Part 45

Hearing those words, Sita having a moon-like countenance, again spoke unto Hanuman, words, sound and pious:-- "O monkey, what thou hast said that Rama is not attached unto any other thing and is worn with grief, is like nectar mixed with poison. Whether in the enjoyment of vast riches, or emerged in the abyss of miseries, Death is pulling a man, binding him roughly with a chord. O best of monkeys, people cannot thwart the course of destiny. Behold me, Rama and Saumitri, therefore sunk in miseries. I do not know when shall Raghava get at the other end of the ocean of grief, by displaying his prowess, like unto one, swimming across the ocean when the boat is sunk. I do not know when shall my lord see me, destroying the Rakshasas, killing Ravana and devastating the city of Lanka. Do thou tell him to come before this year expires for till then I shall live. This is the tenth month and two months still remain, O monkey and that is the time appointed by the cruel Ravana. He was entreated very much by his brother Bivishana to restore me but he paid no need to his requests. Ravana doth not desire to restore me (unto Rama) for he has been brought under the influence of Death who is seeking him in battle. Bivishana's eldest daughter, monkey, by name Kala, hath related this unto me, being appointed by her mother. There is a leading, steady, old, intelligent and educated Rakshasa, gifted with a good character, named Abindhya and highly respected of Ravana who told him that the destruction of the Rakshasa race would proceed from Rama, but the vicious-souled one paid no attention to his well-meaning words. I hope, O foremost of monkeys, that my husband shall soon regain me for pure is my soul and he is gifted with many accomplishments. Raghava hath in him, O monkey, energy, manliness, strength, kindness, gratitude and prowess. He brought about without his brother's aid, the destruction of the fourteen thousand Rakshasas at Janasthana. What enemy is not troubled at this? The disaster-creating Rakshasas can never be compared with that best of men. I am cognizant of his prowess as Sachee is of Indra's. O monkey, Rama the Sun, with his arrow-like rays, shall dry up the water--the inimical Rakshasas." Saying this she was overwhelmed with grief on Rama's account, and Hanuman again spoke unto her having her countenance bathed in tears,--"No sooner shall Raghava hear from me than he shall speedily repair hither followed by a huge army of monkeys and bears. Or I shall release thee even to-day from the grasp of that Rakshasa and these miseries. Do thou place thyself on my back, O thou of a blameless person. And having thee on my back I shall leap over the main. I am capable of carrying the city of Lanka even with Ravana. I shall restore thee to-day, O Maithili, unto Raghava on the mount Prasravana, like unto fire carrying unto Indra, the sacrificial offerings. Thou shalt behold to-day, O Vaidehi, Rama along with Lakshmana, making preparations (for the destruction of his enemy) like unto Vishnu, engaged in the destruction of demons. (And thou shalt observe) that highly powerful one, anxious to behold thee and seated like unto Purandara on the summit of that foremost of mountains. Do thou place thyself on my back, O worshipful dame, do thou not neglect it, O beautiful lady, and be thus reconciled unto Rama like unto Rohini restored to the Moon. By the time, that we will take in talking thus, thou shalt reach Rama like Rohini restored to the Moon. Do thou therefore place thyself on my back and I shall cross the ocean sailing by the aetherial way. O fair one, carrying thee from this place, none amongst the inhabitants of Lanka shall be able to follow me. In the same way I have come here I shall return by the welkin, O Vaidehi placing thee on my back." Hearing those surprising words from that best of monkeys, Maithilee, having her entire frame worked up with joy, again bespake Hanumin--"Hanuman, how darest thou take me to such a long distance? O lord of monkey hosts, this attests to thy monkey hood. O foremost of monkeys, little-bodied as thou art, how dost thou desire, to take me hence to my husband the lord of men?" Hearing the words of Sita, the graceful son of the Wind-god Hanuman reflected aside--"This is my first insult. The lotus-eyed dame is not cognizant of my prowess or strength. Vaidehi should therefore learn that I can assume shapes at will." Thinking thus, Hanuman, the foremost of the monkeys and the slayer of foes, showed himself unto Sita, in his true shape. And leaping down from the tree, that best of monkeys began to increase himself to create Sita's confidence. His person appeared like the hill Mandara and the flaming fire. And that best of monkeys having a copper-colored countenance, thunder-like nails and teeth and mountain-like huge body, appeared before Sita and said--"I am capable of carrying this Lanka with her lord, the mountains, forests gardens, buildings, walls and gate-ways. Do thou therefore confide in me, O worshipful dame, and be not suspicious. And O Vaidehi, do thou remove Rama's grief as well as Lakshmana's." Beholding the Wind-god's own begotten son, Hanuman, resembling a huge mountain, Sita, the daughter of Janaka, having eyes resembling lotus-petals, said,--"O great monkey, I know thy strength and bravery, thy air-like motion and thy wonderful fire-like energy. What ordinary man can come here crossing the incomparable ocean. O lord of monkey hosts, I understand that thou art capable of returning and thou shalt be able to carry me. But I should consider now how the work might be accomplished. O foremost of monkeys, I should not go with thee. Perhaps I might lose my sense with thy air-like velocity. When moving terribly thou shalt proceed high up in the welkin, perhaps I shall then fall down. No sooner I shall fall down into the ocean infested with fish and other animals than I shall be an excellent food unto them. O slayer of foes, I shall not be able to accompany thee. For seeing thee carry a woman; they shall surely suspect thee. And finding me stolen, those terribly powerful Rakshasas commanded by the vicious-souled Ravana, shall follow thee. O hero, carrying me and encircled by those heroic Rakshasas with maces and darts in their hands, thou shalt be beset with dangers. And on the sky the Rakshasas shall be armed with weapons and thou shalt be without any. How shalt thou be able to fight and protect me at the same time. And when thou shalt be engaged in conflict with those Rakshasas of terrible deeds, I, O foremost of monkeys, stricken with fear, shall fall down from thy back. O foremost of monkeys those terrible and powerful Rakshasas shall be able to defeat thee a little. And when thou shalt be defeated in battle I shall fall down and those vicious Rakshasas shall carry me away from thy hands or destroy me. Victory or defeat is uncertain in a battle. I shall thus be distressed by those Rakshasas setting up terrible roars and thy endeavours shall be fruitless, O best of monkeys. Thou art capable of destroying the Rakshasas very easily (I admit)--but Rama's fame shall then be soiled if dost thou bring about their destruction. Or the Rakshasas taking me away shall keep me in such a secret place, that neither the monkeys nor Raghava shall be able to ascertain my whereabouts. And all thy preparations for me shall thus be useless. And mighty shall be the result of Rama's coming with thee. O large armed one, the life of Raghava of unmitigated prowess, those of his brothers and of thy royal race are all subject to me. And when they shall give up their hopes of releasing me, they, worn out with grief and anxiety shall renounce their lives along with the monkeys and bears. O monkey, being guided by my love for my husband, I do not like willingly to touch any body's person but Rama's. When Ravana, by force touched my person, I had no other help, for I was then without my lord and therefore was subject to another person. If Rama can take me away from here, destroying the Ten-necked one with all the Rakshasas--he shall then perform the worthy action. I have heard of and myself seen the prowess of the highly-souled (Rama) unconquerable in a battle. There is none amongst the celestials, Gandharbas, Nagas and the Rakshasas who can match him in a conflict Beholding that highly powerful Raghava, in a conflict, like unto Vasava in prowess, holding a wonderful bow and followed by Lakshmana, who can withstand his prowess resembling the flaming fire? O foremost of monkeys, who can withstand Raghava in a conflict, followed by Lakshmana moving like an infuriated elephant and showering shafts like unto the rays of the sun at the time of Dissolution? O best of monkeys do thou speedily bring here my dear one along with Lakshmana and the lord of monkey hosts. O heroic monkey, do thou soon satisfy me, who am stricken with grief in consequence of my long separation from Rama.

SECTION XXXVIII.

Hearing those words, that foremost of monkeys, skilled in speech, was greatly delighted and again addressed Sita in the following words,--"O worshipful lady, O thou of an auspicious presence, what thou hast said, speaks well for a feminine nature and the modesty of a chaste damsel. And because thou art a female, thou art not capable of crossing on my back, the main extending over a thousand leagues. The second argument--I shall not touch any other person's body than Rama's, which thou hast produced, O Janaki! O thou gifted with modesty! truly becometh thee, who art the spouse of that high-souled one. Who else than thee, O worshipful one, can give expression to such words? Truly shall Kakutstha hear from the beginning to the end, O worshipful dame, of thy actions before me, and all thou hast said. For many reasons, I gave vent to such words, O lady,--I am anxious to compass Rama's end, and my heart is melted with affection. It is very difficult to enter this city of Lanka, it is equally hard to cross over the main --but I am capable of doing all these, and hence I gave utterance to all those words. I wish to take thee even today to the descendant of Raghu. It is for my devotion unto him and regard for thee that I said so and for nothing else. If thou dost not wish to go with me, O thou of a blameless person, do thou give me such a token as might create Raghava's confidence." Being thus accosted by Hanuman, Sita resembling the daughter of a celestial, spoke, gently, words with their letters strung on the vapour of grief,--"Do thou mention unto my dear lord (in my words) what had happened unto me while living in the hermitage at the foot of the mount _Pratyanga_, situate on the north-east of Chitrakuta, abounding in roots, fruits and water. 'At no distance from that place frequented by the ascetics flowed the sacred stream Mandakini. While ranging in that woodland fragrant with the odour of many flowers, thou, having thy person wet in consequence of thy sport in the water, didst sit on my lap. A crow, at that time, longing to feed on my flesh, tore my breast With its beak. And I threatened it with a pebble. But it continued tearing my breast as if it sat there to feed on my flesh and therefore did not fly off. Being enraged with that bird, as I tried to tighten the cloth around my waist, it gave way a little, and thou, rising up from thy seat and looking at me, didst laugh over it. And I was greatly enraged with thy laughter and ashamed, and, being wounded by the crow, I approached thee. Thereupon, tired as I was, I sat on thy lap, and, exercised with ire, I was consoled by thee laughing. Now I, having my countenance bathed in tears, gently rubbed my eyes. And I was seen by thee, O my lord, in that wise, greatly enraged with the crow. O Raghava, I slept for sometime, at thy lap, out of exhaustion, and thyself in turn, slept at mine, O elder brother of Bharata. In the meantime, that crow again suddenly approaching, tore my breast with its beak, as I awoke and was rising up from thy lap, O Raghava. Thereupon Raghava awoke with the shedding of blood. Beholding my breast wounded, that larged-armed hero wroth like a serpent, sighing, said,--O thou having thighs like the trunk of an elephant, by whom hath thy breast been wounded? Who wants to play with an angry five-hooded serpent?--Thereupon, casting his looks around, he espied the crow, sitting in my front with its claws besmeared with blood. That crow, best of birds, was the son of the lord of the celestials in disguise. And gifted with air-like velocity, he speedily entered inside the earth. Thereupon that large-eyed hero, best of the intelligent, with his eyes whirling with ire, resolved to destroy that crow. And taking a blade of _Kuca_ off his seat, he tied it to a _Brahma_ weapon. And that blade, facing the bird, appeared with its flaming face, like the fire that would destroy the world. And he hurled that burning blade at the crow. And it pursued the crow high up in the welkin. Being thus pursued, that crow, in order to save himself, traversed various regions. And being then renounced by his father (Indra) and the great ascetics, he, ranging the three worlds, at last resorted to his (Rama's) shelter. And, placing himself on the earth, he sought his shelter, and Kakutstha, out of mercy, saved him, albeit worthy of being killed. And he spoke unto him, greatly famished, of a pale countenance and lying on the earth,--It is impossible to render this _Brahma_ weapon fruitless. Therefore, do thou speak (as to what is to be done.)--He then destroyed the right eye of the crow. Having given up his eye, he saved himself. Then bowing unto Rama as well as king Dacaratha, the crow, liberated by that hero, went to his own abode. 'Thou hadst on my behalf discharged the Brahma weapon even at a crow. Why then, O lord of earth, dost thou forbear him who had carried me off from thee? O foremost of men, do thou dispense unto me thy kindness capable of inspiring hope. O lord, possessing a lord in thee, I (now) appear as if I had none. That kindness is a prime virtue--I have heard even from thee; and I know that thou art exceedingly energetic and possessed of great strength and high courage,--unfettered by considerations of time and space, incapable of being agitated, thou in gravity resemblest the ocean, and like unto that lord of the earth furnished with seas--Vasava. O Raghava, being thus the foremost of those acquainted with weapons, powerful, and possessed of strength, wherefore dost thou not direct thy weapon against the Rakshasas?' Neither _Nagas_, nor Gandharbas, nor the gods, nor the Maruts, are competent to resist the onset of Rama in battle. If that puissant one still retains any regard for me, why doth he not by means of sharpened shafts make root and branch work with the Rakshasas? And why, taking the permission of his brother, that repressor of foes, the heroic Lakshmana gifted with great strength, doth not deliver me? If those foremost of men be indeed equal to Indra and the Wind, and incapable of being repressed even by the celestials, wherefore do they disregard me? Surely I must be guilty of some great crime, since although capable, those subduers of enemies do not look at me.' Hearing Vaidehi's piteous words uttered with tearful eyes, that leader of monkey-bands, the exceedingly energetic Hanuman, said,--"O exalted one, I swear by truth, Rama turneth away his countenance (from every work) in consequence of grief for thee. And Rama being seized with sorrow, Lakshmana burns in grief. Now that I have been able to obtain a sight of thee, this is no season for sorrow. O auspicious one, even now thou shalt witness the end of this woe. Filled with hope from my sight of thee, those foremost of persons, those mighty princes, shall reduce the worlds to ashes. And, O thou of expansive eyes, slaying in battle the wicked Ravana with his allies, Raghava shall take thee back to his palace. Now tell me what I shall communicate unto Raghava, and the highly powerful Lakshmana, and the energetic Sugriva, and all the assembled monkeys." Thus addressed, Sita again spoke unto him, saying,--Do thou on my behalf, bowing down the head, enquire after the welfare of that protector of men whom Kaucalya hath brought forth. Do thou on my behalf, and on account of my words, enquire after the welfare of him, who, renouncing wreaths and gems of all kinds, and beloved damsels possessed of transcendent beauty, and wealth such as is difficult to obtain on this spacious earth; and who, honoring and bowing unto his father and mother, followed Rama,--in whom Sumitra hath an excellent son,--of that righteous one, who, espousing the cause of his brother, renouncing choice happiness, followeth his brother to the forest, ministering unto him; who is lion-shouldered, long-armed, intelligent, and of a prepossessing presence; who beareth himself towards Rama as if he were his sire, and towards me, as if I were his mother; of that heroic Lakshmana who did not know when I was ravished away;--the servant of the elders, crowned with auspiciousness,--who is competent and reineth in his tongue; who is the foremost of those dear unto the king's son,[358] and worthy of my father-in-law; who is dearer [unto Rama) than even my own self; of Lakshmana, brother into Rama; that energetic one who undertaketh even such tasks as he is not equal to, and seeing whom Raghava hath forgotten his deceased sire[359],--him for the sake of my words, thou must ask as to his welfare. Lakshmana is always mild and pure, and dear unto Rama. Do thou speak to him so, that, O best of monkeys, he may remove my miseries. O leader of monkey-bands, do thou bring about success on this undertaking. From this preliminary endeavour of thine, Raghava shall take pains on my behalf.--This also shalt thou say again and again unto that hero--my lord,--'O son of Dacaratha, I shall keep on this life for another month; and this I swear unto thee by truth that I will not live beyond this month. O hero, even as Vishnu rescued Kauciki from the nether regions,[360] it behoveth thee to rescue me, who have ignominiously been confined by the impious Ravana."-- Thereupon, saying,--"Hand this unto Raghava," Sita gave to Hanuman a noble and excellent jewel for the head[361], which was tied up in her attire. Then taking that best of gems, the hero tried to fix it on his finger; but it did not enter into it.[362] And taking the gem, and bowing unto Sita and going round her, that foremost of monkeys remained by her side in humble guise. And experiencing rapture in consequence of his seeing Sita, he mentally presented himself before Rama, and Lakshmana graced with auspicious marks. And taking that costly and superb gem, which by virtue of some power, king Janaka's daughter had managed to hide (from the gaze of the Rashasis), Hanumlan, feeling delighted like one, shaken by the wind blowing on the top of the foremost of mountains, and then getting away from it, prepared to set out.

[358] Rama.

[359] In consequence of the fatherly care of Lakshmana.--T.

[360] According to Kataka, Kauciki is Earth, who was rescued by Narayana from the subterranean regions. According to Tirtha, Kauciki is Indra's Auspiciousness, who on the occasion of the destruction of the Asura, Vritra, took refuge in the nether regions, and was brought back by Vishnu.--T.

[361] _Chudamani._ According to the commentator, the word means _a gem_ worn in the head.--T.

[362] Another meaning is,--"But fearing discovery on account of the brilliance of the jewel, he desisted."--T.

SECTION XXXIX.