Part 52

Then on the summit of the mountain, Mahendra, those powerful monkeys, headed by Hanuman, rejoiced exceedingly. And when the high-souled delighted monkeys had sat them down, Jambavan, glad at heart, asked that offspring of the Wind, the happy Hanuman, all about his proceeding: "How hast thou seen the worshipful one? How doth she fare there? And how doth the cruel Ten-necked one bear himself towards her? Do thou truthfully relate all this unto us, O mighty monkey. How couldst thou track the exalted lady? And what did she say in reply (to thy querries)? Having learnt the real state of things, we shall decide what is to be done. And do thou also tell us what we, repairing there, shall unfold unto that one of controled self and what we shall keep to ourselves." Thus directed by him, that one (Hanuman) with his down standing on end, bowing down the head unto that revered one, Sita, replied,--"In your sight, I bounded up with a concentrated mind, eager to reach the southern shore of the ocean. As I voyaged on, a great impediment occurred in the way. I saw a goodly and noble golden peak, standing, obstructing my way. I found the mountain as an obstacle to my course. Nearing the grand and splendid golden mount, I thought within myself,--'I will rive this.' And the sun-like summit of that mighty mountain, Prahasta, was cleft in a thousand fragments by my tail. Seeing his own condition, that mighty mountain, gladdening my heart, addressed me with the sweet speech,--'O son, know me for thy uncle. I am a friend unto the Wind,-- famed as Mainaka, and living in the great deep. Formerly all the foremost mountains were furnished with wings. And (once on a time) they began to range the earth at will, committing devastations. Hearing of the conduct of the mountains, that possessor of the six kinds of riches, Indra the Great, the swayer of Paka, with his thunderbolt cut off by thousands the pinions of the mountains. At that time, my son, I, having been delivered by thy sire, the high-souled Wind-god, was cast into the abode of Varuna. O repressor of foes, I shall have to assist Raghava. Rama is the foremost of the righteous, and possessed of prowess like that of Mahendra himself.' Having heard this from the magnanimous Mainaka, I apprised the mountain of my mission, and my thoughts held their course. Having given me his permission, the magnanimous Mainaka, the mountain that had put on the form of a man, vanished, and, assuming his mountain-form, went into the vast sea. And I, summoning my best celerity, began to journey the remainder of my way. And having swiftly proceeded long in the path, I saw the exalted lady, Surasa, mother of the serpents. And that worshipful one stationed in the sea, said,--'By the celestials hast thou, O best of monkeys, been assigned as my food. Therefore shall I eat thee up. Thou hast been ordained as mine by the gods.' Thus addressed by Surasa, I, remaining in humble guise with joined hands, and with my countenance turned pale, I uttered these words,--'Rama, the graceful son of Dacaratha, repressor of foes--hath entered the woods of Dandaka, in company with his brother Lakshamana and Sita. His wife Sita hath been carried off by the wicked Ravana. At Rama's mandate I go to her as an envoy. In this business, thou, O chaste one, shouldst help Rama. Or having seen Mithila's daughter, as well as Rama of untiring deeds, I shall come to thy mouth,--this I promise unto thee truly.' Thus accosted by me, Surasa, wearing forms at her will, said,--'None is able to escape me. Even this is the boon that I have received.' Having been thus addressed by Surasa, I attained the magnitude of ten _yojanas_; and then anon I dilated to another ten. But she opened her mouth wider than my magnitude. Seeing her stretched mouth, I again diminished myself, and on the instant again reduced myself to the measure of a thumb. And speedily entering her mouth, I immediately came out. Then the exalted Surasa again spoke unto me in her native shape,--'Thy end having been attained, go, O mild one, O foremost of monkeys, according to thy pleasure. Bring about the meeting of Vaidehi with the high-souled Raghava. Be thou blessed, O mighty-armed one. I am well pleased with thee, O monkey.' Then I was praised by all beings, with,--'Excellent!' 'Excellent!' Then like unto Garuda I again sprang up into the air. But now my shadow was overtaken by somebody, though I saw no one. And my velocity being deprived, I looked at the ten cardinal points; but I found there naught which could deprive me of my speed. Then I thought,-- 'What is this obstacle that hath suddenly arisen in respect of my course? No form find I here?' And as I stood aggrieved, my glance fell downwards. Then I saw there a dreadful Rakshasi supine on the flood. And laughing (scornfully), that grim one said these inauspicious words unto me, who was inert, although undaunted,--"Whither art thou bound, O thou of a gigantic body? Desired by me, who am hungry, do thou becoming my food, gratify this body deprived of diet for a long time.' Saying, 'Well,' I accepted her speech, increasing my body at will more than the capacity of her mouth; and her huge and dreadful mouth extended wide to eat me up. She did not understand me,[425] nor that I had altered my shape. Then in the twinkling of an eye contracting my vasty shape, I, extracting her heart, darted into the sky. Thereat, throwing about her arms, that terrific one dropped into the salt waters. On that chaste one, resembling a hill, having her heart torn, I heard the meek speech of magnanimous persons, who had come there of themselves,--'This dreadful Rakshasi, Sinhika, hath been swiftly slain by Hanuman.' Having slain her, I again, remembering the delay that had occurred touching my work, set out on the great road, and at length saw the southern shore of the sea, covered with mountains; where is situated the city of Lanka. On the sun having set, I entered the city of the Rakshasas--their home--unnoticed by the Rakshasas of terrific vigor. I had entered in when a certain female casting forth violent laughter, and wearing the splendour of clouds at the end of a Kalpa, presented herself before me. And striking with my left clenched fist that exceedingly dreadful (form), having flames for her hair, who had sought to take my life,--and vanquishing her (thus), I entered (Lanka) at dusk. Then that one affrighted addressed me, saying,--'I, O hero, am, the city of Lanka. Vanquished have I been by thy prowess. Thou shalt everywhere conquer all the Rakshasas'. There I wandered all the night (seeking for Janaka's daughter) and (at length) entered Ravana's inner apartment; but that one of a Diity waist I found not. And not finding Sita in Ravana's abode, I was cast in a sea of sorrow; nor found I how to cross over it. And as I was sorrowing, I saw a mansion with a charming grove encircled by a wall of excellent gold. And leaping over the wall, I saw a grove rife with trees; and (at last) saw in the midst of an _acoka_ wood a great _Sincapa_. And ascending the tree, I saw a golden tract of plantains; and hard by from the _Sincapa_ tree I espied that transcendentally beautiful one, dark-blue, having eyes resembling lotus-petals, with her face faded in consequence of fasting, clad in the same single piece of cloth, her hair covered with dust,--her limbs emaciated by the heat of sorrow and grief,--Sita, ever engaged in the welfare of her lord; surrounded by cruel and deformed Rakshasis living upon blood and flesh,--like unto deer environed by tigresses. And I managed too swiftly to present myself before that one, menaced momentarily in the midst of the Rakshasis, wearing a single braid of hair; woe-begone; ever thinking of her lord; her limbs discolored by lying down on the ground, like unto a lotus on the approach of winter,--having eyes resembling those of a young deer, who had turned her face away from all the enjoyments offered by Ravana, and who had resolved to put a period to her existence. Seeing that lady the illustrious wife of Rama in that condition, I seeing her remained even on that _Sincapa_ tree. Then I heard in Ravana's mansion loud and solemn sounds mixed with the tinklings of zones and bangles. Thereat exceedingly agitated, I changed my proper shape; and remained like a bird in a dark part of the _Sincapa_ tree. Then the wives of Ravana along with Ravana himself of exceeding strength came to that place where Sita was. And seeing the lord of Rakshasas the exceedingly beauteous Sita contracted her thighs and covered her full breasts with her arms. And seeing Sita flurried and extremely excited and casting about her gladness up and down, not finding any relief and trembling forlorn, the Ten-necked one said unto her undergoing extreme anguish,--"Without saying anything, I fall down (here). O fair one, do thou regard me. If, O haughty one, thou do not honor me from pride of heart, I shall, O Sita, two months hence, see thy blood." Hearing these words of the wicked Ravana, Sita, growing exceeding wroth, spoke these excellent words,--"O worst of Rakshasas, having used improper speech towards the wife of Rama of measureless prowess, and the daughter-in-law of Dacaratha, lord of the Ikshwaku line, why hast thou not thy tongue fallen off? Fie upon the prowess of thee that, O wretch, hast carried me off while my husband was away; and not being seen of that high-souled one. Thou art never like Rama,--thou art not even fit to be his slave. Raghava is invincible, truthful, heroic and (even) hungering for warfare." Thus addressed in harsh speech by Janaki, the Ten-necked one flamed up in wrath, like Fire in a funeral pyre. And with his wicked eyes whirling in rage, he raised the clenched fist of his right hand to slay Mithila's daughter; but then the females set up a cry of "Oh" and "Alas." And rising up in the midst of the females, the wife of the wicked-minded one, the excellent one, named Mandodari, prevented him. And she spoke soft words unto him influenced by lust.--"O thou that resemblest Indra the Great in prowess. Do thou to-day sport with me. Janaki is not superior to me. And, O lord, do thou sport with the daughters of celestials and Gandharbas, and with the daughters themselves of Yakshas. What wilt thou do with Sita?" Then that exceedingly powerful ranger of the night was speedily raised up and taken (back) to his residence. On the Ten-necked one having departed, the Rakshasis of fearful faces fell to railing at Sita in cruel and rough words,--But Janaki heeded their speech as a straw; and their fury was lost upon Sita. Desisting from their unavailing railing, the flesh-feasting Rakshasis imparted unto Ravana the mighty intent of Sita. Then, they all failing in their hope and deprived of energy, and tired, came under the sway of sleep. And on their sleeping, Sita intent on the welfare of her lord, lamenting piteously, in forlorn guise, and striken with extreme sorrow, mourned profusely. Then sitting up in their midst, Trijata spoke,--"Do ye without delay fall to your own selves; but never (eat up) the dark-eyed Sita, the chaste daughter unto Janaka and the daughter-in-law of Dacaratha. In truth I have seen a dismal dream capable of making one's hair stand on end; (presaging) destruction unto Rakshasas and victory unto the husband of this one. For protecting us, Rakshasis from Raghava, let us solicit Vaidehi. Even this is relished by me. If we relate such a dream unto the aggrieved one, she, being freed from her diverse woes, shall attain the height of joy. Propitiated by our bowing down, Janaka's daughter, Maithili, shall rescue the Rakshasis from a mighty fear." Thereat, that bashful maiden, rejoiced at the prospect of her husband's victory, said,--'If all this prove true, then for certain, (ye shall) meet with succour at my hands. Witnessing such a hard condition of Sita I began to reflect; nor did my my mind attain ease or freedom from thought. And I cast about for finding means of addressing Janaki. And I began by extolling the Ikshwaku race. Hearing the words that I uttered, embellished with descriptions of the virtues of Rajarshis, that exalted lady replied with her eyes covered with tears. "Who art thou? And how hast thou, O foremost of monkeys, found thy way here? And what is thy delight in Rama? This it behoveth thee to relate unto me." Hearing her speech, I too said,-- 'O revered one, thy husband, Rama, hath found a help-mate in a one endowed with terrific strength, named Sugriva --redoubtable, the highly powerful lord of the monkeys. Do thou know me as Hanuman his servant, despatched here by thy spouse--Rama of unwearied actions. O famed damsel, that highly effulgent son of Dacaratha--the foremost of men, hath sent as a token this ring. I desire to know, O worshipful dame, what behest of thine may I obey now. Shall I carry thee to Rama and Lakshmana on the northern shore of the Ocean?" Hearing this and revolving within herself Sita, Janaka's daughter, replied--"Discomfitting Ravana, may Raghava himself carry me hence.' And bowing my head unto that worshipful and blameless dame, I wanted of her a token as might conduce to Raghava's pleasure. Whereto replied Sita--'O thou of mighty-arms do thou take this excellent jewel for which thou shalt be highly regarded by Rama'. Having said this that best of fair ones gave me the excellent jewel, and wrought up with anxiety, related unto me the story of crow (for Rama's information). Thereupon bent on returning here, I, with a fixed mind, circumambulated and bowed unto that worshipful dame. And revolving within herself she again replied-- 'Hanuman, do thou relate this unto Raghava in such a wise that the heroes Rama and Lakshmana, along with Sugriva might instantly come here. Or else there remain two months more of my life. Raghava shall not see me and I shall quit my life like one having no husband. Hearing those piteous accents I was worked up with ire and at once resolved upon destroying the city of Lanka. Thereupon my body increased like unto a mountain and desirous of entering into conflict I began to lay waste the forest. The whole forest was devastated--the birds and deer strayed away in fear and the Rakshasees, having terrible faces, awaking, beheld all that. And beholding me in the forest, they all, gathering, instantly conveyed the message unto Ravana. O King, O thou of mighty prowess, this thy forest and castle has been broken down by the vicious-souled monkey not knowing thy strength. O King, he has been impelled by his vicious sense, to do thy mischief. Do thou order for his head so that he might not return. Hearing this the lord of the Rakshasas despatched a chosen band of demons named _Kinkaras_.[426] I despatched with my mace in no time eighty thousand of them no sooner than they entered the forest with darts and maces. And the few, who were saved, proceeded very quickly unto Ravana and related unto him the destruction of the soldiers by me. Thereupon I thought of destroying the _Chaitya_[427] palace and destroyed with the pillar all the Rakshasas stationed there. Excited with wrath I destroyed that palace; the best in the whole city of Lanka. Thereupon (Ravana) despatched _Jambhumali_, the son of _Prahasta_. With my fierce mace I destroyed that mighty Rakshasa, versed in the art of war, along with his retinue and surrounded by a band of terrible and grim-visaged demons. Hearing this, Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas sent the highly powerful sons of the ministers followed by a regiment of infantry. But I despatched them to the abode of Death by means of my dart. And hearing of the destruction in battle of the ministers' sons of feeble prowess Ravana sent five heroic commanders. But I slew all of them along with their hosts. Thereupon the Ten necked demon sent his highly powerful son _Aksha_ in the battle followed by a number of Rakshasas. No sooner the princely son of Mandodari, versed in the art of war, rose high up in the welkin than I got hold of his legs and whirling him for hundred times ground him to the dust. And hearing of the discomfiture of Aksha, Ravana, exercised with ire, sent his second son, the highly powerful Indrajit incapable of being repressed in battle. And discomfitting that best of Rakshasas with his host I attained to an excess of delight. That hero of great prowess and mighty-arms with a number of other proud heroes was despatched by Ravana in great confidence. And beholding my unbearable prowess and his own soldiers slain, speedily he went away fettering me with his Brahma weapon. Thereat the other Rakshasas bound me up with a rope and carried me to Ravana. And thereupon I was welcomed by the vicious-souled Ravana and was asked why I did come to Lanka and slay the Rakshasas. Whereto I replied,--"I have done all this for Sita. To behold her I have come here, O hero. I am the monkey Hanuman, the own begotten son of Maruta. Do thou know me as Rama's ambassador and the minister of Sugriva. And on Rama's embassy have I come here before thee. Do thou hear of my mission--I do relate unto thee, O lord of Rakshasas, the message which the monkey chief hath commanded me to communicate unto thee. O great hero, Sugriva hath asked of thy welfare and hath desired me to communicate unto thee these well meaning words, conducing to the acquirement of piety, wealth and desires. While I lived on the mount Rishyamuka covered with huge trees I made friends with Raghava dreadful in conflict. He hath spoken to me, O king, 'My spouse hath been taken away by a Rakshasa. It behoveth thee to promise me thy help in this.' And in the presence of fire, Rama, along with Lakshmana, contracted friendship with me who had been deprived of his kingdom by Vali. And he hath made me lord over all the monkeys after slaying Vali in conflict with a single shaft. It therefore behoveth us to assist him by all means. And by virtue of this contract I have despatched Hanuman unto thee as an envoy. Do thou therefore speedily bring back Sita and return her unto Raghava before the heroic monkeys discomfit thee. Who knoweth not the prowess of the monkeys who in the days of yore used to visit the celestials invited?' With these words the king of the monkeys hath despatched me unto thee. And thereupon he eyed me as if burning me with the looks of his angry eyes. And the vicious-souled demon--Ravana, of terrible deeds, ordered for my destruction, not knowing my prowess. Thereupon Bivishana, the high-souled brother of that lord of the Rakshasas interceded on my behalf in the following strain-- 'O thou foremost of the Rakshasas, do thou alter thy resolution. The way, thou art following, is beyond the pale of royal policy. The destruction of an envoy is not sanctioned by the royal morality, O Rakshasa. They communicate simply the mandate of their masters. O thou of incomparable prowess, there is no sanction for the destruction of a messenger albeit he perpetrateth a mighty iniquity. Sometimes they have however been disfigured." Being thus accosted by Bivishana, Ravana ordered all the demons, saying "Burn down this monkey's tail.' Hearing his mandate, the Rakshasas, of well-protected armour and terrible prowess, enveloped my tail with the fibres of cotton, silk and jute. And then striking me with their clenched fists they put fire to my tail. Although bound and fettered with many ropes I did not feel the least anguish for I was very much anxious to behold the city during the day. And thereupon fettering me and putting fire to my tail and announcing me in the public streets those heroic Rakshasas got at the city gate. And thereupon contracting again my huge person and relieving myself of the fetters I stood again in my pristine state. And taking up iron darts I slew all the Rakshasas there. And leaping over with great velocity the city gate, I, with my burning tail, burnt down the whole city from the palace to its outer gate like unto the fire of dissolution devastating the entire creation. And I was not the least flurried at it. 'Forsooth hath Janaki been destroyed--for behold I nothing in Lanka which hath not been burnt down--indeed the whole city hath been reduced to ashes. For certain have I burnt down Sita while burning the city Lanka--and I have thus baffled the great work of Rama.' While I was reflecting thus, being overwhelmed with grief, I heard the auspicious accents of the _Charanas_, exciting my wonder, 'Janaki hath not been burnt down.' Hearing those wonderful words I regained my sense. I was then convinced by an auspicious sign that Janaki was not burnt down, for I was not reduced to ashes albeit my tail was burning. My heart was excited with joy and the wind spread its delicious fragrance. And by virtue of those manifest omens, by my confidence in the prowess of Rama; and Sita, and the voice of ascetics, I was greately delighted at heart. And beholding Vaidehi again, I left her. And thereupon ascending the mount Aristha I began to leap, desirous of beholding you. And following the track of the Wind, the Sun, the Moon, Gandharbas, and Siddhas I have beheld you all. By virtue of Rama's grace and your prowess I have satisfied the charge of Sugriva. I have thus related unto you, what I had performed in Lanka, and it now remains with you to fulfill the rest."

[425] Understand that I was able to assume any shape at pleasure.--T.

[426] Literally it means servants--here it means his own personal attendants who were brave and heroic.

[427] A place of sacrifice or religious worship.--T.

SECTION LIX.