Part 46

Having made over the gem, Sita said onto Hanuman,-- "This sign is very well known to Rama. Seeing this gem, that hero, Rama, shall recollect three persons,--his mother, myself, and king Dacaratha, Thou, O foremost of monkeys, wilt again be commissioned on this business. Do thou bethink thee as to what thou wilt do afterwards, when thou hast been entrusted with this task. O foremost of monkeys, thou art capable of compassing this work. Therefore, think as to what course of his (Rama's) shall remove (my) misery. O Hanuman, undergoing toils, be thou instrumental in removing my misery." Saying, "So be it," the Wind-god's offspring of terrible prowess, bowing down the head, prepared to depart. Seeing that (Hanuman) was about to set out, that exalted one, Mithila's daughter, addressed that monkey, son unto the Wind-god, in words choked by the vapour of grief,--"O Hanuman, do thou communicate good news to both Rama and Lakshmana, to Sugriva with his counsellors, and to all the aged monkeys. And, O best of monkeys, in consonance with righteousness, communicate good tidings (unto Rama). And it behoveth thee to strive so that the mighty-armed Raghava may rescue me from this sea of sorrow. And, O Hanuman, do thou speak so that the illustrious Rama may deliver me while I am still alive; and thereby do thou reap righteousness. Ever breathing high spirits, Dacarathi,[363] hearing my words, shall attain an access of manliness for my deliverance. Soon as Raghava shall hear words couching tidings of me, that hero shall duly resolve on displaying his prowess." Hearing this speech of Sita, Hanuman, son unto the Wind-god, with his joined hands raised to his head, said,--"Soon shall Kakutstha come, surrounded by the foremost monkeys and bears; and, vanquishing the foe in fight, shall remove thy grief. Find I none either among men, or Asuras, or celestials, that dares remain before him as he discharges his shafts. For thee, in especial, he can stand in conflict even the Sun, Indra, nay--Yama himself, that offspring of the Sun. For thee, he prepareth himself to conquer the Earth bounded by the main; and victory, thou daughter of Janaka, shall be Rama's." Hearing his words excellently spoken and thoroughly true, Janaki honored them highly, and spoke (as follows). And gazing at him once and again as he prepared to go away, Sita from affection honored the speech which had been uttered (by Hanuroan) out of attachment unto his master,-- "If thou wish it, O hero, do thou, O subduer of enemies, stay here for one day. Having rested in some hidden nook, thou wilt depart to-morrow. O monkey, (if thou dost remain), thy vicinity shall for a moment remove the huge grief of me of slender luck. But even if thou go (passing to-day here), I have, O tiger-like monkey, doubts as to thy return; and, accordingly, doubt, certainly, as to my life. And the grief incident to my not seeing thee shall burn me greatly, even, O monkey, as grief burneth one that is already consumed by sorrow over and over again. And, O hero, O lord of monkeys, this doubt is also before me. How, alas! shall the mighty lord of monkeys, albeit backed by the monkeys and bears, cross over the mighty main hard to cross,--and (how shall) those forces consisting of bears and monkeys or those sons of the best of men (cross over the same)? In all the three worlds, Vinata's offspring, thyself, and the Wind-god, have alone the power of crossing over the deep.--Then, for the accomplishment of this work, difficult to compass, what, O hero, O thou best of those conversant with business, what way dost thou see as to its success? Or thou alone, O destroyer of hostile heroes, art quite enough for the fulfilment of this purpose; and thou shalt reap, in the shape of fame, the fruit of thy achievement. But if (Rama) himself together with all his forces, conquering Ravana and (recovering me) in battle, returned victorious to his own city,--this would be worthy of himself. If blocking up Lanka with his army, that afflictor of hostile hosts, Kakutstha took me (hence), that would be worthy of him. Do thou, therefore, adopt such means that the high-souled heroic warrior may have an opportunity of putting forth prowess. Hearing those words fraught with sense and reason and informed with affection, Hanuman, by way of reply said mildly,--"O revered lady, that foremost of monkeys--the lord of bears and monkeys--Sugriva, possessed of truth, hath made up his mind on thy behalf. That destroyer of Rakshasas, O daughter of Videha, environed by thousands of millions of monkeys, will come hither without delay. And exceedingly powerful and mighty monkeys possessed of prowess, and speeding far with the rapidity of thought, are in his command. Nothing can impede their courses, either upward, or downward, or tending in both directions; and those ones of measureless energy never experience depression in the most arduous undertakings. Braced by their exalted spirits, these, resorting to the aerial way, have many a time and oft circumambulated the Earth containing mountains and meads. There are (in that army) rangers of woods, some equal and some superior to me. And near Sugriva there are none who are inferior to me. And since even I have reached this place, what shall I say of those ones endowed with immense might? Nor are superior (monkeys) sent on errands; it is only the inferior ones that are sent. Then, O exalted one, thou needst not grieve: let thy sorrow depart. Those leaders of monkey-herds will come to Lanka by one bound; and, like unto the risen Sun and Moon, those leonine men, having large numbers to back them, will come to thy side, riding my back. Those heroes and foremost of men, Rama and Lakshmana both, coming to the city of Lanka, shall destroy her by means of their shafts. And slaying Ravana together with his adherents, Raghu's son, taking thee, O paragon among women, shall return to his own city. Therefore, do thou take heart, good betide thee! Do thou remain, eagerly wishing for the time. It will not be long before thou shalt behold Rama resembling flaming fire. On the lord of Rakshasas being slain along with his counsellors and friends, thou shalt meet with Rama, even as Rohini meeteth with the Moon. O worshipful one, speedily shalt thou behold the other shore of thy misery, O Maithili; and thou shalt see Ravana slain by Rama by might of arm." Having thus solaced Videha's daughter, Hanuman, son unto the Wind-god, again spoke unto Vaidehi, saying,--"Soon shalt thou behold that destroyer of foes, Raghava of subdued soul, and the bow-bearing Lakshmana also, come to the gate of Lanka. And soon shalt thou behold the assembled heroic monkeys, endowed with the prowess of lions and tigers, and the splendour of the monarch of monkeys, and having nails and teeth for their arms. And thou shalt, O noble one, behold innumerable companies of choice monkeys, resembling hills and clouds,--roaring on the plateaus of Malaya in Lanka.

Like an elephant tormented by a lion, Rama afflicted in the vitals by the dreadful shafts of Manmatha, doth not attain ease. Do not weep, exalted one, in sorrow. Let not fear take possession of thy heart! Even as Sachi meeteth with Sakra, shalt thou, O auspicious one, meet with thy lord. Who is greater than Rama? And who is equal to Sanmitri?[364] And these brothers resembling Fire and the Wind, are thy help. O revered one, thou wilt not have to dwell long in this extremely dreadful place inhabited by the Rakshasas. The arrival of thy beloved one is not distant. Just remain expecting (as best thou may), during the time that elapses between this and my meeting with Rama."

[363] Dacaratha's son--T

[364] _i. e._ Sumitra's son, Laksamana.--T.

SECTION XL.

Hearing the speech of the high-souled offspring of the Wind-god, Sita resembling a daughter of the celestials, said in words fraught with her welfare,--"Even as the Earth with corn half-way towards harvest is gladdened on receipt of showers, have I, O monkey, been gladdened on seeing thee that speakest sweetly. Do thou so dispense thy kindness unto me that, with my desire attained, I may touch that tiger-like one with my body reduced by grief. And, O foremost of monkeys, present this sign onto Rama, and tell him also for a sign that he had in ire buried the dart which destroyed a single eye of the crow. And tell him also,[365]--'On my (first) tilaka having been wiped out, thou didst paint beside my cheek another made of red arsenic --this thou shouldst remember. Why, O thou endowed with prowess, resembling Indra the Great or Vanuna, dost thou disregard the ravished Sita, sitting in the midst of Rakshas? This jewel for the head I had preserved with care. In my misfortune, O sinless one, I used to inspire cheerfulness by a sight of this, resembling thyself. This graceful water-sprung (gem) I part from. Hereafter, overwhelmed with grief, I shall not be able to live. For thee only do I bear insufferable miseries, heart-cleaving speech, and companionship with Rakshasas. O destroyer of enemies, for a month longer will I maintain being. Beyond that, O king's son, bereft of thee, I will not live. This Rakshasa king is dreadful. (This being so), if I hear thee tarrying, I would not live for a moment." Hearing Vaidehi's speech pathetic and uttered with tears, the highly energetic Hanuman, son unto the Wind-god, said,--"My revered one, I swear unto thee by truth itself that Rama neglecteth every business because of grief for thee. And Rama being overwhelmed with woe, Lakshmana burneth in grief. Now that I have succeeded in seeing thee after no end of ado, this is no time for lamentation. O fair one, this very moment thou shalt witness the end of thy woe. Those blameless princes-- foremost of men, gathering courage from my sight of thee, shall reduce Lanka to ashes. And, O thou of expansive eyes, slaying in battle Ravana along with his friends, Raghu's, sons shall take thee back to their own palace. Now, O faultless lady, thou ought to give me such a sign as Rama shall certainly recognise, and as shall more please him by far." "Ah!" (answered Sita), "I have already furnished thee with an excellent sign. This ornament, O Hanuman, when carefully examined by Rama, O hero, shall render thy words credible." Thereupon, taking that best of gems, that graceful foremost of monkeys, bowing down the head unto that exalted one, prepared to depart. Seeing that monkey-leader intent upon leaping up, and surcharged with energy,--with his person enlarged, Janaka's daughter, with a tearful countenance, spake in woe-begone guise, her accents choked with the vapour of grief,--"O Hanuman, communicate tidings of my good health onto those lion-like brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, to Sugriva along with his counsellors, and to all (the monkeys). And it behoveth thee so to compass things that the mighty-armed Raghava may rescue me from this sea of sorrow. Do thou, going to Rama, make known to him the fierce current of my grief, as well as the railing of these Rakshasas. Good fortune be thy portion, thou exceedingly heroic monkey!" Thus furnished with the intentions of the princess, the monkey, having gained his object, and, growing exceedingly exhilarated in his heart, reviewed the small work that yet remained for him, became bent upon proceeding to the north.

[365] Sita wishes Hanuman to use her own language to Rama.--T.

SECTION XLI.

Having been honored by her (Sita) in excellent words, the monkey proceeding, left that place, thinking,--"A small work it is that remains. Beheld have I this dark-eyed lady. Passing by three means, I see that I shall have to resort to the fourth. No _treaty_ with Rakshas can answer the end. Neither can _gifts_ prevail with the wealthy. Nor is it possible to sow _dissensions_ among persons proud of their strength. Then, display of _prowess_ appeareth to me applicable in this case. Without resorting to prowess, way find I none for ensuring success in this matter. If the Rakshas find their foremost heroes fallen in battle, they may temper their (martial ardour). He that, having compassed his (principal) purpose, accomplishes many more without marring the prime one, is entitled to act He that doeth a small work is certainly not a worker,--he it is that knoweth to bring about success in diverse ways, is alone capable of securing the same.[366] Although my sole commission was to effect this much,[367] yet if I repair to the abode of the lord of monkeys after having ascertained the strength of our ownselves and that of the foe in the field, then I shall have done the mandate of my master. How can my arrival (at this place) be made to bring forth good fruit? How can I forcibly bring on engagement with the Rakshasas? And how can the Ten-necked one in battle be made to form a just estimate of the respective strength of myself and his forces? Coming in contact with the Ten-necked one, with his three orders, forces and charioteers, I shall, reading the intention that is in his heart, as well as his strength, --happily return from hence. This grove of the fell (fiend) resembling Nandana itself, containing various trees and plants, and captivating to eye and heart,--will I destroy; even as fire destroyeth a dry wood. This grove being ravaged, Ravana shall get into a fury. Then the Rakshasa monarch shall summon up an army consisting of horses, elephants, and mighty cars, equipped with tridents, iron axes and other arms,--, and mighty shall be the encounter that shall take place. And I with unimpaired prowess battling with those terrific Rakshas, and annihilating that host despatched by Ravana, shall merrily journey to the abode of the monkey-king." Then furious like the Wind, the offspring of the Wind-god possessed of dreadful prowess set about knocking down the trees with impetuous violence. Then that hero, Hanuman, devastated that garden of the damsels, resounding with the roars of mad elephants, and filled with diverse trees and shrubs. And with its trees crushed and its tanks damaged, with its fair peaks shattered in fragments and its pools eloquent with the notes of birds, riven all over, with coppery and withered sprays cast about (in all directions), and with its trees and plants shorn of their liveliness,--that wood was no longer beautiful,--as if it had been burnt up by a forest-fire; and its plants resembled damsels with their apparel falling off. And that magnificent wood, with its arbours and its picture-gallerys destroyed, and its ferocious animals, beasts and birds crying in distressful accents,--and its rocky structures and other mansions broken down, was bereft of its loveliness. And that grove of the inner apartment belonging to the damsels[368] of the Ten-necked one, with its numbers of _acoka_ trees and plants cast about disorderly, was, in very sooth, through the might of the monkey, rendered a sight composed of plants, _etc._, tending to awaken the regret of the spectator.[369] Then having done what was wondrous disagreeable unto the mind of the magnanimous lord of the world, that monkey desirous of coping alone with a vast host, stood by the main entrance, flaming in effulgence.

[366] The commentator explains this passage thus:--"He that by great pains accomplishes a small work, cannot be a great actor; but he that bringeth about his end in a variety of ways through the _minimum_ of effort, is the actor."--T.

[367] _i. e._ see Sita.

[368] _Promadavanasya--gen._--occurs twice in this passage. The commentator, as usual, refines on the word,--to one he assigns a literal sense; another he explains--_of the grove belonging to the protector of the females_,--i. e. the wood, which, by arousing their desire for Ravana, assured their stay there!--T.

[369] There is a pun on the word _soka_--occuring twice. One of them, originally _acoka_, but entering into a vowel combination with the preceding word, is the name of a tree; and _Soka_ means _sorrow_. The _acoka_ trees being shattered, inspired the onlooker with _soka--sorrow_.--T.

SECTION XLII.

Then on account of the cries of birds and the sounds of breaking trees, all the denizons of Lanka were seized with trepidation in consequence of fright. And agitated with fear, birds and beasts hurried (on all sides); and omen-boding evil unto the Rakshasas, began to appear (everywhere). And grim-visaged Rakshasis, awaking from their sleep, saw that wood devastated, and that heroic mighty monkey. And observing them, that mighty-armed and powerful monkey endowed with immense strength, magnified his dimensions, capable of striking terror into the Rakshasas. And beholding that exceedingly strong monkey resembling a mountain, the Rakshasis asked Janaka's daughter, saying,--"Who is this? And whence, and wherefore, hath he come here? And why did he carry on converse with thee? Tell us this, thou of expansive eyes. O lucky one, entertain no fear. And, O thou having eyes with dark outer corners, what is the talk that this one hath held with thee?" Thereat, the chaste Sita, having all her parts perfect, answered,--"What is my power to read Rakshasas capable of wearing forms at will? Ye know who he is and what he doeth. Serpents, without doubt, know the way of serpents. And, furthermore, I am very much frightened,-- nor know I who that one is. I take him to be a Rakshasa,-- who hath come here through his capacity to put on any shape." Hearing Vaidehi's words, the Rakshasis swiftly took to their heels. Some remained,--and some departed to inform Ravana of the matter. And before Ravana, the Raksbasis of deformed visages informed him of the hideous and dreadful monkey. "O king, in the heart of the _acoka_ wood there is a monkey of a terrific body, who, possessed of immeasurable might, stayeth, after having carried on a conversation with Janaki. Nor, albeit questioned by us many a time and oft, doth Janaka's daughter, Sita, having the eyes of a deer, intend to tell us who the monkey is. He may be the emissary of Vasava, or of Vaipravana; or he may have been sent by Rama himself from eagerness to get at the whereabouts of Sita. And he it is that, wearing a wonderful form, hath destroyed thy charming arbour of the interior, filled with beasts of various kinds.--And quarter there is none which hath not been destroyed by him; and only that place where the exalted Janaki is, remained uninjured by him,--whether for preserving Janaki, or from fatigue--it doth not appear. But what is his fatigue? She it is that hath been preserved by him. And that overgrown Sincapa tree, affluent with elegant foliage, under which Sita herself hath (always rested), hath been spared by him. It behoveth thee to order sharp chastisement to be inflicted on that one of a fierce form, who, having carried on converse with Sita, hath laid thy wood waste. Who, O Sovereign of the Rakshasas,that hath not his life severed from him,--converseth with Sita, who hath captivated thy heart?" Hearing the speeches of the Rakshasis, Ravana, lord of Rakshasas, with his eyes rolling in rage, flamed up like the fire of a funeral pyre. And as fall drops of lighted oil from a flaming lamp,fell drops of tears from the eyes of the enraged Ravana. And that highly energetic one ordered his heroic servants, resembling himself, to punish Hanuman. And from that mansion speedily issued eighty thousand of those retainers, carrying in their hands maces and mallets[370],--having huge bellies, and large teeth, of dreadful forms, and possessed of unwieldy strength,--all eager to engage in the conflict and take Hanuman. And having come near that monkey staying at the main entrance, those swelling spirits rushed on, even as insects rush into a flame. And equipped with variegated maces, and bludgeons, and golden _angadas_,[371] and arrows resembling the Sun, they approached that foremost of monkeys. And accoutred in maces, axes, and javelins, and bearing bearded darts and lances in their hands, they suddeuly surrounded Hanuman and remained before him. And the graceful and energetic Hanuman also, resembling a hill, flourishing his tail over the ground, sent up tremendous roars. And attaining mighty proportions, Hanuman, son unto the Wind-god, brandished his tail, filling Lanka with sounds. And at the sounds of his flourishing, as well as with those resounding ones set up by himself, birds began to drop down from the sky. And he loudly proclaimed,--"Victory to the exceedingly strong Rama and to the mighty Lakshmana! And victory unto king Sugriva, protected of Raghava! I am the servant of the Sovereign of Kerala, Rama of untiring deeds,-- (I am) Hanuman, the destroyer of hostile hosts, offspring of the Wind-god. And a thousand Ravanas cannot cope with me in conflict, when I shall hurl crags and trees by thousands. In the very presence of all the Rakshas, shall I, having desolated the city of Lanka and paid my reverence to Maithili, go away, my end being compassed." They were struck with affright at his roars; and they beheld Hanuman elevated as an evening cloud. And now knowing for certain that the monkey had been despatched by his master, the Rakshasas commenced assailing him with various kinds of dire arms.[372] Environed on all sides by those heroes, that exceedingly powerful one, staying by the main entrance, took up a terrific bolt. And taking that bolt, like Vinata's offspring handling a darting serpent, he slew those rangers of the night. And grasping (the bolt), the Wind-god's son began to range the welkin and destroy (the Rakshasas), like the thousand-eyed (deity) slaughtering Daityas with his thunder-bolt. And having slain those Rakshasas, who were the retainers of Ravana, the heroic offspring of the Wind-god--foremost of heroes--desirous of fight, stood at the gate. Then certain Rakshasas, getting off from the field in fear, informed Ravana of the destruction of all his servants. Hearing that a mighty host of the Rakshasas had been slain, the king, with his eyes whirling in ire, ordered Prahasta's son of incomparable prowess, and invincible in battle.

[370] _Kuta--hammer_. The commentator, however,says that it means a weapon resembling a hammer.--T.

[371] A bracelet worn on the upper arm.--T.

[372] _Swamisandehanihcancah_--may also mean, _having been assured by Ravana as to his firm resolve--i.e. the Rakshasas must fight with Hanuman, however desperate the undertaking might prove.--T._

SECTION XLIII.