequence of the power of the Lord of creation I am\nincapable of extricating myself from these bonds.\" (Knowing this by\nmeans of devout meditation,he reflected again,)--\"This has been ordained\nby Him, and I must put up with this pain for sometime.\" Revolving well\nthe power of the weapon, the boon of the Great-father, and his own\nprowess to extricate himself from the bonds, the monkey followed the\nGreat-father's behest,--\"I do not fear though bound by this weapon,\nsince I am being protected by Brahma, Indra and the Wind-god. It will be\nbetter if I am carried off by the Rakshasas, for I shall reap very great\nbenefit by my conversation with the lord of Rakshasas. Therefore let the\nenemies carry me.\" Having resolved this, the considerate\n(monkey)--slayer of foes--remained motionless. And being ruthlessly\nbound by the foes and remonstrated with by them, he began to moan\npiteously. And beholding that slayer of foes motionless, the Rakshasas\nbound him up with cotton and bark. And he gladly allowed himself to be\ntied up and rebuked by his enemies, thinking that he might converse with\nthe lord of the Rakshasas, if he, out of curiosity, should like to see\nhim. Being bound with bark, that powerful (monkey) got himself freed\nfrom the binding of the weapon, for the binding force of a Brahma weapon\nbecomes null when there is any other binding. And beholding that best of\nmonkeys tied up with bark and liberated from the binding of the weapon,\nIndrajit reflected that the binding force of the Brahma weapon became\npowerless when there was any other binding. \"Alas, (those Rakshas) have\nrendered my mighty deed fruitless. They know not the action of\nMantras.[396] And on the Brahma weapon being baffled, any other weapon\ncannot effect anything; and thus we have all been placed in a critical\npredicament.\" On being released from the weapon, Hanuman did not betray\nany signs of his liberation, albeit he was pulled by the Rakshasas and\npained by the bonds they had bound him with. And the monkey, Hanuman,\nwas pulled by those cruel Rakshasas having fatal boxes, in the direction\nof the lord of Rakshasas. And seeing (Hanuman) freed from the (Brahma)\nweapon yet bound by the bark of trees, he (Indrajit) showed the\nexceedingly powerful and highly heroic monkey unto the king along with\nhis adherents. And the Rakshasas related unto the ruler of Rakshas\neverything touching that foremost of choice monkeys, resembling a mad\nelephant who was in bonds. \"Who is he? And whose son? And wherefrom? And\nwhat's his errand? And by whom is he backed?\"--thus did the heroic\nRakshasas converse on beholding Hanuman. And others said,--\"Kill him,\"\n\"Burn him\"--\"Eat him up.\" The Rakshasas, growing enraged, thus said unto\neach other.--Having passed some way, that magnanimous one saw there old\nservants sitting at the feet of the lord of Rakshasas,--as well as a\nmansion embellished with countless jewels. And the exceedingly energetic\nRavana saw that foremost of monkeys dragged hither and thither by\nRakshasas of frightful forms. And that best of monkeys too saw that lord\nof Rakshasas, endowed with strength and energy and resembling the\nresplendent son. And with his reddened eyes rolling, the ten-necked\ngazing at that monkey, ordered his principal counsellors, boasting of\nhigh pedigree and noble character, (to interrogate the incomer). And by\nturns questioned by them as to his mission and purpose, as well as the\nfundamental occasion (of his inroad), that foremost of monkeys\nreplied,-- \"A messenger, I come (from Sugriva.)\"\n\n[387] _viz._ the Brahma weapon.--T.\n\n[388] According to another reading, the meaning would be:--\"O best of\n      warriors, do thou, considering thy own strength and that of the\n      enemy, so exert thyself that he may no longer inflict terrible\n      losses on our army.\" (Tirtha).--T.\n\n[389] Another meaning is: _Looking on thyself, and (not on my forces),\n      as constituting my main stay, put forth thy prowess.--T._\n\n[390] One should know in what branches of knowledge one's enemy is\n      proficient, and, understanding this, one should strive for\n      victory.--T.\n\n[391] According to a different reading,the meaning would be, \"Thou art\n      competent to fight agreeably to the rules.\"--T.\n\n[392] The _Sloka_ is very difficult and incapable of interpretation\n      withoet at places meanings being read into it.--T.\n\n[393] A name given to certain days in the lunar month at the full and\n      change of the moon, and the 8th and 14th of each half month.--T.\n\n[394] Literally it means the passage of his father. Hanuman's father\n      being the Wind, it means the sky.--T.\n\n[395] According to Hindu philosophy, one by virtue of yoga and\n      self-control can realize many great things which are beyond\n      ordinary human conception. Beholding Hanuman unhurt though\n      assailed incessantly with terrible shafts, Indrajit at once jumped\n      at the conclusion that he must be a great spirit in a monkey-form.\n      To realize who he in reality was, he engaged in _yoga_ or devout\n      meditation.--T.\n\n[396] That the action of a Brahma _mantra_ upon one is nullified if one\n      is bound physically.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLIX.\n\n\nAnd struck with his[397] deed, that one of dreadful vigor, Hanuman, his\neyes reddened in wrath, steadily looked at the lord of Rakshas; flaming\nin gorgeous and precious gold, with a splendid diadem studded with\npearls; (adorned with) excellent ornaments, containing diamonds and\ncostly gems,--seeming to have been forged by the mind; appareled in\ncostly linen; smeared with red sandal paste, and beautifully painted\nwith various and variegated devices;[398] looking splendid with his\nsightly yet terrible eyes; having sheeny, sharp and long teeth,--with\nhanging lips;--and that hero (saw) that one of great energy, radient\nwith ten heads; like unto Mandara with its summits containing serpents;\nresembling a mass of blue collyrium; with his breast graced by a chain;\nwith his countenance possessed of the lustre of the moon; looking like a\ncloud beside the new-risen Sun; with his dreadful arms bound with\n_keyuras_, and graced with excellent sandal paste, brilliant with\n_angadas_, and resembling five-headed serpents; seated on a superb\nseat,--upon a spacious, variegated, and gay sheet embellished with\ncrystals, and studded with gems; ministered on all sides by gorgeously\nadorned damsels, bearing hair-furnished fans,-- the strength-elated one\nsurrounded by four Rakshas--his counsellors versed in the mystery of\ncounsel,--viz., Durdhara, Prahasta, the Raksha Mahaparcwa, and the\nminister Nikumbha,--like the entire world girt round by the four\nseas,--and encouraged by other counselors, fair of forms and versed in\ncounsel, even like the sovereign of celestials by the celestials. And\nHanuman beheld the immensely energetic lord of Rakshasas surrounded (on\nall sides by his advisers), like a cloud containing water on a summit of\nMeru. And undergoing exceeding trouble at the hands of the Rakshas of\ndreadful prowess, (Hanuman) struck with mighty amaze, gazed at the lord\nof Rakshas. And seeing the sovereign of Rakshas, appearing splendid,\nHanuman, bewildered by his effulgence, mentally reflected: \"Ah! the\nform! Ah! the patience! Ah! the strength! Ah! the splendour! Ah! the\nentire auspiciousness of the king of Rakshasas! If the lord of Rakshasas\nwere not impious unto the height, this one could well be the protector\nthemselves of the celestial regions with Sakra. But in consequence of\nthe fell and remorseless acts of this one, which are the aversion of\nevery one, all the worlds with gods and demons hold him in fear. This\none, being angered, dares to convert this earth into one entire ocean.\"\nBeholding the potency of the Rakshasa king of immeasurable prowess,the\nintelligent monkey thus indulged in a variety of thought.\n\n[397] Indrajit's.--T.\n\n[398] _e. g._ the three horizontal marks painted on the forehead by\n      _Saivas_ and _Saktas_.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION L.\n\n\nSeeing the tawney-eyed one staying before hiip, the mighty-armed Ravana,\naffrighter of (the worlds), was overwhelmed with fierce wrath. And\ngazing at that foremost of monkeys girt with power, and with his soul\nexercised with apprehension, he (thought),--\"Is this the worshipful\nNandi, come hither in person, by whom I, on my jeering at him, had\nformerly been cursed in Kailaca?[399] Or is this one wearing the shape\nof a monkey Vali's son, Vana?\" And with his eyes coppery with rage, the\nking asked his foremost counselor, Prahasta, in words fraught with sense\nand suiting the season,--\"Ask this wicked-minded one, whence is he? And\nwhat led him to ravage the grove, and what was his object in\nbrow-beating the Rakshasas? And what hath been his purpose in entering\nmy metropolis incapable of being subdued; and what for did he also fight\n(with my retainers?) Do thou ask the wicked-minded one about this.\"\nHearing Ravana's speech, Prahasta said,--\"Take heart! Fair fortune to\nthee! Thou needst not be alarmed, O monkey. If thou hast been sent to\nRavana's residence by Indra, tell us truly everything. Let no fear, O\nmonkey, be thine. Thou shalt be liberated. If thou belong to Vaicravana,\nor to Yama, or to Varuna, and hast entered into this city of ours\ndisguising (thy proper shape),--or if thou hast been despatched by\nVishnu burning for victory, (tell us this truly). Thy prowess is\ncertainly not that of a monkey,--thy form alone is that of a monkey.\nUnfold this (unto us) faithfully,--O monkey, and thou shalt get (back)\nthy liberty. But if thou shouldst say aught untruthful, thy life shall\npay dear for it. Or tell us wherfore thou hast entered into Ravana's\nmansion.\" Thus addressed then, that foremost of monkeys said unto the\nlord of Rakshasas,--\"I am not Sakra's, nor Yama's, nor Varuna's. I have\nno friendship with Dhanada,[400] nor have I been despatched by Vishnu.\nThis is my race; and I have come hither a monkey for obtaining a sight\nof the Rakshasa chief. And it is to attain a sight of the Rakshasa lord\nthat I have destroyed his peerless grove; and it is for this that, the\npowerful Rakshasas seeking for fight, I for the preservation of my\nperson have resisted them in conflict. I am incapable of being slain\nwith weapons even by the celestials and the Asuras themselves. This boon\nI also[401] happen to have received from the Great-father. It is because\nI was desirous of seeing the king that I have suffered this weapon to\nrestrain me. Although the Rakshasas have brought me (hither thus), yet I\nam free from any weapon (restraining me). I come near thee on a certain\nbusiness of Rama. Knowing me for a messenger of Raghava endowed with\nmeasureless prowess, do thou, O lord, listen to my words, calculated to\nwork thy profit.\"\n\n[399] Ravana had formerly laughed at Nandi for his monkey-face.--T.\n\n[400] Lit.--giver of wealth--a designation of Kuvera.--T.\n\n[401] _like thyself._\n\n\n\nSECTION LI.\n\n\nSeeing the Ten-necked one of mighty energy, that foremost of monkeys,\nendued with strength, calmly spoke unto him words containing sense,\"--I\nhave come unto thee at the command of Sugriva, O lord of Rakshasas. Thy\nbrother, the king of monkeys, enquires after thy welfare. Listen to the\ndesire of thy brother, the high-souled Sugriva, and his words fraught\nwith righteous sense and capable of working one's good here and\nhereafter. King Dacaratha, master of cars and elephants and steeds,--is\nthe friend of all like unto their father, and is furnished with the\nsplendour of the sovereign of celestials. His eldest son,--mighty-armed,\nand masterful, the darling (of his sire), hath, in accordance with his\nfather's order, entered the forest of Dandaka with his brother Lakshmana\nand his wife Sita. His name is Rama, and he is exceedingly energetic,\nand ever abideth on the path of virtue. His spouse, the celebrated Sita,\ndaughter unto Videha, the high-souled king Janaka, either died or was\ncarried off in Janasthana. Seeking for that exalted lady, the king's\nson, accompanied by his younger brother, arriving at Rhrishyamuka, met\nwith Sugriva. And Sugriva promised that he would undertake the search\nfor Sita, and Rama (on his part promised) that he would confer on\nSugriva the kingdom of the monkeys. And, thereupon, slaying Vali in\nbattle, the king's son established Sugriva as the lord of the monkeys.\nThou formerly hast known that foremost of monkeys, Vali. That monkey was\nslain in battle by him (Rama) with a single shaft. And, thereupon, the\nlord of monkeys, Sugriva, true to his vow, eager for searching Sita,\ndespatched monkeys in all directions. And thousands and hundreds and\n_niyutas_ of monkeys are exploring all sides, below and above in the\nsky. And some are like Vinata's offspring,[402] and some like the Wind;\ntheir course is incapable of being resisted; and those heroic monkeys\nare endued with strength and celerity. I, Hanuman by name, am the son of\nthe Wind-god. For Sita, I, desirous of seeing her, have come hither,\nbounding over the main measuring a full hundred Yojanas. And as I was\nroving, I came to see Janaka's daughter in thy house. Thou art cognizant\nof righteousness and interest, and hast attained prosperity through thy\nasceticism. Therefore, O eminently wise one, thou ought not to confine\nanother's wife. Actions opposed to righteousness, and bringing on\ncountless evils, and causing extermination,--ill become persons of thy\nsort. Who is there even among celestials and Asuras that is competent to\nstay before the shafts shot by Lakshmana and Rama in wrath? There is\nnone, O king, in all the three worlds, that is capable of attaining\nease, after inflicting injury on Raghava. Treading the path of virtue\nand profit, do thou pay heed unto my speech fraught with good for three\ntimes;[403] and do thou return Janaki unto that foremost of men. Seen\nhave I this exalted lady,--which was difficult to compass. As for what\nremaineth to be done, Rama himself shall bring it about. That Sita I\nhave beheld overwhelmed with grief, whom, albeit resembling a\nfive-hooded serpent in thy mansion, thou knowst not. And even as food\nthoroughly mixed with poison, being taken, is incapable of being\ndigested, this one is incapable of being subdued even by the celestials\nand Asuras. It is not proper to destroy religious merit reaped by\nundergoing extreme mortification, as well as access of life (attained by\nthe same means).[404] Thou deemst thyself by virtue of thy asceticism\nincapable of being destroyed by the celestials and Asuras; and herein\nthy great merit (incident to thy austerities) is the cause.--But Sugriva\nis not a god or a Yaksha or a Rakshasa. Raghava, O king, is a mortal and\nSugriva is the lord of monkeys. How canst thou, O king, save thy life\nfrom them? He that, confiding in his strength, committeth himself to\nfoul proceedings, cannot count upon his righteous deeds, but his evil\nones follow him. Virtue destroyeth vice, (yet vice like thine destroyeth\nall virtue).[405] Thou, without doubt, hast obtained the fruit of thy\nrighteousness, and the fruit also of this iniquity thou shalt reap\nwithout delay. And taking to heart the carnage in Janasthana and the\nslaying of Vali as well as the friendship of Rama with Sugriva, do thou\nunderstand thine own good. I, alone that I am, can at my will destroy\nLanka with her steeds and elephants and cars; but he whose envoy I am\nhath not yet decided on this point. Rama hath in presence of the\ntawny-eyed (ones) forsooth promised the annihilation of the foe by whom\nSita hath been sore oppressed. On wronging Rama, Purandara himself\ncannot escape scot-free,--what shall I say of persons like thee? Her\nwhom thou knowest as Sita staying in thine abode--know her for the Fatal\nNight that shall bring destruction down on all Lanka. Therefore, beware\nof thyself turning about thy neck the fatal noose in the shape of Sita!\nDo thou rather study thy welfare. Thou shalt behold this city crowned\nwith edifices and stalls, in flames fed by the wrath of Rama, and\nconsumed by the energy of Sita. Do not bring to destruction thine\nfriends and ministers, and kindred, and brethren and sons, and thine\nentire welfare,-- thine enjoyments and wives and this Lanka. O sovereign\nof the Rakshasas, do thou faithfully listen to these words of me, a\nmonkey and the servant and envoy of Rama. Abolishing all the worlds with\ntheir creatures mobile and immobile objects, the illustrious Rama is\ncapable of creating these anew. Neither among celestials nor Asuras,\nYakshas, Rakshas, nor serpents, Vidyadharas, Nagas, Gandharbas nor\nbeasts, Siddhas, the foremost Kinnaras, nor all birds,--nowhere among\nany class of beings in all time breathes he who can cope with Rama equal\nto Vishnu's self in prowess. Having done such a wrong unto the foremost\nof all creatures--even unto that lion of a monarch, Rama, thy life is in\nhigh peril. Neither deities nor Daityas, nor the foremost night-rangers,\nnor Gandharbas and Vidyidharas, nor Nagas, nor Yakshas, can stay in\nfight against Rama--the leader of these three worlds. And neither\nBrahma, self-create, having four countenances, nor the three-eyed Rudra,\ndestroyer of Tripura, nor the august Indra, the generallissimo of the\ncelestials, can stay in fight before Rama.\" Hearing the distasteful yet\nexcellent speech of the bold and matchless monkey, the ten-necked one,\nwith his eyes whirling in wrath, ordered the destruction of that mighty\nmonkey.\n\n[402] Garuda.--T.\n\n[403] Present, past, and future.--T.\n\n[404] By such an iniquitous act as this.--T.\n\n[405] The parenthetical part is the commentator's filling in of the\n      difficiency in the sentimcnt.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LII.\n\n\nHearing the words of the high-souled monkey, Ravana, bereft of his\nsenses by wrath, ordered that he should be put to death. On the death of\nthat one who had proclaimed his own position of being an envoy, having\nbeen ordered by the wicked-minded Ravana, Vibhishana did not agree (with\nthe decision). And knowing that the lord of Rakshasas was wroth and that\nthat affair[406] was at hand, Vibhishana, resolved to act according to\njustice, began to reflect as to what was to be done. Having arrived at a\ndecision, that one skilled in speech, paying homage unto that conqueror\nof foes, his elder brother, spoke unto him in words eminently good,--\"O\nlord of Rakshasas, forgive me and renounce thy wrath.[407] Extend thy\nfavor unto me, and hear these words of mine. Lords of the earth, endowed\nwith integrity and knowing high and low, never put messengers to death.\nThe taking the monkey's life, O king, is opposed to morality and\nrepugnant to social usage; and it is also unworthy of thyself. Thou\nunderstandst morality, art grateful and versed in the morality of\nsovereigns, and canst distinguish between high and low among beings, and\neven thou knowst the prime sense of things. If discerning persons like\nthee come under the governance of passion, mere toil is the pains that\nare undergone to master the scriptures. Therefore, O destroyer of\nenemies, be pacified. O lord of Rakshasas, difficult to approach,\nconsider what is proper or otherwise, and then do thou mete out\npunishment to the envoy.\" Hearing Vibhishana's speech, Ravana lord of\nRakshasas, overcome with a mighty wrath, answered,--\"O slayer of foes,\nto slay the sinful doth not cause sin. Therefore shall I slay this\nmonkey, worker of iniquity.\" Hearing these words grounded in\nunrighteousness, evil every way, and worthy of the base, that foremost\nof intelligent ones, Vibhishana, spoke words couching supreme\nimport,--\"O lord of Lanka, be propitious. O Sovereign of Rakshasas,\nlisten to speech containing the significance of virtue and profit. O\nking, an envoy is not to be put to death on the occasion of his\ndischarging his proper functions. This righteous people say everywhere\nunto all. Surely this is an overgrown enemy; and he hath perpetrated\nimmense injury (unto us). But say the good, envoys are not to be slain,\nalbeit many are the punishments that have been assigned for messengers.\nDisfigurement of the body, stripes, shaving of the head,--one of these\nor all combined,--these are said to be the punishments that should be\ninflicted on envoys. But I have not heard of the punishment of death\nbeing a penalty of the envoy. Why doth one like thee, having one's\nintelligence rendered meek as respects righteousness and profit, and\ncapable of proceeding on certain decisions on the merits or otherwise of\nthings,--come under the sway of passion? Those possessed of power never\ngive way to anger. Neither in religious discussion, nor in social\nconcerns, nor in appropriating the right sense of the scriptures, is\nthere any that can approach thee, O hero. Verily thou art the foremost\namong celestials and Asuras. Invincible to the gods and Asuras\nthemselves gifted with prowess, high spirits and intelligence, thou hast\nin battle oftentimes put to the rout the chiefs of celestials and\nmonarchs. Those heroes that have heretofore mentally entertained enmity\nagainst such a one as thou, foe of deities and Daityas,--heroic and\nvalient and unconquerable, have not been deprived by thee of their\nlives.[408] Nor do I see any good that may likely accrue to us from the\nslaying of this monkey. Let thy vengeance descend on those that have\ndespatched the monkey. Whether honest or otherwise, this one hath been\ncommissioned by others. Advocating interest not his own and identifying\nhimself with another, an envoy doth not merit the being put to death. O\nking, if this one be slain, no other sky-ranger whatever would show\nhimself unto us. Therefore, O captor of hostile capitals, do not seek to\nslay this one. Thou shouldst spend thyself on celestials with Indra (at\ntheir head). On his being killed, another see I not who, O thou that\nlovest warfare, can move those haughty sons of a king to take up arms\nagainst thee. And, O bringer-in of joy unto the heart, it is not proper\nfor thee, invincible to celestials and Asuras gifted with prowess, high\nspirits and intelligence, to disappoint the Nairitas (as to their\neagerness for encounter). They are devoted to thy good, and are heroic\nand intent on thy well-being, born in lines having high and fiery\nvirtues, and endowed with intelligence, --the flower of those bearing\narms--and have been maintained by thee. Therefore let a portion of the\nforces, having received thy order, march to-day, and bring (hither)\nthose foolish princes. It is meet that thou shouldst display thy prowess\nbefore foes.\" Thereat, the lord of the night-rangers, that potent enemy\nof the celestials and the foremost of Rakshasa monarchs, lending free\nplay to his intellect, accepted the excellent words of his younger\nbrother.\n\n[406] The destruction of Hanuman.--T.\n\n[407] The commentator says, the passage means,--_'Give up thy promise\n      (to slay Hanuman) and abate thy anger.--T._\n\n[408] There is a particle _api, even_, which stands in the way of this\n      _sloka_ fitting in with the context.--'_Even_ those heroes who\n      have _mentally etc_' is a lame reason why Hanuman, who had wronged\n      Ravana so outrageously in overt acts, should be let off.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LIII.\n\n\nHearing those words of his, the high-souled ten-necked one spoke unto\nhis brother a speech consonant to season and place,--\"Properly hast thou\nspoken,--to slay a messenger is improper. But let him be punished with\nany chastisement save slaying. Certainly the tail is a darling ornament\nto a monkey. Therefore let his tail be set on fire anon; and this having\nbeen consumed, let him go away. Then shall his best friends and kindred\nand acquaintances see him crest-fallen, with his person deformed.\" And\nthe lord of Rakshasas ordered,--\"With his tail in flames, let this one\nbe taken all round Lanka containing terraces.\" Hearing his words, the\nRakshasas, cruel through wrath, cover up his (Hanuman's) tail with worn\npieces of cotton cloth. Thereat, even as fire in a forest increaseth on\ngetting dry fuel, the mighty monkey grew in dimensions on his tail being\nwrapped up. And having soaked (the cloth) in oil, they set fire to it.\nThereat with his soul overpowered with rage and hatred, and his\ncountenance like the risen sun, he lashed them with his flaming tail.\nAnd those--rangers of the night--those Rakshasas--old and young and\nfemales--again bringing that foremost of monkeys, grew exceedingly glad.\nAnd that hero (being bound), entertained a purpose in harmony with the\nseason. \"Albeit bound, the Rakshasas cannot forsooth cope with me.\nSnapping these bonds, I shall, darting up, again slaughter these.\nAlthough agreeably to the mandate of their master these wicked-minded\nones have bound me, yet have they not been able to clear scores with me.\nI can slay all these Rakshasas in battle; but I suffer this\n(maltreatment) for not marring the (pure delight) Rama shall derive from\nmy deed.[409] I shall once more range around Lanka. Let this be so. At\nnight I could not satisfactorily examine the fortifications.[410] For\ncertain, by me is to be beheld Lanka when night hath departed. Let them\nbind me anew. The Rakshasas pain me by setting fire to my tail; but my\nmind doth not tire.\" Then the Rakshasas, rejoicing greatly, went off,\ntaking that mighty monkey endowed with strength, an elephant (in\nprowess) among monkeys. And blowing conchs and trumpets, and bruiting it\nabroad by various actions,[411] those Rakshasas of cruel deeds took\n(Hanuman) about the city (of Lanka). And led by those Rakshasas, that\nsubduer of enemies, Hanuman, experienced delight, and going about the\nmighty metropolis of the Rakshasas, the redoubted monkey surveyed\nvariegated cars, enclosed court-yards, well-ordered terraces, streets\nthronged with edifices, crossings, by-ways, and the interiors of\ndwellings. And on terraces and highways the Rakshasas proclaim the\nmonkey, saying,--\"This is a spy.\" On Hanuman's tail being in flames,\nRakshasis of frightful eyes related unto that exalted lady[412] tidings\nof this great mishap. \"O Sita, the copper-faced monkey with whom thou\nhadst held talk, is being led around with his tail flaming.' Hearing\nthese cruel words, like unto loss of life, Vaidehi, burning in grief,\napproached the Fire. And wishing for the welfare of the mighty monkey,\nthat large-eyed lady with an intent mind began to pray unto that bearer\nof sacrificial offerings,--\"If I have served my lord, if I bear a\ncharacter, if I have ascetic merit, if I have been the wife of one\nalone, then prove thou cool unto Hanuman.\" Thereat, as if communicating\nthe welfare of the monkey unto that one having eyes like those of a\nyoung deer, the Fire flamed up,--and Hanuman's sire, albeit furnished\nwith fire and a tail, blew ice cold before that worshipful one,\nbreathing health (unto Hanuman). On his tail flaming, the monkey\nreflected,--\"This fire is flaming. Why doth it not then burn me all\nover? I see it of exceeding brightness, yet it paineth me not. (On the\ncontrary), at the end of my tail it seemeth like a mass of ice. Or this\nis clearly due to Rama's power, even like the wonder (that I witnessed)\nwhile bounding over the main--the mountain under the lord of\nstreams.[413] If the Ocean and the intelligent Mainaka could show such\nregard for Rama, what may not the Fire do (for him?) Fire doth not burn\nme for Sita's (absolute) goodness, for Raghava's prowess, and for (his)\nfriendship with my sire.\" Then the elephantine monkey again reflected\nfor a while,--\"Why should one like me suffer one's self to be bound by\nvile Rakshasas? Therefore it is meet that I should, displaying my\nprowess, avenge (this wrong).\" Thereat that vehement and mighty monkey\nsnapped his bonds, and furiously springing into the sky, the terrible\nmonkey uttered a shout. And then the graceful son of the Wind-god\narrived at the gate of the city resembling a hill, where Rakshas there\nwere none. And after having attained the magnitude of a mountain, anon\nthat self-controlled one diminished himself and cast off his bonds. And\nhaving freed himself, the graceful one again became mountain-like; and\neying around, he saw a bolt standing against the gate. And that\nmighty-armed one, the Wind-god's son, taking up that bolt of burnished\niron, again slaughtered the guards. And having slain the warders, that\none of terrific prowess crowned with a luminous wreath forged from his\nflaming tail, and appearing like the sun garlanded with glory, once\nagain cast his eyes over Lanka.\n\n[409] This, as interpreted by Ramanuya; but the sense is not\n      satisfactory. How Hanuman's resistance would have anywise marred\n      Rama's joy, is not easy to understand.--T.\n\n[410] Another meaning is:--_Its places inacessible on account of\n      works.--T._\n\n[411] Publishing Hanuman's penalty.--T.\n\n[412] Sita.--T.\n\n[413] Mainaka.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LIV.\n\n\nCasting his eyes on Lanka, the monkey, his wish attained, increasing his\nperson and bursting with spirits, considered as to how to give the _coup\nde grace_ to his exertions. \"What recently is to be done by me here to\nfinish this business, that may afflict them the more? I have ravaged the\nwood, and slain the choice Rakshasas, and destroyed by main force a\nportion of the army. Now it remains to demolish the fortifications. On\nthe fortifications being destroyed, my work shall have its toils crowned\nwith joy. By undergoing slight labor in this business, I shall have my\npains furnished with fruit. That bearer of sacrificial offerings[414]\nwho flameth on my tail,--it is my duty to propitiate him with these\nexcellent edifices.\" Thereat that mighty monkey, with his tail aglow,\nand resembling a cloud (luminous) with lightning, began to range before\nthe dwellings in Lanka. And that monkey with a calm mind, eying (all\nround), ranged one house from another, and gardens, and stately piles.\nAnd that one gifted with exceeding vehemence, and in strength resembling\nthe Wind, bounding up set fire unto the dwelling of Prahasta. Then\nHanuman endowed with prowess, leaping up, set unto Mahaparcwa's mansion\nfire resembling that at the universal dissolution. And (then) the mighty\nmonkey darting up, set fire unto Vajradanshtra's; and (then) that highly\nenergetic one set fire unto Suka's and unto the intelligent Sarana's.\nAnd the leader of monkey bands in the same way burnt down Indrajit's\nmansion; and then he burnt the abodes of Sumali and Jamvumali; and\nRacmiketu's mansion and Suryyacatru's, and Hraswakarna's, and the\nRakshasa Romaca's; and the houses of Yuddhonmattn, and Matta, and the\nRakshasa Dwajagriva, and the calm Vidyujjibhwa, and Hastimukha; and of\nKarala, and of Vicala, and of Sonitaksha; and Kumbhakarna's mansion, and\nNikumbha's, and the residence of Yajnacatru, and of Brahmacatru. And\nleaving alone the dwelling of Vibhishana, that exceedingly energetic\none--foremost of monkeys--by and by burnt (all the houses there). And in\nthose costly mansions and dwellings, that famous one, that foremost of\nmonkeys, burnt all the wealth of those affluent persons.-- Having passed\nthe dwellings of all, that powerful and auspicious one approached the\nresidence of the lord of Rakshasas, Ravana. And in that foremost of\nmansions, adorned with various gems, resembling Meru or Mandara, graced\nwith diverse auspicious things, he set unto the same, fire flaming at\nthe end of his tail. And the heroic Hauuman roars, resembling a cloud\n(appearing) at the end of a _Yuga_. And assisted by the wind, that\nhighly powerful and vehement one (Fire) flaimed up, like fire at the\nwreck of all, and the fire attained energy. And the wind spreading the\nflaming fire all round those dwellings, those mansions furnished with\ngolden networks; and containing pearls and gems; enjewelled and\nmagnificent, were shorn of their splendour. And cracked edifices began\nto topple down to the ground, like the mansions of Siddhas falling from\nthe firmament on the exhaustion of their righteousness. And there arose\na mighty uproar of those Rakshasas, as, bereft of their good fortune,\ndespairing of preserving their abodes, they rushed in all\ndirections,--\"Forsooth it is Fire himself that hath come hither in the\nform of a monkey.\" And females crying with babes on their breasts,\nsuddenly plunged (into the fire). And some fair ones with hair\ndishevelled, and surrounded on all sides with fire, as they fell down\nfrom dwellings, looked lovely like lightning from the welkin. And he\n(Hanuman) saw various kinds of metals, mixed with diamonds, and coral,\nand lapises and pearls and silver, runing down in streams from the\nmansions. And as Fire is not cloyed with wood and straw, Hanuman never\nat all felt satiety on slaying those foremost of Rakshasas. And the\nEarth could not contain the Rakshasas slain by Hanuman. And as Rudra had\nburnt down Tripura, the vehement and high-souled monkey, Hanuman, burnt\ndown Lanka. And rising to the brow of Lanka's mount,[415] the fire of\nterrific energy kindled by the impetuous Hanuman, spread wide his\ntongues. And with the Wind assisting him, the smokless Fire in the\ndwellings, with his flames feeding on the bodies of the Rakshasas\nrepresenting sacrificial offerings, spread his magnitude, touching the\nhorizen--resembling the conflagration kindled at the universal\ndissolution. And possessing the fierce energy of a _koti_ suns, the\nmighty Fire completely encompassing the entire Lanka, increased (in\nvolume), riving the mundane Egg with various sounds resembling\nthunder-claps. And the Fire of terrific might, having his flames\nresembling _Kincuka_ blossoms, rising up to the sky, clouds caused by\nvolumes of smoke arising from extinguished fire, in hue resembling blue\nlotuses, looked exceedingly beautiful. \"Either the thunder-bolt-bearing\nIndra the Great--chief of celestials, or Yama himself, or Varuna, or the\nWind-god, or the Fire generated by Rudra's third eye, or the Sun, or\nDhanada, or Soma. This is no monkey,--this is verily _Kala_[416]\nhimself. Or is this the Rakshasa-annihilating Fire of Brahma\nhimself--the Great-sire of all, the four-faced Disposer of the world's\ndestinies,-- come hither, wearing the form of a monkey? Or is this\nVishnu's Energy, inconceivable, unutterable, infinite and sole, and of\nsurpassing power,--now come hither in its own illusory nature, assuming\na monkey-form?\" Seeing that city suddenly consumed, with her souls,\ndwellings, and trees, Rakshasas of note, assembled together, thus talked\nunto each other. And then Lanka, suddenly consumed with Rakshasas,\nhorses, cars, serpents, crowds of birds, beasts and trees, began to\nbewail tumultuously and loud in forlorn guise,--\"O father! O son! O\nlove! O friend! O lord of my life and frame! all our religious merit is\nabolished.\" Indulging in various lamentations, the Rakshas thus created\na mighty and frightful uproar. And with the flames encircling her, and\nher foremost heroes fallen, and her warriors destroyed, Lanka, overcome\nby the might of Hanuman's wrath, became as if she had been blighted by\nan imprecation. Then the mighty-minded Hanuman beheld the Rakshasas in\nterror and trepidation and castdown, and Lanka marked by fire and bright\nflames, even as the Self-sprung eyeth the world destroyed by his rage.\nAnd devastating the forest filled with many excellent trees, slaying\nmany a terrible Rakshasa in conflict, and burning down the city of Lanka\nfilled with picturesque houses, the monkey, Hanuman, Wind-god's son,\nstationed himself there. And destroying many a Rakshasa, felling many\ntrees in the forest and setting fire to the houses of the Rakshasas, the\nhigh-souled (monkey) became engaged in thoughts touching Rama. Thereupon\nall the celestials praised highly the high-souled, excellent and mighty\nson of the Wind-god, foremost of heroic monkeys, gifted with the\nvelocity of the Wind. And all the celestials, the foremost ascetics, the\n_Gandharbas_, the _Vidhyadharas_, the _Pannagas_, and all other great\nheroes, attained excess of delight. And having devastated the forest,\nslain the Rakshasas in conflict and burnt the grand city of Lanka, the\ngreat monkey appeared there. And seated on the variegated top of a\nsplendid and high mansion, the foremost of monkeys, spreading the rays\nof his burning tail, looked like unto the sun of many rays. And having\nconsumed the city of Lanka, the great monkey quenched the fire of his\ntail in the ocean. Thereupon beholding Lanka burnt down, the celestials\nalong with Gandharbas, Siddhas, and the great ascetics, were struck with\nwonder.\n\n[414] _Vide ante.--T._\n\n[415] _Trikuta_ on which Lanka rested.--T.\n\n[416] A name of Yama.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LV.\n\n\nBeholding Lanka burnt down and devastated and the demons terrified,the\nmonkey Hanuman began to reflect. And worked up with fear and remorse, he\nreflected,--\"What a mighty iniquity have I perpetrated by burning down\nLanka of my own accord? Blessed are those high-souled ones who control\ntheir wrath by dint of their own good sense, like unto fire quenched by\nwater. What iniquity is there which cannot be perpetrated by the angry?\nThey can even slay the worshipful and vilify the pious with harsh words.\nThe angry cannot decide what should be spoken and what not. There is no\nvice which cannot be committed by them, and there is nothing which\ncannot be spoken by them. He is the proper person who can subdue his\nrising ire by means of forgiveness as a serpent leaves off his worn\nskin. O fie on me who am vicious-minded, shameless and the perpetrator\nof a mighty iniquity. Not thinking of Sita, I have slain my master with\nfire. Forsooth hath the worshipful Janaki been burnt, since the whole\ncity of Lanka hath been devastated with fire. And she being burnt,\nfoolishly have I spoilt the work of my master. I have defeated the great\nobject for which I have laboured so much. In burning down Lanka, I have\nnot saved Sita. To have burnt down Lanka is assuredly a trifle, but in\nmy ire I have lost my great object. Forsooth hath Janaki been consumed,\nsince I behold no spot in Lanka which is not made desolate with fire--\nin fact the whole city hath been reduced to ashes. As I have committed\nsuch an injury under the influence of my perverse understanding, it\nbehoveth me to relinquish my life here. I shall jump into this flame or\ninto a submarine fire, or I shall resign my mortal frame to the animals\nthat infest the ocean. For, living, I shall not be able to face that\nlord of monkeys, and how shall I, having spoilt their work utterly, show\nmyself unto those foremost of men? I have through my culpable passion\nfurnished an illustration of the reckless monkey-nature, which is well\nknown over the three worlds. Fie on this activity, born of (the quality\nof) passion, which is the source of incompetence and rashness; since\nalthough capable, I did not protect Sita. On Sita having met with\ndestruction, both of them[417] shall cease to exist; and on their\nceasing to exist, Sugriva shall die along with his friends. And hearing\nthese tidings, how shall the righteous Bharata, attached unto his\nbrother (Rama), along with Satrughna, live? And on the virtuous Ikshwaku\nrace being extinct, without doubt, all the subjects shall be overwhelmed\nwith grief. Therefore, I of curst luck hath had my harvest of virtue and\nprofit taken away; and being under the influence of baleful passion, I\nam the cause of the destruction of creatures.\" As he was reflecting\nthus, he bethought him of auspicious omens which he had witnessed since.\n\"Or it may be that one of charming limbs hath been preserved by her\nproper energy. The blessed one may not have met with her end, for fire\ndoth burn fire. And Fire should not touch the spouse of that virtuous\none of immeasurable energy,--who is protected by by her own character.\nAnd that bearer of sacrificial offerings hath not burnt me, is owing to\nRama's power and the virtue of Vaidehi. And why should she that is a\nvery goddess unto the three brothers, Bharata and the others, and that\nhath enchanted the mind of Rama, meet with destruction? And when that\neverywhere unspent Lord, having burning for his office, hath not\nconsumed my tail, why shoud he burn the exalted lady?\" Then Hanuman with\nwonder again thought of the sight of the golden mountain under the\nwater.[418] \"By virtue of her asceticism, veracity, and devotion unto\nher lord, she it is that can consume Fire, but Fire cannot burn her.\"\nAnd as Hanuman was thinking of the magnitude of that revered lady's\nreligious merit, he heard the converse there of high-souled Charanas.\n\"Ah! hard is the feat that Hanuman hath forsooth achieved. He hath\ncreated a terrific and fierce conflagration in the abode of the Raksha.\nThe females of Rakshas accompanied by boys and old folks, are flying\namain; and in consequence of the hubbub it seems as if (Lanka) is in\nlamentation through her mountain-caverns. Burnt is this city of Lanka\nwith her turrets, walls and gateways; and we are astonished that Janaki\nis not burnt.\" These words resembling ambrosia Hanuman heard (at that\ntime); and his mind was filled with joy. And what through the auspicious\nomens that he had witnessed, and what through the speech of the saints,\nHanuman was delighted (beyond measure). Then the monkey, with his end\nattained, knowing that the king's daughter was unhurt, became bent upon\nreturning after seeing her once again.\n\n[417] Rama and Lakshmana.--T.\n\n[418] Remembering the incident of his seeing the mountain Mainaka\n      through Sita, Hanuman was put in mind of Sita's superhuman\n      power.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LVI.\n\n\nThen seeing Janaki seated at the foot of the Sinsapa tree, (Hanuman)\nsaluting her said,--\"By luck it is that I see thee unhurt.\" Then eying\nhim again and again as he was on the point of departing, Sita said unto\nHanuman in words informed with affection for her husband,--\"If, my\nchild, it liketh thee, do thou, O stainless one, stay here today in some\nretired spot. To-morrow having refreshed thyself, thou shalt set out.\nThy vicinity, O monkey, for a while beguiles me of slender luck of my\nmeasureless grief. Thou wilt go, O powerful monkey; but ere thou return,\nit is, O foremost of monkeys, doubtful whether I shall live. And, O\nhero, the not seeing thee shall try me sorely, who have fallen from one\nmisfortune into a greater one, and who, my mind distracted, have been\nexercised by sorrow. And, O hero, this mighty doubt is (ever) present\nbefore me. How shall that exceedingly powerful one or that host of\nmonkeys or those two sons of that man of men, albeit backed by mighty\nmonkeys, cross over the ocean incapable of being crossed? Three beings\nhave the power to bound over the deep;-- Vinata's offspring, thou, and\nthe Wind-god. Then in this business at hand hard to accomplish, what\nmeans dost thou, versed in business, see, whereby the end may be\nattained?-- O slayer of hostile heroes, thou alone art quite competent\nto perform this task; and thou shalt attain fame through thy rising\nprowess. But if blocking up Lanka with his forces, that afflictor of\nenemies, Kakutstha, taketh me (from hence,) then that shall be worthy of\nhim.--Therefore do thou so order things that that powerful and\nhigh-souled hero in conflict, may act as becomes himself.\" Hearing her\nresonable, affectionate and pregnant speech, that hero, Hanumin,\nanswered,--\"O noble lady, that lord and foremost of monkeys, Sugriva\ngifted with strength, is determined on thy behalf. And that master of\nmonkeys, Sugriva, O Vaidehi, surrounded by thousands and Kotis of\nmonkeys, shall speedily come here (for the purpose). And those best of\nmen, those heroes, Rama and Lakshmana, coming together, shall afflict\nLanka with their arrows. And slaughtering the Rakshasa with his own\nadherents, Raghu's son, O exceedingly fair one, shall ere long take thee\nback to his palace.--O gentle damsel, do thou console thyself. Remain,\nexpecting the hour. Soon shalt thou see Ravana slain in battle by Rama.\nOn the lord of Rakshasas being slain along with his sons, councilors,\nand friends, thou shalt meet with Rama as Rohini meeteth with the Moon.\nAt once shall Kakutstha come, accompanied by the foremost of\nmonkeys,--who, conquering (Ravana) in conflict, shall remove thy grief.\"\nHaving thus consoled Videha's daughter, Hanuman, son unto the Wind-god,\nsetting his heart upon departure, saluted Vaidehi. And having soothed\nVaidehi, and displayed his surpassing strength, having rendered the city\ndisconsolate, and baffled Ravana, exhibited his terrific might, and\nsaluted Vaidehi, Hanuman became bent upon returning, crossing over the\nmid-sea. Then that repressor of foes, the powerful monkey, anxious to\nsee his master, ascended Aristha, foremost of mountains; (as if covered)\nwith a sheet consisting of blue woods of tall _padmakas_, and clouds\nlying in the interspace between peaks,--and displayed from love by the\nglad light of the Sun; appearing to be beholding with the minerals\nscattered about serving for its eyes; seeming to be reciting aloud in\nconsequence of the solemn sound of waters, to be carolling clearly\nthrough its many fountains, and to stay with uplifted arms by means of\n_devadarus_; appearing to be crying distressfully on account of cascades\nsounding all round; seeming to be trembling in consequence of verdant\nautumnal woods waving, and to be piping on account of _kichakas_ vocal\nthrough the breeze; eloquent; with the foremost poisonous serpents\nappearing to be sighing forth ire; appearing to be sunk in contemplation\non account of caverns covered with snow and looking solemn in\nconsequence; as if moving about by means of hills looking like its\ncloud-legs; seeming to yawn in the sky with peaks towering\nheavenwards,--scattered with summits, and graced with innumerable caves;\nsurrounded with _salas_, palms, _tamalas_, Karnas, and bamboos; graced\nwith spreading and flowering underwoods; abounding in various beasts,\nand decked with mineral streams,--containing numerous rills,-- thronged\nwith collections of crags; frequented by Maharshis, and Yakshas, and\nGandharbas and Kinnaras and serpents; impracticable in consequence of\nplants and trees; with caverns harbouring lions; filled with tigers and\nother (ferocious beasts); and furnished with trees having tasteful\nfruits and roots. And the Wind-god's offspring--foremost of\nmonkeys--ascended that mountain. Aud on the lovely level of that\nmountain, the crags, crushed with sounds under the tread of that one\nburning to behold Rama and wrought up with excess of joy, were scattered\nall round. And ascending that lordly hill, the mighty monkey magnified\nhimself, desirous of going from the southern to the northern shore of\nthe salt waters. And getting to the top of the mountain, that hero, son\nunto the Wind-god, cast his eyes upon the dreadful main inhabited by\nterrible snakes. And that foremost of monkeys, offspring of the\nWind-god,[419] (mentally) went from the south to the north, as if it\nwere the air. And then that best of mountains, sore pressed by the\nmonkey, began to emit cries, and with various creatures (on it), entered\nunderneath the Earth, with its peaks tottering and its trees toppling.\nAnd borne down by the violence of his thighs, trees bearing flowers,\nbeing shattered, as if destroyed by Sakra's weapon, fell to the ground.\nAnd the dreadful yells of mighty lions in pain, inhabiting caves,\nentered the ear, piercing the heavens. And Vidyadharis with their\nattires falling off and their ornaments disordered, suddenly rose from\nthe mountain[420] unto the sky. And exceedingly powerful and mighty\nsnakes of virulent venom,--having flaming tongues, with their hoods and\nnecks tortured, began to roll (on the earth). And Kinnars and serpents,\nGandharbas, Yakshas and Vidyadharas, forsaking that foremost of\nmountains in affliction, took refuge in the sky. And that graceful\nmountain also, tormented by that powerful one, entered the nether\nregions with its tall trees and summits. And that mountain, which\n(heretofore) had measured ten _yojanas_ in area and thirty in height,\nbecame level with the earth. And desirous of crossing over the salt\nwaters, with their shores menaced by sounding (waves), the monkey rose\nto the sky.\n\n[419] _Maruta_--this term is used twice in this sloka, once for Hanuman,\n      and next for the Wind-god. One of these is left out on the score\n      of redundency.--T.\n\n[420] _Dharanidharat_.--_ab_.--from the holder of the Earth, the latter\n      being supposed to rest on a mountain.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LVII.\n\n\nAnd springing up like unto a winged hill, that one endowed with energy,\nthe untiring Hanuman, began to swim on the ocean of the firmament having\nfor its blown lotuses and lilies, snakes, Yakshas and Gandharbas; with\nthe Moon for its comely _Kumuda_;[421] and with the Sun for its\n_Karandavas_; charming to behold; having Tishya and Sravana for its\nswans, clouds for its mosses and grass, _Punarvasu_ for its mighty fish,\nthe red-bodied one[422] for its huge aquatic animal, Airavata for its\nspacious island, Swati for its sportive swan, breezes for its billows,\nand moonlight for its cool waters. And as if swallowing up the welkin\nand touching the lord of stars, abolishing the sky decorated with stars\nand the solar disc, and cleaving the clouds, the unfatigued Hanuman\nbegan to cross over that sea. And (on all sides) mighty masses of\nclouds, sable, crimson, blue, Mangistha-hued, and green-red, looked\nexceedingly beautiful. And now entering into clouds and now imerging\nfrom them, he, again and again becoming visible and lost to sight,\nlooked like the Moon. And that one clad in white raiment, coursing\nthrough diverse clouds, the hero's body was (alternately) visible and\ninvisible, like unto the Moon in the sky. And the Wind-god's son went on\nin the sky, scattering the clouds and descending again and again. And\nsending up mighty sounds, that exceedingly energetic one gifted with a\npowerful voice like that of the clouds, having slain the foremost\nRakshasas and rendered his name famous, having filled the city with\nlamentations and afflicted Ravana, having distressed the mighty heroes\nand paid obeisance unto Vaidehi,--again held his course along the\nmid-ocean. And touching Mainaka--foremost of mountains--that one endowed\nwith prowess proceeded amain like an iron dart let go from a string. And\nfrom a distance approaching and beholding that mighty mountain,\nMahendra, resembling clouds, that redoubted monkey began to roar. And\nhaving a lusty voice resembling that of clouds, that monkey, roaring,\nfilled all quarters with his lofty shouts. And arriving at that place,\nhe, eager to behold his friends, emitted tremendous roars, and began to\nflourish his tail. And as he went on roaring in the path ranged by\nSuparna, the firmament with the solar disc seemed to be rent by his\nshouts. And (it came to pass that) those powerful and heroic (monkeys)\nthat had formerly stationed themselves on the northern shore of the\nocean, anxious to see the Wind-god's offspring, heard the sounds\nproceeding from Hanuman's vehement speed, resembling the rumbling of\nclouds agitated by the winds. And all those rangers of woods, (staying)\ndispirited, heard the roars of that foremost of monkeys, like unto the\nroaring of rain-pouring clouds. And hearing those sounds as he kept\ncrying, those monkeys (sitting) around, eager to see their friend,\nbecame extremely anxious. And that best of monkeys, Jambavan, with a\njoyful heart addressing all the monkeys, said,--\"Hanuman hath succeeded\ncompletely. There is no doubt about this. If he were unsuccessful, he\nwould not utter shouts as these.\" And hearing the sounds produced by the\nviolent movements of the arms of that high-souled (hero), as well as the\nshouts of that magnanimous one, the monkeys, filled with delight, leapt\nup on all sides. And they, eager to have a sight of Hanuman, joyfully\nwent from mountain-top to mountain-top and from peak on to peak. And\ninfluenced by joy, the monkeys remained holding a bough at the top of a\ntree, and waving their clean apparels. And as the wind roareth in a\ncavern, roared the powerful Hanuman, son unto the Wind-god. And seeing\nthat mighty monkey resembling a mass of clouds, alighting, those monkeys\nstood joining their hands. And then the vehement monkey resembling a\nhill, having leapt up from that mountain, alighted on the top of that\n(other) mountain[423] filled with trees. And bursting with delight,\n(Hanuman) dropped near a fountain, like unto a hill whose wings have\nbeen clipped. Then with joyful hearts, all the principal monkeys stood\nencircling the high-souled Hanuman. And surrounding him, they\nexperienced excess of delight, and drew near the newcomer with joyful\nfaces. And bringing fruits and roots, the monkeys honored that chief of\nmonkeys, the offspring of the Wind-god. And some, filled with delight,\nsent shouts, and some raised ululations; and the foremost monkeys\nfetched branches of trees.[424] And that mighty monkey, Hanuman, saluted\nhis superiors and the aged, headed by Jambavan; as well as Prince\nAngada. And honored by the monkeys, as he very well deserved to be, and\ngratified by them, (he) briefly said--\"Seen have I the exalted lady.\"\nAnd taking Vali's son by the hand, he sat him down in a charming tract\nof the woodland belonging to the mountain Mahendra.--Then asked (by\nthem), Hanuman addressed those foremost monkeys,--\"I have seen Janaka's\ndaughter in the Acoka woods. That blameless one is guarded by dreadful\nRakshasis. The girt weareth a single braid of hair, and burneth to\nattain a sight of Rama. She is faint in consequence of fasting, and\ndirty, weareth matted locks and is emaciated.\" Hearing the words, \"I\nhave seen\" from the Wind-god's offspring resembling ambrosia, all the\nmonkeys were filled with rejoicing. And thereupon, some of mighty ones\nroared, and some shouted, aid some blustered, and some raised\nululations, and others stormed (in return). And some elephantine monkeys\nin joy upraised their tails, and some lashed with their long and broad\ntails. And others, transported with joy, bounding up to the\nmountain-summit, touched that foremost of monkeys, the handsome Hanuman.\nAnd when Hanuman had ended, Angada said these excellent words in the\nmidst of the heroic monkeys,--\"There is none, O monkey, that is like\nunto thee in strength and prowess. As having bounded over the spacious\nmain, thou hast come back (here), thou art, O excellent monkey, the only\ngiver of our lives. By thy grace it is that, our end attained, we shall\nmeet with Raghava. Oh for thy fidelity! Oh for thy prowess! Oh for thy\nfortitude! By luck hast thou seen that exalted one, the illustrious wife\nof Rama, by luck it is that Kakutstha shall forego his sorrow in\nconsequence of separation from Sita.\" Then surrounding Angada, Hanuman,\nand Jambavan, the monkeys, exceedingly rejoiced, sat down upon a\nspacious stone. And having sat them down on the spacious rock, the\nmonkeys became eager to hear of the bounding of the main and of\n(Hanuman's) seeing Lanka, Sita and Ravana. And they stood with joined\nhands, looking wistfully into Hanuman's face. And the graceful Angada\nwas there, surrounded by many monkeys, and honored by them, even as the\nlord of celestials is honored in heaven by the celestials. When the\nfamous and renowned Hanuman, and Angada with bracelets on his arms, had\nsat down, the elevated and mighty mountain-summit was illuminated with\nsplendour.\n\n[421] Lily.--T.\n\n[422] Bhama.--T.\n\n[423] Mahendra.--T.\n\n[424] To serve for a seat for Hamiman.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LVIII.\n\n\nThen on the summit of the mountain, Mahendra, those powerful monkeys,\nheaded by Hanuman, rejoiced exceedingly. And when the high-souled\ndelighted monkeys had sat them down, Jambavan, glad at heart, asked that\noffspring of the Wind, the happy Hanuman, all about his proceeding: \"How\nhast thou seen the worshipful one? How doth she fare there? And how doth\nthe cruel Ten-necked one bear himself towards her? Do thou truthfully\nrelate all this unto us, O mighty monkey. How couldst thou track the\nexalted lady? And what did she say in reply (to thy querries)? Having\nlearnt the real state of things, we shall decide what is to be done. And\ndo thou also tell us what we, repairing there, shall unfold unto that\none of controled self and what we shall keep to ourselves.\" Thus\ndirected by him, that one (Hanuman) with his down standing on end,\nbowing down the head unto that revered one, Sita, replied,--\"In your\nsight, I bounded up with a concentrated mind, eager to reach the\nsouthern shore of the ocean. As I voyaged on, a great impediment\noccurred in the way. I saw a goodly and noble golden peak, standing,\nobstructing my way. I found the mountain as an obstacle to my course.\nNearing the grand and splendid golden mount, I thought within\nmyself,--'I will rive this.' And the sun-like summit of that mighty\nmountain, Prahasta, was cleft in a thousand fragments by my tail. Seeing\nhis own condition, that mighty mountain, gladdening my heart, addressed\nme with the sweet speech,--'O son, know me for thy uncle. I am a friend\nunto the Wind,-- famed as Mainaka, and living in the great deep.\nFormerly all the foremost mountains were furnished with wings. And (once\non a time) they began to range the earth at will, committing\ndevastations. Hearing of the conduct of the mountains, that possessor of\nthe six kinds of riches, Indra the Great, the swayer of Paka, with his\nthunderbolt cut off by thousands the pinions of the mountains. At that\ntime, my son, I, having been delivered by thy sire, the high-souled\nWind-god, was cast into the abode of Varuna. O repressor of foes, I\nshall have to assist Raghava. Rama is the foremost of the righteous, and\npossessed of prowess like that of Mahendra himself.' Having heard this\nfrom the magnanimous Mainaka, I apprised the mountain of my mission, and\nmy thoughts held their course. Having given me his permission, the\nmagnanimous Mainaka, the mountain that had put on the form of a man,\nvanished, and, assuming his mountain-form, went into the vast sea. And\nI, summoning my best celerity, began to journey the remainder of my way.\nAnd having swiftly proceeded long in the path, I saw the exalted lady,\nSurasa, mother of the serpents. And that worshipful one stationed in the\nsea, said,--'By the celestials hast thou, O best of monkeys, been\nassigned as my food. Therefore shall I eat thee up. Thou hast been\nordained as mine by the gods.' Thus addressed by Surasa, I, remaining in\nhumble guise with joined hands, and with my countenance turned pale, I\nuttered these words,--'Rama, the graceful son of Dacaratha, repressor of\nfoes--hath entered the woods of Dandaka, in company with his brother\nLakshamana and Sita. His wife Sita hath been carried off by the wicked\nRavana. At Rama's mandate I go to her as an envoy. In this business,\nthou, O chaste one, shouldst help Rama. Or having seen Mithila's\ndaughter, as well as Rama of untiring deeds, I shall come to thy\nmouth,--this I promise unto thee truly.' Thus accosted by me, Surasa,\nwearing forms at her will, said,--'None is able to escape me. Even this\nis the boon that I have received.' Having been thus addressed by Surasa,\nI attained the magnitude of ten _yojanas_; and then anon I dilated to\nanother ten. But she opened her mouth wider than my magnitude. Seeing\nher stretched mouth, I again diminished myself, and on the instant again\nreduced myself to the measure of a thumb. And speedily entering her\nmouth, I immediately came out. Then the exalted Surasa again spoke unto\nme in her native shape,--'Thy end having been attained, go, O mild one,\nO foremost of monkeys, according to thy pleasure. Bring about the\nmeeting of Vaidehi with the high-souled Raghava. Be thou blessed, O\nmighty-armed one. I am well pleased with thee, O monkey.' Then I was\npraised by all beings, with,--'Excellent!' 'Excellent!' Then like unto\nGaruda I again sprang up into the air. But now my shadow was overtaken\nby somebody, though I saw no one. And my velocity being deprived, I\nlooked at the ten cardinal points; but I found there naught which could\ndeprive me of my speed. Then I thought,-- 'What is this obstacle that\nhath suddenly arisen in respect of my course? No form find I here?' And\nas I stood aggrieved, my glance fell downwards. Then I saw there a\ndreadful Rakshasi supine on the flood. And laughing (scornfully), that\ngrim one said these inauspicious words unto me, who was inert, although\nundaunted,--\"Whither art thou bound, O thou of a gigantic body? Desired\nby me, who am hungry, do thou becoming my food, gratify this body\ndeprived of diet for a long time.' Saying, 'Well,' I accepted her\nspeech, increasing my body at will more than the capacity of her mouth;\nand her huge and dreadful mouth extended wide to eat me up. She did not\nunderstand me,[425] nor that I had altered my shape. Then in the\ntwinkling of an eye contracting my vasty shape, I, extracting her heart,\ndarted into the sky. Thereat, throwing about her arms, that terrific one\ndropped into the salt waters. On that chaste one, resembling a hill,\nhaving her heart torn, I heard the meek speech of magnanimous persons,\nwho had come there of themselves,--'This dreadful Rakshasi, Sinhika,\nhath been swiftly slain by Hanuman.' Having slain her, I again,\nremembering the delay that had occurred touching my work, set out on the\ngreat road, and at length saw the southern shore of the sea, covered\nwith mountains; where is situated the city of Lanka. On the sun having\nset, I entered the city of the Rakshasas--their home--unnoticed by the\nRakshasas of terrific vigor. I had entered in when a certain female\ncasting forth violent laughter, and wearing the splendour of clouds at\nthe end of a Kalpa, presented herself before me. And striking with my\nleft clenched fist that exceedingly dreadful (form), having flames for\nher hair, who had sought to take my life,--and vanquishing her (thus), I\nentered (Lanka) at dusk. Then that one affrighted addressed me,\nsaying,--'I, O hero, am, the city of Lanka. Vanquished have I been by\nthy prowess. Thou shalt everywhere conquer all the Rakshasas'. There I\nwandered all the night (seeking for Janaka's daughter) and (at length)\nentered Ravana's inner apartment; but that one of a Diity waist I found\nnot. And not finding Sita in Ravana's abode, I was cast in a sea of\nsorrow; nor found I how to cross over it. And as I was sorrowing, I saw\na mansion with a charming grove encircled by a wall of excellent gold.\nAnd leaping over the wall, I saw a grove rife with trees; and (at last)\nsaw in the midst of an _acoka_ wood a great _Sincapa_. And ascending the\ntree, I saw a golden tract of plantains; and hard by from the _Sincapa_\ntree I espied that transcendentally beautiful one, dark-blue, having\neyes resembling lotus-petals, with her face faded in consequence of\nfasting, clad in the same single piece of cloth, her hair covered with\ndust,--her limbs emaciated by the heat of sorrow and grief,--Sita, ever\nengaged in the welfare of her lord; surrounded by cruel and deformed\nRakshasis living upon blood and flesh,--like unto deer environed by\ntigresses. And I managed too swiftly to present myself before that one,\nmenaced momentarily in the midst of the Rakshasis, wearing a single\nbraid of hair; woe-begone; ever thinking of her lord; her limbs\ndiscolored by lying down on the ground, like unto a lotus on the\napproach of winter,--having eyes resembling those of a young deer, who\nhad turned her face away from all the enjoyments offered by Ravana, and\nwho had resolved to put a period to her existence. Seeing that lady the\nillustrious wife of Rama in that condition, I seeing her remained even\non that _Sincapa_ tree. Then I heard in Ravana's mansion loud and solemn\nsounds mixed with the tinklings of zones and bangles. Thereat\nexceedingly agitated, I changed my proper shape; and remained like a\nbird in a dark part of the _Sincapa_ tree. Then the wives of Ravana\nalong with Ravana himself of exceeding strength came to that place where\nSita was. And seeing the lord of Rakshasas the exceedingly beauteous\nSita contracted her thighs and covered her full breasts with her arms.\nAnd seeing Sita flurried and extremely excited and casting about her\ngladness up and down, not finding any relief and trembling forlorn, the\nTen-necked one said unto her undergoing extreme anguish,--\"Without\nsaying anything, I fall down (here). O fair one, do thou regard me. If,\nO haughty one, thou do not honor me from pride of heart, I shall, O\nSita, two months hence, see thy blood.\" Hearing these words of the\nwicked Ravana, Sita, growing exceeding wroth, spoke these excellent\nwords,--\"O worst of Rakshasas, having used improper speech towards the\nwife of Rama of measureless prowess, and the daughter-in-law of\nDacaratha, lord of the Ikshwaku line, why hast thou not thy tongue\nfallen off? Fie upon the prowess of thee that, O wretch, hast carried me\noff while my husband was away; and not being seen of that high-souled\none. Thou art never like Rama,--thou art not even fit to be his slave.\nRaghava is invincible, truthful, heroic and (even) hungering for\nwarfare.\" Thus addressed in harsh speech by Janaki, the Ten-necked one\nflamed up in wrath, like Fire in a funeral pyre. And with his wicked\neyes whirling in rage, he raised the clenched fist of his right hand to\nslay Mithila's daughter; but then the females set up a cry of \"Oh\" and\n\"Alas.\" And rising up in the midst of the females, the wife of the\nwicked-minded one, the excellent one, named Mandodari, prevented him.\nAnd she spoke soft words unto him influenced by lust.--\"O thou that\nresemblest Indra the Great in prowess. Do thou to-day sport with me.\nJanaki is not superior to me. And, O lord, do thou sport with the\ndaughters of celestials and Gandharbas, and with the daughters\nthemselves of Yakshas. What wilt thou do with Sita?\" Then that\nexceedingly powerful ranger of the night was speedily raised up and\ntaken (back) to his residence. On the Ten-necked one having departed,\nthe Rakshasis of fearful faces fell to railing at Sita in cruel and\nrough words,--But Janaki heeded their speech as a straw; and their fury\nwas lost upon Sita. Desisting from their unavailing railing, the\nflesh-feasting Rakshasis imparted unto Ravana the mighty intent of Sita.\nThen, they all failing in their hope and deprived of energy, and tired,\ncame under the sway of sleep. And on their sleeping, Sita intent on the\nwelfare of her lord, lamenting piteously, in forlorn guise, and striken\nwith extreme sorrow, mourned profusely. Then sitting up in their midst,\nTrijata spoke,--\"Do ye without delay fall to your own selves; but never\n(eat up) the dark-eyed Sita, the chaste daughter unto Janaka and the\ndaughter-in-law of Dacaratha. In truth I have seen a dismal dream\ncapable of making one's hair stand on end; (presaging) destruction unto\nRakshasas and victory unto the husband of this one. For protecting us,\nRakshasis from Raghava, let us solicit Vaidehi. Even this is relished by\nme. If we relate such a dream unto the aggrieved one, she, being freed\nfrom her diverse woes, shall attain the height of joy. Propitiated by\nour bowing down, Janaka's daughter, Maithili, shall rescue the Rakshasis\nfrom a mighty fear.\" Thereat, that bashful maiden, rejoiced at the\nprospect of her husband's victory, said,--'If all this prove true, then\nfor certain, (ye shall) meet with succour at my hands. Witnessing such a\nhard condition of Sita I began to reflect; nor did my my mind attain\nease or freedom from thought. And I cast about for finding means of\naddressing Janaki. And I began by extolling the Ikshwaku race. Hearing\nthe words that I uttered, embellished with descriptions of the virtues\nof Rajarshis, that exalted lady replied with her eyes covered with\ntears. \"Who art thou? And how hast thou, O foremost of monkeys, found\nthy way here? And what is thy delight in Rama? This it behoveth thee to\nrelate unto me.\" Hearing her speech, I too said,-- 'O revered one, thy\nhusband, Rama, hath found a help-mate in a one endowed with terrific\nstrength, named Sugriva --redoubtable, the highly powerful lord of the\nmonkeys. Do thou know me as Hanuman his servant, despatched here by thy\nspouse--Rama of unwearied actions. O famed damsel, that highly effulgent\nson of Dacaratha--the foremost of men, hath sent as a token this ring. I\ndesire to know, O worshipful dame, what behest of thine may I obey now.\nShall I carry thee to Rama and Lakshmana on the northern shore of the\nOcean?\" Hearing this and revolving within herself Sita, Janaka's\ndaughter, replied--\"Discomfitting Ravana, may Raghava himself carry me\nhence.' And bowing my head unto that worshipful and blameless dame, I\nwanted of her a token as might conduce to Raghava's pleasure. Whereto\nreplied Sita--'O thou of mighty-arms do thou take this excellent jewel\nfor which thou shalt be highly regarded by Rama'. Having said this that\nbest of fair ones gave me the excellent jewel, and wrought up with\nanxiety, related unto me the story of crow (for Rama's information).\nThereupon bent on returning here, I, with a fixed mind, circumambulated\nand bowed unto that worshipful dame. And revolving within herself she\nagain replied-- 'Hanuman, do thou relate this unto Raghava in such a\nwise that the heroes Rama and Lakshmana, along with Sugriva might\ninstantly come here. Or else there remain two months more of my life.\nRaghava shall not see me and I shall quit my life like one having no\nhusband. Hearing those piteous accents I was worked up with ire and at\nonce resolved upon destroying the city of Lanka. Thereupon my body\nincreased like unto a mountain and desirous of entering into conflict I\nbegan to lay waste the forest. The whole forest was devastated--the\nbirds and deer strayed away in fear and the Rakshasees, having terrible\nfaces, awaking, beheld all that. And beholding me in the forest, they\nall, gathering, instantly conveyed the message unto Ravana. O King, O\nthou of mighty prowess, this thy forest and castle has been broken down\nby the vicious-souled monkey not knowing thy strength. O King, he has\nbeen impelled by his vicious sense, to do thy mischief. Do thou order\nfor his head so that he might not return. Hearing this the lord of the\nRakshasas despatched a chosen band of demons named _Kinkaras_.[426] I\ndespatched with my mace in no time eighty thousand of them no sooner\nthan they entered the forest with darts and maces. And the few, who were\nsaved, proceeded very quickly unto Ravana and related unto him the\ndestruction of the soldiers by me. Thereupon I thought of destroying the\n_Chaitya_[427] palace and destroyed with the pillar all the Rakshasas\nstationed there. Excited with wrath I destroyed that palace; the best in\nthe whole city of Lanka. Thereupon (Ravana) despatched _Jambhumali_, the\nson of _Prahasta_. With my fierce mace I destroyed that mighty Rakshasa,\nversed in the art of war, along with his retinue and surrounded by a\nband of terrible and grim-visaged demons. Hearing this, Ravana, the lord\nof Rakshasas sent the highly powerful sons of the ministers followed by\na regiment of infantry. But I despatched them to the abode of Death by\nmeans of my dart. And hearing of the destruction in battle of the\nministers' sons of feeble prowess Ravana sent five heroic commanders.\nBut I slew all of them along with their hosts. Thereupon the Ten necked\ndemon sent his highly powerful son _Aksha_ in the battle followed by a\nnumber of Rakshasas. No sooner the princely son of Mandodari, versed in\nthe art of war, rose high up in the welkin than I got hold of his legs\nand whirling him for hundred times ground him to the dust. And hearing\nof the discomfiture of Aksha, Ravana, exercised with ire, sent his\nsecond son, the highly powerful Indrajit incapable of being repressed in\nbattle. And discomfitting that best of Rakshasas with his host I\nattained to an excess of delight. That hero of great prowess and\nmighty-arms with a number of other proud heroes was despatched by Ravana\nin great confidence. And beholding my unbearable prowess and his own\nsoldiers slain, speedily he went away fettering me with his Brahma\nweapon. Thereat the other Rakshasas bound me up with a rope and carried\nme to Ravana. And thereupon I was welcomed by the vicious-souled Ravana\nand was asked why I did come to Lanka and slay the Rakshasas. Whereto I\nreplied,--\"I have done all this for Sita. To behold her I have come\nhere, O hero. I am the monkey Hanuman, the own begotten son of Maruta.\nDo thou know me as Rama's ambassador and the minister of Sugriva. And on\nRama's embassy have I come here before thee. Do thou hear of my\nmission--I do relate unto thee, O lord of Rakshasas, the message which\nthe monkey chief hath commanded me to communicate unto thee. O great\nhero, Sugriva hath asked of thy welfare and hath desired me to\ncommunicate unto thee these well meaning words, conducing to the\nacquirement of piety, wealth and desires. While I lived on the mount\nRishyamuka covered with huge trees I made friends with Raghava dreadful\nin conflict. He hath spoken to me, O king, 'My spouse hath been taken\naway by a Rakshasa. It behoveth thee to promise me thy help in this.'\nAnd in the presence of fire, Rama, along with Lakshmana, contracted\nfriendship with me who had been deprived of his kingdom by Vali. And he\nhath made me lord over all the monkeys after slaying Vali in conflict\nwith a single shaft. It therefore behoveth us to assist him by all\nmeans. And by virtue of this contract I have despatched Hanuman unto\nthee as an envoy. Do thou therefore speedily bring back Sita and return\nher unto Raghava before the heroic monkeys discomfit thee. Who knoweth\nnot the prowess of the monkeys who in the days of yore used to visit the\ncelestials invited?' With these words the king of the monkeys hath\ndespatched me unto thee. And thereupon he eyed me as if burning me with\nthe looks of his angry eyes. And the vicious-souled demon--Ravana, of\nterrible deeds, ordered for my destruction, not knowing my prowess.\nThereupon Bivishana, the high-souled brother of that lord of the\nRakshasas interceded on my behalf in the following strain-- 'O thou\nforemost of the Rakshasas, do thou alter thy resolution. The way, thou\nart following, is beyond the pale of royal policy. The destruction of an\nenvoy is not sanctioned by the royal morality, O Rakshasa. They\ncommunicate simply the mandate of their masters. O thou of incomparable\nprowess, there is no sanction for the destruction of a messenger albeit\nhe perpetrateth a mighty iniquity. Sometimes they have however been\ndisfigured.\" Being thus accosted by Bivishana, Ravana ordered all the\ndemons, saying \"Burn down this monkey's tail.' Hearing his mandate, the\nRakshasas, of well-protected armour and terrible prowess, enveloped my\ntail with the fibres of cotton, silk and jute. And then striking me with\ntheir clenched fists they put fire to my tail. Although bound and\nfettered with many ropes I did not feel the least anguish for I was very\nmuch anxious to behold the city during the day. And thereupon fettering\nme and putting fire to my tail and announcing me in the public streets\nthose heroic Rakshasas got at the city gate. And thereupon contracting\nagain my huge person and relieving myself of the fetters I stood again\nin my pristine state. And taking up iron darts I slew all the Rakshasas\nthere. And leaping over with great velocity the city gate, I, with my\nburning tail, burnt down the whole city from the palace to its outer\ngate like unto the fire of dissolution devastating the entire creation.\nAnd I was not the least flurried at it. 'Forsooth hath Janaki been\ndestroyed--for behold I nothing in Lanka which hath not been burnt\ndown--indeed the whole city hath been reduced to ashes. For certain have\nI burnt down Sita while burning the city Lanka--and I have thus baffled\nthe great work of Rama.' While I was reflecting thus, being overwhelmed\nwith grief, I heard the auspicious accents of the _Charanas_, exciting\nmy wonder, 'Janaki hath not been burnt down.' Hearing those wonderful\nwords I regained my sense. I was then convinced by an auspicious sign\nthat Janaki  was not burnt down, for I was not reduced to ashes albeit\nmy tail was burning. My heart was excited with joy and the wind spread\nits delicious fragrance. And by virtue of those manifest omens, by my\nconfidence in the prowess of Rama; and Sita, and the voice of ascetics,\nI was greately delighted at heart. And beholding Vaidehi again, I left\nher. And thereupon ascending the mount Aristha I began to leap, desirous\nof beholding you. And following the track of the Wind, the Sun, the\nMoon, Gandharbas, and Siddhas I have beheld you all. By virtue of Rama's\ngrace and your prowess I have satisfied the charge of Sugriva. I have\nthus related unto you, what I had performed in Lanka, and it now remains\nwith you to fulfill the rest.\"\n\n[425] Understand that I was able to assume any shape at pleasure.--T.\n\n[426] Literally it means servants--here it means his own personal\n      attendants who were brave and heroic.\n\n[427] A place of sacrifice or religious worship.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LIX.\n\n\nHaving related all, Hanuman, the Wind-god's son began again,\nsaying--\"Fruitful is Raghava's endeavour and Sugriva's energy--for\ngreatly pleased have I been with Sita's conduct. O heroic monkeys, Sita\nhath been keeping the life of a highly chaste damsel. She can maintain\nthe animated creation by virtue of her asceticism and burn it with her\nire. Ravana, the lord of the Rakshasas is also highly advanced in\nasceticism by virtue whereof he hath not been ruined albeit he hath\ntouched Sita's person. Even the flame of fire cannot do, although\ntouched by the hands, what Janaka's daughter can bring about by her ire.\nI have related unto you what had happened. It now behoveth us to behold\nVaidehi along with those two sons of a king, after commanding all the\nmonkeys headed by Jambavan and others. I am alone capable of destroying\nthe city of Lanka along with the Rakshasas and their lord--Ravana. What\nmore can I achieve if I am accompanied by the heroic monkeys like ye,\npowerful, having control over their own minds, well-armed, able and\ndesirous of winning victory! I shall slay Ravana in conflict along with\nhis sons, brothers army and retinue. I shall destroy all the Rakshasas\nand baffle all the weapons of Indrajit conferred on him by Brahma,\nRudra, Wind and Varuna albeit they are invisible in battle. Without your\npermission my prowess hath been brought to a stand still. Hills and\nmountains, uprooted and discharged by me continually, can destroy even\nthe celestials, what of those night-rangers? Even if the ocean\noverfloweth its banks, the Mount Mandara moveth off its place, the\nenemy's host cannot frighten Jambavan in conflict. And specially the\nheroic monkey, Vali's son, is alone capable of destroying the whole host\nof the Rakshasas. Even the mount Mandara is weakened by the velocity of\nthe thighs of the high-souled monkey Neela--what of the Rakshasas in\nconflict? What hero is there amongst the celestials, Asuras, Yakshas,\nGandharbas, serpents and birds who can equal Manida or Divida in battle?\nI do not find any one who can oppose in the battle field the two best\nmonkeys, the sons of Asvi gifted with great velocity. By me alone hath\nthe city Lanka been devastated burnt down and reduced to ashes. And I\nhad announced in the public streets there--\"May victory crown the highly\npowerful Ram and Lakshmana, and may the king Sugriva advance in\nprosperity being protected by Raghava. I am the servant of the king of\nKocala, the own begotten son of the Wind-God and my name is Hanuman. I\nhave announced thus everywhere. (And I beheld there) in the Acoka forest\nof the vicious-souled Ravana, at the foot of a Sincapa tree, the chaste\nSita waiting very poorly. She was encircled by the Rakshasees, worn out\nwith grief and anxiety and was like unto the rays of the Moon shorn of\ntheir brilliance being enveloped with clouds. And Vaidehi, having a\nbeautiful waist and devoted unto her husband, did not care for Ravana\nproud of his prowess and was accordingly confined by him. And that\ngraceful daughter of the king of Videha was by all means devoted unto\nher lord and had all her thoughts centered in him like unto Poulomi[428]\ndevoted unto her lord Purandara. And I saw her in that garden, wearing a\nsingle piece of cloth soiled with dirt, surrounded by the Rakshasees and\nremonstrated with now and then by those ugly demons. Having a single\nbraid of hair, poorly, engaged in thoughts touching her lord, she was\nlying on the earth shorn of all grace like unto a lotus on the\nappearance of the winter. She had not the least attachment for Ravana\nand was resolved upon putting an end to her existence. And somehow\ncreating her confidence I addressed that damsel having the eyes of a\nfawn and related unto her the whole story. And hearing of the friendship\nbetween Rama and Sugriva she attained to an excess of delight. She is\nwell-behaved and devoted unto her lord par excellence and blessed is the\nhigh-souled and ten-necked demon that she hath not destroyed him (yet).\nAnd Rama shall become an instrument only in bringing about his\ndestruction. She hath really been greatly reduced and worn out by the\nseparation of her lord. Her person hath been shattered like unto\nlearning waning by its prosecution on the first day of a lunar\nfortnight. Thus liveth there the great Sita worn out with grief. Do ye\nnow perform what you think proper.\"\n\n[428] The wife of Indra the lord of the celestials who was confined by\n      the king Nahusa.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LX.\n\n\nHearing his words, Vali's son Angada spoke, saying,-- \"These two\nmonkeys, the sons of Asvi, are very powerful and gifted with great\nvelocity and are specially proud in consequence of the boon conferred on\nthem by the Great Grand-father. Formerly to honor Asvi the Grand-father,\nof all the worlds, made these two monkeys incapable of being slain by\nany. And crushing the mighty host of the celestials, these two heroes\ngifted with great prowess, and maddened with haughtiness in consequence\nof the boon, drank up nectar. And these two, if worked up with ire, are\ncapable of destroying the whole city of Lanka with her horses, chariots\nand elephants. What of other monkeys, I, myself, am capable of\ndestroying soon the city along with the Rakshasas and the mighty Ravana!\nAnd there is not the least wonder about it if I am aided by powerful\nmonkey heroes like you, having control over themselves, well armed,\ncapable and desirous of winning victory. I have heard, that, by\nWind-god's son alone Lanka was burnt. Ye are all famed for your\nmanliness, it doth not behove you to speak before Rama. 'We have seen\nthe worshipful dame but have not been able to bring her.' Ye foremost of\nmonkeys, there is none amongst the celestials or Aauras who can equal\nyou either in leaping or in prowess. And therefore winning Lanka,\nslaying Ravana along with his Rakshasa host in conflict and taking Sita,\nlet us go, delighted and having our ends accomplished. What else is\nthere for us to perform than bringing the daughter of the king Janaka\nwhen the Rakshasa crew shall be slain by Hanuman? And we shall place\nJanaka's daughter between Rama and Lakshmana. What is the use of putting\nthe other residents of Kishkinda into trouble? It therefore behoveth us\nalone to go to Lanka and after slaying the best of the Rakshasas, to see\nSugriva, Rama and Lakshmana.\" Thereupon Jambavana, the foremost of the\nmonkeys, greatly delighted spoke unto Angada, who was thus resolved, the\nfollowing pregnant words, --\"O great monkey, O thou of best\nunderstanding, what thou hast spoken, is, (I think) not proper, for we\nhave been despatched by them to ransack the southern quarter, but we\nhave not been commanded by the king of the monkeys and the highly\nintelligent Rama to bring her. And it shall not please him even if we\nrescue her. And mentioning his own lineage, that best of the kings,\nRaghava, promised before all the leading monkeys, that he would himself\nrescue Sita. How would he now falsify his own saying? What is the use of\nundertaking this work for nothing which shall not conduce to his\npleasure? And useless shall be the display of your prowess, O ye,\nforemost of the monkeys. Let us therefore proceed where Rama with\nLakshmana, and the highly effulgent Sugriva is, and relate unto them our\nproposed work. What thou hast judged, O prince, is liked by us. And\nstill you should look to Rama's resolution and bring about his end.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXI.\n\n\nAll the heroic monkeys, headed by Angada and the great monkey Hanuman,\napproved highly of the words of Jambavan. And these leading monkeys\nheaded by the Wind-god's son proceeded leaping from the summit of the\nMount Mahendra. And these highly powerful ones, having huge persons,\nresembling the Mount Mandara, covered the welkin as if like so many mad\nelephants. They carried, as it were with their own looks, the highly\npowerful Hanuman, gifted with great velocity, having control over his\nown self, and adored by the _Siddhas_. They were resolved upon\nsatisfying Rama's end and acquiring glory for themselves. Their desires\nwere satisfied and mind elevated in consequence of their beholding Sita\nand burning down Lanka. All of them were anxious to communicate this\npleasant news, to enter into conflict and were resolved upon bringing\nabout Rama's wellbeing. And leaping and ascending the sky they got at\nthe _Madhuvana_,[429] preserved by Sugriva, resembling the celestial\ngarden, covered with many trees, picturesque and incapable of being\ndevastated by any. And the monkey-chief Sugriva's maternal uncle, the\nheroic and high-souled Dadhimukha always guardeth that picturesque and\nspacious garden of the lord of monkeys. They were greatly worked up with\nanxiety. And beholding thdt large orchard, those yellow-coIouted monkeys\nwere greatly delighted and begged honey of the prince: And the prince\nrespectfully allowed these elderly monkeys headed by Jambavan to drink\nhoney. And being thus commanded by the intelligent prince--Vali's son,\nthose monkeys ascended the trees infested with bees and feasting on\nfragrant fruits and roots, were greatly delighted and intoxicated. And\nthereupon those monkeys, beside themselves with joy for being allowed to\ndrink honey began to dance hither and thither. Some sang, some laughed,\nsome danced, some bowed down, some read, some walked hither and thither,\nsome leaped and some talked at random. Some sprang upon one another,\nsome quarrelled with one another, some leaped from one tree to another,\nand some jumped down on the earth from the tops of the trees. Some rose\nup with great velocity from the earth to the tops of the huge\ntrees--some sang, others approached them laughing--some wept and others\napproached them weeping. Some were stricking with their nails and others\nstruck them in return. And thus the entire monkey host were bewildered\nwith intoxication. There was none amongst them who was not drunk and\nnone who was not excited with pride. Thereupon beholding all the fruits\neaten up and the trees divested of leaves and flowers, the monkey\nDadhimukha was worked up with ire and attempted to prevent them. And\nthat heroic, elderly monkey, the guard of the garden, was in return\nremonstrated with by them who were greatly intoxicated. Thereat the\nhighly spirited monkey again made up his mind to protect the garden from\ntheir devastations. He used harsh words, undauntedly towards some,\nstruck the weak with his palm, quarrelled with some, and consoled others\nwith soothing words. They were greatly excited with drink, and being\nprevented forcibly by Dadhimukha, they giving up all fear, began to pull\nhim. And striking him with their nails, biting him with teeth, crushing\nhim with their palms and feet, they, being drunk, almost reduced him to\ndeath and devastated the mangoe forest.\n\n[429] An orchard teeming with various trees bearing delicious and sweet\n      fruits.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXII.\n\n\nThereupon Hanuman, the foremost of the monkeys, spoke unto them,\nsaying--\"O monkeys, do ye undisturbed drink honey. I shall myself thwart\nthem who will obstruct you.\" Hearing his words, Angada, the best of the\nmonkeys, delighted, said--'Drink honey, O monkeys, we must follow\nHanuman's advice, who hath already been crowned with success. We must\nfollow him even if he leadeth us to an unworthy action, what of this\nwhich is most becoming?\" Hearing these words from Angada, the leading\nmonkeys attained to an excess of delight and eulogized him again and\nagain. And adoring Angada--their prince, those monkeys proceeded by the\nway leading to the _Madhuvana_ like unto trees carried by a stream. And\nentering that orchard they forcibly attacked the waiters there. Hanuman\nsaw Maithilee, and others heard of her from him--and those monkeys,\nrenouncing all fear in consequence and obtaining permission, drank honey\nand feasted on various sweet fruits. And they, given to the drinking of\nhoney, attacking the guards who were approaching by hundreds, gave them\na sound beating. Some monkeys,collecting honey with their hands\nmeasuring a _Drona_,[430] drank it; others collecting themselves\ndelightedly into a band spoiled it; while other yellow-coloured monkeys\ndrank and sprinkled it. And some, being beside themselves with\nintoxication, struck others with the remaining quantity, while others\nwaited at the foot of the trees, holding their boughs. And some, being\nexhausted with drinking, spread leaves and laid themselves thereon--and\nsome being drunk and delighted struck others down in mad fury. And some\nlost their steps. Some roared and some delightedly set up the music of\nthe birds. Some of the monkeys, inebriete with honey, slept on the\nearth; some laughed at others impudently and some cried aloud. Some\nspoke contrary to what they had done--and others put a different\nconstruction thereon. And all the waiters of the garden and the servants\nof Dadhimukha, were repressed by those terrible monkeys with censure and\nthrown up in the sky by their knee-joints. And terrified, they fled to\ndifferent directions. And being worked up with anxiety, they approached\nDadhimukha and said--'Commanded by Hanuman the monkeys have forcibly\ndevastated the _Madhuvana_ and we were thrown high up by them in the\nsky.\" Hearing of the destruction of the orchard, Dadhimukha, being\ngreatly enraged, consoled all the monkeys. \"Proceed ye before, I shall\nsoon follow you and repress by force all those monkeys, greatly excited\nwith pride and the drinking of the excellent honey.\" Hearing these words\nfrom Dadhimukha those leading and heroic monkeys proceeded with him\ntowards _Madhuvana_. And Dadhimukha proceeded with great velocity in\ntheir midst taking up a huge tree in his hand. And all his attendants,\ntaking trees, mountain crags, proceeded, wroth, where those leading\nmonkeys were. And biting their lips in wrath and remonstrating with them\nagain and again, those monkeys began to suppress them by force. And\nbeholding Dadhimukha greatly enraged, all the monkeys, headed by\nHanuman, approached him with great vehemence. And as the mighty\nDadhimukha of huge arms, was proceeding towards them vehemently with a\nhuge tree, Angada, wroth, caught him by the hand. He was beside himself\nwith intoxication and therefore did not show him the least mercy, albeit\nhe (Dadhimukha) was worshipful unto him. And accordingly with great\nvehemence he ground him to the dust. His arms and thighs were broken and\nhis countenance was disfigured and that great heroe, the foremost of the\nmonkeys, bathed in a pool of blood, remained senseless for sometime. And\nthereupon releasing himself from them by some device that leading\nmonkey, proceeded to a nook, and addressed his attendants, saying--\"Let\nus all proceed there where our lord, the spacious-necked Sugriva liveth\nwith Rama. I shall relate unto him all the unfair dealings of Angada and\nforsooth shall that wrathful king punish all these monkeys. The\npicturesque _Madhuvana_ is the most favourite orchard of the high-souled\nSugriva. It was enjoyed by his forefathers and is not even approached by\nthe celestials. And meting out punishment unto these monkeys, eager to\ndrink honey and almost half dead, Sugriva shall slay them as well as\ntheir friends and relatives. Those vicious-souled ones are worthy of\nbeing slain since they have transgressed the royal mandate. And then\nshall my wrath, arising out of impatience, bear fruits.\" Having thus\nspoken unto the guards of the forest the highly powerful Dadhimukha\nleaped high up in the welkin and went away with them. And in no time he\nreached where the highly intelligent monkey Sugriva, the offspring of\nthe sun, was. And beholding Rama, Lakshmana, and Sugriva and the level\nground he descended from the sky. And descending from the sky that great\nand heroic Dadhimukha, lord over all the monkeys engaged in protecting\nthe forest, placing his folded palms on his forehead and with a poorly\ncountenance, laid low his crown at Sugriva's feet.\n\n[430] In common use a measure of thirty-two seers or rather more than\n      sixty-four lbs. quadrupeds.--T.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXIII.\n\n\nAnd beholding that monkey place his crown at his feet the monkey-chief,\nwith an anxious mind, accosted him, saying--\"Rise up, rise up, why hast\nthou lain thyself at my feet? I declare thou hast no fear, speak out the\ntruth, From whose fear hast thou come here? It behoveth thee to suggest\nthe becoming proceedure. Is it all well with my orchard _Madhuvana_? I\nlong to know everything, O monkey.\" Being thus addressed hopefully by\nthe high-souled Sugriva, Dadhimukha, gifted with an intelligence of a\nvery high order, rose up and spoke--\"Neither thyself, nor Vali, the lord\nof the monkeys, O king, allowed that orchard to be freely used by the\nmonkeys--but that hath been now laid waste by them. I prevented them\nalong with these attendants, but disregarding me, they drank and feasted\nthere at their pleasure. They were prevented, O lord, in their act of\ndevastation, by these guards, but those monkeys, without caring for me\nthe least, feasted there. Some of them went beyond the pale of good\nconduct, others ate at their pleasure, and all frowned (at us). And when\nthese attendents, being insulted by them, were greatly wroth, they were\ndriven out of the garden, by those powerful and enraged monkeys. And\nthey were greatly assailed by those many thousand heroic monkeys, worked\nup with ire and having reddened eyes. Some had their arms broken, some\nhad their knee-joints crushed and some of them were thrown up in the\nsky. Thyself their lord living, these heroes are beaten, and the entire\n_Madhuvana_ is being freely enjoyed by them.\" The highly intelligent\nLakshmana, the slayer of foes, addressed Sugriva, the foremost of the\nmonkeys, while he was thus being informed, saying,--\"O king, why hath\nthis monkey, the guard over the forest, come to thee, and what sorrow\nhath led him to give vent to these expressions?\" Being thus addressed by\nthe high-souled Lakshmana, Sugriva, skilled in the art of speech,\nreplied,--\"O worshipful Lakshmana, the heroic monkey Dadhimukha speaks\nthat the war-like monkeys headed by Angada have drunk honey. They would\nnot have engaged in such an unfair proceeding had they been unsuccessful\nin their mission. They have surely achieved success while they have thus\nbeen bent upon devastating the orchard. For this the warders were struck\non their knee-joints for obstructing their revelry and for this they\nwent so far as to disregard the powerful monkey Dadhimukha. I myself\nappointed this monkey the lord of my orchard. Forsooth hath Hanuman\nespied the worshipful Sita and none else. There is none else but Hanuman\nwho is the instrumental of this work, for that best of monkeys hath in\nhim a high intellect, knoweth the art of success, is gifted with\ncourage, strength and prowess and is conversant with Sastras. That work\nis sure to succeed whose leading spirits are the mighty Jambavana and\nAngada, and worker is Hanuman. Forsooth that orchard hath been laid\nwaste by these heroes headed by Angada. And ransacking the southern\nquarter, those leading monkeys have come back and delightedly entered\nthe _Madhuvana_. And the whole orchard has been explored and enjoyed by\nthose monkeys and the attendants beaten and wounded on their\nknee-joints. To communicate unto me this intelligence, this monkey of\nknown prowess, and sweet accents, named Dhadimukha, hath come here. O\nthou of mighty arms, O son of Sumitra, forsooth they have beheld Sita,\nsince the monkeys, just on their return, have engaged in drinking honey.\nO best of men, they are all well-known monkeys and without espying\nVaidehi they would not have engaged in the destruction of that orchard\nconferred on us as a gift by the celestials.\" Hearing these words from\nSugriva, pleasant unto ears, the virtuous-souled Lakshmana along with\nRaghava, was greatly pleased. And hearing this from Dadhimukha, Sugriva,\ngreatly gratified, addressed that lord of the forest, again,\nsaying,--\"Greatly pleased I am, since, they, being successful, have\nexplored this forest. And the insulting procedure of the successful is\nalso pardonable. Do thou soon go there and protect that orchard, and\nsend here all those monkeys headed by Hanuman. Along with these two\ndescendants of Raghu, I long to know soon from these monkeys headed by\nHanuman, and proud like lions, what they have settled for the regaining\nof Sita. And beholding these two princes greatly delighted and their\neyes expanded with joy, the king of the monkeys, thought that the\naccomplishment of the great wort was near at hand, and was accordingly\ngreatly delighted.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXIV.\n\n\nBeing thus addressed by Sugriva, the monkey Dadhimukha, delighted, bowed\nunto him, Raghava and Lakshmana. And adoring Sugriva and the highly\npowerful descendants of Raghu, he along with other heroic monkeys,\nleaped up in the sky. He went away with the same speed with which he\ncame and leaping down on the earth from the sky, entered the orchard.\nAnd entering that forest he beheld all the leaders of the monkeys\nspending the hours delightedly, having passed urine, the outcome of\nhoney. And approaching them, the heroe, with folded hands and delighted,\naddressed Angada, with the following words--\"O gentle one, do thou not\ntake offence, for these monkeys, protecting the garden enraged,\nunweetingly prevented thee. O thou of great strength, thou art worn out\nwith thy long journey, do thou drink thy own honey, thou art our prince\nand the master of this garden. It behoveth thee to forgive us for our\nwrath arising out of ignorance. Like unto thy sire before, thyself and\nSugriva are the lords of these monkey hosts, O thou foremost of them,\nand none else. O innocent prince, I have related all about this unto thy\nuncle. When I described unto him, the arrival of all these forest\nrangers, as well as of thine accompanied by them, and the destruction of\nthis garden by you all, he was not the least offended, rather delighted.\nAnd worked up with joy thy uncle Sugriva, the lord of earth and monkeys,\nsaid \"Send them all here speedily.\" Hearing those words from Dadhimukha,\nAngada, the foremost of the monkeys and skilled in speech, addressed\nthem all, saying--\"O ye leaders of the monkey hosts, I fear, Rama hath\nheard all about this. Dadhimukha relates everything joyfully and hence I\ninfer this. And our work finished, O slayer of foes, it doth not behove\nus to remain here (any longer). You have all drunk honey at your\npleasure and there is nothing left and you should now go where the\nmonkey king Sugriva is. O leading monkeys, I shall follow what you will\nin a band desire me to do. In actions I am surbordinate unto you all. I\nam not justified to command although I am a prince. You are all of\naccomplished actions, it is not proper to repress you forcibly. \"\nHearing those sweet words of the prince Angada, the monkeys delightedly\nreplied, saying--\"O king, O foremost of monkeys, who else can speak thus\nbeing a master? Any one else, we think, is proud of his wealth. Such\nlike words become thee only and none else. Thy humility speaks of thy\nfuture greatness. We are all anxious to go there, where Sugriva, the\nking of the monkeys, is. Verily we speak unto thee, O foremost of\nmonkeys, that without thy permission, none amongst us, is capable of\nadvancing a single step.\" They addressing him thus, Angada replied--\"All\nright, let us all go.\" Saying this he leaped up in the sky and was\nfollowed by all those monkeys, clouding the welkin as if with stones\nthrown up by a tool. And placing before them Angada and Hanuman, the\nmonkeys leaping vehemently up in the sky roared like unto clouds driven\nby the wind. And Angada nearing, Sugriva, the lord of the monkeys, spoke\nunto the lotus-eyed Rama, stricken with grief, saying--\"May good betide\nthee. Do thou console thyself. The worshipful dame has been found out;\nthere is not the least doubt about it. Or else they would not have come\nas the time is already past. I (further more) infer this from Angada's\njoy, O thou of auspicious presence. Without being successful in his\nmission, the large-armed prince, Angada, the foremost of the monkeys,\nwould not have come to me. If the monkeys had engaged in such an unfair\nproceeding without being successful in their mission, Angada would have\nlooked poorly and his mind would have been over-whelmed with grief and\nforgetfulness. And without beholding the daughter of the king Janaka\nthey would not have dared to destroy _Madhuvana_ obtained and preserved\nby my forefathers. Do thou console thyself, O Rama, by whom Kaucalya\nhath become the mother of a good son. O thou, rigidly observing any\nreligious vow or obligation, forsooth hath Hanuman beheld the worshipful\ndame and none else. No other wight is so qualified an instrument in\nencompassing this end. O thou of excellent intellect, Hanuman knoweth\nthe art of success, is gifted with intellect, perseverance and courage\nand is versed in _Sastras_. That work cannot fail, which is worked out\nby Jambavan and Angada and presided over by Hanuman. Be not laden with\nanxiety, O thou of unmitigated prowess. These monkeys have come here\nexcited with pride and drink. They would not have come with such a\ngrandeur had they been but unsuccessful. From their breaking down the\norchard and drinking honey I inferred so. Thereupon he heard in the sky\nthe joyous sounds of the monkeys proud on account of Hanuman's work,\nproceeding towards Kishkindha and as if announcing their success.\nThereupon hearing the noise of these monkeys, Sugriva, their chief,\nbeing greatly delighted, uplifted his tail. And placing Angada and\nHanuman before them those monkeys proceeded to behold Rama. And those\nheroes headed by Angada, delighted and intoxicated, descended before\nRaghava and the lord of the monkeys. And the mighty-armed Hanuman,\nlowering his head, related unto Raghava, Sita's spiritual and physical\nwell-being. And hearing from Hanuman the sweet words that he had beheld\nSita, Rama and Lakshmana were greatly delighted. And being confirmed\nthus by the Wind-god's son, Lakshmana, greatly pleased, respectfully\nlooked towards Sugriva. And Raghava too, the slayer of foes, worked up\nwith joy, cast respectful looks towards Hanuman.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXV.\n\n\nThereupon getting at the Mount _Prasravana_ surrounded by a variegated\nforest, lowering their heads unto the mighty Rama and Lakshmana, placing\nbefore them their prince (Angada) and bowing unto Sugriva, the monkeys\nbegan to relate the story of Sita. And they described unto Rama, the\nconfinement of Sita in Ravana's seraglio, the remonstrances of the\nshe-demons, her unflinching attachment in her lord and the time\nappointed (by the Rakshasa for her destruction). And hearing of\nVaidehi's well-being Rama said--\"O monkeys where liveth the worshipful\nSita? And how is her attachment unto me? Do ye relate everything unto\nme.\" Hearing those painful words of Rama, the monkeys desired Hanuman,\nconversant with the whereabouts of Sita, to describe every thing unto\nhim. Hearing their words, Hanuman, the Wind-god's son, versed in the art\nof speech, lowering his head in Sita's name and towards the southern\ndirection (where she liveth) began to relate how he succeeded in\nbeholding Sita. And conferring on (Rama) the heavenly jewel set on a\ngolden leaf and burning with its own effulgence, Hanuman, with folded\nhands, began--\"Anxious to behold Sita, the daughter of the king Janaka,\nI, ploughing over the main extending over a hundred _yojana_, wended my\nway and by and by reached Lanka, the capital of the vicious-souled\nRavana. Lanka is situated on the southern bank of the southern occean.\nAnd I saw there Sita, in the inner appartment of Ravana. Centering all\nher thoughts in thee, breathes that damsel, O Rama. I saw her reviled by\nthe she demons again and again. She is being guarded in that garden by\nthe grim-visaged Rakshasees. And that worshipful dame, O hero, ever used\nto happiness, is now stricken with grief in thy absence. Confined in\nRavana's inner apartment, well protected by those she-demons, wearing a\nsingle braid of hair and poorly, she is engaged only in thoughts\ntouching thee. She in lying on earth, shorn of all grace like unto a\nlotus on the appearance of the winter. She hath not the least attachment\nfor Ravana and is resolved upon putting an end to her existence. O\nKakutstha, O innocent prince, after enquiring for sometime, I found that\nworshipful dame devoted unto thee, and narrating the glories of the\nIkshwaku race, O foremost of men, I created her confidence by and by,\nand addressing her I related everything. And hearing of the friendship\nbetween thee and Sugriva she was greatly delighted. And she has her\nrespect for thee unshaken and all her actions are for thee. O great man,\nO thou best of men, I beheld the daughter of Janaka in this plight,\nengaged in hard austerities and ever devoted unto thee. O thou of great\nintelligence, O Raghava, offering me (this jewel) as a token, she wanted\nme to relate unto thee, the occurrence at the mount _chitrakuta_\nregarding the crow. And Janaki addressing me said--'O Wind-god's son, do\nthou describe everything of what thou hast seen here, unto Rama. And\nrelating everything before Sugriva, do thou present him with this jewel\nwhich has been preserved by me with great care. I have kept with great\ncare this excellent jewel of great effulgence. Do thou remind him of the\nmark which he made on my forehead with red arsenic. O innocent monkey,\ngreatly delighted am I on beholding the brilliant jewel which he has\nsent through thee. Breathe shall I only for a month, beyond that I shall\nnever live, subject as I am to the demons.' Thus was I accosted by Sita,\nreduced to a skeleton, observing pious observances, shut up in Ravana's\ninner apartment and having eyes like those of a hind. I have described\nunto thee everything, O Raghava, do thou make arrangements for bridging\nover the ocean.\" And considering those two princes greatly consoled, the\nWind-god's son handed over that token unto Raghava and described\neverything from the beginning to the end.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXVI.\n\n\nBeing thus accosted by Hanuman, Rama, the son of Dacaratha, placing that\njewel on his breast, wept with Lakshmana. And beholding that excellent\njewel, Raghava, stricken with grief, with eyes full of tears, spake unto\nSugriva, saying,--\"Forsooth my heart melteth on beholding this jewel as\nmilk trickleth down from the udders of a cow on beholding its calf. This\njewel was conferred on Sita. by my father-in-law at the time of our\nwedding, and to enhance its beauty, she wore it on her head. And this\njewel, obtained from the bed of the ocean, was conferred on him (Janaka)\nby the intelligent Sakra, greatly delighted for being adored in a\nsacrifice. O gentle one, this bringeth back to my mind, the memory of my\nfather, and father-in-law the king of Videha. This excellent jewel\nappeared beautiful on the crown of my dear one, and methinks, on\nbeholding it, I have as if got back my beloved spouse. Do thou relate\nunto me again and again, O gentle one, what Vaidehi hath said, as if\nsprinkling me with the water of her words like unto one rendered\nsenseless. What greater grief can there be, O Saumitri, that I behold\nthe jewel obtained from the ocean but not Vaidehi? Truly doth Vaidehi\nlive for a long time if she breathes for a month. But O hero, I cannot\nlive for a moment even without that one having dark-blue eyes. Do thou\ntake me there where thou hast beheld my dear spouse. I cannot live for a\nmoment while I have received intelligence about her. How liveth that\ntimid damsel, having a beautiful waist, being terrified, amidst the\nterrible and grim Rakshasees? Truly her countenance is not appearing\nbeautiful like unto the autumnal moon, enveloped with clouds, although\ncleared off the darkness. Do thou relate unto me in sooth, O Hanuman,\nwhat Sita hath spoken unto thee. I shall live by these words, as the\nsick are cured by medicine. O Hanuman, what halh my dear wife,\nsweet-speeched, and highly beautiful, spoken unto thee, being separated\nfrom me? How breathes she going through a series of calamities?\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXVII.\n\n\nBeing thus addressed by the high-souled Raghava, Hanuman, related unto\nhim all of what Sita had said,--\"O foremost of men, the worshipful\nJanaki, related as a token, all the incidents at the Mount _Chitrakuta_\nfrom the beginning to the end. Sleeping happily with thee, Janaki one\nday awoke before, and in the meantime, a crow wounded her breast with\nits beaks. O Rama, thou wert then asleep on Sita's lap and that crow\nagain afflicted the worshipful dame. And it again wounded her. And being\nbathed in blood and suffering terrible pangs, that worshipful dame\naroused thee. O slayer ol foes, O thou of mighty-arms, seeing her breast\nwounded, thou, wroth like a serpent, didst speak saying-- 'O timid\ndamsel, who, with his nails, hath wounded thy breast? Who hath played\nwith an angry serpent having five faces?' And casting thy looks around\nthou didst behold a crow facing the worshipful dame with sharpened nails\nbesmeared with blood. That crow, the best of the birds, was Sakra's son.\nAnd it entered speedily into the earth with the velocity of the wind.\nThereupon, thy eyes rolling with ire, thou, O mighty armed hero, O\nforemost of the intelligent, didst resolve to destroy that crow. And\ntaking a _kuca_ off thy seat thou didst set it on Brahma weapon. And it\nflamed like unto the fire of dessolution before that crow. And thou\ndidst let off that burning _kuca_ towards that bird. And thereupon that\nburning _kuca_ followed the crow. And being forsaken even by the\ncelestials, who were terrified, and ransacking the three worlds it did\nnot get a refuge. Thereupon it again came to you, O subduer of foes. And\nseeking thy shelter it laid itself low on the ground. And O Kakutstha,\nthou didst save it albeit it was worthy of being slain. And thinking it\nimproper to baffle the aim of the weapon, thou didst, O Raghava, destroy\nthe right eye of the crow. Thereupon bowing unto thee and the king\nDacaratha, that crow, bidding adieu, went to its quarter. O Raghava,\nthou art the foremost of those skilled in the use of weapons, powerful\nand gifted with an excellent character, why dost thou not discharge\nweapons towards the Rakshasas? The celestials, the Gandharvas, the\nAsuras, the Marutas--none of them is qualified, O Rama, to equal thee in\nconflict. If thou, gifted with great prowess, hast any affection for me,\ndo thou speedily, with well-armed shafts, destroy Ravana in conflict.\nAnd obtaining the behests of his brother, why doth not Lakshmana, the\nsubduer of foes and best of men, protect me, O Raghava? Those two best\nof men, gifted with the effulgence of Wind and Fire, and incapable of\nbeing repressed even by the celestials, are disregarding me. Forsooth\nhave I perpetrated a mighty iniquity since those two slayers of foes,\nbeing capable, do not protect me.' Hearing those sweet and piteous\naccents of Vaidehi I again spoke unto that worshipful dame,\nsaying--'Forsooth can I swear by thee, O worshipful dame, that Rama is\nsorely stricken with grief in thy absence. And Lakshmana too relenteth\nheavily beholding him laden with sorrow. It doth not behove thee to\nrelent any more as I have succeeded in finding thee out. Thou shalt at\nthis very moment behold the end of thy grief. And those two princes, the\nforemost of men and slayers of foes, actuated with energy on hearing\nthat I have seen thee, shall reduce Lanka to ashes. And slaying in\nconflict the terrible Ravana, with his kith and kin, Raghava, in sooth,\nO excellent damsel, shall take thee back to his own city. O thou of a\nblameless person, do thou confer on me such a token, as might be\nrecognized by Rama and conduce to his pleasure.' Thereat, casting her\nlooks around, she took out an excellent jewel from her cloth, worthy of\nbeing set on her braid and conferred it on me, O thou of great strength.\nAnd O thou, the most favourite of the Raghu race, taking for thee that\ngem with my hands and bowing unto her, I addressed myself speedily for\ndeparture. And thereupon beholding me ready to depart and increase in\nbulk and about to leap up in the welkin, Sita, the daughter of the king\nJanaka, poorly, bathed in tears, overwhelmed with sorrow and having her\nvoice choked with grief, spake, saying--'Blessed art thou O great\nmonkey, since thou shalt behold the large-armed and the lotus-eyed Rama\nand the highly famed Lakshmana, my lord's younger brother.' And being\nthus accosted by Maithili, I said--'Do thou speedily place thyself on my\nback, O worshipful dame, O thou the daughter of king Janaka, and I shall\nsoon show thee, O great dame, O thou having dark blue eyes, thy lord\nalong with Sugriva and Lakshmana.' Whereto she replied--'This is not the\npious course, O great monkey, O thou the foremost of thy race, that I\nshall, of my own accord, place myself on thy back. And although before\nthis I was touched by the demon, O hero, it was because I could not help\notherwise subject as I was to circumstances. Do thou thyself repair, O\nforemost of monkeys, where those two princes are.' Addressing me with\nthese words she again said--'O Hanuman, do thou relate my well-being\nunto Rama and Lakshmana of leonine prowess, and Sugriva accompanied by\nhis followers. Do thou so describe as the large-armed Raghava may save\nme from this ocean of grief. Do thou narrate unto Rama this my terrible\nsorrow and the affliction by the she-demons. May good betide thee, on\nthy way, O foremost of the monkeys.' Thus the worshipful Sita gave vent\nto these piteous accents. Hearing these words do thou believe that it is\nall well with her.\"\n\nWhereupon, O foremost of men, out of thy love and adoring me for thy\nfriendship, that worshipful dame-- addressed me again, saying--\"Do thou\nthus speak every thing unto Rama, the son of Dacaratha, so that he might\nsoon take me hence, slaying Ravana in battle. O heroe, O slayer of foes,\nif it pleaseth thee, thou mayst relieve thyself of the toil by living in\na secret nook and then proceed to-morrow. O monkey, in thy company, I do\nmomentarily forget the weight of my grief, unfortunate as I am. O thou\ngifted with great prowess, thyself departing, I shall wait for thy\nreturn, but doubt I very much whether I shall live till then. Burnt I\nshall be with the fear of not beholding thee again, wretched and striken\nwith grief as I am. And so I shall be, hereafter, overwhelmed with a\nmightier grief. O hero, besides, I entertain a grave doubt about thy\nassistants, the monkeys and bears. I do not know how shall the host of\nmonkeys and bears and those two princes cross over the mighty main? O\ninnocent monkey of all the creatures three only are qualified to cross\nover the ocean, thyself, Garuda and the Wind. O thou foremost of those\nskilled in speech, what hast thou settled about the accomplishment of\nthis hard work? True it is that thou art alone qualified to accomplish\nthis work, O thou the slayer of inimical heroes--but such manifestation\nof thy prowess shall increase thy glory only. But if Rama, obtaining\nvictory, can take me hence to his own city, it shall redound to his\nglory. It doth not behove the heroic Raghava, to take me away by\nstealth, like unto Ravana capturing me from the forest under a disguise.\nTruly it shall be his becoming work, if Kakutstha, the repressor of\nenemy's host, can take me away, enveloping the city Lanka with his army.\nDo thou therefore initiate that work as becometh that high-souled hero\nand may display his prowess.\" Hearing these sound reasonable and\naffectionate words I gave her the last reply, saying--'O worshipful\ndame, Sugriva, the foremost of the monkeys, the lord of monkey and bear\nhosts and gifted with manliness, hath resolved upon rescuing thee. He\nhath under his command a number of mighty and courageous monkeys gifted\nwith great prowess and quick-coursing like imagination. Their course is\nnever thwarted--whether going upwards or downwards--or moving\ntortuously. They are never exhausted in their actions-- highly\ncourageous and of measureless prowess. And those great and powerful\nmonkeys, coursing in the air, have again and again circumambulated the\nearth. Sugriva hath many monkeys--my equal--and greater than I, but none\nof inferior strength. While I have crossed over the main--what of these\nmighty heroes? The leading heroes are never sent on a mission but only\nthose of inferior merit. No more of bewailing, O worshipful dame. Do\nthou remove thy grief. And with one leap these leaders of monkey-hosts\nshall reach Lanka. O great damsel, these two princes, placing themselves\non my back shall come to thee like unto the rising Sun and Moon. Thou\nshalt soon behold before Lanka's gate Raghava the slayer of foes\nresembling a lion and Lakshmana with a bow in his hand. And thou shalt\nsoon observe in a band the heroic monkeys, gifted with the strength of\nlions and tigers, and having nails and teeth for their weapons. And thou\nshalt soon hear the roaring of the leading monkeys on the summit of\nmount Malaya, resembling the muttering of the clouds. And thou shalt\nsoon behold Raghava, the slayer of foes, installed along with thee on\nthe throne of Ayodhya after returning from the forest.\" And that\ndaughter of the king of Mithila although heavily laden with sorrow in\nthy absence was greatly comforted and pleased by my auspicious words\nboding the fulfilment of her desire.\n\nEND OF SUNDARAKANDAM.","title":"The R\u0101m\u0101yana, Volume 2. \u0100ranya, Kishkindh\u0101, and Sundara K\u0101ndam","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":188175}