Part 16

O mighty armed Rama of great prowess, formerly my beauty, beyond conception, was known all over the three worlds, like unto the beauty of the Sun, the Moon and Indra. I used to frighten everywhere the ascetics living in the forest by turning this my beauty into a terrific form. Once on a time assuming this terrible shape I assailed and enraged the great ascetic _Sthulashira_ collecting diverse wild fruits. Thereupon he imprecated curses upon me, saying "Do thou retain this ghastly shape hated of all mankind." Upon my praying unto that angry ascetic for my relief from that curse, he said--"Thou shalt regain thy stalwart and beautiful shape when thou shalt be burnt by Rama in a dense forest having got thy arms dissevered by him. O Lakshmana, know me to be the beautiful son of Danu. Through Indra's curse in the battle field I have been metamorphosed into my present shape. After I had pleased him with hard austerites, the Grand-Father of the celestials conferred on me a long life. And therefore I was inflamed with pride and assailed Indra in a conflict, thinking within me, 'I have gained a long life--what can Indra do me?' Thereupon by his thunderbolt, having hundred edges, hurled off his hands, my thighs were shattered and my head thrusted into my body. Myself praying for the close of my life, he did not despatch me to the abode of Yama. He only said "May the words of the Grand Sire prove true." Whereto I replied 'How shall I live long without any food, being smitten by thee having a thunderbot in thy hand, and having my head, thighs and mouth crushed down?' Thereat Indra made my hands extending over a _Yajana_ and placed my mouth, having sharpened teeth, on my belly. Thenceforth, stretching out my long arms I used to devour all lions, tigers, wolves and deer ranging the forest. Indra said to me, Thou shalt attain to heaven when Rama, along with Lakshmana, shall cut off thy arms in a battle.' Acting under the conviction that Rama, resolved to destroy my person, shall surely come within the compass of my arms, I do always assail with relish, O worshipful one, O thou best of kings, every animal I meet with in this forest. Thou art that Rama. May good betide thee, O Raghava. Verily did the great ascetic speak unto me that none should be able to assail me but Rama. Being cremated by you, I shall counsel you best and tell you with whom you should contract friendship." Being thus addressed by Danu, the virtuous-souled Raghava spake before listening Lakshmana, "My renowned spouse Sita was easily ravished by Ravana after I had gone out of Janasthana along with my brother. I know that Rakshasa's name only--but do not know his whereabouts, his figure and his prowess. It behoveth thee to show proper compassion for us, who have been stricken with grief, who are helpless, have been ranging this forest in this way and are ever engaged in the well-being of others[71] O, hero, we shall burn thee after collecting all the branches that have been broken down by the elephants and dried up in time, and digging a big trench. Do thou tell us who hath carried away Sita? And where? If dost thou know it truly do thou perform us this good service." Thereat the Rakshasa, skilled in speech, spake unto Raghava, addressing him thus--"I am not gifted with divine fore-sight and therefore do not know where Maithilee is. I shall let you know of him who shall be able to tell you all about her, after I resume my original shape, being burnt (by thee). I shall furthermore tell thee, O Rama, who knows that Rakshasa. Without being burnt I am incapable of being cognizant of that highly powerful Rakshasa who hath carried away thy Sita. By the influence of curse, I have lost my fore-sight and by my own improper actions I have been transformed into this ugly figure. Do thou cremate me according to the prescribed rites after throwing me into the ditch before the sun, with his worn out carriers descends into the western horizon. Being burnt by thee in the ditch, with due ceremonials, O descendant of Raghu, I shall mention, unto thee, one who knows that Rakshasa. O Raghava, O fleet-footed hero, do thou contract friendship with him gifted with good qualities and he shall assist thee. There is nothing unknown to him, O Raghava in the three worlds. Formerly for some reasons he had travelled all over them."

[71] This Sloka may be rendered in another way:--Do thou continue benifitting us by showing proper compassion for us, who are stricken with grief helpless and ranging the forest in this way. We have however adopted here the commentator Ramanuya's explanation.--T.

SECTION LXXII.

After _Kavandha_ had spoken thus, the two best of men, Rama and Lakshmana took him to a mountain-cave and placed on fire. Lakshmana kindled the funeral pile, which was ablaze on all sides. Thereupon the fire began to burn down slowly the huge and corpulent body of _Kavandha_ like unto a lump of clarified butter. Afterwards the highly powerful demon, shaking the funeral pile, rose up quickly like a smokeless flame of fire, wearing a clean cloth and a celestial garland. And the graceful demon, wearing an unsullied cloth and having all its limbs crested with diverse ornaments, rose from the pile high up in the welkin with a delighted heart. Thereupon mounting on a famed car, brilliant and drawn by swans[72] and lighting up all the quarters with the effulgence of his person, that highly powerful one, stationing himself in the heaven, addressed Rama, saying:--"Do thou hear truly, O Raghava, of the means by which thou shalt come by Sita. There are six expedients,[73] O Rama, by virtue of which kings acquire all objects. He, in whom misfortune hath culminated, should seek the company of one such.[74] Thou hast, O Rama along with Lakshmana, met with the culmination of misfortune and for which thou hast been assailed with such a disaster as the ravishment of thy spouse. O thou best of my friends, it behoveth thee, therefore to make friends with such a person. Or else I do not find any means for thy success. Do thou hear, O Rama, what I relate. There liveth with four monkeys a heroic, self-controlled monkey by name Sugriva, on that best of mountains _Rishyamuka_, situated on the banks of the lake Pampa, being driven by his enraged brother Vali, the son of Indra. That mighty, powerful, effulgent lord of monkeys, of immeasurable prowess and truthful vows, humble, patient, intelligent, great, expert, bold, graceful and puissant, hath been banished by his brother, O hero, for kingdom. Surely he shall befriend and assist thee in thy search for Sita. Do thou not plunge thy soul in grief. O thou best of Ikshwakus, none can withstand destiny on this earth, truly unavoidable is it course. Do thou proceed soon, O hero, to Sugriva of mighty prowess, and repairing hence even to-day do thou contract friendship with him, taking vow in the presence of flaming fire[75] that ye shall not envy each other. Despise not that kingly monkey Sugriva, because he is grateful, capable of assuming shapes at will, seeking protection and powerful. Ye too are able to accomplish his wished-for object. Benefitted by thee or not, he shall engage in thy service. He was begotten of the Sun unto the wife of _Rikhyraja_. He hath been roaming the bank of Pampa being in constant fear of Vali after creating enmity with him. Do thou make friends with that monkey ranging the wood and inhabiting the Rishyamuka mountain after placing thy weapon in the very presence of fire as a witness, because that best of monkeys knoweth minutely all the abodes of Rakshasas, living on human flesh. There is no place under the sun of many rays, O Raghava, O slayer of foes, unknown to him. Exploring, with all his monkeys, the rivers, huge mountains, strongholds and caves, he shall learn about thy spouse. He shall search that exquisitely fine damsel Maithili in Ravana's abode, bewailing on thy separation; and to find her out he shall despatch, O Raghava, many a monkey of huge proportions to various quarters. Whether on the summit of the mount Meru or in the region under the earth, that lord of monkeys, shall give thee back thy blameless spouse, killing all the Rakshasas."

[72] By virtue of the pious observances performed by him in his previous existence and for his being burnt by Rama that celestial car appeared there.--T.

[73] The six expedients are as follow--(1) _Sandhi_, peace, (2) _Vigraha_, war-fare. (3) _Yana_, military expedition against an enemy. (4) _Ashana_--halting. (5) _Daidhibhava_--sowing dissension. (6) _Samashrarya_ seeking protection.--T.

[74] This is a moral law referring to the sixth expedient, to be resorted to by the kings--namely _Samashrarya_ or seeking protection.--T.

[75] This refers to the oriental custom of performing every sacred rite in the presence of fire as witness. The Hindus regard the fire with sacred reverence and for this in all their social and religious ceremonials fire plays a very prominent and sacred part--T.

SECTION LXXIII.

Having pointed out unto Rama the expedient for finding out Sita the wise _Kavandha_ began with the following significant words:--"This is the way, O Rama, leading to the mount Rishyamuka, where stand, beautifying the West, the _Jambu_,[76] _Priala_,[77] _Panaca_,[78] _Nagrodha_,[79] _Plaksha_,[80] _Tinduka_,[81] _Ashathya_,[82] _Karnikar_,[83] _Chuta_,[84] _Naga_,[85] _Tilaka_,[86] _Naktamal_,[87] _Neelashok_,[88] _Cadamva_,[89] _Karavira_,[90] _Agnimukhya_,[91] _Asoka_, _Raktachandan_,[92] _Paribhadraka_,[93] and many other trees. Ascending those trees or lowering them by force on earth, do thou proceed living on those fruits like unto ambrosia. Passing by this forest, O Kakuthstha, thou shalt reach another abounding in trees blooming with flowers like unto the garden of celestials and _Uttarkuru_ where in all the months of the year the trees produce fruits and honey and where all the seasons dwell as in the forest of _Chaitkraratha_.[94] There stand beautifully many a tree lowered down with the burden of fruits, containing towering branches, dense as a collection of clouds or a mountain. Ascending those trees and lowering them, Lakshmana shall offer thee, fruits like unto ambrosia. O heroes, ranging from forest to forest, from high mountains to hillocks, ye shall get at the lake Pampa, void of gravels and acquatic plants and hence there is no danger of falling down to the people, having level watering-places, covered with sands and blooming with red and white lotuses. There emit forth musical notes, swans, frogs, cranes and ospreys sporting in the lake Pampa. They are not filled with terror in view of human beings, inexperienced as they are in the matter of destruction. O Raghava, do ye fare on those plump birds like unto a lump of clarified butter and diverse fishes such as _Rohita_,[95] _Chakratunda_,[96] and _Nala_.[97] O Rama, the devoted Lakshmana, shall offer unto thee, various other best fishes, devoid of scale and fins, plump, filled with bones, having destroyed them with shafts and roasted them in fire. And after thou hadst feasted on them, Lakshmana shall bring thee water for drinking on a lotus leaf, smelling like a lotus, coming in contact with flowers, delicious, pleasantly cold, wholesome, void of impurities, transparent like silver and crystal. And while roaming in the evening he shall point out unto thee fat monkeys ranging in the wood and lying in the hollows of mountains. And thou too, O best of men, shalt behold those fat monkeys, who had drunk water, roaring like unto oxen appearing on the banks of a river to drink water. And rambling in the evening, thou shalt assuage thy grief beholding the pleasant water of Pampa and blossoming trees. There, O Raghava, the _Tilakas_ and _Naktamalakas_, crested with flowers and full blown white and red lotuses shall mitigate thy sorrows. There liveth no person who wears garlands of those flowers. Garlands strung with those flowers never wither away, O Raghava, because the disciples of the great ascetic Matanga lived there with concentrated hearts. Drops of perspiration, falling on the earth from the persons of those ascetics worn out with the burden of the wild fruits collected by them for their spiritual guide, have been transformed by virtue of their asceticism unto these garlands. These garlands do never wither, O Raghava, because of their origination from those drops of perspiration. Even at the present day, O Kakuthstha, there liveth an immortal mendicant woman, by name _Savari_, who had waited in attendance upon those departed ones. Beholding thee, O Rama,who art adored of all creatures like unto the Deity Himself, that mendicant woman, ever engaged in pious observances, shall attain to the abode of celestials. O Rama, turning to the western bank of Pampa, thou shalt, O Kakuthshtha, behold the incomparable and secret asylum of Matanga. Fearing the divine authority of that great ascetic Matanga, the elephants, though there are many, dare not cross the threshold of his asylum. O Raghava, this forest is widely known as Matanga-wood. Thou shalt sport, O Rama, with a delighted heart in that forest resembling the celestial garden--_Nandana_ and filled with various birds. There stands in front of Pampa the highly inaccessible mount _Rishyamuka_, ornamented with many a blossoming tree and guarded on all sides by little serpents. That mount is highly munificient. It was created by Brahma in the days of yore. A person, sleeping on the summit of that hill and dreaming of an accession of wealth, really gets at it after the dream is over. A perpetrator of iniquitous deeds and engaged in impious observances ascending that hill, the Rakshasas seize upon him, asleep, and bruise him. Thou shalt hear the terrible roar of the young elephants ranging in the asylum of Matanga, situated on the banks of Pampa. Thou shalt furthermore observe many a quickly moving, infuriated elephant, resembling clouds in hue and with red temporal juice oozing out of their heads, roaming here and there sometimes separately and again in a band. Those mighty elephants, roaming the forest, return to their woody homes, drinking the pleasant, pure and sweet smelling water of Pampa. And do thou assuage thy grief, beholding there the bears, wolves and _Rurus_ of a tender countenance like unto sapphire, who are harmless and never afraid of human beings. There is a huge cave, O Rama, in that mountain, covered on all sides with rocks and where it is very hard to enter. At the entrance of that cave lies a beautiful, wide lake of cool water, hedged on all sides with trees abounding in fruits. There liveth with other monkeys the virtuous-souled _Sugriva_, who sometimes resideth on the summit of the hill." Having thus addressed Rama and Lakshmana, _Kavandha_, highly powerful resembling the sun in effulgence and wearing garlands appeared beautiful on the sky. Thereupon Rama and Lakshmana, preparing to proceed spoke unto that great one stationed in the sky, saying, "Do thou go." Whereto _Kavandha_ replied, saying "Do ye proceed to make good your end" and bidding them adieu, who were well pleased, departed. Regaining his pristine beauty and shining in grace and effulgence that _Kavandha_, who was on the sky, fixing his looks upon Rama, and pointing out unto him his way, said "Do thou make friends with (Sugriva)".

[76] A fruit-tree, the rose apple--_Lat. (Eugenia Jambolana)_.--T.

[77] A tree commonly _Piyal--Lat. (Buchanania latifolia)_.--T.

[78] The bread fruit or _Jaka_ tree--_Lat. (Artocarpus integrifolia)_.--T.

[79] The Indian fig-tree--_Lat. (Ficus Indica)_.--T.

[80] Waved leaf fig-tree--_Lat. (Ficus infectoria)_.--T.

[81] A sort of ebony--_Lat. (Diospyros gtutinosa)_.--T.

[82] A holy fig-tree--_Lat. (Ficus religiosa)_.--T.

[83] The name of a tree commonly _Kaniyar--Lat. (Pterospermum acerifolium)_.--T.

[84] The mango--_Lat. (Mangifera Indica)_.--T.

[85] A small tree--_Lat. (Mesua ferrea)_.--T.

[86] A kind of tree commonly _Tila_.--T.

[87] A tree--_Lat. (Galedupaarborea Rex)_.--T.

[88] Blue _Asoka--Lat. (Jonesia Asock)_.--T.

[89] A plant commonly _Kadamva--Lat. (Nauclea Kadamba)_.--T.

[90] A fragrant plant--_Lat. (Oleander or Nerium Odorum)_.--T.

[91] The marking nut plant--_Lat. (Semecarpius anacardium)_.--T.

[92] Red Sandal.--T.

[93] The coral tree--_Lat. (Erythrina fulgens)_.--T.

[94] The garden of the deity _Kuvera_. It is derived from _Chithraratha_--a _Gandharba_ in charge of the garden.

[95] The Rohi fish--_Lat. (cyprinus Rohita Ham)_.--T.

[96] A kind of fish resembling a wheel in appearance.--T.

[97] A kind of sprat, according to some, a shrimp or prawn.--T.

SECTION LXXIV.

Thereupon Rama and Lakshmana, sons of a kingly father, passing along the way, pointed out by _Kavandha_, leading to the lake Pampa, proceeded towards the West. They wending their way desirous of seeing Sugriva, there came within the compass of their vision many trees, grown on the summits of the mountains, blossoming with flowers and abounding in fruits tasting sweet like unto honey. Passing the night on the summit of a hill those two descendants of Raghu arrived at the western bank of Pampa and espied the pleasant asylum of _Savari_. Getting at that charming hermitage covered on all sides with trees and casting their looks around they beheld that female mendicant-- _Savari_. No sooner had that one of perfect asceticism beheld those highly intelligent Rama and Lakshmana than she rose up with folded hands and touching their feet offered them duly water for washing their feet and mouth. Thereupon Rama spake unto that female ascetic, engaged in religious services, saying, "O thou of sweet accents, hast thou got all hindrances to asceticism removed? Is thy asceticism growing stronger every day? O thou having asceticism for thy wealth, hast thou restricted thy anger and fare? Hast thou observed the commandments and attained to mental felicity? Hast thy attendance upon thy spiritual guide borne fruits?" Being thus accosted by Rama that old _Savari_, of accomplished asceticism and recognised by the _Sidhas_, approaching Rama spake:--"Favoured with thy presence my asceticism hath attained to its consummation. Blessed is my birth, fruitful is my service unto my spiritual guides and accomplished is my asceticism. O best of men, thou art the foremost of celestials; worshipping thee I attain to the abode of deities. O gentle one, slayer of foes, thou that dost confer honors on men, thyself casting thy auspicious looks upon me, consecrated I, by thy favour, shall attain to the imperishable land of celestials. On thy setting foot on the mount _Chitrakuta_, the ascetics whom I served, ascending celestial cars of incomparable lustre, departed to heaven. Those great ascetics, cognizant of virtue, said to me, "Rama shall come to thy holy asylum. Do thou receive with great reverence that guest together with Lakshmana. On beholding him, thou shalt attain to that best land of the celestials whence none returneth. O best of men, I was thus told, by those great ascetics, and for thee I have collected various wild fruits growing on the banks of Pampa." Being thus addressed by _Savari_, the virtuous-souled Raghava spake unto her conversant with the knowledge of past and future, saying, "I have heard from Danu, in truth, about thy divine authority as well as that of thy spiritual guides. If thou purposest so I wish to witness it with my own eyes." Hearing these accents dropping from Rama's lips, _Savari_ showing unto them the vast forest said, "Do thou behold, O Raghava, this forest, crowded with deer and birds resembling a dense cloud. This forest is known as Matanga's wood. Here in this forest the pure-souled preceptors sacrificed unto fire their persons consecrated by the _Mantras_ as Mantra itself. This is that altar _Pratyaksthali_, ascending which my worshipful preceptors used to offer flowers unto the deities with hands trembling with toil. Behold, O best of Raghus, this altar of incomparable beauty, by virtue of their asceticism, hath been still shedding its lustre on all the sides. Behold, again, the seven seas have appeared here in conjunction, at their very thought, worn out with fasts and therefore incapable of moving on. Even those barks, which they used to place on these trees after ablution have not yet been dried up. These flowers, of blue colour which they offered unto the deities, being engaged in divine services, have not yet been withered away. Thou hast observed this entire forest and heard every thing worth hearing. I purpose now to renounce my body being commanded by thee. I wish to approach those pure-souled ascetics, whom I used to wait upon, and whom these asylums belong to. Hearing with Lakshmana the speech of that pious one, Rama gained an excess of joy and exclaiming, "Wonderful it is!" again spake unto _Savari_ of keen austerities,--"O gentle one, I have been worshipped by thee. Do thou repair at thy ease and pleasure." Being thus addressed and ordered by Rama, _Savari_, wearing matted locks, rags and the skin of an antelope, surrendered herself unto fire and rose high up in the welkin like onto blazing fire. Adorned with celestial ornaments, wreathed with celestial garlands, sprinkled with sandal-paste and wearing celestial cloth she appeared of exquisite grace and lighted up the quarters like unto lightning. By virtue of her devout meditation, _Savari_ repaired to that holy region when dwelt her spiritual preceptors--the pure-hearted ascetics.

SECTION LXXV.