Part 43

And the powerful Hanuman, heard from the beginning to the end (the bewailings) of Sita, the story of Trijata's dream and the threats of the Rakshasees. And beholding the worshipful damsel, living in the forest of Asoka, like unto a celestial damsel in the garden of Nandana, the monkey entered in a maze of anxious thoughts. "At length my watchful eyes have seen her, whom have been seeking in vain, the thousands and millions of the monkeys in all directions and quarters. Truly have I seen her to-day, engaged as I have been as a spy to estimate the strength of the ememy and am ranging secretly everywhere. I have seen minutely the city of the Rakshasas, and the strength of Ravana, the lord of Rakshasasas. It now remains to console the spouse of Rama of incomparable power, and kind unto all, who panteth for her lord. I shall console this damsel, having the countenance of the full moon, who had never seen grief before, and who shall not soon reach its end. And if I go away without soothing this chaste lady, who is almost senseless with grief, I shall be blamed of neglect of duty. And if I go away, the royal daughter, the famed Janaki, finding no means of safety, shall, for certain, renounce her life. She is worthy of being consoled like unto the great armed (Rama) having the countenance of the full-moon and anxious to behold Sita. It is not proper to speak before the Rakshasas-- What shall I do then? I am in very great difficulty. If I do not console her at this latter end of the night, surely shall she renounce her life. How shall I answer Rama, without consoling Sita of comely stature, when he will ask me "What message from my Sita?" And if I speedily repair hence without any information regarding Sita, surely shall Kakuthstha scorch me lifeless with the fire of his angry eyes. And if I urge my lord the king (Biveeshana) to bring his hosts here for Rama, in vain shall be his toil[341]. And seizing the occasion when she shall be free from her demonaic guards, I shall console her in her dire distress. And a puny monkey as I am, I shall speak in Sanskrit[342] which men delight to use. And if I speak Sanskrit like a Brahmana, Sita shall be terrified considering me Ravana. Must I therefore use the language of a common man[343] or else I shall not be able to console the dame of a blameless person. And beholding my monkey shape and hearing my human language she might be afraid again, terrified as she had been before by the band of the Rakshasas. And considering me Ravana wearing shapes at will, that large-eyed and high-minded dame, shall cry piteously for help. And Sita, making a sudden noise, those terrible Rakshasees resembling Death himself and armed with various weapons, shall at once arrive there. And thereupon casting their looks all around and finding me out, those highly powerful and grim-visaged demons shall try to kill or catch me. And beholding me leap from branch to branch and trunk to trunk of big trees they shall be greatly alarmed. And espying my appearance while ranging in the forest, those Rakshasees greatly terrified, shall fill the wood with their wild shouts. And then they shall call (to their assistance) all those Rakshasees engaged in guarding the abode of the lord of the Rakshasas. And they, greatly agitated, shall with vehemence arrive here, armed with darts, arrows, scimitars and various other weapons. And being surrounded by them on all sides, if I do kill that host of demons, tired, I shall not be able to bound over the main. And if that host of skilled demons, succeed in making me a captive, I too shall be in their hands and Sita shall remain ignorant of my object. Or the Rakshasas, pernicious as they are, shall kill the daughter of Janaka, and there shall the great work of Rama and Sugriva, be spoiled. And Janaki liveth in this secret place, girt by the ocean, guarded on all sides by the Rakshasas, difficult of being got at and having all avenues to it shut up. If I am killed or captured by Rakshasas in battle, I do not find any who can help Rama in his enterprise. Myself killed, I do not find any monkey who can leap a hundred leagues across the sea. I am capable of destroying thousands of Rakshasas, but I shall not then be able to get at the other shore of the great ocean. Victory or defeat is uncertain in a battle--I do not (therefore) like to engage in such an uncertain (act). What wise man merges certainty in uncertainty? It is a great sin in me (I own) to talk with Sita--But she will die if I do not talk with her. Works, almost accomplished, when entrusted to an inconsiderate emissary, are generally spoiled, out of season and out of place, like unto darkness driven by the appearance of the sun. All those works, which are generally taken in hand after duly deliberating over their propriety and impropriety, are generally spoiled by those emissaries who are proud of their learning. What shall I do, by which my work is not injured, I am not blamed of foolishness and my crossing over the main doth not become fruitless? What shall I do so that Sita might listen to me without being terrified?" Thinking over this, the intelligent Hanuman arrived at a conclusion. "I shall not disturb her, speaking (all on a sudden) about Rama of unwearied actions, dear unto her and to whom, she is firmly attached. Uttering the name of Rama, the foremost of the Ikshawkus, and of subdued soul and lauding his piety and fame in sweet accents, I shall so manage that Sita might hear and believe them." Beholding the spouse of that high-souled lord of the earth and engaging in this train of thoughts, Hanuman, stationed on a branch of the tree, spoke the following sweet words.

[341] For before that Sita shall renounce her life--T.

[342] The language refined by the strict rules of grammar.--T.

[343] This passage clearly indicates that Sanskrit if not spoken by men, and women of the upper classes of the time when Ramayana was written, was at least understood by them, and was commonly spoken by men of priestly class and other educated persons.--T.

SECTION XXXI.

Meditating thus the highly intelligent monkey spoke in accents, sweet and in such a tone as they might be, heard by Vaidehi. "There reigned a noble and pious king named Dacaratha, highly glorious amongst the Ikshawkus, the lord of the warrior-cars, steeds and elephants. Devoid of envy, high-minded, kind, having truth for Us prowess, the foremost of the Ikshawku race, wealthy and the enhancer of wealth; gifted with royal marks; highly beautiful; the foremost of the kings; famous all over the world of many oceans; the conferrer of happiness and himself happy. His eldest and most beloved son was the Moon-bright Rama, wise and the foremost of those who know the science of the bended bow. He was the protector of his own character, of his own kinsmen, of the whole world of creation and of virtue and subduer of foes. And banished by his old and truthful sire's commands, that hero, along with his wife and brother (Lakshmana) repaired to the forest. And while roaming a-hunting in the forest he slew many a heroic Rakshasa wearing shapes at will. And having heard of the destruction of the Rakshasas of Janasthana and of Khara and Dushana, the illusive Ravana, assuming shapes at will, beguiling Rama, in the forest, stole away his consort--the Janaka's daughter. And roaming the country around in quest of the blameless and worshipful Sita, Rama found a firm friend in Sugriva. And bringing about the destruction of Vali, Rama, the conqueror of others' cities, conferred the monkey-kingdom upon the high-souled Sugriva. And by Sugriva's decree, thousands of monkeys, wearing shapes at will, have been searching that worshipful dame in various directions. And by Sampati's counsel and for that large eyed dame, I have leapt a hundred leagues across the deep. I have at last got her. And such were the form, grace and the marks that Raghava mentioned unto me." Having said this, the foremost of the monkeys ceased. And greatly wondered was Sita hearing those words. Thereupon that timid dame, having good curling hair, raising up her face covered with hairs, looked up to the _Singshapa_ tree. And hearing the words of the monkey and casting her eyes to all directions and quarters, Sita attained an excess of delight, being engaged in thoughts concerning Rama. And looking around her and upwards, she beheld, like unto the rising sun, the Wind-god's son, gifted with inconceivable intellect,--the minister of the king of monkeys.

SECTION XXXII.

And beholding that tawny-colored monkey like unto a mass of lightnings and wearing a white cloth, hidden on the tree, Sita's mind was greatly agitated. And she saw there the humble, sweet-speeched monkey, appearing graceful like unto a collection of full-blown _Asoka_ flowers and having eyes resembling burning gold. And observing that foremost of the monkeys, sitting humbly, that daughter of the king of Mithila, again greatly amazed, thought.--"This monkey is the most terrible of his race and therefore hard to be got at and looked at." Thinking this she again sank in fear. And stricken with grief she again bewailed in piteous accents exclaiming,--"O Rama! O Lakshmana!" And she wept silently and lowly. And then beholding that best of monkeys approach her humbly, the fair daughter of the Mithili's king, thought,--"Is this a dream mine eyes have seen?" And she again looked towards that Wind-god's son, the foremost of the monkeys, the best of those gifted with intelligence, having a huge disfigured countenance, highly accomplished and wearing a dress mentioned before. And beholding him Sita was almost out of breath with fear. And regaining soon her sense the large-eyed damsel again thought, --"I have seen a very inauspicious dream to-day--to see a monkey in a dream is reckoned inauspicious by the sages. May good betide Rama, Lakshmana and my Sire the king of Janaka. It is no dream, I have not slept, worn with grief and trouble as I am. Apart from my lord having the countenance of the full-moon, I have no happiness. Thinking of Rama always and uttering his name, each sight I see and each sound I hear brings him to my eye or ear. And therefore his form appearing in my mind is distressing me to-day, who am entirely sunk in his thoughts. And thinking of him always I see him before me and hear his words. Methinks this is but a phantom of the mind. And thinking this I still behold the same. But an imaginary object can never have a form. And I still find a distinct form addressing me. Be glory to Vachaspati, Indra, the self existent Brahma, the lord of fire and may they so grant that the creature who hath spoken before me, be real and not imaginary."

SECTION XXXIII.

Thereupon coming down from the tree, Hanuman, the highly effulgent son of Wind, having a coral-red countenance and attired in a humble guise, approached Sita and joining reverentially his palms, addressed her with the following sweet words,--"Who art thou, O thou having eyes like lotus petals and wearing a soiled silken cloth, who art waiting there holding a branch of the tree? Why are the tears of sorrow flowing from thy eyes like unto drops of water falling from lotus petals? Who art thou, O most fair of face, amongst the celestials, Asuras, Nagas, Gandharbas, Rakshasas, and Yakshas and Kinnaras? Do the Rudra's[344] claim thy birth O thou fair damsel? Or the swift gods who ride the storm? Or the Vasus?[345] Thou appearest to me as of a celestial race. Art thou Rohini, the best and most accomplished of the stars, who, reft from the Moon, hath fallen down from the abode of the celestials? Who art thou O blessed dame, O thou having blameless eyes? Art thou, O lotus-eyed damsel, the blessed Arundhuti, who hath fled in wrath or jealous pride from the side of her lord (Vashishtha)? Or O lovely damsel, who is the son, father, brother or husband gone from this world for whom thou art weeping? Yet by thy tears and sighs, by the earth thou art treading and by calling on a monarch's name it appears that thou art not a celestial.[346] But from the marks on thy person it appeareth that thou art either the consort or the daughter of a king. Art thou that Sita, I do ask thee, who had been stolen and borne away by Ravana from Janasthana? May good betide thee! From thy wretched plight, thy unrivalled beauty and thy ascetic garb, thou art, I ween, for certain, the queen of Rama." Hearing those words of Hanuman and greatly delighted at Rama's name, Vaidehi spoke unto him--"I am the daughter-in-law of Dacaratha, knowing his own self, the foremost of the kings of the world and the slayer of the enemy's host, and the daughter of Janaka the high-souled king of Videha. My name is Sita and I am the consort of the highly intelligent Rama. I lived twelve years in Raghava's abode, enjoying every earthly comfort and satisfying every desire. And at the beginning of the thirteenth year the king, advised by his priest, arranged for the installation of the descendant of Ikswakus (Rama) on the throne. And while the articles for the installation were being collected, the queen Kaikeyi addressed her lord saying--'I shall not drink or eat for days and this shall be the end of my existence if Rama be installed. If thou dost not wish to falsify the vow[347] thou made unto me, O best of kings, let Rama then repair to the forest." The monarch was truthful and remembering his vow and hearing the unpleasant and vile words of Kaikeyi lost himself (in grief). And thereupon the old king abiding by truth, weeping, begged of his elslest son, the kingdom. The graceful Rama liked his sire's command more than the installation, and resolving within him, promised to obey his words. Rama, having truth for his prowess, never, for his life, takes back what he gives, never speaks an untruth and always speaks truth. And leaving aside his costly attire, the highly glorious (Rama) renounced with all his heart the kingdom and gave me over to his mother. But myself wearing the garb of an ascetic, repaired speedily before him. Separated from him, I do not like to live even in the celestial region. And the great son of Sumitra,the enhancer of friends' joys, to follow his elder brother, dressed himself in bark and _kusa_. And thus abiding by our sire's behest, and taking firm vows we entered a dreary forest never seen before. While that one, of unmitigated effulgence was thus living in the forest of Dandaka, I, his consort, was stolen by the vicious-souled Rakshasa--Ravana. He hath kindly allowed me two months' respite after which I shall be slain.

[344] The Rudras are manifestations of Siva.--T.

[345] A kind of demi-gods of whom six are enumerated _viz_., Dhava, Druva, Soma or the Moon, Vishnu, Anila or wind, Anala or fire, Prabhusa and Prabhava.--T.

[346] The celestials never shed tears nor touch the ground when they walk.--T.

[347] This refers to the vow which Dacaratha made unto Kaikeyi at the time of the war going on between the celestials and the Asuras.--T.

SECTION XXXIV.

HEARING those words of Sita stricken with grief, Hanuman, the foremost of the monkeys, replied in soothing words, "O worshipful lady, by Rama's decree I come as a messenger unto thee. He is safe and sound, O Vaidehi, and has asked of thy welfare. O worshipful dame, Rama, the son of Dacaratha, the master of the Vedas, and the foremost of those conversant with Vedas hath enquired of thy welfare. And the highly effulgent Lakshmana, the beloved follower of thy husband, worn with grief, bows his reverential head unto thee." Hearing of the welfare of those two lions among men, the worshipful dame, with all her frame worked up with rapture, again spake unto Hanuman, saying--"Verily the wise saw of the people appears to me to be true that once in a hundred years true joy appears to a living man". Sita, at that time, attained such a wonderful joy, as would have been acquired by her in the company (of Rama and Lakshmana). And they confidingly conversed with each other. Hearing those words of Sita,racked with sorrow, Hanuman, the son of the Wind-god drew a little nearer to her. The more Hanuman approached her the more Sita suspected him as Ravana. "Alas! Alas! why have I spoken to him? It is the Ravana, who hath appeared again in a new disguise." And leaving off the Asoka branch, that one having a blameless person, overwhelmed with grief, sat down on the earth. In the meantime the mighty-armed monkey bowed unto Janaka's daughter, but she, worked up with fear, did not cast again her looks towards him. And beholding him bow unto her, Sita, having a moon-like countenance, sighing, spake unto that monkey in sweet accents--"If thou art that Ravana's self, who, changing thy shape by magic art, want to distress me again--this thy vile deed doth not behove thee. Thou art surely that Ravana, whom I saw at Janasthana, in a mendicant's guise, renouncing his own shape, O night-ranger, O thou wearing shapes at will! it doth not behove thee to distress me who am poorly and famished with fasts. But no, thou canst not be (the fiend) whom I suspect, since I have such joy from seeing thee. And may good betide thee if thou art Rama's messenger. I do ask thee, O foremost of monkeys, something about Rama that is pleasant unto me. O monkey, do thou relate the glories of my dear Rama. Thou art (thus) shaking my mind O gentle one, like unto water breaking down the banks of a river. Alas! this dream has afforded me immense pleasure since, I, who have been separated from my lord for so long a time, have beheld this monkey sent by Raghava. I do not sink even if I can behold in dream the heroic Raghava along with Lakshmana--but dream even is jealous of my well-being. Nor do I regard this as dream. To behold a monkey in a dream doth not lead to prosperity--whereas I have attained it.[348] Or is it mental derangement? Or have I been possessed by a devil? Or have I run mad? Or is it the sultry vapour floating over sands and appearing at a distance like water? No, it is not madness--for derangement of mind is the sign of madness--I have not lost sense and I do distinctly perceive me and the monkey." Thinking thus in many a way and ascertaining the strength (of the monkey and the Rakshasa) Sita took him for the lord of the Rakshasas, wearing shapes at will. And having arrived at this decision, Janaka's daughter--Sita, ceased from talking with that monkey. And apprised of Sita's thought, Hanuman, the Wind god's son, (replied) in words sweet unto her and enhancing her delight--"Bright as the sun that lights the sky and dear as the moon to every eye, he pleases all his subjects with bounties like unto those of Vaisrabana.[349] He is gifted with prowess like unto the greatly famed Vishnu, truthful and sweet-speeched like unto Vachaspati.[350] Graceful, grateful to the eye and beautiful like unto Kandarva's[351] self, he displays his wrath in a proper quarter--the foremost of men and of a mighty car. The whole world of creation (liveth safe) in the shadow of the arms of that high-souled one. Thou shalt soon see the consequences he shall reap by whom, assuming the shape of a dear, Raghava was taken away from the hermitage and thou wert stolen away from that lonely place. And soon shall that powerful (hero) destroy Ravana in the battle, with fiery arrows, discharged angrily. I have been sent by him as a messenger to thee. Worn with grief in thy separation he hath enquired of thy welfare, as well the highly effulgent Lakshmana, the enhancer of Sumitra's joy, bowing reverentially unto thee. The king of monkey hosts, by name Sugriva--Rama's friend, hath also enquired of thy welfare, worshipful dame. Rama, Sugriva and Lakshmana, have thee always in their minds. Blessed are we, O Vaidehi, that thou dost still live, subject as thou art to the Rakshasees. Thou shalt soon behold Rama, and Lakshmana of a mighty car, and Sugriva of unmitigated prowess in the midst of the million of monkey hosts. I am Sugriva's minister, by name Hanuman. I have entered this city of Lanka after crossing over the great main. And by means of my prowess and placing my feet on the head of the vicious-souled Ravana, I have come here to see thee. I am not he (Ravana) for whom thou art taking me, O worshipful dame. Do thou renounce thy suspicion and rely on my words."

[348] Here prosperity means joy--Sita attained an immense treasure of joy on beholding Rama's messenger--Hanuman--T.

[349] Another name of Kuvera, the god of gold.--T.

[350] The god of speech.--T.

[351] Cupid or the god of love in Hindu mythology described as the most beautiful of the celestials.--T.

SECTION XXXV.